Alternaria cassiae Jurair & Khan was recorded on seeds of sickle senna(Cassia tora L.). Seed infection ranged from 25~45% in two samples. Developing roots and shoots turn brown and died in case of severe infection. Detailed descriptions were given on the habit characters of the fungus and on the morphology of conidiophores and condia. This is the first report of A. cassiae on seeds of Cassia.
Alternaria* ; Cassia* ; Fungi ; Korea*

No abstract available.
Cardiotocography* ; Meconium* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: CT and MR findings of cerebral fat embolism syndrome(CFES) have been rarely reported, because its diagnosis had been made on the basis of only clinical features in the majority of the cases. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical, CT, and MR findings in six patients of CFES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain CT and MR findings were retrospectively analyzed in six patients with CFES that was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and MRI findings. All six patients had long bone fractures and showed typical delayed clinical manifestations 2-3 days later. Both CT and MRI were examined in all of six patients. Initial CT scan was performed within 48 hours after trauma in all patients, andfollow-up CT scan was done in 2-11 days in two patients. MRI was done within 2-7 days after trauma in three patients, and 13 days, 18 days, and 45 days in other three patients. Follow-up MRI studies were performed in 2-60 weeks in four patients. Clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed retrospectively with medical records. CT and MRI findings were evaluated with regard to presence or absence of diffuse brain swelling and focal abnormalities of signal intensity(density). RESULTS: CT scans obtained within 2 days after trauma showed diffuse cerebral swelling in five patients and normal findng in one patient. On Tl-weighted MRI, diffuse cerebral swelling was shown in three cases and high signal spots suggesting cerebral petechial hemorrhage were noted in both caudate nuclei and thalami in two cases. On T2-weighted images, high signal spots which were shown on Tl-weighted image were not visible. In all of six cases, multiple lesions of high signal were observed mainly in the cerebral white matters, cerebellum and brain stem, probably representing ischemia/infarct or edema. On the follow-up MRI studies performed within a period from weeks to one month after trauma, the size and the number of the lesions were significantly decreased and these findings were well corresponded with clinical course. CONCLUSION: MR findings' of CFES include diffuse cerebral swelling, petechial hemorrhage and mi- croinfarcts, which characteristically improved in short period. In cases suspected of having CFES, MRI is more useful than CT for initial and follow-up studies because of its high detection rate of lesions and correspondence with clinical course.
Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Embolism, Fat* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Bone ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A case of congenital periureteral bladder diverticulum is described. Bladder outflow obstruction and urinary tract infection were the presenting symptoms of a 2 year old boy. There were two diverticula in the bladder. The one was small (1 x 2cm) and located just above the right ureteral orifice and the other was large (8 x 10cm) and located at the left trigone. There was no hydronephrosis, and vesicoureteral reflux, neither. A simple diverticulectomy was performed. The left ureteral orifice was found at the medial side of the diverticulum's neck during operation. During follow up, bilateral high grade vesicoureteral reflux were discovered and urinary tract infections developed frequently. Eventually, ureteral reimplantation was done one year after the diverticulectomy.
Child, Preschool ; Diverticulum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Male ; Neck ; Replantation ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

The development of primary squamous cell carcinoma in the endometrium is extremely rare. In 1928 Fluhmann proposed three criteria to establish the diagnosis: (1) no coexisting endometrial adenocarcinoma, (2) no connection between the endometrial tumor and the squamous epithelium of the cervix and (3) no squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix present. More recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated Fluhmann's criteria by adding that the tumor must contain clear evidence of squamous differentiation, such as the presence of intercellular bridges and/or keratin. We have experienced a case of primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma which fulfills Fluhmann's criteria and WHO's. In this report, we present the clinical and pathological findings of a case of a primary endometrial squamous cell carcinoma of a 62-year-old patient with a review of the concerned literatures.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Endometrium ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; World Health Organization

To evaluate whether iron concentration in TYM medium influence on hydrogenosomal enzyme gene expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential of Trichomonas vaginalis, trophozoites were cultivated in irondepleted, normal and iron-supplemented TYM media. The mRNA of hydrogenosomal enzymes, such as pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), hydrogenase, ferredoxin and malic enzyme, was increased with iron concentrations in T. vaginalis culture media, measured by RT-PCR. Hydrogenosomal membrane potentials measured with DiOC6 also showed similar tendency, e.g. T. vaginalis cultivated in iron-depleted and iron-supplemented media for 3 days showed a significantly reduced and enhanced hydrogenosomal membrane potential compared with that of normal TYM media, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that iron may regulate hydrogenosomal activity through hydrogenosomal enzyme expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential.
Trichomonas vaginalis/*growth & development ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyruvate Synthase/genetics/metabolism ; Organelles/*enzymology/metabolism/*physiology ; Membrane Potentials ; Malate Dehydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Iron/*metabolism ; Hydrogenase/genetics/metabolism ; Hydrogen/*metabolism ; Humans ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Ferredoxins/genetics/metabolism ; Culture Media ; Animals

This study was performed to investigate the morphometric and ultrastructural change in the adult and aged rat small intestine. The myenteric and submucous plexuses were stained by NADH-TR in the ileum of adult Sprague-Dawley rats (3 mo., 300~350 gm) and aged rats (24 mo., 500~550 gm). The neurons of myenteric and sumucous plexuses were divided into 3 groups depending on their cell body morphology. Type 1 cells were polygonal or round with abundant cytoplasm. Type 2 cells were spindle shaped and type 3 cells were small and round with scanty cytoplasm. The nerve cell numbers and sizes were measured using an image analyzer (VIDAS, Carl Zeiss, Co., Ltd.). Ultrastructural changes were observed by JEM-1200 EXII (JEOL Co., Ltd.) electron microscope. The result obtained are as followed: 1. In adult rats, majority of neuron population were type 3 and neuron density (total numbers/1 mm2) was more higher in submucous plexus than in the myenteric plexus. 2. Statistically significant loss of type 1 and type 2 neurons were in myenteric and submucous plexus of aged rat small intestine. 3. All types of neuron sizes were increased in aged myenteric and submucous plexuses. 4. Lipofusin granules were prominent in the cytoplasm of aged rat. Cell organelles were not shown degenerative change. These results suggest that type 1 and type 2 nerve cells which is originated from autonomic nerves were lost in aged rat small intestine. Ultrastructurally lipofusin granules were prominent in the cytoplasm of aged rat and the cell organelles were not degenerated.
Adult* ; Aging ; Animals ; Autonomic Pathways ; Cytoplasm ; Enteric Nervous System* ; Humans ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small* ; Myenteric Plexus ; Neurons ; Organelles ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Submucous Plexus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of predicted birth weight percentile and large for gestational age(LGA) fetuses by the gestation-adjusted projection method using estimated fetal weight. METHODS: From 462 low-risk pregnancies with singleton fetus, fetal biometry including fetal biparietal diameter(BPD), head circumference(HC), abdominal circumference(AC), and femur length(FL) was made from 30 weeks of gestation until term. Estimated fetal weight(EFW) by combinations of fetal biometry were made by Campbell, Hadlock1, Hadlock2, and Shepard formulas respectively. The diagnostic accuracy according to 4 formulas was assessed by correlation between EFW percentile and birth weight percentile, prediction of LGA fetuses, and prediction error(percentile difference between birth weight and EFW). RESULTS: The mean gestational age on ultrasound and on birth, and birth weight were 33.21 +/- 2.08(30-40) weeks, 38.43 +/- 1.72(30-42) weeks, and 3.14 +/- 0.47(0.99-4.38) Kg, respectively. The diagnostic accuracies of gestation-projection method using EFW were similar result to predict birth weight percentile and LGA fetuses according to 4 formulas. Correlation between EFW percentile and birth weight percentile(correlation coefficient, r) were Campbell: 0.644(p <0.001), Hadlock 1: 0.682(p <0.001), Hadlock 2: 0.681(p <0.001), Shepard: 0.638(p <0.001), respectively. Youden's index(sensitivity + specificity - 1) in prediction of LGA fetuses were Campbell: 0.532, Hadlock1: 0.525, Hadlock2: 0.520, Shepard: 0.549, respectively. Prediction error were Campbell: 18.14+/-16.56, Hadlock1: 16.19+/-14.35, Hadlock2: 16.10+/-14.29, Shepard: 19.68+/-17.00, respectively. The prediction error was increased according to increasing of lapse time(p <0.001), gestational weeks on ultrasound, and estimated fetal weight percentile, and decreasing birth weight percentile(p <0.001)(R square=0.411, (p <0.001). But, amniotic fluid index did not affect to prediction error(p=0.199). CONCLUSION: Our study presented relatively accurate prediction for birth weight percentile and LGA fetuses from remote sonographic examination. If LGA fetuses was suspected by antenatal ultrasound, adequate therapy and periodic observation are recommended for good perinatal outcome.
Amniotic Fluid ; Biometry ; Birth Weight* ; Female ; Femur ; Fetal Weight* ; Fetus* ; Gestational Age* ; Head ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

A recent study showed that comparative sequence analysis of rpoB DNAs could reveal natural relationships in genus Mycobacterium [J Clin Microbiol. 37 (6). 1999]. rpoB DNAs showed interspecies variation and intraspecies conservation, Based on these data, we developed polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) protocols which enable species differentiation in genus Mycabacterium. When this assay was applied to 24 clinical isolates identified as M. avium complex (MAC) by biochemical test, these were successfully differentiated into M. avium and M. intracellulare. These results were concordant with those obtained by 16s rDNA analysis. It is the first report that PCR-SSCP analysis of rpoB DNA could be used for species differentiation of MAC strains.
DNA* ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Mycobacterium avium Complex* ; Mycobacterium avium* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational* ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: Thyroid surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, but thyroid surgery under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has become re-introduced. We report our experiences of 40 cases of thyroid surgery under MAC. METHODS: Forty patients were enrolled in this study. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) was performed by using 1% mepivacaine with 1 : 200,000 epinephrine. After BSCPB, patients were sedated with propofol and fentanyl. Postoperative pain, sore throat, hoarseness, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were assessed. RESULTS: Mean postoperative pain VAS were 1.3, 1.2, 1.0, 0.8 and postoperative sore throat VAS 1.4, 1.4, 1.1, 0.9 at PACU (post-anesthesia care unit) and postoperative 3, 6, 12 h, respectively. The incidence of hoarseness was 25, 5, 2.5%, and 0% and PONV were 0, 5, 10%, and 7.5% at PACU and postoperative 3, 6, 12 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid surgery under MAC may be a suitable alternative to general anesthesia.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Cervical Plexus ; Epinephrine ; Fentanyl ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mepivacaine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pharyngitis ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Propofol ; Thyroid Gland