PURPOSE: The effects of pain on brain is not well known. Also, differences between somatic and visceral pains have not been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to investigate changes in the expression of c-Fos protein after somatic and visceral pains were induced by formalin. METHODS: Male rats(n=65) were underwent one of three procedures : (i) Control group, rats were left undisturbed in their cages; (ii) Somatic pain group, rats were injected subcutaneously with 0.1 ml of 10% formalin in the plantar surface of right hindpaw; (iii) Visceral pain group, rats were administered with same amount of formalin, as described above, in the rectum. Rats were sacrificed at increasing times(30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days) after noxious formalin stimuli to hindpaws and rectums. Rat brains were removed and sliced in rat brain matrix. Brain slices were coronal sectioned at interaural 5.70-6.70mm. Serial sections were immunohistochemically reacted with polyclonal c-Fos antibody. The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in cingulate cortex, primary somatosensory area, and hippocampus were examined and analyzed statistically with Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: 1) The numbers of c-For protein immunoreactive neurons in cingulate cortex, primary somatosensory area and hippocampus peaked at 2 hours after somatic pain stimuli and reached almost normal conditions at 7 days. 2) The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in cingulate cortex, primary somatosensory area and hippocampus peaked at 1 day after visceral pain stimuli and reached almost normal conditions at 7 days. 3) The numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons of somatic pain groups were higher than that of visceral groups at all times and the difference of numbers peaked at 2 hours after pain stimuli. CONCLUSION: Reactions of somatic pain stimuli influenced more changable than visceral pain stimuli to brain. Conduction velocities of somatic pain were more faster than those of visceral pain. Higher numbers of c-Fos protein immunoreactive neurons were found in specific regions. These results provide some basic knowledge in understanding the mechanism and control of pain.
Animals ; Brain* ; Formaldehyde* ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Neurons* ; Nociceptive Pain ; Rats* ; Rectum ; Visceral Pain

PURPOSE: Recently, in an experiment using animals, radiation therapy using a laser or Tending Diancibo Pu (TDP) has been shown to be effective in treating scars on the skin by increasing the production of fibroblast cell and collagen and by accelerating the process of epithelization. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of TDP radiation therapy in treating human burn injuries in terms of the frequency of treatment, the timing of eschar separation, and the duration of treatment. METHODS: In the treatment group, the burn area of the patients was first sterilized with saline solution and potadin solution and covered with one vaseline gauze. Then, the burn area was radiated every other day by using TDP for 20 minutes at distance of 20-25 cm, at radiant plate temperature of 250-280oC. In the cases of control group, the burn area of the patients was first sterilized with saline solution and potadin solution and covered with one vaseline gauze. Then, the area was covered with one burn gauze and bandaged. The treatment was conducted every other day. RESULTS: In cases of superficial second degree burn injuries, the difference between the treatment and the control groups was 1.34 in terms of the frequency of treatment. In the cases of both superficial and deep second degree burns, the differences between the treatment and the control groups were 3.47 in terms of the frequency of treatment, 0.63 weeks in terms of the timing of eschar separation, and 6.03 days in terms of the duration of treatment. All these differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: From the experiment, it can be concluded that TDP radiation therapy is more effective in treating human burn injuries than conventional treatment in terms of the of the frequency of treatment, the timing of eschar separation, and the duration of treatment.
Animals ; Burns* ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Petrolatum ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride

BACKGROUND: Serratia marcescens proliferates well in a humid environment or soil and is recently considered as an important pathogen for the severe nosocomial infections. this organism is spreads easily by hand-to-hand transmission, and contaminates medical equipment used for invasive procedures, working environment, medications, and soap. METHODS: We investigated the source of an outbreak of bloodstream infections by S. marcescens isolated that occurred during the period from July to December, 2004, at a university hospital in Gyeonggi Province and attempted to intervene in the outbreak and control it. RESULTS: From July to December, 2004, S. marcescens grew from 296 blood culture from 283 patients. The medical charts of the patients were reviewed, and surveillance cultures were taken to identify the outbreak of nosocomial infections and risk factors. Only four cases of infection were identified and all remaining positive blood cultures were due to contamination. Nine isolates randomly selected from the 296 S. marcescens showed an identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern. To identify the source of infection, environmental culture and hand cultures of the related medical workers were carried out, but S. marcescens was not isolated. CONCLUSION: As the result of aggressive infection control activities, such as re-education on environmental management methods, hand washing techniques, and blood culture sampling techniques, no more S. marcescens had been grown in blood culture since January, 2005.
Cross Infection ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Risk Factors ; Serratia marcescens ; Serratia* ; Soaps ; Soil

