Interstitial cystitis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. To facilitate the study of the pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis, an animal model that correlates with the etiology of interstitial cystitis and expresses histologic features consistent with those observed in interstitial cystitis patients was developed. Changes in permeability and histology were investigated in experimental cystitis induced by intravesical antigen challenge following sensitization. Rats were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (10mg/ml/kg) given on days 1, 3 and 5. The experiments were performed 4 weeks after the last injection. Controls were run simultaneously with the sensitized animals. Each group ( unsensitized and sensitized) was divided into two subgroups; Rats treated with intravesical ovalbumin (10mg/ml, 1ml) or those receiving 1ml saline intravesically. After antigen (or saline) challenge for one hour, 1ml of 14C-urea was placed into the bladder for two hours. We examined the peripheral blood concentration of 14C-urea at periods up to 120 minutes. There was a progressive increase in the blood level of 14C-urea with time only in the sensitized ovalbumin group. There was no 14C-urea present in the blood of the sensitized saline or in any unsensitized groups. We also measured mast cell density in the submucosa and detrusor muscle layer with Leiz light microscope (x 200). There was no statistical difference in submucosal mast cell densities among all groups. There was a significant increase in detrusor mast cell density only in the sensitized-ovalbumin when compared to the other groups. And degranulated mast cells in the detrusor and submucosa were found only in sensitized-ovalbumin group. With the method employed in this study, we could successfully induce cystitis in rats, without any chemical or mechanical damage to the bladder, by immunologic methods that depends on an allergic response of bladder mucosa. This experimental cystitis expresses histologic features similar to interstitial cystitis of human that increases the bladder mucosal permeability and increases the mast cell numbers in the detrusor muscle.
Animals ; Cystitis* ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mast Cells ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovalbumin ; Permeability* ; Rats* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: To obtain the findings of normal variant types of lower cervical body configuration for the purpose of differention from compression fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed simple true lateral radiographs of cervical spine from C3 to C7 in 157 pediatric patients who did not have definitive clinical symptoms of cervical spinal injury. We classified the variations of normal cervical spine into 5 types by their configuration. In case of rounded upper corner or anteriorly wedged type, we measured the height and the width of vertebral body to classify these types, and undertook ANOVA test and multiple range test to determine the correlation between the gross configuration and the measured values. RESULTS: Type 1 was similarly observed at each of C3 to C7 in age of 1-4 group but the frequency was markedly decreased in age of 5-8 group. Type 2a was frequently observed at both age groups, and its incidence increased considerally at C3 and C4 with advancing age. Type 2b was more frequently observed at C3 body and Type 3 was observed only at C3 body in age group 1-4. Type 4 was markedly increased at 5-8 age group. Type 2b and 3 were seen mostly at C3, but sometimes at C4 body. Height of body was statistically more significant than width of body in classification of type 2a, 2b and 3. CONCLUSION: The configuration of lower cervical spine in infants and children changes from immature oval type(type 1) to mature rectagular type(type 4) with increasing age. Among the 4 types, the rounded upper corner type or anterior wedging type of lower cervical spine should be differentiated from compresson fracture. We concluded that the height of cervical body is more significant than the width of body in simple radiographic classification of types 2a, 2b and 3.
Child* ; Classification ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery*

BACKGROUND: Fas is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor family. Triggering of the Fas receptor pathway by its ligand results in apoptosis. Soluble Fas consists of the extracellular region of Fas receptor and it binds to Fas ligand to inhibit the Fas and Fas ligand induced apoptosis. Recently some evidence indicates that the Fas/Fas ligand system represents an important pathway responsible for the induction of apoptosis in bone marrow CD34+ cells of patients with aplastic anemia. METHODS: We measured serum soluble Fas levels in 27 patients with aplastic anemia at diagnosis using ELISA to define the status of soluble Fas in this disorder. RESULTS: Levels of serum soluble Fas in patients with aplastic anemia were lower com-pared with that of normal healthy controls. No difference was noted in the serum soluble Fas levels according to severity of disease. No correlation was found between serum soluble Fas levels and hematologic parameters at diagnosis such as neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, platelet count and corrected reticulocyte count. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that serum soluble Fas levels are decreased in patients with aplastic anemia. Further studies recruiting more patients and measuring Fas receptor on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and bone marrow CD34+ cells concomitantly may be helpful to determine pathophysiology of bone marrow failure.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Antigens, CD95 ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Reticulocyte Count ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Pilomatricoma is a benign adnexal tumor, differentiating towards elements of the hair matrix and shaft. The tumor typically presents as a solitary, deep-seated, firm nodule with overlying normal epidermis. Herein, we report three cases of pilomatricomas with the dermal bullae overlying tumors. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed marked lymphatic dilatations, edema, and attenuated collagen and elastic fibers above the pilomatricomas in the upper dermis. We diagnosed them as lymphangiectatic pilomatricomas.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Hair ; Pilomatrixoma*

Pilomatricoma is a benign adnexal tumor, differentiating towards elements of the hair matrix and shaft. The tumor typically presents as a solitary, deep-seated, firm nodule with overlying normal epidermis. Herein, we report three cases of pilomatricomas with the dermal bullae overlying tumors. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed marked lymphatic dilatations, edema, and attenuated collagen and elastic fibers above the pilomatricomas in the upper dermis. We diagnosed them as lymphangiectatic pilomatricomas.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Hair ; Pilomatrixoma*

We studied the effects of bile acids on the induction of apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment with either ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or lithocholic acid (LCA) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability assessed by MTT assay. Both UDCA and LCA also induced genomic DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, indicating that the mechanism by which these bile acids induce cell death was through apoptosis. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, blocked the apoptosis induced by these bile acids, implying that new protein synthesis may be required for the apoptosis. Intracellular Ca2+ release blockers (dantrolene and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid-8-(diethylamino)octyl ester) inhibited decreased cell viability and DNA fragmentation induced by these bile acids. Treatment of HepG2 cells with calcium ionophore A23187 induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that UDCA and LCA induce apoptosis in the HepG2 cells and that the activation of intracellular Ca2+ signals may play an important role in the apoptosis induced by these bile acids.
Apoptosis* ; Bile Acids and Salts* ; Bile* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cycloheximide ; DNA Fragmentation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans* ; Lithocholic Acid ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Tubular apocrine adenoma is a well-circumscribed, intradermal benign tumor, with tubular structures showing apocrine differentiation. Histologically, the characteristic features are various-sized dilated tubules with intraluminary papillary projection and apocrine decapitation secretion. It usually presents as a solitary lesion and is sometimes associated with nevus sebaceous and/or syringocystadenoma papilliferum. We have in report a case of tubular apocrine adenoma with epidermal cysts which developed in the right inguinal area of a 37-year-old man.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Decapitation ; Epidermal Cyst ; Humans ; Nevus

Spitz nevi, benign melanocytic tumors, have some histologic resemblance to malignant melanoma. They usually appear as asymptomatic, solitary, reddish to pinkish, hairless, dome-shaped, round to oval, smooth-surfaced papules or nodules, measuring less than 1.0 cm in diameter. Histologically, these lesions display striking nests of large spindle cells and epithelioid cells, usually extending from the epidermis to the reticular dermis. Here in, we report a case of Spitz nevus on the helix of the right ear of a 23-year-old man which was treated with Er:YAG laser.
Dermis ; Ear* ; Epidermis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Epithelioid and Spindle Cell* ; Strikes, Employee ; Young Adult

Liposarcoma is the second most common soft tissue sarcoma next to malignant fibrous histiocytoma and occurs almost exclusively in adults. It is thought to originate from primitive mesenchymal cells rather than from mature adipose tissue. Most liposarcomas usually occur in the deep soft tissue of the extremities and the retroperitoneum, and rarely occur in the cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue. We report a case of an atypical lipomatous tumor in a 63-year-old male, who presented with an asymptomatic, subcutaneous mass on his right axilla.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Axilla ; Extremities ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma ; Subcutaneous Tissue