Normal human B cells produce autocrine growth factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). However, the functional role and molecular nature of the B cell derived-B cell growth factor (B-BCGF) are largely unknown. We have tried to investigate the nature of B-BCGF using mAb for several years. We report here that B- BCGF is capable of binding to hemoglobin (Hb). The concentrated culture supernatant from tonsillar B cells stimulated with SAC for 24 h was loaded into the fast protein liquid chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The peak with BCGF activity was shown to have a M.W. of 16-18 Kda in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver stain. Amino acid sequence of the fraction was found to identical to human hemoglobin (Hb) by more than 85%. However, Hb itself had no BCGF activity. The presence of Hb in culture supernatant was due to the contamination of SRBC during B cell purification. SRSC were completely removed from B cells by percoll-gradient centrifugation and B cells were stimulated with SAC and exogenous Hb was added to the cultures. The Hb fraction from FPLC again showed a BCGF activity. These data strongly suggested that BCGF binds to Hb. We confirmed this in dot blot as well as Western blot. The M.W of Hb-binding BCGF was 20 Kda. This information may provide a rapid progress in research of BCGF.
Amino Acid Sequence ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Silver ; Staphylococcus aureus

There is no one good method for all hypospadias repairs. A technique must be adapted for each individual patient: therefore, the urologist ought to be proficient in performing a number of procedures in order to be prepared for all possible eventualities. And one-stage operations are preferable whenever they are judged to have a reasonable chance for success. Herein we report hypospadias repairs on 17 patients between August, 1985 and July, 1986. In 7cases of two stage operations such as Belt-Fugua and Thiersch-Duplay tube with glans channel, the success rate was 57%. In 10 cases of one stage operations such as Mathieu, King and Duckett, the success rate was 50%."
Female ; Humans ; Hypospadias* ; Male

An experimental study was made to investigate the fertility of unilateral cryptorchidism in rat, Twenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated to create unilateral mechanical cryptorchidism at 5 weeks of age and both testicles were examined microscopically at 13, 19 and 25 weeks of age. Testicular volume, tubular diameter and spermatogenic index were subjected to statistical analysis. No significant differences were found in testicular volumes of the contralateral scrotal testicle (P>0.05 ), whereas that of the intraabdominal testicle was greatly decreased (P <0.001). Found was considerable decrease in contralateral scrotal testicles in terms of spermatogenic, index and tubular diameter (P <0.01), in addition to significant changes of intraabdominal testicle (P<0.001). Severe histological change depicted by thickening of the basement membranes of seminiferous tubules and peritubular hyalinization were noted in the intraabdominal testicles while contralateral scrotal testicle showing a mild to moderate changes. In conclusion, one can state that spermatogenesis is decreased in both intraabdominal as well as contralateral scrotal testicles, the severity of the former being greater than the latter.
Animals ; Basement Membrane ; Cryptorchidism* ; Fertility ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis*

No abstract available.
HLA Antigens* ; Humans

Herein we report a case of lentigo maligna that evolved into lentigo maligna melanoma. Fifteen years ago, the patient developed a pigmented lesion on the right cheek. The lesion progressed slowly, and 2 months ago, a black nodular lesion was developed in the periphery of the pigmented lesion. Histopathologic examination of the lesions revealed findings consistent with lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanorna. She had been performed wide excision and cheek flap for reconstruction.
Cheek ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle* ; Lentigo* ; Melanoma*

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous vertebroplasty has recently been introduced as an interesting therapeutic alternative for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis. The authors present the early results of this method. METHOD AND MATERIAL: From July 1999 to April 2000, percutaneous transpedicular technique was used in 20 patients (2 men and 18 women) whose mean age was 67.5 years old(range 59-79) with painful vertebral compression(22) and burst(2) fractures. The interval between fracture and vertebroplasty ranged 1 day to 4 months. The procedure involved percutaneous puncture of the injured vertebra via transpedicular approach under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by injection of polymethylmetacrylate(PMMA) into the vertebral body through a disposable 11-guage Jamshidi needle. RESULT: The most common cause of fracture was slip down and the most frequent injured level was the twelfth thoracic spine. The procedure was technically successful bilaterally in 18 patients(9 thoracic and 15 lumbar spines) with an average injection amount of 7.7ml PMMA in each level. Seventeen(94.4%) patients reported significant pain relief immediately after treatment. Two leaks of PMMA were detected with postoperative CT in spinal epidural space and extravertebral soft tissue without clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although this study represents the early results, percutaneous vertebroplasty seems to be valuable tool in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral body fractures in elderly, providing acute pain relief and early mobilization.
Acute Pain ; Aged ; Early Ambulation ; Epidural Space ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Osteoporosis ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Punctures ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty*

PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare disease of which incidence is 10-15 % of bartholins gland carcinoma. The clinical presentation is characterized by a vulval mass that existed for a prolonged period to the onset of symptoms, usually infection, pain, and burningsensation Histologically, this tumor is characterized by cribriform pattern cell growing and perineural invasion. The obtaining of clear surgical margins is the most important aspect of treatment. Here we report a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholins gland with a brief review of literature.
Adenoids* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Incidence ; Rare Diseases

Previously, we reported the expression levels of specific microRNA machinery components, DGCR8 and AGO2, and their clinical association in patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss (SSNHL). In the present study, we investigated the other important components of microRNA machinery and their association with clinical parameters in SSNHL patients. Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with SSNHL and fifty healthy volunteers were included in this study. We evaluated mRNA expression levels of Dicer and Drosha in whole blood of patients with SSNHL and the control group, using RT & real-time PCR analysis. The Dicer mRNA expression level was down-regulated in patients with SSNHL. However, the Drosha mRNA expression level was not significantly altered in patients with SSNHL. Neither the Dicer nor Drosha mRNA expression level was not associated with any clinical parameters, including age, sex, duration of initial treatment from onset (days), initial Pure tone average, Siegel's criteria, WBC, and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. However, mRNA expression levels of Dicer and Drosha were positively correlated to each other in patients with SSNHL. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that the Dicer mRNA expression level was down-regulated in patients with SSNHL, suggesting its important role in pathobiology of SSNHL development.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/*blood ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/*blood ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/*blood ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Ribonuclease III/*blood/*metabolism ; Statistics as Topic