No abstract available.
Animals ; Germinal Center* ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mice*

PURPOSE: The occurrence of traumatic aneurysm is rare in head injury, but this complication is important as it is a potentially treatable cause delayed onset of intracranial hemorrhage. Authors report one case of traumatic aneurysm involving A1 and A2 junction of anterior cerebral artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A-28-year-old man with traffic accident was examined with brain CT & cerebral angiography. RESULTS: l) Brain CT:lnitial scan shows multiple skull fractures involving right frontal bones with subarachnoid hemorrhage and pneumocephalus. Follow-up scan shows intracerebral hemorrhage at bilateral frontal lobes. 2) Cerebral angiography:A traumatic aneurysm which is slowly filling and delayed emptying is noted at the junctional portion of A1 and A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates radiologic findings of traumatic aneurysm at anterior cerebral artery with the brief review of the literatures.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Bone ; Frontal Lobe ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Pneumocephalus ; Skull Fractures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

No abstract available.
Electrocardiography, Ambulatory*

PURPOSE: The authors sought to determine the neuroprotective effect of melatonin in a model of ischemic injury in rabbit retina. METHODS: Ischemia was induced by high intraocualr pressure. A dose of 100 microgram of melatonin or dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) alone was injected intravitreally just after the induction of ischemia. After 7 and 14 days, the neuroprotective effect of melatonin on ischemic retina was examined with light microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The authors found reduction of cytoplasm of retinal ganglion cell(RGC), vacuole formation, chromatin condensation and rupture of nuclear membrane in ischemia-injured eyes treated with DMSO alone. But in melatonin treated eyes, we found that RGC layer's thickness and number of RGC reduced and destruction of cytoplasmic organells and nuclear damage were minimal. The partial recovery of wave is noted in melatonin-treated eyes after ischemia induction. CONCLUSIONS: The melatonin(100 microgram) protected the rabbit retina from high intraocular pressure-induced ischemic injury when administered intravitreally. Melatonin may be useful to decrease neuronal damage in the retina as a result of ischemic injury. But further investigations are neccesary to decide effective concentration, route and time of administration.
Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ischemia* ; Melatonin* ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Nuclear Envelope ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Rupture ; Vacuoles

The uptake of glucose for metabolism and growth is essential to most animal cells and is mediated by glucose-transporter (GLUT) proteins. The aim of this study was to determine which class of glucose transporter molecules was responsible for uptake of glucose in the mouse early embryo and at which stage the corresponding genes were expressed. In addition, co-culture system with vero cell was used to investigate the effect of the system on GLUT expression. Two-cell stage embryos were collected from the superovulated ICR female and divided into 3 groups. As a control, embryos were cultured in 0.4% BSA-T6 medium which includes glucose. For the experimental groups, embryos were cultured in either co-culture system with vero cells or glucose-free 76 medium supplemented with 0.4% BSA and pyruvate as an energy substrate. 2-cell to blastocyst stage embryos in those groups were respectively collected into microtubes (50 embryos/tube). Total RNA was extracted and RT-PCR was performed. The products were analysed after staining ethidium bromide by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Blastocysts were collected from each group at 120hr after hCG injection. They were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, stained with hoechst, and mounted for observation. In control, GLUT1 was expressed from 4-cell to blastocyst. GLUT2 and GLUT3 were expressed in morula and blastocyst. GLUT4 was expressed in all stages. When embryos were cultured in glucose-free medium, no significant difference was shown in the expression of GLUTI1, 2 and 3, compared to control. However GLUT4 was not expressed until morular stage. When embryos were co-cultured with vero cell, there was no significant difference in the expression of GLUT1, 2, 3 and 4 compared to control. To determine cell growth of embryos, the average cell number of blastocyst was counted. The cell number of co-culture (93.8+/-3.1, n=35) is significantly higher than that of control and glucose-free group (76.6 +/- 3.8, n=35 and 68.2+/-4.3, n=30). This study shows that the GLUT genes are expressed differently according to embryo stage. GLUTs were detectable throughout mouse preimplantation development in control and co-culture groups. However, GLUT4 was not detected from 2- to 8-cell stage but detected from morula stage in glucose-free medium, suggested that GLUT genes are expressed autocrinally in the embryo regardless of the presence of glucose as an energy substrate. In addition, co-culture system can increase the cell count of blastocyst but not improve the expression of GLUT. In conclusion, expression of GLUT is dependent on embryo stage in preimplantation embryo development.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Coculture Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Ethidium ; Female ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Morula ; Pregnancy ; Pyruvic Acid ; RNA ; Vero Cells

Ganglioneruroblastoma and neuroblastoma are among commonest types of childhood malignancy and a number of unique paraneoplastic syndromes have associated with both localized and disseminated neuroblastoma. The coincidence of neuroblastoma and myoclonic encephalopathy or other paraneoplastic syndromes occurs relatively rare, and therefore, failure to recognize this association could result in delays in both diagnosis and treatment, and the result could prove to be unfortunately fatal. The mechanism which underlies the remote damaging effect of neural crest tumor, especially neuroblastoma, on the nervous system resulting in myoclonic encephalopathy is by no means clear. In addition the nature and the extent of the pathologic lesion are inconsistent. We experienced a case of myoclonic encephalopathy associated with an occult mediastinal ganglioneuroblastoma in a 22-month-old girl who was hospitalized for inability to walk without support and tilting of the head to the left side. She became increasingly ataxic, and during the hospitalization myoclonic jerks of upper extremities and head along with chaotic, rapidly flickering, multidirectional spontaneous eye movements, were noted. Laboratory data included normal complete blood count, urinalysis, BUN and creatinine, electrolytes and bone marrow. Chest X-ray and chest CT revealed a relatively well marginated right posterior mediastinal mass. In a 24 hours urine excretion test, VMA and catecholamines were increased. Over the next 2 weeks, a surgical exploration revealed a right posterior mediastinal mass. Microscopically the mass proved to be a ganglioneuroblastoma, extending to right innominate artery and right axillary lymph nodes. Within 2 weeks after the surgery, radiotherapy (2,400 rads) and chemotherapy (CTX, DTIC, VCR) were started, but corticosteroid was not used. She has been free of tumor and abnormal neurological systemic symptoms and signs for 1 1/2 year since the completion of chemotherapy. In the 3 1/2 years follow-up period, her neurologic symptoms has completely resolved by the completion of 2 years chemotherapy. We report a case of mycoclonic encephalopathy associated with hidden ganglioneuroblastoma in 22-month-old girl.
Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow ; Brachiocephalic Trunk ; Catecholamines ; Creatinine ; Dacarbazine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Electrolytes ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic* ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglioneuroblastoma* ; Head ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymph Nodes ; Myoclonus ; Nervous System ; Neural Crest ; Neuroblastoma ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes* ; Radiotherapy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Upper Extremity ; Urinalysis

Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg CdCl2/kg by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in blood were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to metallothionein(MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(microgram MT/microgram Cd) was greater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Metallothionein* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis

No abstract available.
Carrier State*

PURPOSE: This study focused on local communities and the factors influencing injuries requiring hospital admission that affect the quality of life for Koreans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data collected from 4,400 households during the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A stratified multistage probability sampling method was applied and the final sample included 7,924 subjects over 20 years old who had completed the questionnaire regarding factors influencing injuries requiring hospital admission. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk factors influencing injuries. RESULTS: The incidence of injuries requiring hospital admission in Koreans was higher in men than in women at 2.3% (95% CI: 1.8-2.8) and 1.7% (95% CI: 1.3-2.1), respectively. Statistically significant factors affecting the occurrence of injuries requiring hospital admission were marital status (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 2.22- 5.56), state of health (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.43-0.92), frequency of heavy drinking (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.01-3.79), normal physical activities (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.07-2.65), and sleep (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.35). CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used to develop measures to prevent fatal injuries and be used as basic data for community health programs.

A total of 3,119 cardiac valves were replaced in 2,471 patients with acquired valvular heart diseases at Seoul National University Hospital during a period of 26 years from 1968 to 1994. Mechanical valves including St. Jude, Carbomedics, Bjork-Shiley and Duromedics were used in 1,609 cases(52%) and bioprosthetic valves including Lonescu-Shiley, Hancock and Angell Shiley were implanted for the rest of the patients(1,510 cases, 48%). A total of 308(12.5%) redo valve replacement was performed during the same period, and 10 of 308 patients underwent second redo valve replacements. The single valve replacement was done in 1,846 cases, double valve replacement in 602 cases and triple valve replacement in 23 cases. Among the single valve replacement, the mitral valve replacement was performed most frequently(1,377 cases). The male to female ratio was almost equal(1.223 : 1,248) and the mean age was 37.9+/-10.5 years old. But the mean age has been increasing year by year and it reached to 44.8 years old in the 1990's. The overall hospital mortality was 5.3%, and 6.8% in redo valve replacement. However, the hospital mortality for the recent 10 years dropped to 1 to 4%. The number of redo valve surgery has been increasing since the mid-1980's because of structural deterioration of bioprostheses that were replaced during the late-1970's and early 1980's. Redo valve surgery comprised 34% for all valve replacement in 1994. The causes of the redo valve operation were structural deterioration(81.5%), prosthetic valve endocarditis(11.7%), paravalvular leakage(5.6%), and valve thrombosis(0.9%). The actuarial freedom from overall valve failure in Ionescu-Shiley were 81.0+/-7.1%(5 year) in mitral position, 89.1+/-1.8%(7 year) in aortic position and 88.9+/-7.6% in double valve replacement. The 5 year actuarial freedom from all complications in Carbomedics were 90.1+/-3.1% in mitral position, 84.9+/-4.2% in aortic position and 81.7+/-5.1% in double valve replacement. The 10 year actuarial freedom from all complications in St. Jude were 80.9+/-3.8%, 81.4+/-6.1%, 72.4+/-10.7% in each positions. In conclusion, the mean age of patients was younger than that of western countries, but it showed increasing tendency year by year. Bioprosthetic valves were used during the initial period until mid-1980's when mechanical valves were used instead of bioprosthetic valves, mainly because of the structural deterioration of the bioprostheses. In terms of thromboembolism, both bioprostheses and mechanical valves seems to be almost comparable although the comparison of both valves was impossible because of the different period of operation, various surgeon and level of the prothrombin time and so on. Recently the number of valve replacement has been decreased since the 1990's and the number of redo valve surgery and valve repair has been increased.
Bioprosthesis ; Female ; Freedom ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Valves* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Prothrombin Time ; Seoul* ; Thromboembolism