No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Reference Values*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Gene Expression* ; Genes, Immediate-Early* ; Rats*

Ubiquitin-positive neuritic threads (UNTS) in the hippocampal CA 2-3 region are reported to occur exclusively in association with so-called diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD). hi order to assess the association between the occurrence of Lewy bodies (LBs) and that of the UNTs, an immunohistochemical study on the hippocampus including the parahippocampal gyrus with antiubiquitin antibody (Chemicon Co., California, U.S.A.) was perfon-ned in four groups of patient's brains. All brains were selected from the large pool of brains referred to the Neuropadiology Laboratory of the University of Minnesota for studies of Alzheimer's disease. Group 1 consisted of 34 cases (20 male and 14 female) with LBs widespread in the frontal and temporal cortex and the brain stem nuclei (basal nucleus, substantia nigra, locus ceruleus and dorsal vagal nucleus) associated with varying degrees of degeneration of the substantia nigra; 21 (11 male and 10 female) combined with and 13 (9 male and 4 female) without Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Group 2 included 12 cases (9 male and 3 female) in which LBs were observed only in the brain stem nuclei; 7 with and 4 without AD pathology. Group 3 consisted of 30 cases (9 male and 21 female) without LBs but with AD pathology and degeneration of the substantia nigra. Group 4 included 23 cases (11 male and 12 female) with neither LBs nor AD pathology but with degeneration of the substantia nigra. Ages of the patients varied among the groups. In the 46 cases in the first two groups with LBs. The mean age in the 28 cases with AD pathology was 77.3+/-8.9 and in the 18 cases without AD pathology it was 71.6+/-8.8 (P<0.05). In the 53 cases in groups 3 and 4 without LBs, which served as the controls, the mean ages were 80.8+/-7.7 and 74.0+/-9.7 respectively. UNTs were encountered in all (100%) of 34 cases of group I with widespread LBs which met the histological criteria of DLBD regardless of combined AD pathology. In 12 cases of group 2 with LBs confined to the brain stem, UNTs occurred in 3 (25%), 1 with and 2 without AD pathology. hi the group 3 cases with only AD pathology, UNTs occurred in 4 (13%) of 30 cases, while no UNTs were encountered in the 23 cases of group 4 without AD pathology or LBs. In conclusion, UNTs in the hippocampal CA 2-3 region occur invariably but not exclusively in association with widespread LBs, frequently when LBs are confined to the brain stem, and infrequently with AD pathology. It seems, therefore, that the UNTs are closely related to LBs and increase in ftequency as LBs spread beyond the brain stem with time, but the pathogenesis of the UNTs is little understood.
Female ; Male ; Humans

Lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis was administered to 34 patients with primary hypertlipidemia, 20 mg once daily with the evening meal. Patients experienced mean total and LDL cholesterol reductions of 30.9% and 34.0% respectively. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased by 15.4% and plasma triglyceride level was decreased by 11.2%. maximal hypocholesterolemic effects were evident at 8 weeks, after which the effects were stable. Adverse effects were noted in 2 patients who had mild gastrointestinal symptoms, that subsided after discontinuing the drug. We concluded that lovastatin is a well tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Lovastatin ; Meals ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Gestational Sac* ; Ultrasonography*

The Graf stabilization has been introduced in treating lumbar spinal disorder associated with posterior instability. This study reviewed some problems of the Graf instrumentation as a soft stabilizer. The purpose of this study is to analyse the problems of the soft stabilization in spinal instability. We reviewed 145 cases which were operative treatment using the Graf instrument for lumbar spinal disorder associated with posterior instability at our department from May, 1991 to Dec, 1995. The mean follow up periods was 29 months ranging from 24 months to 6 years 8 months. Of the 145 cases, 22 cases were showed the problem. The diagnostic method were simple x-ray, flexion-extension lateral stress view and CT scan. Results were as follows : Adjacent segmental instability was 10 cases(6.9%), disc space narrowing was 8 cases(5.5%), screw loosening was 3 cases(2.1%) and breakage of the Graf band was 1 case(0.6%). The problems of the soft stabilization were adjacent segmental instability, disc space narrowing, screw loosening, and breakage of the Graf band. But the rate of adjacent segmental instability and disc space narrowing was lower than other lumbar spinal instrumentation.
Follow-Up Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A clinical and histopathological study was performed on ninety-four patients with nephrotic syndrome (91 idiopathic and 3 secondary) who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital during the period of nine years, from January 1985 to May 1994. The results were as following. 1. the ratio of male to female was 1.76:1. In young age group, minimal change was the most predominant type. In old age group, membranous glomerulonephritis and focal glomerulosclerosis were predominant types. 2.- The primary nephrotic syndromes were 96.8% and secondary nephrotic syndromes were 3.2%. Histopathologic findings of 94 renal biopsy tissue were classified into minimal change (43.6%) mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (29.8%), membranous glomerulonephritis (12.8%), Typel membranous proliferative glomerulonephritis (4.3%), focal glomerulosclerosis (3.2%) .and others (6.4%). 3. The response of eighty-six patients treated with steroid showed complete remission in 51.2%, partial remission in 20.9%, steroid dependent in 2.3%, and no effect in 25.6% of cases respectively. The response to steroid therapy was most effective in the patients with minimal change lesion. 4. In the patient with membranous proliferative glomerulonephlitis, long-term angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment showed less deterioration of renal function.
Biopsy* ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A

We developed an animal model to recreate the condition of an open fracture in communication with the maxillary sinus. We then studied wound healing of the sinus wall structures following fracture in the presence of autogenous bone and alloplastic implant. This model is designed to simulate the repair of an orbital floor fracture in humans. The New Zealand White rabbit was used as the animal model. Standardized 8mm defects were made bilaterally in the maxillary sinuses to include bone and mucosa in 36 rabbits. Two different implants and autogenous calvarial bone graft were placed in the soft-tissue pockets to obturate the defects, exposing one surface of the implant to the open sinus. Medpor porous polyethylene, silicone and calvarial bone implant were compared. Animals were killed at 1, 2 and 8 weeks after implantation. Gross examination of the specimens for the amount of mucosal closure and implant tissue fixation was performed. Histological sections were evaluated for bone and soft-tissue morphology juxtaposed to the implant. Complete closure of the mucosal defect was demonstrated with each type of implant. Medpor implants showed both vascular and soft-tissue ingrowth into pores by week 1. Bone ingrowth was seen by week 2. Closure of the Medpor obturated defects occurred more rapidly than in the silicone group. The Medpor implants and calvarial bone demonstrated bone and soft-tissue fixation, callus formation and maturation, while mature overlying mucosa was reconstituted over the defects. Silicone implants demonstrated a fibrous tissue reaction within 1 week of implantation and they never became fixed to bone or soft tissue. Maxillary sinus wall regeneration occurred in all defects. This study supports clinical observations of maxillary sinus wall regeneration in humans.
Animals ; Bony Callus ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; New Zealand ; Orbit ; Polyethylene ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Silicones ; Tissue Fixation ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To elucidate factors affecting the outcome of pyeloplasty, we retrospectively reviewed a consecutive series of children who underwent dismembered pyeloplasty. METHODS: We encountered 37 kidneys in 30 patients with primary UPJ obstruction. Twenty eight were male and 2 were female. Sixteen patients (19 renal units) were younger than 1 year of age. There was a 2.3: 1 predominance of left side. In all 37 renal units, postoperative calyceal dilatations were compared to those of preoperative degrees by excretory urography or ultrasonography. In 20 of 23 unilateral disease, postoperative split renal functions measured by 99mTc MAG-3 or DTPA renal scan were compared to those of preoperative values. Mean follow up was 48.4 months. To assess the degree of improvement of renal function and calyceal dilatation, multivariant analysis was performed by groups according to age, initial presentation, preoperative split renal fuction, laterality and the degree of preoperative calyceal dilatation. RESULTS: In patients younger than 1 year, the most common initial presentation was prenatally detected hydronephrosis (9/16) and in older children, abdominal mass or pain (10/14). In all 20 patients who had renal scan, split renal function was improved in 13 (65.0%) and unchanged in 7 (35.0%) after the surgery. In 9 kidneys with impaired preoperative split renal function (less than 35%), renal function was improved greater than 5% in 8 (88.9%) after the surgery. in the other 11 renal units, the function was greater than 35% before and after the surgery. The improvement of calyceal dilatation was noticed in 33 (89.2%) of the renal units and more significant in groups of children who had high grade (IV,V) hydronephrosis with preoperative renal function of greater than 35%. The degree of functional improvement was better in groups of patients whose age were under 12 months and also who had impaired renal function with mild to moderate calyceal dilatation. The half time clearance was well correlated to the degree of calyceal dilatation. No one underwent repeated operation. CONCLUSIONS: Dismembered pyeloplasty is safe and highly successful procedure. The greatest potential recovery of renal function was noticed in patients with decreased renal function but mild to moderate hydronephrosis. And the resolution of calyceal dilatation was most likely in patients with severe hydronephrosis but well preserved renal function.
Child* ; Dilatation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Male ; Pentetic Acid ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Urography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of PAP in staging and monitoring of patient with prostate cancer, we performed a comparative study with PSA, retrospectively. METHODS: We evaluated 72 patients with prostate cancer. Of these patients 11 had stage A, 6 stage B, 10 stage C, 5 stage D1 and 40 stage D2 prostate cancer. Serum PAP level was measured in all 72 patients and serum PSA level was measured concomitantly in 42 patients. RESULTS: The mean initial PAP value was 13.40+/- 7.00 U/L. But only 40 (55.6%) had elevated PAP value above 1.5U/L at presentation. Of 55 advanced cases (stage C, D), 39 (76.9%) had elevated PAP values. Of the 42 patients, who underwent longitudinal PSA assessment, the mean initial PSA value was 178.0 +/- 33.3 ng/ml. Forty (95.2%) had elevated PSA value above 4 ng/ml at presentation. Of 41 advanced cases (stage C, D1, D2), 33 (80.5%) exceeded 50 ng/ml. None of the patient had elevated PAP value with normal PSA value at presentation. Among 42 patients, who had followed with longitudinal serum PSA and PAP, progression of the disease to the bone, lung, and rectum occurred in 26 patients; in all PSA was the first indicator of progression and in none of them PAP anticipated PSA elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Although PAP value usually reflects advanced prostate cancer (70.9%), serum PSA also reflects it (80.5%). Serum PSA monitoring is superior to serum PAP monitoring in predicting disease progression. The use of PSA and PAP jointly to stage and monitor prostate cancer did not appear to enhance the clinical utility over that of PSA alone.
Acid Phosphatase* ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Lung ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies