Isolated heaptic tuberculous granuloma with no coexistent tuberculosis elsewhere in the body is extremely rare. We report a case of pathologically proven tuberculous granuloma in the liver followed with both IV bolus and portal CT scans. The lesion on preenhanced CT scan showed undefinable isodensity. After IV bolus injection, it showed poor enhancement with central low-density and surrounding hyperdenity due to compensatory hypervascularity of the left lobe of liver in early phase. It showed peripheral rim enhancement in late phase and in delayed phase showed relatively homogeneous but slightly decreased contract enhancement. On portal CT scan, it showed a hypodense portal defect similar to other hepatic mass lesions. During follow-up studies, it was a slowly growing mass which was more easily detectable by prtal CT scans than bolus CT scans.
Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma* ; Liver ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis

Dermal wound healing is a complex process that involved inflammation leading to re-epithelialization, granulation tissue, and tissue remodeling. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that polysaccharides isolated from fungus, Phellinus gilvus (PG) have various anti-inflammatory activities. In present study, we have assessed the effect of polysaccharides from PG on the dermal wound healing of polysaccharides from PG in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Six of 6-mm circular wounds were created with biopsy punch on the 4th day after induction of diabetes. After 24 hours, each test substance was applied to the wound twice a day for next 5 days. Circular wounds treated with PG showed significantly reduced wound contraction and complete reepithelialization, as compared to wounds of non-treated (p < 0.05). These results show that polysaccharides isolated from PG enhanced wound repair in diabetic impaired healing, and could be developed as a wound healing agent in such clinical settings.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; Basidiomycota/*metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*pathology ; Histocytochemistry ; Male ; Polysaccharides/isolation&purification/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin/*injuries ; Streptozocin ; Wound Healing/*drug effects ; Wounds, Penetrating/*drug therapy

General information is summarized, that is necessary to introduce a scientific assessment of the human health and exposure issue concerning dioxin and dioxin-like compound. Scientific literatures were reviewed to assess the background exposures to the dioxin-like compounds for normal residents. Epidemiologic studies were also reviewed to assess malignant and nonmalignant effects of dioxins. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as a human carcinogen, primarily based on occupational cohort studies. The US Environmental Protection Agency made the same decision in it's Draft Dioxin Reassessment. Epidemiologic evidences point to a generalized excess of all cancers, without any pronounced excess at specific sites. Reported non-cancer effects included a range of conditions affecting most systems. Among them, chloracne, elevation in gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alterations in reproductive hormones are related to TCDD. Other adverse outcomes, such as lipid concentrations, diabetes, circulatory and heart diseases, immunologic disorders, neurobehavioral effects, and developmental outcomes require further study before their respective relationships to TCDD can be more definitively assessed.
Chloracne ; Cohort Studies ; Dioxins* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Humans* ; International Agencies ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Transferases ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

In fusion of lumbar spine, every fused motion segments shows varisble limitation of motion in flexion, extension and lateral bending according to their types and level of fusion. The motion segment of lumbar spine is three joint complex which consists of posterior two articular facet joints and an anterior intervertebral disc. Nowadays, orthopedic surgeon prefer anterior fusion due to direct identification and removal of diseased tissue, reduction of fractured fragments, restoration of intrevertebral space, early rehabilitation and no damage of nerve root and cord, and is prefered short Segmental Spinal Instrumentation(e.g. Cotrel Dubousset Instrumentation, etc.) due to short and rigid fusion, no necessity of external support and low limitation of motion. We studied 58 cases of fused lumbar spine which had been operated since Sep.1983, by X-ray overlay method and 20 cases of healthy lumbar spine as eontrol group. In this study, we obtained following results ; 1. Harrington Rod Instrumentation reveals the most remarkable limitation of motion, whereas, C.D.I. and A.I.F. reveal the least limitation of motion. 2. Distinct differencies of motion are repersented by its range of fusion and range of motion in 2 segmental fusion reveals remarkable decreasement from range of motion in single segmental fusion. 3. In single segmental fusion, the most limitation of motion was represented in Harrington Rod Instrumentation and posterior fusion with bone graft. There is remarkable decreasement of flexion at lumbosacral junction by its site of fusion. 4.In double segmental fusion, the most limitation of motion was represented in Harrington Rod Instrumentation and there is no significant difference of motion by its site of fusion.
Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Spine ; Transplants ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Background: Cardiac tamponade results in a hemodynamic disorder associated with decreased cardiac output and blood pressure. To improve cardiac output in a subject with cardiac tamponade, cardiotonic drugs and vasodilators with blood volume expander can be used. The purpose of this study was to observe the hemodynamic effects of cardiotonic drugs and vasodilators following administration of plasma expander in the dogs with cardiac tamponade. Method: Three groups of dogs were studied during the induced cardiac tamponade. Following infusion of pentastarch, group I received dobutamine by dripping of 10 microg/kg/min, followed by injection of 20 microg/kg/min, group II received hydralazine (20 mg, 40 mg) and group III received sodium nitroprusside (5 microg/kg/min, 10 microg/kg/min). The heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output and pulmonary arterial occluded pressure were measured. The atrial transmural pressure was calculated by subtracting intrapericardial pressure from mean atrial pressure. Results: Cardiac output was increased in the groups I and II, but mean arterial pressure was increased in only the group I. Atrial transmural pressure was not changed in all three groups. Conclusion: The most pronounced hemodynamic improvements during the cardiac tamponade is observed in group I with pentastarch-dobutamine combination.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Atrial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiac Tamponade* ; Cardiotonic Agents ; Dobutamine* ; Dogs* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Hydralazine* ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives* ; Nitroprusside* ; Plasma ; Vasodilator Agents

