Objective: To examine the effects of Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) extract on the modulation of calcium channels to evaluate its use in topical agents for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Methods: The 70% methanol extract of T. terrestris was prepared. Human HEK293T cells with over-expressed calcium release-activated calcium channel protein 1 (Orai1), transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, or transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) were treated with T. terrestris extract. Modulation of ion channels was measured using a conventional whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results: T. terrestris extract (100 mg/mL) significantly inhibited Orai1 activity in Orai1-stromal interaction molecule 1 co-overexpressed HEK293T cells. In addition, T. terrestris extract significantly increased the TRPV3 activity compared with 2-Aminoethyl diphe-nylborinate (100 mmol/L), which induces the full activation of TRPV3. Conclusions: Our results suggest that T. terrestris extract may have a therapeutic po-tential for recovery of abnormal skin barrier pathologies in atopic dermatitis through modulating the activities of calcium ion channels, Orai1 and TRPV3. This is the first study to report the modulatory effect of a medicinal plant on the function of ion channels in skin barrier.

No abstract available.
Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Thrombosis*

Successful repair of lacerated tendons must restore continuity of the tendon and should yield a strong tenorrhaphy. Mechanical strength of repair should be adequate to early postoperative motion and mobility, The optimal repair technique must be able to withstand the rigors of early motion and also must not interfere with tendon healing. The relative strength of three suture methods of lacerated tendon were measured by mechanical disruption in effort to determine the strength of suture technique. Fifty-four Calcaneal tendons of 27 the New Zealand white rabbit were transected at mid portion and repaired with the three suture technique: group 1, Kessler suture, group 2, Pennington’s modified-Kessler suture and group 3, augmented- Becker suture technique. Each group was composed of 18 calcaneal tendons. Nine rabbits were sacrified immediately after suture, nine in postoperative 2 weeks and nine in postoperative 4 weeks Six calcaneal tendons in each three experimental group were obtained immediately after suture, at postoperative 2 and 4 weeks respectively. Tensile strength, maximum strength and modulus of elasticity of all experimental specimens were measured with Instron-UTM-4-100(Toyo-Baldiwin, Japan). The results were evaluated statistically to compare the strength of the three suture technique at three different periods. The tensile strength was predominantly strongest in augmented-Becker method among three suture technique at immediate suture, postoperative 2 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. The augmented Becker repair was strongest in maximum stress among Kessler and modified Kessler repair at immediate operation, postoperative 2 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. The augmented Becker repair was highest in modulus of elasticity than Kessler method and modified-Kessler method at immediate operation, postoperative 2 weeks and postoperative 4 weeks respectively. Tensile strength, maximum stress and modulus of elasticity were gradually increased from immediate operation to postoperative 4 weeks, but there were not statistically significance between experimental three suture methods at postoperative 4 weeks.
Elastic Modulus ; Methods ; New Zealand ; Rabbits ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures ; Tendons ; Tensile Strength

PURPOSE:We report the results of image-guided percutaneous biopsies with a biopsy gun and evaluate the clinical usefullness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five biopsies under ultrasonographic or fiuoroscopic guidance were performed. Various anatomic sites were targeted (liver;50, chest;22, kidney;12, pancreas;8, intraperitoneum;7, retroperitoneum; ). RESULTS:Obtained tissue was diagnostic in 98 of the 105 biopsies(93%). In each instance, representative core tissue specimens were obtained. Evaluation of the core tissue by pathologist revealed consistent, uniform specimens that contained significant crush artifact in no case. Five biopsies yielded inadeguate tissues which were too small for histopathologic interpretation or were composed of necrotic debris. Two biopsies yielded adequate tissues, but tissues were not of the target. The diagnoses were malignancy in 77 biopsies and benign disease in 21 biopsies. No complications other than mild, localized discomfort were encountered except a transient hemoptysis and pneumothorax which was observed in two patients. CONCLUSION:Cutting biopsy with a biopsy gun provided sufficient amount of target tissue for an accurate diagnosis of malignant and benign disease. It was a safe and useful procedure for percutaneous biopsy.
Artifacts ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Pneumothorax

Tenosynovitis of the extremities is not uncommon but its diagnosis is not easy owing to its non-specific clinical manifestation. Thus it was beyond the field of imaging diagnosis so far. Recently the development of high resolution ultrasonogram has aided preoperative imaging diagnosis of tenosynovitis. The authors performed a retrospective review of 27 patients who had ultrasonography due to tendon pathology(including 18 tenosynovites) by oserving sonographic finding and evaluation the diagnostic value of each finding. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 81.1% and common sonographic findings were focal swelling of the tendon. well-defined margin of the lesion, preserved fibrillar pattern, echo change of the lesion site and fluid collection. Above al,. fluid collection was the only statistically significant criterion for diagnosis of tenosynovitis (p<0.05). But its sensitivity was as low as 50%. In conclusion the ultrasonography is useful in diagnosis of tenosynovitis and fluid collection is of diagnostic value, but the differentiation between nodular tenosynovitis without fluid collection and other benign tumor is still beyond the scope of ultrasonographic diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Tendons ; Tenosynovitis* ; Ultrasonography*

