This is to report the histo-pathologic findings of the degenerated inferior alveolar nerves(IAN) causing uncontrollable neuralgia persisted for over 3 years. The patients had sufferred from frequent attack of unbearable pain along the mandibular branches of the Vth nerve. The pain arised spontaneously 5-10 times a day and lasted for 2-5 minutes. The medications including Tegretol were neither so effective to alleviate the pain level, nor enough to keep free from pain all days. The peripheral neurectomies were preceded by diagnostic nerve block, and partial resection of the IAN in the mandibular canals were approached by sagittal split osteomy of the ramus. The histopathologic findings of the resected IAN were as follows ; 1. Special staining with Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) and Masson Trichrome (MT) disclosed marked degeneration of the axons, decreased in number and fibrosis between the nerve fibers. 2. EM study revealed destruction of myelin continuity surrounding axons, degeneration of Schwann cell and endoneureal sheath, and coarse collagen between the destructed axons. 3. The 3 of 6 patients presented again with recurred pain in 2-3 years after the peripheral neurectomies. Excisional biopsy of the retromolarpterygomandibular softtissues disclosed the collateralization neuropathy beside the long-buccal nerves and their neuromatous findings.
Axons ; Biopsy ; Carbamazepine ; Collagen ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Mandibular Nerve* ; Myelin Sheath ; Nerve Block ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuralgia ; Trigeminal Neuralgia*

BACKGROUND: Although diet therapy is the standard initial treatment for hypercholesterolemia, the efficacy of diet therapy in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients never been investigated . This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of diet therapy for hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: One hundred seventeen outpatients with hypercholesterolemia were educated individualized diet therapy which is low in fat, cholesterol and high fiber. After three and six month, we assessed the changes of plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, body weight and the adherence to diet therapy. RESULTS: After 3 months of the diet therapy, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol(-11.8%), LDL-C(-14.5%), HDL-C(-3.9%), Apo(-5.4%), TC/HDL-C(-7.3%), Apo B /Apo A1(-7.7%) and weight(-3.1%). After 6 months of the diet therapy, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol(-10.7%), LDL-C(-14.0%), TC/HDL-C(-9.1%), Apo B/Apo A1(-7.7%) and weight(-2.3%). In this study 77% of the subjects had experienced improvement in their plasma LDL-C. Nonrespondents were older and had more female patients than respondents significantly. CONCLUSION: Diet therapy in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients is effective for reductions of total cholesterol and LDL-C.
Apolipoproteins ; Apolipoproteins B ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Diet Therapy* ; Diet* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Plasma

Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the fallopian tubes. There have been numerous theories to explain the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy in fallopian tubes. The most commonly held view is that the passage of the fertilized ovum through the fallopian tube is delayed or hindered by chronic inflammation and its sequelae. We designed a study to evaluate the details of histopathologic changes and the location of implantation and how they relate to the clinical history. 182 fallopian tube specimens from patients who had undergone total or partial salpingectomy were examined. A high incidence of non-specific inflammation of plicae and wall of tube (31.9%) and salpingitis isthmica nodosa (12.6%) were observed. Other associated findings included acute salpingitis, complex plicae or complex hyperplasia of tubal epithelium, fibrous adhesion with ovary, endometriosis, and calcification. History of previous ectopic tubal pregnancy was found in 8 cases. The cases with serum beta-HCG value above 2,500 I.U./L (group I, n=97) were more frequently noted in those exhibiting myosalpingeal invasion of trophoblast (67 cases) than in those without invasion (30 cases). Of the 182 tubal pregnancies, 117 (64.3%) cases were found in the ampulla and 47 (25.8%) cases in isthmic location. In 117 ampullary pregnancies, the products of conception were found intraluminally in 71 cases (60.7%), and extraluminally in 34 (29.1%) cases, of which the products of conception were found entirely extraluminal. The products of conception, found both within and outside the tubal lumen, were found in 12 cases (10.2%). Of 47 tubes with isthmic pregnancies, 33 cases were intraluminal (70.2%), 12 cases were extraluminal (25.5%), and two cases were mixed (4.3%). In conclusion, significant histopathologic abnormalities accompany a majority of ectopic tubal pregnancy, and myosalpingeal invasion of trophoblast is correlated with high serum beta-HCG. Thus, it is necessary to confirm not only the ectopic placental tissue but also the accompanying details of the other histopathologic findings or the pathologic evaluation of ectopic tubal pregnancy.
Endometriosis ; Epithelium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal* ; Salpingectomy ; Salpingitis ; Trophoblasts ; Zygote

To examine the electrophysiological properties of luteal cells and the relationship between membrane potential and luteal steroidogenic capacity, the membrane potential of luteal cells and the luteal steroidogenesis were measured under different ionic conditions following treatment with various drugs and gonadotropins. The membrane potential of luteal cells did not vary throughout the estrous cycle and was -55 +/- 1 mV. The membrane potential was highly dependent upon the external K+ concentration and was depolarized by the deprivation of external Ca2+, however) there seemed to be a lower K+ permeability in luteal membranes as the presence of 10-9 M valinomycin, a K+ ionophore Caused hyperpolarization from -55 to -91 mV. Luteal progestin production was increased in a high K+ solution but not m a Ca2+-free solution indicating that Ca2+ may be essential for steroid synthesis and/or secretion by luteal cells. Gonadotropins and ouabain induced a depolarization of the membrane potential and stimulated luteal steroidogenesis; however; prostaglandin F2alpha stimulated only steroidogenesis without any changes in membrane potential. These results suggest that the relationship between steroidogenesis and the changes in membrane potential by drugs and gonadotropins is still obscure and remains to be eluridated. The relationship between membrane potential and steroidogenesis in the luteal cell may be dependent upon the availability of intracelluar Ca2+.
Animal ; Corpus Luteum/*metabolism ; Estrus/metabolism ; Female ; Ions ; Luteal Cells/*metabolism ; Membrane Potentials ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Steroids/*biosynthesis ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Nephrotic Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Cell Adhesion* ; Female ; Leiomyoma* ; Mice ; Myometrium* ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules*

Three cases of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration(FNA) of enlarged lymph nodes are reported. The FNA smears contained randomly activated lymphoid cells, necrotic debris and histiocytes. The same patterns were found in subsequently examined excised lymph nodes from these cases. The differential diagnosis of this entity is discussed and the value of preparing FNA cell blocks and accompanying AFB stain with culture is emphasized.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Histiocytes ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphocytes ; Needles

Paraganglioma is an extraadrenal pheochromocytoma originating from chromaffin ceIls distributed in sympathetic nervous systems. This tumor often can produce catecholamines and induce sustained or paroxysmal hypertension, with or without the typical symptams of headache, palpitation and sweating. Paraganglioma without the usual clinical manifestations is not easy to suspect and diagnose. Herein, we report a case of atypical retroperitoneal paraganglioma which was thought to be the pancreas tail mass and result in a paroxysmal adrenergic crisis and fatal dilated cardiomyopathy after the sonographically guided percutaneous biopsy. This rare case warns against the usual practice of percutaneous biopsy for the preoperative diagnosis of intraabdominal or retmperitoneal tumors.
Biopsy* ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Catecholamines ; Diagnosis ; Headache ; Hypertension ; Pancreas ; Paraganglioma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathetic Nervous System

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma hominis infection and the prevalence of these organisms in normal pregnancy. METHODS: Between February 2002 and July 2002, we included 43 pregnant women prior to 37 weeks of gestation with definite gross leakage of amniotic fluid (n=16) (group 1), 47 healthy women without any obstetric problems between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation (group 2) and 64 women who delivered fullterm fetuses who had taken cervical swabs around 36 weeks gestation (group 3). Cervical swabs (Dacron(R)) were taken on admission in group 1 and at outpatients in group 2 and 3. Detections of U. urealyticum and M. hominis were done using commercial kits (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2, International Microbio Signes, France). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between mid-gestation (group 2) and fullterm (group 3) in cervical swab result. In group 1, the detection rate of Ureaplasma uealyticum was higher in impending preterm birth over 32 weeks of gestational age (15/20, 75%) than 32 weeks or less (10/ 23, 43.4%) (p<0.05). In group 2, there was no significant difference in preterm birth rate between the exposed and the non-exposed to U. urealyticum and/or M. hominis in middle of 2nd trimester. CONCLUSION: U. urealyticum does not seem to be a predictor of preterm birth, and there seems to be some different mechanism according to gestational age. We couldn't varify that M. Hominis and U. urealyticum were related to preterm birth, although U. urealyticum was highly detected in impending preterm birth.
Amniotic Fluid ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Outpatients ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth ; Prevalence ; Ureaplasma ; Ureaplasma urealyticum