No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Rats* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction*

To investigate the effects of prostaglandin E1(PGX1) in prevention of proliferative scar formation, we cultured fibroblasts of normal skin (NS), hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid (KL) tissues obtained from patients. We have compared type I collagenase production of cultured fibroblasts from normal skin, hypertrophic scar, and keloid tissues under various concentrations of PGE1. Our results demonstrate that type I collagenase production was significantly increased after addition of PGE1 in HS and KL, but not NS. Type I collagenase production of HS and KL fibroblasts were increased similarly in 10M and 10M of PGE1 and maximally increased in the concentration of 10M. This promotive effects of PGE1 on the production of type I collagenase was larger in KL than in HS. These results also suggest that PGE1 may play the promotive effects on type I collagenase production in dose-dependent manner. PGE1 may have a role in the prevention of hypertrophic scar and keloid by enhancing the production of type I collagenase of HS and KL fibroblasts. The promotive effects of PGE1 on type I collagenase production was variable depending on its concentration, and its effects was maximum in certain optimal condition. The maximally effective concentration of PGE1 in the prevention of proliferative scar formation should be searched in further investigations for clinical use.
Alprostadil ; Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Collagenases* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Keloid* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Diverticulum, Esophageal*

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of transthoracic fine needle aspiration cytology(TFNAC) in the preoperative diagnosis of pulmonary nodules, a retrospective analysis was carried out on a consecutive series of 200 TFNACs. They included 186 primary malignant tumors, 66 squamous cell carcinomas, 65 adenocarcinomas, 36 small cell carcinomas, 7 large cell carcinomas, 4 carcinoids, 8 others, 9 metastatic tumors, and 5 benign tumors. On cytohistologic correlation of malignant pulmonary tumors, the pro- cedure had a sensitivity of 97.3% and a specificity of 100%. A 86.6% correct correlation between the cytologic and histologic diagnoses was achieved. Five out of the 7 undifferentiated large cell carcinomas, 10 out of the 65 adenocarcinomas, 2 out of the 36 small cell carcinomas, and 2 out of the 66 squamous cell carcinomas were turned out to be mistyped in cytologic diagnosis. We concluded that TFNAC is a highly sensitive and specific preoperative diagnostic procedure in the investigation of patients with discrete pulmonary nodules in whom the specific cell type of the malignant neoplasm has important implications in treatment modality and prognosis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bezafibrate ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Kidney* ; Natural History* ; Papanicolaou Test ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The main objectives of the surgical treatment of intrahepatic stones are complete removal of the stones and correction of biliary stasis and strictures. Hepatic resection is expected to yield a most satisfactory treatment result by eradicating the stones and the strictured bile duct as well. To evaluate the effectiveness and the risk of hepatic resection, we reviewed 149 patients who underwent hepatic resection due to intrahepatic stones over a fourteen-year period and who were followed up. There were 48 males and 101 females, and ages ranged from 20 to 70 years. The stones were located in the left lobe in 96 patients, the right lobe in 13 patients, and both lobes in 40 patients. The operative procedures executed in the patients were 96 lateral segmentectomies, 33 left lobectomies, 14 right lobectomies, one extended right lobectomy, and five partial resections. Biliary drainage procedures were added in 40 patients. Postoperatively, retained stones were found in 24.2% of the patients which was lowered to 10.7% at the time of discharge with assistance of radiologic interventions. During follow-up over a mean period of 63 months, 93.2% of the patients showed good rehabilitation, and recurrent stones had developed in 5 patients (3.5%). Operative complications were biliay fistula in 10 patients, intra-abdominal abscess in seven patients, hepatic failure in two patients, and postoperative bleeding in one patient, and the overall operative mortality rate was 2.0%. We conclude that hepatic resection is a safe and satisfactory treatment option for patients with intrahepatic stones.
Abdominal Abscess ; Bile Ducts ; Cholestasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Failure ; Male ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Mortality ; Rehabilitation ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

PURPOSE: Polyglutamine diseases are a group of diseases caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the protein. The present study was performed to verify if polyglutamine disease transgenic Drosophila models show similar dysfunctions as are seen in human patients. METHODS: Polyglutamine disease transgenic Drosophila were tested for their climbing ability. And using genetic methods, the effects of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 and chemical chaperones on neurodegeneration were observed. Also, spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (SCA2) transgenic Drosophila lines were generated for future studies. RESULTS: Expanded forms of spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) transgenic protein causes characteristic locomotor dysfunction when expressed in the nervous system of Drosophila but the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 shows no evidence of ameliorating the deleterious effect of the expanded protein. However, Glycerol, a chemical chaperone, seemed to reduce the toxicity, at least in the eyes of the transgenic flies. The level SCA2 expression is too weak in the transgenic SCA2 Drosophila for evaluation. CONCLUSION: SCA3 transgenic Drosophila show ataxic behavior as observed in human patients. Chemical chaperones such as glycerol may prove beneficial in this class of genetic disease, which has no current method of cure.
Diptera ; Drosophila* ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Machado-Joseph Disease ; Nervous System ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias

PURPOSE: The prism-cover test has been known to be the most accurate method in measuring ocular angle deviation, but the Hirschberg test is used in poorly cooperative patients. To enhance the accuracy of Hirschberg test, we designed a geometric model using digital photographs. METHODS: Fifty normal volunteers were included in this study, who had no ocular disorders. Digital photographs were obtained in the subjects seated 2 m in front of the fixation targets and the camera was set 1 m in front of subjects. In each photograph, the apparent width of the cornea and the distance from the corneal light reflex to the limbus were measured using computer program for calculation of angle deviation. Then we compared the calculated angle deviation with the actual one. RESULTS: Calculated angle deviations with digital image photographs were corresponded to the actual ones from esodeviation 40delta to 10delta (p>0.05), whereas in esodeviation 60delta, 70delta and exodeviation, the larger the deviation angle, the larger the calculated angle composed with the actual one. CONCLUSIONS: Angle deviation measurement using digital photographs appears to be relatively precise and its clinical application will be available in measuring angle deviation of esodeviation.
Cornea ; Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Reflex

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare hereditary disease where the clinical manifestations are multiple harmatomatous gastrointestinal polyps and pigmentations of the skin. A harmatomatous polyp can develop at any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and the proximal small bowel is frequently involved. Intestinal obstruction, bleeding and intussusception, caused by GI polyps have been reported, which often require repeated surgery. A female patient presented with suffering of abdominal pain for two days duration. The patient was diagnosed with intussusception, and a resection and anastomosis of the small bowel was performed. The patient was treated for 15 days, and was discharged from the hospital without any particular complications. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation ; Polyps ; Skin ; Stress, Psychological

Double common bile duct (DCBD) is a rare congenital anomaly among biliary anomalies. The anomaly has an important clinical implication because of its association with anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union (APBDU) and upper gastrointestinal cancers. In addition, if one of the two common bile ducts is mistaken for the cystic duct during surgery, bile duct injury is likely to occur. Treatment depends on the coexistence of concomitant cancer and APBDU. A 54-year-old male diagnosed of gastric cancer was referred for surgery. During surgery, we incidentally detected bile leak from the tubular structure around the hepatoduodenal ligament. We performed intraoperative cholangiogram by cannulizing into the tubular structure, and confirmed the tubular duct as the accessory bile duct with an ectopic drainage into the stomach, which was connected to the proximal common bile duct. In this study, we report a rare case of DCBD with an ectopic drainage into the stomach and review the literature.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage* ; Gallstones ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach*

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of triamcinolone acetonide injection between intravitreal injection alone group and intravitreal injection in combintaion with posterior subtenon injection group in diabetic macular edema. METHODS: Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients with diabetic macular edema were randomly classified into two groups. Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide 4 mg was administered to 15 eyes and posterior subtenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide 20 mg in combination with intravitreal injection was administered to 14 eyes. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography were assessed 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Baseline BCVA and macular thickness showed no differences between two groups. BCVA and macular thickness 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure revealed significant improvement, but no significant differences between two groups were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide alone and intravitreal inejction in combination with posterior subtenon injection were equally effective, but had no significant differences.
Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Edema* ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Triamcinolone* ; Visual Acuity