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*

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

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.
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

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contrast enhancement patterns and mass detection rate of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver in the early and late phase of spiral bolus dynamic CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-phase spiral bolus dynamic CT of the liver was performed on 34 patients with clinically or pathologically proved metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver after bolus administration of 120 mL of contrast material intravenously. CT scanning was started at 45 seconds and 6 minutes after I~eginning of injection in 23 patients, and at 35 seconds and 3 minutes in another 11 patients. The enhancement patterns of the tumors were classified into 6 types compared with attenuation of surrounding normal liver parenchyma, as diffusely high, peripherally high, centrally high, mixed, iso, diffusely low. The enhancement patterns of 76 tumors in 34 patients were analysed. RESULTS: In the early phase, peripherally high attenuation was seen in 34(45%) and diffusely low attenuation in 23(30%). In the late phase, diffusely low attenuation was seen in 27(36%) followed by iso and mixed in 14 (18%), in each, and peripherally high in 13(17%). The appearances of enhancement pattern from the early to the late phase were variable. 12(16%) were diffusely low in both phases, 11(14%) were peripherally high in the early phase and diffusely low in the late phase, and 10(13%) were peripherally high in both phases. Number of tumor lesions detected were more in the early phase in 12(35%)patients, and in the late phase in 3(9%) patients. CONCLUSION: Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver showed variable enhancement patterns in the early and late phases of spiral bolus dynamic CT, although the most common pattern was peripherally high in early phase, and diffusely low in the late phase. The detection rate of masses was higher in early phase than late. The two-phase spiral bolus dynamic CT should be good method in detection and differential diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Liver* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contrast enhancement patterns and mass detection rate of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver in the early and late phase of spiral bolus dynamic CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-phase spiral bolus dynamic CT of the liver was performed on 34 patients with clinically or pathologically proved metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver after bolus administration of 120 mL of contrast material intravenously. CT scanning was started at 45 seconds and 6 minutes after I~eginning of injection in 23 patients, and at 35 seconds and 3 minutes in another 11 patients. The enhancement patterns of the tumors were classified into 6 types compared with attenuation of surrounding normal liver parenchyma, as diffusely high, peripherally high, centrally high, mixed, iso, diffusely low. The enhancement patterns of 76 tumors in 34 patients were analysed. RESULTS: In the early phase, peripherally high attenuation was seen in 34(45%) and diffusely low attenuation in 23(30%). In the late phase, diffusely low attenuation was seen in 27(36%) followed by iso and mixed in 14 (18%), in each, and peripherally high in 13(17%). The appearances of enhancement pattern from the early to the late phase were variable. 12(16%) were diffusely low in both phases, 11(14%) were peripherally high in the early phase and diffusely low in the late phase, and 10(13%) were peripherally high in both phases. Number of tumor lesions detected were more in the early phase in 12(35%)patients, and in the late phase in 3(9%) patients. CONCLUSION: Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver showed variable enhancement patterns in the early and late phases of spiral bolus dynamic CT, although the most common pattern was peripherally high in early phase, and diffusely low in the late phase. The detection rate of masses was higher in early phase than late. The two-phase spiral bolus dynamic CT should be good method in detection and differential diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Liver* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

After the immunization of pigmented guinea pigs with bovine rod outer segments in complete Freund's adjuvant, the regional lymph nodes were excised, teased and sedimented by centrifugation. These fresh lymphocytes were injected intravitreally (a single injection of 10 X 10 cells in 50 micro l) in 18 eyes. The involvement of the ciliary body and the choroid with polymorphonuclear leucoytes and later with round cells was noted in 16 eyes. Destructions of the visual cells of the retina were demonstrated in 8 eyes. When the fresh lymphocytes were injected subconjunctivally (50 X 10 cells in 30 micro l) four times. four of the 8 eyes showed slight infiltrations of the ciliary body and the choroid with round cells. No retinal lesion was found. Following repeated freezing and thawing of the lymphocytes. transfer experiments wereperformed with the nonviable cells and their extracts respectively. In 8 eyes injected intravitreally with nonviable cells. 2 eyes showed the infiltration of the uvea with round cells, whereas. of 6 eyes injected subconjunctivally, only one eye showed such changes. The extracts of lymphocytes were injected intravitreally in 8 eyes of which 5 eyes demon-strated moderate degree of infiltration of the uvea. Of 2 eyes injected subconjunctivally, 2 eyes. showed slight histological changes. As control experiments, lymphocytes taken from animals immunized. only with the adjuvant were treated as before and transferred to normal animals. Only one eye of 3 eyes received single intravitreal injection of fresh cells showed slight degree of infiltration of the uvea. Thus it can be concluded that the experimental autoimmune uveitis in guinea pigs could be transferred to normal animals by the transfer of non-viable lymphocytes and especially by their extracts.
Animals ; Centrifugation ; Choroid ; Ciliary Body ; Freezing ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunization ; Intravitreal Injections ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Rod Cell Outer Segment ; Uvea ; Uveitis*

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

No abstract available.