No abstract available.
Growth Hormone*

We experienced one case of severe pituitary dwarfism in a 16 years old male boy that magnetic resonance image(MRI) revealed transection of the pituitary stalk with the ectopic location of posterior pituitary gland and hypoplastic anterior pituitary gland. The serum growth horrnone(GH) response to clonidine and L-dopa revealed severe GH deficiency. The patient revealed normal response in TSH, prolactin and LH, FSH to TRH and LHRH respectively. So far, the primary cause of idiopathic pituitary dwarfism in many patients was due to hypoxic injury to hypothalmus by perinatal insults. In this patients, there was no history of perinatal insults and postnatal head trauma. We report a case of severe dwarfism due to hypogenesis of anterior pituitary gland.
Clonidine ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Dwarfism ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Pituitary Gland, Posterior ; Prolactin

No abstract available.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a promising imaging technique developed recently to obtain functional maps of the brain, and can be successfully performed on widely available diagnostic MR imaging systems. Thus, the technical principle and application of this new imaging are no more minor part of knowledge in radiology. We describe herein the overview of functional magnetic resonance imaging about the physiologic mechanism, imaging technique, image-processing method and practical application.
Brain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Tuberculosis*

In a series of paleo-parasitological investigations, we have been able to obtain invaluable data on parasite infection patterns prevalent among the Joseon (1392-1910) people in Korea. Thus far we have established that the Joseon people were in fact heavily infected by various species of parasites, though precise patterns and exact statuses of infection in specific town and cities have proved elusive. In the present study, relevant historical documentation was obtained and examined, shedding light on some of the operative socio-cultural factors that might have played a role in inducing a high infection prevalence of Ascaris, a soil-transmitted roundworm, in Joseon society. On this evidentiary basis, we could confirm that the recycling of human feces as fertilizer and the habit of eating raw vegetables were both closely related to infection. These factors were sufficient to maintain the life cycle of Ascaris, there by perpetuating a cycle of infection and reinfection among the Joseon inhabitants. Overall, this study demonstrated the value of close medical-scientist / historian interdisciplinary collaboration infacilitating comprehensive and meaningful paleo-parasitological findings and interpretations.
Ascaris ; Cooperative Behavior ; Eating ; Feces ; Helminths ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Cycle Stages ; Light ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Recycling ; Vegetables

Nowadays, to evaluate growth hormone(GH) deficiency-suspicious short stature, we usually use more than two kinds of provocative tests using various pharmacologic agents such as clonodine, L-dopa, insulin, etc. However, the importance of physiologic natural secretion of GH was recently approved. In the past, diagnosis of GH neurosecretory dysfunction was made by studying the 24-hour spantaneous GH secretion profile. But, because it is very clinically difficult, and so we measured and evaluated the mean GH concentrations of blood samples, obtained every 30 minutes during the first 3 hours' nocturnal sleep, instead of that. At the department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital from November, 1992 to February, 1994, we selected 34 GH deficiency-suspected children on the base of their growth data and bone age, etc. After GH stimulation with clonidine(100-150 ug/m2) and L-dopa(200-250 mg/m2), we measured their peak GH values by the immunoradiometric assay(IRMA) kit. And, we measured the mean GH concentrations of blood samples, obtained every 30 minutes during the first 3 hours noctumal sleep(22:OOPM-1:OOAM). RESULTS: 1. We analyzed the relationship between the mean of 3-hours' physiologic night-time surge of GH(X) and the phamacologically stimulated peak GH level(Y), except for the two neurosecretory dysfunction suspicious children. And so, for the 32 children, the relationship was Y=1.806X+ 3.177, r= 0.794, p<0.01. However, for all the tested children(34), the relationship is Y=1.709X+ 4.06, r=0.737, p<0.01. 2. We analyzed the relationship between the peak of 3-hours' physiologic night-time surge of GH(X) and the phamacologicaUy stimulated peak GH level(Y), except for the two neurosecretory dysfunction suspieious children. And so, for the 32 children, the relationship was Y=0.683X+ 3.686, r=737, p<0.01. CONCLUSION: For all the tested children(34), the relationship between the mean 3hr physiologic GH night time surge and stimulated peak GH value is Y=1.709X+4.06, r=0.737, p<0.01. The percentage of GH neurosecretory dysfunction is 5.8%(2/34). And, except for the two childrren, the relationship is more good, Y=1.806X+3.177, r=0,794, p<0.01. On the above relationship, the 3-hour GH night time-surge test might to give us some helpful information for the diagnosis of neurosecretory dysfunction.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Levodopa ; Pediatrics

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between the distribution of the ocular surface temperature and the nasal predominance in pterygium. METHODS: In order to identify the distribution of the ocular surface, the surface temperature was measured at four points on the eyelids and on the bulbar conjunctiva with a non-contact thermometer. The ocular surface temperature in the pterygium patient group was compared with that in a normal control group. The temperature difference at each point on the ocular surface was also examined. RESULTS: In both of the patient and the normal groups, the surface temperature on the eyelid was at its lowest on the temporal lower eyelid, and highest on the nasal upper eyelid. On the bulbar conjunctiva, the surface temperature of the nasal conjunctiva was at its lowest, and at its highest on the upper conjunctiva. The most distinctive temperature difference between the patient and control groups was shown on the nasal and temporal bulbar conjunctivas, and statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Considering the temperature distribution over the ocular surface, we propose that an intrinsic factor that causes the nasal predominance of pterygium could be the comparatively low local temperature of the nasal bulbar conjunctiva.
Conjunctiva ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Intrinsic Factor ; Pterygium ; Thermometers

BACKGROUND: Head-down suspension (HDS) of rats has been used as a model for simulation of a microgravity environment. C-type natriuretic peptides (CNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) are produced in the central nervous system, especially in hypothalamus, to complement their peripheral natriuretic effects. Therefore, this study investigated the changes in the central adaptations of hypothalamic ANP and CNP syntheses to 4 weeks of HDS in rats. METHODS: Unanesthetized, unrestrained, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either a horizontal position (control rats) or a -45 degrees head-down tilt using the tail-traction technique (HDS rats). We determined the hypothalamic syntheses of natriuretic peptides as an expression of ANP and CNP mRNA. The expression of natriuretic peptide mRNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with [32P]-dCTP following 4 weeks of HDS in the hypothalamus of control and HDS rats. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of HDS, the expression of ANP mRNA showed a decreasing trend in the hypothalamus of HDS rats. In contrast with ANP, CNP mRNA expression was significantly (p<0.01) increased in the hypothalamus of HDS rats. There were different changes in the hypothalamic CNP and ANP mRNA expressions of HDS rats compared with that of the control rats.CONCLUSION: These results represent that the hypothalamic syntheses of natriuretic peptides are differently responded and the role of CNP is augmented to compensate for the decrement of ANP action in the central nervous system following 4 weeks of HDS.
Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Central Nervous System ; Complement System Proteins ; Head-Down Tilt ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Male ; Natriuretic Agents ; Natriuretic Peptides ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger* ; Weightlessness

OBJECTIVES: Manganese is cytotoxic to the central nervous system including basal ganglia. Its toxic mechanism is related to oxidative stress, mediated by toxic free radicals but is specultives. In the present study, we have investigated to manifest apoptosis in manganese-induced cytotoxicity in primary neuronal cell culture of rat basal ganglia. METHOD: To detect apoptotic neuronal cells were stained by the terminal deoxynu-cleotide(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling(TUNEL) method and apoptotic changes in nuclei of neurons were observed by electron microscopy. RESULTS: We showed that TUNEL immunostain showed brownish signal in the nuclei of apoptotic cells and the proportions of apoptotic cells in Manganese treatment groups were more higher than controls. On transmission electron microscopy, there were chromatine condensation with margination toward nuclear membrane and condensation of cytoplasm in the treated with luM MnC1, for 48 hours in a basal ganglia neurons. Apoptotic bodies were found and consisted of semilunar-like condensed nuclei with relatively intact cytoplasmic organelles. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis appears to be one mechanism in the manganese-induced neuronal cell death. Manganese intoxication is a convenient model for apoptosis study.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Basal Ganglia* ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Cell Death ; Central Nervous System ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Free Radicals ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Manganese* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neurons* ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats