We induced apoptosis in normal rats by intramuscular injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and immunohistochemically evaluated the thymus for the TdT-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labelling on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 15th and 21st days following the bolus intramuscular injection. The injections of 5-FU induced a greater extent of apoptosis in the thymus. In the thymus, a mild increase in apoptosis was observed 24 hours after injection. The greatest number of apoptotic cells were seen at 72 hours. The size of the thymus decreased and the cortex thinned with hypocellularity. The injection of 5-FU caused massive cell loss in the thymus. Most apoptotic cells were scattered in the cortex and lower levels of apoptosis were also observed in the medulla. After 72 hours, the level of apoptosis returned to the control level. Considering the above results, we think that 5-FU induced toxicity may be related to 5-FU induced apoptosis in normal tissue, especially the thymus.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Biotin ; Fluorouracil* ; Injections, Intramuscular* ; Rats* ; Thymus Gland*

No abstract available.
Hematuria* ; Humans

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the liver is uncommon, representing less than 1% of the primary malignant lesions of the liver. We report primary MFH of the liver in a 59-year-old woman. The tumor, measuring 9.0 9.0 6.0 cm, was located in the left lobe of the liver. It showed multiple areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of plump spindle cells haphazardly arranged in short fascicle and focal storiform pattern. Multiple bizarre giant cells were also noted. Immunohistochemically, many of the tumor cells were positive for vimentin and alpha1-antitrypsin but negative for epithelial markers. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells showed fibroblastic and histiocytic features.
Female ; Fibroblasts ; Giant Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Liver* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Vimentin

The congenital diverticulum of ventricle is a rare cardiac malformation arising from the left or right ventricle, the former being more common. Ventricular diverticulum is usually associated with other anomalies including intracardiac, midline thoracic, diaphragmatic and abdominal wall defect. The authors experienced a case of congenital diverticulum of left ventricle in nine month-old female infant. Left Blolock-Taussig shunt operation was done and total correction will be done later. Thereafter we presented a case with brief review of the related literatures.
Abdominal Wall ; Diverticulum* ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Atresia*

Authors studied the workers' knowledge about the health problems detected through the previous workers' periodic health examination, content of follow-up management and actions taken for their health problem detected on previous health examination. From June to September 1992, workers' periodic health examination was performed on workers employed in 10 companies located in 2 middle-sized Korean cities. A questionnaire survey was done for 150 workers who reported to have D2 result of either hypertension or liver disorder at the previous workers' periodic health examination done in 1991. The results are as follows; 1. Of 160 workers who had D2 result of either hypertension or liver disorder in previous examination one year before, only 85 workers(51.3%, 43 workers with hypertension, 38 workers with live disorder) responded that they have such disorders. The other 65 workers responded to questionnaire were all those with C results. Respondents' knowledge about their diagnoses was relatively precise (95.2% in hypertension group, 94.6% in liver disorder group) but knowledge about classification of diseases was poor. 2. The main efforts to solve the health problem was self management (26 spells, 55.3%), visiting clinic or hospital (6 spells, 12.8%), use of herb medicine (2 spells, 4.3%) and use of drug store (2 spells, 4.3%) in hypertension group. In liver disorder group, 30 spells (71.4%) relied on self management, 6 spells (14.3%) on hospital or clinic and 9 spells (21.4%) had no effort to improve the health problem. Content of self management was low salt diet, quit smoking, regular exercise and quit alcohol drinking in order. Avoidance of salt in diet was high in hypertension group and quitting alcohol drinking was high in liver disorder group. In those with self management, 80.7% of hypertension group and 83.3% of liver disorder group continued previous effort. Those, however, who utilized clinic or hospital, only 16.7% and 50.0% were still visiting hospital or clinic. 3. Fifty seven percent of hypertension group and 64.3% of liver disorder group was presently smoking, 8.5% and 11.9% reduced smoking and 21.3% and 14.3% stopped smoking. Forty nine percent of hypertension group and 28.6% of liver disorder group was presently drinking. Reduced alcohol intake was reported in 29.8% and 40.5%, 12.8% and 23.8% stopped alcohol drinking. Sixty six percent of hypertension group and 73.8% of liver disorder group did no regular exercise, but 12.8% and 11.9% of each group increased their physical exercise for last one year. Forty three percent of hypertension group and 38.1% of liver disorder group was overweight (defined by bodymass index greater or equal than 25). Reduced body weight was reported in 17.2% and 16.7% of each group. Reduced dietary salt intake was high in hypertension group (51.5%). The study results suggest that follow-up management after workers' periodic health examination is not satisfactory. In order to improve this situation, adequate information on the result of the workers' periodic health examination should be distributed to each worker group with health education and counselling.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Weight ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Drinking ; Exercise ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Hypertension ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Care ; Smoke ; Smoking

A total of 120 infants, children, and teenagers, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital from April 1989 to August 1989, were examined by cross-sectional echocardiography. Right and left atrial and ventricular dimensions and areas were measured in the parasternal, apical, and subcostal views. Dimensions of the inferior caval vein, the pulmonary and the aorta were obtained in the parasternal, suprasternal, and subcostal views. The results were as follows : 1) Statistical analysis showed no difference between boys and girls. 2) For all parameters, a positive linear correlation was found with age, height, weight, and body surface area. The best correlation was with body surface area. 3) The correlation was further improved if the logarithmic values of the measurements and body surface area were considered. 4) Measurements by cross-sectional echocardiography are clinically useful, especially in the study of the right-sided cardiac structures that are difficult to evaluate with M-mode echocardiography, but the problems of reproducibility have to be taken into account.
Adolescent ; Aorta ; Body Surface Area ; Child* ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Pediatrics ; Reference Values ; Veins

No abstract available.

Aneurysms of peripheral pulmonary arteries are uncommon. It may appear as a coinlesion in a plain chest film. In general, a popular and effective method for pathologic diagnosis of solitary lung lesion is needle aspiration biopsy, a technique which is safe in most instances. Also, ultrasonograhic or fluoroscopic methods are needed for the evaluation of this lesion. If pulmonary artery aneurysm is untreated, the prognosis of this disease is poor. Sixty percents of the patients with pulmonary artery aneurysm died following rupture of the aneurysm. Surgical correction is the preferred treatment. We are reporting a case of pulmonary aneurysm with the review of literature.
Aneurysm* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Needles ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

Splenic anomalies are commonly associated with anomalies of cardiovascular system and of other organ systems. "Polysplenia" refers to the state in which the bulk of splenic tissue is divided into two and others more equal-sized splenic masses. We experienced a case of Polysplenia associated with complicated cardiovascular anomalies(Situs ambiguus, D-loop, normally related great arteries, interrupted inferior vena cave, bilateral superior vena cava, single atrium, common A-V canal, infundibular stenosis). We have presented this rare case and reviewed brief literatures.
Arteries ; Cardiovascular System ; Vena Cava, Superior

No abstract available.