BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: N-cadherin is known to be expressed in neuroectodermal tissue such as central nervous system and various mesodermal origin tissues such as kidney and heart. We investigated N-cadherin expression in the endocardial cushion in developing rat heart by immunohistochemical method. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fetal rat hearts at the 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th day of gestation and the 1st day neonatal rat heart were used. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was performed for normal cardiogenesis, and immunohistochemistry was performed for the expression of N-cadherin in interventricular septum(IVS) during cardiogenesis in rat. RESULTS: Ventricular wall and membranous part of the IVS showed positive reaction with anti-N-cadherin at the 11th day of gestation. Membranous part of IVS was begun to show tracely positive reaction at the 15th day of gestation, and thereafter the immunoreactivity was increased with maturation. At the 17th day of gestation mesenchymal cells in membranous muscular part of the IVS showed positive reaction. The similar immunoreactivity of membranous and muscular parts of IVS were shown at the 19th day of gestation. CONCLUSION: As the immunoreaction of mesenchymal cells in the membraneous part of IVS to anti-N-cadherin was increased with time, it is suggested that mesenchymal cells in membranous part of IVS were differentiated into the cardiomyocytes.
Animals ; Cadherins* ; Central Nervous System ; Endocardial Cushions ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Heart* ; Hematoxylin ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Mesoderm ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Neural Plate ; Pregnancy ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this survey is to introduce the recent adolescent sexuality, such as the level of sexual knowledge of adolescent, their actual state for the attitudes and behaviors toward sex, and in Korea in comparison with the past and to seek the answers to the improvement of the teproductive health statos of the adolescents. METHOD: The total number of 11,433 girls was drawn fiom middle and high schools girls in Seoul, Pusan, Incheon, Kwangju, Taegu, Taejeon and Ansan. Among them, the number of 82 girls was drawn fiom factory workers in Ansan. For the data collection, the survey was conducted during the period fiom Feb 15, 1994 to May 23, 1995 by using prepared questionaire. RESULT: Of those who respond to this study, 37.6% had sexual problems, which was that of acquaintance of the opposite sex(44.7%), menstruation(33.1%), and sexual maturity(13.1%). Among them, only 5.5% had a feeling of satisfaction about sex education. In regard to the attitude toward the friendly relationsbip with the oppasite sex, the approval rate respondents was 80.4%. Many respondents felt chastity and a virtue, but only 60.1% answered that pemarital chastity should be kept. For the each age group, age at sexual intercourse is revealed that among the respondents about 31.5% are experienced sexual intercourse for under 14 yearss old group, 25.3% for 15 years old, 26.3% for 16 years old, 12.6% for 17 years old, 3.3% for 18 years old, 1.0% for 19 years old. The major information source of knowledge source was school(38.4%), mass-media such as TV/radio(22.6%), book and magazine(19.9%), friends(16.2%), and parents (1.5%). CONCLUSION: In order to cope with the problems of adolescent sexuality, a drastic and strong policy measures should be taken by the government. At the same time, the public should be aware of the urgency of adolescent sexual problems. The most effective countermeasures appear to be education. Sexual education is necessary for the youth that they should bave an adequate sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors in their adolescent period.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Coitus ; Daegu ; Daejeon ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Female ; Gwangju ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Parents ; Seoul ; Sex Education ; Sexuality* ; Virtues ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Animals ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Rats* ; Tretinoin*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total* ; Sepsis*

BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) is an important procedure for draining excessive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and monitoring intracranial pressure. Generally, EVD is performed in the operating room (OR) under aseptic conditions. However, in emergency circumstances, the operation may be performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) to save neuro-critical time and to avoid the unnecessary transfer of patients. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the risk of EVD-induced CNS infections and their outcomes according to the operating place (ICU versus OR). In addition, we compared mortalities as well as hospital and ICU days between the CNS infection and non-CNS infection groups. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, laboratory data and radiographic images of patients who had received EVD operations between January, 2013 and March, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (45 men and 30 women, mean age: 58.7 +/- 15.6 years) were enrolled in this study. An average of 1.4 catheters were used for each patient and the mean period of the indwelling catheter was 7.5 +/- 5.0 days. Twenty-six patients were included in the ICU group, and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 3 (11.5%) patients. For the OR group, forty-nine patients were included and EVD-induced CNS infection had occurred in 7 (14.3%) patients. The EVD-induced CNS infection of the ICU group did not increase above that of the OR group. The ICU days and mortality rate were higher in the CNS infection group compared to the non-CNS infection group. The period of the indwelling EVD catheter and the number of inserted EVD catheters were both higher in the CNS infection group. CONCLUSIONS: If the aseptic protocols and barrier precautions are strictly kept, EVD in the ICU does not have a higher risk of CNS infections compared to the OR. In addition, EVD in the ICU can decrease the hospital and ICU days by saving neuro-critical time and avoiding the unnecessary transfer of patients. Therefore, when neurosurgeons decide upon the operating place for EVD, they should consider the benefits of ICU operation and be cautious of EVD-induced CNS infection.
Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Drainage* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Operating Rooms* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventriculostomy

Down syndrome is the most common autosomal chromosomal abnormality characterized by mental and growth retardation, and by various typical features including prominent epicanthal fold, oblique palpebral fissure, flat nasal bridge, short and broad hand, wide toe interspace, etc. The overall incidence has been shown to be 1:800 deliveries, increasing with advancing maternal age. However, twin cases are extremely rare, and thus far only 500 cases were reported worldwide. We have recently observed 10-day-old male monozygotic twins with Down syndrome, born to a mother of 30 years of age with one normal child. Both have VSD confirmed by 2D-echocardiography, in addition to various typical features. Cytogenetic examination revealed that both have karyotypes of 47, XY, +21. This is the first report in Korea as the authors are aware of.
Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Down Syndrome ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Toes ; Twins, Monozygotic

We evaluated the result of treating myopia and compound myopic astigmatism in 50 eyes using the SCMD turbokeratotome and Visx 20/20 excimer laser with vision key card system. Manifest and cycloplegic refraction, uncorrectedand spectacle corrected visual acuity, corneal topography, pachymetry, slit lamp microscopy, fundus examination, and applanation tonometry were recorded preoperatively and at 1 week, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The mean spherical epuivalent was changed from -9.1+/-2.47D to -1.37+/-1.28D at 3 month after surgery. 93.3% of eyes had uncorrected visualacuity of 20/40 or better at 3 months follow-up. No eye had visually significant ecntral cornealhaze. Complications such as over- or under correction, interface metallic debris, astigmatism, corneal erosion, incomplete flap, and total cutted flap were occurred. Conclusively, LASIK has good resuls but it is not complication-free procedure, and there is definitely a learning curve.
Astigmatism ; Corneal Topography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Lasers, Excimer ; Learning Curve ; Manometry ; Microscopy ; Myopia ; Visual Acuity

Protamine sulfate, a strong polycationic polypeptide, combined with acidic heparin to form a neutral salt, eliminates the anticoagulating properties of heparin. Heparin reversal with protamine after cardiopulmonary bypass may complicate with adverse hemodynamic effects including systemic hypotension, decreased cardiac output, changes in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances, anaphylaxis and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. We recently observed a case of severe pulmonary vasoconstriction with right ventricular failure after protamine administration in 37-year-old woman with mitral stenosis who underwent mitral valvuloplasty. After uneventful termination of cardiopulmonary bypass, administration of protamine was associated with sudden elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure with profound right ventricular distension and systemic hypotension by which heparin-protamine reaction is suspected. After intravenous epinephrine infusion and cardiac massage, these changes were reversed. Although the mechanism of this protamine-heparin induced response is unclear, complement activation and thromboxane release may play a role in the development of pulmonary vasoconstriction.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Arterial Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Complement Activation ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Heart Massage ; Heart* ; Hemodynamics ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Hypotension ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Protamines ; Pulmonary Edema ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Vasoconstriction

Hereditary anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is a rare condition characterized by underdeveloped ectodermal structure including the skin, teeth or skin appendages. The patient has characteristic feature of anhidrosis, hypotrichosis and defective dentition. We experienced a case of hereditary anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in a l-month-old male infant who had unexplained recurring fever, anhidrosis and characteristic facial feature, so we established the diagnosis with clinical feature and skin biopsy.
Biopsy ; Dentition ; Diagnosis ; Ectoderm ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypohidrosis ; Hypotrichosis ; Infant ; Male ; Skin ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemic injury during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries remains a potentially devastating outcome despite using various methods of protection. Neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonists are known to provide neuroprotection in cerebral ischemic models. This study was designed to compare the neuroprotective effects of phenytoin with those of hypothermia in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Spinal cord ischemia was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by means of infrarenal aortic cross clamping for 25 minutes. Four groups of 8 animals each were studied. The control group and the hypothermia group received retrograde infusion of saline only (22degrees C, 2 mL/min); the normothermic phenytoin group and the hypothermicphenytoin group received retrograde infusion of 100 mg of phenytoin at different rectal temperatures (39degrees C and 37degrees C, respectively) during the ischemic period. The neurologic function was assessed at 24 and 72 hours after the operation with using the modified Tarlov criteria. The spinal cords were harvested after the final neurologic examination for histopathological examination to objectively quantify the amount of neuronal damage. RESULT: No major adverse effects were observed with the retrograde phenytoin infusion during the aortic ischemic period. All the control rabbits became severely paraplegic. Both the phenytoin group and the hypothermia group had a better neurological status than did the control group (p<0.05). The typical morphological changes that are characteristic of neuronal necrosis in the gray matter of the control animals were demonstrated by means of the histopathological examination, whereas phenytoin or hypothermia prevented or attenuated these necrotic phenomena (p<0.05). The number of motor neuron cells positive for TUNEL staining was significantly reduced, to a similar extent, in the rabbits treated with phenytoin or hypothermia. Phenytoin and hypothermia had some additive neuroprotective effect, but there was no statistical significance between the two on the neurological and histopathological analysis. CONCLUSION: The neurological and histopathological analysis consistently demonstrated that both phenytoin and hypothermia may afford significant spinal cord protection to a similar extent during spinal cord ischemia in rabbits, although no significant additive effects were noticed.
Animals ; Constriction ; Hypothermia ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ischemia ; Motor Neurons ; Necrosis ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Phenytoin ; Rabbits ; Sodium Channels ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Ischemia