OBJECTIVES: Phencyclidine(PCP) or PCP-like substances such as ketamine have been know to rekindle the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to identify whether PCP-like substances can produce cognitive deficit in schizophrenia, to discuss relation with aging process, and finally to speculate underlying neurochemical mecha-nisms by various drug responses. METHODS: In experiment I, radial maze tests were done in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days to get baseline data. Being divided into 4 groups(6 rats respectively) of normal aged, normal adult controls, atropine-treated and ketamine-treated, the radial maze tests were repeated on every week for 6 weeks, and then the rats were sacrificed by intracardiac perfusion with phosphate-buffered 10% formaldehyde solution for histology. The brain specimen was stained with hematoxylin-eosin to count cells in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In experiment II, radial maze tests were done for 48 rats before any drug treatment and only after ketamine administration. Thereafter, haloperidol, bromocriptine, clonidine, nimodipine, tacrine, valproic acid, naloxone and fluoxetine were intramuscularly injected on every other day in addition to ketamine. Radial maze tests were repeated on every week for 6 weeks, and then rats were prepared by the same procedure for histology. RESULTS: 1) Reaction times of radial maze tests of atropine-treated rats were significantly prolonged than those of normal aged(p<0.05) or normal adult controls(p<0.05). Cell numbers of prefrontal cortex & hippocampus in ketamine-treated rats were significantly reduced than those in normal aged(p<0.05) or normal adult controls(p<0.005). 2) Reduced cell numbers by ketamine became significantly raised by tacrine administration in prefrontal cortex $ hippocampus(p<0.05), while there were no significant changes on radial maze test. Cell numbers also tended to be raised by nimodipine, fluoxetine and haloperidol administration. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the visuospatial memory disorders in ketamine-induced psychotic rats might be partly associated with aging process. Furthermore, the responses to the various drugs suggested cholinergic system might have an important role in the neurochemical mechanism of the cognitive dysfunction in ketamine-induced psychosis. Otherwise, calcium metabolism as well as serotonergic and dopaminergic systems seemed to be possibly related.
Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Aging* ; Animals* ; Brain ; Bromocriptine ; Calcium ; Cell Count ; Clonidine ; Fluoxetine ; Formaldehyde ; Haloperidol ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Memory Disorders ; Metabolism ; Models, Animal* ; Naloxone ; Nimodipine ; Perfusion ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Psychotic Disorders ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reaction Time ; Schizophrenia* ; Tacrine ; Valproic Acid

No abstract available.
Down Syndrome* ; Humans ; Mothers*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration(PCNA) of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT-guided PCNA was performed in 18 patients with treated cervical carcinoma. initial clinical stages were CIS in one, lb in three, lib in ten, and IIIb in four cases. We used 20 gauge Westcott needles for aspiration. Mean depth from skin to lymph nodes was 10.0cm in paraaortic group (n=13) and was 7.9cm in pelvic group (n=5). The size of lymph nodes ranged 1.0-3.0cm (mean :1.8) and 1.5-5.0cm (mean :2.6cm), respectively. RESULTS: All cases with paraaortic lymph node enlargement were proved to be metastatic lymphadenopathy. In five cases with pelvic lymph node enlargement, three were proved to be malignancy and two were negative. Among 16 cases with metastatic lymphadenopathy, eight patients were treated with chemotherapy, five with radiation therapy, and three with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In two cases with negative results lymph nodes were disappeared or unchanged on follow up CT scans. No complications were encountered during CT-guided PCNA procedure. CONCLUSION: CT-guided PCNA of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes is a useful method in determining metastasis from cervical carcinoma and in planning further treatment.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Child* ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cytogenetics* ; Humans

Data collection is a major problem in large scale clinical studies, especially muticenter and international trials. Data collection by mailing is too slow and expensive. Furthermore, difficulty in understanding handwritten notes from many investigators could result in potential errors in data entry. We developed web-based data collection system for patterns of care study of radiation oncology to collect data nation-widely and efficiently. We introduced drop-down box, check box, and radio button in data entry form for rapid, convenient and correct data entry. Our system also checks blank item, logical errors and other validity of data in real time. For security, we committed the server to the care of Korea Internet Data Center, implemented secure socket layer for communication between web server and clients, and established two remote backup systems. Participating investigators are satisfied with this system and we are collecting data efficiently. We think that web-based data collection system should be considered in any large scale clinical studies.
Data Collection* ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Logic ; Postal Service ; Radiation Oncology* ; Research Personnel

Cardiac rupture following blunt thoracic trauma is rarely encountered, since it commonly causes death at the scene. With advances in critical care, blunt cardiac rupture has been successfully treated with well-organized team approach including an emergency physician, anesthesiologist, and cardiac surgeon. We encountered a patient with blunt cardiac rupture of the junction of the superior vena cava and right atrium that extended 7 cm to the right ventricular junction. The patient was successfully resuscitated after a closed thoracostomy and pericardiocentesis with fluid loading. Cardiac injury was repaired via mid-sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged on the 7th day after surgery.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Critical Care ; Emergencies ; Heart Atria* ; Heart Injuries ; Heart Rupture* ; Humans ; Pericardiocentesis ; Thoracostomy ; Vena Cava, Superior*

No abstract available.
Leg* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Classification* ; Foot* ; Polydactyly*

No abstract available.
Classification* ; Foot* ; Polydactyly*

No abstract available.