The cAMP-dependent protein kinase(PKA) is an intracellular enzyme with serine-threonine kinase activity that plays a key role in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis in eukaryotes. In order to understand the PKA signal transduction pathway regulating cell life cycle and identify its role, we focused on the characterization of up-/down-regulated genes by PKA using the differential display polymerase chain reaction. Seven differentially expressed sequence tags(DEST) have been obtained. Among these DESTs, 2DESTs were homologous to the sequence of genes from BLAST search result. KC1-5 DEST that was up-regulated in A123.7 cells was highly corresponded to mouse apoptosis-related gene(MA-3) or mouse mRNA for topoisomerase inhibitor suppressed(TIS). MA-3 was induced in various types of apoptosis, specially in NGF-deprived apoptotic PC12 cells, TIS was down-regulated in the RVC lymphoma cells incubated with topoisomerase inhibitor that induces DNA strand breakages. PG1-1DEST that was highly expressed in PC12 cells was corresponded to transposon Tn103'-end. Tnansposon Tn10 was up-regulated in differentiated myeloblastic ML-1 cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. This study illuminates that MA-3/TIS was down-regulated by PKA activity, and transposon Tn10 was up-regulated by it.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA ; Eukaryota ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Life Cycle Stages ; Lymphoma ; Mass Screening* ; Mice ; PC12 Cells* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Hydrops Fetalis*

No abstract available.
Glomus Tumor*

Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a broad spectrum armamentarium for the safe treatment of various lesions within the central nervous system. Radiosurgery uses stereotactic targeting methods to precisely deliver highly focused, large doses of radiation to small intracranial tumors and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). It is widely used for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors, non-resectable tumors, residual or recurrent benign and malignant tumors as well as for the treatment of AVMs, functional diseases, and pain disorders. Although radiosurgery has the potential to produce complications, the majority of patients experience clinical improvement with less morbidity and mortality than those occur in surgical resection.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Radiosurgery ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

Two cases of skull metastasis from thyroid carcinoma are presented. The one case shows multiple involvement inthe skull base with sphenoid sinus, frontal bone, and rib. The other case is solitary extensive involvement to theright parietal bone. The follicular caroinoma of the thyroid shows a strong tendency toward vascualr invasion and dissemination through blood stream to the lungs, bones, liver, brain, and other distant sites. The sternum, thevetebrae, and the pelvis are the most common sites in bone metastasis of thyroid carcinoma, followed by the femur,shoulder girdle, skull, and rib. Metastatic caroinoma to the skull base, including sphenoid sinus s extremelyrare. Authors experienced recently 2 cases of metastatic carcinoma of the thyroid to the skull and report withreview of literature.
Brain ; Frontal Bone ; Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Parietal Bone ; Pelvis ; Ribs ; Rivers ; Skull Base ; Skull ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sternum ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: In Korea, a screening panel of cells from abroad without Di(a) positive cells has been commonly used when a patient has an unexpected antibody screening test. It has been reported that Di(a) occurs with a frequency of 6.14 to 14.5% among Koreans. However, the current popular antibody screening panels contain no Di(a) positive cells. In this study, we evaluate the clinical usefulness of the Di(a) Cell Panel (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain) for Koreans. METHODS: A total of 3,372 pretransfusion samples were employed for unexpected antibody screening testing using panels of cells by the DG Gel microtube column agglutination system, including additional Di(a) cells (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain). The positive cases in this system were confirmed again with DiaMed Di(a) antigen positive panel cells (DiaMed Ag, Cresssier, Morat, Switzerland) and this was followed by sequence- based Diego genotyping. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of an unexpected antibody screening test using SeraScan Diana I and II was 1.07% (36/3372), and seven samples were reactive (1+~2+) with the SeraScan Di(a) panel cells (0.21%). However, among the 5 available genotyped samples, two cases were typed as Di(a-b+). CONCLUSION: Even though there is discrepancy between the genotype and the two antibody screening kits, the addition of Di(a) positive cells as unexpected antibody screening panel cells is recommended.
Agglutination ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening

We made use of a neurosurgical care unit (NCN) from May 1986. The NCU differs from the intensive care unit (ICU) in several points. The NCU has 16 beds for neurosurgical patients who require continuous observation while the intensive therapy is not likely to be required. Wall units for oxygen and suction are equipped for each bed. One of the patient's family or relatives could attend the patient in the NCU. Neurosurgical nurse education has been offered monthly according to a scheduled curriculum to enhance an ability of neurosurgical close observation. The NCU has several unique advantages. The NCU can solve the bed availability problem caused by not only increased requirement for beds but also patients who were stabilized but still dependant or had some risk of sudden deterioration. Patients in the NCU require more observation than therapy. Thus, the NCU requires less equipments than the ICU, so it is cheap to set up. Regular neurosurgical nurse education fills up the efficiency of the NCU. Attendance of the family not only adds man-power but also provides a skinship and more intimate therapeutic environment. It also potentiates ability to care at home by their family. Our model of NCU has brought so significant advantages that we may advocate the efficacy of such an intermediate care facility, and present here our model of NCU.
Curriculum ; Education ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intermediate Care Facilities ; Oxygen ; Suction

We report a 16-month-old male with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the cerebellar hemisphere. This tumor consisted of undifferentiated cells resembling germinal or matrix cells of the embryonic neural tube and prominent mesenchymal component.
Cerebellum* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Neural Tube ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive*

We report a severe case of hyponatremic encephalopathy in a 38 year old schizophrenic patient with polydipsia that was very likely precipitated by hydrochlorothiazide given for the accompanied hypertension in this patient. On admission via emergency room, this patient's electrolyte imbalances include not only hyponatremia but also hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and metabolic alkalosis, which have been well known as the complications of thiazide diuretics. Fortunately, this patient recovered from comatose condition with the treatment of hyponatremia at the correction rate of about 0.5mEq/L/hr in addition to potassium and volume replacements. However, this case gives us the warning that the presence of hyponatremic condition such as polydipsia should be ruled out before thiazide diuretics prescribed for patients with schizophrenia, and other electrolytes imbalance in addition to hyponatremia as the complications of thiazide diuretics should be looked for the simultaneous treatment for them.
Adult ; Alkalosis ; Coma ; Electrolytes ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hydrochlorothiazide ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Hyponatremia ; Polydipsia ; Potassium ; Schizophrenia ; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors

Pulmonary tuberculosis has intermediate prevalence in Korea. It is known that tuberculosis infection predominantly involves the upper lobes, based on the fact that multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is favored in areas with decreased pulmonary blood flow, impaired lymphatic drainage, and high oxygen tension. We report this case of a 40-year-old man who was brought to our hospital with hemoptysis and dyspnea. Prior to admission, the patient had been in a bedridden state for 15 years due to an injury of the cervical spine 4~5. A 3-Dimensional computed tomography showed predominantly longitudinal distribution of centrilobular nodules along the anterior chest wall, in the left lung. MTB-PCR and AFB culture of bronchial washing fluid revealed pulmonary tuberculosis. This case shows that long-standing supine posture and decreased motion of the anterior chest wall may change the distribution of preferential infection site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lung, resulting in a ventral predominance of tuberculosis infection in the quadriplegic patient.
Adult ; Drainage ; Dyspnea ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Oxygen ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Quadriplegia ; Spine ; Thoracic Wall ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary