Recently attention has been focused on the biology of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1, a potent regulator of cell proliferation, stimulates the proliferation of many cell types of mesenchymal origin and inhibits the growth of many epithelial cells. But its cellular distribution and temporal expression remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically the cellular distribution and temporal expression of TGF-beta1 during rat hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). At an early stage of liver fibrosis, there was evidence of multiple centrilobular hemorrhagic necrosis with parenchymal lobular collapse, and at a late stage, there was septal fibrosis with micronodule formation of the parenchyme. TGF-beta1 peptide was first expressed in centrilobular clusters of macrophage which were surrounded by many TGF-beta1 negative fat-storing cells (FSCs). Along with the progression of fibrosis, the TGF-beta1 peptide was expressed in the alpha-smooth muscle actin positive FSCs and also in some peripherally located hepatocytes of micronodules. Serum IFN-gamma was detected in the serum 2 weeks after an initial administration of DMN had reached the peak level at the 4th week and then markedly decreased at the 5th week. We think that TGF-beta1 peptide is produced by macrophages influenced by soluble IFN-gamma, and is expressed in the -smooth muscle actin positive mesenchymal cells and regenerating hepatocytes, and that this cytokine may have an important role in the synthesis of the extracellular matrix and in the regulation of hepatocytic regeneration.
Actins ; Animals ; Biology ; Cell Proliferation ; Dimethylnitrosamine* ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1*

The author examined the immunophenotype and expression of Epstem-Barr virus RNA (EBERs) used in the situ hybridization technique in 20 cases of conventional malignant lymphoma and 28 cases of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis occured in the upper aerodigestive tract including the upper digestive tract(palatine tonsil), and upper respiratory tract(nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, nasopharynx). The results obtained were summarized as followings; 1. The favorable site of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was in the palatine tonsil(11 out of 20 cases, 55%), those of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis were nasal cavity and nasopharynx(19 out of 28 cases, 78%). 2. The immunophentype of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was mostly B-cell phenotype (15 out of 20 cases, 75%), and that of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis was predominantly T-cell phenotype(22 out of 28 cases, 79%). 3. The EBERs positivity of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was 25%(5 out of 20 cases), but that of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis was 57%(16 out of 28 cases). 4. The positive cases for EBERs revealed angiocentricity with necrosis(16 out of 21 cases, 76%), predominantly T-cell phenotype(19 out of 21 cases, 90%), and favorably involved the nasal cavity and nasopharynx(16 out of 21 cases, 76%). Based on the above results, it was concluded that polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis that occurred in the upper respiratory tract was an EBV-positive angiocentric T-cell lymphoma favorably involving the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.

Treatment of chronic localized osteomyelitis is the same as the other osteomyelitis, that is, curettage and debridement of all dead tissue which is called saucerization. After saucerization there leaves empty cavity and autogenous bone graft has been used for filling the cavity in lower extremity hecause of weight bearing and avoiding fracture. We treated seven cases of chronic localized osteomyelitis with one-staged saucerization and cancellous chip allograft and retrospective analysis was done. All healed without complication and no recurrence was ohserved. Most orthopaedic surgeons are not willing to use allograft on the site of osteomyelitis because of the fear of recurrence. But. we think that as far as complete removal of infected and dead tissue, allograft could he a good solution in terms of rapid remodelling and early weight hearing. Another advantages of allograft are to get a large amount of bone and no damage of iliac apophysis. In summary, one-staged saucerization and cancellous chip allograft would he very useful treatment for chronic localized osteomyelitis.
Allografts* ; Curettage ; Debridement ; Hearing ; Lower Extremity ; Osteomyelitis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: Melanosis coli, which is a relatively common disease encountered during colonoscopy, is a brownish or blackish pigmentation of the colon and is associated with the ingestion of anthraquinone compounds. Its histopathological pathogenesis is recognized as colonic epithelial apoptosis. This study was designed to identify the relation between melanosis coli and the colonic transit time, as well as the relation between melanosis coli and other clinical characteristics. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of 80 patients with melanosis coli who had been diagnosed by colonoscopy between Jan. 1997 and Sep. 1998. The colonic transit time was checked in 26 cases of patients with melanosis coli and in 28 cases of patients with constipation without melanosis coli by using the multiple marker bolus technique. RESULTS: 1) The frequency of melanosis coli in patients undergoing a total colonoscopy was 1.25% (80/6422). 2) The age distribution was 20 to 76 years old (mean: 49). The grade of melanosis coli seemed to be related with age. 3) The four causative agents related with melanosis coli were anthraquinone compounds (69.2%), tea (12.3%), herbs (12.3%) and health foods in that order. 4) The duration of medication was from 2 months to 20 years (mean: 48 months). The grade of melanosis coli seemed to be related with the duration of medication. 5) The colonic transit time was normal in 11 cases (42.3%) and delayed in 15 cases (57.5%) of melanosis coli and normal in 10 cases (35.7%) and delayed in 18 cases (64.3%) of patients with constipation without melanosicoli. 6) Colon polyps were detected in 12 cases (15%). However, no relation between the incidence of colon polyps and either the grade of melanosis coli or the duration of medication was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Melanosis coli is a marker of ingestion of some drugs, such as anthraquinone compounds, and/or some kinds of acidic polysaccharides. Melanosis coli is not an indicator of colonic motility disorder or a danger signal for colon polyps or cancer.
Age Distribution ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Constipation ; Eating ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Melanosis* ; Pigmentation ; Polyps ; Polysaccharides ; Tea

Benign solitary schwannoma of the chest wall is a rare disease of nerve sheath origin A 43-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital for right upper quandrant pain Chest X-ray shows nonspecific finding, ultrasonography & CT scan revealed a solid tumor on the right lateral chest wall. On aspiration needle biopsy, this mass was turned out to be a schwannoma of the right lateral chest wall. This mass was excised surgically in an encapsulated state by right lateral thoracotomy. Histological section revealed a typical schwannoma, which is characterized by Antoni A and Antoni B tissues of high & low cellularity.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Female ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma* ; Rare Diseases ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis(OA) of the knee represents a common chronic disease, especially in the elderly, leading to functional impairment and disability. And OA patients have depressive symptoms frequently. Several factors contribute to the level of depressive symptoms. Authors tried to assess these factors and show effect of these factors to depressive symptoms. Through this study in the future physicians must consider psychiatric problems besides the pain itself in the treatment of OA patients. METHODS: Subjects included in this study were 64 knee joint OA patients. We obtained depressive symptoms from the CES-D(The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale), level of pain, stiffness, functional disability from KWOMAC(WOMAC Korean Version 2, The Korean version of Western Ontario and Macmaster Osteoarthritis Index Score) and other factors able to contribute to depressive symptoms. RESULT: We divided the patients into two groups using CES-D cut-off score of 21. Each group consists of 46(CES-D<21) and 18(CES-D> or =21) patients. Frequency of sleep disturbance and pain consistency and level of pain, stiffness and functional disability were different significantly between two groups(p<0.0l). Through the correlation analysis level of pain, stiffness and functional disability were associated with CES-D score significantly(p<0.0l). And through the stepwise multiple regression analysis we demonstratred that the CES-D score influenced by level of functional disability, BMI, disease duration and, pain but only level of functional disability and BML were statistically significant(p<0.0l). Level of functional disability explained 46% of CES-D score(partial R2=0.46) so influenced on depressive symptoms most effectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that functional disability was most important factors to explain depressive symptoms of knee joint OA patients.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis*

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis(OA) has become one of the most important medical problem among the old age because it causes severe functional disability, but, up to date, the therapeutic methods for OA have not been so satisfactory to the patients with OA. Authors have investigated the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation(IMS) therapy as an substitutive therapy for the relief of pain and dysfunction in patients with OA of the knee. METHODS: Eighteen patients who had visited the department of family medicine, Korea university anam hospital, with symptomatic OA of the knee during the period from March 1 to May 31. 2001 were included in this study and treated with IMS therapy on the quadriceps and hamstring muscles four times during two weeks. Patients self-scored Korean Western Ontario and McMaster universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) at baseline and after the last therapy. The result was analysed by paired t-test and ANOVA. RESULT: Patients improved on KWOMAC scales for pain, stiffness, function and total scores after IMS therapy(p<0.05). The demographic characteristics such as body mass index (BML), duration of disease, affected site, radiologic finding did not have influence on the result of this study. No adverse effects of IMS therapy were reported. CONCLUSION: In this study, the improvement of pain, stiffness, and function of knee joint after treatment was reported. This study suggest that IMS is an effective and safe substitutive therapy for patients with OA of Knee.
Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Korea ; Muscles ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis* ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.

Penetrating autokeratoplasty for optical has seldom been reported in recent literature. The patien presented here is a male, aged 31, farmer, who had a dense extensive corneal scar in his right eye. Keratoplasty, 6.5mm in disc diameter. 8 edge-to-edge direct sutures, postoperative beta-radiation, had been performed eventlessly on July 15. 1964 and postoperative reaction was minimum. The visual acuity improved from counting finger 30cm to 0.1 of Landolt's broken ring chart after 4 months of follow up observation. Minimum postoperative complication makes authors postulate autoplasty is relatively safe procedure.
Cicatrix ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Sutures ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.