OBJECTIVES: lschemic acute renal failure(ARF) is characterized by an abrupt and sustained decline in GFR within minutes to days after renal ischemia and not immediately reversed on restoration of renal blood flow. The typical delay of a few days to a few weeks suggests reversible parenchymal damage awaiting cell regeneration for functional recovery. Many potentially cell damaging factors, such as ATP depletion, plasma membrane phospholipid degradatian and superoxide-induced membrane damage, play a central part in ischemic injury. More recently, much attention has been focused on the role of calcium, especially ischemic cell injury and the possible therapeutic role of calcium channel blockers emerged from studies conducted several years ago. In the past, it was thought that activation of renin-angiotensin system plays a role in the pathogenesis of ARF. Now the role of angiotensin in human renal ischemia also appears to be controversial. The following study was done in order to investigate the effect of a calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, on gene expression of renin during acute ischemic renal injury. METHODS: The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups, group I(n=3) as the control, group II (n=3) as the sham operation group, group III(n=15) as the ischemic renal injury group without nifedipine pretreatment, and group IV(n=15) as the ischemic renal injury model by right nephrectomy and left renal artery clamping for 40 minutes with systemic nifedipine pretreatment(10mg/kg), 1n ischemic renal injury model(group III and IV), rats were further divided into three subgroups according to reperfusion time of 1,24,72 hours. The non-ischemic right kidney removed at the time of initial procedure served as paired control. Total renal RNA was extracted by Chomczynskis method and electrophoresis was done in a 1% agarose gel containing 2,2M formaldehyde. Northern was performed at 42degrees C with isotope labeled renin probe for 18 hours, Autoradiographs were obtained and quantitated by a densitometer measured at 530nm. RESULTS: 1) The expression of renin gene was markedly decreased after renal ischemia and slowly recovered to one half of the control level after 72 hours of reperfusion. 2) Renin gene expression pattern of ischemic renal injury with prior nifedipine treatment was similar to the ischemic group without nifedipine pretreatment. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the renin gene expression was markedly decreased after renal ischemia and slowly recovered. Systemic nifedipine pretreatment does not have a significant effect on gene expression pattern of renin in ischemic renal injury.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Angiotensins ; Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels* ; Calcium* ; Cell Membrane ; Constriction ; Electrophoresis ; Formaldehyde ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Membranes ; Nephrectomy ; Nifedipine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation ; Renin* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Reperfusion ; RNA ; Sepharose

We had experienced 2 cases of acute subdural hematoma due to vitaimin K(vit. K) deficiency. They were 44-and 42-day-old. After the adminstration of vit.K1, prolonged prothrombin time(PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT) were corrected, so the surgical treatment ws performed. We supposed the predisposing factors were breast feeding and unknown hepatic pathology. No complication remained to one infant but the other multiple cerebral infarctions. The etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention are discussed. We insist on neonatal administration of vit. K1 for the prevention of bleeding tendency. If intracranial hemorrhage develops, we must keep in mind that the early neurosurgical intervention may be needed.
Breast Feeding ; Causality ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diagnosis ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Pathology ; Prothrombin ; Prothrombin Time ; Thromboplastin ; Vitamin K Deficiency ; Vitamins*

ICAM-l(Intercellular adhesion molecule-1) is an important early marker of immune activation and response. ICAM-1 is expressed on varous cell types and observed in a variety of diseases, including patients with asthma, melanoma, prostatic cancer, ovarian and colon cancer. Some authors demonstrated the expression of ICAM-1 protein in high-grade intraepithelial squamous neoplasia of cervix by immunohistochemistry and suggested that the expression was related to human papillomavirus infection. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, Serum levels of sICAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), We evaluate invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (40), carcinoma in situ (16) and control (15) patients. Serum levels of sICAM-1 in healthy volunteers, in parients with carcinoma in situ and invasive cervical cancer were 150.1+/-41.3, 182.7+/-105.9, 189.8+/-60.0 ng/ml, respectively. Although the serum levels of sICAM-1 in patients with carcinoma in situ did not increase, serum levels of ICAM-1 in patients with invasive cervical cancer were significantly increased (control vs invasive cervical cancer, p < 0,05). From the above results, sICAM-1 is shed from the cancerous tissue in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
Asthma ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Melanoma ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

One of the commonest and most serious problems of the injured hand is flexion contractures of the fingers. Such deformities not only functionally impair the digit, but also reduce or restrict the functional capability of the entire hand. We reviewed 150 digits of 73 patients with flexion contractures of the fingers which had been treated at National Medical Center from Jan. 1976 to Dec. 1985. The results were as follows: 1. The duration of flexion contractures which were scattered from 4 months to 17 years and average duration of contracture was 20.6 months. 2. The methods of treatment were Z-plasty, adhesiolysis, capsulotomy, excision of both collateral ligaments, stripping of extensor mechanism and volar plate and release of flexor tendon sheath according to injury mechanism and duration of contracture. 3. The postoperative results showed up 32 (21.3%) excellent, 78 (52%) good, 24 (16%) fair and 16 (10.7%) poor. 4. The postoperative results of burned injury which showed up-8 excellent, 11 good out of 20 cases they are supposed to have satisfactory results. 5. Crushing injury which had intraarticular fracture or comminution show up unsatisfactory results. 6. It seems obvious that the early active motion of interphalangeal joint is important to improve joint function. 7. The arc of motion was retained in a more functional position postoperatively than preoperatively.
Burns ; Clinical Study ; Collateral Ligaments ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Joints ; Tendons

For the reconstruction of various tissue defects, free tissue transfer has been a very popular method in recent years. A large thin flap is required for aesthetic and functional resurfacing of the extremity defects. As a result, anterolateral thigh free flap has been thought to be useful in reconstructing soft tissue defects requiring thin flap coverage of extremities. The anterolateral thigh flap is a septocutaneous flap based on the septocutaneous or musculocutaneous perforators of the lateral femoral circumflex system. It supplies a large area of skin on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. The advantages of this flap are safe elevation, a long vascular pedicle, and large caliber vessel. The donor scar is inconspicuous and it could also be used in a sensated flap. From September 1996 to December 1997, 16 cases of soft tissue defect on extremities were resurfaced with anterolateral thigh free flap and the outcomes were satisfactory. This flap is considered useful in one-stage reconstruction of large soft tissue defects of extremities.
Cicatrix ; Equipment and Supplies ; Extremities* ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Skin ; Thigh* ; Tissue Donors

We have experienced an unusual case of hemorrhagic renal cyst in the rt. kidney at 58 years old woman. The Rt. kidney was enlarged, and showed a few subcapsular ischemic areas The color of kidney was dark brown. As the cyst at lower pole of rt. kidney was dissected, hemorrhagic fluid visualized in the cystic cavity. The final pathologic finding was renal cyst associated with malignant change and renal cell carcinoma at another renal parenchyma. Herein, hemorrhagic renal cyst, a rare clinical entity, was reported with review of literatures.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Middle Aged

The latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous flap is one of the most useful flaps in reconstructive surgery. This flap has many advantages, such as its reliable anatomy, long pedicle with large caliber vessels, minimal functional deficit of the donor site, and low incidence of donor site complications. However, the bulkiness of the flap has been considered a disadvantage, so various modifications of technique have been devised. The cutaneous portion of the flap can be safely elevated based on the cutaneous perforating branch of the thoracodorsal vessel. From March 1997 to February 1998, 10 patients underwent reconstructive procedures with thoracodorsal perforator-based free flaps. The composition of the flaps varied in accordance with the nature of the defect. The variances in the flaps were as follows; 3 were cutaneous, 6 musculocutaneous, and 1 osteomusculocutaneous including the rib. All flaps survived with good contour. We concluded that this thin and reliable flap was useful for reconstruction of various defects, and that the composition of the flap, such as subcutaneous, muscle and bone, gave it considerable flexibility as needed.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Pliability ; Ribs ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Hearing* ; Humans

Horizontal tear of the meniscus occurs most commonly in older patients. The tear begins initially with a simple horizontal cleavage which divides the meniscus into superior and inferior leaves resembling a fish mouth and which may become a flap or more complex tear with time if subjected to repeated injury. Thirty-four patients(36knees/40menisci) with horizontal tear of the meniscus, treated with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy except in 3 extensive tears at Ulsan University Hospital from Jan. 1993 to Jun. 1996, were analyzed to investigate the factors that may be associated with this type of meniscal tear, and the results were as follows; 1. The tears commonly occurred in labor workers(61.7%) and without obvious trauma history(67.6%), and the average age at the time of surgery was 44 years. 2. The most common site of the tear was posterior horn of the medial meniscus (62.5%). 3. The 40 horizontal tears consisted of 12 horizontaVcleavage(30%), 3 horizontaVflap(7.5%), and 25 horizontaUdegenerative complex tears(62.5%). 4. Degenerative changes were frequently noted in both arthroscopy(69.5%) and roentgenography (72.2%).
Animals ; Horns ; Humans ; Menisci, Tibial ; Mouth ; Radiography ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Spine*