It has been suggested that glucocorticoid receptors are present in inner ear tissues and may act in stress related mechanism of cochlea. The purpose of this study was to determine whether stress to auditory system could change glucocorticoid receptors(GR) in the cochlear tissues and to hypothesize the relationship between heat shock protein and glucococorticoid receptors which may involve in stress related mechanism of cochlea. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to intense broad band noise(110dB SPL) as a stressful condition to auditory system and immunohistochemical and western blot analyses were used to compare the expression patterns of glucocorticoid receptors between noise exposed and normal rat cochlea. In western blot analysis, immunoreactive bands of noise exposed cochlear tissues were weaker than those of normal non-noise exposed cochlear tissues. In immunohistochemistry, GR immunostaining was observed in spiral ligament, stria vascularis, and outer hair cells of both noise exposed and normal cochlear tissues. Density of immunoreactive staining was decreased after noise exposure. With these results was could hypothesize the relationship between glucocorticoid receptor and heat shock proteins under stressful condition in the cochlea. If the cochlea is exposed to stress such as noise trauma, glucocorticoid hormone would be released and enter the cell to bind to glucocorticoid receptors with dissociation of heat shock proteins from the DNA binding sites. Then the levels of glucocorticoid receptors in the cytoplasm would be decreased and resultant increased expression of heat shock proteins may occur. This study suggest that glucocorticoid receptors may participate in stress response of the cochlea alone or in conjunction with heat shock proteins.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blotting, Western ; Cochlea ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Ear, Inner ; Hair ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Noise* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid* ; Spiral Ligament of Cochlea ; Stria Vascularis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The myocardial protective effect of ischemic preconditioning is well known. However, the mechanism is remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of adenosine, protein kinase C, KATP channel and the change of monophasic action potential duration on cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in cat. Materials AND METHODS: In this experiment, 66 cats were allocated into 7 groups:control (n=10), ischemic preconditioning (n=10), adenosine pre-treated (n=10), SPT (8-p-sulfophenyl theophylline) pre-treated (n=9), polymyxin B pre-treated (n=9), glibenclamide pre-treated (n=9) and nicorandil pre-treated (n=9) groups. Ischemic preconditioning was performed in ischemic preconditioning, SPT pre-treated, polymyxin B pre-treated and glibenclamide pre-treated groups by 3 episodes of 5 minutes ischemia and 10 minutes reperfusion. All animals were subjected to 40 minutes of ischemia and 40 minutes reperfusion. Monophasic action potential duration at 50% repolarization (MAP50) was measured in the ischemic and non-ischemic area respectively by epicardial probe throughout the experiment. The effect of ischemic preconditioning was determined by infarct size (% area at risk). RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning, adenosine pre-treatment and nicorandil pre-treatment groups demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size (26+/-4%, 25+/-4% and 34+/-8% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.05 vs. control) with respect to control (41+/-8% infarction of the risk zone). However, pretreatment with SPT, polymyxin B or glibenclamide abolished the effect of ischemic preconditioning. Ischemic preconditioning group exhibited a significant reduction of MAP50 duration in the ischemic area during preconditioning;at the first preconditioning 128+/-11 msec vs. 144+/-10 msec control, at the second preconditioning 110+/-10 msec vs.147+/-10 msec control (p<0.01), at the third preconditioning 114+/-10 msec vs. 145+/-11 msec control (p<0.05). But, pretreatment with SPT, polymyxin B and glibenclamide prevented the reduction of MAP50 in the ischemic area during ischemic preconditioning. During 40 minutes ischemia, the shortening of MAP50 was more pronounced in the preconditioned group than in control group;at 5 minutes 112+/-13 msec vs. 124+/-10 msec control, at 10 minutes 89+/-12 msec vs. 133+/-11 msec control (p<0.05 ), at 20 minutes 93+/-12 msec vs. 136+/-11 msec control (p<0.05), and at 30 minutes 107+/-19 msec vs. 144+/-14 msec control (p<0.05). In adenosine pre-treated group, the MAP50 was significantly shortened than control group throughout 40 minutes occlusion period;at 5 minutes 90+/-8 msec (p<0.05), at 10 minutes 77+/-9 msec (p<0.05), at 20 minutes 92+/-8 msec (p<0.05), and at 30 minutes 103+/-8 msec (p<0.05). Nicorandil pretreatment pronounced the ischemic shortening of MAP50 in ischemic area and the effect was significant during early ischemic period;at 10 minutes 98+/-22 msec (p<0.05 vs. control). In pretreatment groups with SPT, polymyxin B or glibenclamide, the ischemic preconditioning of MAP50 measured in non-ischemic area was not significantly different compared with control group. MAP50 measured in ischemic area during reperfusion was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, adenosine receptor-protein kinase C-KATP channel activation and monophasic action potential duration shortening during ischemia play an important role in myocardial protection during ischemic injury.
Action Potentials* ; Adenosine* ; Animals ; Cats* ; Glyburide ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Nicorandil ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymyxin B ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

No abstract available.

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF) is an uncommon benign tumor and a locally aggressive fibroblastic lesion. It commonly affects the palmar side of the hand and fingers, and the soles of the feet. The typical clinical manifestations are known as a poorly circumscribed, slow-growing, and asymptomatic firm mass. Most CAFs usually reveal low to intermediate or isointensity on T1-weighted images, and strong heterogeneous enhancement. However, various signal intensities on T2-weighted images have been reported depending on the degree of hypocellularity or the amount of calcification or collagen within the tumor. This report provides the radiographic and MRI finding of CAF arising in uncommon site, the knee region, of a 19-year-old male who presented with a painful and palpable mass.
Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Fibroma* ; Fingers ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Though mononuclear phagocytes serve as the final effectors in killing intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacilli readily survive in the intracellular environment of resting cells. The mechanisms through which cellular activation results in the intracellular killing is unclear. In this study, we sought to explore an in vitro model of a low-level infection of human mononuclear phagocytes with MAC and H37Ra and determine the extent of the lymphocyte dependent cytotoxicity of human monocytes and alveolar macrophages. METHOD: The peripheral monocytes were prepared using the Ficoll gradient method from PPD positive healthy people and tuberculosis patients. The alveolar macrophages were prepared from PPD positive healthy people via a bronchoalveolar lavage. The human mononuclear phagocytes were infected at a low infection rate (bacilli:phagocyte 1:10) with MAC(Mycobacterium avium) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Non-adherent cells(lymphocyte) were added at a 10:1 ratio. After 1,4, and 7 days culture in 37degrees C, 5% CO2 incubator, the cells were harvested and inoculated in a 7H10/OADC agar plate for the CFU assay. The bacilli were calculated with the CFU/1 X 10(6) of the cells and the cytotoxicity was expressed as the log killing ratio. RESULTS: The intracellular killing of MAC and H37Ra within the monocyte was greater in patients with tuberculosis compared to the PPD positive controls (p<0.05). Intracellular killing of MAC and H37Ra within the alveolar macrophage appeared to be greater than that within the monocytes of the PPD positive controls. There was significant lymphocyte dependent inhibition of intracellular growth of the mycobacteria within the monocytes in both the controls and tuberculosis patients and within the macrophages in the controls(p<0.05). There was no specific difference in the virulence between the MAC and the H37Ra. CONCLUSION: This study is an in vitro model of a low-level infection with MAC and H37Ra of human mononuclear phagocytes. The intracellular cytotoxicity of the mycobacteria within the phagocytic cells was significantly lymphocyte dependent. During the 7 days culture after the intracellular phagocytosis, the actual confinement of the mycobacteria was observed within the monocytes of tuberculosis patients and the alveolar macrophages of the controls as in the case of adding lymphocytes.
Humans

MR findings of early infectious spondylodiscitis are non-specific and may be confused with those of other conditions. Therefore, it is important to recognize early MR signs of conditions, such as inappreciable cortical changes in endplates, confusing marrow signal intensities of vertebral bodies, and inflammatory changes in paraspinal soft tissues, and subligamentous and epidural spaces. In addition, appreciation of direct inoculation, such as in iatrogenic spondylodiscitis may be important, because the proportion of patients who have undergone recent spine surgery or a spinal procedure is increasing. In this review, the authors focus on the MR findings of early spondylodiscitis, atypical findings of iatrogenic infection, and the differentiation between spondylodiscitis and other disease entities mimicking infection.
Bone Marrow ; Discitis* ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spine

Osteoid osteoma, a frequent lesions of bone, is usually intraosseous but occasionally subperiosteal. We describe the case of a 19-year-old male with knee pain caused by subperiosteal osteoid osteoma. Radiologic evaluation was performed with radiographic, computed tomography (CT), ultrasonographic (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). But the preoperative diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was delayed because of unusual imaging findings and atypical symptom. After excisional biopsy, histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. The lesion was treated successfully with CT-guided radiofrequency ablation.
Biopsy ; Catheter Ablation ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoma, Osteoid* ; Young Adult

Total knee arthroplasty of Sledge type is difficult to perform successfully in severely damaged knee that has poor bone-stock and ligament instability. High rate of loosening has be.en found in total hinge type and kinematic rotating hinge type, so we considered use of tibia rotating prosthe,,is that allows motion with stability would be a good option. The indications of this type are severe varus deformity, bone loss, incompetent ligament, or revision. We studied 67 cases of total knee arthroplasty using Endo Model rotating total knee arthroplasty (WALDEMAR LINK GmbH & Co. Germany), which had been performed from January, 1991 to June, 1994. Thirty knees out of 67 cases were degenerative osteoarthritis, 15 posttraumatic arthritis, 11 rheumatoid arthritis, 5 revision arthroplasty, 2 sequelae of pyogenic arthritis, etc. Thirteen knees out of 67 cases had patellar resurfacement. Twenty-six out of 67 cases had bone graft. Using the Knee Rating Score of Hospital for Special Surgery, 3S were excellent and 2 l good.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Osteoarthritis ; Tibia ; Transplants

In a study of the fungal diversity on Ulleung Island in Korea, three novel strains of Penicillium were isolated. Different sites on Ulleung Island were selected for collecting endophytic fungi, and three endophytic fungal strains showed unique morphological characteristics. DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit regions of the strains were analyzed and they showed unique taxonomic position from the other species of Penicillium section Sclerotiora. The new strains were named Penicillium ulleungdoense sp. nov. As the novel endophytic Penicillium taxa were discovered in a unique environment, the data could be meaningful for understanding the geographical distribution of Ascomycetes on Ulleung Island.

Bartter's syndrome is characterized by hypokalemia and secondary hyperaldosteronism without edema or hypertension. Its pathogenesis is obscure and the characteristic renal potassium wastage is difficult to treat. We experienced a case of Bartter's syndrome in 47 year-old diabetic female. She had felt dizziness, muscle weakness and cramping for about two years. During diagnostic evaluation, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism were discovered. The patient denied ingestions of laxatives, diuretics, licorice and she had no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or edema. She had normal blood pressure. The patient improved with potassium supplements and spironolactone therapy along with oral hypoglycemic agent. So we report this case with the review of literature.
Adult* ; Alkalosis ; Bartter Syndrome* ; Blood Pressure ; Diarrhea ; Diuretics ; Dizziness ; Edema ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Laxatives ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Cramp ; Muscle Weakness ; Nausea ; Potassium ; Spironolactone ; Vomiting