This study was conducted to investigate physiological characteristics of Trichoderma spp. isolated from Pleurotus spp. Damage tests of Pleurotus spp. and mycotoxins tests of Trichoderma spp. were also done. The optimal growth temperature of Trichoderma spp. was 27~30degrees C. Although, T. longibrachiatum was able to grow at 37degrees C and grew 30~40 times faster than Pleurotus. The colony colour on PDA medium of T. cf. virens was yellowish green, T. longibrachiatum was yellow, and T. harzianum was turning to bright green. In damage tests of Pleurotus by Trichoderma, T. cf. virens caused the most severe damage to Pleurotus. T. longibrachiatum and T. harzianum caused less damage on Pleurotus but were able to cause greater damage to P. eryngii. One of the mushroom cultivars, P. ostreatus 8 was the most resistant to all Trichoderma spp.. Chitinolytic mycotoxin released by Trichoderma spp. caused 52.7% damage to Pleurotus. Mycotoxins released by T. longibrachiatum caused the greatest damaged (78.6%) on P. eryngii.
Agaricales ; Fungi* ; Mycotoxins ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Trichoderma

Background: As the population of patients with end-stage renal disease has grown older, the proportion of patients with poorly preserved vasculature has concomitantly increased. Thus, arteriovenous grafts (AVG) have been used more frequently to access blood vessels for hemodialysis. Despite this increasing demand, studies of AVG are limited. In this study, we examined the surgical outcomes of upper-limb AVG creation. Methods: Among the arteriovenous fistula formation procedures performed between January 2014 and March 2019 at Dankook University Hospital, 42 cases involved AVG creation. We compared patients in whom the axillary vein was used (group A; brachioaxillary AVG [B-Ax AVG]; n=20) with those in whom upper limb veins were used (group B; brachiobasilic AVG or brachioantecubital AVG; n=22). Results: The 1-year primary patency rate was higher in group A than in group B (57.9% vs. 41.7%; p=0.262). The incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different between groups. Conclusion AVG using the axillary vein showed no major differences in safety or functionality compared to AVG using other veins. Therefore, accounting for age, underlying disease, and expected patient lifespan, B-Ax AVG can be considered an acceptable surgical method.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenomenon of diaschisis in the cerebellum and cerebral certex in patients with pure basal ganglia hemorrhage using cerebral blood flow SPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with pure basal ganglia hemorrhage were studied with Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT Asymmetric index (AI) was calculated in the cerebellum and cerebral cortical regions as |CR-CL|/(CR-CL)x200, where CR and GL and the mean reconstructed counts for the right and left ROIs, respectively. Hypoperfusion was considered to be present when AI was greater than mean+2 SD of 20 control subjects. RESULTS: Mean AI of the cerebellum and cerebral cortical regions in patients with pure basal ganglia hemorrhage was significantly higher than normal controls (p<0.05): Cerebellum (18.68+/-8.94 vs 4.35+/-0.94, mean+/-SD), thalamus (31.91+/-10.61 vs 2.57+/-1.45), basal ganglia (35.94+/-16.15 vs 4.34+/-2.08), parietal (18.94+/-10.69 vs 3.24+/-0.87), frontal (13.60+/-10.8 vs 4.02+/-2.04) and temporal cortex (18.92+/-11.95 vs 5.13+/-1.69). Ten of the 12 patients had significant hypoperfusion in the contralateral cerebellum. Hypoperfusion was also shown in the ipsilateral thalamus (n=12), ipsilateral parietal (n=12), frontal (n=6) and temporal cortex (n=10). CONCLUSION: Crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) and cortical diaschisis may frequently occur in patients with pure basal ganglia hemorrhage, suggesting that CCD can develop without the interruption of corticopontocerebellar pathway.
Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage* ; Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Humans ; Rabeprazole ; Thalamus ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: We compared the extent of prostatic involution after treatment with finasteride, a potent 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, with those caused by castration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into two groups: finasteride-treated and castrated ones. Finasteride-treated rats were given 1mg/kg a day orally. The rats were sacrificed immediately, and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 after treatment. The prostate was immediately removed, weighed and either prepared for histological examination detecting apoptotic bodies by hematoxylin and rosin staining or frozen in liquid nitrogen for the determination of intraprostatic DHT concentration and DNA content, for detection of 180-bp DNA ladder by agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Either finasteride or castration decreased prostate weight and DNA content, which the degree of decrease was more pronounced in castrated group than in finasteride-treated group. Both finasteride and castration caused a decrease in intraprostatic DHT concentration, which these processes occurred to a more rapid and greater extent in finasteride-treated group. By 3 days of finasteride treatment, the intraprostatic DHT concentration decreased to a greater extent with no further significant change thereafter, while castration decreased gradually in intraprostatic DHT concentration up to day 10, with no further significant decrease thereafter. In the pattern of cell loss determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, apoptotlc bodies were observed typically in castration group but not in finasteride-treated group. In agarose gel electrophoresis, 180-bp DNA ladder was found in finasteride-treated group through experimental days but in castrated after 3 days of experiment this ladder was not found. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that castration caused a more profound involution of rat ventral prostate than finasteride. But the extent of prostatic involution was not correlated with intraprostatic DHT concentration. Although we could not found the apoptotic body in finasteride-treated group, the 180-bp DNA ladder suggesting apoptosis was detected.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Castration* ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Finasteride* ; Hematoxylin ; Nitrogen ; Prostate* ; Rats*

