Beta-fluoroethylacetate has been extensively used as the rodenticide in Korea. In some patients with acute poisoning, beta-fluoroethylacetate caused cerebellar dysfunction as a single and persistent neurologic sequela after a period of an acute neurological disorder which is characterized by mental deterioration, seizures, and respiratory failure. But there has been no report of pathological findings to explain neurological deficit. We tried to verify the histologic changes of the central nervous systems in beta-fluoroethylacetate poisoned rats. Silver staining(Gallyas) was used to evaluate the histology. In acute intoxication experiment with LD50(7mg/Kg), beta-fluoroethylacetate elicited acute onset of consciousness deterioration, generalized tonic-clonic seizures and large amplitude tremulous activity involving whole body with full recovery after 24 hours. There was no discernible pathologic change in CNS in acutely poisoned rats. However, when poisoned with sublethal dose(5mg/Kg) daily for five days, a moderate degree of nerve cell degeneration was found selectively in dentate nucleus, Purkinie cell layer, vestibulo-cochlear nucleus and striatum. This change was not seen in hippocampus, cerebral cortex or cerebellar cortex. These findings were well correlated with the previous reports of selective pathology in human 5-FU intoxication cases. Our preliminary results suggest that beta-fluoroethylacetate, a kind of cellular metabolism inhibitor may induce selective neuropathology mainly involving cerebellar output pathway in rats.
Humans ; Rats ; Animals ; Poisons

Purpose: To investigate the effects of latanoprostene bunod (LBN) on nitric oxide (NO) production and permeability in human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC). Methods: HTMC were treated with 50 and 100 µM LBN and latanoprost free acid (LAT) for 30 minutes. Additionally, 100 µM LBN was co-exposed to 0.5 mM L-NAME (N-Nitroarginine methyl ester). Cellular viability and NO production were measured using MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and Griess assays. The permeability and resistance of the HTMC monolayer were evaluated by trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and carboxyfluorescein permeability. Results: Exposure to 100 µM LBN led to increased NO production, whereas co-exposure to L-NAME reduced NO production. Treatment with 100 µM LBN decreased the TEER of the HTMC monolayer. LBN exposure heightened carboxyfluorescein permeability, but co-exposure to 100 µM LBN and L-NAME reduced permeability. LAT treatment did not affect NO production or permeability. Conclusions LBN increased the permeability of the HTMC monolayer and increased NO production. Therefore, LBN might increase trabecular outflow in addition to promoting uveoscleral outflow.

No abstract available.
Ferritins* ; Kidney Transplantation*

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenia patients have deficits of prediction and learning related to dopaminergic dysfunction. It is hypothesized that there would be different characteristics in associative learning of reward approach and loss aversion between controls and patients. METHODS: Participants were 23 healthy participants and 20 out-patients fulfilling criteria for schizophrenia according DSM-IV-TR. Using a monetary incentive contingency reversal task, successful learning rates, numbers of trials and errors till learning, numbers of trials of maintaining learning, response times were measured. Characteristics of learning were compared between controls and patients. RESULTS: Physical anhedonia and PANSS negative symptom scores correlated with the number of trials while loss aversion was maintained. Overall correct response rates were decreased in patient group, particularly during reward approach learning. Patients required more trials and errors to learn reward approach than controls. There were no significant differences in learning performance and reaction times between groups during loss avoidance learning. CONCLUSION: These results support previous reports of deficits in reward-driven learning in schizophrenia. However, anhedonia and negative symptoms were associated with the preserved function of loss avoidance learning.
Anhedonia ; Avoidance Learning ; Humans ; Learning ; Motivation ; Outpatients ; Reaction Time ; Reinforcement (Psychology) ; Reward ; Schizophrenia

Bisphosphonate generally seems to be safe, but hypocalcemia may occasionally develop in the course of bisphosphonate treatment. Hypocalcemia induced by bisphosphonate is usually mild and asymptomatic, but unrecognized or poorly treated hypocalcemia can lead to life-threatening state. A 78-year-old woman who had a history of hip arthroplasty and intravenous zoledronate treatment for femur neck fracture was presented to emergency department with altered mental status. It turned out that her symptom was due to severe hypocalcemia which was caused by intravenous zoledronate treatment. She also had renal dysfunction. She was treated by intravenous calcium gluconate and calcitriol administration. This case supports the need for evaluation of renal dysfunction, vitamin D deficiency and parathyroid gland dysfunction before bisphosphonate treatment and accurate monitoring of plasma calcium and creatinine levels. In addition, vitamin D and calcium supply during treatment with bisphosphonate is mandatory.
Aged ; Arthroplasty ; Calcitriol ; Calcium ; Calcium Gluconate ; Creatinine ; Diphosphonates ; Emergencies ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Gluconates ; Hip ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Imidazoles ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Plasma ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency

PURPOSE: The proper surgical methods for treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation is still controversial. New methods should provide better early motion with sufficient strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed arthroscopic stabilization using TightRope(R) (Arthrex, Inc, Naples, FL) in 10 cases of acromioclavicular joint dislocation between April, 2007, and December, 2007, and followup for a minimum of 10 months. We performed radiologic evaluation by comparing the clavicle anteroposterior radiograph with the contralateral one. Clinical evaluation was made for pain, function, and range of joint motion by Imatani's methods. RESULTS: In clinical evaluation, 6 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and 1 case was poor. In radiologic evaluation, 9 cases were excellent and 1 case was poor. Redislocation occurred in 1 case. CONCLUSION: During short-term followup, 9 of 10 patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization using TightRope(R) had excellent results in Imatini tests and radiologic evaluation, except 1 patient with redislocation.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Clavicle ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints

Obstructive hydrocephalus caused by tectal glioma, which relived by neuroendoscopy, have been described using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI) so far, we present the results obtained from 3T and 7T MRI in this patient. A 21-year-old woman presented at our hospital with gait disturbance, hormonal insufficiency, and urinary incontinence that began prior to 6 years of age. 3.0T MRI revealed a non-enhancing tectal mass along with obstructive hydrocephalus. The mass measured approximately 1.1×1.0×1.2 cm. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed to relieve the hydrocephalus. We compared hydrocephalus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow findings from 3T and 7T MRI, both preoperative and postoperative at 1, 6 months. Intraventricular CSF voiding on T2-weighted images obtained with 7T MRI showed greater fluid inversion than those obtained with 3T MRI. This study shows that 7T brain MRI can provide detailed information on hydrocephalus caused by tectal glioma. Further studies are needed to develop refined 7T MRI protocols for better images of hydrocephalus.
Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Female ; Gait ; Glioma* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neuroendoscopy ; Urinary Incontinence ; Ventriculostomy ; Young Adult

We developed the 166Ho-chitosan, the new radiation synovectomy agent. Holmium is the more practical isotope based on its longer half-life. And chitosan, is ideal and suitable particles based on its soluble and biodegradable characteristics. We investigated the biocompatibility of the 166Ho-chitosan complex to evaluate the suitability as a radiation synovectomy agent. In vitro stability test, the 166Ho-chitosan complex suspension in saline was stored at room temperture and 37degrees C for 25 days and decay rate was of determined by ITLC(Instant Thin Layer Chromatography). In vivo stability test, the 166Ho-chitosan complex was injected into rabbit joints and followed by gamma camera imaging to quantify extra-articular leakage. Biodistribution study, the 166Ho-chitosan complex was injected into rabbit joints. After 48 hours heart, liver, urinary bladder, spleen, lung, brain, kidney, blood were extracted and radioactivities were measured. In vitro stability test, there was no significant change of radioactivity and no leakage problem indicating the prepared 166Ho-chitosan complex is sufficiently stable. In vivo stability tests revealed that more than 98% of the 166Ho-chitosan remained in joint over a 2 days period. The mean retention percentage of 166Ho-chitosan in knee were 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.8%, 99.7% at 2 h, 6 h, 1 day and 2 days, respectively. A biodistribution study of the rabbits revealed that leakage to heart, liver, urinary bladder, spleen, lung, brain, kidney, blood is 0.71, 1.5, 0.50, 1.5, 0.25, 0.26, 0.81, 0.065(% Injected Dose x 10-3/gram), respectively. The 166Ho-chitosan complex shows less leakge than any other radiation synovectomy agents. Our results indicate that 166Ho-chitosan have the biocompatibility and the suitability as a radiation synovectomy agent.
Brain ; Chitosan* ; Half-Life ; Heart ; Holmium ; Joints ; Kidney ; Knee ; Liver ; Lung ; Rabbits* ; Radioactivity ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Spleen ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of chest radiographs in scoliosis screening and to compare these results with those of thoraco-lumbar standing radiographs (TLSR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During Korean conscription, 419 males were retrospectively examined using both chest radiographs and TLSR to confirm the scoliosis and Cobb angle at the Regional Military Manpower. We compared the types of spinal curves and Cobb angles as measured from different radiographs. RESULTS: In the pattern of spinal curves, the overall matching rate of chest radiographs using TLSR was about 58.2% (244 of 419 cases). Cobb angle differences between chest radiographs and TLSR with meaningful difference was observed in 156 cases (37.2%); a relatively high proportion (9.5%) of Cobb angle differences more than 10 degrees was also observed. The matching rate of both spinal curve types and Cobb angle accuracy between chest radiographs and TLSR was 27.9% (117 among 419 cases). Chest radiographs for scoliosis screening were observed with 93.94% of sensitivity and 61.67% of specificity in thoracic curves; however, less than 40% of sensitivity (38.27%, 20.00%, and 25.80%) and more than 95% of specificity (97.34%, 99.69%, and 98.45%) were observed in thoraco-lumbar, lumbar, and double major curves, respectively. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of chest radiographs for scoliosis screening was low. The incidence of thoracic curve scoliosis was overestimated and lumbar curve scoliosis was easily missed by chest radiography. Scoliosis screening using chest radiography has limited values, nevertheless, it is useful method for detecting thoracic curve scoliosis.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography, Thoracic/methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis/*diagnosis/*radiography ; Young Adult

The lumbosacral area is one of the most frequently operated spine regions because of the prevalence of disease in that area. Although a lumbosacral soft tissue defect after surgery due to inflammation and other causes is rare, such soft tissue defects are difficult to treat. Therefore, suitable methods for treating lumbosacral soft tissue defects are necessary. Therefore, this study introduces a case-treated with a transverse lumbosacral rotational flap.
Inflammation ; Prevalence ; Spine