Lithium salts are being used increasingly to treat patient with affective disorders, especially acute mania, or bipolar manic-depressive illness. For therapeutic effect the lithium content must be maintained at or above a particular level. Lithium poisoning due to overdosage may be seen occasionally, and its course is determined primarily by the rate of renal lithium elimination. A search is therefore indicated for procedures that could raise the lithium clearance. In a number of reports renal lithium excretion has been studied in relation to the excretion of water, sodium, potassium and hydrogen, but effects of sodium or water on the lithium excretion has not yet been clarified. Hence the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of corticosteroid on the excretion of lithium ion. The female rat (Sprague-Dowley), weighing from 200 to 300g, was injected with 50mg/kg of lithium chloride intraperitoneally, and then injected with graded dosage of fludrocortisones and dexamethasone in each group. During the injected rats were incubated in metabolic cage, 24 hour urine of rats were collected. At 24 hours after injection, the rats were sacrificed with guillotine, the blood were collected. And then the concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, Li⁺ of collected urine and serum were checked by Flame photometer. The results are summarized as follows 1. Fludrocortisone decreased the serum concentration of lithium and increased the urinary excretion of lithium. 2. In the group treated with low dose of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), the serum concentration of lithium was decreased and high dose of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) increased the urinary excretion of lithium. 3. Fludrocortisone increased the urinary [Na⁺]/[K⁺] in serum and decreased [Na⁺]/[K⁺] inurine, but opposite effects were occurred in dexamethasone. By above results, it may be concluded that corticosteroid increased the urinary excretion of lithium and decreased the serum concentration of lithium, but it seems to be there in no relationship between these effects of corticosteroid and of the renal Na⁺ or K⁺ transport.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Animals ; Bipolar Disorder ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Fludrocortisone ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Lithium Chloride ; Lithium* ; Mood Disorders ; Poisoning ; Potassium ; Rats ; Renal Elimination* ; Salts ; Sodium ; Water

BACKGROUND: A healthy diet is important for the prevention and management of major chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. However, the effect of dietary intervention-based education and consultation has not been satisfactory. This study sought to investigate the effects of a diet intervention supplying food directly to the workplace cafeteria. METHODS: Study subjects included 36 employees (23 men) staffed at two companies located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Participants were supplied with liquid meals made mainly with fruits and vegetables for breakfast and dinner. Lunch was supplied as well and comprised of a balanced diet. Consumption of other foods, except water and provided snacks, were prohibited. The program also included light exercise, yoga, and mind-body control for 20 minutes, three times a week. Changes in anthropometric and metabolic parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: None of the subjects complained of serious adverse effects or dropped out of the program. Post-intervention mean body weight and body fat mass decreased significantly (-3.3 kg and -2.0 kg respectively, p<0.001 for both comparisons). There were additional reductions in systolic blood pressure (-6.7 mmHg, p<0.001), fasting glucose (-9.0 mg/dL, p<0.001), total cholesterol (-13.9 mg/dL, P=0.005), triglyceride (-44.0 mg/dL, p<0.001), and insulin (-2.4 uIU/mL, P=0.007). The satisfaction rate of the program was 88%. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a diet intervention supplying food directly to the workplace cafeteria could succeed in decreasing body weight and improving metabolic parameters, most likely due to high compliance.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Breakfast ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Compliance ; Diet ; Fasting ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Light ; Lunch ; Meals ; Obesity ; Pilot Projects ; Snacks ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables ; Yoga

Fibromatosis can occur at various sites, but intracranial fibromatosis is exceptionally rare. Here, we report a case of intracranial fibromatosis arising in the suprasellar area of a 52-year-old woman who had undergone a surgery at that site. A computed tomography scan revealed a heavily calcified, highly enhancing, poorly demarcated mass in the left sellar area that extended into the left suprasellar, parasellar areas, and orbital apex and completely encased the left distal inferior cerebral artery. Histologic and immunohistochemical features were compatible with those of fibromatosis, although the cellularity was focally higher than usual. The etiology of extra-abdominal fibromatosis is unknown, but physical injuries such as trauma and irradiation have been reported to be associated with its occurrence. Although fibromatosis is rare in the intracranial area, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis when an intracranial mass occurs at a previously injured site.
Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Arteries ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Sella Turcica

Fibromatosis can occur at various sites, but intracranial fibromatosis is exceptionally rare. Here, we report a case of intracranial fibromatosis arising in the suprasellar area of a 52-year-old woman who had undergone a surgery at that site. A computed tomography scan revealed a heavily calcified, highly enhancing, poorly demarcated mass in the left sellar area that extended into the left suprasellar, parasellar areas, and orbital apex and completely encased the left distal inferior cerebral artery. Histologic and immunohistochemical features were compatible with those of fibromatosis, although the cellularity was focally higher than usual. The etiology of extra-abdominal fibromatosis is unknown, but physical injuries such as trauma and irradiation have been reported to be associated with its occurrence. Although fibromatosis is rare in the intracranial area, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis when an intracranial mass occurs at a previously injured site.
Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Arteries ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Sella Turcica

