The influences of adrenal corticosteroid on the development and regression of neurons of dentate and hippocampus were studied by adrenalectomy and steroid overload in neonatal rats. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The cell death occurred naturally in numerous dentate granule cells and hippocampal pyramidal cells. 2. The number of dentate granule cells undergoing cell death decreased by injection of adrenal corticosteroid, but increased in adrenalectomized rat brains. The changes occurred prominently at postnatal day 6. 3. The number of hippocampal pyramidal cells undergoing cell death decreased in CA3 region by injection of adrenal corticosteroid, but was not changed in adrenalectomized rat brains. However, other regions exhibited no change by adrenal corticosteroid and adrenalectomy. 4. The cell death of pyramidal cells of CA3 region occurred in close relationship with the cell death of dentate granule cells, which was different from other CA regions. In summary, the cell death of dentate and hippocampal neurons occurred naturally but seemed to be influenced by other factors as well as adrenal corticosteroid.
Adrenalectomy ; Animals ; Brain ; Cell Death ; Hippocampus* ; Neurons* ; Pyramidal Cells ; Rats*

Cambison ophthalmic ointment is an easily available topical medicament in Korea, However, the allergic contact dermatitis lo Cambison ophthalmic ointment has not been reported in Korean dermatology literature. We report, a case of allergic contact dermatitis in a 28-year-old female who suffered from itchy, erythematous patches on both periorbital areas. She wore contact lenses and for the last year, she hac applied Cambison ophthalmic ointment to both periorbital areas. The skin lesions were aggravated gradually. A patch test showed positive reactions to Cambison ophthalmic ointment, neomycin, mercury and thimerosal. We suspect neomycin contained in Cambison ophthalmic ointment to be the etiologic agent. When contact dermatitis occurs on periorbital areas, topical ophthalmic ointment or lens cleaner may be considered as a causative agent.
Adult ; Contact Lenses ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Neomycin ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Thimerosal

In systemic hypertension, capillary resistance is highly elevated and' contractility of vascular smooth muscle is elevated. This is due to increased calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the vascular smooth muscle. Recently, nifedipine, an antihypertensive medication which inhibits calcium uptake into the vascular smooth muscle is commonly used. It decreases the contractility of the vascular smooth muscle and causes the vessels to relax, which in turn lowers the blood pressure. In 1987, according to Rodriguez-Sargent et al. the increased incidence of cataract in Dahl-salt sensitive rats(DSR) was due to increasd water and sodium contents and decreased potassium content. In this investigative study on hypertension, the water, Sodium and potassium contents in Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats(SHR) were measured. After treatment with nifedipine in SHR, we observed decreased blood pressure along with the changes in water, sodium and potassium contents of the lenses. The following results were obtained from our experiments. 1. In normal SDR, The blood pressure did not decrease with nifedipine injection. 2. After 3-7 days of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR did not decrease. 3. After 2 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of the SHR decreased slightly and after 4 weeks of nifedipine injection bidaily, the blood pressure of SHR decreased significantly. 4. Water and sodium contents of SHR were higher than that of SDR and the potassium content was similar to that of SDR. 5. The elevated water and sodium contents of SHR decreased along with decrease of blood pressure, and after 2 weeks of nifedipine injection, showed similar level as the contents of SDR lenses. 6. Potassium contents of SHR lenses showed no change were similar to SDR lines except the 4 weeks nifedipine injection group which showed higher potasslum contents.
Animals ; Blood Pressure* ; Calcium ; Capillary Resistance ; Cataract ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nifedipine* ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Sodium ; Water*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was the development and validation of a scale to measure the self-care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) in Korea. METHOD: Self-care scale was developed based on the self-care activities patients had to carry out in order to manage their COPD. The original scale contained 34 items rated along a five-point Likert scale and was reviewed by 18 professional nurses and 10 Korean patients with COPD for content validity. Subsequently, patients with COPD were asked to complete this 23-item scale and further tests were done with the 125 useable responses. RESULT: Factor analysis identified eight factors- "maintaining a clean air way", "taking medication", "support from family", "preventing infection", "managing symptoms", "breathing exercising", and "taking in nutrition". The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's alpha=0.7226. These eight factors explained 60.8% of total variance. There was correlation among Korean Self-Care Scale score, administration level, and knowledge level but there was no correlation to patients' satisfaction with medical services. CONCLUSION: The 23 item questionnaire positively identified 8 areas defined important for COPD patients. Further studies are required to see how these can be integrated into patient education.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ion Channels ; Neurons ; Rats ; Trigeminal Ganglion

We report a case of Winkelmann granuloma in a 63-year-old man. nstopathological findings of the biopsy specimens from the lesions of the ear, finger and iliac crest area were compatible with Winkelmann granuloma. Winkelmann granuloma is a rare disorder showing an association with systemic immunoreactive disorders. Although our patient did not have any definite systemic disease, he had characteristic clinical and histopathological findings of Winkelmann granuloma, arthralgia, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, positivity to the rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies. Therefore, we believed that he was strongly suspected to have an unclassifiable systemic immunoreactive disease.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Blood Sedimentation ; Ear ; Fingers ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rheumatoid Factor

We report a case of histiocytoid hemangioma (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) in a 60 year-old female patient who was effectively treated with dapsone. The therapeutic effect of dapsone may support the hypothesis that immunologically mediated reactive process plays a role in the pathogenesis of histiocytoid hemangioma.
Dapsone* ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Middle Aged

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Child* ; Colon* ; Humans ; Mucins*

PURPOSE: This microethnographic study was performed to understand the survival experiences of patients after surgical resection of colorectal cancer. METHODS: In-depth interviews of seven male and six female patients with colorectal cancer were conducted after being observed. Digital-audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and then qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: The survival journeys of patients with colorectal cancer surgery were described as 'born again after going through an altered self-image'. This consists of 4 phases: 'Confrontation of the cancer diagnosis', 'Fierce compliance', 'Leveling off', and 'Born again'. Their self-images were significantly altered subsequent to confronting their cancer diagnosis. While they were in the phase of fierce compliance, patients were introverted from the outside world, but upon receiving help from a substantial supportive system including family, health professionals, peer patients, and religion, their internalized self-image was reinforced. This would significantly boost the patients' morale. Finally they felt born again with an emotional and spiritual self-image. CONCLUSION: Nursing intervention should be differentiated and specified according to the specific phase of the long term colorectal cancer survival journey. Colorectal cancer patients should be provided with a specialized nursing program to improve their self-images.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Female ; General Surgery ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Male ; Morale ; Nursing ; Self Concept ; Survivors

No abstract available.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Neonatal* ; Plasma*