At the time in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, patients with unsuitable endometrium recovered by hormone. However, the overtreatment of hormone causes indispositionly the uterus internal secretion and finally induces endometriosis. Therefore, this study was done to inverstigate the effects of interleukin-2, which was known to differentiator and proliferator of T cells, on proliferation of the endometrial stromal cells in vitro. We have exammined the effects of interleukin-2, on the proliferation of bovine endometrial stromal cells in vitro, assessed by ['H]-thymidine incorporation and MTT assay methods. Results indicate that we isolated endometrial stromal cells from bovine uterus and established in vitro culture system. And interleukin-2 showed distint stimulatory effect on proliferation of the established stromal cells. These stimulative effects were not affected by estrogen and progesterone indirectly. In conclusion, these data imply that interleukin-2 may proliferate bovine endometrial stromal, cells, and it provides clue for understanding of direct actions of cytokines on the endometriat cells.
Cytokines ; Embryo Transfer ; Endometriosis ; Endometrium ; Estrogens ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukins* ; Progesterone ; Stromal Cells* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uterus

A survey was performed in order to determine the infection status of the metacercariae of heterophyid fluke in two goby species, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris and Scartelaos sp., collected from Gangjin-gun, and Shinangun, Sooncheon-shi, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea. A total of three metacercariae of Heterophyopsis continua was found in only one B. pectinirostris (10.0%) from Gangjin-gun. Heterophyes nocens metacercariae were detected in 24 B. pectinirostris (96.0%) and 14 Scartelaos sp. (63.6%) from Shinan-gun. Heterophyopsis continua metacercariae were found in 11 B. pectinirostris (44.0%) and 21 Scartelaos sp. (95.5%) from Shinan-gun. Stictodora fuscata metacercariae were detected in 18 B. pectinirostris (72.0%) from Shinan-gun. No metacercariae were detected in 20 B. pectinirostris from Sooncheon-shi. From the above results, this study is the first to prove that B. pectinirostris and Scartelaos sp. serve as the second intermediate hosts of some heterophyid flukes in Korea.
Trematoda/*isolation & purification ; Perciformes/*parasitology ; Korea ; Animals

Oromandibular dystonia (OMD) is a focal dystonia that is characterized by repetitive or sustained spasms of the masticatory, facial, or lingual muscles. The etiology is idiopathic in most cases. A patient presenting with OMD associated with diabetic hyperglycemia is reported herein. A 74-year-old woman with a history of diabetes developed OMD. Brain MRI revealed a high signal intensity in the bilateral putamen on T1-weighted imaging. Nonketotic hyperglycemia was detected. The OMD gradually subsided with normalization of the hyperglycemia and medication with haloperidol over 10 days.
Aged ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Dystonia* ; Dystonic Disorders ; Female ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Putamen ; Spasm

No abstract available.
Extremities* ; Sarcoma*

BACKGROUND: Patients with lacunar infarction often show neurological deterioration during the acute period of stroke. The aim of this study was to identify the predictors for early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with lacunar infarction using clinical variables and the findings of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). METHODS: This study involved 104 consecutive patients with acute lacunar infarction in the lenticulostriate artery territory who were admitted within 24 hours after onset between January 2010 and October 2014. END was defined as a decrease of > or =1 point in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) motor score or > or =2 points in the total NIHSS score during the first 7 days after stroke onset. Clinical characteristics including initial NIHSS score, vascular risk factors, laboratory parameters, and DWI findings including the size, location, and shape of the lacunar infarction were evaluated to identify predictors for END. RESULTS: END occurred in 25 (24%) patients with lacunar infarction. The initial NIHSS score (odds ratio, 1.47; p=0.01), number of infarct slices (odds ratio, 1.95; p<0.01), and infarction with an irregular shape (odds ratio, 2.87; p=0.048) were independently associated with END in multivariable logistic regression analysis. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the best threshold for predicting END was an NIHSS score of 4 points (sensitivity, 72%; specificity, 68%) and an infarct slice number of 3 (sensitivity, 84%; specificity, 62%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the initial NIHSS score, number of infarct slices, and an irregular lesion shape are independent predictors for END.
Arteries ; Humans ; Infarction ; Logistic Models ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar*

