OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of forearm anastomosis in healthy Korean subjects. METHOD: Healthy Korean adult subjects (70 males, 30 females) were included. Median and ulnar nerves were stimulated at wrist and elbow and recorded with the surface electrodes over abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interossei (FDI) and abductor digiti quinti (ADQ). RESULTS: Martin-Gruber anastomosis (MGA) was found in 18 males and 8 females (26/100, 26%). MGA was found in 37 arms (18.5%). But, Marinacci anastomosis was not observed. For each type of MGA, type II was found in 36 arms (97.3%) whereas type I was found in 11 arms (29.7%), and type III was found in 1 arm (2.7%). Anastomosis was comprised 67.6% of type II, 2.7% of type III, and 29.7% of coexistence of type II and type I. Average innervation ratio of crossing fibers was the highest in FDI (16.2%). CONCLUSION: Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) comparison method using modified incremental technique is a simple and sufficient method for evaluating forearm anastomosis without stimulus spread to adjacent nerve. In evaluating MGA, the FDI is a very important muscle because of high frequency and innervation ratio.
Action Potentials ; Adult ; Arm ; Elbow ; Electrodes ; Electromyography ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Ulnar Nerve ; Wrist

We report a case of aloe induced acute interstitial nephritis in a 66-year old man. He had been taken aloe as a healthy foodstuff for 6 weeks prior to admission. He complained poor oral intake and developed nonoliguric acute renal failure. Renal biopsy revealed focal tubular atrophy and interstitial infiltration of neutrophils, and lymphocytes. After discontinuation of aloe and high dose prednisolone therapy, acute renal failure of the patient improved and serum creatinine level decreased.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aged ; Aloe ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Nephritis, Interstitial* ; Neutrophils ; Prednisolone

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside binding protein that has been reported to be implicated in numerous biologic and pathologic functions including cell growth, cell adhesion, inflammation, neoplastic transformation, and apoptosis. Most previous studies in thyroid tissue have found galectin-3 expression to be a feature of malignant and not of benign or normal tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of galectin-3 in 57 thyroid lesions, to assess its potential as a marker in the diagnosis and classification of thyroid malignancy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The followings were studied: 19 cases of papillary carcinomas, 8 of follicular carcinomas, one anaplastic carcinoma, one medullary carcinoma, 16 follicular adenomas, and 12 nodular hyperplasia. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues were stained immunohistochemically for galectin-3. RESULTS: Galectin-3 expression was found in all cases, however, it was strong in papillary carcinomas than in follicular carcinomas or adenomas. In nodular hyperplasia, galectin-3 expression was very weak and focal. A significant difference was not found in the expression of galectin-3 between follicular carcinomas and follicular adenomas. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 is a reliable marker of papillary carcinoma but not useful in identifying follicular carcinoma.
Adenoma ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Adhesion ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Galectin 3* ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Thyroid Gland*

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether aminoguanidine could inhibit VEGF mRNA expression in the retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured at various glucose concentrations. METHODS: Human retinal pigment epithelial cells were cultured in the culture media containing 5.5 mM, or 11 mM, or 16 mM glucose for 5 days, or 7 days, or 14 days respectively. To evaluate an inhibitory effect of aminoguanidine on VEGF mRNA expression, 1 micro M, or 3 micro M, or 10 micro M aminoguanidine was added in the culture media. The VEGF mRNA expression was assayed by northern blot analysis. RESULTS: The VEGF mRNA expression of the cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells increased proportionally with media glucose concentration in culture media. At each glucose concentration of the media, VEGF mRNA expression increased with a prolongation of incubation period. An aminoguanidine inhibited the expression of VEGF mRNA by concentration-dependent manner in 5 day and 7 day incubation, but not in 14 day incubation. CONCLUSIONS: The aminoguanidine could inhibit a new vessel formation in the diabetic retina, and be useful for therapeutic or preventive drug in the diabetic retinopathy.
Blotting, Northern ; Culture Media ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Epithelial Cells ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Malacoplakia is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal macrophage function and cell infiltration into normal tissues. We report a 72 year old male with bilateral renal parenchymal malacoplakia who presented with high fever and acute renal failure. The patient had anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral nephromegaly with reduced renal function. Blood and urine cultures showed no micro-organisms. A kidney biopsy revealed diffuse interstitial histiocytic infiltration with intracellular inclusion bodies(Michaelis-Gutmann body). He was treated with antibiotics, and bethanechol, ascorbic acid without improvement. Following treatment with an intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical improvement was made. Renal parenchymal malacoplakia should be considered in the differential diagnosis when presented with high fever, enlarged kidneys and acute renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Anemia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bethanechol ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukocytosis ; Macrophages ; Malacoplakia* ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Thrombocytopenia

Malacoplakia is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal macrophage function and cell infiltration into normal tissues. We report a 72 year old male with bilateral renal parenchymal malacoplakia who presented with high fever and acute renal failure. The patient had anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral nephromegaly with reduced renal function. Blood and urine cultures showed no micro-organisms. A kidney biopsy revealed diffuse interstitial histiocytic infiltration with intracellular inclusion bodies(Michaelis-Gutmann body). He was treated with antibiotics, and bethanechol, ascorbic acid without improvement. Following treatment with an intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy, clinical improvement was made. Renal parenchymal malacoplakia should be considered in the differential diagnosis when presented with high fever, enlarged kidneys and acute renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Anemia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bethanechol ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Leukocytosis ; Macrophages ; Malacoplakia* ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that enalapril or lovastatin seems to ameliorate the renal injury in several animal models with glomerulonephritis. The aim of this study was to examine whether enalapril or lovastatin was still beneficial in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteinuria in rats. METHODS: Enalapril(200mg/L in the drinking water) or lovastatin(16mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered to uninephrectomized rats which received a daily intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin(BSA, 1/100g body weight)(each n=6). Six rats were served as normal control. After 2 weeks, renal cortical pathologic findings, including immunohistochemistry for macrophage were examined and renal cortical osteopontin, MCP-1, endothelin-1, TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression were examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Renal cortex in rats with protein-overload proteinuria showed infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages, tubular dilatation and atrophy. Renal cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1 were increased in rats with protein-overload proteinuria. There were no changes in TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression. Enalapril decreased the macrophage infiltration significantly and inhibited the mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects on the macrophage infiltration and cortical mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Enalapril showed beneficial effects in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteiuria in rats by inhibition of macrophage infiltration and the cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blotting, Northern ; Dilatation ; Drinking ; Enalapril* ; Endothelin-1 ; Glomerulonephritis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lovastatin* ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Osteopontin ; Procollagen ; Proteinuria* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that enalapril or lovastatin seems to ameliorate the renal injury in several animal models with glomerulonephritis. The aim of this study was to examine whether enalapril or lovastatin was still beneficial in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteinuria in rats. METHODS: Enalapril(200mg/L in the drinking water) or lovastatin(16mg/kg, subcutaneously) was administered to uninephrectomized rats which received a daily intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin(BSA, 1/100g body weight)(each n=6). Six rats were served as normal control. After 2 weeks, renal cortical pathologic findings, including immunohistochemistry for macrophage were examined and renal cortical osteopontin, MCP-1, endothelin-1, TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression were examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Renal cortex in rats with protein-overload proteinuria showed infiltration of inflammatory cells including macrophages, tubular dilatation and atrophy. Renal cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1 were increased in rats with protein-overload proteinuria. There were no changes in TGF-beta and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression. Enalapril decreased the macrophage infiltration significantly and inhibited the mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects on the macrophage infiltration and cortical mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Enalapril showed beneficial effects in tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein-overload proteiuria in rats by inhibition of macrophage infiltration and the cortical mRNA expression of osteopontin, MCP-1 and endothelin-1. However, lovastatin had no significant effects.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blotting, Northern ; Dilatation ; Drinking ; Enalapril* ; Endothelin-1 ; Glomerulonephritis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lovastatin* ; Macrophages ; Models, Animal ; Osteopontin ; Procollagen ; Proteinuria* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

We report a case of renal sarcoidosis accompanied by hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency. A 52-year-old woman presented to hospital with nausea, pruritus, general weakness and weight loss. Laboratory tests revealed a serum creatinine was 3.6mg/dL, calcium ll.lmg/dL(ionized calcium 5.6mg/dL), hemoglobin 10.2g/dL, parathyroid hormone <3.0pg/mL, 24 hour urinary protein 1,127mg/day and 24 hour urinary calcium 489mg/day. Chest X-ray showed normal and both kidneys were within normal size with mild increased echo-genicity on renal ultrasound. Renal biopsy showed interstitial nephritis with mononuclear cell infiltration and mild interstitial fibrosis. Non-caseating granuloma with epitheloid and giant cells were seen. Following corticosteroid therapy, renal function and hypercalcemia were dramatically improved. Within 1 month, calcium level was normal and the creatinine level fell to 2.0mg/dL and subsequently remained stable while corticosteroid was progressively tapered off. She has been followed up for 11 months with normal seum calcium level and the creatinine level of 1.9mg/dL.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Biopsy ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Kidney ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Pruritus ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sarcoidosis* ; Thorax ; Ultrasonography ; Weight Loss

Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres and prevents telomere shortening, and may be linked with cellular proliferation or the aging process. The purpose was to examine telomerase activity in human chorionic villi from early and term normal pregnancies, and to analyze the correlation of telomerase activity (TA) with MIB-1 & bcl-2. A total of 37 placentae were obtained from 16 early and 21 term pregnancies. TA was assayed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol, and immunohistochemical staining was performed for MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression. TA & MIB-1 expression were strong in early placenta, but bcl-2 was highly expressed in term placentae. Thirteen (81.25%) of 16 early placentae showed TA, but only 2 (9.52%) of 21 term placentae expressed TA (p<0.01). MIB-1 was observed in nuclei of cytotrophoblast, and the expression rate was 16.09% in early placentae and 2.87% in term placentae (p<0.01). bcl-2 was observed only in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblast. Term placenta demonstrated stronger expression of bcl-2 compared to early placentae (p<0.05). These findings suggest that TA, MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression are critically regulated over the course of gestation: cytotrophoblast, main cells of early chorionic villi, may be a common source of telomerase and proliferative activity. The TA showed good correlation with cellular proliferative activity. Syncytiotrophoblast, may be a main source of bcl-2 expression which is stronger in the term placentae.
Aging ; Cell Proliferation ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Telomerase* ; Telomere ; Telomere Shortening ; Trophoblasts