In several pathologic conditions of the joints, it is rather frequent to find a swollen joint. The authors performed an analysis of the joint fluid proteins from 20 cases of rheumatoid arthrit is and 20 normal Kore an adults with the object of evaluating the significance of it s clinical application. The study was done with Beckman Model R System, Durrum type cell, and scanned with Model RB Analytrol. Scheicher and Schuell 2043-A paper was used with diethyl barbituric acid-sodium diethyl barbituratebuffer, pH 8.6, ionic strenght 0.075 and stianed with 0.1% bromphenol blue. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The amount of total protein was significantly increased with average of 4.80 + 1.249gm% in comparison with 2.34 + 0.553gm% in normal group. 2) Albumin fraction showed the average of 41.86 + 6.219% in comparison with 64.85 + 5.288% in normal group. 3) Alpha 2 globulin fraction disclosed the average of 10.19 + 3.379% in comparison with 4.24 + 1.158% in normal group, which was significantly increased one. 4) Gammaglobulin fraction was also significantly elevated with the average of 21.51 + 8.942% in comparison with 11.70 + 1.923% in normal group. 5) There was noted a decreased A/G ratio, the average of 0.74 + 0.196, in comparison with 1.911 + 0.430 in normal group.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bromphenol Blue ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Joints

No abstract available.
Sturge-Weber Syndrome*

Adenosquamous cell carcinoma (Ad-SCC) of the colon is rare. The pathogenesis of Ad-SCC is unclear, however, several hypotheses have been suggested. The clinical presentation and gross findings of Ad-SCC of the colon are similar to those of adenocarcinoma of the colon, but Ad-SCC has a more aggressive clinical course and a poorer prognosis. We report on two cases of Ad-SCC of the colon with obstruction; a collision-type Ad-SCC that has not only obstruction but also numerous hepatic metastases, and a composite-type Ad-SCC treated with left hemicolectomy followed by an adjuvant chemotherapy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the location of cystic lesions in the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the relationship to rotator cuff tears and age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 78 patients (age range, 19-82 years; mean age, 51 years) who underwent arthroscopy or open surgery after MR arthrography (MRA) for a painful shoulder were enrolled in the study. The location of the cystic lesions were classified as 'A' for a supraspinatus insertion site, as 'C' for an infraspinatus insertion site, as 'B' for both a supraspinatus and infraspinatus insertion site, as 'BG' for a site posterior to the bicipital groove and as 'P' for a site at the bare area of the humeral head. The location of cystic lesions and supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears were evaluated on MRA. Statistical analyses used the chi-squared test and logistic regression. RESULTS: 'BG' and 'A' cystic lesions were related to the presence of a supraspinatus tear, 'C' cystic lesions were related to the presence of an infraspinatus tear and 'B' cystic lesions were related to the presence of both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears (p < 0.05). 'P' cystic lesions were not related to the presence of rotator cuff tears. The incidence of cystic lesions increased with age, but with no statistical correlation. CONCLUSION: Cystic lesions at the supraspinatus and infraspinatus insertion sites are useful to predict the presence of a rotator cuff tear, but cystic lesions were not age related.
Age Factors ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint

No abstract available.
De Lange Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

Fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) has various functions, affecting many signaling pathways, and leading to cellular proliferation and differentiation and to the regulation of cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. However, there are few reports of the relationship between TS cells and FGF-4 even if FGF-4 is located in inner cell mass of embryo and Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is located in TS cells. Therefore the physiologic effects of FGF-4 on TS cells were investigated for identifying the effects of FGF-4 on TS ell differentiation. FGF-4 was involved in early stage development of the trophoblast via upregulation of eomesodermin mRNA expression. In addition, FGF-4 suppressed the differentiation of TS cells through activation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (Erk) and suppression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation, which in TS cells is an important indicator of early trophoblast cell differentiation, migration and invasion. FGF-4 was involved in angiogenesis in the trophoblast through the activation of p38 and the induction of Dlx-3 mRNA expression in TS cells. In addition, TS cells cultured with FGF-4 for 4 days in a thrombinfibrinogen gel culture system, a specific culture system for endothelial cells, showed a healthy appearance, while TS cells cultured without FGF-4 were severely damaged. Taken together, these data suggest that FGF-4 is closely involved in differentiation of TS cells for development of placenta.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Embryonic Structures ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Phosphotransferases ; Placenta ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts* ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the role of renal ultrasonography in neonates with isolated preauricular tags. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 10,997 newborn infants delivered from January 1995 to June 2003 in Wonkwang University Hospital. Nineteen newborns born with isolated preauricular tags were assessed for renal anomalies by performing renal ultrasonography within one week after birth. The study group was compared with a control group of 25 healthy neonates without preauricular tags during the same period, also using renal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Preauricular tags were detected in 19 of 10,997(0.17%) neonates; 57.9% were found on the right side. Renal anomalies in neonates with isolated preauricular tags were detected in four infants (21.1%); this incidence was higher, but was not significant, compared with the control group. Types of anomalies were mild hydronephrosis of grade 1(3 cases) and 2(1 case) which were normalized within one year. CONCLUSION: Routine renal ultrasonography is not recommended for newborn infant with isolated preauricular tags.
Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the hypoxia-ischemia induced neurotoxic effect and the protective effect of vitamin E as an antioxidant, cell number and cell viability were measured in cerebral neurons and astrocytes derived in neonatal rats. METHODS: 7-day old neonatal rats were subjected to unilateral common carotid artery occlusion, and exposed to hypoxic condition for 3 hours. The protective effect of vitamin E, as an antioxidant was examined by XTT [2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-(phenylami-nocarbonyl) 12H-tetrazolium hydroxide] assay and cell number on 14 days after hypoxia-ischemia when the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of vitamin E immediately following hypoxia-ischemia. RESULTS: Hypoxic-ischemic condition positively decreased the cell number and cell viability of rat cerebral neurons in a time-dependent manner when rats were killed 72 hours after hypoxia- ischemia. 72 hours after hypoxia-ischemia, the cell number and viability of astrocytes were slightly decreased, compared with the saline treated group. In rats treated with vitamin E, the cell number and cell viability of neurons were significantly increased compared with those of the saline- or non-treated group. In hypoxic-ischemic treated rats after 14 days from hypoxia- ischemia, astrocytes were significantly proliferated, but vitamin E showed the protective effect on hypoxic-ischemia induced cell proliferation and cell viability. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that hypoxic-ischemic condition is more toxic in neurons than astrocytes, and selective antioxidants such as vitamin E, especially when it was administered within two hours after hypoxia-ischemia, is highly effective in preventing the cell death of neurons and astrocytes from hypoxia-ischemic condition in neonatal rats.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Astrocytes ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

The authors present two cases of granular dystrophy of the cornea developed in 47-year-old house wife and her 27-year-old son respectively. The mother first noticed diminished vision at 23 years of age and was diagnosed as corneal dystrophy at the age 28. Her son was diagnosed as corneal dystrophy at his age 16. The disease has run a slow, torpid course, progressing without dramatic incident and inflammatory symptoms, but attack of slight epiphora and photophobia occurred as age advanced. The corneal change was characterized by the presence of miliary sized milk-white spots in the stroma mainly at the central area of the cornea. The visual acuity was progressively deteriorated over the year but not gravely reduced allowing useful activities.
Adult ; Cornea* ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Middle Aged ; Mothers ; Photophobia ; Spouses ; Vision, Low ; Visual Acuity