No abstract available.
Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Prognosis*

No abstract available.
Esophageal Atresia* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula*

No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Diseases* ; Spinal Cord*

No abstract available.
Phototherapy*

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Lung Abscess* ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax* ; Suppuration*

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: Recently several clinical studies suggested that maternal treatment with magnesium sulfate had protective effects against cerebral palsy in premature infants. But previous studies with differing perinatal animal models resulted in inconclusive results with regard to magnesium neuroprotection. Our purpose was to study the neuroprotective effect of magnesium sulfate and optimal dosage on hypoxicischemic brain damage in the newborn rat. METHOD: Seven-day-old rats(n=68) underwent right carotid ligation, followed by 3 hours of hypoxia(8% oxygen in 92% nitrogen). Rats received magnesium sulfate immediately before and again after hypoxia(two doses, 150mg-600mg/kg/dose, n=39), or saline solution(n=29). Severity of injury was assessed 5 days later, by visual evaluation of ipsilateral hemisphere infarction and by measurement of bilateral hemispheric cross sectional areas. RESULTS: Magnesium sulfate pre-treatment reduced the incidence of liquefactive cerebral infarction and atrophy from 80.8% in controls to 22.2% with magnesium sulfate(450 mg/kg/dose, P<0.05). Quantitation of hemispheric areas confirmed these findings. Percent protection based on inter-hemisphere area differences by pre-treatment with magnesium sulfate 450mg/kg/dose ranged from 71.1%(hippocampus) to 90.8%(striatum). However higher dose of magnesium(600mg/kg/dose) did not attenuate hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the newborn rat but increased mortality. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment of magnesium sulfate has neuroprotective effects against hypoxia-ischemia in the newborn rat and adequate dose of magnesium sufate is important to protect the brain. Magnesium pretreatment may be an effective strategy to decrease the severity of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the adequate dose.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebral Palsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Infarction ; Ligation ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; Models, Animal ; Mortality ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxygen ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Plaque compression (and/or redistribution) and vessel expansion are important mechanisms of percutaneous coroanry balloon angioplasty. We investigated the mechanisms of balloon angioplasty according to plaque characteristics by intravascular ultrasound and assessed the time-sequencing morphometric changes of target vessel after balloon dilation without catheter change using intravascular ultrasound balloon catheter. METHOD: We studied balloon angioplasty in 10 patients (eight male, average age of 55.3 years). Quantitative coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound images were attained at baseline and at timed intervals of 0sec, 60sec and 180sec post-balloon angioplasty. The following categories were attained : reference diameter, minimal lumen diameter, cross sectional area (CSA) of lumen (L), external elastic membrane (EEM), and plaque + media (P+M). We also assessed the plaque morphology of target lesion and classified them into two groups according to intravascular ultrasound imaging : a soft plaque group versus a group characterized by fibrous and/or mildly calcified plaque. RESULTS: The proportions of plaque compression in the total luminal gain were 80% in the soft plaque group and 70% in the other ; the absolute amount of plaque compression was 26.9% in soft plaque and 24.0% in the other group. The time sequencing changes of target lesion EEM CSA of both group were 14.4+/-2.9mm2, 14.3+/-3.8mm2 (baseline) 15.1+/-2.5mm2, 15.4+/-3.7mm2 (immediate) 15.0+/-2.8mm2, 14.5+/-3.9mm2 (180sec), those of P+M CSA (target lesion) were 10.4+/-3.3mm2, 10.7+/-2.4mm2 (baseline) 7.6+/-2.7mm2, 8.1+/-2.4mm2 (immediate) 7.9+/-2.9mm2, 8.5+/-3.4mm2 (180sec). Target lesion lumen CSA were 4.0+/-1.1mm2, 3.6+/-2.0mm2 (baseline) 7.5+/-1.1mm2, 7.3+/-3.2mm2 (immediate) 7.1+/-1.3mm2, 6.0+/-1.7mm2 (180sec) respectively. CONCLUSION: Plaque compression (and/or redistribution) is the predominant mechanism of luminal gain in both groups. The absolute amounts of P+M CSA changes and time sequencing increment of target lesion were similar in both groups. In the non-soft group, the immediate increment and time sequencing reduction of EEM CSA in target lesion were greater than those of the soft plaque group.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes ; Phenobarbital ; Ultrasonography

