No abstract available.
46, XY Disorders of Sex Development* ; Humans ; Male*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin*

No abstract available.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcium ; Glucose ; Insulin ; Magnesium ; Pancreas ; Rats

A purpose of present study is to provide basic information evaluating the utility of Magnetic Resonance imaging as a biological marker estimating manganese effects to central nervous system among welders, which is conducted by comparing urinary and blood manganese concentrations and signal intensities of brain MR images between exposed group and non-exposed group, evaluating the objectivity of subjective grading estimated by correlations between Pallidal signal intensity index (P. I) and subjective grades among exposed group, and comparing the difference of signal intensities according to presence of neurologic symptoms, signs and exposure variables among the exposed group. The exposed group is composed of 11 welders complaining severe symptoms or showing neurological signs, and the non-exposed group is composed of 5 patients who admitted a hospital. Urinary manganese concentrations and signal intensities in T1-weighted MR images among exposed group were higher than those of the non-exposed group significantly, which exhibits that increased signal intensities in T1-weighted MR image represent the effect of manganese exposure. P. Is among the exposed group revealed relatively high correlations with subjective grades ( gamma =0.63, p=0.037) , which suggests the objectivity of subjective grade. Signal intensity in globus pallidus was a suitable single variable representing the effect of manganese accumulation in C.N.S system appropriately, which was verified as follows ; Increased signal intensities among the exposed group had the highest frequency and intensity in the globus pallidus, and the P.I. had a relatively high correlation coefficient ( gamma 0.62, p=0.044) with total score of subjective grades. Signal intensity with subjective grading in globus pallidus represented very high correlation gamma =0.97, p=0.00) with total score of subjective grades, and had a similar correlation coefficient with many variables. It is hard to argue that signal intensities are markers representing pathologic change in C.N.S system or can be used as a diagnostic tool for manganese intoxication, because signal intensities had no difference between the exposed group and the non-exposed group according to presence of neurological signs.
Biological Markers ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male* ; Manganese ; Neurologic Manifestations

BACKGROUND: The changes of serum TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 levels have been recently reported in some cancer patients but the clinical significance of these cytokines is not clearly established. To define the changes and clinical significance of these cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum levels of TNF- alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured. METHODS: The serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with HCC and 10 adult healthy subjects as controls. These patients were divided into two groups, no response (NR, 14 cases) and partial response (PR, 6 cases) on the basis of changes of tumor size, new growth foci on the ultrasonographic or CT findings, and serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIft-2R and sICAM-1 were significantly higher in all patients with HCC than in those of adult healthy controls (p<0.01). Serum levels of TNF-alpha after TACE tended in to be higher in comparison with those before TACE in the NR group (p<0.1), but those were not significantly different between before and after TACE in the PR group. Serum levels of sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were not significantly different between after and before TACE in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM:-1 in patients with HCC before therapy are significantly increased, compared with those of the control group, and the measurement of serum TNF-alpha levels may become useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: The changes of serum TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 levels have been recently reported in some cancer patients but the clinical significance of these cytokines is not clearly established. To define the changes and clinical significance of these cytokines in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), serum levels of TNF- alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured. METHODS: The serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were measured before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) by enzyme immunoassay in 20 patients with HCC and 10 adult healthy subjects as controls. These patients were divided into two groups, no response (NR, 14 cases) and partial response (PR, 6 cases) on the basis of changes of tumor size, new growth foci on the ultrasonographic or CT findings, and serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIft-2R and sICAM-1 were significantly higher in all patients with HCC than in those of adult healthy controls (p<0.01). Serum levels of TNF-alpha after TACE tended in to be higher in comparison with those before TACE in the NR group (p<0.1), but those were not significantly different between before and after TACE in the PR group. Serum levels of sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM-1 were not significantly different between after and before TACE in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that serum levels of TNF-alpha, sTNFR, sIL-2R and sICAM:-1 in patients with HCC before therapy are significantly increased, compared with those of the control group, and the measurement of serum TNF-alpha levels may become useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in the future.
Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Background : It has been suggested that thrombospondin (TSP) is a p53-dependent negative regulator of tumor angiogenesis. TSP expression and localization in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and its association with overexpression of p53 protein were investigated. Methods : TSP-1 and -2 expressions were examined in 40 HCC specimens by immunohistochemical staining and in 4 HCC cell lines by Western blotting. In addition, p53 protein expression and microvessel density (MVD) were correlated with the TSP expression. Results : Strong immu- nopositivity for TSP-1 was observed in fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and some vas- cular smooth muscle cells of the stroma in 18 cases (45%), and in tumor cells in 3 cases (7.5%) of 40 cases of HCC. Immunoreactivity for TSP-2 was observed in only the sinusoidal lining cells of the tumor in 15 cases (46%), and in tumor cells in 2 cases (6%) of 32 cases of HCC. TSP-1 expression was inversely correlated with MVD (p=0.028), but TSP-2 expression did not show any correlation with MVD. Although p53 was overexpressed in 17 cases, there was no significant correlation between TSP and p53 expressions. None of the HCC cell lines expressed TSP-1 or -2. Conclusions : These findings indicate that TSP-1 is mainly derived from nonparenchymal cells, and may decrease tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Microvessels ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Thrombospondin 1 ; Thrombospondins

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy of caudal epidural injection in relieving pseudoclaudication of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHOD: Fifteen patients with a spinal stenosis which was confirmed by the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) studies, received a caudal epidural steroid injection of triamcinolone acetate 120 mg, in a solution mixed with 2 ml of 1% lidocaine, and 15 ml of normal saline. RESULTS: The visual analogue scales checked at 1 hour prior to injection, 1 hour postinjection, and 1 month postinjection were 8.1+/-0.8, 3.7+/-1.7, and 6.4+/-1.9, respectively. The exercise tolerance on the treadmill with 0o ramp inclination and 1.8 km/h speed was measured at 1 hour prior to injection, 1 hour postinjection, and 1 month postinjection. The time intervals to the first symptom of the pseudoclaudication were 2.3+/-0.8 minutes, 6.5+/-0.7 minutes, and 4.6+/-1.9 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: In our study, the caudal epidural injection offered a significant short-term relief for the pseudoclaudication. Also it appeared to be a reasonable therapeutic option among patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after 1 month postinjection.
Architectural Accessibility ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Lidocaine ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Triamcinolone ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Sepsis* ; Vibrio cholerae* ; Vibrio*