Reiter's syndrome is a clinical triad of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis, but the characteristic mucocutaneous lesion occurs very frequently. Therefore, Reiters syndrome in fact might better be considered a tetrad, consisting in its complete form of urethritis, arthritis, conjunctivitis, and mucocutaneous lesions. In initial stage of the disease, the arthritis usually appear after the urethritis and conjunctivitis have been made. The arthritis is usually of subacute onset, reaching its full intensity within a few weeks in most cases. Additionally a man with Reiters syndrome who developed aortic insufficiency with no evidence of syphilis or rheumatic heart disease has been reported. Two cases of Reiters syndrome are presented with the review of the literature: the first case was a 60 years old male who had non-gonococcal urethritis with mucous purulent discharge, conjunctivitis, polyarthritis, and aortic insufficiency; the second case was a young man aged 21 years who had the characteristic conjunctivitis and a past history of urethritis, and he also has had obvious keratodermia blenorrhagica and polyarthritic symptoms and signs.
Arthritis ; Conjunctivitis ; Humans ; Male ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; Syphilis ; Urethritis

Sustained stress can have numerous pathologic effects. There have been several animal models for chronic stress. We tried to identify the changes of pain threshold and hippocampus in a model of chronic stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were kept in a cage filled with 23degrees C water to a height of 2.2 cm for 7 days. Nociceptive thresholds, expressed in grams, were measured with a Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer. Golgi staining was used to identify hippocampal changes. To demonstrate how long allodynia was lasting, behavioral test was repeated daily on another experiment. Compared to control group, chronic stress group showed bilateral mechanical hyper-responsiveness on days 5 (P = 0.047) and 7 (P = 0.032). In general, dendrite atrophic changes within hippocampus of chronic stress model were much more prominent in comparison with control. Compared to control, decreased spine number (P < 0.001) and spine length (P < 0.001) on Golgi staining were seen in the hippocampus of animals with chronic stress. Bilateral mechanical hyperresponsiveness was recovered on day 19 in animals with chronic stress. Chronic stress may bring about central sensitization and hippocampal changes in rats.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/*pathology ; Hyperalgesia/*pathology ; Male ; Pain Threshold ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological

Long-term synaptic plasticity requires addition of new proteins at the synaptic site. The local protein synthesis at subsynaptic sites confers advantageous mechanisms that would regulate the protein composition in local domains on a moment-by-moment basis. However, our information on the identities of 'dendritic' mRNAs is very limited. In this study we investigated the expression of the protein and mRNA for eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein 1 (4EBP1) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) showed that 4EBP1 protein is highly localized to the nucleus. In dendrites most 4EBP1 punctae were not colocalized with those of eIF4E. In situ hybridization (ISH) and Fluorescence ISH (FISH) revealed that 4EBP1 mRNA was present in dendrites. The FISH signals formed clusters along dendrites that colocalized with ICC signals for Staufen, a marker for RNA granules. The neuronal activation by KCl (60 mM, 10 min) significantly increased the density of 4EBP1 FISH signals in the nucleus after 2 hr, and both in the nucleus and dendrites after 6 hr. Our results indicate that 4EBP1 and its mRNA are present in dendrites, and the mRNA is upregulated and transported to dendritic domains in RNA granules upon neuronal activation.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendrites/*metabolism ; Hippocampus/cytology/drug effects/*metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Potassium Chloride/pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger/*metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation/drug effects

Two cases of redundant nerve root syndrome of cauda equina in patient was described. The general clinical features were the intermittent neurologic claudication with improvement at rest, low back pain of long duration and radicular pain in one or both legs, sensory & motor change in one or both legs. Myelography revealed a partial to complete block with characteristic serpentine filling defects above or below the block simulating a vascular malformation. One case was associated with lumbar H.N.P and the other cases were associated with L-H.N.P and pseudospondylolithesis. In addition to, we reviewed the literature of redundant nerve root syndrome of the cauda equina.
Cauda Equina* ; Humans ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Myelography ; Vascular Malformations

