The neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in rodents was investigated by measuring the locomotor activity and the changes of brain biogenic amines in MPTP-treated C57BL/6 mice. The mice showed a typical curved spine posture 24 hours after MPTP treatment. Total locomotor activity was reduced and the ratios of stereotyped activity/total locomotor activity were increased 24 hours after MPTP treatment. However no significant changes were observed 7 days after MPTP treatment. MPTP-induced changes of biogenic amines were evident only in corpus striatum, not in frontal lobe, midbrain and hippocampus; the levels of dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were reduced by 94%, 76.3% and 60.2% after 24 hours, and 81.9%, 61.3% and 26.1% after 6 days compared to control values respectively. The ratios of DOPAC/dopamine, HVA/dopamine and HVA/DOPAC were increased 24 hours and 7 day after MPTP treatment compared to control valuse in corpus striatum, but the degree of the 7 days was less than the 24 hours. The ratios of 5-HIAA/5-HT were incresed 24 hours and 7 days after MPTP treatment in corpus striatum, but there were no significant changes in the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT). In conclusion, MPTP produced parkinsonism-like behavioral and biochemical changes in C57BL/ 6 mice.
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine* ; Animals ; Biogenic Amines* ; Brain ; Corpus Striatum ; Dopamine ; Frontal Lobe ; Hippocampus ; Homovanillic Acid ; Mesencephalon ; Mice* ; Motor Activity* ; Posture ; Rodentia ; Spine

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of pre- and post-treatment serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, together with a variety of other clinicopathological parameters, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer receiving maximal androgen blockade (MAB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PSA levels before and during MAB, together with various clinicopathological parameters, were measured in 65 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer. The prognostic significance of these parameters, including the PSA level two and six months after MAB (PSA2MO and PSA6MO), a 50% reduction in the pretreatment PSA level after MAB (PSA50), the extent of disease (EOD), performance state, Gleason score and pretreatment hemoglobin, were analyzed by both univariate and multivariate tests. RESULTS: Of the forty-nine patients with a pretreatment PSA level of > or =50ng/ml, twenty-four (24/49, 48.9%) showed normalized (< or =4ng/ml) PSA2MO, and three of these (3/24, 12.5%) died of metastatic prostate cancer. Twenty-five patients (25/49, 51.1%) showed no normalization of the PSA2MO, and sixteen of these (16/25, 64%) died of metastatic prostate cancer. Of the patients with a pretreatment PSA level > or =50ng/ml, patients with a normalized PSA2MO showed a higher survival rate than those with a non-normalized PSA2MO from the univariate analysis using the Log-Rank test (p=0.0001), and PSA2MO was revealed as the most useful prognostic factor (p=0.022) from the multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. CONCLUSIONS: A normalized (< or =4ng/ml) PSA level 2 months after MAB (PSA2MO) in metastatic prostate carcinoma was found to be the most useful prognostic factor in metastatic prostate cancer patients with a pretreatment PSA level of > or =50ng/ml.
Androgen Antagonists ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

The present study was performed to assess the fertility of frozen-thawed dog semen prepared by freezing with 6% glycerol and thawing at 70degrees C for 8 sec, and to evaluate the least number of post-thaw spermatozoa necessary to achieve pregnancy by intrauterine or intratubal artificial insemination. It was found that the pregnancy rate of intrauterine artificial insemination was 100% using 6% glycerol buffer and thawing at 70degrees C for 8 sec with 5 x 10(7) spermatozoa. Even though the pregnancy rate (80%) and the whelping rate (24.5%) in the 5 x 10(6) spermatozoa inseminated group were lower than those of the 5 x 10(7) spermatozoa group, conception was confirmed with 5 x 10(6) spermatozoa. Although the pregnancy rate of intratubal insemination was low (20%) with 4 x 10(6) spermatozoa, this study is the first report to show the pregnancy rate of intratubal insemination with frozen-thawed ejaculated canine semen. In order to improve the pregnancy rate with intratubal insemination of canine spermatozoa, it is necessary to investigate the optimal insemination site of the uterine tube, the appropriate number of sperm, and the direct effect of buffer on oocytes.
Animals ; Cryopreservation/methods/*veterinary ; Dogs/*physiology ; Female ; Fertility/*physiology ; Glycerol ; Insemination, Artificial/methods/*veterinary ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Semen/*physiology ; Semen Preservation/methods/*veterinary ; Temperature ; Time Factors

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis which clinically presents with various cutaneous manifestations with or without tenderness and pruritus. NEH has a characteristic histologic pattern, with necrosis of the eccrine glands and local neutrophilic infiltrations. It occurs mostly in patients receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloblastic leukemia or, less frequently, other malignancies. More recently, NEH has been observed in other conditions, such as infections, drugs or even in generally healthy individuals. We report a case of a 29- year-old female with no remarkable medical history who has suffered from a solitary skin-colored indurated macule with tenderness on the left sole for 2 weeks. The skin biopsy showed typical features of neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis. The patient was successfully treated with oral prednisolone for 2 weeks and an intralesional injection of triamcinolone.
Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Eccrine Glands ; Female ; Hidradenitis* ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils* ; Prednisolone ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Triamcinolone

Solitary dermatofibroma shows a common occurrence, especially on the lower limbs of young women, while multiple eruptive dermatofibromas are rare and are thought to be associated with altered immunity, such as autoimmune diseases and immunosuppression. We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) who developed multiple, eruptive dermatofibromas while she was being treated with systemic corticosteroid. We also review literature on the previously reported cases of multiple eruptive dermatofibromas associated with SLE.
Arthritis, Juvenile* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Lower Extremity ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

Sclerotic fibroma is often regarded as a unique proliferating lesion, but some authors regard it as an end stage of other neoplasms, especially dermatofibroma. We report two cases of dermatofibroma with sclerotic fibroma-like change. The skin biopsy specimens from different patients showed a common finding of dermatofibroma, while some portions of the tumor were replaced by thick, hyalinized, eosinophilic collagen bundles and empty clefts with low cellularity, which was histologically similar to sclerotic fibroma. According to these findings, dermatofibroma with sclerotic fibroma-like change can be evidence of the possible pathogenesis of sclerotic fibroma.
Biopsy ; Collagen ; Eosinophils ; Fibroma ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Skin

PURPOSE: Through the construction of a pulsatile flow model using an artificial heart pump and stenosis to demonstrate triphasic Doppler waveform, which simulates in vivo conditions, and to evaluate the relationship between Doppler waveform and vascular compliance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flow model was constructed using a flowmeter, rubber tube, glass tube with stenosis, and artificial heart pump. Doppler study was carried out at the prestenotic, poststenotic, and distal segments; compliance was changed by changing the length of the rubber tube. RESULTS: With increasing proximal compliance, Doppler waveforms show decreasing peak velocity of the first phase and slightly delayed acceleration time, but the waveform itself did not change significantly. Distal compliance influenced the second phase, and was important for the formation of pulsus tardus and parvus, which without poststenotic vascular compliance, did not develop. The peak velocity of the first phase was inversely proportional to proximal compliance, and those of the second and third phases were directly proportional to distal compliance. CONCLUSION: After constructing this pulsatile flow model, we were able to explain the relationship between vascular compliance and Doppler waveform, and also better understand the formation of pulsus tardus and parvus.
Acceleration ; Compliance ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Flowmeters ; Glass ; Heart, Artificial ; Pulsatile Flow* ; Rubber

