Authors concluded an experimental study in order to find out what the effects of parathyroid hormone on cells derived from human Trabecular bone in vitro are on terms of proliferation of cells, adenylate cyclase activity and production of small substances such as osteocalcin and collagen type I. The results were as follows; 1. 3H-thymidine incorporation into cultured osteoblast was initially low (day 1–2), increased by exponential curve from day 3 till day 11. The uptakes of 3H-thymidine by osteoblasts, when bovine parathyroid hormone was added, increased dose-dependently. Greater increments were seen at concentrations of bovine PTH higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. 2. Intracellular c-AMP accumulation was stimulated by bovine PTH in a dose-dependent manner and greater production was seen at concentrations of bovine PHT higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. Maximal stimulation was observed at 1 X10-7 mole of bovine PTH. The concentrations of c-AMP were observed significantly higher in the presence of bovine PTH in a dose-dependent manner when compared to those of bovine PTH-absent culture condition. 3. Treatment with bovine parathyroid hormone of cultured osteoblasts resulted in increase of alkaline phophatase activity and synthesis of osteocalcin in the cultured media in a dose-dependent manner. Greater productions were observed at concentrations of bovine PTH higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. 4. Synthesis of type I collagen by cultured osteoblasts in bovine PTH-added media was inversely proportional to their concentration, whereas control group showed minimal increments of no significance. These in vitro findings may suggest that PTH has a stimulatory effect on proliferation of osteoblast, c-AMP production and alkaline phosphatase activity in a direct manner.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Parathyroid Hormone

No abstract available.
Allografts* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Risk Factors*

Two cases of clear cell syringoma are reported in the women who were 39 ad 54 years old, respectively. They had had asymptomatic, ricegrain-sized skin colored to yellowish pink papules on the face, particularly on he lower eyelid for several years. Interestingly, both of them had suffered from diabetes mellitus for more than a decade and been placed on irregular antidiabetic medications. Routine laboratory findings in the elder patient(case 2), unfortunately not checked in the younger patient(cases 1) due to her refusal, were within normal limits except marked glucosuria. Histologic examination revealed numerous various-sized, well-defined tumor nests composed largely of clear cells with polygonal cellular boundary and eccentric nucleus. Special stain with Periodic acid-Schiff disclosed existance of glycogen in the clear cells, but other special stains such as alcian blue showed negative findings. Electron microscopic examination of the elder patient revealed many multivesicular bodies suggestive of lysosomes, and numerous droplets of glycogen dispersed between them in villi-rich periluminal cell.
Alcian Blue ; Coloring Agents ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Disulfiram ; Eyelids ; Female ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; Middle Aged ; Multivesicular Bodies ; Skin ; Syringoma*

Inhibin is a glycoprotein usually produced by granulosa cell of ovary and is known as regulator of FSH secretion. Inhibin is consisted of two heterodimeric subunit of a, B . There are two distinct molecular forms of the B subunit that exist (BA and BB) and when combined with an a subunit, form inhibin A, and inhibin B, respectively. Ovarian reserve describes women's reproductive potential, which usually decreased according to chronological age. Because useful markers claimed for the prediction of ovarian response during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET have not been always successful, new biomarker has been investigated. The purpose of this study was to observe the changes in serum and ovarian follicular inhibin A concentration during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF-ET program and to evaluate the clinical significance of inhibin A as a prognostic marker for assisted reproductive technology outcomes. From Jan 1996 to Dec 1996, 48 patients who underwent IVF-ET were included. In each patient, the Day 3 FSH, LH, E2q were measured in the first month of cycle before commencing GnRH agonist administration, In the stimulation period after pituitary down regulation, blood samples for inhibin A were collected at the day 3, day 7, day of hCG injection, day of oocytes aspiration, and day of embryo transfer. Ovarian follicular inhibin A was collected at the day of oocyte aspiration. Inhibin A concentration was measured using test kit for inhibin A (INHIBIN-EASIA (code 40.134.00), Belgium Medgenix). The changes in serum inhibin A, E2 concentration during IVF-ET program showed increasing pattern throughout controlled ovarian hyperstimulation periods. If the cut-off value of day 3 serum inhibin A determined to 0.28 U/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.0%, 75.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. If the cut-off value of peak serum E determined to 1316 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.0%, 100.0% respectively in predicting the number of oocytes retrieved being more than five. In conclusion, measurement of serum inhibin A concentration on the day of starting stimulation (day 3) could be used as a useful marker for predicting the ovarian response in IVF-ET program.
Belgium ; Down-Regulation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum

No abstract available.
Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Pregnancy*

PURPOSE: To described the MR findings in the periodic changes of the size and signal intensity ofreconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee and the efficacy of oblique axial imaging in patientswho underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using autogenous patellar tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-onepatients who had undergone ACL reconstruction were evaluated by follow-up MRI at postoperative 1 week, 1, 2, 3 and6 months, and 1 year, Conventional Fast-Spin-Echo (FSE) sagittal and coronal images and oblique axial images(proton density and T2-WI; VEMP TR/TE, 2000/20/70) were obtained perpendicular to the ligament, and using an ROIcurve in the intra-articular area, periodic changes in the cross-sectional area were evaluated by proton densityimaging and signal intensity by T2WI imaging. Cross-sectional morphology was categorized as either smooth, andround or notch-shaped and periodic changes in configuration were observed. In three cases, we evaluated the retearof reconstructed ACL by comparing the oblique axizl image obtained by conventional sagittal and coronal imaging. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area and signal intensity of grafted ACL increased significantly (p<0.05) after 3months and at 1 year, respectively. Cross-sectional morphology was smooth and round in 86% of cases, and notchedin 14%, and during follow-up MR studies, no periodic changes were seen. Notch-shaped ACL and decreased perigraftsignal intensity, as seen on sagittal images, could lead to a misdiagnosis of partial tear ; on oblique axialimages, ACL and perigraft signal intensity were found to be normal. CONCLUSION: During the natural evolution ofgrafted ACL, cross-sectional area and signal intensity increased significantly after 3 months and at 1 year,respectively ; on follow-up MR studies, cross-sectional morphology did not change, however. Oblique axial imagingprovides important information for evaluating whether the reconstructed ACL is torn or not.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnostic Errors ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patellar Ligament ; Prospective Studies* ; Protons ; Transplants*

Isometric tension was recorded in uterine arterial ring preparation contracted by potassium (60 mM) and norepinephrine(1.8 X 10(-7) M). With pretreatment of various concentrations of nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-9) ~2.9 X10(-7) M) and verapamil(2.2 X 10(-7) -2.2 X 10(-5) M), the relaxation was dose-dependent and inhibitory effects of both agents were more marked on the potassium than norepinephrine-evoked contraction. After immersion of the arterial preparation in calcium-free solution, the potassium-evoked contraction was decreased to 21+/-4.1%(mean+/-SEM) of the response in normal Krebs solution and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 26+/-3.8%. The responses to both agents were completely restored when the calcium concentration was increased to 4.0 mM. Pretreated nifedipine(2.9 x 10(-7) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 7.3+/-1.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 12+/-3.7%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 30+/-4.6% and that by norepinephrine to 45+/-5.4%. Pretreated verapamil(2.2 X 10(-5) M) in calcium-free solution depressed the potassium-evoked contraction to 14+/-3.6% and norepinephrine-evoked contraction to 18+/-3.3%. In addition of calcium(0-4.0mM), the potassium-evoked contraction increased to 41+/-4.2% and that by norepinephrine to 57+/-4.7%. It was concluded that nifedipine and verapamil relaxed KC1 contracted ring in the presence of external calcium and relaxed norepinephrine contracted ring in both the presence and absence of external calcium. These findings suggest that calcium antagonists interfere with the release of calcium from intracellular sites as well as with the slow inward current of calcium.
Calcium ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Nifedipine* ; Norepinephrine ; Potassium ; Relaxation ; Uterine Artery* ; Verapamil*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney* ; Living Donors* ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Dilatation* ; Kidney* ; Pelvis*

No abstract available.
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Kidney Transplantation*