OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible menopause related changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels and their relationship with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) plasma levels, osteocalcin(Ost) and urinary deoxypyridinoline(Dpd) in either surgical menopause or natural menopause, METHOD: Seventy-two postmenopausal women (surgical menopause 48, natural menopause 24) were invited to participate in this study. In all subjects plasma IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measSURED by radioimmunoassay and Ost and Dpd were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). RESULTS: No difference was found between mean IGFBP-3 plasma levels in the two groups studied(3,522 +/- 926 vs 3,854 +/- 569 ng/ml), while mean IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in natural menopause as compared with surgical menopause (natural 126 +/- 44 vs surgical 163 +/- 66 ng/ml, p=0.007). No difference was found between mean Ost levels in the two groups studied (natural menopause 8.0 +/- 2.9 vs surgical menopause 8,9 +/- 2.1 ng/ml, p=0.113) and mean Dpd levels in the two studied (natural menopause 6.8 +/- 2.3 vs surgical menopause 7.8 +/- 3.4 mM, p=0.213). CONCLUSION: IGF-1 was significantly lower in natural menopause as compared with surgical menopause, but no significant difference was found in IGFBP-3, Ost, and Dpd levels
Biomarkers* ; Carrier Proteins* ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Menopause* ; Osteocalcin* ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay

The most important spinal disorders in childhood are malformations and mass lesions. High-resolution, real-time ultrasonography of the spine enables the differentation of intraand paraspinal structures in a significant way. This examination does not require sedation, does not use radiation, can be performed in the nursery or an incubator and is less expensive than computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The sonographic appearence of the various kinds of spinal dysraphism is demonstrated and illustrated. Based on our preliminary experience spinal sonography appears to be useful in neonates and infants as the first imaging device for differentiation of cmplex malformation and as a screeing method for occult spinal dysraphism.
Humans ; Incubators ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neural Tube Defects ; Nurseries ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Spine ; Ultrasonography*

Two major factors, delayed hypoperfusion and membrane failure influence the sequelae of cerebral ischemic injury. Calcium ions play a major role in both pathophysiological mechanisms. Calcium channel blockers are a logical choice for investigation as possible therapeutic agents for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine derivative, is one of the most potent calcium channel blocking agent with a selective action on the intracranial vessels. The present study was designed to test the effects of nimodipine on focal cerebral ischemia in rats. At 1,2 or 6 hours after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCA), rats were treated with either nimodipine or saline. Neurological and pathological evaluation was performed at 24 hours after occlusion. Neurological outcome was better in nimodipine-treated rats and the size of the infarcted area was statistically smaller in rats treated with nimodipine 1,2 or 6 hours after occlusion(P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) when compared with control rats(MCA occlusion only) or saline-treated rats. The results show that nimodipine improves neurological outcome and decreases the size of infarction after ischemic insult. The mechanism of action of nimodipine is not fully understood but nimodipine could influence cerebral postischemic changes by improving blood flow and/or by a direct action on neurons.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia* ; Calcium ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels ; Infarction ; Ions ; Logic ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nimodipine* ; Rats

No abstract available.
Amphotericin B* ; Hemoptysis*

No abstract available.
Drainage* ; Lung Abscess* ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax* ; Suppuration*

No abstract available.
Airway Resistance* ; Respiration*

Prediction of individual outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation is of major medical, ethical, and socioeconomic interest but uncertain. We experienced the case thats the patient got complete neurologic recovery after the 123th day firm cardiac arrest, who had been suspected to go with poor prognosis because she got the findings of Glasgow Coma Scale 4, severe diffuse encephalopathy on encephalogram and generalized tonic-clonic seizure at the 4th day. Recently, a 29 year-old women who sustained from respiratory arrest induced presumably by sedative and anticonvulsant therapy for control of seizure that happened during local lidocaine anesthesia far mamoplasty was transfered to our emergency medical center from local private plastic office. Arrest time was about 20 minutes. On hospital arrival, she had a pulseless bradyasystole and no respiration, but spontaneous circulation was restored at 10 minutes artier CPR started. We started cerebral oriented resuscitation including mild hypothermia(34degrees C), hemodilution, calcium channel blocker infusion. On hospital day 4, patient's glasgow coma scale(GCS) was 4. On hospital clay 7, Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) showed high signal intensity on T2WI, involving the bilateral basal ganglia. After contrast administraton, marked enhancement can be seen at the lesion site. Patient's glasgow coma scale(GCS) increased step by step to 5 on 8th day, 7 on 14th day, 10 on 15th day, 13 on 17th day, 15 on 20th day. 40 days later the patient was discharged with minor neurologic abnormality including hand tremor, dysphonia, amenorrhea and Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE) score(26). Long-term Follow up revealed that all neurologic functional abnormality inducting hand tremor, dysphonia, amenorrhea and MMSE score(26) is completely recovered on 123th day after episode of cardiopulmonary arrest.
Adult ; Amenorrhea ; Anesthesia ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Calcium Channels ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Coma ; Dysphonia ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hand ; Heart Arrest* ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain* ; Lidocaine ; Plastics ; Prognosis ; Respiration ; Resuscitation ; Seizures ; Tremor

Abdominal complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus occur infrequently. Presented in the paper is a case of urinary bladder perforation by an abdominal catheter of the Accu-Flo shunt system. The distal tip of the abdominal catheter extruded spontaneously through the urethral orifice. This rare complication was treated by shunt revision.
Catheters* ; Hydrocephalus ; Urinary Bladder* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Pneumonectomy*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prognosis* ; Respiratory Insufficiency*