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical profile, efficacy, and safety of long-term treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in Korean autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) patients. METHODS: Effectiveness was assessed through a retrospective review of self-reported target symptom improvement at the last follow-up visit. Changes in illness severity and improvement were measured using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) of illness and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scales. Tolerability was assessed through a review of the reason for discontinuation of SSRI and documented adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 21 ASDs patients (aged 9 to 19 years) treated with SSRI during July 2010 to July 2011 in department of child and adolescent psychiatry of Seoul National Hospital were identified. The mean duration of SSRI treatment was 47.9 (standard deviation = 36.9) months (range 0.7-114.5), and the mean fluoxetine equivalent dosage of SSRIs was 27.1 +/- 10.8 mg. Nineteen (90.5%) patients were using concomitant medication. We found that SSRIs were prescribed for symptoms of agitation, stereotyped behavior, aggression, depression, impulsivity and self-injury in ASDs. Ten patients (47.6%) reported improvement in their target symptom after SSRI treatment based on CGI-I scores (CGI-I < or = 2). The side effects were reported in 5 patients (23.8%) ; vomiting (n = 2, 9.5%), excessive mood elevation (n = 1, 4.8%), insomnia (n = 1, 4.8%), somnolence (n = 1, 4.8%) and decreased appetite (n = 1, 4.8%). Self-injurious behavior was reported in one patient (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that SSRIs may be used effectively in children and adolescents diagnosed with ASDs. However, safety issues need to be considered carefully when choosing SSRIs for treatment. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Psychiatry ; Aggression ; Appetite ; Autistic Disorder ; Child ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Depression ; Dihydroergotamine ; Fluoxetine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Self-Injurious Behavior ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stereotyped Behavior ; Vomiting ; Weights and Measures

There were many cases to apply artificial intelligence to medicine. Neural networks are nonparametric pattern recognition techniques that can be used to model complex relationships. In this paper, we present the analysis of the risk factors of the noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus using the artificial neural network and the logistic regression model. First, we developed five prediction models using artificial neural networks and a logistic regression model with the data of Yonchon study of diabetes mellitus. Next, we measured each area under the ROC(Receiver-Operating Characteristic) plots for the performance, and results re followings; multilayer perceptron with seventeen variables(MLP17) was 0.7608, multilayer perceptron with seven variables(MLP7) was 0.7664, radial basis function network with seventeen variables(RBF17) was 0.7919, radial basis function network with seven variables(RBF7) was 0.7715 and logistic regression model(REG7) was 0.8343. All of the variables used are seventeen, and seven variables for neural networks(MLP7 and RBF7) were selected by logistic regression model. The order of higher risk variables in the neural networks(slope) did not completely agree with that in the logistic regression model(odds ratio). However, all of the four higher risk variables that were significant in the statistic model(0.05) also had large slopes(0.3) in the neural network model. And our neural network model also display the influence of another variables in development of the noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Artificial Intelligence ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Logistic Models ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Risk Factors*

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of various nickel-titanium (NiTi) files with similar tapers and cross-sectional areas depending on whether they were surface-treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three NiTi file systems with a similar convex triangular cross-section and the same ISO #25 tip size were selected for this study: G6 (G6), ProTaper Universal (PTU), and Dia-PT (DPT). To test torsional resistance, 5 mm of the straightened file's tip was fixed between polycarbonate blocks (n = 15/group) and continuous clockwise rotation until fracture was conducted using a customized device. To evaluate cyclic fatigue resistance, files were rotated in an artificial curved canal until fracture in a dynamic mode (n = 15/group). The torsional data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey post-hoc comparison test, while the cyclic fatigue data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test at a significance level of 95%. RESULTS: PTU showed significantly greater toughness, followed by DPT and G6 (p < 0.05). G6 showed the lowest resistance in ultimate torsional strength, while it showed a higher fracture angle than the other files (p < 0.05). In the cyclic fatigue test, DPT showed a significantly higher number of cycles to failure than PTU or G6 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the torsional resistance of NiTi files was affected by the cross-sectional area, while the cyclic fatigue resistance of NiTi files was influenced by the surface treatment.
Fatigue