Apodemus agrarius has been using for experimental purpose to identifying the route of infection and pathogenesis of korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite the increasing amount of information being published at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, few data are availalle about the morphologic findings in the brain. The NADPH-diaphorase[NADPH-d] positive neurons, uniquely resistant to toxic insults and neurodegenerative diseases, have been colocalized with neurons in the brain and peripheral tissue containing nitric oxide synthase, which generates nitric oxide, a recently identified neuronal messenger molecule. In this study we used NADPH-d histochemistry to evaluate the distribution of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive[NPY-IR] cells within neurons which contain nitric oxide synthase. In the cerebral cortex of Apodemus agrarius, NADPH-d positive and NPY-IR neurons were observed in all cortical layers, but they were concentrated in two bands layer II/III and V/VI extending into the subcortical white matter. Double labeling for NADPH-d and NPY showed colocalization of NPY with NADPH-d in numerous neurons of the cerebral cortex. The data obtained showed that about 74-79% of NPY-IR neurons contained NADPH-d in the neocortex and that 77-89% in the allocortex. The number of NPY-IR/NADPH-d positive neurons was about 10-13 per unit area [2,500,000 micrometer] in the neocortex and about 11-25 in the allocortex except retrosplenial cortex. In the retrosplenial cortex, the number of double labeled neurons was about 5 per unit area. NPY-IR and NADPH-d positive neurons were predominantly medium-sized with extended, multipolar or bipolar dendritic branches which belong to fusiform or stellate cell types. A moderately dense network of fine, varicose NADPH-d positive fibers was present throughout all cortical layers.
Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Murinae* ; Neocortex ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of TFNA (Trochanteric Fixation NailAdvanced; Depuy Synthes) for the treatment of proximal femur fractures. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 64 patients diagnosed with a proximal femur fracture from January 2019 to November 2019. The patient’s demographic data, preoperatively and postoperatively Koval grade, modified Harris hip score, EQ-5D (Euro-Qol-5 Dimension), sliding and advancement of the blade, radiologic outcome, and complications were investigated. Results: Fifty patients were available for evaluation at one year postoperatively. The patients reported the following: the Koval grade decreased after surgery; the modified Harris hip score decreased from 78.56±8.88 to 72.74±6.59 (p=0.149); the mean EQ-5D decreased from 0.75±0.09 to 0.72±0.06 (p=0.000). Satisfactory reduction was achieved on a postoperative radiographic examination in 47 patients in six months. Complications occurred in seven cases. Conclusion TFNA is considered an appropriate implant for treating intertrochanteric fractures of the femur with a minimum follow-up of one year.

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of TFNA (Trochanteric Fixation NailAdvanced; Depuy Synthes) for the treatment of proximal femur fractures. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 64 patients diagnosed with a proximal femur fracture from January 2019 to November 2019. The patient’s demographic data, preoperatively and postoperatively Koval grade, modified Harris hip score, EQ-5D (Euro-Qol-5 Dimension), sliding and advancement of the blade, radiologic outcome, and complications were investigated. Results: Fifty patients were available for evaluation at one year postoperatively. The patients reported the following: the Koval grade decreased after surgery; the modified Harris hip score decreased from 78.56±8.88 to 72.74±6.59 (p=0.149); the mean EQ-5D decreased from 0.75±0.09 to 0.72±0.06 (p=0.000). Satisfactory reduction was achieved on a postoperative radiographic examination in 47 patients in six months. Complications occurred in seven cases. Conclusion TFNA is considered an appropriate implant for treating intertrochanteric fractures of the femur with a minimum follow-up of one year.

In order to evaluate the effects of a topical application of homologous fibronectin on the healing of skin wounds, we made 2 excisional wounds on the back skin of each rat, applied ointment with or without fibronectin purified from citrated homologous plasma, and evaluated the effect according to wound size and microscopic findings. Excised lesions treated with carrier alone, but the difference was significant only in the early phase of wound healing, 2 and 3 days, according to wound size and microscopic changes. A significant decrease in wound size could be found in both groups, treated with ointment containing and not containing fibronectin, between day 4 and 9 when wound contraction was a major contributor to wound closure. Therefore it can be concluded that topical application of fibronectin has a beneficial effect on wound healing during its early phase, but no significant influence on wound contraction.
Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Fibronectins/blood/*therapeutic use ; Ointment Bases ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Skin/pathology ; Wound Healing/*drug effects

Fibronectin, a glycoprotein, is present in plasma and extracellular matrix and is responsible for cellular adhesion. Fibronectin was purified from autologous plasma of two persistent corneal epithelial defect patients by affinity chromatogaphy and administered topically 500 micro ml, 2 dropsper time, five times a day for 3 weeks. Reepithelization began three to seven days after initiation of treatment with autologous purified fibronectin eyedrops, and epithelial defects healed nearly completely and subjective symptoms were relieved. No side effects were observed. Over a follow-up period of 4 to 23 wks, no recurrences were noted.
Extracellular Matrix ; Fibronectins* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Plasma ; Recurrence

The erectile response is peripherally mediated by cavernous nerve that contains thoracolubar sympathetic nerve and sacral parasympathetic nerve. It is known that thoracolubar sympathetic nerve involves in detumescence and sacral parasympathetic nerve in tumescence, however there are some opinions that rhoracolubar sympathetic nerve participates in psychogenic erectile mechanism. We previously reported that by the comparison with electrostimulation-induced erection, apomor- phine-induced erection was a vascular event. The aim of our study was to determine the infraspinal neural pathway of APO-induced erection. The sham operated rats remained normal in all measured respects. All rats having undergone neurotomy ot the hypogastric nerves showed APO-induced erection except one. The only 5 rats having undergone neurotomy of the pelvic nerves showed APO-induced erection. Erections could be elicited upon cavernous or pelvic nerves stimulation in all rats having undergone neurolomy of the hypogastric nerves. Among 17 rats having undergone neurotomy of the pelvic nerve erection could be elicited upon cavernous nerves slimulation in 14 rats, however. the intracavernous pressure (47.9+/-16.5 mmHg) was lower than that found in sham-operated rats. Erectile response in these 14 rats appeared to result from stimulation of penile neurons coming from the major pelvic ganglion. In contrast to no response in sham-operated rats, stimulation of the hypogastric nerves also resulted in erections in 7 out of 17 rats. In conclusion, this present study suggests that APO-induced ereclion is primarily mediated via the sacral parasympathetic nerve system and may be mediated by the thoracolumbar sympathetic pathway following injury to the parasympathetic nerve system. Furthermore we can guess the possibility that the neural pathway of psychogenic erection is same that of AP0- induced erection.
Animals ; Apomorphine ; Ganglion Cysts ; Models, Animal* ; Neural Pathways* ; Neurons ; Rats*

WPW syndrome is the most common variaty of preexcitaton syndrome in which whole or part of ventricular muscle is activated by the atrial impulse earlier than would be expected if the impulse reached the ventricle by way of normal conduction system alone. WPW syndrome result from existence of accessory muscle bridge(atrio ventricular connection) between atrium and ventricle. The ventricular complex observed in WPW syndrome during periods of sinus rhythm is the result of fusion, with intial phase of ventricular activation representing excitation via accessory pathway and later forces produced by excitation of residual portions of ventricle via normal His-purkinje system. The variations in QRS aberrancy in WPW syndrome depend on varying degree of preexcitation. This experimental study was undertaken to increase our knowledge on the ventricular fusion in WPW syndrome through epicardial mapping after experimental induction of ventricular preexcitaion of WPW type. In 5 normal dogs, the heart was widely exposed through transverse thoracotomy and positioned in a pericardial cradle, then electric wires were fixed on the epicardium of right atrium and ventricular bases(anterobasal and posterobasal) areas of right ventricle, anterobasal and poaterobasal areas of left ventricle for atrial and ventricular pacing. Epicardial mapping was then performed during atrial pacing alone and during atrioventricular sequential pacing at the same rate. Atrioventricular sequential pacing was done with various short AV intervals(60-110 msec) for the purpose of premature stimulation on ventricular base. In mapping we used the grid system which consisted of 29 areas to cover the right ventricle and 23 areas to cover the left ventricle. We drew 9 epicardial ishochrone maps in 5 dogs. The epicardial data during atrio-ventriclar sequential pacing were then compared with those during atrial pacing at an identical rate to study the ventricular fusion in WPW syndrome. The results were as follows; 1) The preexciting wave spread radially from the stimulated basal area to the right and left(or anterior and posterior wall) and the apex. 2) Preexciting wavefronts collided with the normal wavefronts in a wide range of ventricular activation time. 3) Preexcitation widened according to the degree of the shortening of the AV interval. 4) The duration of ventricular activation was greater in preexcited ventricles than in normally activated ventricles. The more prematurely the ventricle was stimulated, the greater the duration of ventricular activation was.
Animals ; Dogs ; Epicardial Mapping ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Pericardium ; Thoracotomy ; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome*

PURPOSE: The radiobiology of prostate cancer favors a hypofractionated dose regimen. We report here our experience with the CyberKnife(TM), demonstrating its efficacy, safety, and feasibility as a treatment modality for non-metastatic prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2002 and April 2006, 20 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer were treated with the CyberKnife(TM). The distribution of clinical risks, as assessed by using D'Amico's definition for risk grouping, was as follows: low (4), intermediate (5), and high (11). Three patients received 32 Gy, 7 patients received 34 Gy, and 10 patients received 36 Gy. All patients received the radiation doses in 4 fractions. The rectal and bladder toxicities were graded by using the criteria set forth by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). RESULTS: The mean patient age was 71.4 years (range, 52-79 years), and the mean follow-up period was 35.5 months (range, 8-74 months). There were 2 acute and 1 late grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicities, and 1 acute and 2 late grade 2 urinary toxicities. The 5-year overall survival rate was 100%, respectively. The 5-year biochemical failure-free rate of the low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients was 100%, 100%, and 90.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CyberKnife(TM) is a safe, well-tolerated, and rather effective treatment for non-metastatic prostate cancer. We obtained a 100% 5-year biochemical failure-free rate in low-risk and intermediate-risk patients. CyberKnife(TM) is a viable option for the treatment of non-metastatic prostate cancer.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiobiology ; Radiosurgery ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is a common disease and its prevalence is increasing. Recent reports have shown that an elevated thyrotropin (thyroid stimulating hormone, TSH) level is associated with thyroid cancer risk. However, the association between TSH level and thyroid cancer risk is not yet known for euthyroid patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: Our study included 425 patients who underwent thyroid surgery and were diagnosed with PTMC between 2008 and 2009. Control group patients were diagnosed with benign nodules < or = 1 cm in size by US-guided fine needle aspiration. Nodules with one or more suspected malignant-ultrasonographic feature(s) were excluded from this study. Patients who were not euthyroid or who took thyroid medication were also excluded. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 48.5 +/- 11.0 years and 88.8% were women. The mean age of those with PTMC was significantly lower than that of the control group. The mean TSH level was 1.78 +/- 0.93 mIU/L, and the mean free T4 level was 15.96 +/- 2.32 pmol/L. There was no difference in TSH level between the PTMC and control groups (1.77 +/- 0.93 mIU/L vs. 1.79 +/- 0.91 mIU/L, P = 0.829). After adjusting for age, TSH level was not correlated with tumor size (r = 0.02, P = 0.678) in the PTMC group. Moreover, the TSH level did not differ between patients with stage I and stage III-IV carcinoma (stage I, 1.77 +/- 0.95 mIU/L; stage III-IV, 1.79 +/- 0.87 mIU/L; P = 0.856). CONCLUSION: TSH levels are not elevated in euthyroid PTMC patients. Thus, further evaluation is needed before serum TSH can be used as a tumor marker for small nodules < or = 1 cm in size in euthyroid patients.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyrotropin

In diabetes mellitus, thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. We evaluated whether the plasma levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin, which are important factors of basement membrane, are related with the presence of diabetic microangiopathy. Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin levels were measured in 40 healthy controls (Mean +/- SD, age; 50.3 +/- 5.5 yr) and 94 diabetic patients (age; 52.4 +/- 13.5 yr) with and without microvascular complications. The mean plasma levels of type IV collagen (5.3 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) and fibronectin (474.4 +/- 119.4 ug/ml) in diabetic patients were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in healthy controls (3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml and 319 +/- 50.9 ug/ml). The mean plasma level of type IV collagen in diabetic patients with complications (6.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in those without complications (4.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) and became higher in more complicated patients. Furthermore, the severity of retinopathy and several indicators of nephropathy such as serum BUN, creatinine and proteinuria were closely associated with plasma type IV collagen level and a significant correlation was found between plasma type IV collagen and creatinine clearance (r = -0.31, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma fibronectin concentrations, however, between the diabetic patients with complications and those without complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Proteins/urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen/*blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Diabetic Angiopathies/*blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Nephropathies/blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Retinopathy/blood/diagnosis ; Female ; Fibronectins/*blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age