No abstract available.
Kidney Calculi*

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that primarily affect, the spine, the axial skeleton, and the large proximal joints of the body with striking tendancy toward fibrosis with secondary ossification and ankylosis of involved joints. This study was carried out to analyse clinical manifestation, evaluate disease activity indicator and set up diagnostic work-up. 38 cases of ankylosing spondylitis were studied at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University from Oct. 1987 to Mar. 1989. Following results were obtained. l. Average age was 28.5 years and all patients were male. 2. Low back pain was the most frequent symptom(63%) and back stiffness was next(13%). 3. S-I joint change on x-ray was the most frequently found abnormalities(100%) and HLA B27 (+) was next(97%). 4. SI/S ratio was inversely correlated with duration of symptom and seems to be significant durng the early phase of disease. 5. As a disease activity indicator, CRP was more reliable than ESR during follow up.
Ankylosis ; Clinical Study ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Skeleton ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Strikes, Employee

No abstract available.
Humans ; Somatoform Disorders*

This study was designed to evaluated the effects of opioid receptor agonists on the spontaneous alternation behaviour in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rats. According to the theory that dopamine is related to the biological etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the effect of the nalbuphine(opioid kappa agonist) and the tramadol(opioid mu agonist), which act as manipulating agents on the inhibition or stimulation of dopamine release, in the spontaneous alternation behaviour were evaluated. 24 hours prior to the experiment, rats were food-deprived. These rats were put into the T-maze, in which white and black goal boxes were baited with small amounts of chocolate milk. Each rat was given 2 set of 7 trials during which it was placed in the start box and allowed to choose the one of the goal boxes for each time. After identifying the stable baseline of spontaneous alternation behaviour, nonselective 5-HT agonist 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) disrupted spontaneous alternation. Rats were stratified into fluoxetine(10mg/kg/IP), nalbuphine(10mg/kg/IP), tramadol(46.4mg/kg/IP), and saline(0.5cc/IP) injection group with experimental drug treatment for 21 days. The effects on the 5-M?DMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced disruption of spontaneous alternation behaviour were checked at the next day of discontinuation of drug treatment. The results were as follows : 1) At the day after 21 days of the drug treatment, the nalbuphine treated group and the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference from the tramadol treated group and the saline treated group in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. 2) Within each drug treatment group, the fluoxetine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of fluoxetine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. And also, the nalbuphine treated group showed significant difference between before and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. There was no difference between the baseline and after the treatment of nalbuphine in the 5-MeODMT(1.25mg/kg/IP) induced suppression of spontaneous alternation behaviour. We indentified that the opioid kappa agonist that act as dopamine release inhibitor affect the spontaneous alternation behaviour which is an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder in rat.
Animals ; Cacao ; Dopamine ; Fluoxetine ; Milk ; Models, Animal ; Nalbuphine ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Rats* ; Receptors, Opioid ; Serotonin Receptor Agonists ; Tramadol

Serum specimens from leprosy patients, their contacts and controls were examined for the presence of phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I), a Mycobacterium leprae specific antigen, and antibodies to the antigen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Of 12 lepromatous patients with less than 2 years of therapy, 11(91.7%) were seropositive to PGL-l, thus indicating that new lepromatous cases can be identified by detecting anti-PGL-l antibodies. In contrast 88(56.4%) of 156 lepromatous patiens treated more than 2 years were positve. Moreover, only 69(40.8%) were seropositve among 169 lepromatous patients in the leprosy resettlement villages. The mean antibody level also declined significantly in proportion to the duration of chemotherapy. This may suggest the possibility of monitoring chemotherapy by detecting anti-PGL-l antibodies. The prevalence of anti-PGL-l antibodies among 200 controls from a high endemic area for leprosy was 5.5% and was significantly higher than that(1.5%) among 200 controls from a low endemic area. Of 103 household contacts in the resettlement villages, 10(9.7%) were seropositive, reflecting the frequent chance of exposure to M. leprae. However, PGL-l was not detected many in any of the sera from controls, contacts, and inactive lepromatous patients having the anti-PGL-l antibodies; on the other hand, 6(50%) of 12 lepromatous patients treated less than 2 years had detectable PGL-l in their sera. The results thus indicate that PGL-l detection may be more suitable for monitoring the effectiveness of chemotherapy and that it may be necessary to examine for the presence of PGL-l in sera from contacts and normal populations for confirming M. leprae infection.
Antibodies, Bacterial/*analysis ; Glycolipids/*blood ; Human ; Leprosy/*blood/diagnosis ; Serologic Tests ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of breast milk containing fortifier with preterm formula on bone mineral metabolism in premature infants, we evaluated the state of bone mineralization, biochemical alteration and the frequency of rickets during the first five months of life. METHODS: Fourteen fortified breast milk-fed infants and eleven preterm formula-fed infants who were born at Il-Sin Christian Hospital from August, 1996 through July, 1997, were studied. The breast milk-fed group received human milk fortifier. The intake of Ca, P, Mg, protein, and fat was calculated at one month of age. Birth weight and weight at one, two and five months of age were measured. Serum Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase and 25-hydroxyvitamine D were measured at one month of age, and the wrist received X-ray examinations monthly. Total body bone mineral content was measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (Lunar WI) at two and five months of age. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, and weight at one, two and five months of age. Enteral Ca, P, protein, Mg, and fat intake, and urinary excretion of Ca, P were similar among the two groups. Serum Ca, P, ALP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were not different. Occurrence of rickets and bone mineral content were similar among the two groups. CONCLUSION: Fortified breast milk-fed infants and preterm formula-fed infants showed no difference in total body bone mineral content and occurrence of rickets. Ultimately, we could enhance the advantage of breast milk fed to premature infants by adding fortifier.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Birth Weight ; Bone Density ; Breast ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Gestational Age ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Metabolism* ; Milk, Human* ; Rickets* ; Wrist

Citrullinemia is an inborn error of urea cycle metabolism caused by deficiency of arginosuccinate synthetase. It is characterized by hyperammonemia and high citrulline level in serum, CSF and urine. The clinical symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, seizure, coma and ultimately death if hyperammonemia is not controlled. We report a case of 9- day old male with citrullinemia who was initially treated with sodium benzoate during acute stage followed by gradual weaning to discontinuation. Hyperammonemia was well controlled by low protein milk diet and arginine.
Arginine* ; Citrulline ; Citrullinemia* ; Coma ; Diet* ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Lethargy ; Ligases ; Male ; Metabolism ; Milk ; Seizures ; Sodium Benzoate ; Urea ; Vomiting ; Weaning

The authors measured the lateral & 3rd ventricles and cortical sulci in computerized axial tomographic films of 15 male patients with chronic alcoholism and 16 controls, who had been admitted to Kyng Hee University Hospital from Jan. 1, 1979 to Mar. 31, 1983. The results were as following: 1. The average age of patients was 47.5 yrs., and that of conntrols was 34.5 yrs. The average duration of habitual drinking was 11.6 yrs., and complicated with delirium tremens, head trauma, liver diseases (46.7% each other) and seizure (33.3%). 2. The sulcal widening was found in 9 cases (60.0%) of patients (mean +/- S.D. = 6.7 +/- 1.76mm) and no cases in control group (mean +/- S.D. = 2.3 +/- 0.88mm). The difference between patients and control group was statistically significant, especially in twenties (P<0.05). 3. The lateral ventricular enlargement was seen in 12 cases (80.0%) of patients (mean +/- S.D. = 17.1 +/- 0.93mm), and 8 cases (50.0%) of control group (mean +/- S.D. = 14.7+/- 1.46mm). There was statistical significance, especially in forties (P<0.05). There were no statistical significance except cella media index (P<0.05), according to various measuring indices. The width of 3rd ventricle was 1.88 +/- 0.152mm (mean+/-S.D.) in patients and 1.12+/-0.311mm (mean +/- S.D.) in control group. And the difference was statistically significant. 4. Cerebral atrophy was noticed in 10 cases (67.0%) among 15 taken C.A.T. of brain.
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium ; Alcoholics* ; Alcoholism ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Cerebral Ventricles* ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Drinking ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Seizures

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating conditions and many SCI patients suffer neurological sequelae. Stem cell therapies are expected to be beneficial for many patients with central nervous system injuries, including SCI. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are not associated with the risks which embryonic stem cells have such as malignant transformation, or ethical problems, and can be obtained relatively easily. Consequently, many researchers are currently studying the effects of ASCs in clinical trials. The environment of transplanted cells applied in the injured spinal cord differs between the phases of SCI; therefore, many researchers have investigated these phases to determine the optimal time window for stem cell therapy in animals. In addition, the results of clinical trials should be evaluated according to the phase in which stem cells are transplanted. In general, the subacute phase is considered to be optimal for stem cell transplantation. Among various candidates of transplantable ASCs, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are most widely studied due to their clinical safety. MSCs are also less immunogenic than neural stem/progenitor cells and consequently immunosuppressants are rarely required. Attempts have been made to enhance the effects of stem cells using scaffolds, trophic factors, cytokines, and other drugs in animal and/or human clinical studies. Over the past decade, several clinical trials have suggested that transplantation of MSCs into the injured spinal cord elicits therapeutic effects on SCI and is safe; however, the clinical effects are limited at present. Therefore, new therapeutic agents, such as genetically enhanced stem cells which effectively secrete neurotrophic factors or cytokines, must be developed based on the safety of pure MSCs.