Sjögren Syndrome (SS) is one of the most frequent systemic autoimmune disorders, mainly involving the eye and mouth due to inflammation of lacrimal and salivary glands. Exocrine glands affected with a typical focal lymphocytic infiltration potentially lead to dry eyes and dry mouth. In addition to the known pathogenic mechanism of SS through autoimmunity, corneal neuropathy, as a peripheral neuropathy which is a relatively frequent extraglandular systemic manifestation of SS, recently draws attention as a possible pathogenic mechanism of ocular symptoms and dry eye induction. The diagnostic criteria of SS changed recently, proposed by the American College of Rheumatology/Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (ACR/SICCA) in 2012, and the ocular surface staining score is the only required test for ocular manifestation of SS. However, other diagnostic methods evaluating tear film status, though excluded from the new criteria, are still important for the staging and treatment planning, including direct observation of tear film, tear film break up time, Schirmer test, and measurement of the tear film levels of inflammatory mediators. Eye-specific symptoms and signs and ocular treatment options for SS including tear substitutes, secretogogue, topical anti-inflammatory therapy with corticosteroids and cyclosporine, punctal occlusion, autologous serum, and mucolytic therapy were summarized and discussed in this review article.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Autoimmunity ; Cyclosporine ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Exocrine Glands ; Inflammation ; Mouth ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Salivary Glands ; Tears

BACKGROUND: Involuntary movement is a rare symptom of stroke. The pathophysiologic mechanism is poorly understood. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 1547 stroke patients who have been admitted to the Seoul National University Hospital from March, 1988 to March, 1997. RESULTS: We found 18 patients with involuntary movements. Dystonia was observed in 10 patients, ballism or chorea in 8 patients and tremor in 5 patients. Anatomical structures responsible for dystonia were thalamus, lenticular nucleus, caudate nucleus and midbrain. Ballism-chorea was associated with lesions of subthalamic nucleus, thalamus, and lenticular nucleus. Tremor was associtated with lesions of thalamus, lenticular nucleus and midbrain. Ballism-chorea was present in the onset of stroke in 6 cases, 2 months after stroke in 1 case, and 21 months after in 1 case. But only 1 case of dystonia was present in the onset of stroke, 2 cases within 7 days, 5 cases in one week to one month, and 2 cases after one month. The involuntary movements subsided in 5 cases of hemiballism-chorea and in 3 cases of dystonia In most of the improved cases, the symptoms subsided in a month. CONCLUSIONS: Basal ganglia and thalamus were the main areas involved where lesions associated with involuntary movements were reported. The nature of involuntary movements was variable. However, lesions in subthalamic nucleus resulted only in ballism-chorea. The presence of only ballism chorea, but not any other involuntary movements, due to subthalamic nucleus lesions indicates that an indirect pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of ballism-chorea. The latency between the onset of stroke and involuntary movements was longer in dystonia than ballism-chorea. The course of ballism-chorea was generally better than dystona.
Basal Ganglia ; Caudate Nucleus ; Chorea ; Corpus Striatum ; Dyskinesias* ; Dystonia ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mesencephalon ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Stroke* ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; Thalamus ; Tremor

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes hypoxic brain damage with various neurological complications. Cerebral hemorrhagic infarction has rarely been reported as a complication of carbon monoxide poisoning. The author experienced a patient who developed cerebral infarction in the striatocapsular area extending to the corona radiata after carbon monoxide poisoning, which was followed by hemorrhagic transformation associated with neurological deterioration.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Infarction

A 79-year-old woman experienced the sudden onset of cognitive impairment that interfered with her activities of daily living. A neurological examination revealed no focal neurological deficits. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute infarction in the left anterior corona radiata, and neuropsychological tests revealed attention deficit, verbal memory impairment, and frontal executive dysfunction. This case suggests that a focal infarction affecting the anterior portion of the corona radiata can cause a strategic infarct dementia that predominantly manifests as frontal lobe dysfunction.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Brain ; Cognition Disorders ; Dementia* ; Dementia, Vascular ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory ; Neurologic Examination ; Neuropsychological Tests

Three cases of cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) were diagnosed in a returnee from a trip to Thailand and in 2 domestic farmers during July and September, 2003. The linear and serpiginous skin lesions on the lower extremities were presented in all 3 cases. Routine laboratory findings were normal. In the imported case, a 650 x 30 micrometer sized filariform nematode larva, presumably a species of hookworm, was detected in the lesion. All cases were treated with 400 mg albendazole once daily for 3-5 days, and their skin lesions gradually improved. In the present study, a causative agent of CLM was isolated for the first time in the Republic of Korea. Moreover, we speculate that CLM is prevalent in farmers who are in frequent contact with soil in the Republic of Korea.
Middle Aged ; Male ; Larva Migrans/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*pathology ; Humans ; Female ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Aged ; Adult