We were experienced a case of sclerema neonatorum which was developed in a 13 days old newborn, and we report it with a brief review.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Sclerema Neonatorum*

PURPOSE: Down-regulation of E-cadherin is a hallmark of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT progression in cancer cells is associated with the loss of certain epithelial markers and the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype, as well as migratory activities. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis in colon cancer. This study investigated the relationship between E-cadherin and COX-2 in colon cancer cells and human colon tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Colon cancer cell lines and immunohistochemistry were used. RESULTS: E-cadherin expression was inversely related to the expressions of COX-2 and Snail in colon cancer cells. Ectopic expression of COX-2 or Snail reduced E-cadherin and induced a scattered, flattened phenotype with few intercellular contacts in colon cancer cells. Treatment of cancer cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased the expressions of COX-2 and Snail, decreased 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression, and increased the cells' motility. In addition, exposure to prostaglandin E2 increased Snail expression and cell motility, and decreased E-cadherin expression. Membranous E-cadherin expression was lower in adenomas and cancers than in the adjacent, non-neoplastic epithelium. In contrast, the expressions of Snail and COX-2 were higher in cancers than in normal tissues and adenomas. The expressions of COX-2 and Snail increased in areas with abnormal E-cadherin expression. Moreover, COX-2 expression was related to higher tumor stages and was significantly higher in nodal metastatic lesions than primary cancers. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that COX-2 may have a role in tumor metastasis via EMT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Cadherins/genetics/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation/genetics/physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects/genetics ; Colonic Neoplasms/*metabolism/*pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/metabolism/*physiology ; Dinoprostone/pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; Epithelium/*metabolism ; Female ; HT29 Cells ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesoderm/*cytology/*metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology ; Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism

Various sequences have been developed for MRI to aid in the radiologic diagnosis. Among the various MR sequences, susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a high-spatial-resolution, threedimensional gradient-echo MR sequence, which is very sensitive in detecting deoxyhemoglobin, ferritin, hemosiderin, and bone minerals through local magnetic field distortion. In this regard, SWI has been used for the diagnosis and treatment of various neurologic disorders, and the improved image quality has enabled to acquire more useful information for radiologists.Here, we explain the principle of various signals on SWI arising in neurological disorders and provide a retrospective review of many cases of clinically or pathologically proven disease or components with distinctive imaging features of various neurological diseases. Additionally, we outline a short and condensed overview of principles of SWI in relation to neurological disorders and describe various cases with characteristic imaging features on SWI. There are many different types diseases involving the brain parenchyma, and they have distinct SWI features.SWI is an effective imaging tool that provides complementary information for the diagnosis of various diseases.

Metabolic encephalopathy is a critical condition that can be challenging to diagnose. Imaging provides early clues to confirm clinical suspicions and plays an important role in the diagnosis, assessment of the response to therapy, and prognosis prediction. Diffusion-weighted imaging is a sensitive technique used to evaluate metabolic encephalopathy at an early stage.Metabolic encephalopathies often involve the deep regions of the gray matter because they have high energy requirements and are susceptible to metabolic disturbances. Understanding the imaging patterns of various metabolic encephalopathies can help narrow the differential diagnosis and improve the prognosis of patients by initiating proper treatment regimen early.

