BACKGROUND: It is well known that neuronal degeneration can occur after a brief deprivation of energy source. To investigate whether glial astrocyte can induce a phenomenon of delayed cell death after transient energy loss and to see how different are the effects of nifedipine, lidocaine, carnosine and hypothermia on delayed toxicity in astrocyte. METHODS: Human astrocytoma cells (U1242MG) were used in this study. To assess the astrocyte survival during post-ischemic period after transient histotoxic hypoxia, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5, diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used. Compared to MTT test, tryphan blue test was also used to demonstrate membrane damage of affected cells. Studies on intracellular calcium dynamics during ischemic and post-ischemic period were carried out with fluo-3 and flow cytometry system. RESULTS: The percentage survival of astrocyte during post-ischemic period was decreasing with time. Calcium channel blocker nifedipine, sodium and calcium channel blocker lidocaine and free radical scavenger carnosine could not prevent post-ischemic cell damage. But, hypothermia was only an effective method in ameliorating post-ischemic cell death. Intracellular calcium increase during ischemia and post-ischemia was dependent on extracellular calcium influx. CONCLUSIONS: Only hypothermia was effective in reducing astrocyte death during post-ischemia after transient energy depletion. Intracellular calcium alterations during post-ischemia was from extracellular space.
Anoxia* ; Astrocytes* ; Astrocytoma ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Carnosine ; Cell Death ; Extracellular Space ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Ischemia ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nifedipine ; Sodium

No abstract available.
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*

Secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis may occur earlier than other manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis. A 68-year-old woman presented with multiple ulcerative lesions on the right calf of 2 weeks duration. She had been treated with antibiotics, but the lesions spread rapidly. The initial clinical impression was necrotizing fasciitis, but routine KOH mounting from the ulcerative lesions showed numerous budding yeast cells with peripheral clear zones and further investigations including a skin biopsy, tissue cultures and India ink preparations allowed a rapid and definitive diagnosis of cutaneous cryptococcosis. Studies for other evidence of infection elsewhere revealed an asymptomatic pulmonary lesion. We report a case of secondary cutaneous cryptococcosis clinically mimicking necrotizing fasciitis that occured before other manifestations of disseminated cryptococcosis.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis* ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Ink ; Saccharomycetales ; Skin ; Ulcer

No abstract available.
Pancytopenia* ; Pneumonia*

Speech characteristics of cleft palate have been reported previously by hypernasality disorders. However, some cleft palate patients suffered from articulation disorders although they were taken surgery at an early time. Misarticulations of cleft palate patients are caused by abnormal lingual-palatal contacts. Traditionally, the Palatograpy has been used to see the lingual-palatal patterns. However, on this study, the Electropalatography(Palatometer) was used to investigate the comparison with lingual-palatal patterns between normal adult and cleft palate adult. The Nasometer model 6200-3 was used separately to measure the nasalance for cleft palate patient. The acoustic characteristics of cleft palate patients with respect to the palatographic patterns were examined by Computerized Speech Lab(IBM). The dental reflector was applied to measure the nasal airflow when cleft palate patient uttered. Test words were composed of meaningless mono syllabic words VCV (V: low center vowel /a/, C: alveolar stop, velar stop, affricate, fricative and lateral sounds). The subjects repeated the test words 10 times for statistic analysis. As a result of the palatographic patterns and the burst durations for stop consonants and the durations for fricative consonants, the cleft palate patients showed broader contact area, longer burst durations and fricative consonant durations than normal. It means that the cleft palate speech showed more tenseness of consonants than normal. By palatographic patterns, the misarticulation of cleft palate patient showed as follows : (1) Lingual-palatal contact of alveolar stop showed the palatalized misarticulation. (2) Lingual -palatal contact of velar stop moved forward in comparison with normal. However, posterior lateral contact areas were broader than normal contact area. (3) Lingual-palatal contact of affricate moved backward with narrower constriction than normal. (4) Fricative consonant showed lateral misarticulation.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Articulation Disorders ; Cleft Palate* ; Constriction ; Humans ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

