Objective: The modulatory effects of nociceptin/orphanin FQ ( OFQ) on acupuncture ( EA, a odern version of acupuncture)-induced analgesia are still controversial. Transgenic OFQ knock-out mice rovide us a useful tool to investigate the role of endogenous OFQ in EA analgesia. The present tudy aims to investigate the role of OFQ in the EA-induced analgesia with OFQ knock-out mice. ethods; Acupoints were selected as "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) , EA parameters were as ollows; constant current output, rectangular (square) wave pulses, increased intensities of 0. 5, 0. 7,0. 9 mA with stepwise fashion, 10 min for each intensity, frequency of 100 Hz (with 0. 2 ms as ulse width) or 2 Hz ( with 0. 6 ms as pulse width). Tail flick latency (TFL) evoked by radiant heat was used to evaluate the change of pain threshold before, during and after EA application. Thenock-out mice were divided randomly into 3 groups; needling control, EA at 100 Hz and 2 Hz. ild-type mice of litter-mates of were used as Control. Results: It was found that OFQ knock-out mice had a longer basal ther-mal threshold; EA had enhanced analgesic effect in the knock-out mice than in wild-type Control mice. Conclusion: Endogenous OFQ might be algesic in basal condition and antagonize EA analgesia.

A contralateral bundle branch block (BBB) aberration during tachycardia with a preexisting BBB strongly suggests the presence of ventricular tachycardia. We report on a middle-aged, female patient presented with wide QRS tachycardia. The patient had orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia with a left BBB aberration in the presence of a preexisting right BBB due to an abnormal His-Purkinje system. We learned that the contralateral BBB aberration with supraventricular tachycardia could be seen when the His-Purkinje system was abnormal.
Bundle of His ; Bundle-Branch Block* ; Female ; Humans ; Purkinje Fibers ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Firefighters are facing occupational hazards such as exposures to a variety of carcinogens and toxic agents, heat, physical stress and psychological stress. This occupation involves an increased risk of particular health concerns including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and reproductive hazards. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of lifetime mortality among the firefighters as well as the principal cause of on-duty deaths. In spite of "healthy worker effect", a number of studies have found an increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in firefighters. There are various carcinogens in the fire smoke. Many studies address that some types of cancers are related to firefighting. These cancers include brain tumors, cancers of hematopoietic and lymphatic systems, cancers of genitourinary tract, and skin cancers. To date, the relationship between firefighting and reproductive hazards has not been widely studied. However, since firefighters are exposed to various chemical and physical hazards which might influence the reproductive systems, the concerns are raising. It is important to recognize that firefighters are at a risk of several significant health problems. To reduce the risk, it should be encouraged to use protective equipments efficiently and manage physically exerted firefighters appropriately at the fire scene. Furthermore, we should activate not only screening programs to detect health risk factors, but also medical programs to help firefighters maintain a good physical fitness.
Brain Neoplasms ; Carcinogens ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Firefighters ; Fires ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lymphatic System ; Mass Screening ; Occupations ; Risk Factors ; Skin Neoplasms ; Smoke ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
Child ; Chromosome Banding ; *Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4/*genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis/*genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Sequence Deletion

Flow cytometry, a useful tool for measuring DNA content and cell differentiation as expressed by cell surface markers, is utilized to measure multiple antigens, especially surface antigen, intracellular oncoprotein, and DNA content, simultaneously. For this simultaneous detection, several methods off ixation and permeabilization have been used with limited values. In this study, 20 ng/ml of lysolecithin in 1% paraformaldehyde solution was utilized for fixation and permeabilization of cultured promyelocytic leukemic cells(HL 60). The cells were first stained with phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated monoclonal antibody to the cell surface My 7 antigen and then were fixed and permeabilized with 20 ng/ml of lysolecithin in 1% partormaldehyde solution. After incubation, the fixed and permeabilized cells were stained with monoclonal antibody to intracellular c-myc antigen, which were followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody. The c-myc stained cells were finally stained for DNA content with 7-amino-actinomycin D(7-AAD). This procedure permits excellent staining for intracellular oncoproteins and preservation of surface antigens with relatively low cofficients of variation (CV) for the G0G1 peak of the DNA histograms and suggests that the sequential staining procedure of surface antigen, intracellular antigen, and DNA content will be extended for the study of correlations with cellular differentiation, expression of oncoproteins, and cell cycle analysis in the cells which are obtained from human malignant diseases using a 488 nm single laser flow cytometry.
Antigens, Surface* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; DNA* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins ; Phycoerythrin

A healthy 30-yr-old woman carrying an insect that had been caught in her living room visited the International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, in December 2007. The insect she brought was identified to be a nymph of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and her skin rashes looked typical bedbug's bites. Her apartment was investigated, and a dead body of a bedbug, cast skins, and hatched eggs were found in her rooms and neighbors' rooms in the same building. She was living in that apartment in Seoul for 9 months since she had moved from New Jersey, USA. We assume that the bedbugs were introduced from abroad, since there had been no report on bedbugs in Seoul for more than 2 decades at least. This is a report of a reemergence of the common bedbug, C. lectularius in Seoul, Korea.
Adult ; Animals ; *Bedbugs/anatomy & histology ; Dermatitis/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings/*pathology ; Insecticides ; Korea/epidemiology

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the most common etiologic agent of pneumonia in school-aged children and young adults. It involves not only the respiratory system but includes extrapulmonary complications such as exanthem, hemolysis, arthritis, hepatic dysfuction, cardiac disease, and central nervous system disease. The pathogenesis of extrapulmonary involvements may be an autoimmune phenomena. Recent studies suggest that bronchial asthma can be initiated by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. We experienced a five-year-old girl suffering simultaneously from Guillain-Barr syndrome and initial bronchial asthmatic attack after mycoplasma pneumonia. She was admitted with lower-leg pain and weakness for three days. Ten days before admission, she was coughing and showed on a chest X-ray, pneumonic infitrations of both subhilar peribronchial areas. The titers of anti-mycoplasma antibody and cold hemagglutinin were 1:80 and 1:32, respectively. With a progression of paralysis to the upper extremities, she showed dyspnea, dysphagia and right facial palsy on the second hospital day. We performed a tracheostomy and started artificial ventilation. Unexpectedly, she showed continuous dyspnea, poor lung aeration and revealed severe hypoxemia in serial arterial gas analysis. Intravenous theophylline, high-dose corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy resulted in a progressive improvement of lung condition. She recovered completely from neurologic and pulmonic complications after five weeks.
Anoxia ; Arthritis ; Asthma* ; Central Nervous System ; Child ; Cough ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dyspnea ; Exanthema ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Hemagglutinins ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Lung ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Mycoplasma* ; Paralysis ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Respiratory System ; Theophylline ; Thorax ; Tracheostomy ; Upper Extremity ; Ventilation ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Ampicillin/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Ankle/ultrasonography ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cellulitis/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Prevotella nigrescens/drug effects/*genetics/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*analysis ; Sulbactam/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Pitanguy conducted a series of anatomical studies on "dermocartilaginous ligament" of the nose. However, information on its structure is as yet insufficient, especially in terms of its origin, insertion, and relationships with surrounding tissues. In addition, some of the histologic findings described by Pitanguy are controversial. The present study was undertaken to clarify the anatomy of the "dermocartilaginous ligament". METHODS: Sixteen cadaver noses were examined macroscopically and histologically to determine the presence, origin, insertion, composition, and relationship of the "dermocartilaginous ligament" with surrounding structures. RESULTS: The structure originated from the deep layer of the transverse nasalis muscle and terminated at the caudal edge of the septal cartilage in all 16 cadavers. However, in three cadavers the insertion extended to the orbicularis oris muscle. No direct connection was found between the structure and dermis of dorsal nasal skin. The dermocartilaginous ligaments were mainly composed of a condensation of thin collagen bundles, which were interwoven and without any regular orientation. Elastic fibers were also present in small numbers, and there were few amorphous ground substances. Neither muscle fibers nor chondrocytes was identified within dermocartilaginous ligaments. CONCLUSION: Our macroscopic and histologic findings of the structure do not support the use of the term "dermocartilaginous ligament". According to its origin, insertion, and histologic findings, we recommend that this structure be referred to as the "median musculocartilaginous fascia".
Cadaver ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Ligaments* ; Nose ; Skin

Signal fly, Scholastes sp. (Diptera: Platystomatidae) was observed associated with animal carcasses in Malaysia. The first observation was on a monkey carcass, which was killed by using a handgun and immediately placed in a forested area in Gombak, Selangor while the second observation was on a pig that died of natural causes and whose carcass was placed in an oil palm plantation in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor. Both animal carcasses were visited by Scholastes sp. flies during the fresh decomposition period. However, the role Scholastes flies in the decomposition process remains unknown. In this paper, we report the occurrence of Scholastes sp. on animal carcasses in Malaysia for the first time.
Diptera ; Animals ; Malaysia ; Patient observation ; First