Recent basic and clinical studies demonstrate a major role for neural plasticity in the etiology and treatment of depression and stress-related illness. The neural plasticity is reflected both in the birth of new cell in the adult brain (neurogenesis) and the death of genetically healthy cells(apoptosis) in the response to the individual's interaction with the environment. The neural plasticity includes adaptations of intracellular signal transduction pathway and gene expression, as well as alterations in neuronal morphology and cell survival. At the cellular level, repeated stress causes shortening and debranching of dendrite in the CA3 region of hippocampus and suppress neurogenesis of dentate gyrus granule neurons. At the molecular level, both form of structural remodeling appear to be mediated by glucocorticoed hormone working in concert with glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor, along with transmitters such as serotonin and GABA-benzodiazepine system. In addition, the decreased expression and reduced level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) could contribute the atrophy and decreased function of stress-vulnerable hippocampal neurons. It is also suggested that atrophy and death of neurons in the hippocampus, as well as prefrontal cortex and possibly other regions, could contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Antidepressant treatment could oppose these adverse cellular effects, which may be regarded as a loss of neural plasticity, by blocking or reversing the atrophy of hippocampal neurons and by increasing cell survival and function via up-regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding proteins(CREB) and BDNF. In this article, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie stress, depression, and action of antidepressant are precisely discussed.
Adenosine Monophosphate ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Cell Survival ; Dendrites ; Dentate Gyrus ; Depression* ; Gene Expression ; Glutamic Acid ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Neurobiology* ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Parturition ; Plastics ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Serotonin ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation

The PCL is one of the most important structure, providing 95% of the total retraint to posterior displacement of the tibia. Insufficieny of the PCL has received increased attension in recent literature, perhaps because of the apparent increase in its incidence due to the increased in motor-vehicle accident and to more accurate evaluation of knee injuries. But there is still so much controvercy cercerning the treatment for individuals with insufficiency of the PCL because the results of operative treatment have been inconsistent. The purpose of this study were to analyze the the results of arthroscopic PCL reconstruction using autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone and then, we suggest the ideal method of treatment for patients with insufficiency of the PCL. We studied the functional and static results of 14 patients who were followed up more than 1 year out of 16 cases after reconstruction of the PCL using autogenous patellar tendon under arthroscopy from l993 to l995 at the department of orthopedic surgery of Inchon Christian Hospital and Inha university Hospital. The results were as follows: 1. The causes of injury were slip and fall (50%) and traffic accident (50%), and there were 6 acute and 8 chronic knee injuries. 2. Average Lysholm knee evaiuation score were preoperative 61.3, postoperative 93, average posterior tibial displacement of injuried side as compared with normal side in posterior stress x-ray, preoperative 18.2mm(range 10-24mm), postoperative 5.0mm(range 2-11 mm) and average postoperative range of motion was 2.1-127.9 degree. lll conclusion, the reconstruction of PCL with autogenous patellar tendon under arthroscopy is a recommendable treatment method in patients who have insufficiency of PCL, because of small incision, rninimum loss of knee function, rnimimum postoperative pain, and eary motion and rehabilitation. But we think that more cases, long-term follow-up, study of the comparion with patients who treated conservatively are needed.
Accidents, Traffic ; Arthroscopy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incheon ; Incidence ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Orthopedics ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patellar Ligament* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Tibia

The antiarrhythmic effect of oral Mexiletine was evaluated by Holter monitoring on 10 subjects with chronic high-frequency ventricular premature complexes and ventricular tachycardia referred to our cardiology clinic of Severance Hospital from June, 1982 through September, 1983. The frequency of the ventricular premature complexes and the ventricular tachycardia was measured by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography on each patient before and during the administration of Mexiletine(450-600 mg/day). The results were as follows : 1) In 10 patients with ventricular tachycardia total suppression of ventricular tachycardial was demonstrated in 8 patients during the administration of oral Mexilletine. 2) The number of the ventricular premature complexes was reduced markedly in 6 out of the 10 patients. 3) Side effects occurred in 5 out of 10 patients. These include tremor, weakness, dry mouth, indigestion, anorexia, chest discomfort, and dizziness but were tolerated except in one.
Anorexia ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Cardiology ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory* ; Humans ; Mexiletine* ; Mouth ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thorax ; Tremor ; Ventricular Premature Complexes

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug with a benign side effect profile. However, recent studies have reported that thyroid dysfunction is associated with quetiapine treatment. The authors report a patient with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder who developed subclinical hypothyroidism during quetiapine treatment. The patient showed no significant clinical symptoms, but only abnormal thyroid function test findings including antithyroglobulin antibody. The abnormal thyroid function test findings were normalized after discontinuation of quetiapine. The subclinical hypothyroidism developed during quetiapine treatment may be associated with autoimmune process.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Quetiapine Fumarate

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Nafarelin*

No abstract available.
Fertilization* ; Humans* ; Oocytes*

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been a well-known genetical transmitted disease entity with the advance of echocardiography. We have recently experienced a family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy proved by noninvasive methods including chest x-ray,, electrocardiography and echocardiography. The propositus of this family was a 21 year-old solier who was admitted because of exertional dyspnea during military exercise. Both he and his sister had severely affected hearts with typical echocardiographic findings, asymmetrical septal hypertrophy(ASH) and systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet(SAM). The clinical study is reported with the concerned literatures.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Siblings ; Thorax ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Semen*

Occult syringoma means a clinically inapparent tumor of the swea gland that are histologically similar but not identical with the common syringoma. They may occur in a variety of inflammatory skin lesions and cutaneous neoplaams as a reactive process. We report herein a case of diffuse alopecia areata associated with occult syringoma in the scalp of a 57-year-old man. Our patient developed progressive, fairly well circ amscribed patches of alopecia and diffuse hair loss over a 1 month period. Histopathological examinaiion revealed non-scaring alopecia and a proliferation of eccrine ductal structures in the upper dermis. These ductal structures resembled syringoma. Only minimal focal fibrosis was occasionally observed arcund the hair follicles. We believe that occult syringona is a reactive process and is secondary to active inflarnmation or dermal fibrosis. It has been most commonly observed in scarring alobiecias but plays no significant role in the etiology of hair loss.
Alopecia Areata ; Alopecia* ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Fibrosis ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Scalp ; Skin ; Syringoma*

Telangiectasia is characterized by permanently dilated small vessels usually arising from the suprapapillary plexus of venule capillaries, or arterioles. It may be etvlogically divided into the primary and secondary types. Rosacea, varicose vein, prolonged sun xvsure, radiation, and physical trauma may be the causes of secondary telangiectasia. We report herein a case of secondary telangiectasia associated which operation for a femur fracture.
Arterioles ; Capillaries ; Femur ; Rosacea ; Solar System ; Telangiectasis* ; Varicose Veins ; Venules