Activation of T cells for an immune response requires the participation of antigen presenting cells (APC) that express class II major histocompatibility complex gene products on their surface. Until recently, the macrophages have been considered to be the prime candidates for this role, but it is now recognized that other cells, including dendritic cells, B cells, activated T cells and endothelial cells, can present antigen effectively. Particularly, among them, dendritic cells (DC) are considered to be very efficient APC for various T -cell dependent immune responses in comparison with other types of APC. Nonlymphoid dendritic cells including Langerhans cells and interstitial dendritic cells strongly express the MHC class II products and have characteristic dendritic morphology. As far as we know, there is no study on the ontogeny of MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells in the rat tongue. The aim of the present study is to investigate the ontogeny and morphological characterization of dendritic cells in the tongue of growing and developing rats. The distribution and morphology of the dendritic cells in the rat tongue were studied from the fetal 15 -day until 180 days after birth by means of immunocytochemical methods using anti -rat MHC class II monoclonal antibodies. The results were as follows: 1. MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells were first found in the muscle layer of 17 -day fetus, and in the epithelium and lamina propria of the tongue at birth. 2. The number of MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells was gradually increased with age, particularly, in the epithelium at 14th day, in the lamina propria at 14th day, and in the muscle layer at 21st day after birth. 3. Numbers of MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells were higher in the dorsal part than in ventral part of the tongue at all developmental stages. Especially, dendritic cells were twice higher numbers in the epithelium, a little higher numbers in the lamina propria and almost same numbers in the muscle layer. 4. With age, shapes of MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells were changed from round to dendritic and aggregated together. In conclusion, the above results suggest that the increases of the number and the changes of the morphology in MHC class II -immunoreactive dendritic cells, with age may influence on effects of cell -mediated immune responses.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; B-Lymphocytes ; Dendritic Cells* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Fetus ; Growth and Development* ; Langerhans Cells ; Macrophages ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Mucous Membrane ; Parturition ; Rats* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tongue*

No abstract available.
Stroke*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness and safety of the anterosuperior deltoid splitting approach for fixation of displaced proximal humeral fractures by analyzing the surgical outcomes. METHODS: Twenty-three patients who could be followed-up for at least 8 months after the treatment of displaced proximal humeral fractures through the anterosuperior deltoid splitting approach were enrolled. We evaluated the reduction of the fractures and surgery-related complications at the last follow-up using X-ray results and clinical outcomes comprising the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) scoring system and the Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) score. RESULTS: At the last follow-up of patients treated using the anterosuperior deltoid splitting approach for internal fixation of proximal humeral fractures, we found 22 cases (95.6%) of bone union, a mean UCLA score of 28.3 (range, 15 to 34) and a mean KSS score of 82.1 (range, 67 to 95). Various surgery-related complications were noted; a case of varus malunion after fracture displacement, a case of nonunion, a case of delayed union, two cases of impingement, and a case of partial axillary nerve injury, which recovered completely through the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Plate fixation using the anterosuperior deltoid splitting approach could be another reliable option for treating displaced proximal humeral fractures.
California ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Fractures*

Aspirin is one of the popular non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs used in the management of pain. This study was performed to investigate the effects of aspirin on c -Fos expression in rat CNS after inducing somatic pain with formalin. Male S.D. rats were injected subcutaneously with 0.1 ml of 5% formalin in the plantar surface of right hindpaw. For experimental group, aspirin was administered orally before injection of formalin. Asprin -untreated group was utilized as the control group. Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, 6 and 24 hours after formalin injection. Rat brains were removed and sliced in rat brain matrix. Brain slices were coronally sectioned at interaural 5.70 ~6.70 mm. Serial sections were immunohisto-chemically reacted with polyclonal c -Fos antibody. The numbers of c -Fos protein immunoreactive neurons in the cingulate cortex, primary somatosensory area, and hippocampus were counted and analyzed statistically with Mann - Whitney U test. Results were as follows: 1. Higher numbers of c -Fos immunoreactive neurons were found in the cingulate cortex, primary somatosensory area and hippocampus. 2. Both aspirin -treated and -untreated groups, numbers of c -Fos immunoreactive neurons were significantly higher all time points than formalin -untreated group, which peacked at 2 hours. 3. The numbers of c -Fos immunoreactive neuron of the aspirin -treated group were less compared to the aspirin - untreated group at each time point. In conclusion, these results provide some basic knowledge in understanding the mechanism and control of formalin - induced somatic pain.
Animals ; Aspirin* ; Brain ; Central Nervous System* ; Formaldehyde ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Male ; Neurons ; Nociceptive Pain ; Rats

It is constant controversy that exercise influence muscle regeneration in peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this experiment is to show that treadmill running exercise under well-controlled conditions is to improve of regeneration in rat gastrocnemius muscles after sciatic nerve crushing injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (1 month old, weight 150~180 g) were submitted to bouts of exercise on a treadmill up a 10 degrees decline and speed is 20 m/min for 60 min per day and gastrocnemius muscles were analysed at different exercise periods (5, 10, 15, 20 and 40 days) by immunohistochemistry in comparison with injured non-exercised muscles. Rats were sacrificed at 12th (5 days exercise), 19th (10 days exercise), 26th (15 days exercise), 33rd day (20 days exercise), 61st day (40 days exercise) after sciatic nerve crushing injury. It showed that type II myofibers (target fibers) on center area had reinnervation at sciatic nerve crush injury at 26th day in exercise rats, as at 33rd day appeared giant type II myofibers, myofibers grouping observed in regenerative muscle character, component ratio of closed normal muscle showed at 61st day. Giant type II myofibers showed at 33rd day in non-exercise rats, however did not nearly normal muscle at 61st day. Therefore we concluded that treadmill running exercise is able to improve regeneration processes in gastrocnemius muscles after sciatic nerve crushing injury of rats.
Animals ; Benzeneacetamides ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscles ; Myosins ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Piperidones ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Running ; Sciatic Nerve

PURPOSE: The intermediate filament proteins, desmin and vimentin, are specific components of the cytoskeleton of striated muscle fibers and of mononuclear cells of mesenchymal origin including myoblasts, respectively. Desmin has also been found in presumptive myoblasts of mammals. The aim of this experiment was attempted to observe the phenotypic changes of intermediate filaments in skeletal muscle fibers during early stages of sciatic nerve crushing injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sciatic nerves of rats were surgically crushed by hemostat and serial cryosections of soleus and extensor digitorum longus(EDL) muscles were prepared at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 27 days after nerve injury. Serial cryosections were immunolabelled with desmin, vimentin and laminin and were histochemically reacted with NADH-TR. RESULTS: 1) Firstly, desmin positive fibers were appeared in fast-twitch type C fibers of both muscles at 6 days after nerve crushing, but were not reacted for vimentin. 2) Co-expressions of desmin and vimentin were firstly detected in fast-twitch type A fibers of EDL muscles at 8 days after nerve injury. In soleus muscles, co-expressions of desmin and vimentin were firstly seen in slow-twitch type B fibers at 10 days after nerve injury. Many atrophic fibers, that contained several central nuclei like myotubes and co-expressed desmin and vimentin, were appeared in EDL muscles at 10 days after nerve injury. Although whole regions of fibers were regenerated in EDL muscles, only peripheral regions of fibers were regenerated in soleus muscles at 15 days after nerve injury. Many atrophic fibers, co-expressed of desmin and vimentin, were appeared in EDL muscles at 20 days after nerve injury. These whole fibers represented various degrees of regenerating stages. Most of mature fibers containing several central nuclei, only expressed vimentin slightly, were seen in soleus muscles at 20 days after nerve injury. Most fibers of both muscles were matured at 27 days after nerve injury, but some fibers in EDL muscles were still in processing of degeneration and regeneration. No expressions of desmin and vimentin indicated that muscle fibers were almostly matured in soleus muscles at 27 days after nerve injury. 3) Targetoid or target fibers which informed reinnervation, were appeared firstly in soleus muscles at 20 days and were seen in both muscles at 27 days after nerve injury. All targetoid and target fibers were type B fibers. CONCLUSION: Desmin was revealed in processes of degeneration and regeneration and vimentin was appealed in regeneration process. At the same time, positive immunoreactivity of desmin and vimentin showed specific differences in degree of degeneration and regeneration according to different muscles and muscle fibers.
Animals ; Cytoskeleton ; Desmin ; Intermediate Filament Proteins* ; Intermediate Filaments* ; Laminin ; Leg* ; Mammals ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Muscle, Striated ; Muscles* ; Myoblasts ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; Rats* ; Regeneration* ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Vimentin