We reviewed MR angiograms to evaluate its efficacy for visualizing the renal arteries and detecting renovascular disease. 41 renal arteries in 19 patients were examined by MR angiography. 3-D time-of-flight technique was used as routine examination method for MR angiography and 2-D time-of-flight technique was added in some particular cases to visualize venous flow. Within two weeks after MR angiography was performed, 23 renal arteries in 10 patients were additionally examined by conventional angiography or intraarterial DSA. The success rates of vessel visualization on MR angiography in normal renal arteries were 100% in main 67.7% in segmental, and 11.8% in intrarenal arteries. As a result of comparative study in normal main renal arteries with MR angiograms and conventional angiograms, overall correspondence in the number and the shape was noted and the caliber discrepancy between two examination did not exceed 3.0 mm. one arteriovenous fistula with aneurysm, one stenotic artery and two occluded arteries were well evaluated One arteriovenous fistula with aneurysm, and two occluded arteries were well evaluated by MR angiography. However three stenotic lesions were misdiagnosed as occlusions on MR angiography. and the overall accuracy was 87%. We conclude that MR angiography has the potential to be a noninvasive and useful screening method for determining the number of renal arteries and for detection of abnormalities of main renal arteries.
Aneurysm ; Angiography* ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Renal Artery*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate success and perforation rates of pneumatic reduction and to find the predictors of reduction failure. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed 224 cases of pediatric intussusception diagnosed by air-enema between July, 1989 and June, 1992. The mean age was 9.8 months(range, 1 month to 3 years). Logistic regression analysis was used to find predictors of reduction failure. RESULTS: Successful reduction was achieved in 197 cases(87.9% of success rate). Bowel perforation occurred in two cases(0.9% of perforation rate). There were two statistically significant predictors of failure;(1) ileoileocolic intussusception(p<.001), (2) long duration of symptom(p<.001). Surgery was performed in 26 cases (11.6%), of which seven required bowel resection. CONCLUSION: Pneumatic reduction is a useful means in the management of pediatric intussusception with a high success rate and no mortality.
Child* ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Intussusception* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality

In order to investigate the possibility of using a cervical vertebral maturation indicator as a mandibular growth indicator, the relationship of cervical vertebral maturation and mandibular & body height growth changes was assessed in biennial serial lateral cephalometric raadiographs of eighteen korean male and fourteen korean female while they were 8.5 to 185 years old. The following results were obtained. 1. It was a reliable method to evaluate skeletal maturation by using cervical vertebrae. 2. In general, cervical vertebral maturation stages of females were higher than those of males at the same age and there were significant differences in statistics at the age of 105, 14.5. 3. The age of a female at the same cervical vertebral maturation stage were earlier than that of a male. 4. In the case of males, significant Ar-Gn increases were found between stage 3 and 4,5 Ar-Go increases between stage 4 and 5. 5. In the case of females, significant S-Gn and Ar-Gn increases were found between stage 3 and 4. 6. Significant body height increases were found between stage 3 and 4 in both sexes. 7. The peak velocity of body height and mandibular length was observed between cervical vertebral maturation stage 3 and 4 in botli series. 8. The relationship between- inandibular & body height changes and specific maturation stage of cervical vertebra was found, therfore using a cervical vertebral maturation indicator as mandibular growth indicator is quite within realms of possibility.
Body Height ; Cervical Vertebrae* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the sexual behavior, health risk related to reproductive health, and characteristics of sexual experience among college students in Korea. METHODS: Six thousands college students were selected through proportional quota sampling based on region, college, and gender. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to describe the data. RESULTS: Thirty eight percent (N=2,285) of the participants reported sexual intercourse. The mean age of first time sexual intercourse was 19.3 years old. Respondents reported the following health risks such as smoking, drinking, not exercising, no regular meal patterns, chronic disease status, and weight loss over 10 kg in the past three months showed significant differences by sexual intercourse experience (p<.01). Among those who had sexual intercourse experiences, 7.1% of them reported having a history of STDs and 11.6% reported a pregnancy or pregnancy of one's partner. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study reflect the current trends of sex behaviors among college students and correlations between health risks related to reproductive health and sexual intercourse experiences. Developing reproductive health education programs based on the findings and providing the programs to college students through a school nurse is suggested.
Chronic Disease ; Coitus ; Drinking ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Meals ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic patial nephrectomy is still one of challenging surgeries in laparoscopic urologic field and needs skillful technique of surgeons. When performing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, initial plan of how to approach affects the whole course of the surgery. To propose a systematic decision guideline, we used the tumor location as the determining factor for selecting initial plan and analyzed our initial experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2005 to April 2008, we performed 22 LPNs for small renal tumors less than 40mm in diameter, as measured from the preoperative computed tomography scans. We divided the tumor locations into 18 categories with the combinations of the anterior and posterior renal axes, and the upper, middle, lower parts of the kidney and the peripheral, central and hilar locations of the tumor. According to the tumor location categories, we performed LPNs through the retroperitoneal simple and complex approaches, and the transperitoneal simple and complex approaches. RESULTS: Twenty of twenty-two tumors(91%) were removed successfully through 4 different approaches, but 2 cases were converted to laparoscopic radical nephrectomies(LRNs). The mean operation time was 203 minutes, including a mean warm ischemic time(WIT) of 30.7 minutes. Among the 17 cases of RCC, 15 tumors were successfully removed via LPNs, and there were no cases with positive margins and no tumor recurrence during a mean of 14.9 months follow-up with a maximum follow-up period of 34 months. CONCLUSIONS: Dividing the tumor location into 18 categories is useful for deciding on the appropriate laparoscopic approach.
Decision Making ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Laparoscopy ; Nephrectomy ; Recurrence ; Warm Ischemia