No abstract available.
Arthritis* ; Rabbits*

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed for developing a new experimental animal model of Wernicke's encephalopathy, and for investigating the timesequential morphological changes in the thiamine deficient rat brain by thiamine deficient diet with short term treatment of pyrithiamine. METHODS: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley strain rats, weighing about 2OOgm were used as experimental animals, divided into 10 control rats and 30 thiamine deficient experimental rats. Pyrithiamine (50mg/lOOgm/day) was injected intraperitonially for 9 days and thiamine deficient diet (20gm/rat/day) was continuously supplied until sacrifice. Then thiamine deficient experimental rats were subdivided into 3 groups according'to the exposure time of thiamine deficiency. For observing the morphological features in thalamus, medial mammillary nucleus and CA, sector in hippocampus, luxol-fast blue-cresy violet stain was performed. RESULTS: Treatment with pyrithiamine and thiamine deficient diet results in weight loss and decrement of body temperature on the 12th-14th day, followed by various neurologic manifestations, such as ataxia, hypotonia, circling movement, opisthotonus and loss of righting reflex, on the 16th-20th day, and then died on the 23th-25th, day. Chromatolysis and nuclear condensation of neurons in thalamus, medial mammillary nucleus and CA1 region of hippocampus are observed in group I. Mild edematous changes with neuronal necrosis in group II, and marked neuronal loss with severe edematous necrosis in group III are noted in same regions. CONCLUSION: These time sequential consistent morphological changes suggest that our experimental method could be used as a new animal model of Wernicke's encephalopathy in studying the sequential changes of thiamine deficient rat brain.
Animals ; Ataxia ; Body Temperature ; Brain ; Diet* ; Hippocampus ; Models, Animal ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Necrosis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Pyrithiamine* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Righting ; Thalamus ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Thiamine* ; Viola ; Weight Loss ; Wernicke Encephalopathy

No abstract available.
Spine* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Tabes Dorsalis*

Plasmapheresis has been used for some conditions during pregnancy and puerperium, such as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome. We present one case of the HELLP syndrome which was treated with plasmapheresis and also review the indications, complications and guidelines for repetitive plasma exchange.
Blood Platelets ; Female ; HELLP Syndrome* ; Hemolysis ; Liver ; Plasma Exchange ; Plasmapheresis* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the independence levels of ADL and the function of affected and unaffected hands using Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) at subacute and chronic stages of stroke. METHOD: Retrospective review was performed including unilateral stroke patients who had been admitted and evaluated with MBI and JHFT before discharge and 6 months after stroke onset. Correlations between sub-MBI related to hand function and JHFT were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with dominant hemispheric lesion and 13 patients with non-dominant hemispheric lesion were included in this analysis. The evaluation was performed at 43.2+/-28.0 days post-stroke before discharge and followed at 200.0+/-46.1 days post-stroke. MBI scores and the JHFT scores of affected hand were significantly increased in both groups. At the time of discharge, both groups showed significant correlations between MBI scores and the JHFT scores of unaffected hand, but at 6 months post-stroke, significant correlations were found between MBI scores and the JHFT scores of dominant hand. Improvement of the 'stacking checker' item was significantly correlated with improvement of MBI in both groups. CONCLUSION: In subacute stage, MBI reflects the function of unaffected hand, but in chronic stage, it rather reflects the function of dominant hand. The results suggest that rehabilitation concerning hand function may need different approach according to the lesion laterality.
Activities of Daily Living ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Functional Laterality ; Hand* ; Humans ; Rehabilitation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVES: For successful adoption of legislation controlling registration and assessment of chemical substances, it is important to obtain sufficient toxicological experimental evidence and other related information. It is also essential to obtain a sufficient number of predicted risk and toxicity results. Particularly, methods used in predicting toxicities of chemical substances during acquisition of required data, ultimately become an economic method for future dealings with new substances. Although the need for such methods is gradually increasing, the-required information about reliability and applicability range has not been systematically provided. METHODS: There are various representative environmental and human toxicity models based on quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR). Here, we secured the 10 representative QSAR-based prediction models and its information that can make predictions about substances that are expected to be regulated. We used models that predict and confirm usability of the information expected to be collected and submitted according to the legislation. After collecting and evaluating each predictive model and relevant data, we prepared methods quantifying the scientific validity and reliability, which are essential conditions for using predictive models. RESULTS: We calculated predicted values for the models. Furthermore, we deduced and compared adequacies of the models using the Alternative non-testing method assessed for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals Substances scoring system, and deduced the applicability domains for each model. Additionally, we calculated and compared inclusion rates of substances expected to be regulated, to confirm the applicability. CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated and compared the data, adequacy, and applicability of our selected QSAR-based toxicity prediction models, and included them in a database. Based on this data, we aimed to construct a system that can be used with predicted toxicity results. Furthermore, by presenting the suitability of individual predicted results, we aimed to provide a foundation that could be used in actual assessments and regulations.
Humans ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Social Control, Formal

PURPOSE: The postpubertal males with unilateral cryptorchidism undergo orchiectomy rather than orchiopexy, which is based on the various reports in its effect on fertility and predisposition to testicular cancer. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical features and histopathological findings of orchiectomized testes and investigated the role of orchiectomy in the postpubertal unilateral cryptorchidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 42 patients with postpubertal unilateral cryptorchidism who underwent orchiectomy from 1986 to 1998, retrospectively. Patient`s age ranged from 15 to 47 years(mean 26.4). The cryptorchid testes were palpable in 33 cases(79%) and impalpable in 9 cases(21%). We classified cryptorchid testes histopathologically into 2 broad groups of specimens with no spermatogenesis(severe atrophy and/or Sertoli cell-only syndrome) and specimens displaying spermatogenesis(maturation arrest, hypospermatogenesis). In 38 cases of all orchiectomized specimens, testicular volume was calculated by Lambert`s formula. RESULTS: Histopathology showed maturation arrest in 8 cases(19%) while 34 cases(81%) had severe atrophy and/or Sertoli cell-only syndrome. No case of carcinoma in situ or cancer was found in testicular tissue. The location of the cryptorchid testes was the prepubic area in 13(31%), inguinal canal in 23(55%), and abdomen in 6(14%). There was a statistically significant difference in the relationship between the presence and absence of spermatogenesis in cryptorchid testes and the anatomical levels of descent(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the relationship between testicular volume and the location of cryptorchid testes, between testicular volume and patient`s age(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Currently, orchiectomy is mostly advocated for a postpubertal unilateral cryptorchid testis because of the risk of future malignancy. But we consider that orchiopexy is a valuable modality of treatment for postpubertal unilateral cryptorchid testis, especially located at prepubic area, after performing testis biopsy and then periodic follow-up is required.
Abdomen ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Cryptorchidism* ; Fertility ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; Male ; Orchiectomy* ; Orchiopexy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome ; Spermatogenesis ; Testicular Neoplasms ; Testis

BACKGROUND: Diverse injury to central nervous system results in proliferation and hypertrophy of astrocytes. The hallmark of this response is enhanced expression of the major intermediate filament protein of astrocyte, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP). These obsevations suggested that GFAP may be a useful biochemical indicator of neurotoxicity. This study is designed for investigating the chronological effects of the thiamine deficiency on the astrogrial GFAP immunoreactivity in the rat forebrain, and for comparing the difference between time-sequenital morphological changes of luxol fast blue-cresyl violet stain reported in previous study and GFAP immunoreactivity. METHODS: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley strain rats, weighing about 200gm were used as experimental animals(10 control, 30 thiamine deficient rats). Pyrithiamine was injected intraperitonially for 9 days and thiamine deficient diet was continuously supplied until sacrifice. Thiamine deficient rats were subdivided into 3 groups according to thiamine deficient state. Immunohistochemical stains for GFAP in the regions of thalamus, medial mammillary nucleus and CA1 sector in hippocampus were performed by free floating method in cell culture plate. All preperations were observed with light microscope. RESULTS: GFAP immunoactivities at thalamus were tracely positive(+) in controls, strongly positive(+++) in group I, and moderately positive(++) in group II and III. But GFAP immunoactivities at medial mammillary nucleus were tracely positive( ) in controls, moderately positive(++) in group I and III , and strongly positive(+++) in group II. At the CA1 region of hippocampus, the immunoactivities were weakly positive in controls , strongly positive(+++) in group I and II, and moderately positive(++) in group III. The diverse patterns of GFAP immunoreactivities in each vulnerable site were different from the previous morphological study. In luxol-fast and cresyl violet staining, the neuronal damage and necrosis were marked in group III, group II, and group I, in that order, which findings are consistent in all regions. CONCLUSIONS: Different patterns of time-sequential GFAP immunoactivities at each vulnerable site suggest that there are regional differences in sensitivity and resistance to thiamine deficiency.
Animals ; Astrocytes ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Central Nervous System ; Coloring Agents ; Diet ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein* ; Hippocampus ; Hypertrophy ; Intermediate Filaments ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Pyrithiamine ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thalamus ; Thiamine Deficiency* ; Thiamine* ; Viola

No abstract available.
Animals ; Chiroptera* ; Korea* ; Murinae* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Puumala virus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on cell death pattern in neuronal development of chick embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We planned to compare the cytokinetic features in the normal chick embryo and those with BPA. Fifteen eggs were divided into three GROUPS: the control group, BPA 50 microgram/g egg group and BPA 200 microgram/g egg group. Embryos were incubated for 56 hours (Hamburger & Hamilton stage 16) and then we injected BPA into embryos. The embryos were sectioned by 3 micrometer thickness at the level of wing buds and stained at 72 hours after incubation (HH stage 18). We observed cell death in the spinal cord using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: The TUNEL-positivity markedly increased in proportion to the doses of BPA. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per section was 15.2+/-2.14 in the control group, 34.6+/-3.44 in the BPA 50 microgram/g egg group, 87.6+/-4.32 in the BPA 200 g/g egg group. Furthermore the contour of spinal cord was deformed as the doses of BPA raised. CONCLUSION: BPA causes neuronal cell death and exerts cytotoxic effect on early chick embryos. It suggests that BPA might have an effect on cytogenesis during neural tube development.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Cell Death ; Chick Embryo ; Eggs ; Embryonic Structures ; Neural Tube ; Neurons ; Ovum ; Phenols ; Spinal Cord ; Wings, Animal