No Abstract Available.
Melanoma* ; Stomach*

Linear psoriasis is a rare form of psoriasis and is characterized by the linear distribution of the psoriatic lesions. It should be differentiated clinically and histopathologically from inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus(ILVEN) or psoriasis occuring as part of the Koebner phenomenon. A 41-year-old female is described, who had developed linearly arranged psoriatic lesions in the right lower extremity over the last 10 years. Not only pathological and immunohistochemical studies but also the clinical response to therapies reveal that this is the first case of linear psoriasis in Korea.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Psoriasis*

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

BACKGROUND: Preemptive analgesia may prevent nociceptive inputs generated during surgery from sensitizing central neurons and, therefore, may reduce post-operative pain. But, preemptive analgesia has been shown to decrease postinjury pain in animals, studies in human have provided controversial results. We studied whether intravenous morphine infusion before induction could affect post-operative pain and analgesic demands, when compared with intravenous morphine infusion after the closure of the peritoneum. METHODS: Female patients scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of two groups of prospectively studied in a double-blind manner. Group I (n=23) and II (n=20) received intravenous morphine (0.1 mg/kg) before induction of anesthesia and after the closure of the peritoneum, respectively. Either group had continuous infusion of morphine (1.5 mg/hr) immediately after i.v. bolus morphine. Postoperative pain relief was provided with i.v. morphine from a PCA system (Medex Walkmed). Postoperative visual analogue pain scores (VAS), analgesics requirements and side effects were examined and compared between groups for 2 postoperative days. RESULTS: VAS were significantly less in group I (3.3+/-0.4) than in group II (5.3+/-0.5) 2hrs after surgery (p<0.01). Patient-cantrolled morphine cumulative consumption in group I was significantly less than in group II for 24hours (21.9 mg vs 35.3 mg) and 48hours (37.4 mg vs 55.0 mg) after operation (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with intravenous morphine reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements. Lower postoperative analgesic requirements in preemptive analgesic group indicate that intravenous morphine prevents development of injury-induced peripheral or central sensitization.
Analgesia* ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Central Nervous System Sensitization ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Morphine ; Neurons ; Pain, Postoperative ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Peritoneum ; Prospective Studies

We analyzed alcoholic extracts of herbs possessing anti-neosporal activity against Neospora (N.) caninum. To identify the chemical components of Sophora (S.) flavescens and Torilis (T.) japonica associated with anti-neosporal activity, specific fractions were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro activity of the fractions against N. caninum was then assessed. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify specific anti-neosporal molecules in the herbal extracts. Almost all HPLC fractions of S. flavescens and T. japonica had higher levels of anti-neosporal activity compared to the not treated control. Active constituents of the extracts were sophoridane, furosardonin A, and tetraisopropylidene-cyclobutane in S. flavescens; 5,17-beta-dihydroxy-de-A-estra-5,7,9,14-tetraene, furanodiene, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-(CAS,1) in T. japonica.
Apiaceae/*chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coccidiostats/*chemistry ; Fruit/chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Neospora/*drug effects/growth & development ; Plant Extracts/*chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Sophora/*chemistry

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to review the clinical and hematologic findings of the preterm infants delivered from pregnancy induced hypertension(PIH) mothers. METHODS: The data were collected by reviewing the medical records on the current prognosis of preterm birth and sending questionnaires on the status of NICU. We reviewed the medical records from two university hospitals and two resident training hospitals in Gwangju-Chonnam to evaluate the neonatal prognosis of preterm birth from Jan. 1, 1995 to Dec. 31, 1997. RESULTS: The average survival rate of total preterm babies was 79.6%. According to birth weights, survival rate from less than 1,000 gm was 10%, 1,000-1,499 gm was 55.3%, 1,500-1,999 gm was 82.2%. Maternal risk factors were pretmature rupture of membrane(42.2%), preterm labor (21.3%), PIH(10.7%), multiple pregnancy(8.2%) and incompetent internal os of cervix(4.2%). The average gestational age and birth weight were 34.2+/-2.3 weeks and 1,940+/-620 gm in the preterm infants born to mothers with PIH. The death rate was 12.9% in the preterm infants born to mothers with PIH. There were no significant differences in the incidence of RDS, use of assisted ventilation and surfactant, and frequency of the blood transfusion between the preterm infants born to normotensive mothers and those to mothers with PIH. There were significant differences in the total WBC count, platelet count and the concentration of the Mg, Ca and P between the preterm infants born to normotensive mothers and those to mothers with PIH. CONCLUSION: Our results may be helpful to predict the perinatal complications and manage the preterm infants by considering the clinical and hematologic findings of preterm infants born to mothers with PIH.
Birth Weight ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Mothers* ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Platelet Count ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Prognosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Survival Rate ; Ventilation

The tendency of glioblastoma to metastasize to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is well documented, reaching approximately 20% in autopsy series. Nevertheless, clinical symptoms from spinal seeding seem to be infrequent or are at least rarely diagnosed. The authors report a case of a 41-year old female patient with a cerebral glioblastoma multiforme who developed paraplegia due to a pathologically confirmed spinal metastasis.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Female ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Paraplegia

BACKGROUND: It has been known that most of thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) may interact with epitopes near N-terminal, and thyroid stimulation blocking antibodies (TSBAbs) near C-terminal on the extracellular domain of TSH receptor. However, many authors have reported different results about epitopes reacting with TSH receptor autoantibody (TRAb). TSBAbs inhibit thyroid stimulation of TSH and TSAbs at the receptor level. However, it has been reported that there are some TSBAbs which bind to the other sites, not TSH receptor, or block post-reeeptor process. These findings raise the possibility that TRAbs may be heterogeneous according to the mechanism of action. In order to investigate the heterogeneity of TRAb, we undertook immuno-precipitation using synthetic peptides of TSH receptor and measured TRAb activities by FRTL-5 cells and chimeric CHO cells. METHODS: We studied 102 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (Graves disease 32, Hashimotos thyroiditis 29, atrophic thyroiditis 41) and 35 healthy persons. Three synthetic peptide fragments of TSH receptor were used to perform immunoprecipitation with serum or IgG of patients and healthy persons, TSAb and TSBAb activities were measured by FRTL-5 cells and CHO cells transfected with wild-type and 2 mutant TSH receptor cDNA (Mc2, Mc1+2). Mc2 and Mcl+2 were rnade to substitute amino acid residues of 90-165, 8-165 of the TSH receptor with corresponding residues of LH/CG receptor, respectively. RESULTS: Two out of 10 IgGs extracted from Graves disease and 2 out of 9 IgGs from atrophic thyroiditis had specific bidings over 0.84% in immunoprecipitation with peptide I (amino acid residue 35-50). Four out of 18 IgGs from Graves disease, 9 out of 41 IgGs from atrophic thyroiditis, and 6 out of 14 IgGs from Hashimotos thyroiditis had specific bidings over 0.84% in immunoprecipitation with peptide II (amino acid residue 317-332). Only 2 out of 10 IgGs from Graves disease had specific bidings over 0.84% in immunoprecipitation with peptide III (amino acid residue 341-358). When 10 IgGs extracted from Graves disease were reacted with wild-type, Mc2, and Mcl+2 CHO cells, 7 IgGs in wild-type and 4 IgGs in Mc2 had positive for TSAb activities. In 10 IgGs from atrophic thyroiditis, 5 in wild-type, 5 in Mc2, and 3 in Mcl+2 CHO cells had positive for TSBAb activities. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, only 1 with hyperthyroidism had positive for TSAb activity in wild-type and 1 with hypothyroidism had positive for TSBAb activities in both of wild-type and Mc2 CHO cells. Therefore, patients with Graves disease were divided into at least 3 groups according to the TSAb activities measured by wild-type, Mc2, Mcl+ 2 CHO cells and TBII activities. And patients with atrophic thyroiditis were divided into at least 4 groups according to the TBII activities, TSBAb activities by wild-type, Mc2, Mcl+2 CHO cells and FRTL-5 cells. CONCLUSION: From these results, epitopes of TSH receptor reacting with TSAb or TSBAb in autoimmune thyroid disease may be scattered in the TSH receptor, although epitopes of TSAb tend to be near N-terminal and those of TSBAb near C-terminal. Graves disease or atrophic thyroiditis were divided into 3 or 4 groups according to the TBII and TRAb activities. Therefore, TRAb detected in autoimmune thyroid disease may be heterogenous.
Animals ; Antibodies, Blocking ; Autoantibodies* ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; DNA, Complementary ; Epitopes ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating ; Immunoprecipitation ; Peptide Fragments ; Peptides ; Population Characteristics* ; Receptors, Thyrotropin* ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis

OBJECTIVE: Notochordal cells in the intervertebral disc interact with nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and support the maintenance of disc homeostasis by regulation of matrix production. However, the influence of notochordal cells has not been evaluated in the annulus fibrosus (AF), which is the primary pain generator in the disc. We hypothesized that the notochordal cell has the capacity to modulate inflammatory mediators secreted by AF cells secondary to stimulation. METHODS: Notochordal and AF cells were isolated from adult New Zealand white rabbits. AF pellets were cultured with notochordal cell clusters or in notochordal cell-conditioned media (NCCM) for 24 or 48 hours with proinflammatory cytokines at varying concentrations. Gene expression in AF pellets were assayed for nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and interleukin (IL)-6 by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the iNOS and COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels compared to AF pellets alone and AF pellets with notochordal cells (p < 0.05). AF pellet resulted in dose-dependent iNOS and COX-2 expression in response to IL-1beta, stimulation, demonstrating that 1 ng/ml for 24 hours yielded a maximal response. AF pellet in NCCM significantly decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in response to 1ng/ml IL-1beta, stimulation at 24 hours (p < 0.05). There was no difference in IL-6 expression compared to AF pellets alone or AF pellets with notochordal cell clusters. CONCLUSION: We conclude that soluble factors from notochordal cells mitigate the gene expression of inflammatory mediators in stimulated AF, as expected after annular injury, suggesting that notochordal cells could serve as a novel therapeutic approach in symptomatic disc development.
Adult ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Intervertebral Disc ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Notochord ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA