STUDY DESIGN: Changes of morphology and phenotype of cultured cells in media added lactate were observed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: It was reported that lactate and pH were important factor in the degeneration of intervertebral disc. However the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were dissociated enzymatically from rabbit nucleus pulposus. After attaining monolayer growth, the cells were incubated in media added 2mM or 5mM lactate. Total cell counts and morphological changes of the cells were periodically observed. Changes in cell phenotype were investigated by use of anti-collagen antibody stain. RESULTS: The cell groups added no lactate and 2mM lactate showed no difference in cell counts, morphology and phenotype. The cell group added 5mM lactate showed a reduction in final cell Counts and highel'ratio of fibroblastic cell in total population. Anti-collagen I Ab stained the Intra-and extra-cellular area of fibroblastic cells and intracellular area of chondrocytic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that high concentration of lactate inhibit intervertebral disc cell proliferation and accelerate morphological and phenotypical change to fibroblastic cell.
Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Lactic Acid* ; Phenotype*

OBJECTIVES: The cognitive model has been suggested to explain the pathogenesis of premenstrual syndrome. In this model, it is suggested that negative cognitive style may contribute to the experience of severe premenstrual symptoms. We conducted this study to examine the relationship among cognitive style, perceived stress, and premenstrual symptoms. METHOD: Eighty six reproductive aged women older than 18 years were included in this study, to complete the Premenstrual Assessment form, Korean version of automatic thoughts Ques-tionnaire-Positive, Korean version of Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative, Korean version of Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Among the subjects, twenty one were diagnosed to have a premenstrual dysphoric disorder which was determined by prospective assessment for two months. The relationships among the variables were analyzed by examining Pearson correlation coefficiency. REULTS: In the subjects without premenstrual dysphoric disorder, there exist significant correlation between the premenstrual symptom and the score of Korean-version of automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.36, p<.01). In the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, premenstrual symptoms had significant correlation to automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.65, p<.01) and Perceived Stress Questionnaire(r=.52, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings show the significant relationship between negative cognitive style and premenstrual symptoms. This relationship was more prominent in the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder compared to ones without it. Our findings suggest that cognitive style and stress perception may influence on the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and that cognitive behavior therapy is a possible effective therapeutic strategy for those with severe premenstrual symptoms.
Cognitive Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study are to investigate the reliability and validity of shortened premenstrual assessment form and the applicability to internet interface. METHOD: The total of 55 subjects were included in this study. Among them, 28 subjects had premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and the other 27 subjects did not. All subjects performed the shortened premenstrual assessment form through internet interface in the homepage of Severance Woman Clinic. The diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder was determined by prospective assessment for 2 months. RESULTS: The shortened premenstrual assessment form consists of 3 factors: affect, pain and water retention. The test-retest reliability of this scale was 0.80, and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) was 0.91. The correlation coeffeciecy between scores of the premenstrual assessment form and the shortened premenstrual assessment form was 0.92. The difference of the scores of the shortened premenstrual assessment form between the group of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and the group of non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder was significant (t=5.57, p<0.001). Discriminant analysis also revealed that the shortened premenstrual assessment form was useful to differentiate between premenstrual dysyphoric disorder and non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder (eigenvalue: 0.60, canonical correlation coefficiency: 0.61, Wilk's lambda: 0.63). The cut-off point to differentiate between two groups was 27, and sensitivity (75.0%) and specificity (76.9%) of this scale for premenstrual dysphoric disorder was acceptable. CONCLUSION: In summary, the shortened premenstrual assessment form appeared to be reliable and valid for the assesment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. And the results of this study also suggest that the shortened premenstrual assessment form is a useful tool for internet interface application.
Diagnosis ; Equidae ; Female ; Humans ; Internet* ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water

No abstract available.
Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: To assess the role of blood vessels in the formation of peritumoral abnormal signal intensity which exaggerates the size of malignant tumor on MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed MR-microangiographic-pathologic correlation using implanted VX-2 carcinoma in 16 rabbit thighs 1-28 days after tumor implantation. The shape and distribution of abnormal vessels were analyzed on microangiography and on histologic examination in correlation with peritumoral abnormal signal intensity on MR images. RESULTS: Dilated peritumoral blood vessels gave rise to irregular, tortuous tumor vessels penetrated into the tumor. With the tumor growth, hypervascular tumor vessels in peritumoral area and central avascular areas were increased. These hypervascular areas on microangiography were corresponded with abnormal signal intensity on MR images. CONCLUSION: Hypervascularity could be a cause of peritumoral abnormal signal intensity which exaggerates the size of experimentally induced malignant musculoskeletal tumors on MR images.
Blood Vessels* ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Ovarian Neoplasms*

