Diabetic complications such as cystopathy and retrograde ejaculation are slowly progressive disease without any specific signs and symptoms so it is difficult to diagnose its complication and prevent it. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is known as a neurologic lesion with combined involvement in cardiovascular and genitourinary systems. The purpose of this study is to assess correlation between diabetic cystopathy and heart rate variation on consecutive EKG waves and to detect early cystopathy in patients with decreased heart rate variation. We have studied 12 cases of diabetic cystopathy and 9 cases of retrograde ejaculation who were managed in Seoul Eulji Hospital from Mar. 1992 to Aug. 1993 and concluded as follows. Diabetic patients with autonomic neuropathy shows decreased heart rate variability(HRV) (CV%: 2.16+/-0.97) than diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy (CV%: 3.29+/-0.58, P <0.0001 ), it means that decreased HRV on consecutive EKG waves well correlates to diabetic autonomic neuropathy such as cystopathy and retrograde ejaculation so we think that the measurement of HRV provides a simple test to be concerned urologic complications such as cystopathy or retrograde ejaculation.
Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Ejaculation ; Electrocardiography* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul ; Urogenital System

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions including the 3'-end of 18S rRNA gene, 5.8S rRNA gene and the 5'-end of the 28S rRNA gene of Rhizopus spp. were amplified by PCR and analyzed by DNASIS program. Length polymorphism of these region ranged from 564 bp in R. oryzae to 789bp in R. stolonifer. The length and sequence of 5.8S was very conserved with 154~155 bp. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than that of ITS1. The base substitution rates were ranged from 0 to 0.6069 per site, and higher rate was found in R. stolonifer. In general, transition was usually more frequent than transversion. On the basis of sequencing results, four groups were clustered with value of 61.9% similarity; R. oryzae, R. microspores, R. homothallicus, and R. stolonifer groups.
DNA, Ribosomal* ; Genes, rRNA ; Oryza ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhizopus* ; Sequence Analysis*

To date, very few cases with intraneural ganglion cyst of the peroneal nerve has been reported. The common symptoms include localized pain and various degrees of motor and sensory deficits. Though electrodiagnostic study has been useful in lesion localization, recent imaging studies, such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging, should be used in establishing differential diagnosis and extent of a lesion preoperatively. Treatment can be achieved by microsurgical removal of the cyst. We had a 74 year old female with right foot drop for 3 months and we diagnosed that she had intraneural ganglion of the peroneal nerve using physical examination, electrodiagnostic study, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Although there was no specific symptom on the left side, there was a similar lesion like that of right intraneural ganglion, that was detected by ultrasonography. However, the patient's neurologic symptoms have not improved after operation.
Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrodiagnosis ; Female ; Foot ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paralysis* ; Peroneal Nerve* ; Physical Examination ; Ultrasonography

Clinical heterotopic liver transplantation(HLT) has been carried out in the several institutions since 1962. Recently, Rotterdam group reported a successful clinical series of HLT in spite of several negative viewpoints against orthotopic liver transplantation. Among the successful HLT cases till now, several occurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma in the native liver had been reported. In the current study, a thirty percent liver was transplanted heterotopically in the dimethylnitrosoamine(DMN)-induced cirrhotic rats and the feasibility of host-hepatectomy after regeneration of the graft was tested, and we are going to introduce the concept of host liver resection(HR) to the clinical auxiliary liver transplantation. Of the thirty syngeneic partial HLT with portal blood input only, 16 rats died following transplantation and three rats dies after HR. The DMN-induced cirrhotic liver specimen showed a microscopic finding of nodular cirrhosis with thick intralobular fibrous septa. Grafts examined at three posttransplant weeks appeared architecturally normal and well regenerated and the atrophied host livers were small hard showing micronodularity on the surface. Of all the animals examined, no host liver tissues were regrowing after one month following near total HR. We conclude that HLT can be performed in the clinically relevant cirrhotic rats and HR is feasible after graft regeneration and expect that this experimental model can be used for the study of cirrhosis and HLT.
Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fibrosis ; Hepatectomy* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Models, Theoretical ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Transplants

Reference ranges of standard experimental parameters are useful for comparisons in toxicology. The aim of this study was to collect data from 13-week repeated toxicity studies in Crl:CD (SD) rats, a strain widely used for toxicity and efficacy research, for establishing domestic reference values. Data on body weight, food consumption; urinalysis, hematological, and blood biochemical parameters; and organ weights were collected from 11 toxicity studies in 220 Crl:CD (SD) rats (110 males and 110 females). The studies had been performed at a single testing facility over the last 5 years and involved animals sourced from a single breeder. The findings were collated as means, standard deviations, percentages, and ranges. Urine volume, uterus weight, eosinophil, and basophil counts, and triglyceride, total bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels showed standard deviations of 30% or more. These historical control data would help to interpret the effects of test substances in routine toxicity and efficacy studies.
Animals ; Basophils ; Bilirubin ; Body Weight ; Eosinophils ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Humans ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Reference Values ; Sprains and Strains ; Toxicology ; Urinalysis ; Uterus

PURPOSE: On maxillofacial tumor patients, oral implant placement prior to postoperative radiotherapy can shorten the period of prosthetic reconstruction. There is still lack of research on effects of post-implant radiotherapy such as healing process or loading time, which is important for prosthodontic treatment planning. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of post-implant local irradiation on the osseointegration of implants during different healing stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Custom-made implants were placed bilaterally on maxillary posterior edentulous area 4 weeks after extraction of the maxillary first molars in Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental group (exp.) received radiation after implant surgery and the other group (control) didn't. Each group was divided into three sub-groups according to the healing time (2, 4, and 8 week) from implant placement. The exp. group 1, 2 received 15-Gy radiation 1 day after implant placement (immediate irradiation). The exp. group 3 received 15-Gy radiation 4 weeks after implant placement (delayed irradiation). RESULTS: The bone mineral density (BMD) was significantly lower in the immediate irradiation groups. BMD was similar in the delayed irradiation group and the control group. The irradiated groups exhibited a lower bone-to-implant contact ratio, although the difference was not statistically significant. The irradiated groups also exhibited a significantly lower bone volume and higher empty lacuna count than the control groups. No implant failure due to local irradiation was found in this study. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, the timing of local irradiation critically influences the bone healing mechanism, which is related to loading time of prostheses.
Bone Density ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Molar ; Osseointegration ; Pilot Projects* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radiotherapy ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Background: Exercise capacity is associated with lung function decline in chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, but a discrepancy between exercisecapacity and airflow limitation exists. This study aimed to explore factors contributingto this discrepancy in COPD patients. Methods: Data for this prospective study were obtained from the Korean COPD SubgroupStudy. The exercise capacity and airflow limitation were assessed using the6-minute walk distance (6-MWD; m) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).Participants were divided into four groups: FEV1 >50%+6-MWD >350, FEV1 >50%+6-MWD ≤350, FEV1 ≤50%+6-MWD >350, and FEV1 ≤50%+6-MWD ≤350 and their clinicalcharacteristics were compared. Results: A total of 883 patients (male:female, 822:61; mean age, 68.3±7.97 years) wereenrolled. Among 591 patients with FEV1 >50%, 242 were in the 6-MWD ≤350 group, andamong 292 patients with FEV1 ≤50%, 185 were in the 6-MWD >350 group. The multipleregression analyses revealed that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 8.779; 95% confidence interval[CI], 1.539 to 50.087; p=0.014), current smoking status (OR, 0.355; 95% CI, 0.178to 0.709; p=0.003), and hemoglobin levels (OR, 1.332; 95% CI, 1.077 to 1.648; p=0.008)were significantly associated with discrepancies in exercise capacity and airflow limitationin patients with FEV1 >50%. Meanwhile, in patients with FEV1 ≤50%, diffusioncapacity of carbon monoxide (OR, 0.945; 95% CI, 0.912 to 0.979; p=0.002) was significantlyassociated with discrepancies between exercise capacity and airflow limitation. Conclusion The exercise capacity of COPD patients may be influenced by factors otherthan airflow limitation, so these aspects should be considered when assessing andtreating patients.

The potential relationship between vitamin D (VitD) status and metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) warrants further study. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and various parameters in patients with T2DM. We analyzed retrospectively data from 276 Korean patients with T2DM whose serum 25(OH)D level was measured in our hospital. Nondiabetic healthy subjects who visited the hospital for health screening were selected as the control group (Non-DM, n=160). Compared with control subjects, patients with T2DM had a lower serum 25(OH)D level (15.4+/-0.5 vs. 12.9+/-0.4 ng/ml, p<0.01). Eleven percent of T2DM patients were VitD "insufficient" (20-29 ng/ml) and 87% of the patients were VitD "deficient" (<20 ng/ml). The serum 25(OH)D level was significantly related to serum fibrinogen, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ferritin, the urine albumin creatinine ratio, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, high levels of HbA1C, TG, and LDL-C were independently associated with VitD deficiency in T2DM patients. The results of the present study show that the majority of Koreans with T2DM are VitD deficient, and the serum 25(OH)D level in patients with T2DM is related to lipid and glucose parameters. Further studies are required of the relationship of VitD with fibrinogen and other related parameters.
Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Ferritins ; Fibrinogen ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

Objectives: Rasmussen’s aneurysm may cause life-threatening hemoptysis. We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with hemoptysis and Rasmussen’s aneurysm. Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients who clinically presented with hemoptysis and were diagnosed with a Rasmussen’s aneurysm on spiral chest computed tomography (CT). Results: Our study included 16 patients (men:women, 12:4; mean age, 65.25 ± 13.0 years). Massive hemoptysis was observed in nine patients (56%) and blood-tinged sputum in four patients (25%). Ten patients (62.5%) had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and three patients (18.7%) had underlying lung cancer. Chest CT revealed coexisting fungal balls in seven patients (43.7%). Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) was performed in 12 patients (75%). One patient died of uncontrolled massive hemoptysis. Conclusions Patients with Rasmussen’s aneurysm showed hemoptysis during the course of the disease; however, bleeding can be controlled with conservative therapy and radiological interventions, such as BAE.