[Objective] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Joksamni (ST 36) combination on NADPH-diaphorase, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the cerebral cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rat.
[Methods] The experimental groups were divided into four groups : Normal, Joksamni (ST 36), Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9), and Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11). Needles were inserted into acupoints at the depth of 0.5 cm with basic insertion method. Electroacupuncture was done under the condition of 2 HZ electrical biphasic pulses with continuous rectangular wave lasting for 0.2 ms until the muscles produced visible contractions. Such stimulation was applied continuously for 10 minutes, 1 time every 2 days for 10 sessions of treatments. Thereafter we evaluated changes in NADPH-d positive neurons histochemically and changes in nNOS, NPY and VIP positive neurons immunohistochemically.
[Results] The optical densities of NADPH-d positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group in primary somatosensory cortex, visual cortex, auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) group.
The optical densities of NADPH-d positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group were sig-nificantly decreased as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group with the exception of primary somatosensory cortex.
The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group in all areas of cerebral cortex and Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group in auditory cortex, perirhinal cortex, insular cortex were significantly increased as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) group. The optical densities of nNOS positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group.
The optical densities of NPY positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group were signifi-cantly decreased in primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) and Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) groups.
The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group were significantly increased in all areas of cerebral cortex except f or cingulate cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) group. The optical densities of VIP positive neurons of the Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LI 11) group were significantly decreased in auditory cortex, cingulate cortex, perirhinal cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) + Gokji (LIII) group were significantly decreased in all areas of cerebral cortex as compared to the Joksamni (ST 36) + Eumneungcheon (SP 9) group.
[Conclusions] The result demonstrated that electroacupuncture on Joksamni (ST 36) and its combination change the activities of the NO system and peptidergic system in the cerebral cortex of SHR and that acupoint combination is one of the important parameters for the effects.

BACKGROUND: The Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) is associated with chronic gastritis and is now recognized to be the main factor in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. The eradication treatment of H. pylori significantly lowers ulcer relapse rate, which is accompanied by important histological change. We evaluated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in upper gastrointestinal diseases. METHODS: Total 491 patients(274 with chronic gastritis, 134 with gastric ulcer, 57 with duodenal ulcer, and 26 with gastroduodenal ulcer) were tested for H. pylori infection by the CLO test, hematoxylin-eosin stain and Giemsa stain. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 74.0% in male and 58.6% in female. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 73.2% in 30-59 year-old group and 60.2% in older age group. The sex and age adjusted prevalence of H. pylori infection was 64.7% in chronic gastritis, 69.4% in gastric ulcer, 84.5% in duodenal ulcer and 87.8% in gastroduodenal ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection of upper gastrointestinal diseases is significantly higher in male, 30-59 year-old group, peptic ulcer and duodenal ulcer than in female, older age group(over 60), chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer, respectively.
Azure Stains ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Female ; Gastritis ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Male ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence* ; Recurrence ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: It is important for the physician and a rape counselor to understand epidemiology studies of the incidence, prevalence, spread, prevention, and control of sexual assault in a local community or a specific group of individuals. We did this study in order to find an effective treatment for the sexual assault victims and to establish a data base on them. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated sexually assaulted patients who visited the Medical Supportive Center for Women at the National Police Hospital from Oct. 11, 2001, to Oct. 10, 2002. The data were obtained from the records of the ER (emergency room) and OB & GY (obstetric & gynecologic) clinic; a total of 169 patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.1 years old. The age distribution of sexual assault victims was divided into four: 14 cases under 7 years of age (8.3%), 26 cases between ages 7 and 13 years (15%), 43 cases between ages 14 and 19 years (26.3%), and 86 cases over 20 years of age (52.6%). Of the patients, 157 (92.9%) were unmarried and 117 (69.2%) were examined within 1 hour after visiting the hospital. The physical injuries were 15 vaginal injuries (26.9%), 34 ruptures of the hymen (16.9%), 1 sexually transmitted disease (0.6%), 57 abnormal sensations of the genital organ (28.3%), and 55 minor injuries including abrasions, contusions, and lacerations (27.3%). The psychological injuries were 105 phobias (21.4%), 92 anxieties (18.8%), 68 angers (13.9), 51 guilts (10.4%), and the like. Eighty-eight patients (52.1%) were acquainted with the assailant. CONCLUSION: Optimal management of sexual assault victims should involve continuous epidemiologic analysis and the estalishment of an assault-victim data base.
Age Distribution ; Anger ; Anxiety ; Contusions ; Counseling ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Genitalia ; Guilt ; Humans ; Hymen ; Incidence ; Lacerations ; Phobic Disorders ; Police ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Rape ; Rupture ; Sensation ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Single Person

The clinical picture of central retinal artery occlusion is well known. Little is known, however, about the clinical picture of occlusion of the posterior cilliary arteries. The effects of such condition have been investigated by Hayre(1972) with the experimental occlusion of the various posterior ciliary arteries individually or together in rhesus monkey. The authors have experienced a case of 21 years old woman with the visual field defects developed by the human posterior ciliary arterial occlusion via a pathologic embolic process. A bridf review of the related literatures is presented.
Arteries ; Ciliary Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Visual Fields ; Young Adult

We report a case of salvage lymphadenectomy for an isolated metastatic lesion in the para-aortic lymph node (LN) in a 49-year old woman with a history of cervical cancer, initially treated with radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. Preoperative 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiography clearly revealed a huge retro-crural metastatic LN with distinct demarcation. A metastatic lesion, more than 10 cm in size, was located behind the vena cava, aorta, and left kidney, encompassing the left renal and lumbar arteries. The metastatic LN was excised along with the left kidney. On histologic examination, the tumor was found to have invaded the pelvis of the left kidney. Compared with conventional imaging techniques, 3D CT angiography can more clearly visualize such lesions. Thus, 3D CT angiography provides useful anatomical information, such as the exact size and location, and provides clear visualization and demarcation.
Angiography* ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Kidney ; Lymph Node Excision* ; Lymph Nodes ; Pelvis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND: Pathogen inactivation (PI) is a proactive approach to overcome the limitations of the current testing system and donor questionnaires. Effect of PI on non-leukoreduced platelet rich plasma derived platelets (PRP-PLTs) suspended in plasma has not yet been evaluated. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of PI on the quality of non-leukoreduced PRP-PLTs suspended in plasma. METHODS: PRP-PLTs treated with the Mirasol PRT System and the Intercept Blood System were tested for PLT count, blood gas, PLT activation, and apoptosis on days 3, 5, and 7 of storage. RESULTS: PLT number showed a decrease after PI. No difference in pH was observed until day 5. At day 7, PLTs treated with Mirasol had a lower pH value (6.5), however, it satisfied the quality control criteria. PLTs treated with Mirasol had a lower pO2 compared to pre-inactivation PLTs. pO2 during storage differed significantly between the two PI groups. pCO2 showed a decrease after inactivation and both groups showed a significant difference, compared with the control. PLTs treated with Mirasol had increased P-selectin expression after inactivation; however, difference of P-selectin during storage was not significant compared to the control. P-selectin of PLTs treated with Intercept was significantly different compared to those treated with Mirasol and control. Annexin V showed an increase after inactivation in Mirasol treated PLTs and difference during storage was significant compared to control and Intercept. CONCLUSION: As both PI systems showed satisfactory pH values, the criteria showing a high correlation with in vivo PLT viability and generally applied to monitor quality of PLTs, quality of PRP-PLTs after PI appears not to be negatively affected.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; P-Selectin ; Plasma ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Quality Control ; Tissue Donors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Nephrotic syndrome causes a hypercoagulable state, leading to both venous and arterial thrombosis. Thromboembolic events occur frequently in patients with nephrotic syndrome. However, central venous thrombosis occurs less frequently as a complication of minimal change nephrotic syndrome. The pathogenic mechanisms are not yet unclear, but various alterations in coagulant and anti-coagulant factors may be responsible. We report a case of cerebral venous thrombosis associated with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. A 27-year-old man was admitted due to sudden, severe headache with nausea and vomiting. He complained of a continuous throbbing-type headache in bifrontal area. One month prior to the symptoms, he was diagnosed as having nephrotic syndrome based on clinical manifestations and biopsy findings. The routine laboratory findings showed that he had hyperlipidemia, hypoalbuminemia and proteinuria. In clotting factor analysis, fibrinogen, factor VII, VIII and von Willebrand factor were increased and factor XII, antithrombin III and protein S were decreased. The unenhanced brain CT scan showed a triangle-shape high density in a superior sagittal sinus and gadolinium enhanced brain MRI showed unenhanced blood clot in a superior sagittal sinus. Initial brain MR venography showed a lack of filling of a superior sagittal sinus and poor visualization of cortical veins.
Adult ; Antithrombin III ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Factor VII ; Factor XII ; Fibrinogen ; Gadolinium ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nausea ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Phlebography ; Protein S ; Proteinuria ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Vomiting ; von Willebrand Factor

Deep neck space infections usually arise from infectious conditions of the upper aerodigestive tract. Candida albicans is a normal commensal of humans but usually causes invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. We report an immunocompetent 70-year-old woman with a Candida abscess in the deep neck space. She did not have dental or oropharyngeal disease, medication use, or medical illnesses that could cause an immunocompromised condition, except stable chronic hepatitis C. She was admitted to the hospital with fever, shortness of breath, a drowsy consciousness, and swallowing difficulty. Despite empirical antibiotic therapy, her signs and symptoms did not improve. A deep neck space abscess in the retropharyngeal space was revealed by computed tomography (CT). An abscess culture yielded C. albicans. She was treated with an antifungal agent rather then antibiotics. After 5 weeks of antifungal agent treatment and external drainage, follow-up CT scans showed substantial improvement in the abscess.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Consciousness ; Deglutition ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Neck ; Retropharyngeal Abscess

A two-year-old spayed female pug presented with symmetrical hyperpigmented alopecic lesions on her axillary and inguinal regions. There were no remarkable findings in dermatologic examinations and hormonal assays. Histological examination of biopsied tissues revealed prominent lymphocytic perifolliculitis along with shrunk hair follicles. Immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD79a, CD4, and CD8 showed a positive stain for CD4 antigen around hair bulbs, suggesting CD4 positive T lymphocyte infiltration. This case suggests the possibility that CD4 T lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory reaction could be a main mechanism in canine alopecia areata. Additional studies are warranted to investigate the immunological mechanism in canine species.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Antigens, CD4 ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes