No abstract available.

Lawsonia intracellularis is not culturable with a standard bacteriologic culture. One step PCR assay as a clinical diagnostic method was developed for the rapid detection of porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) caused by L. intracellularis. Primers were designed based on the p78 DNA clone of L. intracellularis. The one step PCR resulted in the formation of a specific 210-bp DNA product derived from L. intracellularis. The nonspecific amplification product was not detected with swine genomic DNA or other bacterial strains causing similar symptoms to L. intracellularis infection. The one step PCR was as sensitive as 100 pg of L. intracellularis genomic DNA. We applied this method to field specimens diagnosed as PPE by macroscopic observation. Of 17 mucosal scraping specimens, 16(94%) were identified as positive to PPE and 15(88%) of 17 feces specimens. These results suggest that the one step PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method for L. intracellularis infection.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Desulfovibrionaceae Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Ileum/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Lawsonia Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of absolute ethanol and gelfoam particles and the degree of vascular recanalization after gelfoam embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcatheter renal arterial embolization(TRAE) was performal in 16 rabbits ; Eight were embolized with absolute ethanol, and eight with gelfoam particles. Of this total, three died less than one week after embolization. Pre- and post embolization angiographies at five minutes, one week, two weeks(gelfoam group only) and 5-6 weeks after embolization were performed. Six rabbits were sacrificed at one week, and seven at 5-6 weeks after embolization. Pathologic examination was performed. RESULTS: The ethanol group(n=6) showed complete occlusion of the main renal artery on follow-up angiography at one week and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was complete total necrosis of embolized kidneys. The gelfoam group(n=7) showed partial recanalization of renal arteries in follow upangiography at one week, two weeks and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was partial lysis ofgelfoam particles within intrarenal arteries. CONCLUSION: Absolute ethanol can be used as a permanent embolicagent and gelfoam as a temporary such agent in various clinical applications. Gelfoam, however, did not show complete recanalization on angiography and pathology at six weeks after embolization.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Ethanol* ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Rabbits* ; Renal Artery

A new staging system for multiple myeloma (MM) has utilized serum concentrations of beta 2-microglobulin (S beta2 M) and albumin as important prognostic factors for survival. Since S beta2 M is an indicator of glomerular filtration rate, we compared the prognostic values of S beta2 M and 24-hr urinary creatinine clearance (Ccr) in patients with MM. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 170 MM patients from January 1996 to November 2003 whose 24-hr urinary Ccr was available at the time of diagnosis. We found that pretreatment S beta2 M was inversely related to Ccr (Spearman's correlation coefficient=-0.787). In univariate analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) of death was 1.043 (p<0.001) for S beta2 M and 0.985 (p<0.001) for Ccr. Multivariate analysis showed that S beta2 M (HR 1.030, p=0.010) and Ccr (HR 0.993, p=0.059) were significant prognostic factors in patients' survival. In conclusion, 24-hr urinary Ccr may be utilized for staging of patients with MM.
beta 2-Microglobulin/*blood ; Survival Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Neoplasm Staging/methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy/metabolism/*pathology ; Creatinine/*urine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Progression of motor deficits in the acute period is frequently observed in patients with subcortical striatocapsular infarctions. Therefore, we sought to determine the factors associated with early motor progression in patients with infarcts confined to the striatocapsular region. METHODS: We studied 80 consecutive patients with striatocapsular-region infarction, as defined by clinical and MRI criteria, within 24 hours after stroke onset. Motor progression was defined as an increase of >2 points in the motor items of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 7 days of stroke onset. The study population was divided into patients with and without motor progression, and risk factors, clinical features, and brain MRI/magnetic resonance angiograpy (MRA) findings were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Motor progression was observed in 40% of the 80 patients. The independent variables associated with motor progression were a history of hypertension (OR=7.8, 95% CI=1.5-39.8, p=0.013) and an initial infarct extent of > or =15 mm (OR=9.2, 95% CI=1.8-45.7, p=0.006). However, there were no differences in the initial NIHSS score, other stroke risk factors, vascular stenosis pattern, or cardioembolic source. CONCLUSIONS: Early motor progression in patients with striatocapsular-region infarction is associated with the initial extent of the lesion. However, the stroke mechanism and vascular stenosis did not differ between the motor progression and stable groups.
Brain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Risk Factors ; Stroke

Ischemic stroke caused by spontaneous thrombosis of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm has been rarely reported. A 52-year-old man presented with sudden headache, dizziness, and gait disturbance. Diffusion-weighted MRI showed acute infarction in left PICA territory. A saccular aneurysm with internal thrombus at the distal PICA was detected by CT angiography and conventional angiography. The thrombus resolved spontaneously at 2 months after stroke onset with aspirin medication. At that time, endovascular coiling was underwent successfully to prevent aneurysmal rupture.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Arteries* ; Aspirin ; Cerebral Infarction ; Dizziness ; Gait ; Headache ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pica ; Rupture ; Stroke ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine diagnostic and prognostic values of proximal radial motor conduction in acute compressive radial neuropathy. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive cases of acute compressive radial neuropathy with radial conduction studies-including stimulation at Erb's point-performed within 14 days from clinical onset were reviewed. The radial conduction data of 39 control subjects were used as reference data. RESULTS: Thirty-one men and eight women (age, 45.2+/-12.7 years, mean+/-SD) were enrolled. All 33 patients in whom clinical follow-up data were available experienced complete recovery, with a recovery time of 46.8+/-34.3 days. Partial conduction block was found frequently (17 patients) on radial conduction studies. The decrease in the compound muscle action potential area between the arm and Erb's point was an independent predictor for recovery time. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal radial motor conduction appears to be a useful method for the early detection and prediction of prognosis of acute compressive radial neuropathy.
Action Potentials ; Arm ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radial Neuropathy*

OBJECTIVE: Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasorelaxing agent associated with the maintenance of pregnancy, is synthesized in response to inflammation, which is also associated with the biosynthesis of prostaglandin (PG) and nitric oxide (NO). To clarify the interrelationships of PG, NO and AM in the inflammatory process, we tested the effects of the PG synthase inhibitor indomethacin and the NO synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on AM production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultured rat macrophages. METHODS: RAW 257.8, rat macrophages were incubated with LPS, and AM production was measured by ELISA. Cells were pretreated with indomethacin, L-NAME, or both, and the effect on LPS-induced AM production was assayed. To exclude the effect of cell death, a cell viability test on these cultures was performed. RESULTS: The largest increase of AM was seen between 1 microgram (36.33+/-2.05 pg/ml) and 10 microgram (89.33+/-6.02 pg/ml) of LPS concentration (p<0.01), making the latter the optimal LPS dose to stimulate AM production. AM secretion was proportional to time in culture (p<0.006). Addition of indomethacin, L-NAME, or both 1 hr before LPS stimulation decreased AM production 2 hr later, with the AM decrement greatest in cells pretreated with both indomethacin and L-NAME, followed by L-NAME alone and then indomethacin. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that PG and NO increase AM synthesis in rat macrophages with the presence of LPS. These results suggest that the biosynthetic pathways of PG, NO, and AM may be linked.
Adrenomedullin* ; Animals ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Indomethacin ; Inflammation ; Macrophages* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Pregnancy ; Rats

Congenital intracranial teratoma is rare and it's prognosis is very poor with death usually occurring after birth. Moreover it is very rare for intracranial teratoma to be diagnosed in utero. Recently, we experienced a case of fetal intracranial teratoma at 26 weeks of gestation, which is placed in the middle area of cranial cavity. On the monitor of ultrasonogram, the mass was seen as a hyperechogenic mass and its size was 20~30 mm in diameter and it was located in the region of thalamus. The finding of microscopic examination was that neuroepithelial and neuroglial nests and primitive epithelial cells were aggregated and this finding was consistent with immature teratoma. We report a case with a brief review of the literature.
Epithelial Cells ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Teratoma* ; Thalamus ; Ultrasonography

Many kinds of degenerative, psychiatric, and cerebrovascular diseases can mimic behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. We present a 73-year-old woman who presented with apathy, inappropriate social behavior, and persecutory delusion. A neuropsychological examination revealed frontal/executive dysfunction with relative sparing of episodic memory. Magnetic resonance imaging and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography produced normal findings. However, magnetic resonance angiography revealed severe right internal carotid stenosis. After carotid stenting, her behavioral symptoms disappeared and did not recur during an 18-month follow-up.
Aged ; Apathy ; Behavioral Symptoms ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Carotid Stenosis* ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Delusions ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontotemporal Dementia* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory, Episodic ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Social Behavior ; Stents