To investigate long term effects of CAPD on the left ventricular function in end-stage renal disease patients, M-mode echocardiographic studies and measurement o fsystolic time intervals were performed in 20 CAPD cases, 28 hemodialysis cases and 29 uremic controls. Compared to the uremic control grup, the patients on CAPD treatment revealed significant improvement of ventricular contractility and reduction of volume. On the other hand in hemodialysis group, even though there was improvement of ventricular contractility, volume control was not adequate. In the systolic time interval measurement, it is postulated that increase of PEP/LVET ratio in CAPD group probably results from reduction of volume(preload) rather than from deranged ventricular function.
Echocardiography ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Systole ; Ventricular Function ; Ventricular Function, Left

A 36-year-old man presented to the hospital with protruding blood vessels in his left lower leg accompanied by cramping. An ultrasonographic examination of the leg revealed focal reflux without truncal vein reflux. During phlebectomy, the varix was found to be connected to the intraosseous vein through a tibial opening. Postoperative computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed an osteolytic lesion in the tibial shaft and an intraosseous vascular anomaly. The patient was discharged without complications and scheduled for periodic follow-ups. This young man’s varicose vein seemed to be from a tibial intraosseous vascular anomaly, which is extremely rare.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Gene Expression* ; Interleukin-1* ; Mice*

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 stimulates collagen synthesis in human corpus cavernosum smooth cells (HCCSMC). We studied whether an antisense TGF-beta 1 oligodeoxynucleotide changed TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression and its related collagen synthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HCCSMC were cultured primarily from three impotent patients. Expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) 0.2 micro gram/ml in the presence or absence of antisense TGF-beta 1 oligodeoxynucleotide (5'-GGGCGGCATGGGGGA-3') 20 micro gram/ml. The effect of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on TGF-beta 1 mRNA and collagen I synthesis were measured by RT-PCR or Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA in response to PMA was inhibited by treatment with the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Collagen I expression was also induced by PMA treatment, and the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide downregulated this expression. CONCLUSIONS: Antisense TGF-beta 1 oligodeoxynucleotide can suppress the expression of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1-induced collagen I synthesis in HCCSMC.
Blotting, Northern ; Collagen* ; Humans* ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Transforming Growth Factors

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is rarely presented in patients with several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. We report a case of sudden SNHL in a patient with axial spondyloarthritis (aSpA). A 29-year-old male with aSpA was admitted for sudden unilateral hearing loss. His aSpA symptom was stable; however, pure tone audiometry revealed that he had SNHL in the left ear at low frequency. His hearing was fully recovered with systemic and local steroid therapy. This case suggests that sudden SNHL may be an extra-articular manifestation of aSpA and thus need prompt steroid therapy in order to restore hearing.
Audiometry ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Unilateral ; Humans ; Male ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

BACKGROUND: Many methods are available for the monitoring of spinal cord injury during an operation. During anesthesia, somatosensily evoked potentials (SSEP) may undergo substantial changes in the latencies and amplitudes which may be interpreted as pathological. It is essential for the anesthesiologist to know the potential interactions between anesthetic drugs and neurophysiologic responses during operation. The depressant effect of inhalation agents on the central nervous system exceeds commonly used intravenous anesthetics. Therefore, intravenous anesthesia is preferred to inhalation agents. This study was designed to compare the effects of intravenous anesthetics (propofol and fentanyl) and inhalational anesthetics (enflurane and nitrous oxide) used in the operation room. METHODS: According to the inclusion criteria of ASA I-II, 40 patients who were free of neurologic disease with electric abdominal operations were randomly selected. The baseline of the SSEPs were recorded with stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve at the ankle. After obtaining the baseline (preinduction) of the SSEPs, intravenous anesthetics (propofol 10 mg/kg/h, fentanyl 1 2 microgram/kg) and inhalational anesthetics (end tidal enflurane concentration 1.0 vol %, 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen) were administered. 30 minutes after induction (steady state), additional SSEPs were recorded. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, temperature and arterial blood carbon dioxide tension were monitored. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baseline of SSEPs between the intravenous anesthetics group and the inhalational anesthetics group. There were no significant differences in latencies and amplitudes between the preanesthesia state and the postanesthetia state in the intravenous anesthetics group. But the inhalational anesthetics group revealed prolonged latencies in the postanestesia state as compared with their preanesthesia state. CONCLUSIONS: The above findings suggest that the use of intravenous anesthetics can be beneficial to intraoperative SSEP monitoring for possible damage to the central nervous system during operations.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics* ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Ankle ; Arterial Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Central Nervous System ; Enflurane ; Evoked Potentials* ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Nitrous Oxide ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Tibial Nerve