We retrospectively analysed plain radiographs and MR imaging of 16 conventional osteosarcoma cases(8 children, 8 adults) which underwent amputations or limb salvage operations. Pathologic correlation was performed with gross and microscopic sections to evaluate 1) whether the open epiphyseal plate can function as a barrier against transphyseal spread of osteosarcoma and 2) the diagnostic value of MR imaging for the detection of the detection of the epiphyseal involvement of osteosarcoma. In children with open epiphyseal plates, conventional radiographs suggested transphyseal tumor growth in one of eight cases(12.5% and MR imaging in seven cases(87.5%). Pathologic examination confirmed epiphyseal involvement in six of seven cases noted with MR imaging(75%). On the the other hand, in adult patients with closed epiphyseal plates, conventional radiographs showed transphyseal tumor growth in six of eight cases(75%), while MR imaging and pathologic exam demonstrated tumor invasion in all cases(100%). We conclude that open epiphyseal plate does not function as and effective barrier against tumor extension, and MR imaging is an excellent method in detecting the extent of transphyseal tumor growth.
Adult ; Amputation ; Child ; Growth Plate ; Hand ; Humans ; Limb Salvage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Methods ; Osteosarcoma* ; Retrospective Studies

CHAP syndorme consists of choreoathetosis, orofacial dyskinesia, affective change, hypotonia, and pseudobulbar signs. CHAP syndrome was firstly des- cribed with onset 1 to 7 days after induced profound hypothermia and complete circulatory arrest for con- genital heart lesion repair. Since then, only a few cases have been reported until now. Case We report a patient who demonstrated all of the elements of the CHAP syndrome in severe cachexic state. Brain SPECT(99mTC-ECD) shows decreased perfusion in left fronto-parieto-temporal lobe. Comments The pathogenesis of CHAP syndrome is obscure. However our case led us to suggest that more essential component pre- disposing to the CHAP syndrome is hypoxia rather than hypothermia. Furthermore, it seems to be related with circulatory insufficiency in extrapyramidal nervous systems.
Anoxia ; Brain ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Movement Disorders ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Nervous System ; Perfusion

A 22-year-old man, who had complained of dizziness and morning headaches, was admitted because of persistent polycythemia with elevated erythropoietin. Subsequently during the work-up, he had frequent sleep apneas without respiratory efforts and a brain MRI revealed multiple bilateral leukoencephalopathies without enhancement. Adrenoleukodystrophy was diagnosed by clinical manifestations including adrenal insufficiency, brain imaging, and an elevated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) level. We report a case of adolescent cerebral type of adrenoleukodystrophy presenting with central sleep apnea and secondary erythrocytosis.
Adolescent ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenoleukodystrophy* ; Brain ; Dizziness ; Erythropoietin ; Fatty Acids ; Headache ; Humans ; Leukoencephalopathies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Polycythemia* ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Sleep Apnea, Central ; Young Adult

We performed 70 proceudres of transarterial chemoembolization (TAE) through extrahepatic collateral vessels (n=27) or parasitic feeders (n=18) in 45 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The collaterals developed after interruption of the hapatic artery due to repeated TAE(n=17), surgical ligation(n=7) and primary celiac occlusion (n=3). Radiologic findings suggesting the existence of parasitic or collateral supply for hepatocellular carcinoma were 1) a focal defect of Lipiodol retention on CT or plain film after TAE via the hepatic artery, 2) dilated and tortuous vessels around the mass on angiography, 3) persistent elevation of the level of serum alpha fetoprotein or continuous clinical symptoms in spite of sufficient devascularization of the tumor via the hepatic artery, and 4) radiological findings of direct invasion into adjacent organ. The sites of the catheter placement were the inferior phrenic artery (n=19), omental branches (n=16), periportal collaterals (n=6), pancreaticodenal arcade (n=3), gastroduodenal artery (n=3), internal mammary artery (n=2), intercostal artery (n=2), lateral thoracic artery (n=1), bronchial artery(n=1), and colic branches(n=1). Masses feeded by the inferior phrenic and chest wall collaterals were usually located at the dome area of the liver, and the omental and gastroduodenal collaterals developed in the masses located at the inferior tip of the liver. After TAE via collateral vessels, 37 patients underwent follow-up study. In 18 cases(48%), the tumor favorably responded to TAE. Specific complications of collateral TAE were epigastric soreness (n=10), severe shoulder pain (n=4), and embolization of the spinal artery during embolization through the intercostal artey (n=1). In conclusion, various extrahepatic collaterals are important alternative or additional routes for effective chemoembolization in patients with advanced hepatoma, and early recognition of the parasitic supply and the effort to perform TAE via collaterals is very important for effective management of the patients with the hepatoma.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheters ; Colic ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Liver ; Mammary Arteries ; Shoulder Pain ; Thoracic Arteries ; Thoracic Wall