PURPOSE: Due to its size and locatin, the liver is frequently injured in abdominal trauma. Recently, nonoperative management for liver injuries has been extended due to the development CT imaging, intensive care units, and their equipment and techniques. Herein, patients with traumatic liver injury were analyzed to evaluate its treatment and prognostic factors. METHODS: From 2001, January to 2003, July, 65 patients at our facility were confirmed to have traumatic liver injury. The operative or nonoperative managements were decided on the basis of the systolic blood pressure if no peritoneal irritation sign was noted. If the systolic blood pressure was stable, or recovered to within the normal range following hydration and transfusion at the emergency room, patients were managed nonoperatively. Hemodynamically unstable patients were managed operatively. The data were analysed using the SPSS program (Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses). RESULTS: 48 patients were treated nonoperatively, with 3 mortalities. The overall mortality rate was 15.8%, but only 6.4% in the nonoperative management group, compared to 67% in operative management group. In a Multivariate analysis the systolic blood pressure was found to be a reliable factor in traumatic liver injury and the mentality and ISS (injury severity score) reliable in finding complications in the nonoperative management group. The mentality was found statistically reliable for determining mortality in the operative management group, with the exception for the systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The systolic blood pressure was an important indicator when considering the treatment plan in traumatic liver injury. An extensive study will be required that incorporates both nonoperative and operative management groups.
Blood Pressure ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: Calcium-activated potassium channels(KCa) may be involved in the transient outward current of the first phase of cardiac action potential. But it is still not clear whether cardiac myocytes express any Kca. We try to identify here the types of Kc, expressed in rat caridac myocytes. METHODS: We isolated total heart RNA from 50 rats(Spague-Dawley) and performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) using specifically designed synthetic oligonucleotide primer sets. From the pure culture of cardiac myocyte, Kc, gene expression was detected by Southern blot analysis. RESULTS: RT-PCR revealed expressions of BKca(large-conductance Kca, rSlo) and S&,(small-conductance Kca, rSK1). We prepared cardiac myocytes pure culture(>9596 pure myocyte) using pure culture technique. RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis of rat cardiac myocyte showed only rSK1-specific band, but no rSlo-specific was detected. CONCLUSION: The expressions of more than one type of Kca are detected from rat heart. A sub-type of SKcrSK1, was expressed in cardiac myocyte, while the main subunit of BKca(rSlo) was found in cells other than myocytes, most likely in the smooth muscle of cardiac blood vessels.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Southern ; Culture Techniques ; Gene Expression ; Heart ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated* ; Rats* ; RNA

Hemimegalencephaly is a rare congenital malformation of the cortical development arising from abnormal proliferation of anomalous neuronal and glial cells. The characteristic clinical manifestations are macrocephaly, psycomotor retardation, intractable seizure and hemihypertrophy of face, body and extremities, but musculoskeletal deformities are reported only in case of epidermal nevus syndrome. We report a case of hemimegalencephaly that was associated with foot deformity, without symptoms and signs of epidermal nevus syndrome.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Extremities ; Foot Deformities ; Foot Deformities, Congenital ; Macrocephaly ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Nevus ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn ; Seizures

Pontine hematoma would be diagnosed and made its follow-up readily as the extent of hematoma could be clearly defined since the CT scan was available, especially with MRI in recent. Authors attemped to analyse 20 cases of pontine hematoma clinically, considering factors of influence their prognosis, admitted in Inha hospital from March 1989 to February 1992. Classification of pontine hematoma was made out according to the findings of brain CT scan taken on admission:2 cases of Type T1 to the hematoma localized in the tegmentum unilaterally, 1 case of Type T to those in the tegmentum bilaterally with some extent into the 4th ventricle, 12 in Type T to those in the tegmentum, midbrain and mostly the 4th ventricle, and 5 in Type B to those in the basis pontis mainly with tegmentum and midbrain. Of 219 spontaneous intracerebral hematoma, pontine hematoma was 9.1%. 17 hypertension and 11 previous CVA episodes including 7 cerebral infarction and 4 ICH were endountered. Age distribution was 50% in 6th decade and male to female ratio was 3:2. On admission 14 cases were under 6 in Glasgow coma scale, 6 small reactive pupils and 11 ocular bobbing. Particularly, nuclear facial paralysis was 14 in initial bilateral type, of which 7 dead within 10 days, 5 fixed in left facial paralysis and 1 case into right paralysis later. Four surgical interventions were 1 simple EVD, 1 Urokinase irrigation through EVD, 1 steretactic aspiration and 1 direct hematoma removal. Prognosis was related to various factos:GCS on entry, volume and classification of hematoma, in addition to laterality of nuclear facial paralysis. Clinical course was better in cases over 10 GCS on entry, volume and classification of hematoma, in addition to laterality of nuclear facial paralysis. Clinical course was better in cases over 10 GCS, Type T1 and T2, and unilateral facial paralysis in which the ratio of left to right was 2:1, while it was very poor in patients who were GCS below 6, Type B and bilateral facial paralysis. On the contrary, 7 of 20 cases were dead within 10 days, 13 patients alive for more 3 months after the hemorrhage were observed with fixed facial paralysis in nuclear type, 1 ilateral, 4 right, and 8 left side. It is suggested and requested for further careful follow-up that the hemorrhage may occur from the border zone between paramedian, short and long circumferential arteries supplying transection area of the pons unilaterally, near on around the facial nucleus, more frequent in left side.
Age Distribution ; Arteries ; Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Classification ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesencephalon ; Paralysis ; Pons ; Prognosis* ; Pupil ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator