PURPOSE: To study the short term effects of hypercholesterolemia on corpus cavernosal tissue, we performed isometric tension studies and RT-PCR was used to identify mRNA expression of VEGF on isolated strips of corpus cavernosum, on rabbits which underwent partial ligation of the abdominal aorta and received a diet containing 2% cholesterol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand White rabbits were divided into a control group(n=6) fed with a regular diet and a hypercholesterolemic group(n=10) which underwent partial ligation of the abdominal aorta and received a diet containing 2% cholesterol. After 3 weeks, the relationship between hypercholesterolemia and cavernosal smooth muscle pathophysiology was studied. To characterize the cavernosal smooth muscle reactivity in hypercholesterolemia, we performed isometric tension studies with phenylephrine(PE), acetylcholine(Ach), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and electrical field stimulation(ES). RT-PCR was used to identify the mRNA expression of VEGF. RESULTS: PE-induced cavernous smooth muscle contraction in the hypercholesterolemic group was increased compared with the control group(p<0.05), while relaxation by Ach and ES in PE pretreated cavernosal smooth muscle in the hypercholesterolemic group was decreased(p<0.05). Relaxation by SNP in PE pretreated cavernosal smooth muscle was not different between any experimental groups. Expression of VEGF mRNA in cavernosal smooth muscle was significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemic group compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia caused a significant increase in PE-induced contraction of cavernosal tissue. Hypercholesterolemic cavernosal tissue retained the ability of relaxation induced by endothelium-independent, but relaxation induced by endothelium-dependant was impaired. Furthermore, expression of VEGF mRNA in cavernosal tissues was up regulated in the hypercholesterolemic group. This study showed that a short period of hypercholesterolemia could induce pathophysiologic change of cavernosal tissue.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Ligation ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Rabbits* ; Relaxation ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

No abstract available.
Myocardial Infarction*

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiologies of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) are epidural adhesion& fibrosis; arachnoiditis, neural encroachment, mechanical instability. Epidural adhesiolysis alleviate back pain through blocking the neural activity of scar area and decreasing the inflammation & edema. There are two methods of adhesiolysis, endoscopic & non-endoscopic adhesiolysis. Present study was aimed to compare the pain relief & side effects between two methods. METHODS: We investigated 86 post-laminectomy patients with low back pain and radiculopathy, who do not relieved with any kinds of conservative treatment. Nerve pathology was demonstrated and epidural fibrosis suspected or proved with MRI examination. Group I was consisted with non-endoscopic 41 patients, and Group II was endoscopic 45 patients. Evaluation included assessment of pain relief (visual analogue scale, VAS), rate of reprocedures and duration of pain relief (VAS < 5) at post-epidural adhesiolysis 2 week, and 1, 2, 6 months. We also looked for complication of adhesiolysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (t-test, chisquared test) demonstrated VAS & reprocedure rate was significantly low (P < 0.05) in group II at 6 month and duration of pain relief (VAS < 5) was more prolonged in group II. One patient in each groups complained skin eruption and pruritus, and one patient of group II was proved epidural abscess and one patient of group I complained headache. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic and non-endoscopic epidural adhesiolysis are effective and safe in patients, who was not relieved the symptoms with conservative treatment, but endoscopic epidural adhesiolysis is more recommendable because its more prolonged effect.
Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Back Pain ; Cicatrix ; Edema ; Epidural Abscess ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; Fibrosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pathology ; Pruritus ; Radiculopathy ; Skin

PURPOSE: Neuron-specific enolase(NSE) has been established as a reliable marker of neuronal damage in various neurologic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether febrile seizure cause brain damage, based on the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NSE. METHODS: Twenty-one pateints were enrolled. The maximal seizure duration was 90 mins. Blood and CSF samples for the measurement of NSE were obtained immediately after the seizure. NSE was measured using an immunoradiometric assay(IRMA). RESULTS: The CSF NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 11.7+/-2.04 ng/mL and that of the control group was 11.3+/-5.7 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was higher than the serum NSE level of the control group, but there was no significant correlation. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 19.0+/-7.5 ng/mL and that of the control group was 12.8+/-5.1 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was significantly higher than the serum NSE level of the control group. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was 0.7+/-0.3 and that of the control group was 1.0+/-0.5. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was lower than the CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the control group and there was a significant correlation. There was no significant correlation between seizure duration, serum NSE, CSF NSE, and the ratio of the CSF to the serum level of NSE. CONCLUSION: Children with febrile seizure are at relatively low risk for neuronal damage following seizures.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurons ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*

PURPOSE: Neuron-specific enolase(NSE) has been established as a reliable marker of neuronal damage in various neurologic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether febrile seizure cause brain damage, based on the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NSE. METHODS: Twenty-one pateints were enrolled. The maximal seizure duration was 90 mins. Blood and CSF samples for the measurement of NSE were obtained immediately after the seizure. NSE was measured using an immunoradiometric assay(IRMA). RESULTS: The CSF NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 11.7+/-2.04 ng/mL and that of the control group was 11.3+/-5.7 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was higher than the serum NSE level of the control group, but there was no significant correlation. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was 19.0+/-7.5 ng/mL and that of the control group was 12.8+/-5.1 ng/mL. The serum NSE level of the febrile seizure group was significantly higher than the serum NSE level of the control group. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was 0.7+/-0.3 and that of the control group was 1.0+/-0.5. The CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the febrile seizure group was lower than the CSF/serum ratio of NSE in the control group and there was a significant correlation. There was no significant correlation between seizure duration, serum NSE, CSF NSE, and the ratio of the CSF to the serum level of NSE. CONCLUSION: Children with febrile seizure are at relatively low risk for neuronal damage following seizures.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child* ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurons ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase* ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile*

No abstract available.
Female ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Ritodrine*

Hurthle cell tumors are an infrequent neoplasm of the thyroid gland in adults. Hurthle cell tumors represent 4. 5% to 10% of all primary thyroid epithelial neoplasms in the foreign literature. It has been known as Hurthle cell tumor since Ewing was the first to use this term in 1928. Tumor occurring in an infant was described by Symmers(1941) and Morrow(1945). The authors experienced a case of congenital Hurthle cell tumor of the thyroid gland in a 2 months old boy. He was admitted to the pediatric surgical department because of a growing mass in the neck since birth. Ultrasonogram showed a huge lobulated homogenous solid mass with medium level echogenicity in the region of the thyroid gland. Subtotal thyroidectomy of right lobe and total thyroidectomy of left lobe were done. The specimen measures 2x3x1.5 cm and 7x3x3 cm, respectively. It was an encapsulated, yellow gray firm and solid mass. The cut surface was smooth, glistening and homogenous. Microscopicully, the tumor was composed of tightly packed regular follicles lined by polyhedral, cuboidal, large cells with a granular acidophilic cytoplasms. The nuclei are vesicular, usually only a little bit larger than those of normal thyroid cells.
Infant ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

A woman who had a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and temporal intracerebral hemorrhge (ICH) without any causative lesions on computed tomography (CT) and digital angiography at the day of the stroke. She was considered to have an angiographically negative SAH and scheduled for a repeated angiography. While she was waiting for the next study, she developed a second hemorrhage. CT angiography showed an aneurysmal shadow in the course of the posterior cerebral artery. After the operation, the aneurysm proved to be a pseudoaneurysm.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis, characterized by dry, flasky, easily irritated skin, is the most common form of dermatitis seen during childhood. Infants with atopic dermatitis and other eczematous conditions need special dermatologic care to hydrate their skin and to minimize contact with irritants or allergens. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the skin products developed for children. METHODS: Twenty-eight normal children and 26 children with atopic dermatitis were evaluated clinically after using following commercal skin products : (lotion, cream, shampoo, soap, face wash wash) for 2 weeks. Water content of the skin of 14 volunteers was measured serialy over 8 haurs at 2 hour intervals after the application of each skin product. The skin pH of 16 volunteers was also measured serialy over 60 minutes at 30 minute intervals after application. We performed visual skin erythema grading, skin erythema grading by dermaspectrometer, transepidermal water loss measurement, skin water content measurement, and keratinocyte morphology observation by D-squame after the application of the skin products to 13 volunteers for 4 days.
Allergens ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Child ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Erythema ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant ; Irritants ; Keratinocytes ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Skin* ; Soaps ; Volunteers

The debate over the clinical meaning of plasma uric acid level is still a very hot issue. As the interest in health grows larger in the general public, the number of having a regular health check-up is increasing rapidly. Most of the health care centers routinely check the plasma uric acid level but it is not simple to interpret and explain the appropriate meaning of that. Over the past decade, there have been several studies on clinical implication of plasma uric acid level but the question still remains. However the clinical significance of the results might be different according to the severity of cardiovascular risk among subjects studied, and the findings for correlation with the established risks have enough proof to be applied to clinical practice. Additionally, the uric acid-lowering agents should not be used in general population even though it has reason to be prescribed in a specific high risk patient. Thus, this review seeks to be helpful in clinical practice by examining the preexisting related studies in a different perspective.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; Plasma ; Uric Acid