No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Toes*

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Toes*

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined as a syndrome of cardiac failure occurring in tbe latter part of pregnancy or in the puerperium, without obvious cause and without prior evidence of heart disease. Despite its infrequency, this clinical problem may have devastating consequences upon maternal and fetal outcome. It is important to recognize the association of cardiac failure and pregnancy as a separate syndrome so that, once identified, peripartum cardiomyopathy can be treated promptly and aggressively. We experienced two cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy, and report these cases with a brief review of the literatures.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Peripartum Period* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy

The development of drug resistance is a major obstacle in effective cancer chemotherapy. Multidrug resistance(MDR) is a widely studied phenomenon of interest to both clinicians and research workers because many different cancer chemotherapeutic agents are involved and the genetic basis of MDR is understood to a large extent. Several studies show that the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein(MRP), glutathione-s-transferase-pi(GST-pi), and DNA topoisomerase II(topo II) have a complex role for the malignant phenotypes and MDR. Clearly, there is a need to investigate links between the diverse characteristics of tumors and the emergence of drug resistance. We have therefore used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay to analyze expressions of MDR-related genes including the mdr1, MRP, topo II and GST-t gene in normal testis and testis tumors. The results are as follows: 1. The expression levels of topo II and GST-n genes in testis tumors, especially in the nonseminomatous germ cell tumor(NSGCT), were significantly higher than in normal testis(p=0.015 and 0.025, respectively). 2. The MDR-related gene expressions in testis tumors did not appear to be correlated with stage(p>0.05 in each case) and chemotherapy status(p>0.05 in each case). 3. MRP expression levels in primary tumors were much higher than in metastatic tumors. 4. In NSGCT, the coexpressions of the topo II and GST-r or MRP genes were significantly correlated but, seminoma showed no correlation between MDR-related genes in the same sample. Although the mechanism of these connection are not known, the results suggest that these expression patterns and higher GST-rexpression in NSGCF compared to seminoma confer diverse characteristics including difference in the presentation of tumor markers and the responsiveness to chemotherapy on NSGCF and seminoma.
DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Therapy ; Gene Expression* ; Germ Cells* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal* ; P-Glycoprotein ; Phenotype ; Seminoma ; Testis* ; Biomarkers, Tumor

No abstract available.
Animal Experimentation* ; Animals* ; Botulism* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Metalloproteases ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms

Acute scrotum is defined as an acute painful swelling of the scrotum or its content. There are many conditions it may cause acute scrotum, but since a delay in the diagnosis and treatment may led to necrosis and its loss, the possibility of torsion of the spermatic cord should be ruled out in the first place. In a retrospective study of 32 childhood patients with acute scrotum presenting to Chungbuk National University Hospital from March 1992 to March 1995, we evaluated general aspects of acute scrotum including the result of follow up. The incidence of acute epididymitis, testicular torsion, mumps orchitis, and torsion of a testicular appendage were 66%, 19%, 9% and 6%, respectively. Of the eight scrotal explorations performed, 6 had testicular torsion, and 2 had torsion of appendages. With the exception of cases of far advanced necrotic testes, both color Doppler ultrasound and radioisotope imaging were highly specific diagnostic modalities. But, because of the potentially devastating outcome of a false-negative result of imaging studies, we continue to believe that physical exam is the best guide regarding the necessity of surgical exploration and all patients with unequivocal examinations are best served by prompt surgical therapy.
Acute Pain ; Child* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Diagnosis ; Epididymitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mumps ; Necrosis ; Orchitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum* ; Spermatic Cord ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; Testis ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color*

