No abstract available.
Mass Screening*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

A 'circadian rhythm' is a self-sustained biological rhythm (cycle) that repeats itself approximately every 24 hours. Circadian rhythms are generated by an internal clock, or pacemaker, and persist even in the absence of environmental time cues, collectively termed 'zeitgebers.' Although organisms generate circadian rhythms internally, they are entrained by environmental stimuli, particularly the light-dark cycle. Measurement of the endogenous melatonin rhythm provides relatively reliable surrogate way of assessing the timing of the internal circadian clock. Also, core body temperature and cortisol can be used as markers of circadian rhythms. The sleep-wake cycle, body temperature, and melatonin rhythm have a stable internal phase relationship in humans and other diurnal species. They play an important role in controlling daily behavioral rhythms including task performance, blood pressure, and synthesis and secretion of several hormones. In this review, we address not only the properties, methods of measurement, and markers of circadian rhythms, but also the physiological and psychological importance of human circadian rhythms.
Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Circadian Clocks ; Circadian Rhythm* ; Cues ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Melatonin ; Photoperiod ; Task Performance and Analysis

No abstract available.
Malacoplakia* ; Urinary Bladder*

Current concept of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia involves the generalized dysfunction of maternal vascular endothelial cells. Using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method, the fibronectin, as a marker of endothelial cell injury, was measured in the group of 35 cases of preeclampsia (mild; 15 and severe; 20 cases) and the control group of 21 cases of normal pregnancy. The clinical profiles, hematologic and renal function test results were compared and correlated with the levels of plasma fibronectin between two groups. The results obtained were as follows 1. The mean age between preeclampsia and control group was not different statistically, but gestational age, birth weight and maternal weight were different significantly between two groups. 2. Compared with normal control group, plasma levels of fibronectin were signifi- cantly elevated in preeclampsia group. As to the differential validity between two groups (control vs preeclampsia), using cutoff value of 380 mg/dl, sensitivity was 95.7 %, specificity was 90.5 %, predictive value was 93.8 %. As to the differential validity between mild and severe preeclampsia, using cutoff value of 742 mg/dl, sensitivity was 65.0 %, specificity was 73.3 %, predictive value was 76.5%. 3. As to the correlationship between plasma fibronectin levels and hematologic test results, uric acid and creatinine levels showed positive correlation in preeclampsia. Based upon these study results, plasma fibronectin could be a useful parameter for the differential diagnostic validity and grade of preeclampsia.
Birth Weight ; Creatinine ; Endothelial Cells ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibronectins* ; Gestational Age ; Hematologic Tests ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uric Acid

The molecular mechanisms that regulate glossal muscle cell cycle and terminal differentiation remain largely unknown. To determine which cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are important for glossal cell proliferation, we have examined expression of cyclins CDKs, CKIs during normal glossal muscle development in the rat. All cyclins, CDKs, and KIP/CIP family of CKIs were highly expressed during fetal glossal muscle development, then they decreased at different rates after birth. While the mRNAs of cyclin Dl, D3, E , A, and B decreased gradually in glossal muscle during all stages of development, the protein levels of these cyclins decreased differently in tongue during pre- and postnatal development. While the functionally active formed of cyclin Dl, cyclin D3 and E proteins were observed until 7 days after birth, cyclin A and B proteins were decreased more slowly. While the CDK4, CDK6, CDK2, cdc2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) proteins were higllly present during fetal glossal muscle development and gradually decreased during postnatal development. Particularly, cdc2 levels decreased markedly after birth. Immunohistochemical data for PCNA was consistent with Western blotting data for PCNA temporally and spatially. The mRNA and protein levels of p21, p27, and p57 were high, then their levels changed differently during glossal development. While the mRNA levels of p21 and p57 decreased gradually, the mRNA level of p27 did not change during glossal development. While the protein levels of p21 and p57 in tongue decreased markedly after birth, the protein levels of p27 increased slightly after birth, then decreased at adulthood. These findings suggest that the all cyclins and CDKs observed are involved in glossal muscle cell cycle, and reduction of cyclins and CDKs and induction of p21 are associated with the withdrawal of glossal muscle cell cycle after birth.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin A ; Cyclin D3 ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases* ; Cyclins* ; Humans ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle Development ; Parturition ; Phosphotransferases* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tongue

OBJECTIVES: Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. METHODS: A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). RESULTS: The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.
Alzheimer Disease ; Dementia* ; Depression* ; Fasting ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease(AD) and mild cognitive impairment(MCI) affect several nervous structures involved with the autonomic nervous system. Association between neuropsychiatric deficits and heart rate variability has been observed. But cardiac autonomic function in AD has been scarcely studied and the results reported are conflicting. We investigated autonomic function in normal control, MCI, AD using heart rate variabil-ity(HRV) technique. METHODS: Time and frequency-domain variability of 5-min R-R interval series was comparatively evaluated in 26 normal control subjects, 22 MCI subjects and 34 AD subjects. Analysis of variance(ANOVA) was used to compare the differences across groups. Correlations between MMSE-KC and HRV components were performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed among the groups in time, frequency-domain analysis of HRV (p>0.05). HRV were not found to be significantly correlated with the degree of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in HRV with MCI, AD subjects when compared with normal controls. Further investigation is required to use HRV technique as noninvasive parameters of MCI and AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Mild Cognitive Impairment

To a patient suffering from intractable pain due to the terminal state of cervix cancer, 7% phenol-glycerine solution was injected through the L2-L3 interspace. We obtained a good result of pain relief, but motor paralysis developed.
Humans ; Pain, Intractable ; Paralysis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Fingers* ; Plastics*