OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to evaluate plasmin system in placenta fiom women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancy. METHODS: The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA), tissue-type plasrninogen activator(tPA), uPA receptor(uPAR) and plasminogen activatar inhibitor-1(PAI-1) mRNAs were measured by Northern blotting in placenta hom sixteen women with normal (n""8) and preeclamptic (n""8) pregnancy. The levels of tPA protein and PAI-1 protein were also measured by Westerrn blotting. RESULTS: Densitometric measurements revealed no difference in the levels of uPA mRNA, uPAR mRNA, tPA protein and PAI-1 protein in placentas fiom normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. There was, however, a significant decrease in the level of 3.2 kb PAI-I mRNA in placentas from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. CONCLUSION: To the contrary of our expectation, 3.2 kb PAI-1 mRNA level was significantly lower in placenta from women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. This seems to reflect differential accumulation of PAI-1 mRNAs due to environmental intluences or decreased differentiation potential of villous trophoblasts to invasive trophoblasts in placenta from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. The mechanism that regulates plasmin system in human placenta needs further investigations.
Blotting, Northern ; Female ; Fibrinolysin* ; Humans ; Placenta* ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts

BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Persistent trigeminal artery is an embryonic remnant of the anastomotic channel linking the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery. Cases of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by the persistent trigeminal artery with internal carotid artery stenosis has been described previously, but vertebrobasilar insufficiency entirely due to in situ stenosis of the persistent trigeminal artery has not been reported. A 71-year-old man presented with frequent dizzy episodes. The brain MRI showed no parenchymal lesions. MR angiography showed poor visualization of vertebrobasilar system. He was diagnosed as having vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Cerebral angiography revealed that there was complete occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction, and the basilar artery was supplied by the persistent trigeminal artery which had severe stenosis at its origin. There was no stenosis of the internal carotid artery of both sides. We believe that this is the first report of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosed persistent trigeminal artery, without internal carotid artery stenosis.

A global increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has prompted the need for earlier diagnosis, treatment, and isolation of the disease. In tuberculosis, concomitant tuberculous meningitis and vascular complications such as intracranial aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage are very rare. Because of the poor prognosis of tuberculous meningitis as well as intracranial aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage, early diagnosis and management are crucial. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who had two intracranial aneurysms complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage, who had concomitant tuberculous meningitis. She remained well with medical management.

The purpose of this study was to compare and to evaluate the combination use of 5 kinds of dentin adhesive systems and 5 kinds of composite resins using micro-shear bond test. Five adhesive systems (Prime & Bond NT (PBN), Onecoat bond (OC), Excite (EX), Syntac (SY), Clearfil SE bond (CS)) and five composite resins (Spectrum (SP), Synergy Compact (SC), Tetric Ceram (TC), Clearfil AP-X (CA), Z100 (Z1)) were used for this study (5 x 5 = 25group, n = 14/group). The slices of horizontally sectioned human tooth were bonded with each bonding system and each composite resin, and tested by a micro-shear bond strength test. These results were analyzed statistically. The mean micro-shear bond strength of dentin adhesive systems were in order of CS (22.642 MPa), SY (18.368 MPa), EX (14.599 MPa), OC (13.702 MPa), PBN (12.762 MPa). The mean bond strength of self-etching primer system group (CS, SY) in dentin was higher than that of self-priming adhesive system groups (PBN, EX, OC) significantly (P<0.05). The mean bond strength of composite resins was in order of SP (19.008 MPa), CA (17.532 MPa), SC (15.787 MPa), TC (15.068 MPa), Z1 (14.678 MPa). Micro-shear bond strength of SP was stronger than those of other composite resins significantly (P < 0.05). And those of TC and Z1 were weaker than other composite resins significantly (P < 0.05). No difference was found in micro-shear bond strength of composite resin in self-etching primer adhesive system groups (CS, SY) statistically. However, there was significant difference of micro-shear bond strength of composite resin groups in self-priming adhesive systems group (PBN, EX, OC). The combination of composite resin and dentin adhesive system recommended by manufacturer did not represent positive correlation. It didn't seem to be a significant factor.
Adhesives* ; Composite Resins* ; Dentin* ; Humans ; Tooth

Benzene and toluene, which are widely used aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace, are recently proved to cause health hazards due to their toxic effects. This study investigated the influence of toluene on the urinary excretion of benzene metabolite by administering short term exposure limit(STEL) of these compounds(i.e., 13.8mg/kg of benzene and 108.8mg/kg of toluene) intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. After administration, urinary phenol concentration of rat was measured by gas chromatography for every three hours. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods using Kruskal-Wallis multi-sample test and Mann-Whitney U test. The following results were obtained: 1. Administration of STFL-benzene increased urinary phenol concentration in rats. 2. Urinary phenol concentration was increased logarithmically according to the dosage of benzene. 3. Excretion of phenol in urine was decreased when benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously compared with administering benzene alone. In Summary, these results reveal that administration of STEL of toluene has antagonistic effect of urinary excretion of benzene metabolite in rats.
Animals ; Benzene* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Metabolism* ; Phenol ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Threshold Limit Values ; Toluene

No abstract available.
Suicide, Attempted*

No abstract available.
Extremities* ; Sarcoma*

PURPOSE: This study assesses the surgical results of inferior oblique myectomy on the degree of overaction in patients with overaction greater than +2 of the inferior oblique muscle. METHODS: Seventy eyes of 54 patients underwent an inferior oblique myectomy and at least 6 months of follow-up. Patients with contracture of the superior rectus muscle or dissociated vertical deviation were excluded. The chief complaints, preoperative and postoperative degrees of overaction of the inferior oblique muscle, the angle of hypertropia, and head tilt were analyzed. RESULTS: Deviation of the eyeball (38.9%) and head tilt (25.9%) were the most common complaints. Overall, the success rate was 91.4%, and the likelihood of success decreased with increasing severity of overaction of the inferior oblique muscle. The angle of hypertropia reduced from 11.9 (Prism diopters, PD) preoperatively to 2.2PD postoperatively (p=0.000). Preoperative head tilting was seen in 20 patients (37%) and all saw postoperative improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Inferior oblique myectomy is effective in treating the overaction of the inferior oblique muscle without contracture of the superior rectus muscle or dissociated vertical deviation, especially in patients with greater than +2 overaction of the inferior oblique muscle.
Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Strabismus

No abstract available.