PURPOSE: The incidence rate and the mortality rate of gastric cancer have decreased in developed countries over the last several decades. On the other hand, they remain high in far eastern countries such as Korea, Japan, China and in many developing countries. The cure of patients with gastric carcinomas can be achieved mostly through complete surgical resection, but most gastric cancer patients are in advanced stages when diagnosed and have poor prognoses. therefore, the development of an effective systemic therapy is essential for far advanced gastric cancer patients. Until recently, the most commonly used combination chemotherapy was based on 5-flurouracil or cisplatin, but the results were not satisfactory, so recently etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (EAP-II) combination chemotherapy was introduced in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Early studies showed a high response rate and the ability to convert unresectable cases to resectable ones, but later studies couldn`t duplicate the result. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy&toxicity of EAP-II chemotherapy and ELF chemotherapy which is based on 5-flurouracil. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1992 and July 2002, sixty-five patients with inoperable advanced gastric cancer were enrolled for this study. Thirty-seven patient received EAP-II chemotherapy:etoposide (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days), adriamycin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and Twenty-eight patients receieved ELF chemotherapy:etoposide (100 mg/m2 IV for 1~3 days), leucovorin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and 5-FU (500 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days). Each treatment schedule for each group was repeated every four weeks: EAP-II means 3.4 cycles per patient: ELF means 4.1 cycles per patient RESULTS: Total respones rates were 5.4% in the ELF group and 3.6% in the EAP group (P-value>0.05). The median times to progression were 144 days in the ELF group and 92 days in the EAP-II group (P-value>0.05), and the median overall survival times were 189 days in the ELF group and 139 days in the EAP-II group (P-value>0.05). The difference in the survival curves for the two regimens was not statistically significant. Non-hematologic toxicitis&hematologic toxicitis were more frequently observed for the EAP-II regimen. Anemia: 27.6% in ELF vs 54% in EAP-II; Leukopenia: 8.5% in ELF vs 19% in EAP-II; nausea&vomiting: 45.9% in ELF vs 67.8% in EAP-II. CONCLUSION: EAP-II regimen is not superior to ELF regimen in the tratment of inoperable advanced gastric cancer.
Anemia ; Appointments and Schedules ; China ; Cisplatin ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etoposide* ; Fluorouracil ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Leucovorin* ; Leukopenia ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The incidence rate and the mortality rate of gastric cancer have decreased in developed countries over the last several decades. On the other hand, they remain high in far eastern countries such as Korea, Japan, China and in many developing countries. The cure of patients with gastric carcinomas can be achieved mostly through complete surgical resection, but most gastric cancer patients are in advanced stages when diagnosed and have poor prognoses. therefore, the development of an effective systemic therapy is essential for far advanced gastric cancer patients. Until recently, the most commonly used combination chemotherapy was based on 5-flurouracil or cisplatin, but the results were not satisfactory, so recently etoposide, adriamycin and cisplatin (EAP-II) combination chemotherapy was introduced in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Early studies showed a high response rate and the ability to convert unresectable cases to resectable ones, but later studies couldn`t duplicate the result. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy&toxicity of EAP-II chemotherapy and ELF chemotherapy which is based on 5-flurouracil. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1992 and July 2002, sixty-five patients with inoperable advanced gastric cancer were enrolled for this study. Thirty-seven patient received EAP-II chemotherapy:etoposide (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days), adriamycin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and Twenty-eight patients receieved ELF chemotherapy:etoposide (100 mg/m2 IV for 1~3 days), leucovorin (20 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days) and 5-FU (500 mg/m2 IV for 1~5 days). Each treatment schedule for each group was repeated every four weeks: EAP-II means 3.4 cycles per patient: ELF means 4.1 cycles per patient RESULTS: Total respones rates were 5.4% in the ELF group and 3.6% in the EAP group (P-value>0.05). The median times to progression were 144 days in the ELF group and 92 days in the EAP-II group (P-value>0.05), and the median overall survival times were 189 days in the ELF group and 139 days in the EAP-II group (P-value>0.05). The difference in the survival curves for the two regimens was not statistically significant. Non-hematologic toxicitis&hematologic toxicitis were more frequently observed for the EAP-II regimen. Anemia: 27.6% in ELF vs 54% in EAP-II; Leukopenia: 8.5% in ELF vs 19% in EAP-II; nausea&vomiting: 45.9% in ELF vs 67.8% in EAP-II. CONCLUSION: EAP-II regimen is not superior to ELF regimen in the tratment of inoperable advanced gastric cancer.
Anemia ; Appointments and Schedules ; China ; Cisplatin ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Etoposide* ; Fluorouracil ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan ; Korea ; Leucovorin* ; Leukopenia ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies* ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Parkinson's disease animal model was developed by the destruction of the striatonigral dopaminergic system. The morphological changes in the dopamine depleted striatum after the transplantation of the fetal mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons or tyrosine hydroxylase cDNA transfected human neural stem cells (C4-TH cells) were studied. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighting 250~300 gm, were used. To make unilateral lesion of nigrostriatal tract, 6-OHDA (6 microgram/microliter) was injected into the medial forebrain bundle. Two weeks after the lesion surgery, the effect of the 6-OHDA lesion was assessed by monitoring apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c)-induced turning behavior and confirmed by the lack of TH-immunoreactivity on tissue sections. Either cell suspension from ventral mesencephalic tissue obtained from embryonic day 14 fetus or C4-TH cells was grafted into the rostral striatum. After grafting, rats were tested with apomorphine every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. The grafted rats showing behavioral recovery were sacrificed and analysed by TH, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and parvalbumin (PV) immuno- histochemistry. TH-immunoreactive (ir) neurons were located around the graft and their processes extended into the striatum. The TH-ir axon terminals made a symmetrical synapse with the dendrites of the striatal neuron. Cell bodies either NPY- or PV-ir striatal neuron were observed around the graft and extended their processes into the graft. TH-ir C4-TH cells were also distributed along the needle track such as the transplanted fetal dopaminergic neurons, but had smaller soma and fewer processes than those. It is concluded that the grafted dopaminergic cells are survived in the dopamine depleted striatum and recovered the rotational behavior of Parkinson's disease animal model.
Animals ; Apomorphine ; Carisoprodol ; Cell Transplantation* ; Dendrites ; DNA, Complementary ; Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Fetus ; Humans ; Male ; Medial Forebrain Bundle ; Models, Animal* ; Needles ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Neuropeptide Y ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease* ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synapses ; Transplantation ; Transplants* ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase