Obesity is associated with an impairment of the growth hormone secretion elicited by all stimuli known to date, but the basic mechanism of the alteration is unknown to date, but the basic mechanism of this alteration is unknown. To determine whether obesity is associated with a chronic state of tonic somatostatin secretion, several tests with growth hormone stimuli such as GHRH(1 microgram/kg), clonidine(150 microgram/m(2))and Regular insulin (0.1U/kg, subcutaneously), to obese subjects and normal control with or without pyridostigmine were undertaken, and the Somatomedin-c levels were measured in both obese subjects and matched controls. 1) The peak GH levels and AUC-GH after administration of GHRH, Clonidine or Regular insulin in obese group is less than those in control group. 2) Pretreatment with pyridostigmine increased the peak GH levels and AUC-GH significantly in obese group but the absolute values are less than those of normal group. 3) The Somatomedin-c levels are significantly higher in obese group than control. Our results lend support to the view that chronically high level of somatostatin decreases the responsiveness to GHRH and secretion itself.
Child* ; Clonidine ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Obesity* ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Somatostatin

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the CT findings of gastric adenocarcmoma and gastric lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed and compared the CT findings in 46 cases of adenocarcinoma and 12 cases of lymphoma, which were pathologically confirmed by operation and endoscopic biopsy. RESULTS: Antral involvement was more common in adenocarcinoma(71.7%) than in lymphoma(41.7%). Localized involvement was more common in adenocarcinoma(83.7%), while diffuse involvement was more common in lymphoma(55.6%). Adenocarcinoma tended to have smooth inner margin(83.8%), while lymphoma had nodular or irregular inner margin(36.4%). Mean gastric wall thickness of adenocarcinoma was 1.7cm, while mean thickeness of lymphoma was 2.7cm. The involved wall of adenocarcinoma tended to be highly enhanced (59.5%), while lymphoma was moderately enhanced(90.1%). Perigastric lymphadenopathy was present in 40% (group I) and 42%(group II) of adenocarcinoma and 33% of lymphoma(group I and II). Three cases of lymphoma had lymphadenopathy below renal vascular pedicles with no or minimal perigastric lymphadenopathy. When only the distal portion of the stomach was involved, disturbance in passage developed in six adenocarcinoma (12%), while none developed in the lymphoma. CONCLUSION: CT features help to differentiate between gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma
Adenocarcinoma* ; Biopsy ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoma* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Ceramides are the main lipid component of the stratum corneum and are a structurally heterogeneous and complex group of sphingolipids of which sphingoid bases are the basic structural constituents. Altered levels of sphingoid bases have been reported in skin conditions that involve dryness and barrier disruption, including atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the altered levels of sphingoid bases in psoriatic epidermis and their relationship with the clinical severity of the psoriasis. METHODS: Samples from the lesional and non-lesional epidermis were obtained from eight psoriasis patients. Levels of sphingosine and sphinganine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The expression of ceramide synthase and ceramidase proteins, which are related to sphingosine and sphinganine metabolism, were measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Levels of sphingosine and sphinganine in the lesional epidermis were significantly higher than those in the non-lesional epidermis. Although there was no altered ceramide synthase and ceramidase, there was a highly significant positive correlation between the % change of ceramidase, the degradative enzyme of ceramide into sphingosine, and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. CONCLUSION: The levels of sphingosine and sphinganine were significantly increased in psoriatic epidermis and the % change of ceramidase was positively correlated with the clinical severity of psoriasis.
Blotting, Western ; Ceramidases ; Ceramides ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Oxidoreductases ; Proteins ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Sphingolipids ; Sphingosine

BACKGROUND: Ceramides are the main lipid component of the stratum corneum and are a structurally heterogeneous and complex group of sphingolipids of which sphingoid bases are the basic structural constituents. Altered levels of sphingoid bases have been reported in skin conditions that involve dryness and barrier disruption, including atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the altered levels of sphingoid bases in psoriatic epidermis and their relationship with the clinical severity of the psoriasis. METHODS: Samples from the lesional and non-lesional epidermis were obtained from eight psoriasis patients. Levels of sphingosine and sphinganine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The expression of ceramide synthase and ceramidase proteins, which are related to sphingosine and sphinganine metabolism, were measured using Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Levels of sphingosine and sphinganine in the lesional epidermis were significantly higher than those in the non-lesional epidermis. Although there was no altered ceramide synthase and ceramidase, there was a highly significant positive correlation between the % change of ceramidase, the degradative enzyme of ceramide into sphingosine, and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. CONCLUSION: The levels of sphingosine and sphinganine were significantly increased in psoriatic epidermis and the % change of ceramidase was positively correlated with the clinical severity of psoriasis.
Blotting, Western ; Ceramidases ; Ceramides ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Oxidoreductases ; Proteins ; Psoriasis ; Skin ; Sphingolipids ; Sphingosine

A 59-year-old woman was scheduled for mitral valvuloplasty and Maze operation. As operation was planed to use the robotically controlled camera (Aesop 3000, Computermotion(r), USA) for the minimally invasive robot-assisted thoracotomy, a superior vena cava (SVC) cannula (Femoral arterial cannula [21 Fr], Medtronic(r), USA) was inserted in the right internal jugular vein. After insertion of the SVC cannula, a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter (Swan-Ganz CCOmbo V [7.5 Fr], Edwards(r), USA) was inserted through an advanced venous access device (AVA 3Xi [8.5 Fr], Edwards(r), USA) in the right subclavian vein. The tip of the PA catheter could not be advanced into SVC and blood was not regurgitated. In the chest AP X-ray, it was found that the advanced venous access device was kinked by the SVC cannula. So the advanced venous access device was withdrawn about 5 cm and the PA catheter was advanced easily to the destination.
Catheters* ; Female ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Subclavian Vein ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Superior*