Osteoporosis is defined as a pathologic condition that there occurs no change in the chemical composition of the bone, while bone resorption is abnormally increased, compared with osteogenesis, leading to a decrease in bone amount. Though many varieties of therapy have been tried, no definitely effective method has been found. Ginseng saponin is an importanat component of Korean ginseng and many studies have been performed for investigating its effectiveness. But there has been no report on saponin effects to osteoporosis. The purpose of this studies is to find out the effect of saponin in osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy in rats. For the study, 30 rats underwent sham operation(group I) and 90 rats were ovariectomized. In group ll (30 rats), only ovariectomy was performed. In group III (30 rats), 50mg/kg/day ginseng saponin was administered per oral route and group IV (30 rats) was administrated 150mg/kg/day saponin. All the rats were sacrificed at the 16th week. The sections of the femoral shaft were stained using Villanueva bone stain and the sections of the tibia were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The femoral shaft and metaphyseal region were applied to compression device for measurements of bone consistency. The effect of saponin increased weight of the femur. The cross sectional area and cortical area of the femoral shaft were significantly higher in 50mg saponin group(group III) than osteoporosis group. But there was no significant difference in the size and number of osteoclast and the percentage of trabecular bone between saponin group(group III ,IV)and osteoporosis group. In the biomechanical test, the consistency of cortical bone was significantly increased in 50mg saponin group than osteoporosis group. In conclusion, saponin had an effect on experimental osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy in rats. As though its precise mechanism was unknown, we considered that its action mechanism was due to osteoblastic activity resulting in a correction of bone mass deficit in osteoporotic rats.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Female ; Femur ; Methods ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; Panax ; Rats ; Saponins ; Tibia

We experienced a case of adenocarcinoma arising in sacrococcygeal teratoma. The patient was a 52-year-old woman. She was admitted due to one month of sacral pain. She had a sacral mass since birth. On physical examination, anal fistula was present at the perianal area and pus drainage was noted. MR image showed multiple variable-sized cysts with inhomogeneous density. Resected specimen, mesuring 12.5 7.0 cm in diameter, showed multiple variable-sized cystic lesions admixed with grayish solid portion. The cysts contained mucoid material. The microscopic examination showed mature teratoma composed of cysts lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, intestinal mucosa, mature cartilage, bone, and fat tissue. A moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma developed from the cystic area in the mass.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adult ; Cartilage ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Rectal Fistula ; Suppuration ; Teratoma*

The concentration of clotrimazole in the cornea considering the lapse of time after topical administration of 1% clotrimazole, in a single drop or 13 drops at an interval of 5 minutes, was evaluated by agar diffusion bioassay, The rabbits were divided into 3 groups: normal cornea, deepithelized cornea and Aspergillus keratitis, In the case of a single dose, the drug concentration in the normal cornea was lower than the value which can be measured, and the concentration in deeptithelized cornea was significantly higher than in keratitis(p<0.05). In the case of multiple doses, the drug concentration in keratitis was higher than in the deepitheHzed cornea and both of these were higher than in the norma cornea. EspeciaUy the group of keratitis had a significantly higher level(p<0.05) and an abrupt decrease of the drug concentration than the group of deepithelized cornea. This result means that the cornea during inflammation has increased permeability and great metabolic activity. In general the drug concentration in all groups except a single dose in the normal cornea was higher than minimal inhibitory concentration of clotrimazole against A. fumigatus, and this result suggests that the topical administration of 196 dotrimazole is likely to be efficacious in the treatment of Aspergillus keratitis.
Administration, Topical* ; Agar ; Aspergillus ; Biological Assay ; Clotrimazole* ; Cornea* ; Diffusion ; Inflammation ; Keratitis ; Permeability ; Rabbits*

PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy of measuring ultrasonic axial lengths using A-scan (Ocuscan(R), Alcon, USA) on opaque intraocular lenses after hydrophilic lens (ACRL-160(R), Ophthalmed, USA) implantation. METHODS: We measured axial length through ultrasonic biometry prior to intraocular lens exchange. Twelve eyes of 14 patients who had intraocular lens opacity following hydrophilic acryl lens implantation were examined in a clinical study. We compared pre-cataract operative axial lengths to pre-IOL exchange axial lengths. The pre-IOL exchange axial lengths were measured in aphakic and pseudophakic modes. In the pseudophakic mode, the ultrasound velocity through an IOL was set at a rate ranging between 1,500 m/sec to 2,200 m/sec. RESULTS: The pre-IOL exchange axial lengths in the pseudophakic mode at the rate of 1,600 m/sec in lens velocity were the closest to pre-cataract operative values (p=0.88). CONCLUSIONS: When pre-cataract operative axial length is known with a hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens, previous values may be used for IOL exchange of an opacity patient. If not, however, the closest values to pre-cataract operative axial lengths may be obtained by setting the velocity in the pseudophakic mode to a lens velocity rate of 1,600 m/sec.
Biometry ; Eye ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Ultrasonics

Orbital abscess is an inflammatory disease of the orbit which usually aries in children or adults. However, it also arises in infants and an appropriate treatment is needed because it often accompanies more severe symptoms, complications, and permanent sequales. Systemic administration of antibiotics and surgical therapy can be enployed as means of treatment. When one uses surgical therapy in addition to using systemic antibiotics, one can obtain good results with rapid improvement of symptoms and prevention of complications. Surgical aspiration and antibiotic treatment showed good results in an infant who was admitted due to proptosis, chemosis, eyelid edema, and drythema.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Edema ; Exophthalmos ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Orbit*

Orbital abscess is an inflammatory disease of the orbit which usually aries in children or adults. However, it also arises in infants and an appropriate treatment is needed because it often accompanies more severe symptoms, complications, and permanent sequales. Systemic administration of antibiotics and surgical therapy can be enployed as means of treatment. When one uses surgical therapy in addition to using systemic antibiotics, one can obtain good results with rapid improvement of symptoms and prevention of complications. Surgical aspiration and antibiotic treatment showed good results in an infant who was admitted due to proptosis, chemosis, eyelid edema, and drythema.
Abscess* ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Edema ; Exophthalmos ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Orbit*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem* ; Humans*

Objectives: ：Sexual dysfunction is common in both untreated and treated patients with schizophrenia and known as affecting the quality of life and drug compliance. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Korean patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications compared with healthy controls. Methods: ：Subjects were 75 patients who were recruited from outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, who had been stabilized on antipsychotic medications for more than three consecutive months. Control group consisted of 76 volunteers without history of any psychiatric disorder were excluded. We assessed for sexual dysfunction by the ASEX. Results: ：The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the patient group was 57.33%, while that of the control group was 23.37%. Female gender and the use of antidepressants were best predictors of sexual dysfunction in patient group. Sexual difference at sexual drive observed in the control group diminished in the patient group. Conclusion ：The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patient group than control. Clinicians should consider the differential sexual dysfunction effects of antipsychotics when prescribing medications.

Objectives: ：Sexual dysfunction is common in both untreated and treated patients with schizophrenia and known as affecting the quality of life and drug compliance. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in Korean patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications compared with healthy controls. Methods: ：Subjects were 75 patients who were recruited from outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria, who had been stabilized on antipsychotic medications for more than three consecutive months. Control group consisted of 76 volunteers without history of any psychiatric disorder were excluded. We assessed for sexual dysfunction by the ASEX. Results: ：The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the patient group was 57.33%, while that of the control group was 23.37%. Female gender and the use of antidepressants were best predictors of sexual dysfunction in patient group. Sexual difference at sexual drive observed in the control group diminished in the patient group. Conclusion ：The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patient group than control. Clinicians should consider the differential sexual dysfunction effects of antipsychotics when prescribing medications.

BACKGROUND: Recent advance in tissue engineering in the biomedical field shed light on the replacement or regeneration of various organs with synthetic substitutes. Currently emerging cartilage tissue engineering therapies involve artificial cartilage fabricated from three dimensional cultures using appro-priate scaffolds. It is mandatory to expand or proliferate the chondrocytes in vitro to prepare the artificial cartilage. The purpose of this study was to find out the most favorable culture conditions for chon-drocyte viability in vitro. METHODS: Articulr chondrocytes or cartilage explants were isolated from the patellofemoral groove of adult pigs. And then we standardized the size and thickness of the cartilage explants as well as preparing alginate-chondrocyte beads for three-dimensional cultures. The cartilage explants, including 10% fetal bovine serum for 10 days, 36 days and passage 6. Cellualr viability was measured by methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay on monolayer, alginate bead and cartilage explant. SPSS 11.5 was used for data anaylsis. RESULTS: Chondrocytes cultured on monolayers in vitro showed no significant difference in cellular viability until passage 6 following isolation from the patellofemoral groove of adult pigs (P>0.05, n=4). Chondrocyte viability was markedly increased by day 16 both in the monolayer (148%) and three dimensional cultures (245%), and then slightly decreased 126% and 200%, respectively, at day 36. Three dimensional cultures using alginate bead were more favorable for chodrocyte viability than monolayer culture in chondrocyte primary culture (P=0.003, n=6). Chondrocyte viability in the algi-nate bead was increased 300% during 36 days' incubation period (P=0.001, n=3). Cellular viability in the cartilage explant culture was decreased after day 4 in both MTT score (P=0.022, n=10) and MTT OD (P=0.039, n=10). CONCLUSIONS: Three dimensional cultures using alginate bead were the most favorable for chon-drocyte viability in chondrocyte primary cultures.
Adult ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Chondrocytes* ; Humans ; Regeneration ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering