No abstract available.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Female ; Humans ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women*

To clarity the effect of biliary obliteration on copper metabolism of rat liver and on the hepatic morphology, 0.5% cuppuric sulfate was administered intraperitoneally for 42 days following ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) of Sprague-Dawley rats. The blood copper concentration, the hepatic copper content and the accumulation patterns of copper and copper binding protein in the liver were examined and compared with those of the simple CBD ligation group and the simple copper over loaded group. CBD ligation induced marked proliferation of bile ductular structures which, after expanding the portal tracts, invaded and divided the hepatic lobules. There was, however, no excess fibosis beyond what needed to support the new ductules. The blood copper concentration and the hepatic copper content were increased by copper overload with or without CBD ligation, particularly incases with CBD ligation. Liver cell necrosis did not occur by the overloaded copper alone in rats. The hepatic copper and copper binding protein were accumulated at periportal liver cells in the group of coppe overload after CBD ligatio, whereas they began to appear at perivenular hepatocytes in the simple copper overloaded group. In conclusion, it is suggested that CBD ligation does not induce excess fibrosis or liver cirrhosis in rat as far as during our experimental period, but affect significantly on copper metabolism by intrahepatic redistribution of the copper and the copper binding proteins.
Rats ; Animals

No abstract available.
Lung Transplantation* ; Lung*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke onset is known to vary by several factors. Although it has been known that stroke may develop most frequently in the morning, its association with the type of activity has quite rarely been described. METHODS: We prospectively investigated by interview the time of and the activity during or before the onset of stroke in patients with acute cerebral infarction from Aug. 1995 to Mar. 1996. The activities were subdivided into basal metabolic rate state, sedentary, light, moderate, and heavy movements based on the caloric expenditure. RESULTS: One hundred-twenty five patients were enrolled. The time of day when ischemic stroke most frequently occurred was from 8:00 AM to noon. The type of activity was significantly associated with stroke onset in that it developed most commonly during and just after sleep or resting. The relationship between the onset of stroke and such patterns of onset time and the activity was found only in the atherothrombotic infarction, but not in the other stroke types. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that stroke has clear diurnal variation. Our observations also suggested that the activity may be significantly associated with stroke onset. These findings may be useful for better understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of ischemic stroke.
Basal Metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Infarction ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the development of socializing and emotional expressions through vocalizations and joint attention (JA) behaviors in Korean-speaking children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), compared to those with developmental delay (DD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Video samples were collected from 28 toddlers with ASD and 18 age-matched toddlers with DD, and vocalizations were each coded in detail for the purpose of this retrospective research. In addition to some statistical analysis, Computerized Language Analysis was conducted to obtain the final results. RESULTS: Although they produced a higher number of vocalizations than the DD group, the ASD group did not engage in emotional or social interactions with their caretakers, whereas the DD group did. The children with ASD used more atypical vocalizations and socially unengaged vocalizations than the children with DD did. JA using vocalizations in the ASD group, in particular, was largely dyadic, with triadic types occurring at a significantly lower frequency than those in the DD group. CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate the importance of assessing early vocalizations in toddlers with ASD, suggesting that some common symptoms of ASD, such as lack of typical, emotional, and social functions in early vocalizations, could be used to develop screening and intervention programs related to ASD.
Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Autistic Disorder* ; Child ; Child Behavior ; Communication Disorders ; Developmental Disabilities ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Joints ; Mass Screening ; Mother-Child Relations ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Cancer of the esophagus is one of the most malignant tumors with poor prognosis. The p53 gene alteration, over expression of Cyclin D1, and Ki67 index were thought to be the prognostic factors. However, their clinical significances in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma are controversial and p53 accumulation may not correlate with genetic mutation. The current study investigates their prognostic significance in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The Subjects studied were 124 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent esophagectomy. The mutation of p53, over expression of Cyclin D1, Ki67 labelling index, mitotic index were examined by using an immunohistochemical staining. We compared the results and investigated the correlation with the mutation of p53, overexpression of Cyclin D1, Ki67 labelling index, mitotic index and tumor size, and duration of survival. RESULT: There was no correlation between the results in immunohistochemical staining according to age, sex, tumor size, lymph node status, and clinical stage of the disease. Mutant p53 protein was found in 69 cases (55.6%). Median survival time was 21 months in cases with negative for mutant p53 protein and 22 months in positive cases. There was no significant difference in survival (p=0.46). Median survival time was 22 months in cases with negative for Cyclin D1 and 16 months in positive cases (p=0.18). Median and mean survival time was 22 months and 36 months when Ki67 labeling index was 40 or less (102 cases). Median and mean survival was 16 months and 23 months, when Ki67 labeling index was more than 40 (22 cases). There was significant difference in survival rate (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Positivity of p53 and cyclin D1 was not useful in predicting the prognosis in our study. There was no significant correlation among mutant p53 protein accumulation, Cyclin D1 over expression, and Ki67 labeling index. However, in several studies, PCR single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of p53 showed a correlation to the prognosis. We thought that there was a significant discordance between p53 gene mutation and mutant p53 protein accumulation. When Ki67 labeling index was more than 40, prognosis was poorer. Ki67 seems to be a prognostic factor in our study. Therefore, we confirmed the possibility of using molecular markers as prognostic factors.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagus ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mitotic Index* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis* ; Survival Rate

Carinal resection is technically demanding and the surgical risk is relatively high. When tumor is confined around the carina, then lung parenchymal sparing surgery is technically feasible in selected cases. We performed carinal resection and reconstruction without pulmonary resection for a patient suffering with squamous cell carcinoma that involved the carina and this patient had undergone right upper lobectomy 19 months previously due to lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: To analyze the benefit and feasibility of this procedure compared with those of open method. METHODS: Abdominal procedure includes laparoscopic gastric mobilization, celiac axis lymph node dissection, formation of the gastric tube, and pyloromyotomy. The actual procedure performed during open surgery is the same as those of laparoscopic surgery except for the main incision. Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) was performed on 54 patients with esophageal cancer. The short-term outcomes, including postoperative complications were analyzed and compared with 44 cases of open method. RESULTS: Although the total operative time was not different between 2 groups (349.8 minutes vs. 374.8 minutes, P = 0.153), the operation time of abdominal procedure was shorter in laparoscopic group (90.6 minutes vs. 162.1 minutes, P < 0.001). Operation related complications and hospital stay were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The number of transfused patients was significantly smaller in laparoscopic group (11.1% vs. 27.9%, P = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy is a feasible and safe treatment option for patients with esophageal cancer.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagectomy ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

We report a case of decreased cerebrospinal fluid glucose with lymphocytic pleocytoisis in a patient with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis. The finding was likely to be confused with that of tuberculous meningoencephalitis. The concentration of CSF glucose is a critical point in the differential diagosis of various causes of nervous system infection. Although the herpes zoster meningoencephalitis isa well recognized, cases with markedly low, level of CSF glucose has been rare. We reviewed such unusual cases in the literature that were accompanied by hypoglycorrhachia. The duration of hypoglycorrhachia was transient. This suggests a differential point from that of tuberculous meningitis.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster* ; Glucose* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Meningoencephalitis ; Nervous System ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal

PURPOSE: We report on a novel method and outcomes of laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy. METHODS: The abdominal procedure includes laparoscopic gastric mobilization, celiac axis lymph node dissection, formation of the gastric tube, and pyloromyotomy. Between January 2009 and April 2013, our minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) was performed on 54 patients with esophageal cancer. The short-term outcomes, including postoperative complications, were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no cases of conversion to open surgery. Of 54 patients, 52 patients had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and two had adenocarcinoma. The total operative time was 349.8+/-77.4 minutes, of which 90.6+/-27.6 minutes was required for the abdominal procedure. The mean estimated operative blood loss during the abdominal procedure was 40.0+/-355.5 ml. The postoperative complication rate was 24.1%; three patients died of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic gastric tubing with pyloromyotomy is a feasible and safe treatm ent option for patients with esophageal cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagectomy ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Operative Time ; Pneumonia ; Postoperative Complications