No abstract available.
Facial Nerve* ; Paralysis* ; Temporal Bone*

No abstract available.
Facial Paralysis* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Facial Nerve* ; Paralysis*

No abstract available.
Temporal Bone* ; Tympanic Membrane*

The endolymphatic secretory epithelium are stria vascularis in cochlear and dark cell in vestibule which are regulated by Na+-K+ ATPase. It is important that we study intracytoplasmic Na+-K+ ATPase for the physiologic research of inner ear. Recently cerium-based method for stain of Na+-K+ ATPase was developed. This study was underkaken to investigate the morphologic changes and Na+-K+ ATPase activity in stria vascularis and vestibular dark cell of mongolian gerbil after systemic intramuscular injection(200mg/kg or 300mg/kg) for 7days or local infiltration of streptomycin through round window. The results are as follows. 1) The strong Na+-K+ ATPase activity was seen at basolateral infoldings of marginal cell in stria vascularis but weak Na+-K+ ATPase activity in dark cell near transitional area. 2) There was no change of Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the stria vascularis and dark cell by systemic injection of streptomycin. The decrease of Na+-K+ ATPase activity in stria vascularis was seen at destruction site of infoldings by local infiltration of streptomycin but no changes in dark cell. 3) The ultrastructural changes of marginal cell by local infiltration of streptomycin were intracytoplasmic vacuole, partial loss of cytoplasmic infoldings, edema, and increase of melanin particle. but, there was no change of ultrastructure in dark cell except increase of melanin particle. The changes of ultrastructure of stria vascularis was variable by systemic streptomycin injection and there was no dark cell change except increased melanin particle. From the above results, the changes of ultrastructure and Na+-K+ ATPase were more severe by local infiltration of streptomycin through round window than systemic injection of streptomycin. The local infiltration of streptomycin through round window may be suitable method for the induction of inner ear damage.
Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Cytoplasm ; Ear, Inner ; Edema ; Epithelium* ; Gerbillinae ; Melanins ; Streptomycin* ; Stria Vascularis ; Vacuoles

Bilateral pneumothorax is very rare in primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients. This condition can cause chest pain, dyspnea, and even lead to tension pneumothorax. Spontaneous hemopneumothorax can be lethal due to massive bleeding and hypovolemic shock. This condition requires precise decision making and emergency management. We report on a case of simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax combined with hemopneumothorax in a healthy 21-year-old male patient with chest discomfort. In the emergency department, closed thoracostomy was performed for decompression of hemopneumothorax, with drainage of 850 mL of blood. Then bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed successfully.
Chest Pain ; Decision Making ; Decompression ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemopneumothorax* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumothorax* ; Shock ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracostomy ; Thorax ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA quantification is necessary for predicting the therapeutic response and assessing treatment results in patients with chronic HCV infection. Recently, real-time PCR technology for HCV RNA quantification displayed good linearity within the dynamic range. Thus, it is gradually replacing branched-DNA (bDNA) and PCR- hybridization assays. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Real-QTM HCV quantification kit (biosewoom. Inc., Seoul, Korea) developed in Korea. METHODS: We evaluated the HCV quantification kit for detection limit, specificity, linearity, accuracy, and recovery rate of HCV RNA standard material. The results were analyzed for a correlation with those of Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor 2.0. RESULTS: The HCV quantification kit showed a high recovery rate of HCV RNA standard material of various concentrations and amplication of HCV RNA equally in all genotypes. Hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus showed no cross-reactivity with HCV. Within-run and between-run coefficients of variation (CV) were 9.52~15.84% and 9.40~17.53%, respectively. Between-day coefficients of variation were 11.62~18.04%, and detection limit was 44 IU/mL. It showed a good correlation with Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor 2.0 (R2=0.8954). CONCLUSION: The Real-Q HCV quantification kit showed a good specificity, sensitivity, linearity, and accuracy; therefore, we propose that it is fully adequate for monitoring antiviral therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection.
Chimera ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B virus ; HIV ; Humans ; Limit of Detection ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis*

We examined the ultrastructural features of the lung parenchyma and the expression of apoptosis of the respiratory cells by TUNEL technique. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=30) were intra-tracheally injected with cadmium (2.5 mg/kg) into both lungs. The light and electron microscopic features of the lung tissues were examined on Days 1, 3, 7 and 10 after the injection of cadmium. Specimen preparations for the light and electron microscopic TUNEL stains were performed. Ultrastructurally, on Days 1 and 3, the alveolar spaces were filled with edematous fluid, and desquamated type I epithelial cells. On Days 7 and 10, the alveolar spaces and interstitium were patchy infiltrated with young fibroblasts and some collagen deposition. The light microscopic TUNEL stain showed that apoptosis of the alveolar cells was most prominent on Day 1, and then the number of apoptosis was markedly decreased on Days 3, 7 and 10. The electron microscopic TUNEL stain showed the electron dense homogenous nuclear expression, and the formation of intra-nuclear blebs which protrude to the outside of nuclei. On Days 7 and 10, there are frequent apoptotic nuclear bodies in the alveolar macrophages. We could examine the identification of the equivocal apoptotic cells and various morphologic expression of apoptotic nuclei on the electron microscopic TUNEL stain.
Acetone/pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cadmium/metabolism/*pharmacology ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; *In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lung/*cytology/*injuries/pathology/*ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Pulmonary Alveoli/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The facial nerve schwannoma, hard to diagnose due to its rareness and relatively slow growth rate, is best managed by surgical procedures. We have tried to find the most useful management strategy for the facial nerve schwannoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 11 cases of facial nerve schwannoma which were surgically treated. We analyzed the treatment results according to the age of the patient, the size and site of the tumor and accompanying symptoms. RESULTS: The clinical manifestations were various and surgical approaches were determined according to the age, site and size of the tumor, preoperative facial nerve function and hearing. When the preoperative facial nerve functions were better than House-Brackmann grade III, the results of the surgical treatments were favorable, but when worse than House-Brackmann grade IV, the results were unfavorable. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of the facial nerve schwannoma, the site and size of the tumor, age of the patient, preoperative hearing level and facial nerve function are considered as the decisionmaking factors. We proposed the flow-sheet of the management of the facial nerve schwannoma. Patients with no or mild facial palsy preoperatively can be managed by enucleation only. Patients with more than moderate degree facial palsy or large tumor can be managed by total resection with reconstruction of the facial nerve, which results in somewhat unfavorable results in respect to the facial nerve function.
Facial Nerve* ; Facial Paralysis ; Hearing ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma*