BACKGROUND: Sun exposure and therapeutic irradiation have been shown to induce alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including elastin, glycosaminoglycan and collagens. The integrity of the connective tissue mainly depends on balanced rates of matrix synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be involved in ultraviolet irradiation (UVR)-induced alterations in ECM proteins. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of UVA as well as UVB irradiations on ST-1 gene expression in cultured human skin fibroblasts. METHODS: After exposure of different doses of UVA and UVB on cultured human skin fibroblasts, we examined the expression of ST-1 gene by Northern blot analysis, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay with CAT construct containing AP-1 binding site. Additionally, we carried out the gel mobility shift assay to investigate the effects of UVR on the DNA-binding activity of AP-1. RESULTS: After UVR on fibroblasts, the steady-state levels of ST-1 mRNA were in-creased in response to UVA and UVB by 2.5-fold and 4.2-fold, respectively, as compared with controls. Similar results were obtained by CAT assay showing that CAT activity increased as the UVA and UVB doses increased. Furthermore, gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that both UVA and UVB increased AP-1 DNA binding complexes. CONCLUSION: UVB as well as UVA up-regulated ST-1 gene expression at transcriptional levels in vitro. We speculate that modulation of MMPs, including ST-1, gene expression by UVR may contribute to the connective tissue damage related to photoaging and other photocutaneous disorders.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Northern ; Cats ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; DNA ; Elastin ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Solar System ; Transcription Factor AP-1

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of amitriptyline in patients with urinary frequency or pelvic pain syndrome and compared with propiverine hydrochloride (BUP-4(R)) and diazepam (Valium(R)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-hundred and sixty-eight patients with urinary frequency or pain were included and 38 out of 168 patients were lost to follow up. The patients with interstitial cystitis, UTI and neurogenic bladder were excluded. Amitriptyline group were instructed to take 25mg to 75mg of amitriptyline before bed. Propiverine hy drochloride and diazepam group were instructed to take 20mg, 4-6mg before bed, respectively. The clinical effects and side effects were evaluated after 4 weeks of medication. RESULTS: In the amitriptyline group, 73.1% in 78 patients with frequency, 68.3% in 60 pain, 65.6% in 32 nocturia, 53.8% in 26 weak urinary stream, 53.8% in 13 dysuria, 72.7% in 11 urgency showed symptom improvement. Urinary frequency and pain score were significantly decreased in the amitriptyline group. In the propiverine hydrochloride group, 66.7% in 21 patients with frequency, 38.8% in 18 pain showed symptom improvement. In the diazepam group, 37.5% in 24 patients with frequency, 31.3% in 16 pain showed symptom improvement. Side effects of amitriptyline had appeared in 24 (27.6%) out of 87 patients; 17 cases of dry mouth, 10 drowsiness, 2 agitation, 2 nausea, 1 constipation and 1 skin rash. CONCLUSIONS: Amitriptyline is useful in vague voiding symptoms especially in urinary frequency and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It is equally effective in both men and women. Side effects are minimal and tolerable. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial is necessary for general acceptance in the future.
Amitriptyline* ; Constipation ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; Diazepam ; Dihydroergotamine ; Dysuria ; Exanthema ; Female ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Mouth ; Nausea ; Nocturia ; Pelvic Pain* ; Rivers ; Sleep Stages ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

An experimental studies were carried out to observe the protective effects of malotilate, a new antihepatotoxic agent, on the chronic hepatic injury induced by CCl4 with or without ethanol. The rats used weighed about 200g were divided into 2 groups, 4 weeks & 8 weeks. Each group was given by orally with malotilate, 100 mg/kg, once a day, and was injected by subcutaneously with CCl4 1.5 mg/kg in a mixture with olive oil twice a week. Aqueous ethanol (20%) was administered in drinking water daily. The serochemical and histopathological studies were carried out in each experimental group. The results were as follows: 1. The chronic liver injuries induced by CCl4 with or without ethanol were significantly ameliorated by normalize serum values GOT, GPT. Alkaline phosphatase, Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. 2. In Group of 4 weeks, malotilate manifested protective effects by significant inhibition of fatty changes, spotty necrosis and fibrosis in CCl4-intoxicated liver with or without additional ethanol. 3. In group of 8 weeks, malotilate significantly imoproved fatty changes, fibrogenic activity in the group administered with CCl4, followed by ethanol.
Rats ; Animals

The authors experienced 186 cases of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome(FBSS), which were 2.5% of all admitted patients in authors' clinic from 1983 to 1992. Among them, 173 patients were referred cases from other hospital and 13 patients were authors' cases which was 0.2% of authors' back surgery. About 75% of all was come to our clinic within 2 years after initial operation. The common cause of FBSS was resulted form inadequate surgery or surgical complications (51%). In these cases, incomplete decompression at initial operation was seemed to be a major factor. The next causes was due to inadequate patient selection(26.3%) and the FBSS was more prevalent when the patient had only back pain without leg pain. The other causes of FBSS was post-operative adhesion(8.6%), discitis(4.3%), and inadequate diagnosis(4.3%). So about 80% of FBSS seem to have preventable causes. 66 of 186 cases was performed reoperation and 70% of them had improvement.
Back Pain ; Decompression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis ; Leg ; Reoperation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Failure of a glaucoma filtering operation mainly results from scarring at the filtering wound, and postoperative proliferation and migration of fibroblasts play an important role histologically in the formation of scar tissue. As an inhibitory agent for fibroblast proliferation, gamma-interferon has been introduced, and the application of gamma-interferon following filtering surgery is now being made on a trial basis. We studied the effect of gamma-interferon histologically on the fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis occurring at the filtering site by comparing the effect of gamma-interferon on the experimental group with that of 5-fluorouracil on the control group, using 10 rabbits (20 eyes) after posterior lip sclerectomy. Both groups showed similar flat and diffused bleb grossly and also showed a similar inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation and collagen fiber synthesis histologically. Our findings seem to justify the clinical use of gamma-interferon. Further studies on adequate dosage, method of administration, and local and systemic complications would be desired.
Animals ; Anterior Chamber/drug effects ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Collagen/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/drug effects ; Fluorouracil/pharmacology ; Glaucoma/pathology/*surgery ; Interferon-gamma/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sclera/pathology ; *Sclerostomy

Ureteral stricture is a problem that always has confronted urology. The development of balloon dilatation has introduced new modalities for the management of ureteral stricture disease. We experienced the ten patients of the ureteral stricture from July 1988 to April 1990. The following results were obtained. 1. Transluminal balloon dilatation is simple, safe technique for ureteral stricture. 2. After dilatation. most cases of stricture were improved on urography immediately. but follow up results were not so much improved. 3. Success rate of ureteral balloon dilatation was low (40% ). Therefore, we felt that secondary therapy modalities should be considered if first attempt was failed.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ureter* ; Urography ; Urology

The present study was aimed at investigating the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and urinary responses to acute perturbations in fluid balance and the vascular function in diabetes mellitus (DM). DM was induced in rats by treatment with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). Ten weeks later, the plasma ANP concentration measured in the conscious state was significantly higher in DM group (27.5 +/- 3.9 pg/mL) than in the control (15.4 +/- 2.6 pg/mL), while the atrial tissue contents of ANP were lower. In response to acute extracellular volume expansion (VE), amounting up to 5% of body weight over 45 min, under thiopental anesthesia (50 mg/kg, i.p.), the magnitude of increase in plasma ANP was lower in the DM group than in the control (56.8 +/- 25.2 vs. 189.1 +/- 53.6% increases over the basal). Urinary sodium excretion during VE was also lower in the DM group. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of the isolated aortic rings was attenuated in the DM group, which was partially restored by L-arginine-supplementation (2 g/L in drinking water). These results suggest that body fluid homeostasis and vascular functions are unfavorably altered in DM.
Animals ; Aorta/drug effects ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor/blood/*metabolism/urine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood/*metabolism/urine ; Heart Atria/metabolism ; Male ; Plasma Volume ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasodilation/drug effects/*physiology

We report a case of linear arranged multiple cutaneous leiomyoma in a 45-year-old man. About 20 years ago, multiple normal skin colored firm papules developed on the left anterior chest and increased in number and size arranging in linear pattern. Some larger nodular lesions changed into brown in color and became painful after cold exposure. The lesions looked like keloid at first sight but the histopathologic finding showed typical leiomyoma in which the interlacing bundles of smooth muscle fibers with varying amount of collagen bundles intermingled.
Collagen ; Humans ; Keloid ; Leiomyoma* ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Skin ; Thorax

In a comparative, prospective randomized study 200 patients underwent myelography using iopamidol (150 patients) or metrizamide (50 patients) as contrast medium. Adverse reactions were few, mild, and short in duration in iopamidol myelography compared to metrizamide myelography. Seizure occured in 2 patients with the use of metrizamide. Iopamidol appears to be superior to metrizamide for intrathecal administration.
Humans ; Iopamidol* ; Metrizamide ; Myelography* ; Prospective Studies ; Seizures

Intrameduallary spinal hemangioblastoma is frequently associated with syringomyelia. It grows slowly and can be removed totally. Syringomyelia can be subcided by total removal of tumor and opening of syringomyelia. Two cases of intramedullary spinal hemangioblastomas associated with syringomyelia are reported. Intramedullary tumor and syrinx was easily diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). They are successfully managed by total removal of tumor and opening of syrinx. Patients showed improved neurological status after operations.
Hemangioblastoma* ; Humans ; Syringomyelia*