Epidemiological and experimental studies have established that specific human papillo-mavirus(HPV) types are strongly associated with cervical cancer. In understanding the role of HPV in the development of cervical cancer, more accurate and efficient detection method of various HPV types is warranted. Currently polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-based methods are the most commonly used one. Recently developed PCR systems, mainly, amplify a region of the L1 or E1 genes of HPVs which may not be integrated into host chromosome and more likely to produce false negative results. In this paper we describe the design and use of a simplified PCR system with high sensitivity in which all primers are multiplexed in the same PCR mixture. The full genomic sequence of HPV types were obtained from the HPV Sequence Database(http://hpv-web.lanl.gov). Matrix, homology and alignment analyses were carried out by using computer programs such as CLUSTAL V, DNASIS(TM) and Amplify. To determine the detection sensitivity of our PCR system, we have performed experiments using cloned HPV DNAs of type 16 and 18 serially diluted(10-fold dilutions from 10 picogram to 0.01 femtogram per assay) and in a cocktail. By alignment and comparing the sequences we located regions of outer and inner primer sequences based on the E6, E7 and E1 open reading frames which is usually integrated into host chromosome. Amplimer size were determined in order to be below than 400 base pair. The sensitivity of our PCR system ranged from the 1 copy per cell for HPV 16 and 10 copies per cell for HPV 18. This sensitivity was maintained when cloned HPV 16 and 18 DNAs were applied both individually and in a cocktail with variable mixing ratio. Our PCR system shows high sensitivity and specificity with minimal competitive inhibition between primers. This multiplex nested PCR system may be efficiently used for simultaneous detection and typing of HPV 16 and 18 in paraffin-embedded sections or rapid prepared samples.
Base Pairing ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans* ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: The efficiency of lipid extraction by different kinds of solvents from stratum corneum may vary. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficiency of lipid extraction by several solvents from the stratum corneum, the total lipids weights were measured by an electronic microbalance, and lipids compositions of a stratum corneum were analyzed by thin layer chromatography(TLC) after pretreatment of several solvents, respectively. METHODS: Stratum corneums separated fro circumcised prepuce were pretreated with acetone, petroleum ether, or distillecl water for 10 minutes. Lipids of stratum corneum were extracted with methanol chlorofonn-H,O mixture(4: 2: 1.6, v/v, Bligh Dyer solvent). Lipids weights were weighed, and the ratio of lipid weight and wet weight of stratum corneum were measured. TLC was performed and lipids compositions were quantitated by photodensitometer. Lipids extraction in viva was performed on both forearms. After two times stripping with sellotape, lipids were extrected with the solvents using cup method. These were dried and lipids weights were weighed. RESULTS: The efficiency of lipid extraction from the stratum corneum of circumcised prepuce were acetone, petroleum e1 her, and distilled water in decreasing order. All groups were similar in the compositions of the stratum corneum lipids except for those of cholesterol esters and sphingolipids. The efficiency of lipid extraction from in vivo skin were ranked in order from petroleurn ether, acetone, down to distilled water. The efficiency of lipid extraction of petroleum ether and acetone were higher than that of distilled water. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of lipid extraction is influenced by the kinds of solvents as well as the materials and the methods of extraction.
Acetone ; Cholesterol Esters ; Ether ; Forearm ; Methanol ; Petroleum ; Skin ; Solvents* ; Sphingolipids ; Water ; Weights and Measures

A possible therapeutic effect of acetyl-L carnitine (ALCAR) on peripheral nerve injuries and the expression of Jun, the protein products of immediate-early genes(IEGs), in the spinal cord were investigated after sciatic nerve injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental animals were divided into 3 groups: intact sciatic nerve as a control group, surgical repair alone, and surgical repair with ALCAR treatment. Toe-spreading response, pinprick response, and compound action potential were measured to evaluate the recovery of sciatic nerve injury. Recovery of behavioral function and electrophysiological function both improved in the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group. Weak basal expression of Jun was shown in the ventral horn the of spinal cord in the control group. In the surgical repair alone group or the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group, Jun expression persisted until 28 days after injury in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. Moreover, the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group showed more increased expression of Jun than the surgical repair alone group. These results suggest that ALCAR facilitates the functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury.
Acetylcarnitine ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Carnitine* ; Horns ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Spinal Cord