Morphological changes of hepatic microcirculation, especially in the peribiliary plexus, in cirrhotic livers of rats induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of N-diethyinitrosamine (DEN) (100mg/kg/week) were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Control rats were treated with saline. The livers were perfused with saline and injected with methyl-methacrylated resin (Mercox CL-2B) through the thoracic aorta. Diffuse nodular changes mimicking human cirrhosis were seen in the livers six weeks after injections of DEN. The cirrhotic livers showed an increase of vascular channels composed mainly of venous branches around the regenerating nodules and increased arterioloportal anastonloses. Peribiliary plexi of the cirrhotic livers had more vessels than those of the controls. Many dilated veins and ramificating portal vein branches were also Present. Direct connections between peribiliary plexi and sinusoids or between peribiliary plexi and portal veins were increased in the cirrhotic liver. These results suggest that the peribiliary plexi in experimentally induced cirrhotic liver might play a role in a collateral circulation under a state of portal hypertension.
Humans ; Rats ; Animals

The establishment of DNA microarray technology has enabled high-throughput analysis and molecular profiling of various types of cancers. By using the gene expression data from microarray analysis we are able to investigate diagnostic applications at the molecular level. The most important step in the application of microarray technology to cancer diagnostics is the selection of specific markers from gene expression profiles. In order to select markers of immortalization and transformation we used c-myc and H-ras(V12) oncogene-transfected NIH3T3 cells as our model system. We have identified 8751 differentially expressed genes in the immortalization/transformation model by multivariate permutation F-test (95% confidence, FDR <0.01). Using the support vector machine algorithm, we selected 13 discriminative genes which could be used to predict immortalization and transformation with perfect accuracy. We assayed H-ras(V12)-transfected "transformed" cells to validate our immortalization/transformation classification system. The selected molecular markers generated valuable additional information for tumor diagnosis, prognosis and therapy development.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Gene Expression ; Microarray Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prognosis ; Transcriptome ; Support Vector Machine

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The role of calcium sulfate in stimulating the growth of gingival soft tissue has been reported in few studies. Such a unique property of calcium sulfate could serve as a trouble-solving broker in compensating for the lack of soft tissues in various oral surgeries. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the proliferating activities of human gingival fibroblasts seeded on various bone graft barrier materials of calcium sulfate, collagen, and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two calcium sulfates (CAPSET(R) and CalForma(R), Lifecore Biomedical Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA), a resorbable natural collagen (Bio-Gide(R), Geistlich Pharma Ag., Wolhusen, Switzerland), and a non-resorbable PTFE (TefGen-FD(R), Lifecore Biomedical Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA) served as the human gingival fibroblasts'substrates and comprised the four experimental groups, whereas the untreated floors of culture plastics were used in the control group, in this study. Cells were trypsinized, seeded, and incubated for 48 h. The proliferating activities of fibroblasts were determined by XTT and SRB assay and absorbance (optical density, OD) was measured. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in the mean OD values between the groups of CAPSET, CalForma, Bio-Gide, TefGen, and the control (p<0.05). RESULTS: From the XTT assay, the mean OD value of the control group, the highest, was significantly greater than that of any of the four experimental groups followed by CalForma, CAPSET, TefGen, and Bio-Gide. Further, the mean OD value of CalForma, was significantly greater compared to that of Bio-Gide. From the SRB assay, Calforma showed the highest mean OD value, which was significantly greater than that of any other groups, followed by the control, CAPSET, Bio-Gide, and TefGen. The mean OD values of both the control and CAPSET were significantly greater compared to that of TefGen (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Assessment of the viability and proliferation of cultured fibroblasts seeded and incubated for 48 h on various barrier-material substrates using XTT and SRB assay showed that calcium sulfate CalForma(R) promotes the proliferating activity of human gingival fibroblasts.
Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Minnesota ; Plastics ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Sulfates ; Transplants ; Trypsin

PURPOSE: Botulinum toxin type A(BoTA) can block the release of vasoconstriction cotransmitters as well as acetylcholine in nerve terminal. The authors observed that BoTA increases flap survival by preventing sympathetic collapse of peripheral vessels. METHODS: 10 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control(n=5), and BoTA group(n=5). 3x10cm sized random pattern cutaneous flaps were elevated on the dorsal side in both groups. In BoTA group, BoTA was injected into the flap via intradermal to subdermal route, 7 days before the flap elevation. Flap survival rates (survival area/total area) were measured 7 days after the elevation. Cutaneous blood flow was measured in proximal, middle and distal compartments of the flap using laser Doppler flowmetry initially, preoperatively, at immediate postoperation, and 7 days after flap elevation, respectively. Histological examination was performed 7 days after the flap elevation. The number and shape of the vessels were evaluated under microscope. RESULTS: Mean flap survival was 53.18+/-6.58% in control group and 93.79+/-6.06% in BoTA group, displaying statistically significant difference(p=0.0008, p< 0.05). In the control group, blood flow to the middle and distal compartments of the flap decreased significantly immediately after flap elevation. In the BoTA group, blood flow to the middle compartment did not decrease(p=0.002) and slightly decreased in the distal compartment(p=0.001). Cutaneous blood flow was significantly higher in all compartments of the flap in BoTA group than in control group, 7 days after the flap elevation. In histopathologic examination, greater number of vessels were noted in the BoTA group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin A can increase the survival of the random pattern cutaneous flap in rats by preventing the sympathetic collapse of peripheral vessels.
Acetylcholine ; Animals ; Botulinum Toxins ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Survival Rate ; Vasoconstriction

Intracardiac thrombosis is an infrequent and fatal complication in patients with an inserted pacemaker. A patient with an inserted pacemaker scheduled for ureter stone removal experienced cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation under general anesthesia. Echocardiography showed multiple intracardiac thrombi. Preoperative diagnostic workup including echocardiography for the detection of pacemaker lead thrombus, and the need for anticoagulation should be considered in patients with an inserted pacemaker and high-risk factors for thrombosis.
Anesthesia, General ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Echocardiography ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Thromboembolism* ; Thrombosis ; Ureter*

Transient cortical blindness is a known but rare complication occurring in 0.3~1% of patients undergoing cerebral or vertebral angiography. It is an extremely rare complication following cardiac catheterizaton and coronary arteriography. Cortical blindness is characterized by complete loss of visual perception and optokinetic nystagmus with preservation of ocular motility, pupillary responses, and normal fundoscopic examination. It has been suggested that its occurrence is due to an adverse reaction to the contrast agent, which causes an osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Patients outcome appears to be generally favorable with return of vision within 24-48 hr. We report a case of 48 year-old male patient with transient bilateral cortical blindness after coronary angiography.
Angiography ; Blindness, Cortical* ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Coronary Angiography* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nystagmus, Optokinetic ; Visual Perception

PURPOSE: Studies on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in immunocompetent children are lacking, and minimal information is available in the medical literature on hepatic manifestations and complications of CMV. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and prognosis of children with CMV hepatitis, and to investigate its prevalence at a single medical center in Korea over a 10-year period. METHODS: One hundred thirty-two children diagnosed with CMV infection based on specific markers (anti-CMV IgM, CMV polymerase chain reaction in blood and urine, or CMV culture of urine) were included in the study. Clinical and biochemical characteristics, immunological markers, and outcomes of hepatic CMV infection were determined. RESULTS: The median age of patients (n=132) was 8.5 months (range, 14 days–11.3 years). Peak total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase levels in serum ranged from 0.11–21.97 mg/dL, and 5–1,517 IU/L, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase remained elevated from 2–48 weeks. Jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection during infancy. The hematologic findings revealed anemia, leukocytosis, and monocytosis in CMV-infected patients. All participants recovered without administration of ganciclovir. CONCLUSION: In children with CMV hepatitis, fever was the most common symptom at presentation, and jaundice was the most common clinical feature of hepatic CMV infection in infants younger than 3 months of age. Hepatic CMV infection in immunocompetent children is often a self-limited illness that does not require antiviral therapy, as most patients in this study had favorable outcomes.
Alanine Transaminase ; Anemia ; Bilirubin ; Child* ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Epidemiology ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infant ; Jaundice ; Korea* ; Leukocytosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Prognosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for young adults. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pre-post-test design was used. One hundred three university students participated in the study. Participants in the experimental group (n=51) were provided the health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy for five weeks. The program consisted of weekly sessions that included action planning and group feedback. The control group (n=52) was provided with health information every week for 5 weeks. Program outcomes, including self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, total exercise time per week, daily cigarette consumption, frequency of alcohol drinking per month, nutritional health behaviors, and subjective health status, were assessed at baseline and at follow-up after 5 weeks. RESULTS: The participants in the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in self-efficacy, physical activity health behaviors, weekly exercise time, and nutritional health behaviors and significant decreases in daily cigarette consumption than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The health promotion program utilizing action planning strategy is a brief and effective intervention to promote health behaviors among young adults. Further investigation is warranted to assess the program's effectiveness among other age groups and populations at high risk for chronic illness.
Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Self Efficacy ; Tobacco Products ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to determine the value of developmental assessment, multimodality evoked potentials, brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) and to identify correlations between each evaluation. METHOD: Developmental assessments such as Bayley scales of infant development and Vineland social maturity scale, brain MRI, EEG and evoked potentials findings were evaluated in 45 children with spastic cerebral palsy to assess the developmental level and abnormalities of the anatomical structure of the brain and to elucidate the relationship between the test methods. RESULTS: 1) Mean mental developmental index (MDI) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) were 69.6 and 68.6, respectively and mean Vineland social maturity quotient (SQ) was 76.1 and there was a significant correlation between the MDI, PDI, and SQ in cerebral palsied children. 2) Abnormal findings of brain MRI and EEG were found in 73.3% and 44.4% of the cases, respectively. 3) There was significant correlation between findings of brain MRI, auditory evoked potentials, visual evoked potentials, median somatosensory evoked potentials and social quotient. CONCLUSION: Developmental assessment, multimodality evoked potentials, EEG, and brain MRI would be a useful method to evaluate the maturity of brain and estimate the level of development.
Brain* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child Development ; Child* ; Electroencephalography* ; Evoked Potentials* ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Weights and Measures