Cortical dysplasia is a cause of intractable epilepsy and a candidate for surgical resection to control epileptic attacks. The neuronal cytomegaly and balloon cell change are the diagnostic hallmarks of cortical dysplasia. Little research has been performed about the normal-sized dysplastic neuron which has complex arborizing dendrites and lacks in its polarity. The aim of this study was to define the histopathologic characteristics of the neurons in cortical dysplasia. Twelve cases of cortical dysplasia who underwent partial lobectomy for intractable seizures were selected and immunohistochemical staining for NF-M/H, MAP2, tau, and ubiquitin was performed. The perikarya and dendrite of dysplastic neurons were more intensely labeled with antibodies for the high and medium molecular weight neurofilament proteins (NF-M/H) than normal neurons. Immunoreactivity with the MAP2 antibody expressed mainly within the somatodendritic regions was present in the dysplastic or normal neurons without any significant difference in intensity. The complex arborizing dendrites of dysplastic neurons were easily identified due to pronounced immunoreactivity within the somatodendritic regions. Immunoreactivity with the primary antibody against tau and ubiquitin was present in the normal-looking neurons as well as the dysplastic neurons. This study suggests that the dysplastic neurons in cortical dysplasia are accompanied by changes of cytoskeletal neurofilaments, and the immunohistochemical stains for NF-M/H, MAP2, tau, and ubiquigin are useful to detect them.
Antibodies ; Coloring Agents ; Dendrites ; Epilepsy ; Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Molecular Weight ; Neurofilament Proteins ; Neurons ; Seizures ; Ubiquitin

Although tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) is involved in ureteral obstruction-induced increase in renal blood flow (RBF), its contribution to RBF is not well established due to the concommitant increases in prostaglandin (PG) and renal interstitial fluid pressure (Pisf), both of which affect RBF one way or the other. Since Pisf and TGF are closely affected by renal hemodynamics, RBF will respond differently to increases in ureteral pressure depending on renal hemodynamic conditions. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate how the changes in renal hemodynamics affect the response of RBF to increases in ureteral pressure. The effect of PG on RBF was assessed by comparing the effects obtained before and after indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Six anesthetized dogs were prepared with flow probes and inflatable silastic occluder around the renal artery, the ureteral catheter with its free end attached to a water reservoir, and the arterial and venous catheters. RBFs were obtained at ureteral pressures of 0, 15, and 40cmH2O during the maintenance of the renal artery pressure (RAP) at the level of systemic arterial pressure, 10mmHg above and below the lower autoregulatory limit of RBF (65+/-4 mmHg) both before and after indomethacin administration (10mg/kg). In response to the ureteral pressure of 40cmH2O, RBF increased from 172+/-6 to 185+/-10ml/min when RAP's were equal to systemic arterial pressure and decreased from 162+/-10 to 120+/-9 ml/min when RAP's were 55+/-4mmHg. Indomethacin pretreatment, depending on the level of RAP either prevented an increase or augmented a decrease in RBF in response to ureteral pressure elevation. This suggests that RAP-dependent changes in susceptibility of the renal venous system to compression by increased Pisf is the main mechanism by which the changes in renal perfusion pressure modulate the response of RBF to ureteral pressure elevation.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Catheters ; Dogs* ; Extracellular Fluid ; Hemodynamics ; Indomethacin ; Perfusion ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction* ; Urinary Catheters ; Water

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common condition requiring abdominal surgery in early infancy, and is caused by hypertrophied pyloric muscle. The development of successful surgical treatment in the early 1900s by Fredet and Ramstedt made it possible for infants worldwide to survive. Modern pediatric anesthetic techniques have virtually eliminated mortality from surgical management. Atropine sulfate is a cholinergic blocking agent with potent antimuscarinic activity that decreases peristaltic contractions by relaxing smooth muscles. We treated two cases of IHPS with incomplete pyloromyotomy in 3-month-old and 5-month-old male infants by administering atropine sulfate intravenously. They were free from vomiting after 5 days of intravenous atropine sulfate treatment. In these rare cases of persistent vomiting or refractory emesis following incomplete pyloromyotomy, there may be a role for atropine sulfate.
Atropine* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mortality ; Muscle, Smooth ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic ; Vomiting*

Purpose: In this study, we investigated whether the antigenic changes of the virus-like particles (VLPs) are affected by the temperature during storage. Materials and Methods: After exposing the recombinant influenza VLPs to various temperatures for a period, antigenic changes were examined through in vitro hemagglutination receptor binding assay and in vivo mouse experiments. Results: Influenza VLPs were exposed at three different temperatures of low, middle, and high on a thermo-hygrostat. High temperature exposed influenza VLPs were showed significantly reduced HA activity and immunogenicity after mouse single immunization over time compared low and middle. When the VLPs exposed to the high temperature were inoculated once in the mice, it was found that the immunogenicity was significantly reduced compared to the VLPs exposed to the low temperature. However, these differences were almost neglected when mice were inoculated twice even with VLPs exposed to high temperatures. Conclusion This study suggests that similar protective effects can be expected by controlling the number of vaccination and storage conditions, although the antigenic change in the VLP vaccines occurred when exposed to high temperature.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated whether the antigenic changes of the virus-like particles (VLPs) are affected by the temperature during storage. Materials and Methods: After exposing the recombinant influenza VLPs to various temperatures for a period, antigenic changes were examined through in vitro hemagglutination receptor binding assay and in vivo mouse experiments. Results: Influenza VLPs were exposed at three different temperatures of low, middle, and high on a thermo-hygrostat. High temperature exposed influenza VLPs were showed significantly reduced HA activity and immunogenicity after mouse single immunization over time compared low and middle. When the VLPs exposed to the high temperature were inoculated once in the mice, it was found that the immunogenicity was significantly reduced compared to the VLPs exposed to the low temperature. However, these differences were almost neglected when mice were inoculated twice even with VLPs exposed to high temperatures. Conclusion This study suggests that similar protective effects can be expected by controlling the number of vaccination and storage conditions, although the antigenic change in the VLP vaccines occurred when exposed to high temperature.

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Muscular Dystrophies*

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the clinical progress and the maternal and fetal outcome in 16 pregnancies complicated by the HELLP(hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet). Material: We reviewed the maternal and neonatal charts from 16 consecutive pregnancies complicated by the HELLP syndrome among 302 pregnancies complicated by preeclamsia and eclamsia managed at our hospital during the period of 4 years from June 1994 through June 1998. The HELLP syndrome was defined by previously published laboratory criteria. We assessed the time of onset, presenting symptom, laboratory finding, mode of delivery, fetal and maternal complication in each case. We also reviewed the clinical finding in detail in the case resulted in maternal death. RESULTS: In regards to the time of onset, 15 cases (93.7%) occurred at antepartum period and only 1 case (6.2%) occurred at postpartum period. Among the 15 cases occurred at antepartum period, 13 cases (81.25%) developed at 27 to 36 weeks gestation and 2 cases (12.5%) developed at near term. In regards to the presenting symptom, twelve patients (75%) complained of right upper quardrant or epigastric pain. Of 16 patients, 12 patients (75%) experienced headache and 10 patients (62.5%) complained of nausea, or vomiting and 5 patients (31.2%) had visual disturbance. The laboratory finding of all 16 cases were as follow; the mean level of platelet: 68700/mm3 (range: 48000 to 91700), the mean level of serum asparate aminotransferase: 335 IU/L (range: 62 to 135), the mean level of lactic dehydrogenase: 910 IU/L (range: 558 to 5794), and the mean level of total bilirubin: 2.6 mg/dl (range: 0.7 to 10.4). To review the mode of delivery, cesarean sections were done on 10 patients (62.5%) including 7(43.7%) emergency and 3(18.7%) elective operations. However, 6 patients (37.5%) delivered vaginally. Maternal complications were as follow; abruptio placenta in 1 case (6.2%), DIC in 2 cases (12.5%), pulmonary edema in 3 cases (18.7%), pleural effusion in 4 cases (25%), renal failure in 4 cases (25%), and 1 case of death. Fetal and neonatal outcome was assessed; 9 cases of intrauterine growth retardation (56.2%), meconium stained in 3 cases (18.7%), 2 stillbirth (12.5%), and 2 neonatal death (12.5%). CONCLUSION: HELLP syndrome is associated with serious maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Cesarean Section ; Dacarbazine ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Headache ; HELLP Syndrome ; Hemolysis* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Maternal Death ; Meconium ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Oxidoreductases ; Placenta ; Pleural Effusion ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pulmonary Edema ; Renal Insufficiency ; Stillbirth ; Vomiting

No abstract available.
Management Information Systems* ; Occupational Health Services* ; Occupational Health*

A 5-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a high fever and abnormal gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive swelling of the quadriceps and adductor muscles around the right hip and anterior thigh. A duplex scan demonstrated a thrombus from the external iliac vein to below the popliteal vein. The blood culture revealed Streptococcus pyogenes. The patient was immediately treated with antibiotics and anticoagulants. Follow-up sonography demonstrated complete disappearance of the venous thrombosis. We report a case of streptococcal myositis complicated by deep vein thrombosis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anticoagulants ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gait ; Hip ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Myositis ; Popliteal Vein ; Preschool Child ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; Thigh ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis