No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The cerebral inflammatory reactions accompanied with epilepsy could play a role in intervening the possible changes of cerebral molecular structure during or after seizure. This study was intended to examine how much proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are expressed in animal model with seizures of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and how their concentration in serum changes on the basis of phase, so that it could determine possible association between the development of epileptic seizures and the expression of cytokines. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats as experimental group had kainic acid (KA) administered intraperitonealy, and then, their behavioral patterns were monitored and recorded. In 4 and 24 hours after KA was administered, their bloods were taken respectively to determine the concentration of cytokines. The serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured by means of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were compared with controls, and also the phased variations of their concentration were determined. RESULTS: All rats in experimental group revealed various behaviors and seizure reactions. The serum concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha taken from rats in 4 and 24 hours after KA administration were more significantly increased than controls respectively (p<0.01). There was no significant variation in concentration of IL-1beta and IL-6 based on time phase, but there was significantly higher concentration of TNF-alpha in serum taken in 24 hours after KA administration than in 4 hours (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results show that seizure activity causes the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines and activates inflammatory reactions.
Animals ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukins ; Kainic Acid ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Structure ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seizures* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Monomelic amyotrophy (MA), also known as Hirayama disease, occurs mainly in young men and manifests as weakness and wasting of the muscles of the distal upper limbs. Here, we sought to identify a genetic basis for MA. Given the predominance of MA in males, we focused on candidate neurological disease genes located on the X chromosome, selecting two X-linked candidate genes, androgen receptor (AR) and ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1 (UBA1). Screening for genetic variants using patients' genomic DNA revealed three known genetic variants in the coding region of the AR gene: one nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs78686797) encoding Leu57Gln, and two variants of polymorphic trinucleotide repeat segments that encode polyglutamine (CAG repeat; rs5902610) and polyglycine (GGC repeat; rs3138869) tracts. Notably, the Leu57Gln polymorphism was found in two patients with MA from 24 MA patients, whereas no variants were found in 142 healthy male controls. However, the numbers of CAG and GGC repeats in the AR gene were within the normal range. These data suggest that the Leu57Gln polymorphism encoded by the X-linked AR gene may contribute to the development of MA.
Case-Control Studies ; Clinical Coding ; DNA ; Genes, X-Linked ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Muscles ; Peptides ; Receptors, Androgen ; Reference Values ; Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; Upper Extremity ; X Chromosome

Human Sparganosis was one of the main parasitosis and reported over 65 cases in Korea. Sparganum infestation in the scrotum was reported 14 cases. We experienced a cases of Sparganosis in the scrotum. This patient, 45-year-old Master Sergeant, had an episode of in take of raw snakes and frogs for 25 years during survival and ranger training. Life cycle and route of infection of Sparganum mansoni are briefly discussed with review of literatures.
Humans ; Korea ; Life Cycle Stages ; Middle Aged ; Scrotum* ; Snakes ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum

Central hyperthermia is a very rare disease; however, once it happens, it is associated with a poor prognosis and high mortality for patients with severe brainstem strokes. Following a pontine hemorrhage, a 46-years-old female developed prolonged hyperthermia. Work-ups to the fever gave no significant clues for the origin of fever, and hyperthermia did not respond to any empirical antibiotics or antipyretic agents. The patient's body temperature still fluctuated in a range of 37.5degrees C to 39.2degrees C. Considering the lesion of hemorrhage, we suspected central hyperthermia rather than infectious diseases. We started with baclofen administration at a dose of 30 mg/day. The body temperature changed to a range of 36.6degrees C to 38.2degrees C. We raised the dose of baclofen to 60 mg/day. The patient's body temperature finally dropped to a normal range. Central hyperthermia, caused by failures of thermoregulatory pathways in brainstem, following the pontine hemorrhage rarely occurs. Baclofen can be used to treat suspected central hyperthermia in a patient with pontine hemorrhage.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antipyretics ; Baclofen* ; Body Temperature ; Brain Stem ; Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Fever* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pons ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Reference Values ; Stroke

Central hyperthermia is a very rare disease; however, once it happens, it is associated with a poor prognosis and high mortality for patients with severe brainstem strokes. Following a pontine hemorrhage, a 46-years-old female developed prolonged hyperthermia. Work-ups to the fever gave no significant clues for the origin of fever, and hyperthermia did not respond to any empirical antibiotics or antipyretic agents. The patient's body temperature still fluctuated in a range of 37.5degrees C to 39.2degrees C. Considering the lesion of hemorrhage, we suspected central hyperthermia rather than infectious diseases. We started with baclofen administration at a dose of 30 mg/day. The body temperature changed to a range of 36.6degrees C to 38.2degrees C. We raised the dose of baclofen to 60 mg/day. The patient's body temperature finally dropped to a normal range. Central hyperthermia, caused by failures of thermoregulatory pathways in brainstem, following the pontine hemorrhage rarely occurs. Baclofen can be used to treat suspected central hyperthermia in a patient with pontine hemorrhage.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antipyretics ; Baclofen* ; Body Temperature ; Brain Stem ; Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Fever* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pons ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases ; Reference Values ; Stroke

Anomalous unilateral single pulmonary vein is a rare abnormality of the pulmonary venous system characterized by a tortuous pulmonary venous confluence which never crosses the diaphragm and drains all arterialized blood from a lung to the left atrium, into which it normally flows. Cardiac and pulmonary anomalies are not associated. We report a case in which this condition was comfirmed by the findings of chest radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance angiography.
Diaphragm ; Heart Atria ; Lung ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Radiography ; Thorax

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plain radiographic and CT findings of the necrotizing fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiologic findings of 4 cases with necrotizing fasciitis. Three cases were proven pathologically. We evaluated pattern and extent of the gas shadows in plain films. CT findings were analysed, with emphasis on : (a) gas pattern, (b) extent, (c) location and involved site, (d) associated focal abscess, and (e) swelling of the adjacent muscles. RESULTS: On plain radiographs, four cases showed streaky or mottled gas densities in the pelvis, three cases in the perineum, one case in the abdomen, and two cases in the thigh. On CT images, gas pattern was mottled and streaky appearance with swelling of the adjacent muscles. Gasshadows located in the extraperitoneal space in four cases, fascial layer in four cases, and subcutaneous layer infour cases. There were gas shadows in pelvic wall, perineum, abdominal wall, buttock, thigh, and scrotum. Focallow density lesion suggestive of focal abscess was not visualized. CONCLUSION: Plain radiography is useful forearly diagnosis of the necrotizing fasciitis and CT is very useful for detection of precise location and extent of the disease. CT is also useful for differentiation of necrotizing fasciitis from focal abscess and cellulitis.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Buttocks ; Cellulitis ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Muscles ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Thigh

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Plastic surgeons have generally avoided performing rhinoplasty in the presence of rhinosinusitis due to potential infection. For the otolaryngologist, concurrent rhinoplasty can produce increased periorbital swelling and ecchymosis, which can obscure the parameters used to monitor complications of the sinus procedure. But recent advances of endoscopic sinus surgery have made the simultaneous procedures safe in appropriately selected patient. The purpose of this report is to identify the indications and limitations of the simultaneous procedures. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Seven patients were treated by this combined modality and all were available for follow-up. There were 3 women and 4 men with a mean age of 35 years who underwent the combined procedure by the otolaryngologist. RESULTS: Recurrence of sinusitis occurred in one patient, and another patient wanted revision rhinoplasty for cosmetic dissatisfaction. There were no other complications. CONCLUSION: Combined rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery can be performed safely and with good results in selected patients.
Ecchymosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Pilot Projects* ; Recurrence ; Rhinoplasty* ; Sinusitis

BACKGROUND: We wanted to identify the presence of the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha in Sertoli cells and gain insight on the regulation of the ER alpha gene expression by testosterone in Sertoli cells. The transcriptional regulation of the ER alpha gene was investigated in primary Sertoli cell cultures by in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). METHODS: Primary Sertoli cell culture was performed. The expression levels of ER alpha and ER beta mRNA in Sertoli cells were detected by Northern blot, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The ovary, testis and epididymis showed a moderate to high expression of ER alpha while the prostate, ovary and LNCap cells showed the ER beta expression. ER alpha mRNA and protein were detected in the germ cells and Sertoli cells by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. The level of ER alpha mRNA was gradually decreased in a time-dependent manner after testosterone treatment, and the changes of ER alpha mRNA were dependent on the concentration of testosterone. Androgen binding protein and testosterone-repressive prostate message-2 (TRPM-2) mRNA were reduced at 24 hour by estradiol, while the transferrin mRNA was not affected. ER alpha mRNA was strongly detectable in the testes of 7 days-old-rats, but it was gradually decreased from 14 to 21 days of age. The primary Sertoli cells also showed the same pattern. The ER alpha gene expression was also regulated by testosterone in the Sertoli cells prepared from the 14- and 21-day old rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ER alpha is transcriptionally regulated by testosterone and it may play some role in the Sertoli cells.
Androgen-Binding Protein ; Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Epididymis ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor alpha* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Germ Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Ovary ; Prostate ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sertoli Cells* ; Testis ; Testosterone* ; Transferrin