For the morphological analysis of DMBA (9,10-diemethyl-1,2-benzanthracene) induced tumor, thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were received 0.1 ml of a 2% paraffin solution of DMBA into the knee joint cavity, which was repeated three times at an interval of 4 weeks. The induced tumor masses were removed at the 12th week after the first injection. Histological and histochemical examinations (H & E, PAS, alcian blue, Van Gieson, prussian blue, reticulin, PTAH stain) and enzyme histochemical examinations (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase) were performed. The results were as follows: 1) By the 12th week after the first injection of DMBA, the tumor incidence rate was 20 percent. 2) On histological and histochemical examination, most of the induced tumor disclosed the features of the fibrous histiocytoma originating from mesenchymal cells, and the remains sweat gland adenoma and adenocarcinoma originating from epithelial cells. 3) On enzyme histochemical examination, most of the mesenchymal cell-derived tumor cells showed positive reactions for acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, which were similar characteristic features of enzyme stains as shown in the component cells of fibrous histiocytoma.
Rats ; Animals ; Incidence ; Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. Reduction of serum total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and the increase of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) are known to be associated with significant decrease of the incidence of atherosclerotic disease. HMG CoA reductase is known as rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of cholesterol. Among many inhibitors of this enzyme pravastatin was recently released. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this drug in Korean patients with hypercholesterolemia daily 5-40mg of pravstatin was administred in 30 patients after 4 weeks' wash-out and followed in 4 week-intervals up to 12 weeks. 1) Total cholesterol(TC) was decreased from 247.3+/-24,7mg/dl to 216.6+/-34.8mg/dl after 4 weeks, 214.3+/-36.7mg/dl after 8 weeks and 212,5+/-36.1mg/dl after 12 weeks(p,0.001, respectively). 2) Triglycrride(TG) was decreased from 191.3+/-77.9mg/dl to 161.4+/-61.4mg/dl after 4 weeks(p<0.005),155.4+/-74,8mg/dl after 8 weeks (p<0.05) but after 12 weeks the level of triglyceride was 165.5+/-70.3mg/dl, not significantly different from the basal level. 3) LDL-C was decreased from 155.0+/-29.3mg/dl to 129.8+/-34.4mg/dl after 4 weeks. 132.0+/-32.4mg/dl after 8 weeks and 125.9+/-38.1mg/dl after 12 weeks (p<0.01. respectively). 4) HDL-C was not significantly changed during the trial. 5) TC/HDI-C ratio was decreased from 4.8%+/-1.3 to 4.1+/-0.9 after 4 weeks. 4.3.+/-0.9 after 8 weeks and 4.1+/-1.1 after 12(p<0.01.respectivcly). 6) LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was decreased from3.0+/-1.0 to2.5+/-0.8 after 4 weeks(p<0.01).2.6+/-0.7 after 8 weeks(p<0.05) and 2.4+/-0.9 after 12 weeks(p<0.01). 7) The side effects of pravastatin were mild and transient, including 1 case of nausea, 1 headache, 1 flushing sensation on the face and 2 dizziness. 8) The laboratory studies including serum transaminases,uric acid, creatinine, creatine phoshokinase and blood glucose were not changed significantly. These results suggested that pravastatin is an effective and relative safe hypolipidemic agent in Korean adult patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Creatine ; Creatinine ; Dizziness ; Flushing ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Incidence ; Lipoproteins ; Nausea ; Pravastatin* ; Risk Factors ; Sensation ; Triglycerides

This study was performed to evaluate optic disc appearance, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and macular thickness in normal, ocular hypertensive (OHT) and glaucomatous eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) 3000. One hundred fifty-eight eyes of 167 consecutive subjects were enrolled: 60 normal, 53 OHT, and 54 glaucomatous. OCT topographic parameters of cup diameter, cup area, rim area, and cup/disc area ratio were significantly less in OHT eyes than in normal eyes and were significantly less in glaucomatous eyes than in normal and OHT eyes. RNFL was significantly thinner in OHT eyes than in normal eyes in the inferior quadrant, and in glaucomatous eyes than in OHT and normal eyes in the mean and for all four quadrants. Macular thickness was significantly thinner in glaucomatous eyes than in OHT and normal eyes throughout all subdivisions. Optic disc parameters, and RNFL and macular thickness measurements made with OCT may be useful in the clinical assessment of glaucoma.
Adult ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Glaucoma/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers/*pathology ; Ocular Hypertension/diagnosis ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to evaluate characteristic features of 4th ventricular tumors in CT and MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pathologically proved 9 patients with 4th ventricular tumor were examined by CT and/or MRI. 4th ventricular tumors were epedymoma(4 cases), medulloblastoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilIoma(2 cases), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Included in our study were only those mass lesions that were located at surgery predominently within 4th ventricle with or without ventricular expansion. RESULTS: The origin of 4th ventricular tumor was the roof (epedymoma 3 cases, medulloblastoma 2 cases), the floor (epedymoma 1 case), and the undetermined(remaining 3 cases). On MRI, all tumors were hypointense exept ependymoma(3 cases) showing isointensity on T1WI. All tumors were hyperintense on PDWI and T2WI. On Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI, strong enhancement was seen in all but epedymoma(1 case) which showed mild enhancement. On CT, as compared with MR images, various density on precontrast and postcontrast images were seen. Calcification was seen in choroid plexus papilloma(1 case) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hydrocephalus is seen in all cases exept ependymoma(2 cases) and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Hemorrhage within tumor was present only in epedymoma(2 cases). Cystic change or necrosis of tumor was seen in ependymomma(3 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(1 case), and oligodendroglioma(1 case). Peritumoral edema was seen in medulloblastoma(1 case). Extension through the foramen Luschka and the Magendie was seen in ependymoma(2 cases), choroid plexus papilloma(2 cases), and medulloblastoma(1 case). Seeding along the CSF pathway was seen only in ependymoma(2 cases). CONCLUSION: The results of our study may suggest that specific diagnosis of 4th ventricular tumor can be suggested preoperatively by analysing the origin in 4th ventricle, difference of CT density or MRI signal inten. sity, presence of extension or seeding through cerebrospinal fluid of the lesion.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Choroid Plexus ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medulloblastoma ; Necrosis

To evaluate a new reliable sclerosant of the gallbladder, we attempted gallbladder ablation with 10% phenol, and the results compared with those from using 95% ethanol which had been used previousy as gallbladder sclerosing agent in laboratory animals in other reports. After laparotomy, ligation of the cystic dusts with silk and cannulation of gallbladder with 18 gauge angiocatheter were done. Then, transcatheter administration of two different scleroing agents was performed in 8 rabbits respectively and normal saline in four rabbits as a control. Additionally, preliminary washing with each agent were implemented to prevent the dilutional effect of residual bile and bleeding. All animals survived without complication. Eight animals were used for each agent, four each being sacrified two weeks and six weeks after adminstration of sclerosing agents respectively. In our results, 10% phenol was more effective than 95% ethanol in denuding the gallbladder epithelium and promoting fibrosis of gallbladder wall, And it was relatively safe in regard to the dilutional effect of residual fluid and bleeding during procedure. Toxic effects on the liver evaluated by examination of histologic specimen were non-specific except for edematous swelling on some cases, which had also been observed on others including control group. 10% phenol can be considered to be a promosing sclerosant for gallbladder ablation, but further study of its toxicity is needed before its application on human gallbladder.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Bile ; Catheterization ; Dust ; Epithelium ; Ethanol ; Fibrosis ; Gallbladder* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Ligation ; Liver ; Phenol* ; Rabbits* ; Sclerosing Solutions ; Sclerosis* ; Silk

Bacillus species are aerobic, gram-positive, spore forming rods that are widely distributed in soil, dust, stream, and other environmental sources and are regarded as natural organism. But certain species of the genus Bacillus, most notably B.cereus, which is associated with food-borne illness, occasionally have been implicated in the occurrence of fatal illness and complication in a compromised host. We roport a case of pneumonia and bacteremia caused by B.cereus in an 81 year-old man, who had no obvious immunologic compromise. The condition was treated with combination of roxithromycin and gentamicin.
Bacillus cereus* ; Bacillus* ; Bacteremia ; Dust ; Gentamicins ; Pneumonia* ; Rivers ; Roxithromycin ; Soil ; Spores

Delayed peripheral polyneuropathy caused by organophosphorus intoxication is not uncommon. This is a case report of 32 years old female with peripheral polyneuropathy which is appeared two weeks after organophosphorus poisoning. It is characterized by calves pain followed by minmal sensory change and predominant motor weakness affecting the distal part of the limbs. The electrophysiologic and pathologic studies support the clinical diagnosis. The exact pathogenesis is still debated, but phosphorylation of neurotoxic esterase (NTE), followed by "aging" process was suspected to play a role in the development of axonal degeneration.
Adult ; Axons ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Phosphorylation ; Polyneuropathies*

Both interictal Tc-99m hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime single photon emission computed tomography (HM-PAO SPECT) brain scintigraphy was done in a patient with the syndrome of chronic encephalitis and epilepsy. The low density area in the temporo-occipital lobe on brain CT scan revealed decreased radioactivity during interictal state and it was reversed to increased radioactivity during ictal state on HM-PAO SPECT brain imaging. In authors' opinion, ictal and interictal Tc-99m HM-PAO SPECT brain scintigraphy could be a safe and convincing study for Searching epileptogenic foci.
Brain* ; Encephalitis* ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Radioactivity ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and alcohol dependence are associated with serotonin metabolism. We assessed the methylation level of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter region in control and alcohol dependent patients. METHODS: Twenty seven male patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence were compared with fifteen controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of bisulfate-modified DNA were designed to amplify a part of the CpG island in the 5HTT gene. Pyrosequencing was performed and the methylation level at seven CpG island sites was measured. RESULTS: We found no differences in the methylation patterns of the serotonin transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) between alcohol-dependent and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our negative finding may be because 5-HTT epigenetic variation may not affect the expression for 5-HTT or there may be other methylation site critical for its expression. To find out more conclusive result, repeating the study in more methylation sites with a larger number of samples in a well-controlled setting is needed.
Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; CpG Islands ; Depression ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; Methylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins

No abstract available.
*Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia/*genetics ; Male