PURPOSE: The intermediate filament proteins, desmin and vimentin, are specific components of the cytoskeleton of striated muscle fibers and of mononuclear cells of mesenchymal origin including myoblasts, respectively. Desmin has also been found in presumptive myoblasts of mammals. The aim of this experiment was attempted to observe the phenotypic changes of intermediate filaments in skeletal muscle fibers during early stages of sciatic nerve crushing injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sciatic nerves of rats were surgically crushed by hemostat and serial cryosections of soleus and extensor digitorum longus(EDL) muscles were prepared at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 27 days after nerve injury. Serial cryosections were immunolabelled with desmin, vimentin and laminin and were histochemically reacted with NADH-TR. RESULTS: 1) Firstly, desmin positive fibers were appeared in fast-twitch type C fibers of both muscles at 6 days after nerve crushing, but were not reacted for vimentin. 2) Co-expressions of desmin and vimentin were firstly detected in fast-twitch type A fibers of EDL muscles at 8 days after nerve injury. In soleus muscles, co-expressions of desmin and vimentin were firstly seen in slow-twitch type B fibers at 10 days after nerve injury. Many atrophic fibers, that contained several central nuclei like myotubes and co-expressed desmin and vimentin, were appeared in EDL muscles at 10 days after nerve injury. Although whole regions of fibers were regenerated in EDL muscles, only peripheral regions of fibers were regenerated in soleus muscles at 15 days after nerve injury. Many atrophic fibers, co-expressed of desmin and vimentin, were appeared in EDL muscles at 20 days after nerve injury. These whole fibers represented various degrees of regenerating stages. Most of mature fibers containing several central nuclei, only expressed vimentin slightly, were seen in soleus muscles at 20 days after nerve injury. Most fibers of both muscles were matured at 27 days after nerve injury, but some fibers in EDL muscles were still in processing of degeneration and regeneration. No expressions of desmin and vimentin indicated that muscle fibers were almostly matured in soleus muscles at 27 days after nerve injury. 3) Targetoid or target fibers which informed reinnervation, were appeared firstly in soleus muscles at 20 days and were seen in both muscles at 27 days after nerve injury. All targetoid and target fibers were type B fibers. CONCLUSION: Desmin was revealed in processes of degeneration and regeneration and vimentin was appealed in regeneration process. At the same time, positive immunoreactivity of desmin and vimentin showed specific differences in degree of degeneration and regeneration according to different muscles and muscle fibers.
Animals ; Cytoskeleton ; Desmin ; Intermediate Filament Proteins* ; Intermediate Filaments* ; Laminin ; Leg* ; Mammals ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; Muscle, Striated ; Muscles* ; Myoblasts ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; Rats* ; Regeneration* ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Vimentin