STUDY DESIGN: Changes of morphology and phenotype of cultured cells in media added lactate were observed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: It was reported that lactate and pH were important factor in the degeneration of intervertebral disc. However the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were dissociated enzymatically from rabbit nucleus pulposus. After attaining monolayer growth, the cells were incubated in media added 2mM or 5mM lactate. Total cell counts and morphological changes of the cells were periodically observed. Changes in cell phenotype were investigated by use of anti-collagen antibody stain. RESULTS: The cell groups added no lactate and 2mM lactate showed no difference in cell counts, morphology and phenotype. The cell group added 5mM lactate showed a reduction in final cell Counts and highel'ratio of fibroblastic cell in total population. Anti-collagen I Ab stained the Intra-and extra-cellular area of fibroblastic cells and intracellular area of chondrocytic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that high concentration of lactate inhibit intervertebral disc cell proliferation and accelerate morphological and phenotypical change to fibroblastic cell.
Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Lactic Acid* ; Phenotype*

No abstract available.
Colonoscopy* ; Tuberculosis*

Thirty-five cerebello-pontine angle lesions were diagnosed with simple skull X-ray, CT, and angiography atSeoul National University Hospital from Sept. 1978 through Aug. 1982. The radiographic findings were analysed withemphasis on the differential points of CT among the major three cerebello-pontine angle tumors; acousticneurinoma, meningioma and epidermoid. The results are as follows; 1. Among the 35 cases of cerebello-pontine anglelesions, 19 cases were acoustic neurinoma. 4 cases miningioma, 4 cases epidermoid, 2 cases metastasis, 1 caseschoroid plexus papilloma, 1 case arteriovenous malformation, and 3 cases intra-axial posterior fossa tumors. 2.The characteristic radiographic findings of acoustic neurinoma were windening of internal auditory canal, petrousbone erosion, posterior extension of tumor at the level of internal autidory canal, hypo or isodense mass onpre-contrast CT with high enhancement after intravenous contrast infusion, and cystic change within the mass. 3.Meningioma shows anterior extenstion of the lesion at the level of internal auditory canal, broad base and obtuseangle sign of the lesion with petrous bone, hyperdense mass on precontrast CT. with highly homogeneous enhancementafter intravenous contrast infusion. 4. Epidermoid characteristically shows hypodense mass on precontrast CT withno change after intravenous contrast infusion. 5. The differential points of the major 3 cerebello-pontine tumorswere bone change, mass location, attenuation , degree of attachment to petrous bone, and cystic change.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Papilloma ; Petrous Bone ; Skull

Multiple dermatofibromas are rare and some case reports show this disease has been related to generalized defective immune function: autoimmune disease and altered immunity, such as AIDS and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), can be treated with immunosuppressive agents. But there are no specific reports of this disease developing in healthy people. We describe a case of multiple dermatofibromas in a 38-year-old healthy man who showed no abnormality of the immune function.
Adult* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents

No abstract available.
Animals ; Lordosis*

PURPOSE: We assessed the accuracy of a portable ultrasound device (BladderScan(TM) BVI 3000) used to measure the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively measured the volume of residual urine in 160 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms between August 2000 and April 2001. After voiding, PVR measurements were performed immediately using ultrasound bladder scanning, followed by Nelaton catheterization, with the patient was in the supine position, and compared the results of the two techniques. RESULTS: The ultrasound bladder scanning correlated well with the catheterization for measuring the PVR (r=0.946). The ultrasound bladder scanning had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.4 and 100%, respectively, in detecting a PVR>or=100ml, and 83.4 and 91.5%, respectively, in cases where the PVR was less than 50ml. A multiple regression analysis, and a two sample t-test, showed that the difference was not related to: age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) or related diseases (p>0.05). Age, weight, height, BMI were not significant variables when comparing the sexes (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in patient's satisfaction and the required time of the procedure between bladder scanning and catheterization (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Portable ultrasound bladder scanning is quick, easy to use, non-invasive, readily repeatable, and specific for determining the PVR. Therefore, portable ultrasound bladder scanning can be used as an alternative to catheterization in the determination of residual urine volume.
Body Height ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder

This study was performed to observe the changes of blood sugar levels in 200 cases with acute Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Successive tests of blood sugar on the day of onset and the lst, 2nd, 3rd & 4th day after anoxic insult were done in 12 patients with acute CO poisoning. In addition, to determine the derangement of thyroid function, blood levels of triiodothyronine(T3), tetraiodothyronine(T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured on the day of admission in 29 with C0 poisoning. The blood levels of T3, T4 and TSH were within normal ranges, but over two-thirds were distributed in lower range of normal mean values. This lower tendency within normal range was especially prominent in the blood level of T3. The blood level of sugar was increased, and 79.5% was higher than the upper limit of normal range. The blood levels of T3 and T4 were significantly decreased as CO exposure time period- prolonged. There was significant negative correlation between blood T3 levels and consciousness levels. Blood TSH levels were not significantly affected in acute CO poisoning. As consciousness levels were depressed and exposure time period were prolonged, blood sugar was increased. There found a rapid increase in blood sugar, followed by a abrupt dropping, and then progressive decrease to normal level over a period of 5 days after exposure to CO. In conclusion, acute CO poisoning obviously changes the thyroidal physiology. Even though blood TSH levels were variable, there was an obvious decrease in T3. The assumed CO-induced decrease in thyroid hormone secretion is seemingly not mediated by depressed TSH secretion but thyroid hormone metabolic dysfunction or extrathyroidal cotiverslon defect The alterations of blood sugar were also found to be acute and temporal which may be the result of physiologic compensation to hypoxic state caused by CO poisoning.
Blood Glucose ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Compensation and Redress ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Physiology ; Poisoning ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones* ; Thyrotropin

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an aggressive soft-tissue infection involving the deep fascia and is characterized by extensive deterioration of the surrounding tissue. Immediate diagnosis and intensive treatment, including debridement and systemic antibiotics, represent the most important factors influencing the survival of NF patients. In this report, we present a case of NF in the abdomen due to an infection caused by a perforated small bowel after abdominal liposuction. It was successfully treated using negative-pressure wound therapy, in which a silicone sheet functioned as a barrier between the sponge and internal organs to protect the small bowel.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Diagnosis ; Fascia ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy* ; Peritoneum ; Porifera ; Silicon* ; Silicones*

Retinal toxicity secondary to intravitreal injection of gentamicin for the purpose of prophylaxis or treatment of endophthalmitis was reported infrequently and it was thought to be caused by an error in the intravitreal injection technique or by faulty dilution of gentamicin. After vitrecotomy, we experienced two cases of ischemic retinopathy secondary to intravitreal injection of gentamicin for prevention of endopthalmitist.
Endophthalmitis ; Gentamicins* ; Intravitreal Injections ; Retinaldehyde ; Vitrectomy*

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection complicating the course of patients with hematologic malignant neoplasms. Although widespread organ involvement is characteristic of disseminated candidiasis, reports of skin are rare. Reports describing typical clinical and histopathological finding of cutaneous lesions are very important since it may enable a diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis to be made and thus antifungal therapy can be initiated earlier. A 50-year-old housewife was admitted with a 5-month history of fatigue and easy bruising. She was diagnosed as ha.ving acute myelocytic leukemia and treatment was begun with daunorubicin and cytosin, arabinoside. Eight days after the start of chemotherapy, she developed a fever and generalized tender well demacated erythematous to purplish papulonodular eruption. A biopsy specimen from the skin lesion showed perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration and spore and pseudohypae v,rere found within the dermis and subcutis in PAS stain. Cultures of one skin biopsy specimen and one of four blood sarnples grew Candida tropicalis. The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B for disseminated candidiasis. On the tenth day of antifun gal therapy, she developed cardiopulmonary arrest and died.
Amphotericin B ; Biopsy ; Candida tropicalis ; Candidiasis* ; Daunorubicin ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Middle Aged ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Spores