BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

To identify the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we retrospectively analyzed 600 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy who were treated at the Department of Surgery, Chung Ang University from September 1990 to December l992. We intentionally divided periods into 3 groups to observe the frequency of morbidity and mortality, early and late complications, duration of operation and postoperative hospitalization with accumulaton of surgical experiences and techniques. The most prevalent age group was 6th decades, male to female ratio was 1: 1.47 and associated diseases were hypertension, obesity, pulmonary tuberculosis in order of frequency and previous abdominal operations were appendectomy, TAH, C-section in order of frequency. The duration of operation was 38.6 minutes and postoperative hospitalization was 6.2 days. The most frequent pathologic diagnosis was chronic cholecystitis. The postoperative complications were noted in 15 cases(2.5%) including 5 cases of bleeding 4 cases of bile leakage. The number of patients who needed parenteral narcotics was decreased in later peiod. According to oral cholecystogram, opacification correlated with duration of operation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Appendectomy ; Bile ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intention ; Male ; Mortality ; Narcotics ; Obesity ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.
Hematoma*

Four cases of subungal exostosis are presented. All of them were young male and big toe was involved in 2 cases. Histological features of subungal exostosis was characteristic; the cancellous bony stalk was capped mainly fibrocartilage, although scattered areas of hyaline cartilage were also found where enchondal ossification occured. Superficial to this cartilaginous cap, there was fibrous tisse covering. When terminal phalax of a toe shows deformity of nail and skin changes due to hard mass, radiological examination is required for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Complete local excision is required but damage to the nail bed during excision should be avoided.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Exostoses ; Fibrocartilage ; Hallux ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Male ; Skin ; Toes

No abstract available.
Polymerase Chain Reaction*

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is a clinical syndrome of painful ophthalmoplegia associated with an idiopathic inflammation in the superior orbital fissure or cavernous sinus. We report a 61-year-old woman with recurrent THS. She had been treated with steroids for the painful ophthalmoplegia. After a symptom-free period, she developed similar symptoms. The postcontrast brain MRI showed increased signal in the cavernous sinus, which was also seen in the previous MRI.
Brain ; Cavernous Sinus ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Orbit ; Steroids ; Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: This is a retrospective, descriptive study, evaluating the observed agreement between 1996 & 2002 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definitions of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) for medical intensive care unit (MICU) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. METHODS: A total of 476 adult patients who were over 15 years of age and had been admitted to the MICU & SICU of a university hospital between August 1, 2005 and August 1, 2007 were enrolled. Data were collected from electronic medical records according to the 1996 & 2002 CDC definitions of NP. RESULTS: According to the 1996 CDC definitions of NP, there were a total of 116 NP cases and incidence rate was 11.6 per 1,000 patient-days; when analyzed with the 2002 CDC definitions of NP, 75 cases met the criteria and the incidence rate was 7.5 per 1,000 patient-days. Kappa value measuring agreement between the two definitions was 0.67 (95% confidence interval 0.601-0.706). When 1996 CDC definitions were compared with 2002 CDC definitions, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 93.3, 88.5, 60.3, and 98.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Even though the aforementioned NP criteria had been applied to the same study population, the number of patients that met the definitions changed depending on which criteria had been used. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the differences when making a comparison.
Adult ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In order to elucidate the biological effects of pulsating magnetic field in in vitro culture system we designed a pulsating magnetic apparatus using 120 Hertz, 24 Volt direct current. It can generate 63~225 Gauss in the experimental area of 90 mm petri dish, and has little thermal effect on the culture media in 37.5oC, 5% CO2. Human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured in the pulsating magnetic field and the nuclear changes of cultured cells were observed routinely by hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic change was detected by ApopTag staining using both peroxidase and fluorescein labelings. Compared to the control group which formed well organized whorling pattern of HOS cell line in 3 days culture, the HOS cells cultured in the pulsating magnetic field for 12 hours or 24 hours grew irregularly and showed increased number of apoptotic cells. When the flow of pulsating magnetic field was interrupted by insertion of strong permanent magnetic bar (1000 Gauss, 5530 mm) beneath the petri dish during in vitro culture, the area of sparse pulsating magnetic field showed active proliferation and aggregation of HOS cells even in 24 hour exposure group. These data suggest that the pulsating magnetic field may play a role in inducing growth retardation and apoptosis of HOS cells. Furthermore, the hazardous effects of pulsating magnetic field can be lessened or nullified by the interruption of pulsating magnetic field with a strong permanent magnetic bar.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fluorescein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Magnetic Fields* ; Osteosarcoma* ; Peroxidase

Schilder’s disease is a rare sporadic demyelinating disease of the brain. We report a girl with Schilder’s disease who had undergone Kasai operation for biliary atresia. The patient presented with acute right hemiparesis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a single large tumefactive white matter lesion. A diagnosis of Schilder’s disease was based on clinical features and MRI findings. The patient showed dramatic clinical improvement and significant regression of the lesion in response to high-dose intravenous methyl prednisone, and remained free of relapse of other neurologic problems during the 3-year follow-up.