BACKGROUND: Intraarticular opioids and local anesthetics may provide effective analgesia following knee arthroscopic surgery. However, there are conflicting results about the analgesic effects of a combination of morphine, bupivacaine and clonidine injected intraarticularly following knee arthroscopic surgery. The goal of this study was to determine whether clonidine added to an intraarticular morphine- bupivacaine combination provide an analgesic benefit. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for knee arthroscopic surgery under epidural anesthesia were selected and divided to two groups randomly. The patients in Group 1 received a combination of morphine 3 mg 0.25% bupivacaine 30 ml and patients in Group 2 received a combination of clonidine 3microgram/kg and morphine 3 mg in 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine intraarticularly following knee arthroscopic surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and changes of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, requirement of additional analgesics, adverse effects and sedation scale were observed at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours after intraarticular injection. RESULTS: The VAS observed at 4, 8 and 24 hours after intraarticular injection were significantly lower in group 2 than group 1. Blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly changed between group 1 and group 2. The incidence of side effects, injection of additional analgesics and sedation were similar between the groups. There were no significant differences in hemodynamic changes, analgesic requirements, sedation scale or the increase of side effects between group 1 and group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the combination of intraarticular morphine 3 mg in 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine plus clonidine provides significantly better analgesia than morphine 3 mg in 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine alone following knee arthroscopy.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthetics, Local ; Arterial Pressure ; Arthroscopy* ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine ; Clonidine ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Knee* ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a significant role in establishing self-tolerance through their ability to present self-antigens to developing T cells in the thymus. DCs are predominantly localized in the medullary region of thymus and present a broad range of self-antigens, which include tissue-restricted antigens expressed and transferred from medullary thymic epithelial cells, circulating antigens directly captured by thymic DCs through coticomedullary junction blood vessels, and peripheral tissue antigens captured and transported by peripheral tissue DCs homing to the thymus. When antigen-presenting DCs make a high affinity interaction with antigen-specific thymocytes, this interaction drives the interacting thymocytes to death, a process often referred to as negative selection, which fundamentally blocks the self-reactive thymocytes from differentiating into mature T cells. Alternatively, the interacting thymocytes differentiate into the regulatory T (Treg) cells, a distinct T cell subset with potent immune suppressive activities. The specific mechanisms by which thymic DCs differentiate Treg cells have been proposed by several laboratories. Here, we review the literatures that elucidate the contribution of thymic DCs to negative selection and Treg cell differentiation, and discusses its potential mechanisms and future directions.
Autoantigens ; Blood Vessels ; Central Tolerance* ; Clonal Deletion ; Dendritic Cells* ; Epithelial Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

Otocephaly is a rare malformations comprising hypoplasia or absence of the mandible (agnathia), ventromedial displacement and often fusion of external ears (synotia or otocephaly), and hypoplasia of the oral cavity (microstomia) and tongue (hypoglassia). This developmental complex represents a malformation of the first and second branchial arches and occurs sometimes with holoprosencephaly. We present the ultrasound detection of otocephaly and holoprosencephaly with cyclopia in a fetus of 27 gestational weeks 6 days. The use of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound made additional diagnostic ultrasound tomograms possible, and the volume reconstructions improved the imaging and the understanding of the condition.
Branchial Region ; Diagnosis* ; Ear, External ; Fetus ; Holoprosencephaly ; Mandible ; Mouth ; Tongue ; Ultrasonography

Primary small cell carcinoma of the salivary gland is a rare neoplasm that accounts for approximately 1.8% of all primary major salivary gland malignancies. Because of its rarity, it is difficult to diagnose small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland by fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC). We experienced a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in a 72-year-old woman who presented with two palpable masses of the left infraauricular and ocular regions of two to three month's duration, respectively. Aspirate smears from the left infraauricular area were highly cellular on necrotic and lymphocytic background and showed individually dispersed cells or three-dimensional clusters of small cells. The tumor cells were round to oval with a very high nucleocytoplasmic ratio. Nuclei were about two times the size of lymphocytes and had uniformly dispersed but hyperchromatic to pyknotic chromatin. Nucleoli were occasionally visible but were generally inconspicuous. Numerous mitotic figures were detected. The clusters of these small tumor cells exhibited angular nuclear molding, irregular nuclear outlines, and occasionally rosette like arrangement. The tumor was confirmed by histology and immunohistochemistry.
Aged ; Animals ; Benzodiazepines* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Chromatin ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immobilization* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes ; Parotid Gland ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA-A* ; Salivary Glands ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVE: The study shows that the DFS is a questionnaire that almost effortlessly can be completed within 60-90 seconds during any moment of labor and delivery. The aim of the present study was to test the validity and reliability of the DFS, to identify its factor structure in Korea. METHODS: Review of the medical records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology from January to April 2005, a confirmed 51 patients with the diagnosis of singleton pregnancy without medical or obstetrical complications, being in 37-42 weeks. 22 primiparous and 29 multiparous women answered the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) once during active labor, and the STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) after delivery. Reliability test to calculate Chronbach alpha and validity test to measure correlation between DFS and STAI was done. Then factor analysis was applied with the method of principal component analysis and varimax rotation. RESULTS: Korean version of DFS proved to be a reliable and valid scale statistically: Cronbach's alpha was 0.7182 in study. CONCLUSION: Women's psychological experiences during the actual process of labor and delivery are essential part of obstetrical care. Nevertheless, studies examining psychological variables concerning childbirth, are mostly performed before or after labor. The DFS measures fear during labor and delivery in an effortless and fast away. The development of the Korean version of DFS which is reliable and valid, and consists of three sub-factors may facilitate future research in the field.
Anxiety ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Obstetrics ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Principal Component Analysis ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Reproducibility of Results

No abstract available.
Pyelonephritis*