PURPOSE: The aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane water channel proteins. It is well known that AQP2, -3 and -4 contribute to the urinary concentration in collecting duct (CD) and also reported the presence of these three AQPs in the connecting tubule (CNT). Newborn rats are not capable of producing a concentrated urine. Rats develop the ability to concentrate urine after birth. The purpose of this study was to establish the time of the expression and the distribution of AQP2, -3 and -4 in the developing rat kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were used in all experiments. Kidneys were obtained from 16, 18 and 20-day-old fetuses and 1, 4, 7, 14 and 21-day-old pups and preserved and processed for immunohistochemical studies using a preembedding immunoperoxidase procedure. AQP2, -3 and -4 immunoreactivity was detected using rabbit polyclonal antibody and donkey anti-rabbit IgG. RESULTS: AQP2, -3 and -4 appeared first in 16-day-old fetuses in the CD and in 18-day-old fetuses in the CNT. Immunoreactivity for AQP2, -3 and -4 was markedly increased after birth and gradually increased during development. In CNT cells and principal cells, AQP2, -3 and -4 were not distinctly demonstrated on the apical, lateral and basal plasma membrane respectively until 21 days after birth. Distinct polarity of these AQPs both in CNTcells and principal cells were observed at 21 days after birth. CONCLUSIONS: AQP2 -3, and -4 were expressed not only in CD but also in CNT before developing of urine concentrating ability during development and it is concluded that their expression and distribution in CNT may play a role in the development of urine concentration abilities in rat kidney.
Animals ; Aquaporin 2* ; Aquaporins ; Attention ; Cell Membrane ; Equidae ; Fetus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney Concentrating Ability ; Kidney Tubules ; Kidney* ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVES: In order to standardize the CRP, ESR and WBC count after three types of spinal surgery and get clinical usefulness from these laboratory dadas after spinal surgery and clincal usefulness of laboratory datas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three groups of patients(microdisectomy, anterior and posterior fusion) were chosen for the study. CRP, ESR and WBC levels were prospectively determined before surgery and at days 1-5, 10, 14,21 and 42 after surgery. RESULTS: In all patients, preoperative normal CRP level(<10mg/L) increased, reaching peak levels on the second day after anterior fusion(84.6mg/L), and at the third day after microdiscectomy(54.5mg/L) and posterolateral intercorporal fusion(152.2mg/L), with normalization in 5-10 days. Preoperative normal ESR level increased to peak level on the forth day after microdiscectomy(33.0mm/hr), and increased double peak levels after anterior(postoperative days 2&5) and posterolateral intercorporal fusion(postoperative days 3&5). ESR followed by a slow and irregular decrease, and at 42 days after surgery often remained elevated. WBC increased to variable peak level within normal limit in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid decline in CRP will probably be interrupted by a second rise or persisting elevation if infection occurs. CRP is presumably a better test than ESR for early detection of postoperative infection.
Blood Sedimentation* ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: The fatigue rate index (FRI) has been developed to access sustained voluntary contraction of the external anal sphincter. This study is designed to refine the technical aspects of measuring the FRI and to re-evaluate its clinical significance. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with fecal incontinence (19 males, 19 females) and 37 (21 males, 16 females) controls were studied. Anal manometry was performed by using standard protocols. Fatigue was measured over a 20-sec squeeze at a high-pressure zone. The FRI was calculated from the maximum squeeze pressure (MXSP) and the fatigue rate. For the accuracy of the calculation, the mean resting pressure (MRP) was calibrated to zero before the metric procedure, representative segments of the calculation were selectively designated as those denoting sustained squeeze, and representative channels were designated from among 8 channels by using 3 or more of those showing typical sustaining-pressure curves. RESULTS: No difference in demographic factors was detected between the two groups. Basic manometric parameters were significantly different between the two groups (MRP, 29.4+/-21.3 vs. 44.4+/-17.8 mmHg, P=0.0015; MXSP, 205.9+/-98.0 vs. 274.2+/-106.5 mmHg, P=0.0051). The FRI was also significantly different (29.8+/-14.3 vs. 86.3+/-127.1 sec, P=0.0108). The areas under the receptor operating-characteristic curves for the MRP, the MXSP, and the FRI were 0.72, 0.69, and 0.84, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity of the FRI for detecting fecal incontinence were 80% and 65% at 40 sec as a cut-off point. CONCLUSION: The FRI was proven to be more accurate than the MRP and the MXSP in detecting incontinence. With adequate modifications of the measuring method, measurement of the FRI could be done more easily and conveniently, but its cut-off point for detecting fecal incontinence was lower than previously reported.
Anal Canal ; Contracts ; Demography ; Fatigue ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Sarcomatoid carcinomas are malignant epithelial neoplasms in which the tumor cells assume a partial or complete spindle cell pattern of growth, leading to the erroneous classification of some true carcinomas as sarcomas. These spindle cells are malignant and manifest various amount of both vimentin and cytokeratin. Positive reaction of some of the spindle cells for cytokeratin antibodies is confirmatory. Clinical features do not differ significantly from those of patients with high-grade transitional cell carcinoma. So far, 13 cases of sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis have been reported in English and Korean literature. In this report, we describe clinicopathologic features of recently observed two cases of sarcomatoid transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and summarize the pathologic findings of previously reported cases with review of the literature.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Carcinosarcoma ; Classification ; Humans ; Keratins ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Sarcoma ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: Testosterone is essential for the prostate gland's normal growth and development and is also a possible risk factor for prostate cancer. This study's aim was to determine the significance of serum testosterone for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) elevation and prostate cancer prediction in high-risk men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 120 patients with PSA >10 ng/ml who underwent a transrectal-prostate biopsy. Serum testosterone, prostate volume, and PSA density (PSAD) were checked in all patients. Patients were divided into two groups, patients with and those without prostate cancer; and testosterone-related factors, prostate volume, PSA, PSAD, age, prostate cancer prediction rate, and cancer aggressiveness were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (30.2%) were confirmed as having prostate cancer. The average serum testosterone level in patients without and in those with prostate cancer was 452.25+/-154.62 ng/dl and 458.10+/-158.84 ng/dl, respectively; average PSA was 17.58+/-9.02 ng/ml and 18.62+/-6.53 ng/ml, respectively; and average age was 69.02+/-7.52 years and 70.69+/-7.02 years, respectively (p>0.05). Hypogonadal and eugonadal patients showed no significant difference in cancer prevalence (30.3% vs. 32.0%, respectively). The testosterone level did not differ significantly in patients with and those without prostate cancer in either hypogonadal or eugonadal men (p>0.05). Serum testosterone showed no correlation with PSA, PSAD, or age in either group (p>0.05) and was unrelated to prostate cancer risk or aggressiveness (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study's results, serum testosterone at the time of diagnosis was unrelated to PSA elevation, prostate cancer risk, and aggressiveness.
Biopsy ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Testosterone

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia is a rare and rapidly fatal disease characterized by proliferation of megakaryocyte series and atypical megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia is suspicious when 1) megakaryocyte in peripheral blood, mixture of large and small mononuclear megakaryoblast in the bone marrow 2) cytoplasmic budding in blast 3) myelofibrosis (dense medullary overgrowth of reticulin fibers) 4) PAS (+), ANAE (+), SBB (−), peroxidase (−) and which is confirmed by platelet peroxidase oxidation on electron microscope or monoclonal antibody. A case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia was studied morphologically and monoclonal antibody.
Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Cytoplasm ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute* ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; Megakaryocytes ; Naphthol AS D Esterase ; Peroxidase ; Primary Myelofibrosis ; Reticulin

Gastric bezoars are large masses or concretions, composed with plant fiber, hair and miscellaneous foreign bodies, found in the stomach and occur usually as sequele of gastric surgery. We experienced 2 cases of fat bezoars which developed after drinking of melted beef fst. They had postprandial epigastric fullness and pain, those were relieved on supine and left recumbent position. Upper gastrointestinal series showed a large movable mass in the stomach in hoth cases. On gastrofibercopic examination, a large egg sized white bezoar was cordirmed in both cases and a gastrie ulcer at antrum associated in one case. In attempt to removal of the bezoars, we tried to break them, but failed because of its character. The patients were treated with pancreatic lipase containg digestives, Pancreon-F and Azintal. From one day after this treatment, symptoms were completely relieved. Five days later, we confirmed disappearance of bezoars by gastrofiberscopy. and upper gastrointestinal barium
Barium ; Bezoars* ; Drinking ; Foreign Bodies ; Hair ; Humans ; Lipase* ; Ovum ; Plants ; Stomach ; Ulcer

The Schatzki ring, a submucosal fibrotic thickening of the lower esophagus, occurs at the squamocolumnar junction and is invariably associated with an esophageal histal hernia The ring is discrete narrowing covered with squamous epithelium on its superior aspect and columnar epithelium on its inferior aspect, with various degrees of submucosal fibrosis supporting the annulair ring. Symptoms, when present, are generally those of distal esophageal obstruction to the passage of solids and highly associated with ring diameter. The pathogenesis and etlology are obscure. But one theory suggests that they are caused by gastroesophageal reflux. The vast maiority of symptomatic Schatzki rings sre ameneble to dilation, a few patients will require surgical antireflux measures after dilatation. We have experienced a case of Schatzki ring associated with reflux esophagitis and esophageal hiatal hernia by the esophagogram after barium swallowing and endoscopy. So we report this case with brief review of the previous literatures.
Barium ; Carcinosarcoma ; Deglutition ; Dilatation ; Endoscopy ; Epithelium ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Esophagus* ; Fibrosis ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hernia ; Hernia, Hiatal* ; Humans

The clinicopathology of nine cases of eccrine spiradenoma was examined. The ages of the patients ranged from 32 to 65 years, with an average age of 46 years. There were four males and five females. Eight tumors out of the nine presented on the ventral surface of the upper body. The tumors were solitary in seven cases and multiple in two cases(cases 8 and 9). Six tumors were either painful or tender to palpation. Histologically, two cases(cases 1 and 2) were adenomas with well developed tubular structures, while the remaining seven cases were epitheliomas with poor organization and prominent reticular pattern. All tumors were composed of two distinct cell types. Since four cases showed considerable edema with a lot of cystic change, it was difficult in some areas to differentiate these from other adnexal tumors or vascular tumors. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections of 5 eccrine spiradenomas. CEA and EMA were expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in all cases. Cytokeratin was expressed in 4 out of 5 cases, and S-100 in 3 out of 5 cases. There has been no evidence of recurrence in 8 cases. In one case(case 9) the tumor recurred locally with carcinomatous transformation- characterized by the presence of solid areas of tumor which was composed of large cells with irregularly shaped nuclei and mitotic figures. There were foci of ductal differentiation, extensive areas of tumor necrosis and invasion into surrounding connective tissue. The carcinomatous portion revealed positive reaction for CEA, EMA, S-100 protein and cytokeratin.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adenoma

Berardinelli lipodystrophy syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by loss of body fat, muscular hypertrophy, acanthosis nigricans, hepatomegaly, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistant diabetes, and elevated metabolic rate. The mechanism(s) responsible for these abnormalities is not known. We report a forteen-month old girl with Berardinelli Lipodystriphy Syndrome, who had signs above mentioned, with a brief review and its related literatures.
Acanthosis Nigricans ; Adipose Tissue ; Female ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertrophy ; Insulin ; Lipodystrophy*