Nitric oxide ( NO ) is now recognized as a mediator of several biological and immunological functions, but unlike classical neurotransmitters, NO simply diffuse of the postsynaptic cell and around affecting cells. Human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ), produced by placental trophoblasts may act as stimulator on NO synthesis in oocytes of mouse's ovary. How-ever, in the various organs or cells, the action of hCG on NO synthesis is unknown. We have examined that the effect of hCG on NO synthesis in microglial cells of murine's brain, using the Griess method. And this study was evident that hCG did not induce NO produc-tion without recombinant interferon gamma ( rIFN-gamma), whereas hCG ( 10~500 IU/ml ) with rIFN-gamma effectively produced NO in microglial cells of brain. As result, NO production in microglial cells increased most significantly in dose of 100 IU/ml of the hCG and the pro-duction of NO was dependent on the dose of hCG ( Table 1 and Fig. 1 ). And N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine ( N(G)MMA ), competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, reduced the NO production by hCG stimulation with rIFN-gamma in microglial cells of murine. Conclusively, this study sugge-sted that hCG stimulate NO production at microglial cells in brain, which may be an important factor for mediating immune and neuroendocrinologic regulation in nervous system.
Brain ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans* ; Interferons ; Negotiating ; Nervous System ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration(PCNA) of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT-guided PCNA was performed in 18 patients with treated cervical carcinoma. initial clinical stages were CIS in one, lb in three, lib in ten, and IIIb in four cases. We used 20 gauge Westcott needles for aspiration. Mean depth from skin to lymph nodes was 10.0cm in paraaortic group (n=13) and was 7.9cm in pelvic group (n=5). The size of lymph nodes ranged 1.0-3.0cm (mean :1.8) and 1.5-5.0cm (mean :2.6cm), respectively. RESULTS: All cases with paraaortic lymph node enlargement were proved to be metastatic lymphadenopathy. In five cases with pelvic lymph node enlargement, three were proved to be malignancy and two were negative. Among 16 cases with metastatic lymphadenopathy, eight patients were treated with chemotherapy, five with radiation therapy, and three with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In two cases with negative results lymph nodes were disappeared or unchanged on follow up CT scans. No complications were encountered during CT-guided PCNA procedure. CONCLUSION: CT-guided PCNA of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes is a useful method in determining metastasis from cervical carcinoma and in planning further treatment.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Needles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ancient schwannoma is a variant of schwannoma and is characterized slowly growing tumor with degenerative change. And it is reported that schwannoma is relatively rare in extensor area. As a rare cause of solitary ancient schwannoma in extensor area of upper arm, we report it.
Arm ; Neurilemmoma

We report computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings of a patient with polyostotic Paget disease and multicentric giant cell tumor (GCT). Brain CT scan showed widening of diploic space, cortical thickening and enhancing soft tissue mass in occiput with underlying calvarial destruction. Ill-defined soft tissue masses were also detected in maxillary sinus and buttock with underlying bony destruction on CT. MR image showed multifocal nodules in wide diploic space with low signal intensity on T1 -weighted image and bright signal intensity on T2-weighted image. Mass in occiput showed homogeneous hypointensity to bone marrow on T1-weighted image and homogeneous iso- intensity on T2-weighted image. Multiple nodules in diploic space and occipital mass showed contrast enhancement following administration of Gd-DTPA. Biopsy was performed at scal p, maxillary sinus and buttock, and histologic analysis revealed GCT.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Buttocks ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To measure the size of normal corpus callosum in each portion using objective and reproducible method with MRI and evaluation of morphological change of corpus callosum by grade of hydrocephalus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Midsagittal Tl-weighted MR imaging of the corpus callosum was investigated in 41 volunteers of normal Korean adults and 19 patients with hydrocephalus. Corpus callosum was measured for the anteroposterior length(A), height(B), and the thickness of genu(C), body (D), splenium(E), and the narrowest portion of body(F). And the analysis of morphology and signal intensity of the corpus callosum were also evaluated. Hydrocephalus was graded as mild, moderate, and severe, and comparision of thickness with normal corpus callosum in each portion was done. RESULTS: The mean length and height were 72.3mm, 28.6mm in male, and 70.7ram, 28.9mm in female. And the mean dimention for C, D, E, and F were 13.1 ram, 8ram, 13.2mm, 5.2ram in male, and 12.8mm, 7.5ram, 12.3 ram, 5mm in female. The morphology of normal corpus callosum was "hook" shaped on midline sagittal Tl-weighted image. Narrowing at posterior third portion of body were present on 30 cases(73.2%) and even in thickness of the body in 11 cases(26.8%). The signal intensity of the corpus callosum on midsagittal Tl-weighted spin echo image of normal cases was homogeneous hyperintense as compared with cerebral gray matter. In hydrocephalus, A and B were increased and other portions were decreased in thickhess. Genu and the narrowest portion of body showed significant difference of thickness according to the grade of hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: The mean dimention of all portion of corpus callosum were larger in male than female except for callosal height but not significant statistically with the exception of splenium. Hydrocephalus lead to morphological change of the corpus callosum. Among the portion of corpus callosum, genu and the narrowest portion of the body were thought to be the most sensitive indicators of degree in hydrocephalus.
