OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the rate of early mouse embryonal development could be enhanced by cumulus cell coculture in vitro. METHODS: Ham's F-10 culture media supplemented with 0.4% bovine serum albumin were used. Two-cell F1 mouse embryos were cultured in media with or without cumulus cells of female ICR mouse embryo for 96 hours, and the rates of embryonal development were observed and compared. RESULTS: The percentage of hatched blastocyst in the coculture group was significantly higher than that in the control group by 87.3% vs 64.8% respectively (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides confirmative information that cumulus cell coculture will be useful in enhancing early mouse embryonal development.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques* ; Culture Media ; Cumulus Cells* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Humans ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Serum Albumin, Bovine

No abstract available.
Prospective Studies* ; Prostate*

The pseudoaneurysms are resulted from complication of vascular catheterization, trauma, etc. and recently, the reports on pseudoaneurysms have been increasing. Successful treatment of pseudoaneurysms have been described usingdirect compression guided by color doppler ultrasound, instead of invasive surgical treatment. Authors experienced three cases of pseudoaneurysm ; two resulted from post-catheterization and one from trauma. We successfully treated two post-catheterization cases using C-clamp compression under the color doppler US-guidance. The traumatic case was treated by embolization instead of US-guided compression. We suggest that the compression of pseudoaneurysm using C-clamp under the US-guidance is more useful than hand or probe compression method.
Aneurysm, False* ; Arteries* ; Hand ; Ultrasonography ; Vascular Access Devices

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the incidence of some of its complications have risen strikingly over the last few decades. With the increase in our understanding of the pathophysiology of GERD along with the development of proton pump inhibitors, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to GERD have changed dramatically over the past decade. However, GERD still poses a problem to many clinicians since the spectrum of the disease has evolved to encompass more challenging presentations such as refractory GERD and extra-esophageal manifestations. The aim of this article is to provide a review of available current translational research on GERD. This review includes acid pocket, ambulatory pH monitoring, impedance pH monitoring, mucosa impedance, and high resolution manometry. This article discusses current translational research on GERD.
Electric Impedance ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Manometry ; Mucous Membrane ; Prevalence ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Translational Medical Research*

The relationship between lead related subject symptoms and lead exposure indices was studied in 435 male lead workers in thirteen lead using industries. 212 male office workers who were not exposed to lead occupationally were also studied as a control group. Fourteen lead related symptoms were selected. They were further subdivided into 4 sub-symptom groups such as 1) gastrointestinal, 2) neuromuscular and joint 3) constitutional, and 4) psychological symptoms. Symptom questionnaires were provided to the workers and filled up by themselves and reconfirmed by interviewer(doctor). The test used for the evaluation of lead exposure were blood lead (PbB), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood(ZPP), hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine(DALA). The results obtained were as follows; 1. The higher prevalence rate in the sub-group of neuromuscular and joint symptoms was observed in occupationally lead exposed subjects than non-exposed subjects. Among the sub-groups, the most frequent symptom was "numbness of finger, hands of feet", and the prevalence of the symptom of "arthralgia", "weakness of fingers, hands or feet" and "myalgia" were higher in order. 2. While the symptom which showed the biggest difference of prevalence rate among the 14 symptoms between exposed and non-exposed subjects was "numbness of fingers, hands or feet" , the symptom which showed the highest prevalence rate was "feeling tired generally" in exposed and non-exposed subjects, but no statistical difference of symptom prevalence were observed. 3. In total study population, PbB and ZPP had dose-response relationship with 4 symptoms of neuromuscular and joint symptoms ("numbness of finger, hands or feet", "arthralgia", "weakness of fingers, hands or feet" and "myalgia") and one symptom of gastrointestinal group("intermittent pains in lower abdomen"). 4. In lead exposed workers, only neuromuscular and joint symptoms group showed dose-response relationship with PbB and ZPP. 5. In lead exposed workers, the prevalence rate of overall symptoms of lead workers with age below 39 years was higher than that of lead workers with age above 40. While neuromuscular and joint symptoms group had a dose-response relationship with PbB in former group, it had a dose-response relationship with ZPP in latter group. 6. Age adjusted odds ratios of symptoms of non-exposed with exposed and odds ratios of low exposed with high exposed workers showed the dose-response relationship of lead exposure with neuromuscular and joint symptoms group("numbness of fingers, hands or feet", "arthralgia", "weakness of fingers, hands or feet" and "myalgia") and gastrointestinal symptoms group("intermittent pains in lower abdoman").
Aminolevulinic Acid ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Zinc

No abstract available.

Colitis cystica profunda is a benign disorder in which a mucous cyst is located in the submucosal layer of, primarily, the pelvic colon and rectum. Radiologic reports of the condition are rare. We report the radiological findings of a case of colitis cystica profunda arising from the proximal ascending colon near the ileocecal valve, and causing intussusception. We also review the literature.
Colitis* ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Ileocecal Valve ; Intussusception* ; Rectum

No abstract available.

Emphysematous pyelonephritis is rare but frequently fatal disease that usually occures in diabetic patients, 6cases having been reported in Korea. We have experienced a case of simultaneously occuring emphysematouspyelonephritis and emphysematous cystitis in 54 years old female patient, which have never been reported in Korea,and got satisfactory improvement with medical treatment.
Cystitis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Pyelonephritis

Inhibition of Rho-associated coiled coil-containing kinase (ROCK) has been reported to promote differentiation of neuronal cells. Here, we examined the effect of Y-27632, a ROCK inhibitor, on the outgrowth of neurites in PC12 cells. Y-27632 caused a rapid induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in a time-dependent manner. The neurite outgrowth, triggered by Y-27632, was accompanied by Rac1 activation, and was attenuated by Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766, in a concentration-dependent manner. Y-27632 also induced an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, an ROS scavenger, inhibited the ROS generation and neurite outgrowth in response to Y-27632. These results indicate that the activation of Rac1 and the generation of ROS contribute to the neurite outgrowth triggered by Y-27632 in PC12 cells.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals ; Neurites* ; Neurons ; PC12 Cells* ; Phosphotransferases ; Reactive Oxygen Species*