To investigate the effect of tumor removal and administration of OK432 on the splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats, NK cell activity assay using a 4-hour 51Cr release assay and flow cytometric analysis for NK cell population were performed. The results were as follows: 1. Splenic NK cell activity and population in the subcutaneous tumor bearing rats decreased along with the growth of the tumor. 2. The rats with subcutaneous tumor removal showed decrease of splenic NK cell activity, but splenic NK cell population was not decreased. 3. In the rats with subcutaneous tumor removal and OK432 administration, splenic NK cell activity was significantly increased 1 week after administration of OK432 and then gradually returned to normal, whereas increase of NK cell population was not significant. In the present study, splenic NK cell activity was significantly decreased despite removal of subcutaneous tumor. But with the administration of OK432, splenic NK cell activity returned to normal. Considering the role of NK cells on the first line of defense against the metastatic implantation of circulating tumor emboli, we suggest that perioperative administration of immunopotentiator such as OK432 may improve the patient's outcome after surgery of human neoplasm.
Animals ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Picibanil* ; Rats* ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value and optimal sampling time of serum S-100B protein for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum S100 calcium binding protein beta subunit (S-100B protein) levels 12 times (0-96 hours) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patients were classified into two groups based on cerebral performance category (CPC): the good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2 at 6 months) and the poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5). We compared serial changes and serum S-100B protein levels at each time point between the two groups and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. S-100B protein levels peaked at ROSC (0 hour), decreased rapidly to 6 hours and maintained a similar level thereafter. Serum S-100B protein levels in the poor CPC group (n = 22) were significantly higher than in the good CPC group (n = 18) at all time points after ROSC except at 4 hours. The time points with highest area under curve were 24 (0.829) and 36 (0.837) hours. The cut-off value, the sensitivity (24/36 hours) and specificity (24/36 hours) for the prediction of poor CPC at 24 and 48 hours were 0.221/0.249 ug/L, 75/65% and 82.4/94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S-100B protein was an early and useful marker for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients treated with TH and the optimal sampling times were 24 and 36 hours after ROSC.
Area Under Curve ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A 69-year-old man presented with annular lichen planus involving both forearms, hand dorsa, wrists, inner sides of the thighs, knees and ankles. He was treated initially with systemic corticosteroids and etretinate, but rernission and recurr ence of the skin lesions were observed. During the follow-up, we found erythrasma on all his toewebs and both soles. After administration of erythromycin for the treatment of erythrasma, lesions of the lichen planus rapidly improved. Five months later, some lesions of lihen planus and erythrasma had recurred. After administration of erythromycin, the lesions of lichen planus improved again. No recurrence was observed for the following 8 months. We suspect that eradication of the chronic focus of infection and the anti-inflammatory effect, of erythromycin may lead to supression of abnormal immunological reactions and resolution of lichen planus.
Acitretin ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Ankle ; Erythrasma ; Erythromycin* ; Etretinate ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thigh ; Wrist

In this paper, the title was described incorrectly.

BACKGROUND: Acutely induced hypoxia causes an increase in the mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and oxygen consumption. However, comparisons of hemodynamic changes and oxygen consumption between subjects with and without anesthesia are rare. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the hemodynamic changes and oxygen availability after acute apnea between the dogs with and without anesthesia. METHODS: Apnea was induced to 19 healthy mongrel dogs. Group 1 (N=10) constituted dogs with anesthesia and group 2 (N=9) constituted dogs without anesthesia. Hemodynamic data and oxygen levels were rapidly measured with 1 minute intervals. RESULTS: The survival time of group 1 was longer than that of group 2. The mean arterial pressure increased in group 1. Although the cardiac outputs in both groups increased at the same time course in early phase of apnea, the preload values increased more rapidly in group 1. Systemic vascular resistance decreased at 2 and 3 minutes of apnea in group 1 but not in group 2. The oxygen extraction ratio increased significantly at 4 and 5 minutes of apnea in group 2. CONCLUSION: In this study the dogs with anesthesia had a prolonged survival time compared to the dogs without anesthesia. Most hemodynamic values did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for an increased mean arterial pressure and decreased systemic vascular resistance in the dogs with anesthesia. It was suggested that the cause of early death in the dogs without anesthesia was decreased oxygen delivery.
Anesthesia* ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Apnea* ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dogs ; Hemodynamics* ; Oxygen Consumption ; Oxygen* ; Vascular Resistance