No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spinal Stenosis*

The effects of treatment with mercury chloride on the nitrite and nitrate syntheses were observed in peritoneal macrophages from Balb/c mice and EMT-6 cells in vitro. The cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM) with cytokines. Amounts of nitrite and nitrate in the culture media after 24 and 36 hours of culture were about 2-fold, and 3-fold of those measured after 12 hours respectively. There were very close associations between the amounts of nitrite and nitrate measured in the culture media according to culture time. The survival rate of peritoneal macrophages was significantly decreased by mercury chloride added into the media in dose-dependent manner, however the survivals of EMT-6 cells were not influenced by mercury chloride concentration in media. Nitrite and nitrate syntheses were dose-dependently decreased by mercury chloride added in culture media. ATP synthesis also decreased in EMT-6 cells by mercury chloride. These results reported here suggest that the disorder of cell mediated immunity by mercurials could be related to the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis which seems to be caused by the inhibition of ATP synthesis.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Culture Media ; Cytokines ; Immunity, Cellular ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Survival Rate

The skin lesions of leprosy have a great similarity to various other lesions. Fasal has called it the great imitator. Sometimes these skin lesions can b misdiagnosed because the physician does not consider leprosy. We reported a case of early lepromatous leprosy in 42 year old male. His skin lesions were similar to secondary syphilid. There were no sensory changes on the skin lesions and no enlargement of the peripheral nerves. Numerous AFB(+) bacilli from the skin smear confirmed our diagnosis of leprosy.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Male ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skin Manifestations* ; Skin* ; Syphilis, Cutaneous

Mn (manganese) is known to induce Parkinsonian neurological disorder. Several lines of evidence suggest that apoptosis is involved not only in physiological cell death during normal development but also in neurodegenerative disease. The mechanism of Mn induced cell death remains poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the morphologic changes and apoptotic profile in basal ganglia using rat model of Mn toxicity. The rats were divided into three groups: the first group was a control; the second group was subdivided by administration dosage of Mn into group A (5, 10 mg MnC12/ kg) and group B (20, 40 mg MnC12/kg). The rats of each subgroup received a injection of Mn via tail vein every week for 4 weeks. The second group received 4 repeated injection of 10 mg MnC12/kg in the same manner and the rats were sacrificed at day 1, 3 & 7 in group I and at day 10, 21, 42, and 90 in group II after the last injection. A significant loss of neuron and gliosis were observed in the basal ganglia in the experimental groups (p<0.05), which were more pronounced in group II than in the control or group I. No significant difference in number of nerve cells or degree of gliosis was identified in the substantia nigra. Apoptotic cells were also increased in basal ganglia of experimental groups and appeared among neurons (10%), glial cells (10%), and endothelial cells (60%). Apoptotic figures were consistently noted through the entire experimental period after Mn injection in basal ganglia. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Mn-induced cytopathic insult affects various cell types in basal ganglia and shows variable sensitivity in the different regions of brain, especially in the apoptotic cell death of the neuron. The overaccumulation of Mn in the brain might be attributed from the breakdown of blood-brain barrier due to the injury through the apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Basal Ganglia* ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain ; Cell Death ; Endothelial Cells ; Gliosis ; Manganese* ; Models, Animal ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra ; Veins

PURPOSE: Down-regulation of E-cadherin is a hallmark of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT progression in cancer cells is associated with the loss of certain epithelial markers and the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype, as well as migratory activities. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis in colon cancer. This study investigated the relationship between E-cadherin and COX-2 in colon cancer cells and human colon tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Colon cancer cell lines and immunohistochemistry were used. RESULTS: E-cadherin expression was inversely related to the expressions of COX-2 and Snail in colon cancer cells. Ectopic expression of COX-2 or Snail reduced E-cadherin and induced a scattered, flattened phenotype with few intercellular contacts in colon cancer cells. Treatment of cancer cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased the expressions of COX-2 and Snail, decreased 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression, and increased the cells' motility. In addition, exposure to prostaglandin E2 increased Snail expression and cell motility, and decreased E-cadherin expression. Membranous E-cadherin expression was lower in adenomas and cancers than in the adjacent, non-neoplastic epithelium. In contrast, the expressions of Snail and COX-2 were higher in cancers than in normal tissues and adenomas. The expressions of COX-2 and Snail increased in areas with abnormal E-cadherin expression. Moreover, COX-2 expression was related to higher tumor stages and was significantly higher in nodal metastatic lesions than primary cancers. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that COX-2 may have a role in tumor metastasis via EMT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation/genetics/physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects/genetics ; Colonic Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoprostone/pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; Epithelium/*metabolism ; Female ; HT29 Cells ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesoderm/*cytology/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism

PURPOSE: Conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is a widely used treatment for appendicitis. Nowadays, single incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) is increasingly used as an alternative treatment for appendicitis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance and differences between LA and SILA. METHODS: A total of 519 patients undergoing LA or SILA between January 2011 and December 2012 were identified in a retrospectively collected database. Patients' characteristics and peri-operative variables were analyzed. RESULTS: LA was performed in 485 patients and SILA was performed in 34 patients. Mean operation time for the LA group was 62.7 minutes (range 23.3~68.1) and that for the SILA group was 62.7 minutes (range 50.9~74.5). This difference of operation time was statistically significant. In the learning curve of SILA, operation time was gradually decreased. No significant differences in hospital stay and peri-operative complications were observed between groups. CONCLUSION: Although operation time for SILA was longer than that for LA, SILA was safe. Therefore, a prospective study should be conducted in order to confirm the possibility of application to most appendicitis patients.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Learning Curve ; Length of Stay ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: CD44 is a multifunctional adhesion molecule in cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. This transmembrane glycoprotein exists in either standard or variant form, with the variation originating in alternative splicing. This study was designed to evaluate the role of CD44v6, one of the CD44 isoforms, in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METGODS: Immunohistochemical expression of CD44v6 was studied in 7 normal livers, 14 hepatocellular carcinomas and 16 cholangiocarcinomas, that were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. RESULTS: CD44v6 was frequently expressed in the normal hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinomas. Expression was not noted in the normal bile duct within the portal tract. CD44v6 was positively expressed in some of the proliferating bile ducts (43%) and cholangiocarcinomas (69%). CONCLUSION: CD44v6 expression may be more important in the stepwise carcinogenesis of the bile duct than in the normal hepatocyte, but further study is needed.
Alternative Splicing ; Bile Ducts ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Formaldehyde ; Glycoproteins ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Paraffin ; Protein Isoforms

No abstract available.
Polycystic Kidney Diseases* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Hemangioblastoma* ; Spinal Cord*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results between open reduction and internal fixation with the plate and percutaneous reduction by towel clip and intramedullary fixation with Steinmann pin for clavicle shaft fractures in adult. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have studied the results in 33 cases with the plate, 35 cases with the Steinmann pin among total 68 cases of clavicle shaft fracture. The patients were followed up over a period of at least 12 months. The final postoperative outcome was analyzed with the clinical outcomes using Kang's criteria, radiological union time and operation time. RESULTS: The clinical outcome that was good or excellent according to the Kang's criteria showed a distribution of 88% in the group using the plate with 29 cases out of total 33 cases, 91% in the group using the Steinmann pin with 32 cases out of total 35 cases. The mean radiological union time was 8.9 weeks in the group using the plate, 9.1 weeks in the group using Steinmann pin. The mean operation time was 72 minutes in the group using the plate, whereas was 18 minutes in the group using Steinmann pin. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of adult clavicle shaft fracture, two groups did not show a significant statistical difference in clinical and radiological outcomes. However, the operation time and postoperative functional recovery was significantly shorter and faster in the group using Steinmann pin. Additionally economic and cosmetic aspect was more satisfactory in the group using Steinmann pin.
Adult* ; Clavicle* ; Humans