In order to elucidate the biological effects of pulsating magnetic field in in vitro culture system we designed a pulsating magnetic apparatus using 120 Hertz, 24 Volt direct current. It can generate 63~225 Gauss in the experimental area of 90 mm petri dish, and has little thermal effect on the culture media in 37.5oC, 5% CO2. Human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured in the pulsating magnetic field and the nuclear changes of cultured cells were observed routinely by hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic change was detected by ApopTag staining using both peroxidase and fluorescein labelings. Compared to the control group which formed well organized whorling pattern of HOS cell line in 3 days culture, the HOS cells cultured in the pulsating magnetic field for 12 hours or 24 hours grew irregularly and showed increased number of apoptotic cells. When the flow of pulsating magnetic field was interrupted by insertion of strong permanent magnetic bar (1000 Gauss, 5530 mm) beneath the petri dish during in vitro culture, the area of sparse pulsating magnetic field showed active proliferation and aggregation of HOS cells even in 24 hour exposure group. These data suggest that the pulsating magnetic field may play a role in inducing growth retardation and apoptosis of HOS cells. Furthermore, the hazardous effects of pulsating magnetic field can be lessened or nullified by the interruption of pulsating magnetic field with a strong permanent magnetic bar.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fluorescein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Magnetic Fields* ; Osteosarcoma* ; Peroxidase

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer has been the most prevalent female cancer in South Korea since 2001. Early detection of this disease is the most effective strategy for reducing mortality. The objective of this study was to identify factors which could predict advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS: Participants who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Stress Clinic of the Breast Cancer Center at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included. Through a semi-structured interview, the authors investigated psychosocial variables such as the extent of marital and family functioning and emotional-economic family burden as well as sociodemographic and health behavior-, health characteristic- and cancer-related variables. RESULTS: Data were collected from 219 participants. One hundred and twenty(54.8%) subjects were diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer. Variables that were significantly different between the advanced-stage and early-stage groups included : monthly breast self examination(p<0.000), annual mammographic screening(p< 0.000), mode of tumor detection(p<0.000), nature of the first symptoms(p<0.000), time to treatment after di-agnosis(p<0.000), overloaded economic and family burden(p=0.018), marital functioning(p<0.000) and family functioning(p<0.00). Logistic regression analysis indicated that irregular annual mammography screening(OR=7.431 ; 95% CI 2.407-22.944) or a lack of screening(OR=25.299 ; 95% CI 7.855-81.482) and a dysfunctional marital relationship(OR=4.772 ; 95% CI 2.244-10.145) were significantly associated with advanced stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: We reconfirmed screening behavior to be a risk factor for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Our findings also emphasized the importance of psychosocial factors such as marital functioning in early detection of breast cancer. Psychiatric consultation in the area of martial functioning could be beneficial for increasing early detection in breast cancer.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Delayed Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mammography ; Marriage* ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Psychology* ; Risk Factors ; Time-to-Treatment

Silicone oil has been used successfully in vitreoretinal surgery for many years. But complications from the use of silicone oil as a long-acting internal tamponade may develop. They include glaucoma, keratopathy, oil emulsification, and cataract. For patients requiring silicone oil removal and cataract surgery, both operations can be performed in a combined procedure. After phacoemulsification, a posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis(PCCC) is performed, followed by irrigation of balanced salt solution(BSS)into vitreous cavity allowing flow out of silicone oil through the PCCC and intraocular lens(IOL)is implanted into remaining capsular bag. This technique offers faster visual rehabilitation, shorter operation time and reduces the risk of peripheral retinal defect, vitreous hemorrhage that may be caused by traditional oil removal through sclerostomy.
Capsulorhexis* ; Cataract ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Phacoemulsification* ; Rehabilitation ; Retinaldehyde ; Sclerostomy ; Silicone Oils* ; Vitreoretinal Surgery ; Vitreous Hemorrhage

Ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in 72 cases of pelvic masses which have been provedhistopathologically were analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. Among 72 cases, 28 cases were uterine massesand 44 cases were adnexal masses. 2. Pathologic accuracies of ultrasonographic diagnosis were 64.3% in uterinemasses, 70.5% in adnexal masses, and 68.1% in all pelvic masses. 3. Plain or IVP findings were not specific indiagnosis and showed secondary mass effects or functional disturbances. 4. Because of its high accuracy ofpathologic diagnosis and safety, ultrasonography can be regared as the most valuable and preferential study. Butin cases of cystic myomas, endometrioses, cystic missed abortions and huge masses, the accurate diagnoses weredifficult.
Abortion, Missed ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Myoma ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography

Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw ; Jeollabuk-do ; Male ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus ; Rehabilitation ; Surgery, Oral