No abstract available.
Head*

Cycloserine is a broad spectrum antibiotic used as a second drug for treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis. Inappropriate usage in excessive doses can give rise to neurological problems. We report a case who developed aphasia, anxiety and seizure during anti-tuberculosis medication. MRI of the brain showed reversible cytotoxic edema in dentate nuclei. Clinical and MRI findings were consistent with cycloserine toxicity.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is the most common cancer of the genitourinary tract in Korea and its prognosis is determined by the histologic grade and clinical stage present at initial diagnosis. Recently, an extensive search for a more objective and reproducible method to evaluate the proliferation activity of cancer cells has been done. The p53 gene is located on the short arm of the chromosome 17 and acts as a cancer suppressor gene. Mutant p53 gene induces malignant transformation. Recent studies reveal that the level of mutant p53 protein is elevated in some human tumor and many diverse transformed cell lines. Heat shock proteins(HSPs) are present constitutively in normal cells, where they play an important role in normal cell metabolism. In mammalian cells, they are induced by a variety of physical and chemical stimuli. A protein that belongs to the hsp70 family, called hsc70, is only slightly heat inducible and is found at a higher level in growing cells than in the resting cells. The mutant p53 protein binds with hsc70 and the p53-hsc70 complex has functional significance in the transforming capacity of the mutant p53. We investigated the correlation between the p53 and hsc70 by immunohistochemical methods and with better defined prognostic indicators such as histologic grade, clinical stage, and DNA ploidy pattern in 42 transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder. The results are summarized as follows. p53 expression rate was higher in the DNA aneuploid group than in the DNA diploid group(p=0.061), but there was no significant difference in the histologic grade(p=0.861) or clinical stage(p=0.154). The higher the hsc70 expression rate was, the poorer the tumor differentiation(p=0.000) and the deeper the invasion(p=0.001). The aneuploid group showed a higher hsc70 expression rate than the diploid group(p=0.017). 27 of 42(64.3%) carcinomas showed positivity of both p53 and hsc70. Though statistically insignificant, their correlation showed a relatively low correlation coefficient (P=0.059). In conclusion, we suspect that p53 and hsc70 are closely correlated to each other by comparing the results of this immunohistochemical study, and hsc70 will be a useful prognostic marker in transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder after sufficient follow up studies are performed.
Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, p53

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors*

In order to determine paternity by genetic testing, the Paternity Index (PI) and probability of paternity are calculated using likelihood ratio method. However, when it is necessary, additional testing can be performed to validate the genetic relationship. This research demonstrates autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) results of Jeju Island population in order to determine genetic relationship. Two notable cases showed that despite the acceptable PI value obtained from STR testing, average of 12 mismatches were found in total of 169 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism typing. Such cases imply that cautious statistical approach is necessary when determining genetic relationship, especially within an isolated population group. Moreover, this would suggest that a further research and investigation are needed in order to understand the population structure of Korea.
Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Korea ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Paternity* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Population Groups

Most of the peripheral nerve injuries from crushing or compressive forces are accompanied by surrounding soft tissue injuries. As a result, poor vascularity due to fibrosis and sacr formation compromises regeneration of the grafted nerve. Vascularized nerve graft shows superior regeneration to that of a non-vascularized one. However, the human body provides few donor sites of vascularized nerve graft clinically. We presumed that the prefabricated myoneural or adiponeural flap, which include fabricated nerves wrapped with surrounding vascularized muscle or adipose tissue flap, influences superiorly on the regeneration of grafted nerve because that surrounding vasculatity indirectly enhances the vascularity of the grafted nerve itself. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: 1) conventional reversed autogenous graft of the femoral nerve alone(n=10); 2) nerve graft entubulated with abdominal adipose tissue flap with a pedicle of inferior epigastric artery(n=10); 3) nerve graft entubulated with adductor muscle flap with a pedicle of the first muscular branch of the femoral artery(n=10). At three months postoperatively, grafted nerves were examined by electrophysiologic study to check amplitudes and motor nerve conduction velocities, as well as histopathologic study for evaluation of regenerated nerve cells, fibrosis and neo-vascularization. Consquently, nerve regeneration was found in all three groups. Both the myoneural and adiponeural flap groups had better improved results of nerve regeneration compared to that of the conventional nerve graft group. The result of myoneural flap group was superior to that of the adiponeural flap group. The myoneural flap group showed minimal fibrosis and less prominent neovascularization around moderately regenerated nerves. The adiponeural flap group showed more severe perineural and endoneural fibrosis, as well as vascular proliferation around focal regenerated nerves. The results of myoneural flap group proved to be statistically significant. We concluded that it is possible to use nerve graft entubulated with a vascularized muscle flap (myoneural flap) as a substitute for vascularized nerve graft.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Femoral Nerve ; Fibrosis ; Human Body ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Neural Conduction ; Neurons ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

The authors developed a biodegradable polymer that releases an antibiotic (nalidixic acid) slowly and continuously, for prevention of catheter-induced infection during drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. We investigated the in vitro antibiotic releasing characteristics and bacterial killing effects of the new polymer against E. coli. The novel fluoroquinolone polymer was prepared using diisopropylcarbodiimide, poly (e-capro-lactone) diol, and nalidixic acid. FT-IR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis proved that the novel antibacterial polymer was prepared successfully without any side products. Negative MS showed that the released drug has a similar molecular weight (M.W.=232, 350) to pure drug (M.W.=232). In high pressure liquid chromatography, the released drug and drug-oligomer showed similar retention times (about 4.5-5 min) in comparison to pure drug (4.5 min). The released nalidixic acid and nalidixic acid derivatives have antibacterial characteristics against E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi, of more than 3 months duration. This study suggests the possibility of applying this new polymer to manufacture drainage catheters that resist catheter-induced infection, by delivering antibiotics for a longer period of more than 1 month.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*administration & dosage ; Biodegradation ; Biofilms ; Catheterization/*adverse effects ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/*physiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drainage/*adverse effects ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Nalidixic Acid/*administration & dosage ; Polymers/administration & dosage ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Spectrum Analysis, Mass

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Life-threatening RSV infection is often reported in young children and immunocompromised hosts. Since there is no report on ribavirin therapy for RSV pneumonia in pediatric cancer patients in Korea, we report one case of RSV pneumonia that developed in an infant with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite administration of oral ribavirin and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient's respiratory distress worsened and admission to an intensive care unit was necessary. Chest x-ray showed multifocal consolidation, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. Treatment with aerosolized ribavirin led to significant clinical improvement. The role of aerosolized ribavirin is still controversial, but it might have a therapeutic potential for severe RSV pneumonia in children with leukemia.
Child ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Ribavirin ; Thorax

Anal gland/duct cyst (AGC) is rare and observed in only 0.05% of patients undergoing anal surgery. AGC is thought to be a retention cyst in the anal gland and arises when an obstruction of the anal duct causes fluid collection in the anal gland. We report a case of AGC in a 66-year-old woman without anal symptoms. Found by colonoscopy, the AGC was excised transanally. The histopathology of the specimen confirmed AGC. Colonoscopists should include AGC in the differential diagnosis of anal canal mass and rule out of malignancy. Excision is recommended for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

Cyclotorsion is a well known feature of oblique muscle disorders in the eye, usually associated with vertical and/or horizontal strabismus. Its presence and amount of deviation are not easy to detect, therefore requiring more sensitive and accurate tests. But the present measuring devices such as the double Maddox rod test and Bagolini lens test, known to be the standard tests used for cyclodeviation in these days have some limitations. We developed a new computerized test for the measurement of cyclodeviation that remedies the weak points of the existing tests. The cyclotorsion at any eye position can be measured accurately. It is based on subjective response of the examinee. The examinee wears the red-green glasses and identifies when the two lines on the monitor are parellel while the examiner rotates the red or green line with keystroke of computer keyboard. It is possible to test the deviations in all directions. We hope this computerized application will be accepted widely as an useful subjective torsion test in near future.
Eyeglasses ; Glass ; Hope ; Muscular Diseases ; Strabismus