Changes in CTB labeled motor neurons of the spinal cord were observed after the induction of peripheral neuropathy by ligation of the tibial nerve. Rats were anesthetized and the tibial nerve was ligated with 3-0 silk. The rats were separated into three groups based on the length of time the tibial nerve was ligated (1, 2, or 4 weeks). After the ligation procedures were complete, the tibial nerve stumps were soaked in CTB solution. Tibial nerve segments and the spinal cord were then observed. In the control and experimental groups, CTB-labeled neurons formed a discrete population that was concentrated primarily at the L5 level, while the contributions from L4 and L6 were minor. According to the distributions, CTB-labeled neurons were divided into rostral and caudal groups. A selective decrease of CTB-labeled neurons was observed only in the caudal group, extending from the rostral L5 to one-half of the rostral L6. The total numbers of CTB-labeled motor neurons were 2,160+/-169.3, 1,002+/-245.1, 587.5+/-346.5, and 1,728+/-402.6 in the control group, 1 week group, 2 week group, and 4 week group, respectively. The selective decrease of CTB-labeled neurons in the caudal division was responsible for the decrease in the total number of labeled neurons in all groups. Following peripheral neuropathy caused by ligation of the tibial nerve, CTB-labeled neurons in the spinal cord decreased selectively. These results may provide important neuroanatomical data regarding the effects of peripheral neuropathy by ligation of the tibial nerve.
Animals ; Ligation ; Motor Neurons ; Neurons ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rats ; Silk ; Spinal Cord ; Tibial Nerve

We used cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) as a neural tracer to localize motor neuronal cell bodies innervating the digastric muscle. After CTB injection into the left anterior belly, CTB-labelled motor neuronal cell bodies were found in caudal half of the left and right trigeminal nucleus, the left and right facial nucleus, the accessory facial nucleus and the accessory trigeminal nucleus in pons. The total number of CTB-labelled motor neuronal cell bodies were 1,179+/-119.5 in the left pons and 246+/-61.8 in the right pons after CTB injections into the left anterior belly of digastric muscle. After CTB injection into left posterior belly, CTB-labelled motor neuronal cell bodies were found only in the left ventral part of accessory facial nucleus in caudal pons and the total number of CTB-labelled motor neuronal cell bodies were 270+/-29.3.
Animals ; Cholera Toxin* ; Cholera* ; Motor Neurons* ; Pons ; Rats* ; Trigeminal Nuclei

BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest that the intake of vitamin D and calcium may influence insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of vitamin D and calcium intervention on the improvement of blood glucose and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), serum 25(OH)D3, serum lipid levels, insulin secretion, and activity and dietary surveys were analyzed in type 2 DM patients both before and after a 12-week vitamin D and calcium intake intervention. RESULTS: The serum 25(OH)D3 level was found to be negatively correlated with insulin resistance and fasting blood glucose. Calcium intake level was also negatively correlated with insulin resistance. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR decreased significantly (P <0.05) following vitamin D and calcium intake intervention in the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) group, while there was no such change observed in the control group. Dietary calcium and vitamin D intakes were significantly (P <0.05) higher in the MNT group than in the control group. The concentrations of serum 25(OH)D3 and insulin secretion increased slightly in the MNT group following the 12-week intervention; however, these results did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that calcium and vitamin D intervention may be helpful in improving fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, serum 25(OH)D3 and HOMA-IR in patients with type 2 DM who have insufficient serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations.
Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Calcium, Dietary ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Nutrition Therapy ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

Neuropathy is a general term referring to disorders of nerves, and produces when the nerves are damaged. It is characterized by spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. The purpose of present study is to observe the number of WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase) labelded sensory neurons of DRG (dorsal root ganglia), and distributions according to cell size of sensory neuron in tibial nerve ligation model (NLM). The tibial nerve ligation was performed with 3-0 silk by the application of three tight ligatures at the mid-thigh level. In the neuropathy model of rat tibial nerve ligation, morphological changes of sensory neurons in DRG were observed using WGA-HRP. Rats of NLM showed the neuropathic behaviors. Rats were shown guarding affected limb and limping. Their toes and ankle joint of operated limb were hyperflexed. Under light microscopy, tibial nerve showed degeneration of axons in NLM. In control and NLM, labeled sensory neurons of tibial nerve distributed L4 and L5 DRG. In control group, the labeled sensory neurons were round or oval in shape. They were large and small cells, and mixed pattern. Total number of labeled sensory neurons in NLM decreased significantly from control group. The number of labeled sensory neurons in L4 and L5 DRG decreased significantly from control group. Labeled large and small cells decreased significantly from control group. Present study may serve as the basic information about the changes of DRG sensory neurons in NLM.
Animals ; Ankle Joint ; Axons ; Cell Size ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Extremities ; Hyperalgesia ; Ligation ; Light ; Microscopy ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rats ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Silk ; Tibial Nerve ; Toes ; Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate

Prenatal ultrasonographic appearance and Doppler characteristics of extracranial masses are variable, depending on the location, vasculature, amount of arteriovenous shunting, and degree of proliferation. Epidermoid cysts are found in a variety of locations around the skull and midface. They are thought to occur as a result of the persistence of ectodermal elements at sites of suture closure, neural tube closure, and diverticulation of the cerebral hemispheres. They contain ectoderm but no skin element. We experienced 33-year-old primigravida with fetal extracranial mass at 23 weeks gestation. We presumed that this extracranial mass was hemangioma. However, the mass was suspected as scalp epidermoid cyst on postnatal ultasonography.
Adult ; Cerebrum ; Ectoderm ; Epidermal Cyst ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Neural Tube ; Pregnancy ; Scalp ; Skin ; Skull ; Sutures

PURPOSE: Demand of specialized maternity ward is increasing as national income level rises. However, the National Health Insurance limits the number of hospital's non-standard room to less than 50% of total hospital beds. Therefore, this research was performed to investigate the utilization rate of non-standard room among the Korean women who recently delivered baby in medical facilities in order to examine the factors affecting their selection. METHODS: One hundred sixty six medical facilities which deliver a minimum of ten cases in 2011 were selected and categorized by type, region, and size. A cross-sectional survey was done in November 2012 by a professional research survey company. Eight hundred and two pregnant women answered the questionnaire through a face-to-face interview. RESULTS: Of the 802 expecting mothers, 690 (86%) occupied non-standard room and 684 (85.2%) preferred non-standard room to the standard room. Satisfaction levels were significantly higher in mothers occupying non-standard room [5.9+/-1.0 vs. 5.4+/-1.2 (0-7 scale), P<0.01] and high-income families used non-standard room more often. Reasons for using non-standard room included adequate convalescence (78%), separate place for breastfeeding (6.1%), and convenience on receiving visitors (5.4%). Preference for non-standard room on next visit was higher in case of delivery compared to other cause of hospitalization (81.8% vs. 44.9%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preference and actual use of non-standard room after delivery were significant. In spite of concrete preference, there was certain barrier in use of non-standard room according to the income and types of hospitals. Therefore, changes of policy such as insurance support for room charge may be needed in case of delivery.
Breast Feeding ; Convalescence ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Insurance ; Maternal Health Services ; Mothers* ; National Health Programs ; Patients' Rooms ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Maternal Health

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of steroid therapy on prevention of development and progression of coronary artery aneurysm in intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)-resistant Kawasaki disease, we treated three children with high dose of intravenous methylprednisolone followed by low dose oral prednisolone. METHODS: We selected three children with Kawasaki disease who did not repond or who initially responded but soon developed recrudescent fever after retreatment of IVIG (total 4gm/kg). These three patients were treated with high dose methylprednisolone (10mg/kg) intravenously and followed by low dose prednisolone (1mg/kg) orally for 7 days. Echocardiographic evalutions were performed within 8 days of admission (before steroid therapy), at discharge and 1 month after discharge. RESULTS: All three patients showed rapid normalization of clinical symptoms and did not developed significant coronry artery abnormalities. No adverse reaction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Steroid therapy (mini pulse methylprednisolone and prednisolone therapy) is valuable for patients with Kawasaki disease resistant to intravenous immune globulin therapy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Methylprednisolone ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Prednisolone ; Retreatment

