Recent studies clearly demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in the rat testis, and suggested the local action of the LH-like molecule. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of the LH genes in the rat accessory reproductive organs. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat uterus and epididymis was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LHbeta transcripts in these organs contained the published cDNA structure, the pituitary type exons 1-3, which encoded the entire LHbeta/ polypeptide. Presence of the transcripts for the alpha-subunit in the rat reproductive tissues were also confirmed by RT-PCR. In the LH RIA, significant levels of LH were detected in crude extracts from the rat ovary, uterus and epididymis. The competition cuties with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the immunoreactive LH-like materials in these tissues are similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. In rat epididymis, the highest amount of immunoreactive LH was detected in corpus area. Our findings demonstrated that the genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat accessory reproductive organs, and suggested that these extrapituitary LH may act as a local regulator with auto and/or paracrine manner.
Animals ; Complex Mixtures ; DNA, Complementary ; Epididymis* ; Exons ; Female ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone* ; Male ; Ovary ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats* ; Testis ; Tissue Extracts ; Uterus*

It is still not well documented what the basic roles for the regulation of renin secretion from the kidney take place. Since the early study on the renal ischemia for the production of hypertension was introduced, the renin-angiotensin system has been regarded as the possible pathogenetic mechanism for the renovascular hypertension. The renin-angiotensin system, however, could be activated by various stimuli, such as, the changes of intrarenal perfusion pressure, the load or concentriation of sodium at the sites of macular densa, the changes of the sympathetic nervous activity and the changes of potassium balance. To investigate the renin-angiotensin system and the influence of sympathetic nervous system on the regulation of renin secretion, the renovascular hypertension was induced in the dogs by constriction of unilateral renal artery, and the plasma renin activity was measured. The sodium load at the sites of macula densa was attained by furosemide, and then the activity of sympathetic nervous system was depressed by reserpine. The plasma renin activity was assayed by the method of Helmer and Cohn. By this bio-assay method, the plasma renin activity equivalent to 1 nanogram angiotensin-II can be measurable and the prepared plasma was found to have still vasopressor activity. The results observed in this experimental work are summarized as follows. 1. The blood pressure reached maximum on the 3rd postoperative day, and declined gradually to the level of preoperative day on the day of from the 6th to 12th day following constriction of renal artery. 3. The plasma renin activity was found to be well correlated with the increase of blood pressure, and then declined to its preoperative level with the reduction of blood pressure. It appears, therefore, that the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension. 4. The urine flow rate in normal and reserpinized dogs was the same before administration of furosemide, but its rate was significantly increased in both groups after furosemide. The urine flow rate of reserpinized dogs, however, was significantly lower than that of the normal dogs during the first 5 minutes. 5. The urinary sodium excretion in normal and reserpinized dogs was significantly increased in both groups after administration of furosemide and there were no difference between the two groups. 6. The plasma renin activity of renal venous blood was significantly higher than that of femoral arterial blood in both groups before and after administration of furosemide. 7. The plasma renin activity of reserpinized dogs was significantly lower than that of normal dogs before administration of furosemide. After furosemide, however, the plasma renin activity was significantly increased in 30 minutes in both groups. This increase of plasma renin activity was less prominent in resepinized dogs than in normal. This results would suggest that the intrarenal mechanism regulating renin secretion also requires an intact sympathetic nervous system.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction ; Dogs ; Furosemide ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Renal Artery ; Renin* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Reserpine ; Sodium ; Sympathetic Nervous System

No abstract available.
Dentures* ; Mucous Membrane*

The objective of the study is to measure the changes in measles infection and measles vaccination rates for the past 10 years in a rural area, Kang Wha. The study population were the entire children who were born between 1971 and 1980 in three townships (Sunwon, Naegae, Buleun) in Kangwha Country. Two interview surveys were carried out during the 10 years of period, one in 1977 and the other in 1981. The data were collected by Family Health Workers through interview with structured questionnaires. The diagnosis of measles was mainly based on histories, symptoms and sign of the disease. If a mother had reported measles history of her child, a public physician reviewed and decided the final diagnosis of the reported case. A retrospective cohort observation was done in order to see the trends of measles infections and measles vaccinations. The major findings were as follows; 1. The 5 year prevalence rate of measles vaccinations was 51.3% between 1971 and 1975 and 71.9% between 1976 and 1980 respectively. The difference between two periods was statistically significant (P<0.05). The secular trend of measles vaccinations showed increasing tendency from 1971 to 1978 and since then kept maintained. 2. In the birth cohort analysis of measles vaccinations, the vaccination rate, in general, were higher in the later cohort groups than that of earlier cohort groups. 3. The 5-year experience rates for measles infections were 24.3% between 1971 and 1975 and 17.2% between 1976 and 1980 respectively. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.05). The secular trend of experience rates for measles infections showed decreasing tendency from 1971 to 1980 except an outbreak in 1976. 4. The birth cohort analysis of experience rates for measles infections showed that the rate was higher in the later cohort groups than that of the earlier cohort groups. This decreasing tendency was prominent between 1973-1974 and 1976-1977. 5. The distribution of age specific incidence rates for measles inflections showed unimodal curve with the peak at the age of 12 to 18 months. This finding were same in both two surveys. 6. Seasonal variations of the measles inflections showed two peaks, one major peak in March through May and the another minor peak in September through December. 7. The 5-year reduction rate for measles inflections among those vaccinated was 90.4% between 1971 and 1975 and 88% and between 1976 and 1980.
Child ; Cohort Studies* ; Diagnosis ; Family Health ; Humans ; Incidence ; Measles* ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Vaccination*

No abstract available.
Nutrition Policy*

No abstract available.
HLA-D Antigens* ; Humans*

Careful history taking, clinical course of the disease, and neurological examination are mandatory to differentiate cerebrovascular disease from other neurological diseases or even from non-neurological diseases. Cerebrovascular diseases can be classified as ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. More specified classification of ischemic stroke according to the presumptive ischemic mechanism may be helpful to the treatment and secondary prevention. The unique clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke of different subtypes and diagnostic tests are described.
Cerebrovascular Disorders* ; Classification ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Neurologic Examination ; Secondary Prevention ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Large-fiber peripheral neuropathy is prevalent in the elderly and risk of falling is higher in patients with it. This study`s aim is to see if, using computerized dynamic posturography(CDP), sway patterns differ between patients with large-fiber peripheral neuropathy and normal control subjects and, if it did, to compare CDP with conventional electromyography(EMG) as screening tools for large-fiber perip- heral neuropathy. METHODS: Thirty patients who came to the neurophysiology laboratory with a preliminary diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy(made by their referring physicians) were compared with 30 nonmatched control subjects. All subjects received a neurologic examination and underwent CDP and conventional EMG. RESULTS: CDP showed abnormal sway patterns only in patients who had EMG abnormalities consistent with large fiber peripheral neuropathy. These sway patterns differed significantly from those of the control subjects. Center of gravity(COG) wandered farther and faster per unit of time in the patients with polyneu- ropathy than in control subjects. It means that the control mechanism provided by peripheral nerves limi- ting total displacement and the speed of COG wandering is defective in the patients with large-fiber peri- pheral neuropathy. CONCLUSION: CDP seems to be a useful and well-tolerated screening test for patients with a history suggestive of peripheral neuropathy, and results of CDP agree with those of conventional EMG. Moreover, posturography directly measures increased sway in these patients and may be used as a screening test for risk of falls in this population of old age.
Aged ; Cytidine Diphosphate ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurophysiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Tolnaftate

BACKGROUND: Large-fiber peripheral neuropathy is prevalent in the elderly and risk of falling is higher in patients with it. This study`s aim is to see if, using computerized dynamic posturography(CDP), sway patterns differ between patients with large-fiber peripheral neuropathy and normal control subjects and, if it did, to compare CDP with conventional electromyography(EMG) as screening tools for large-fiber perip- heral neuropathy. METHODS: Thirty patients who came to the neurophysiology laboratory with a preliminary diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy(made by their referring physicians) were compared with 30 nonmatched control subjects. All subjects received a neurologic examination and underwent CDP and conventional EMG. RESULTS: CDP showed abnormal sway patterns only in patients who had EMG abnormalities consistent with large fiber peripheral neuropathy. These sway patterns differed significantly from those of the control subjects. Center of gravity(COG) wandered farther and faster per unit of time in the patients with polyneu- ropathy than in control subjects. It means that the control mechanism provided by peripheral nerves limi- ting total displacement and the speed of COG wandering is defective in the patients with large-fiber peri- pheral neuropathy. CONCLUSION: CDP seems to be a useful and well-tolerated screening test for patients with a history suggestive of peripheral neuropathy, and results of CDP agree with those of conventional EMG. Moreover, posturography directly measures increased sway in these patients and may be used as a screening test for risk of falls in this population of old age.
Aged ; Cytidine Diphosphate ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurophysiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Tolnaftate

No abstract available.
Eating*