Aberrant left-sided pulmonary artery(pulmonary artery sling) is an uncommon anomaly, which may cause significant respiratory abnormality. We report a case of pulmonary artery sling which is combined with persistent left superior vena cava and dextrocardia. This case was identified by esophagogram and CT and confirmed by MRI and angiography. We consider that MRI is a valuable new method for the diagnosis of aberrant left-sided pulmonary artery.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Dextrocardia ; Diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Vena Cava, Superior

PURPOSE: We describe the changes of rat glomerular epithelial cells when exposed to high levels of glucose and advanced glycosylation endproducts(AGE) in the in vitro diabetic condition. We expect morphological alteration of glomerular epithelial cells and permeability changes experimentally and we may correlate the results with a mechanism of proteinuria in DM. METHODS: We made 0.2 M glucose-6-phsphate solution mixed with PBS(pH 7.4) containing 50 mg/mL BSA and protease inhibitor for preparation of AGE. As control, we used BSA. We manufactured and symbolized five culture dishes as follows; B5 - normal glucose(5 mM) + BSA, B30 - high glucose(30 mM) + BSA, A5 - normal glucose(5 mM) + AGE, A30 - high glucose(30 mM) + AGE, A/B 25 - normal glucose(5 mM) + 25 mM of mannitol(osmotic control). After the incubation period of both two days and seven days, we measured the amount of heparan sulfate proteoglycan(HSPG) in each dish by ELISA and compared them with the B5 dish at 2nd and 7th incubation days. We observed the morphological changes of epithelial cells in each culture dish using scanning electron microscopy(SEM). We tried the permeability assay of glomerular epithelial cells using cellulose semi-permeable membrane measuring the amount of filtered BSA through the apical chamber for 2 hours by sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: On the 2nd incubation day, there was no significant difference in the amount of HSPG between the 5 culture dishes. But on the 7th incubation day, the amount of HSPG increased by 10% compared with the B5 dish on the 2nd day except the A30 dish(P<0.05). Compared with the B5 dish on the 7th day the amount of HSPG in A30 and B30 dish decreased to 77.8% and 95.3% of baseline, respectively(P>0.05). In the osmotic control group (A/B 25) no significant correlation was observed. On the SEM, we could see the separated intercellular junction and fused microvilli of glomerular epithelial cells in the culture dishes where AGE was added. The permeability of BSA increased by 19% only in the A30 dish on the 7th day compared with B5 dish on the 7th day in the permeability assay(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: We observed not only the role of a high level of glucose and AGE in decreasing the production of HSPG of glomerular epithelial cells in vitro, but also their additive effect. However, the role of AGE is greater than that of glucose. These results seems to correlate with the defects in charge selective barrier. Morphological changes of the disruption of intercellular junction and fused microvilli of glomerular epithelial cells seem to correlate with the defects in size-selective barrier. Therefore, we can explain the increased permeability of glomerular epithelial units in the in vitro diabetic condition.
Animals ; Cellulose ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells ; Glucose* ; Glycosylation* ; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans ; Heparitin Sulfate ; Intercellular Junctions ; Membranes ; Microvilli ; Permeability* ; Protease Inhibitors ; Proteinuria ; Rats

PURPOSE:This study was designed to clarify the mechanism of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome patients by using puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis model. METHODS:Following administration of various concentrations of PAN and antioxidants we observed the changes of podocyte cytoskeletons in cultured rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEpC) by method of scanning electron microscope, reactive oxyten species (ROS) analysis, permeability assay, confocal microscope, and Western blot assay. RESULTS:PAN not only induced the ultrastructural changes of GEpC, such as shortening and fusion of microvilli, but also separated the intercellular gaps and linear ZO-1. PAN induced oxidative stresses in time and dose dependent manners and increases of intercellular permeability in anti-oxidants inhibitable manners. High concentration of PAN induced not only actin polymerization and disorganization, but also the conglomerulation and internal dislocation of alpha-actinin protein. The intensities of fluorescences of ZO-1 protein were diminished and internalized by PAN in a dose-dependent manner, which were inhibited by anti anti-oxidants. CONCLUSION:PAN induced the changes of podocytes cytoskeleton and junctional barriers by way of increasing ROS in GEpC that resulted in increasing their permeability in a antioxidatn-inhibitable manner. Glomerular hyperpermeability induced by PAN mediateing through oxidative stresses is thought to take part in the mechanism of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome. (Korean J Pediatr 2008;51:54-61)
Actinin ; Actins ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blotting, Western ; Cytoskeleton ; Dislocations ; Electrons ; Epithelial Cells ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; Humans ; Microvilli ; Nephrosis ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Oxidative Stress ; Permeability ; Podocytes ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Proteinuria ; Puromycin ; Puromycin Aminonucleoside ; Rats

Kawasaki disease is described by fever lasting five days or more, bilateral conjunctival injection, changes of lips and oral cavity, polymorphous exanthema, acute non-purulent cervical lymphadenopathy, and changes of extremities. Atypical Kawasaki disease is defined as fewer than 4 of 6 criteria described above including coronary artery abnormalities. Especially, atypical clinical manifestations of Kawasaki disease appear in infants younger than 6 months old of age. Thus we recommend echocardiography in early infancy who has prolonged fever in order to diagnose atypical Kawasaki disease and treat early. We have experienced three cases of atypical Kawasaki disease with coronary aneurysm who were admitted because of fever and revealed coronary aneurysm on echocardiography.
Coronary Aneurysm* ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Exanthema ; Extremities ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mouth ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

No Abstract Available.
Hyperpigmentation*

Due to an increasing interest in esthetics and concerns about toxic and allergic reactions to certain alloys, patients and dentists have been looking for metal-free tooth-colored restorations. Recent improvement in technology of new all-ceramic materials and composite materials has broadened the options for esthetic single crown restorations. The aim of this investigation was to study the fracture strength of the metal-free posterior single crowns fabricated using two recently introduced systems, Empress 2 ceramic and Targis-Vectris. Forty premolar-shaped stainless steel dies with the 1mm-wide circumferential shoulder were prepared. Ten cylindrical crowns having a diameter of 8.0mm and total height of 7.5mm were fabricated for each crown system respectively (PFM, Empress staining technique, Empress 2 layering technique, and Targis-Vectris). The crowns were filled with cement and placed on the stainless steel dies with firm finger pressure. The crowns were then stored in distilled water at room temperature for 24 hours before testing. The crowns were tested for fracture strength in an Instron universal testing machine (Instron 6022). With a crosshead speed of 1mm/min the center of the occlusal surface of the crown was loaded using a 4mm-diameter stainless steel ball until fracture occurred. The fracture surfaces of the crowns were gold coated and examined using scanning electron microscopy (Jeol JSM-840 Joel Ltd., Akishima, Tokyo, Japan). Within the parameters of this study the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The mean fracture strength for PFM crowns was 5829(+/-906)N; for Empress staining technique the fracture strength was 1697(+/-604)N; for Empress 2 Layering technique the fracture strength was 1781N(+/-400)N, and the fracture strength for Targis-Vectris was 3093(+/-475)N. 2. The fracture strength of the PFM crowns was significantly higher than that of the Empress 2 and the Targis-Vectris crowns (P<0.05). 3. The fracture strength of the Targis-Vectris crowns was significantly higher than that of the Empress 2 crowns (P<0.05). 4. No statistical difference was found when Empress staining technique was compared with Empress 2 layering technique. 5. The SEM image of fracture surface of Empress 2 crown showed a very dense microstructure of the lithium disilicate crystals and the SEM image of fracture surface of Targis-Vectris crown showed indentations of Vectris and some fibers torn off from Vectris.
Alloys ; Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Dentists ; Esthetics ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lithium ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Shoulder ; Stainless Steel ; Water

No abstract available.
Antiemetics* ; Cisplatin* ; Dexamethasone* ; Humans ; Lorazepam* ; Metoclopramide* ; Ondansetron*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Somatotrophs*

Studies for morphological changes in the human uterine tube due to aging and the menstrual cycle have been limited to microscopic aspects such as cellular changes. Thus in order to investigate the morphological changes of whole uterine tubes according to aging and the menstrual cycle, macroscopic and microscopic measurements were performed using 55 uterine tubes of 36 women (15 to 84 years old). In macroscopic measurements, the length of the uterine tube, and the number and frequency of ampullar convolutions were measured. In microscopic measurements, each uterine tube was divided into 9 blocks and tissue slides were prepared. By photographing, developing, printing and image analysis, the cross sectional area of the tube, mucosal layer, lumen and veins were measured. The authors analyzed each data set according to aging and the presence of menopause, and compared the degrees of venous engorgement according to the menstrual cycle. The results are as follows: 1. Uterine tube length did not show statistically significant differences in relation to age, but the numbers and the rates of ampullar convolution decreased. 2. Under the influence of menopause, the cross sectional areas of the tube, mucosal layer and lumen in the ampulla were decreased. However, in the isthmus, the cross sectional area of the lumen was decreased but those of the tube and mucosa did not show statistically significant change. 3. In women of reproductive age, the cross sectional areas of the tube, mucosa and lumen were changed variably because of the menstrual cycle rather than the increase of age. Venous engorgement of the tubes could not be observed in the early proliferative phase, but it kept increasing from the mid-proliferative phase to the early secretory phase. Full engorgement was observed in the late secretory phase and the early menstrual phase but not in the mid-secretory phase. It was usually accompanied by edema in the mucosal layer.
Aging* ; Dataset ; Edema ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Humans* ; Hyperemia ; Menopause ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Mucous Membrane ; Veins

Between August 1994 and June 1995, seventeen patients diagnosed as having partial or complete ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament on MRI were managed by non-operative methods. Among them four patients were excluded due to operation during follow-up and the results were evaluated at a one year follow-up. We selected the patients prospectively for non-operative care using the selection criteria of age, degree of instability, activity level and patient compliance. The average age of them was 37.7 years. Initially knee stress test and MRI were checked, and Cybex study and Lysholm knee scoring were done at post-trauma one year follow-up. They were managed conservatively by ROM and muscle strengthening exercises and a brace fitting schedule for three months. Among them, six cases had partial tears and seven had a complete tear initially. At the one year follow-up, five of six cases who had shown partial ruptures, and two of seven cases with complete tears, recovered continuity of the ruptured ACL on MRI. Their Lysholm knee score was 84.4, and the Cybex test showed no difference in muscle power between the injured and uninjuried side. Those patients who had loss of continuity on follow-up MRI showed Lysholm score of 57.4 and decreased muscle power on Cybex study. Although there are still controversies about the adequate management of ACL injuries, our study suggests that conservative management is a viable alternative to surgery as long as the patients are selected prudently. For more concrete results, however, careful analysis based on a longer follow up period is necessary.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Braces ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Compliance ; Patient Selection ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture*