The fine structure of cells in the trigeminal mesencephalic (Me5) nucleus in the rat was studied by transmission electron microscopy. This nucleus located in the mid-brain and the rostral portion of the pons, most neurons in the caudal part of Me5 nucleus were sufficiently large (40~50micrometer) and appeared as round-shaped unipolar cells. The Me5 neurons had a large, round, centrally located nucleus, and their cytoplasm contained numerous mitochondria, dense granular endoplasmic reticulum, abundant Golgi apparatus, groups of free ribosomes, some heterogeneous particles and neurofilaments. Cell surfaces were studded irregularly with small spinouts processes, and they contained a few fine irregularly arranged neurofilaments and some granular endoplasmic reticulum. Boutons contacting the soma of Me5 neurons were defined as axosomatic synapses and bostons contacting dendrites located between the Me5 neurons were defined as axodendritic synapses. Based on differences in bouton and vesicle morphology, the four synaptic bouton types were identified. 1. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with small round vesicles. 2. Asymmetrical synapses with pleomorphic admixture contained predominantlyspherical vesicles. 3. Symmetrical synapses with pleomorphic vesicles of flattened, spherical and dense-core vesicles. 4. Asymmetrical as well as symmetrical synapses with heterogeneous and large dense-core vesicles. Synaptic boutons containing round vesicles and large dense-core vesicles were most frequently observed.
Animals ; Carisoprodol ; Cytoplasm ; Dendrites ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Golgi Apparatus ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; Neurons ; Pons ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Rats* ; Ribosomes ; Synapses

In the plywood manufacturing factory established in 1979, female 3 workers who had exposed to adhesives containing formaldehyde for more than 48 months of duration suffered from eye, nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation and dyspnea as chief complaints. The actual level of the exposure to formaldehyde were not estimated when the exposed workers started to have above symptoms. The environmental monitoring of workplace was measured on April 25, 1990, and the concentration of formaldehyde revealed 0.2 ppm, however the exhaustive ventilatory system was already installed at that time. Twenty six subjects from entire factory were examined by questionnaire, physical examination and spirometry, etc. on August 22, 1990. Significant difference was observed in symptoms and signs of nasal, oral and throat irritation between teh exposed group with longer duration and that with short duration. When the exposed group with longer duration was compared to the group of nonexposed, symptoms and signs of nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation, chest tightness and dullness were significantly increased in the former group. The results of the spirometric test showed that the forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume at 1 second were decreased amont the exposed group with longer duration but not significant.
Adhesives ; Dyspnea ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Spirometry ; Thorax ; Vital Capacity

No abstract available.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis*

Strabismus fixus is a rare condition in which one or both eyes are anchored, as a rule, in a position of extreme adduction or abduction. The involved eye is "fixed" in this position and cannot be moved, and the forced duction test will confirm the immobility of the eye. The condition generally is thought to be congenital and caused by fibrosis, which would explain the loss of elasticity of the rectus muscle. Divergent forms of strabismus fixus not accompanied by ptosis or generalized fibrosis of the extraocular muscle are even more unusual. The authors experienced one case of divergent strabismus fixus in a 23 year old female patient. We performed complete disinsertion of both lateral rectus muscle and recession of conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule, combined with 11 mm resection of medial rectus muscle of left eye. The result of that surgery, however, was not satisfactory. So we performed 11 mm resection of medial rectus muscle of right eye and temporary fixation of the globes with traction sutures in a position of abbuction on both eyes at 3 days after the first surgery. After 4 weeks, patient was remained 60 delta exodeviation but primary position and ocular motility were improved.
Conjunctiva ; Elasticity ; Exotropia* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Strabismus ; Sutures ; Tenon Capsule ; Traction ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Korea is an epidemic area of hepatitis B. There are needs for longitudinal study to measure quantity of hepatitis B infection status in Korea. This study was designed to observe natural course of hepatitis B markers in the same person for three years. The objective of this study was to investigate incidence of new infection and persistence of previous infection. METHODS: The study subjects were clients who visited a health examination center in Seoul twice with an interval of three years, from 1995 to 2000. They replied as nonvaccinee on both occasions for hepatitis B by self-administered questionnaire. Hepatits B markers were measured by radioimmunoassay on all visits. There were 103 subjects with 61 men and 42 women. RESULTS: The positive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen was 20.4% initially, which changed to 18.5% after three years. The positive rate of hepatitis B surface antigen was 20.4% initially, that was changed as 18.5% after three years. The positive rate of hepatitis B surface antibody was 61.2% initially, which increased to 66.0% after three years. The positive rates of hepatitis B surface antibody in men were 63.9% initially and 68.9% after three years, which showed statistically significant trend. (P=0.08). The positive rate of hepatitis B core antibody was 89.3%, which remained the same after three years. There was no positive conversion case of hepatitis B surface antigen. The negative conversion rate of hepatitis B surface antigen was 2/63(3.2%). The positive conversion rate of hepatitis B surface antibody was 7/40(17.5%), and negative conversion rate of that was 2/63(3.2%). The positive conversion rate of hepatitis B core antibody was 3/11(27.3%), and negative conversion rate of that was 3/92(3.3%). CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B markers changed in the direction of increase of infection incidence, rather than natural disappearance of markers in nonvaccinees. The mechanism was postulated as occurrence of new infection mainly, but the possibility of double infection by variants of hepatitis B virus could not be ruled out. We confirmed that positive rate of hepatitis B marker in males was not only higher cross-sectionally, but also increased higher longitudinally. We suggest a follow-up study of hepatits B markers to be performed because hepatits B markers showed dynamic changes. We think the high risk groups of hepatitis B infection have a priority in follow-up study.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Noise in the knee joint is a common symptom that often leads to outpatient clinic visits. However, there have been no previous review articles regarding noise around the knee despite its high prevalence. We will review the noise characteristics according to sound nature and onset as well as factors for differentiation between physiological and pathological noises. In addition, we will describe causes of the physiological and pathological noises and management of noise in the knee. An appropriate review of the characteristics of noise, its pathophysiology, and factors for differentiation between physiological and pathological noises can facilitate patient guidance. It is important to differentiate between physiological noise and pathologic noise. In most cases, noise after surgery is simply the perception of noise that had been present previously due to emotional concerns. Minor problems associated with surgery, such as postoperative noise, can decrease patient satisfaction, especially among patients with high expectations. Following surgical principles and providing accurate information about physiological noise can decrease the risk of both pathological noise and patient dissatisfaction. In total knee arthroplasty, every attempt should be made to avoid patellar crepitus and clunk by using modern prostheses with proper patellofemoral conformity and by avoiding surgical errors.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Medical Errors ; Noise* ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prevalence ; Prostheses and Implants

Hanging is a common method of suicide that is being reported more frequently in many countries. Several complications including injuries to the cervical spine, neck vessels, and brain can occur after attempted suicide by hanging. There are only a few reports of brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of hanging victims. The most common abnormality was diffuse cerebral edema. A subarachnoid hemorrhage is an atypical complication by suicidal hanging. We report a case of a female patient who presented to an emergency department with altered mental status after attempting suicide by incomplete hanging. The patient was diagnosed with a non-aneurysmal and non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. This case shows that spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage can develop due to a sudden elevation of intracranial pressure, as occurs with hanging.
Brain ; Brain Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Neck ; Spine ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted*

BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus has been known as a multisystemic disorder for a long time. An association between diabetes and hearing loss was first postulated in the one case report published by Jordao in 1857. The typical hearing loss from diabetes is a progressive and bilateral sensorineural deficit that predominantly occurs in the high frequency and in the elderly patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological changes of cochlear hair cells in the insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus induced by Streptozotocin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty two rats were used for this study and divided into control and diabetic group. Furthermore each group was subdivided into 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks group. All experimental animal were put in the same environmental condition. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was induced by intravenous injection of Streptozotocin (65 mg/kg of body weight). Hair cell loss and their ultrastructural changes were observed with phase contrast light microscope and transmission electron microscope. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that metabolic change of diabetes mellitus may affect the cochlear hair cells.
Aged ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hair* ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Rats* ; Streptozocin

PURPOSE: Establishing an appropriate animal model is essential for investigating the yet unknown mechanisms of overactive bladder(OAB). Prostanoids are an already well known intrinsic cause of overactive bladder in both animal and human. Awake animal models with prostanoids are already being used as an OAB model, but there is no standardization of methods, and especially for the concentration of the administrated prostanoids. So in this study, we tried to objectively establish the standardized concentration of prostanoids and its effect on urination through urodynamic studies with using non-anesthetized Dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We divided 18 female rats(215-280g) into 3 groups of six rats each and we injected 30micrometer, 50micrometer or 100micrometer of PGE2, respectively. A catheter was placed inside the bladder through an incision in the abdominal wall. After three days, cystometry was performed with the arts in an awake state. During cystometry, we administrated saline into the bladder to identify the usual voiding status of the rat. In comparison, the saline with PGE2 at 3 different concentrations(30, 50, 100micrometer) was administrated into the bladder(10ml/h). RESULTS: Each group of the 30, 50, 100micrometer PGE2 administered rats showed an increased level of the basal pressure, the threshold pressure and the maximal pressure compared to the state before administration of PGE2. Also, the bladder capacity, voided volume and micturition interval decreased by a statistically acceptable amount, like was seen in the OAB model. There was a trend that showed a greater increase in the pressure parameters and a greater decrease in the volume parameters in the 50micrometer PGE2 group compared to the 30micrometer PGE2 group, but there were no differences between the 50micrometer and 100micrometer groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the normal awake rats, PGE2 induced overactive bladder to a statistically significant amount for all concentrations(30, 50, 100micrometer). Among these groups, the concentration of 50micrometer provoked OAB most effectively, and the higher concentration of PGE2(100micrometer) did not provoke a more efficient OAB, which might have been due to the characteristics of the intrinsic material in the bladders. Thus, we recommend PGE2 50micrometer for efficient induction of OAB.
Abdominal Wall ; Animals ; Catheters ; Dinoprostone ; Female ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Prostaglandins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urination ; Urodynamics

One hundred sixty three patients were hysteroscoped for various reasons at our department over 10 year period. Ninety eight patients out of 163 who were diagnosed and treated for their intrauterine adhesions(IUAs) by hysteroscopy were analysed retrospectively. Patients were classified as having mild, moderate or severe stage of IUAs according to American Fertility Society classification. Twenty nine patients(29.6%) had mild IUAs, 43 patients (43.9%) had moderate IUAs, and 26 patients(26.5%) were classified as having severe stage IUAs. The predisposing causal factors of IUAs were abortion, full-term delivery, H. mole, pelvic tuberculosis and myomectomy in order of frequency but in eight cases no cause was identified. After hysteroscopic surgery, although high rate(83.9%) of restoration of normal menstruation was attained but term pregnancy rate was only 53.3% and rather high rate (32%) of preterm or abortion were identified and those pregnancy outcomes were correlated with the stage of IUAs. Complications of surgery consisted of uterine or bladder perforation, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage.
Classification ; Female ; Fertility ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysteroscopy ; Menstruation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pulmonary Edema ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Urinary Bladder