Adult* ; Corpus Callosum* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Volunteers

Williams syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by mental retardation, loquacious personalities, dysmorphic face, and vascular and valvular abnormalities. The etiology of this syndrome was one allelic loss of elastin gene, exhibiting a submicroscopic deletion, at 7q11.23. Sudden death is an infrequently recognized complication. The mechanism of sudden death is explained by myocardial ischemia, decreased cardiac output, and arrhythmia by anatomical abnormality of coronary artery stenosis and severe biventricular outflow tract obstruction. We report an autopsy case of a 80 day-old male with Williams syndrome. Five days before admission, cardiac murmur was detected incidentally on ascultation at a local clinic during a visit for vaccination. He was transferred to our hospital and cardiac catheterization was done. He died suddenly next day. Postmortem examination revealed a dysmorphic face and multiple cardiovascular abnormalities including supravalvular aortic stenosis with narrowed coronary artery ostia, supravalvular pulmonic stenosis, secundum type of atrial septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, and renal artery stenosis. Histologically, aorta and pulmonary, bronchial, and renal arteries showed markedly hyperplastic medial elastic laminae approximately three times thick compared to those of age-matched normal artery. The elastic fibers of the innermost two thirds of media were disposed in a normal orderly parallel fashion. In outer third of the media, the elastic fibers had lost the normal orderly arrangement.
Aorta ; Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Autopsy* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Elastic Tissue ; Elastin ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Infant* ; Intellectual Disability ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Vaccination ; Williams Syndrome*

Williams syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by mental retardation, loquacious personalities, dysmorphic face, and vascular and valvular abnormalities. The etiology of this syndrome was one allelic loss of elastin gene, exhibiting a submicroscopic deletion, at 7q11.23. Sudden death is an infrequently recognized complication. The mechanism of sudden death is explained by myocardial ischemia, decreased cardiac output, and arrhythmia by anatomical abnormality of coronary artery stenosis and severe biventricular outflow tract obstruction. We report an autopsy case of a 80 day-old male with Williams syndrome. Five days before admission, cardiac murmur was detected incidentally on ascultation at a local clinic during a visit for vaccination. He was transferred to our hospital and cardiac catheterization was done. He died suddenly next day. Postmortem examination revealed a dysmorphic face and multiple cardiovascular abnormalities including supravalvular aortic stenosis with narrowed coronary artery ostia, supravalvular pulmonic stenosis, secundum type of atrial septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, and renal artery stenosis. Histologically, aorta and pulmonary, bronchial, and renal arteries showed markedly hyperplastic medial elastic laminae approximately three times thick compared to those of age-matched normal artery. The elastic fibers of the innermost two thirds of media were disposed in a normal orderly parallel fashion. In outer third of the media, the elastic fibers had lost the normal orderly arrangement.
Aorta ; Aortic Stenosis, Supravalvular ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Autopsy* ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Abnormalities ; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden ; Elastic Tissue ; Elastin ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular ; Infant* ; Intellectual Disability ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Vaccination ; Williams Syndrome*

PURPOSE: To compare the MR imaging findings of ossifying fibroma with the histopathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In eight patients (M:F=1:7; age range, 1-25 years) with pathologically proven ossifying fibroma, plain film and MR images were retrospectively analyzed in terms of signal intensity, homogeneity and patterns of contrast enhancement. The MR imaging findings and histopathology were correlated. Using 1.0-T and 1.5-T MR machines, axial T1 and T2 images and gadolinium-enhanced axial and sagittal T1 images were obtained. RESULTS: In all cases, iso-signal intensity to muscle was observed on T1-weighted images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. After intravenous injection of gadolinium-DTPA in seven cases, intense contrast enhancement was seen in all lesions, which were homogenous on T1, T2, and enhanced MR images. Moderate cellularity of fibrous tissue, with even distribution of osteoid and an absence of secondary changes such as hemorrhage or cystic change were revealed by pathologic examination. CONCLUSION: Ossifying fibroma shows strong enhancement and homogenous signal intensity on MR images.The homogeneity of the MR signal depends on the even distribution of osteoid and an absence of secondary changes such as hemorrhage or cystic change.
Bone Neoplasms ; Fibroma, Ossifying* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR imaging findings of chondroblastic osteosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Weincluded 11patients (8 men, 3 women, mean age of 19 years) with pathologically proven chondroblastic osteosarcomaand, as a control group, 20 patients with conventional osteosarcoma. We obtained pre- and post-enhanced MR imagesof all patients and retrospectively reviewed the signal intensity and enhancement pattern of tumors. MR imageswere correlated with histopathology. RESULT: In chondroblastic osteosarcomas, the major portion (< 75%) of thetumor showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and homogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weightedimages, but did not show enhancement. The margin of the area showed a lobular pattern. Enhanced nodules (n=11) andstrands (n=8) were seen in the nonenhanced portion. Histopathologically, the nonenhanced portion, nodules, andstrands revealed a chondroid matrix, hypercellular area, and fibrovascular septa, respectively. Conventionalosteosarcomas showed heterogeneous enhancement ; six showed a focal (<25%) nonenhanced area representing necrosis. CONCLUSION: Chondroblastic osteosarcoma showed characteristic MR imaging findings.
Chondrocytes* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Necrosis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate MR imaging findings of joint involvement in patients with osteosarcoma MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 166 patients with osteosarcoma treated between January 1993 and July 1998, 67(44 men and 23 women,mean age 20 years) whose tumors had invaded the epiphysis were included in this study. Those with preserved normalbone marrow signal intensity between the tumor and cortical bone were excluded. Tumors were located around theknee (n=52), the hip (n=7), the shoulder (n=5), the ankle (n=2), or the wrist (n=1). For all patients,pre-operative spin echo pre- and post-contrast enhanced MR images were obtained. In all cases, we assessed thepresence or abscence of intrasynovial mass, intraarticular disruption of cortical bone and articular cartilage,and joint effusion, and also evaluated the mass around the cruciate ligaments of the knee. All patients underwentsurgery and MR findings were correlated with the results of pathologic examinations. RESULTS: In six patients thetumor was found to involve the knee joint. Sensitivity and specificity for the intrasynovial mass (n= 6),intraarticular disruption of cortical bone and articular cartilage (n= 19), mass around the cruciate ligaments (n=7), and joint effusion (n= 12) were 83.3%, 100%, 83.3%, 33.3% and 98.4%, 78.7%, 95.6%, 83.6%, respectively, whileaccuracy for the intrasynovial mass and mass around the cruciate ligaments was 97% and 94.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: If MR imaging indicates the presence of a mass in the synovial cavity or around the cruciateligaments, this is suggestive MR findings of joint involvement.
Ankle ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Neoplasms ; Cartilage, Articular ; Epiphyses ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints* ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Osteosarcoma* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shoulder ; Wrist