We conducted electron microscopic observation of twenty diabetic preretinal membranes removed during vitrectomy. Membranes were composed of many different types of cells and vessels and intercellular substance. Vessels of develping stage had forming narrow lumen and endothelium showed pinocytic vesicles and apical microvilli, and surrounded with vascular pericytes and multilayed basement membrane. Vessels of mature stage had large lumen and endothelium was flat. In vessels of regressing stage, lumen was obstructed with plug of red blood cells and endothelial cells were degenerating with abundant residual bodies. Pericytes also showed degenerative change. Most of junctions between endothelial cells wer tight junciton in all stage of vessels, but incomplete form of tight junction with open intercellular cleft was found more frequently in vessels of immature stage. Cells found in membranes were fibroblast, macrophage, myofibroblast, fibrous astrocyte in frequency. Extravascular plasma cell and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were observed occasionally. Intercellular substance was lagely composed of mature collagen. These results suggest incomplete endothelial junctions may be partly responsible for permeability of diabetic new vessels, and degenerated endothelium and pericyte may contribute to vitreous hemorrhage.
Astrocytes ; Basement Membrane ; Collagen ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Erythrocytes ; Fibroblasts ; Macrophages ; Membranes* ; Microvilli ; Myofibroblasts ; Neutrophils ; Pericytes ; Permeability ; Plasma Cells ; Tight Junctions ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

No Abstract Available.
Adult* ; Female ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Toxocariasis*

No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Endocarditis*

The authors reivewed retrospectively the medical records and pathologic slides of 18 patients with the orbital lymphoid tumors that had been confirmed pathologically. Pathologic diagnoses were as follows : 14 cases of pseudolymphoma (benign reactive hyperplasia), 2 cases of atypical lymphoid hyperplasia and 2 cases of malignant lymphoma. Of the 18 patients, 7 cases were male and 11 were female. The average age at first visit was 53 years. Palpable or visible mass was the most frequent presenting symptom. There were no significant differences in clinical characterstics and radiologic findings between benign and malignant tumors. Determination of clonality of tumors by immunohistochemical study was useful method to differentate pseudolymphoma and atypical lymphoid hyperplasia from malignant lymphoma. An accompanying systemic disease was not found in all cases. All patients were received local orbital irradiation. Regression or disappearance of masses was noted in all cases. No patient have experienced recurrence or development of systemic disease during the mean follow-up of 30 month.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Medical Records ; Orbit* ; Pseudolymphoma ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Alcoholism* ; Mass Screening*

Although there have been several reported cases of enterocolitis caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, its colonoscopic findings have not been reported in Korea. We recently experienced two cases of Y. enterocolitica enterocolitis, where the colonoscopic examinations were performed. Two patients visited our hospital due to right lower quadrant pain. The thickened terminal ileum and right side colon with enlarged mesenteric nodes were observed on ultrasonography using graded compression method. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from stool in both cases, The colonascopy revealed nodular elevations, erosion., hyperemia, and edema on the terminal ileum and small hyperemic erosions or aphthoid ulcers on the colon, especially on the right side of the colon. In one of the cases, the aphthoid ulcers could be also seen on the sigmoid colon. Their clinical symptoms and signs improved 3-5 days after their visit without using antibiotics. We report these cases with a review of the relevant literature.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Edema ; Enterocolitis* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Ileum ; Intestines* ; Korea ; Lymphadenitis* ; Stomach* ; Ulcer ; Ultrasonography ; Yemen* ; Yersinia enterocolitica* ; Yersinia*

No abstract available.
Cisapride* ; Gastric Emptying* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic*

OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver in non-obese persons is poorly understood. We aimed to elucidate whether hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance are associated with development of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with fatty liver were divided into non-obese (n = 25) and obese groups (n = 22) according to age adjusted body mass index. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) elevated transaminase levels during more than 3 months of follow up period, (2) no detectable HBsAg or anti-HCV in the serum, (3) alcohol consumption less than 40 gm/week, (4) no use of potential hepatotoxic drugs within 3 months and (4) sonographic evidence of fatty liver(moderate to severe degree). Baseline insulin levels and oral glucose tolerance test using 75gm of glucose were performed and the results were compared in each group of patients. RESULTS: Mean baseline insulin levels were elevated in both groups above the reference value, 9.3 +/- 3.5 microU/L in non-obese group and 9.9 +/- 3.5 microU/L in obese group (p = 0.26). Seventeen of non-obese patients (68%) had elevated basal insulin level and 16 of obese patients (73%) had elevated basal insulin level (p = 0.39). In oral glucose tolerance test, there was no difference in glucose level between non-obese and obese groups from O minute to 180 minutes (p > 0.05). Eleven patients from the non-obese group (44%) and 8 patients from the obese group (36%) had either impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes (p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in patients with normal body weight as well as in patients with obesity.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Fatty Liver/pathology ; Fatty Liver/etiology* ; Fatty Liver/blood ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance/complications* ; Human ; Insulin/blood* ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Age ; Obesity/complications

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) are neither destroyed nor produced in human body and may infiltrated into air, water, soil, food, human body and redistributed by biological and geographical circulation. With advent of recent industrialization detrimental heavy metal poisoning in human body is increased by industrial pollution. We aimed to establish the relative abilities of chelators to mobilized liver cadmium contents in chronic cadmium intoxication rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley albino male rats weighing 200 to 250 mg were used. All animals were loaded with 3 intraperitoneal injections of cadmium chloride (1.5 mg/kg) given at % hourly interval. Intraperitoneal injection of chelators commenced 1 week after the last loading injection and continued every 72 hour for a total of 10 injections. Chelators were given at a level of 1 mmole/kg (except 0.01 mmol/kg of BAL). The chelators used in present experiment are 1,2-diaminocyclohexane tetra acetate (CDTA), disodium calcium ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA), sodium 2.3-dimer capto propane sulfonate (DMPS), sodium di ethyl dithio carbamate (DDTC), dimercapto succinate (DMSA), 2,3-dimer capto propanol (BAL), diethylene triamine penta acetate (DTPA), triethylene tetr amine hexa acetate (TTHA), D-penicillamine(DPA), Nacetyl penicillamine (NAPA). RESULTS: 1) The residual liver cadmium content was reduced in rats administered DPA, EDTA, NAPA, CDTA, DDTC and DMSA (32%, 23%, 19%, 17%, 16% and 15% respectively) compared with control group. 2) The residual kidney cadmium content was reduced in rats administered DPA, DDTC, CDTA and EDTA (33%, 21%, 18% and 17% respectively) 3) The summation of residual cadmium content in liver and kidney was reduced in rats administered DPA, EDTA, DDTC and CDTA (33%, 20%, 18% and 17% respectively) compared with control group. CONCULUSIONS: We suggested that DPA, EDTA, CDTA and DDTC might have protective role against the toxic effects of cadmium.
1-Propanol ; Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Calcium ; Characidae ; Chelating Agents* ; Edetic Acid ; Human Body ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kidney ; Liver* ; Male ; Metals, Heavy ; Penicillamine ; Poisoning ; Propane ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; Soil ; Succimer ; Succinic Acid

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined computed tomography during arterial portography(CfAP) and computed tomography during hepatic arteriography(CBiA) are more sensitive methods compared to conventional spiral CT in detecting small hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there are few data available on the influence of combined CTAP and CTHA on decision making for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CTAP and CfHA as a preoperative study of hepatocellular carcinoma for surgical treatment. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with histologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma who were considered to be surgical candidates on spiral CT and angiography were included. CfAP and CTHA were performed as the routine protocol. The findings of CTAP and CTHA were analyzed and compared to conventianal spiral Cl and angiography. ReESULTS: 1) 105 nodules were found on spiral Cf plus angiography, whereas, 138 nodules found on combined CIAP and CTHA: 33 additional nodules were found in 23 cases(28%). 2) The treatment plan changed from surgery to nonsurgical treatment in 10(12%) cases: 9 cases(10%) with bilobar involvement, and 1 case (1%) with more than three nodules. 3) The larger the tumor nodules on the spiral CT, the more additional tumor nodules were found on CTAP and CTHA: combined CTAP and CTHA were able to find more nodules in 21% of tumor < 3cm, 27% of tumor with 3 - 10cm, and 71% of tumor >10cm on spiral CI' (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Compared to spiral CT plus angiography, CI'AP and CfHA may be useful in avoiding unnecessary operation of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in large tumors.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Tomography, Spiral Computed