Abdominal actinomycosis is very rare infectious disease and seldom reported as a cause of abdominal mass. This disease is diagnosed by pathologic findings and culture result but it is very difficult to differentiate with other granulomatous illammatory disease, diverticular disease, malignancy, etc. The radiologic findings were non-specific and CT scan revealed the inflammatory mass with multiple small abscesses and fibrous change. The treatment of choice for actinomycosis is medical treatment with penicillin but surgical intervention may be needed when complication such as obstruction, fistula formation, abscess formation develop. We report a patient with abdominal actinomycosis that presented with transverse colonic obstruction and severe abdominal wall inflammation. This patient had no past operative history but got intrauterine contraceptive devices during last 10 years. We treated this patient by surgical resection and antibiotic therapy.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Actinomycosis* ; Colon* ; Colon, Transverse ; Communicable Diseases ; Fistula ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intrauterine Devices ; Penicillins ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists can be useful as preemptive analgesic agents and effective in reducing central sensitization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preemptive effect of intravenous (IV) ketamine on the behavioral responses between a pre- versus post-formalin test in a rat model. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (250 - 300 g) were prepared with a PE-50 indwelling IV catheter to receive either saline or ketamine. Rats received ketamine 1 mg/kg intravenously through a catheter either 1 min before or 5 min after formalin. The formalin test was performed with 5% formalin 100nl. All rats were randomly divided into one of three groups; a control (n = 8), pre-treatment (n = 7), or post-treatment (n = 7) group. Pain related behaviors were quantified by counting the numbers of flinching of the injected paw for 60 minutes. RESULTS: Intraplantar formalin injection produced a biphasic (phase 1, 0 - 10 minutes; phase 2, 10 - 60 minutes after formalin injection) appearance of flinching behavior in the control, pre-treatment, and post- treatment groups. The pre-treatment group showed less flinching in phase 2 than the control group (P < 0.05), but the post-treatment group didn't. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pre-treatment of IV ketamine 1 mg/kg showed a preemptive analgesic effect.
Analgesics ; Animals ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System Sensitization ; Formaldehyde* ; Ketamine* ; Models, Animal ; N-Methylaspartate ; Pain Measurement* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists can be useful as preemptive analgesic agents and effective in reducing established central sensitization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preemptive effect of intrathecal ketamine and compare the behavioral antinociceptive responses between pre- versus post-formalin ketamine administration in a rat pain model. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (250 - 300 g) were prepared with a PE 10 indwelling intrathecal catheter to receive either saline (control) or ketamine. Rats received ketamine 100ng intrathecally through a catheter either 7 min before or 5 min after formalin. The formalin test was performed with 5% formalin 100nl. The control (n = 8), pre-treatment (n = 7), and post-treatment (n = 7) groups were studied. Pain related behaviors were quantified by counting the incidences of flinching of the formalin injected paw for 60 minutes. RESULTS: Intraplantar formalin injection produced a biphasic (phase 1, 0 - 10 minutes; phase 2, 10 - 60 minutes after formalin injection) response of flinching behavior in control, pre-treatment, and post-treatment groups. The post-treatment group showed less frequent phase 2 flinching than the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-treatment of intrathecal ketamine 100ng was effective on inhibition of phase 2 nociceptive behaviors following the formalin injection. These results suggested that intrathecal ketamine shows an analgesic effect when administered as a post-treatment.
Analgesics ; Animals ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System Sensitization ; Formaldehyde* ; Incidence ; Ketamine* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Pain Measurement* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

No abstract available.
Blepharophimosis* ; Humans

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To characterize strain-specific differences in radiation response in murine tissues with different radiosensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week old male mice of 2 strains, C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ, were given whole body gamma-radiation with a single dose of 10 or 25 Gy. At different times after irradiation, mice were killed and tissues with different radiosensitivity, thymus and liver, were collected. Each tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and apoptotic cells were scored. Expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was analysed by western blotting and densitometry. RESULTS: Radiation induced massive apoptosis in thymus with a peak level at 8 h after radiation. With 10 Gy irradiation, apoptotic indices in C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ were 81.0 2.5% and 59.4 4.0%, respectively (p<0.05). Radiation upregulated the expression of p53, Bcl-x, and Bax, but not Bcl-2; p53 with a peak level of 2.5 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.4 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 4 h, Bax with a peak level of 2.6 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.3 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h, and Bcl-x with a peak level of 11.1 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 8.2 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h after radiation. In liver, however, radiation-induced apoptosis was minimal (peak apoptotic index of 2.1% in C57Bl/6J and 1.7% in C3H/HeJ). None of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of apoptosis and regulation of related genes by radiation were tissue specific. Strain difference of radiation-induced apoptosis was well coupled with theinduction of related genes in thymus, a radiosensitive tissue. This study shows that quantitative difference of radiation induced apoptosis by strain is regulated at the gene level with the involvement of multiple genes.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Densitometry ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Radiation Tolerance ; Thymus Gland

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Osler-Weber-Rendu disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by repeated episodes of bleeding. Multiple telangiectases consisting of thin-walled, dilated vascular channels with arteriovenous communication may involve, for example, mucocutaneous tissue, the gastrointestinal tract, and the liver, lung, and brain. We report the imaging findings of two cases of HHT involving arteriovenous malformation of both the lungs and liver, a rare condition. Chest radiography revealed a round mass, while helical CT showed a feeding artery and draining vein with arteriovenous malformation in the lung. Color Doppler sonography revealed an enlarged and tortuous hepatic artery with high systolic velocity. CT demonstrated an enlarged hepatic artery, arteriovenous shunt, and early draining hepatic vein in the liver. Celiac angiography showed arteriovenous malformation.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatic Veins ; Liver* ; Lung* ; Radiography ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* ; Telangiectasis ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Atopic asthma is characterized by activation of Th2-type T cells in the bronchial mucosa. Several reports have suggested an important role for costimulation through the CD28/CTLA4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4)-B7 (CD80/CD86) pathway in allergen activation of T cells in animal models of allergen-induced asthma, because B7-CD28/ CTLA4 interaction can promote the differentiation and development of the Th2 lymphocyte subset. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we intended to investigate a potential role of humanized CTLA4-Ig on the inhibition of T and B cell activation by blocking B7/CD28 interactions. METHOD: For this purpose we produced humanized CTLA4-Ig fusion protein by transfection to CHO cell and examined its inhibitory effects for activated T and B cell responses. We evaluated the inhibitory effect of MLR (mixed lymphocyte reaction) and con A-stimulated T cell proliferation. And we assayed wheather B cell was inhibited by stimulation of costimulatory signal in LPS-induced B cell response and PFC assay. RESULT: In vitro assay, humanized CTLA4-Ig fusion protein inhibited T cell-specific immune response in dose-dependent manner: CTLA4-Ig inhibited allogeneic stimulation in murine MLR, and the proliferation of T cell by the stimulation of Con A. But CTLA4-Ig did not inhibit directly the proliferative response of B cell by the stimulation of LPS. In addition, in vivo assay, CTLA4-Ig inhibited the production of antibody from B cell, which was presented by plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that humanized CTLA4-Ig is effective to inhibit the proliferation of activated T cell directly by blocking B7/CD28 costimulation. And humanized CTLA4-Ig influences antibody-producing capacity of B cell indirectly by regulating T cell.
Abatacept ; Animals ; Antibody Formation* ; Asthma ; Cell Proliferation ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphocytes ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transfection

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and type of nutritional ergogenic aids use, and to determine the frequency, reasons for use of nutritional ergogenic aids. Thirty-four male bodybuilders (mean age = 27.0 years), twenty-four male weight lifters (mean age = 20.9 years) participated in the study. Participants completed a comprehensive survey detailing their usage patterns. In this study, 78.1% of bodybuilders and 79.2% of weight lifters reported using nutritional ergogenic aids. The most frequently taken nutritional ergogenic aids, in ranking order, were protein/amino acid powders (79.4%), multivitamin/minerals (67.7%) and creatine (67.6%) for bodybuilders, in contrast to sports drinks (100.0%), protein/amino acid powders (50.5%) and creatine (50.5%) for weight lifters. Over the half of the respondents, 79.4% of bodybuilders and 50.6% of weight lifters, used protein/amino acid powders to gain muscle mass and to stay healthy. Bodybuilders, 67.6% and weight lifters, 41.7%, used multivitamin/minerals to stay healthy and for energy. The intakes of most vitamin and minerals through diet and nutritional ergogenic aids were much greater than RDA. Vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate intakes were ranged at 400-900%. Vitamin C intake was 1285.4% (for bodybuilders) and 1322.6% (for weight lifters). The correct answer rate of nutritional ergogenic aids was 46.0% for bodybuilders and 52.0% for weight lifters. Both bodybuilders and weight lifters took highly nutritional ergogenic aids and it tended to be taken irrespective of scientific background. Specific sport nutrition education applicable to athletes, especially strength athletes, is recommended. The findings of this investigation could be used to enable the professionals (sports dietician and physician) to identify common misconceptions regarding nutritional ergogenic aids and to implement educational programs.
Ascorbic Acid ; Athletes ; Creatine ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Diet ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Male ; Minerals ; Muscles ; Niacin ; Nutrition Policy ; Powders ; Prevalence ; Riboflavin ; Sports ; Thiamine ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness in diagnosing the gallbladder perforation MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans of surgically proved 11 cases of gallbladder perforation were retrospectively reviewed. CT findings analyzed were iuminal diameter of GB, GB wall thickness and configuration, presence or absence of fluid collection in the pericholecystic or intraperitoneal space, and observation of pericholecystic anatomic structures. All patients underwent cholecystectomy, and surgical findings were also compared. RESULTS: The GB was distended in 6 cases(55% with a range of 4.0-7.5cm, mean :5.2cm). GB wall was thickened in most cases(9/11,82%) with homogeneous(n=7) or inhomogeneous(n=2) enhancement. At the sites of perforation, focal defect or contour bulging was seen in the GB wall in 3 cases. in 2 cases with gangrene, GB wall showed loss of normal contour with mottled contrast enhancement. Pericholecystic or intraperitoneal fluid co11ection was noted in 9 cases(82%), especially in the region of perforation. In all cases, there was evidence of diffuse infiltration in the pericholecystic space, omenturn or mesentery. Other findings included cholecy-stoenteric fistula in 1 case, and intrahepatic or intraperitoneal abscess formation in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: CT is useful in correct diagnosis of gallbladder perforation.
Abscess ; Cholecystectomy ; Diagnosis ; Fistula ; Gallbladder* ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Mesentery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed