BACKGROUND: Relative changes of astroglial volume constitute the major part of brain edema, which is related to delayed neuronal damage. Several factors including glutamate may contribute to astroglial swelling. Intravenous anesthetic, ketamine was known to restore neuronal damage by inhibiting NMDA receptor activity. Therefore, we decided to investigate the effect of ketamine on the astrocyte swelling by glutamate in the present study. METHODS: To analyze cell swelling in vitro, glial cell line, U1242MG was used. The effects of glutamate (1, 2, 3 mM), and glutamate with ketamine (1 mM) on the regulation of astrocyte volume were achieved by flow cytometry system. To eliminate the dead cells from experimental cell suspension and to assess cell viability, fluorescent dye propidium iodide was used. RESULTS: Glutamate addition (1, 2, 3mM) caused astroglial swelling both in calcium present and calcium absent buffer. The difference of cellular swelling dependent on glutamate concentration was only seen in calcium free buffer (p<0.05). Ketamine per se did not affect astroglial volume. However, when it was added to glutamate perfusion, 1 mM ketamine diminished cellular swelling by glutamate during first 10 minutes (p<0.05), and cellular shrinkage by glutamate after 1 hour incubation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine (1 mM) is effective in the regulation of astroglial volume alterations induced by glutamate in both short time and long time perfusion.
Astrocytes ; Brain Edema ; Calcium ; Cell Survival ; Flow Cytometry ; Glutamic Acid* ; Ketamine* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Perfusion ; Propidium

CD44 is a hyaluronic acid receptor that exists as a standard 90-kd form (CD44H) as well as several CD44 variants isoforms are produced through alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced variants of the CD44 molecule have been found to be associated with invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells and poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to define the expression of CD44H and CD44v6 in ovarian tumors and to investigate whether the expression of these molecules is associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated the expression of CD44 isoforms in 58 ovarian tumors by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated between CD44 expression and the histologic types, tumor grade, peritoneal implants, pseudomyxoma peritonei and FIGO stage. While the CD44H was commonly expressed in ovarian tumors, the CD44v6 was expressed in a minor proportion of serous tumors in comparison with frequent expression of v6 isoform in mucinous tumors. The CD44H expression was significantly higher in stage I/II than in stage III. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44 and the presence of peritoneal implants or pseudomyxoma peritonei. These results suggest that CD44H could play an important role in the adhesive function in the lower stage of the ovarian tumor and reduced expression in the higher stage might be related to the metastasis and widespread invasion of ovarian carcinoma cells.
Adhesives ; Alternative Splicing ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Protein Isoforms ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

BACKGROUND: During the adolescent growths spurt, iron deficiency becomes more common, particularly with the additional factors of menstrual blood loss in females and the androgen-related rise in hemoglobin concentration in males. This study was conducted to investigate the iron status in the adolescent students. METHODS: Venous peripheral blood was sampled from 178 males(79 of 12-13years, 99 of 15-16years) who were 1st grade students of two boy's middle schools and two high schools and from 186 females(87 of 12-13years, 99 of 15-16years) who were 1st grade students of two girl's middle schools and two high schools. Laboratory procedures included a hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, TIBC and serum ferritin. Transferrln saturation was calculated. RESULTS: 1) Mean values were hemoglobin 13.7+/-0.78 g/dl, hematocrit 40.6+/-2.47%, serum iron 127.6+/-43.02 ug/dl, TIBC 387.9+/-47.73 ug/dl, transferrin saturation 33.3+/-11.38%, and serum ferritin 26.1+/-16.90 ng/ml in 12-13years old males. 2) Mean values were hemoglobin 13.7+/-0.85 g/dl, hematocrit 40.9+/-3.79%, serum iron 99.4+/-34.93 ug/dl, TIBC 387.8+/-45.53 ug/dl, transferrin saturation 26.2+/-9.99%, and serum ferritin in 22.7+/-14.18 ng/ml in 12-13years old females. 3) Mean values were hemoglobin 15.2+/-0.84 g/dl, hematocrit 45.9+/-2.77%, serum iron 144.9+/-51.97 ug/dl, TIBC 419.8+/-52.46 ug/dl, transferrin saturation 34.2+/-10.44%, and serum ferritin 31.2+/-20.91 ng/dl in 15-16years old males. 4) Mean values were hemoglobin 13.2+/-0.89 g/dl, hematocrit 39.9+/-2.78%, serum iron 111.1+/-39.78 ug/dl, TIBC 392.8+/-50.06 ug/dl, transferrin saturation 28.9+/-10.85%, and serum ferritin 21.4+/-17.11 ng/ml in 15-16years old females. 5) The prevalence of iron deficiency was 8.9% and 10.1% in 12-13years and 15-16years old males respectively. In 12-13years and 15-16years old females, the prevalence was 16.1% and 29.3% respectively. The prevalence of iron deficincy anemia was 1.1% and 2.0% in 12-13years and 15-16years old female and absent in male. CONCLUSIONS: Although hemoglobin is normal, we recommend to check other parameters to optimize the identification of individuals with iron deficiency.
Adolescent* ; Anemia ; Female ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Transferrin

No abstract available.
Child* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans

Although acquired ichthyosis has been associated with a number of systemic illnesses, an association with sarcoidosis has rarely been reported. We report a patient with aquired ichthyosis of the lower and upper extrimities whose diagnosis of cutaneous sarcoidosis was confirmed by histologic examination. Systemic involvement in the patient revealed occular, pulmonary and nerve disease. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis must be considered when a patient presents with acquired ichthyosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Ichthyosis ; Sarcoidosis*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Humans ; Prevalence*

No abstract available.
Electrodes* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans ; Primary Health Care*

No abstract available.
Hirschsprung Disease* ; Hypoventilation*

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of recurrences after their first febrile convulsions in infants and young children. Dlinical studies were made on 187 cases of febrile convulsions who were admitted to the Department of pediatrics of wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital from March, 1990 to December, 1992. 1) 63 cases of 187 cases had recurrences after their febrile convulsions. Thus, the recurrence rate was 33.7%. 2) The male to female ratio was 2.1:1. And there were no significant differences in recurrence rates between sexes. 3) The recurrence rate was significantly higher in those whose initial febrile convulsions were developed before first 18 months of life than those whose initial convulsions were after 18 months of age (49.5% vs. 12.5%). 4) The time interval from initial attack to recurrence was within 12 months in 80% of cases. 5) Our study revealed that the seizure characteristics of the initial febrile convulsion are not important as predictive factors about the probability of recurrences. 6) Among the total 187 cases, family history were present in 52 cases (27.8%). And there were significantly higher recurrence rates if their families show the same history of febrile convulsion (63.5% vs. 22.2%). 7) The risk of recurrence was much higher in patients whose first febrile history of febrile convulsion at the same time.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Protestantism ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*