No abstract availble

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Vaccines* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] regulates synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex. Although the effects of 5-HT on plasticity showed huge diversity depending on the ages of animals and species, it has been unclear how 5-HT can show such diverse effects. In the rat visual cortex, 5-HT suppressed long-term potentiation (LTP) at 5 weeks but enhanced LTP at 8 weeks. We speculated that this difference may originate from differential regulation of neurotransmission by 5-HT between the age groups. Thus, we investigated the effects of 5-HT on apha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)-, gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABA(A)R)-, and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR)-mediated neurotransmissions and their involvement in the differential regulation of plasticity between 5 and 8 weeks. AMPAR-mediated currents were not affected by 5-HT at both 5 and 8 weeks. GABA(A)R-mediated currents were enhanced by 5-HT at both age groups. However, 5-HT enhanced NMDAR-mediated currents only at 8 weeks. The enhancement of NMDAR-mediated currents appeared to be mediated by the enhanced function of GluN2B subunit-containing NMDAR. The enhanced GABA(A)R- and NMDAR-mediated neurotransmissions were responsible for the suppression of LTP at 5 weeks and the facilitation of LTP at 8 weeks, respectively. These results indicate that the effects of 5-HT on neurotransmission change with development, and the changes may underlie the differential regulation of synaptic plasticity between different age groups. Thus, the developmental changes in 5-HT function should be carefully considered while investigating the 5-HT-mediated metaplastic control of the cortical network.
Animals ; Critical Period (Psychology)* ; Humans ; Long-Term Potentiation* ; N-Methylaspartate* ; Plastics ; Rats* ; Receptors, AMPA ; Receptors, GABA ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Serotonin ; Synaptic Transmission ; Visual Cortex*

No abstract availble.
Colitis/*complications/pathology ; Colon/*radiography ; Female ; Gases ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis/etiology/*radiography ; Portal Vein/*radiography

No abstract availble.
Colitis/*complications/pathology ; Colon/*radiography ; Female ; Gases ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis/etiology/*radiography ; Portal Vein/*radiography

No abstract available.
Double-Balloon Enteroscopy*

The role of the periosteum on osteointegration of Bio-Oss(R)(Geistlich, Wolhusen/Switzerland) was studied in rabbit calvarial defect. 12 New Zealand white male rabbits between 2.8 and 4 kg were included in this randomized, blinded, prospective study. Each rabbit was anesthetized with Ketamine HCl(5 mg/kg) and Xylazine HCl(1.5 ml/kg). An incision was made to the bony cranium and the periosteum was reflected. Using a 6-mm trephine bur(3i. USA), four 8-mm defects were created with copious irrigation. The defects were classified into barrier membrane(Tefgen(R), Lifecore Biomedical, Inc, U.S.A.) only group as a control, Bio-Oss(R) with barrier membrane group, Bio-Oss(R) with periosteum covering group, and Bio-Oss(R) without periosteum covering group. There were 2 rabbits in each group. The wound was closed with resorbable suture materials. Rabbits were sacrificed using phentobarbital(100 mg/kg) intravenously at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery. The samples were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and decalcified in hydrochloric acid decalcifying solution(Fisher Scientific, Tustin, CA) at 4degrees C for 2-4 weeks. It was embedded in paraffin and cut into 6 micrometer thickness. The sections were stained with H & E and observed by optical microscope. The results were as follows; 1. The periosteum played an important role in osteointegration of Bio-Oss(R) in bone defects. 2. When the periosteum remained intact and Bio-Oss(R) was placed on the defect, Bio-Oss(R) with periosteum covering has been incorporated into the newly formed bone from 2-week postoperatively. 3. When the periosteum was removed at the surgical procedure, invasion of connective tissue took place among the granules, and new bone formation was delayed compared to periosteum covering group. Therefore, when the bone grafting was performed with periosteal incision procedure to achieve tension-free suture, the integrity of the overlying periosteum should be maintained to avoid fibrous tissue ingrowth.
Bone Regeneration* ; Bone Transplantation ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Ketamine ; Male ; Membranes ; New Zealand ; Osteogenesis ; Paraffin ; Periosteum* ; Prospective Studies ; Rabbits ; Skull ; Sutures ; Wounds and Injuries ; Xylazine

Myocarditis is defined as the myocardial inflammation caused by various infectious agents (such as virus, rickettsia , bacteria, protozoa, fungus and parasites). The clinical manifestations of myocarditis ranges from the asymptomatic state due to focal inflammation to fulminant fatal congestive heart failure secondary to diffuse myocardial involvement. Clinically, in some cases, it may simulate an acute myocardial infarction. We experienced a case of acute fulminant myocarditis that presented as acute myocardial infarction initially, and then progressed into and recovered from congestive heart failure and multiorgan failure.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Bacteria ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Fungi ; Heart Failure* ; Inflammation ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocarditis* ; Rickettsia

Serum is free of cellular components. Because DNA is located in the nuclei or mitochondria of cells, serum could be assumed DNA free. Few previously published case reports to date have used serum for DNA typing. Here, we report on human genotyping via short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using serum as a sample, and discuss problems involved in the process.
DNA Fingerprinting* ; DNA* ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Mitochondria

Since the first introduction of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in 2001, DBE has been refined for complete exploration of the small bowel and therapeutic interventions. Diagnostic DBE using a model EN-450P5 (Fujinon, Saitama, Japan) equipped with a small accessory channel is mainly used for endoscopic observation and limited therapeutic procedures including injection therapy, argon plasma coagulation and polypectomy. Therapeutic DBE utilizing a model EN-450T5 (Fujinon, Saitama, Japan) equipped with a larger accessory channel was developed for various endoscopic interventions. Recently, new enteroscopic techniques such as single balloon enteroscopy and spiral enteroscopy were introduced. These enteroscopic techniques are all used for the controlled observation, targeted tissue sampling for pathologic evaluation and various therapeutic interventions. The overall complication rate of DBE seems acceptable but that of therapeutic DBE is higher than diagnostic DBE and therapeutic colonoscopies because the small intestinal wall is much thinner than other intestinal wall. This review provides an overview concerning therapeutic interventions of DBE.
Argon Plasma Coagulation ; Colonoscopy ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy ; Endoscopy ; Intestine, Small