No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.
Bronchopulmonary Sequestration*

Inflammation within the central nervous system often accompanies ischemia, trauma, infection, and other neuronal injuries. The immune system is now recognized to play a major role in neuronal cell death due to microglial activation, leukocyte recruitment, and cytokine secretion. The participation of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in the immune response following in brain injury can be seen as an attempt to correct the inflammatory condition. The Hsps comprise various families on the basis of molecular size. One of the most studied is Hsp70. Hsp70 is thought to act as a molecular chaperone that is present in almost intracellular compartments, and function by refolding misfolded or aggregated proteins. Hsps have recently been studied in inflammatory conditions. Hsp70 can both induce and arrest inflammatory reactions and lead to improved neurological outcome in experimental brain injury and ischemia. In this review, we will focus on underlying inflammatory mechanisms and Hsp70 in acute neurological injury.
Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cell Death ; Central Nervous System ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Leukocytes ; Molecular Chaperones ; Neurons ; Proteins

No abstract available.
Esophageal Atresia* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula*

No abstract available.
Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Plasma*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relative long-term longitudinal changes in the levels of serial prostate specific antigen in healthy men without urinary tract infection and initial PSA of 4.0ng/ml or less. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1996 and June 2000, the rate of PSA change (PSAV) in 1,132 healthy men with an initial PSA of 4.0ng/ml or less who were clinically free of urinary tract infection and known prostate disease were analyzed. In all cases, a minimum of 2 PSA levels were measured at intervals of at least 12month. The influence of age, initial PSA and interval between measurements were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age, initial PSA, interval between measurements, change in PSA and PSAV were 45.2 (24-80) years, 1.05 (0.04-4.0)ng/ml, 19.2 (12-39) month, 0.13 ( 1.0-3.1)ng/ml and 0.08 ( 0.8-1.22)ng/ml/year. A cumulative frequency plot of PSAV demonstrated that 50%, 95% and 97% of subjects had PSAV 0.06ng/ml/year, 0.55 ng/ml/year and 0.60ng/ml/year or less, respectively. PSAV was correlated with age (r=0.090, p=0.002) and initial PSA (r=0.331, p <0.001) but not with interval between measurements (r=0.046, p=0.132). Age was directly correlated with initial PSA (r=0.118, p<0.05). However, age was not correlated with PSAV (r=0.052, p>0.05) when adjusted by the initial PSA level. Percentage of the men with PSAV of great than 0.75ng/ml/year was 1.8% (20/1,132); 0.6% (4/708) for those whose initial PSA were less than 1.0ng/ml, 1.7% (6/358) for 1.1-2.0ng/ml and 15.1% (10/66) for 2.1-4.0ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Among men with normal PSA whose PSA is sampled over relatively long-term interval, PSAV is directly correlated with initial PSA but not with age and interval between measurements. Men with a PSA of 2.0ng/ml or less are at low risk for abnormal PSAV and annual PSA monitoring may not be necessary, but the annual longitudinal monitoring may be clinically useful in men with an initial PSA of 2.1-4.0ng/ml. Large prospective studies are required to assess the precise cut-off point of PSAV for Korean men in the early detection of prostate cancer.
Humans ; Male ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Tract Infections

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare results of the macroscopic one-layer vasovasostomy with those of microscopic one-layer vasovasostomy and to analyze the change of semen parameters according to the interval of vasal obstruction. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Between March 1987 and December 1997, we performed 121 vasovasostomies using modified one-layer technique with loupe magnification (macroscopic vasovasostomy) or microscope. Among the 68 could be followed post-operatively, 37 patients were treated by macroscopic technique with loupe, and 31 patients by microscopic technique. We compared rates of anatomical patency (sperm count above than 10x106/ml) and pregnancy of macroscopic vasovasotomy with those of microscopic vasovasostomy. Patency and pregnancy fates according to vasal obstructive interval were also examined. RESULTS: The patency rates of macroscopic and microscopic technique were 86.5% and 87.1%, and pregnancy rates of macroscopic and microscopic technique were 64.9% and 67.7%. There was no statistical significance between these two methods (p>0.05). The pregnancy rates and sperm motility were decreased if more than 10 years had elapsed following vasectomy(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We found little difference in success rates resulting from macroscopic and microscopic vasovasostomy and the former had the advantage of reduced cost and a lower operator skill level. in post-operative semen analysis, the sperm motility was the most probable factor associated with vasal obstructive interval.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Vasovasostomy*

To evaluate the corneal epithelial barrier after exposure to Benzalkonium chloride(BAC) or commonly used eyedrops, we measured corneal uptake of 5, 6-carboxyfluorescein(CF) applied to the corneal epithelium of the albino rabbits(70 eyes). Four BAC solutions (0.001 %, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1 %), ofloxacin solutions (Tarivid(R), Octacin(R), Ofloxacin(R)), fluorometholone solutions(Fumelon(R), Fluorometholone(R)), artificial tear solutions (Tears Naturale(R), Tears Naturale II(R), Tears naturale Free(R)) were evaluated. Balanced salt solution was used in control group. As the concentration of BAC increased, corneal epithelial permeability increased. In Octacin(R) group, corneal epithelial permeability increased about 5 times more than in Tarivid(R) and Ofloxacin(R) groups (p<0.01). Fluorometholone(R) group showed less increased permeability than in Fumelon group, but there was no statistical difference between them(p>0.05). Tears Naturale(R) showed the highest permeability among artificial tear solutions and there were no statistical differences between Tears Naturale II(R), Tears Naturale Free(R) and control group(p>0.1). This study showed that the higher concentration of BAC, the more damages to the barrier function of the corneal epithelium, and that clincally used eyedrops containing BAC made destructive influences on the corneal epithelial integrity.
Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fluorometholone ; Ofloxacin ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Permeability ; Tears

PURPOSE: This study is to determine age-specific reference range of serum concentration of prostate-specific antigen(PSA) in each decades of age for whom PSA levels were checked in our Multipathic Health Checkup Center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1996 and August 1998, the serum PSA of 10,691 men aged 20 to 79 years were checked from Multipathic Health Checkup Center. All cases of lower urinary tract infection(>4WBC/HPF in urinalysis) were excluded from the analysis. PSA was measured by Enzyme Immuno-Assay(AxSYM kit, Abbott Co.) techniques. Patients were grouped according to age by decade: group 20`s(n=941), group 30`s(n=3,963), group 40`s(n=3,607), group 50`s(n=1,735), group 60`s(n=392) and group 70`s(n=53). RESULTS: Based on linear regression analysis, serum PSA concentration was correlated with patient age significantly(r=0.091, p<0.005). The mean PSA values(ng/ml) of each age groups were 20`s: 0.927+/-.660, 30`s: 0.931+/-.664, 40`s: 0.951+/-.715, 50`s: 1.035+/-.883, 60`s: 1.369+/-.607 and 70`s: 2.244+/-.317. The upper limits of PSA(mean+2SD) according to age were 20`s: 2.25ng/ml, 30`s: 2.26ng/ml, 40`s: 2.38ng/ml, 50`s: 2.80ng/ml, 60`s: 4.58ng/ml and 70`s: 8.88ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirmed earlier observations that serum PSA were age-dependent and age-specific, and it were lower for Korean men than for white men. The age-specific reference ranges for Korean men should be established, and then the PSA assay could become more efficient as a screening test for prostatic cancer.
Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Reference Values* ; Urinary Tract

Analysis of endothelial morphology by computer assisted digitizer and image analysis program provides very useful indices of cell shape and size which appear to correlate to the monolayer's functional status. To study the influences of the Alizarin red S staining, which is commonly used in animal experiments of corneal endothelium and vital staining, on the morphologic characteristics of corneal endothelium, morphometric data(density, area, coefficient of variation, perimeter, shape factor, hexagonality, lengths) obtained by specular microscopy of the endothelium are compared to data obtained by Alizarin red S staining of the endothelium of the excised cornea. Mean endothelial cell area was measured as 389.58 +/- 37.14 micrometer2, density was 2588 +/- 251 cells/mm2. The corresponding values measured after Alizarin red S staining, cell area was 407.42 +/- 45.3 micrometer2 and density was 2484 +/- 294 cells/mm2. But no significant differences were noted in comparing all morphometric data obtained by staining to that obtained from specular microscopy. Therefore, Alizarin red S staining combined with cell morphometric analysis could provide valuable data in a cornea which lacks clarity limits or precludes specular microscopy.
Animal Experimentation ; Cell Shape ; Cornea ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal* ; Microscopy*