To clarify the mechanism of the protective effect of hemodialysis on lipid peroxidation in RBC membrane structures, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) which is the lipid peroxidation product, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined before and after hemodialysis in the RBCs from 20 patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), and from 14 healthy subjects. Before dialysis, MDA levels in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were higher than those from healthy controls. SOD and catalase activities in the RBCs were lower. After hemodialysis, MDA, SOD, and catalase in the RBCs from the patients with ESRD were normalized. These results indicate that hemodialysis treatment is helpful to protect the peroxidative darnage through normalizing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Catalase ; Dialysis ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde* ; Membranes ; Renal Dialysis* ; Superoxide Dismutase

No abstract available.

Candidiasis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare condition and like other opportunistic fungal infections, most commonly occurs in immune-compromised patients. Because of the increasing use of antibiotics and the improving survival rate of premature infants requiring intensive care, the incidence of fungal infections in the brain has increased. We report the findings of ultrasonography and MR imaging in two cases of candidiasis of the CNS in premature infants.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain ; Candidiasis* ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Critical Care ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Nervous System* ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography

One family with asymmetric septal hypertrophy was reported. The propositus of this family was 31 years old man who was admitted because of transient syncope. His father and one brother were affected but asymptomatic. His sister was suddenly died at age 21 years. The interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness ratios were measured using M-mode echocard ogram. In the affected family, echocardiogram revealed asymmetric septal hypertrophy (1.5:1, 2:1, 1.9:1 respectively). In the propositus, cardiac catheterization and simultaneous biventricular cineangiography were performed. Pressure study revealed mild peak systolic pressure gradient within left ventricular apex and left ventricular outflow tract (4mm Hg respectively). Biventricular cineangiogram showed the septal width increased inferiorly, and left ventricular endocardial surface of the septum was straight, while the right ventricular border convex toward the right ventricle.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Cineangiography ; Fathers ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Siblings ; Syncope

A 52-year-old man was admitted with an incidentally detected right renal artery aneurysm (RAA). Computed tomographic angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction revealed that the aneurysm was 2.2 cm in diameter and located at the renal hilum. We performed hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy with ex vivo repair of the RAA and auto-transplantation with minimal elongation of Gibson incision. The operation and postoperative course were uneventful. At last follow-up, the patient was alive with a well-functioning auto-transplant. Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy and auto-transplantation is a useful treatment option for hilar RAA.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy* ; Renal Artery*

No abstract available.

The authors describe two cases of simultaneous bilateral hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage which occurred among 440 patients treated for hypertensive intracerebral hematomas between 1991 and 1996. One patient was a 59-year-old male with bilateral putaminal hemorrhages, and the other was an 82-year-old female with bilateral thalamic hemorrhages; both underwent conservative treatment. The male was discharged with mild facial palsy but the female remained in a vegetative state for over three months. The locations of bilateral hematomas with a chronic history of hypertension suggest that in the pathogenesis of this condition, a subtle degenerative process, caused by hypertension may be active. The literature pertaininig to the pathogenesis of simultaneous multiple intracerebral hematomas is briefly reviewed.
Aged, 80 and over ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Persistent Vegetative State

Aretrospective study on operative results was carried out in a series of 164 patients who were performed by microdiscectomy and 57 patients by automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy(APLD) for herniated lumbar discs between January 1, 1990 and June 30, 1996. The operative results were analysed, and the correlation between preoperative clinicoradiological factors and postoperative clinical results were statistically assessed. The major results were as follows: 1) Of 164 microdiscectomy cases, 102 were males and 62 were females, mean age was 42.4 years and incidence was the highest in the 5th decade. Among 57 APLD cases, 43 were males and 14 females, mean age 32.2 years, and the highest incidence in the 3rd decade. 2) The preoperative symptoms and signs in microdiscectomy and APLD cases were lumbago(98.2% vs 98.2%), radiating pain(96.3% vs 98.2%), positive straight leg raising test(77.4% vs 70.2%), motor weakness(27.4% vs 17.5%), claudication(13.4% vs 0%) and voiding difficulty(2.4% vs 0%). 3) Number of operated levels were 226 in microdiscectomy and 74 in APLD. The most commonly operated levels in both groups were L4-5. 4) Operative results. (1) The overall success rates by Prolo's scale were 87.1% in microdiscectomy and 80.7% in APLD, respectively. (2) In younger age group(below 30 years) and in non-compensatory group, success rates were significantly higher in microdiscectomy(100%, 89.9% vs 76.7%, 62.5% respectively). (3) As to protrusion and degeneration on MRI, a clinical result, from patients with mild to moderate protrusion and degeneration of discs was significantly better in microdiscectomy group, and that of mild protrusion and degeneration of discs in APLD group was significantly better. (4) The most common cause of failure was inadequately removed disc material in microdiscectomy cases and operated for sequestered discs in APLD cases. There results indicate that there were no differance in overall success rates between microdiscectomy and APLD. But it should be emphasized that clinical results may have been influenced by age, existence of compensation, and the degree of protrusion and degeneration of discs as prognostic factors. The authors believe that if the selection of operative procedure is carefully decided with details of clinical and radiologic findings of the patients, a good outcome can be expected.
Compensation and Redress ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

Lymphoma is the third most common childhood malignancy after leukemia and brain tumor. In contrast to adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, that occurring in children is usually found extranodally. The most common site is the abdomen, including the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and pancreas, and the next most common is the extranodal head and neck. Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults is usually considered to be MALT lymphoma, a distinct B-cell type, but the occurrence of this variety in the small bowel of children is relatively rare. We report a case of high-grade MALT lymphoma occurring in a nine-year-old boy who presented with ileoileal intussusception.
Abdomen ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Head ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Intussusception* ; Kidney ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Neck ; Pancreas

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Loss of Heterozygosity*