PURPOSE: To determine the correlations between donor endothelial lenticule thickness and visual prognosis in Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). METHODS: The present study included 22 patients (22 eyes), who underwent DSAEK surgery in our clinic due to endothelial decompensation. BCVA (log MAR) was compared at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively between the thin lenticule group and thick lenticule group (> or =130 micrometer). RESULTS: The BCVA (log MAR) at 1 month postoperatively was 0.46 +/- 0.22 in the thin lenticule group, and 0.71 +/- 0.26 in the thick lenticule group, and significant statistical correlations between donor lenticule thickness and visual acuity were observed (p = 0.025). However, no significant correlations were observed at 3 months (p = 0.129) and 6 months (p = 0.141) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The thin donor lenticule (<130 micrometer) can result in better visual acuity at 1 month postoperatively than the thick donor lenticule (> or =130 micrometer), however, there is no difference in visual acuity between the 2 groups at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
Corneal Transplantation ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Tissue Donors ; Visual Acuity

Various cytokines and chemokines play a role in carcinogenesis. However, no study has previously been undertaken to investigate comprehensively the expressions of cytokines and chemokines in hepatoma cells. In this study, we determined which cytokines and chemokines are expressed in hepatoma cells. Recently, it was reported that the expressions of several chemokines could be increased by Fas stimulus in many normal and cancer cells. Therefore, we also investigated whether chemokines expression is regulated by Fas ligation. To address this issue, we performed RNase protection assays upon 13 cytokines and 8 chemokines genes in 10 human hepatoma cell lines, comprising 8 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatoma cell lines. Transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) was found to be expressed in 8 HBV-associated hepatoma cell lines, and to be potently expressed in 5 cell lines; however, the mRNA expressions of interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-12, interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) were not detected in any cell lines examined. Among the chemokines investigated in this study, IL-8 was expressed by 8 HBV- associated hepatoma cell lines, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by 7 HBV-associated hepatoma cell lines. However, the mRNA expressions of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), MIP-beta, interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), RANTES, lymphotactin and I-309 were either very weak or undetectable. Fas ligation did not increase chemokines expression in hepatoma cells. Conclusively, TGF-beta2, IL-8 and MCP-1 were overexpressed in HBV-associated hepatoma cells, and the expressions of chemokines were not increased by Fas ligation in human hepatoma cells.
Antigens, CD95/physiology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*metabolism ; Chemokines/*genetics ; Cytokines/*genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Human ; Liver Neoplasms/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of proliferant by injecting blood into the articular cartilage defect. METHOD: The patella of rabbits were dislocated laterally and 2 mm circular and 2 mm depth full-thickness defect was made in the articular cartilage. We injected 0.2 cc autologous blood to the right defect and normal saline to the left one at 1 week after operation for six times with a 1 week interval. After injection for six weeks, the articular cartilage defect were obtained and stained with H-E and S-100. RESULTS: The surface of the saline-injected group was easily distinguishable from the surrounding articular cartilage. But the blood-injected group had similar appearance to the surrounding cartilage, with the margin of the defect barely discerptible. Strong S-100 stained immune cartilage cells were observed in the blood-injected group. CONCLUSION: The repairing process of the injured articular cartilage using autologous blood was shown to be much better than that of saline-injected group although the observation period was short and the number of animal was small. So we found that autologous blood effectively repaired osteochondral defects.
Animals ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Glucose ; Knee* ; Patella ; Rabbits