Purpura fulminans is a potentially disabling and life-threatening disorder characterized by acute onset of progressive cutaneous hemorrhage and necrosis on distal extremities, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. We experienced a case of purpura fulminans due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. A 42-year-old women presented with skin petechiae, ecchymosis and gangrene on distal extremities with laboratory evidence of DIC. The latex agglutination test with CSF was positive at Streptococcus pneumoniae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of purpura fulminans caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea.
Adult ; Dacarbazine ; Ecchymosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Necrosis ; Purpura Fulminans* ; Purpura* ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice*

OBJECTIVE: Our present studies were conducted to examine more effective isolating method of preantral follicles from mouse ovaries. METHODS: ICR mice (3-6 weeks old) were sacrificed through cervical dislocation and their ovaries were removed and put into watch glasses containing Hams F-10 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Preantral follicles were isolated by three different methods; 1) enzymatical method and 2) mincing method, and 3) scraping method. Enzymatical method was carried out as following. Ovaries were bisected with a pair of fine 30G needles. Bisected ovaries were incubated at 37degrees C and 5% CO2 incubator in 2-well dish containing Hams F-10 supplemented with collagenase 600 IU/ml. After 20 min.,follicles were isolated by repeated pipetting. Isolated preantral follicles were collected, and the remnant of tissues was placed in incubator and previous procedure was repeated. Mincing method was carried out with a pair of fine 30G needles attached to 1 ml syringes and mined ovary. Scraping method was carried out wit a pair of fine 30G needles and scratched to surface of ovary. The differences between isolating methods were analyzed using Student's t-test and Chi-square. Results were considered statistically significant when P value was less than 0.05. RESULTS:In handling time, mincing or scraping method (28+/-3.42 min or 16+/-1.58 min) were significantly (p<0.00001) shorter than enzymatical method (72+/-1.69 min), and scraping method was significantly (p<0.01) shorter than mincing method. Total number of isolated follicles was significantly (p<0.0001) higher in enzymatical method (49.8+/-3.91) than in mincing or scraping method (25.3+/-2.33 or 20.5+/-1.75). Isolated follicles in < or =90 micrometer were significantly (p<0.005) higher in enzymatical method (15+/-1.71) than in mincing or scraping method (7.8+/-0.98 or 8.1+/-1.31). In 91~130 micrometer, isolated follicles were significantly (p<0.0005) higher in enzymatical method (33+/-3.27) than in mincing or scraping method (16.3+/-1.82 or 10.7+/-1.38). In > or =131 micrometer, isolated follicles were not significantly differences between all groups. In equal sizes, the rate of isolated follicles in < or =90 micrometer was highest in scraping method (39.6% vs. enzymatical method:30.1%, p<0.05; mincing method: 30.9%, p=0.11719, NS). Rate of follicles in 91~130 micrometer was significantly (p<0.05) lower in scraping method (52.7%) than in emzymatical or mincing method (66.3% or 64.5%). Rate of follicles in > or =131 micrometer was highest in scraping method (8.3% vs. enzymatical or scraping method: 3.6%, p<0.05)or 4.6%, p=0.19053, NS). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that scraping method is simple and useful for isolation of preantral follicles, because this method reduced handling time and recovered enough follicles. The recovered rate of isolated follicles in diameter of 91~130 micrometer was highest in all methods.
Animals ; Collagenases ; Dislocations ; Eyeglasses ; Female ; Glass ; Incubators ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Needles ; Ovary* ; Syringes