Bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene was expressed in an insect spodoptera frugiperda cell line using a Baculovirus, Hyphantria cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HcNPV). The bGH gene in pbGH plasmid was sequenced and amplified by PCR technique with two primers containing NcoI sites. The bGH gene consisted of 654 bp (217 amino acid residues), the 5'-untranslated region of the cloned bGH cDNA contains 56 bp, and the 3'-untranslated region contains 145 bp and two pallindromic regions. The amplified bGH gene DNA fragment (654 bp) was inserted into the NcoI site of the pHcEVII vector, which was named pHcbGH. The pHcbGH transfer vector DNA and the wild type HcNPV DNA were cotransfected into s. frugiperda cells to construct a recombinant virus. Eight recombinant viruses were selected and named HcbGH. One clone, HcbGH-4-1 showed largest plaque size, therefore the recombinant virus was further studied. The multiplication patters of the recombinant HcbGH-4-1 was similar to that of the wild type HcNPV. The bGH gene DNA in the HcbGH-4-1 recombinant was confirmed by Southern lot hybridization. The amount of the bGH (217 amino acid residues, 21 kDa) produced in S. frugiperda cells infected with the HcbGH-4-1 recombinant was approximately 5.5 ng per ml (106 cells) by radioimmunoassay.
Baculoviridae* ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Growth Hormone* ; Insects ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioimmunoassay ; Spodoptera

CT scans of 23 patients with gallbladder carcinoma were retropectively reviewed to determine the incidence of lymphatic spread and to access the pattern of regional lymph node metastases. The lymphatic spread were noted in 74%(17/23). The involved patterns of regional lymph node metastases were nodes of porta hepatis 65%, portocaval nodes 41%, superior pancreaticoduodenal nodes 47%, posterior pancreaticoduodenal nodes 59%, nodes around the celiac trunk 35%, nodes around the superior mesenteric artery 29% and paraaortic nodes 35%. The findings suggested that the pattern of regional lumph node metastases in gallbladder carcinoma occurred along the normal lymphatic pathway of the gallbladder.
Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

CT scans of 23 patients with gallbladder carcinoma were retropectively reviewed to determine the incidence of lymphatic spread and to access the pattern of regional lymph node metastases. The lymphatic spread were noted in 74%(17/23). The involved patterns of regional lymph node metastases were nodes of porta hepatis 65%, portocaval nodes 41%, superior pancreaticoduodenal nodes 47%, posterior pancreaticoduodenal nodes 59%, nodes around the celiac trunk 35%, nodes around the superior mesenteric artery 29% and paraaortic nodes 35%. The findings suggested that the pattern of regional lumph node metastases in gallbladder carcinoma occurred along the normal lymphatic pathway of the gallbladder.
Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Sacrococcygeal chordoma is a rare malignant tumor which is believed to take its origin from remnants of the fetal notochord, and presents in the sacral hollow or occasionally posteriorly. The growth is leisurely and it is invasive rather than metastatic. In treatment, there is evidence that early diagnosis of sacrococcygeal chordoma followed by radical resection c palliative radiotherapy does provide the opportunity for cure. We have experienced two cases of sacrococcygeal chordoma, which were treated with one case of a complete surgical resection and the other case of only biopsy.
Biopsy ; Chordoma ; Early Diagnosis ; Notochord ; Radiotherapy

It is not unconimm that the monoclonal gammopathies occur in patients with demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. The IgM.-protein from those patients reacted with peripheral nerve myelin, which was first identified as the MAG (myelinassociated glycoprotein). In this study the authors tried to understand the pathogenetic mechanism of anti-MAG antibod by studying the expression of the anti MAG antibody in Epstein-Barr virus transformed lymphocytes of umbrical cord. The positive bands for anti-NMG antibody were found in 10 out of 320 sera of peripheral neuropathies by the thin layer chromatography of the glycolipids from bovine peripheral myelin. The positive anti-MAG expressions were found in 5 of 31 supernatant wells from EB virus transformed lymphocytes of umbrical cords, which tended to. Develop the antibody activity in the supernatants cultured more than ten days. The study indicates. In part that the anti-MAG antibody may be occurred by the autoimmune mechanism as the antibodies are expressed m the EB virus transformed lymphocytes which have never been exposed to foreign antigens so far However the automimune mechanism can be supported more by knowing the mcreased frequency of CD5 positive B cells in cases with high titer of anti-MAG antibodies.
Antibodies ; B-Lymphocytes ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Glycolipids ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Myelin Sheath ; Paraproteinemias ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases*

A 61-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room complaining of a severe left exophthalmos caused by frontal and ethmoid sinus mucoceles that were visualized on a brain computerized tomogram. In addition, he had coexisting ankylosing spondylitis with a 20 year duration that resulted in total fixation of the cervical spine and progressive thoracic kyphosis. An unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm was found incidentally on the cerebral angiogram. We report that the anesthetic management for endoscopic sinus surgery of a frontal sinus mucocele in a patient with coexisting severe cervical spine ankylosing spondylitis and an unruptured cerebral aneurysm requires a detailed preoperative assessment of the airway, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic system. This case highlights the need for careful measures to avoid rupturing the cerebral aneurysm by the increased blood pressure induced by endotracheal intubation and the infiltration of an epinephrine-containing local anesthetic.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Emergencies ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Exophthalmos ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Kyphosis ; Middle Aged ; Mucocele ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of short segment fixation following postural reduction for the re-expansion and stabilization of unstable burst fractures in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: Twenty patients underwent short segment fixation following postural reduction using a soft roll at the involved vertebra in cases of severely collapsed vertebrae of more than half their original height. All patients had unstable burst fracture with canal compromise, but their motor power was intact. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 2 days and bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixations at one level above, one level below and the fractured level itself. Imaging and clinical findings, including the level of the vertebra involved, vertebral height restoration, injected cement volume, local kyphosis, clinical outcome and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 15 months. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to surgery was 8.1, which decreased to 2.8 at 7 days after surgery. The kyphotic angle improved significantly from 21.6+/-5.8degrees before surgery to 5.2+/-3.7degrees after surgery. The fraction of the height of the vertebra increased from 35% and 40% to 70% in the anterior and middle portion. There were no signs of hardware pull-out, cement leakage into the spinal canal or aggravation of kyphotic deformities. CONCLUSION: In the management of unstable burst fracture in patients with severe osteoporosis, short segment pedicle screw fixation with bone cement augmentation following postural reduction can be used to reduce the total levels of pedicle screw fixation and to correct kyphotic deformities.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

PURPOSE: The study investigated the present state of helicopter patient transport system on Jeju Island with the aim of improving the helicopter emergency medical service system. METHODS: Electrical medical records of patients transported to Jeju National University Hospital by coast guard helicopter from March 2009 to November 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The followings were analyzed in terms of patient demography, pre-hospital treatment and monitoring during transport, emergency severity index (ESI) score, outcomes and appropriateness of transportation. RESULTS: During the 19 months of the study, 35 patients were helicopter-transported. There were 18 illness patients (51%) and 17 trauma patients (49%). There were 11 ESI level I patients (31.4%) and 8 ESI level II patients (11.4%). Treatment and monitoring during transportation were rare. 15 patients (43%) were hospitalized and 10(28%) died. 16 (45.7%) patients were indicated to the helicopter transportation. CONCLUSION: The near-absence of treatment and monitoring during helicopter transportation is thought to be associated with the absence of firefighting helicopter and trained medical staff. Appropriate emergency patient transportation protocols are needed.
Aircraft ; Demography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Medical Staff ; Military Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Transportation ; Transportation of Patients

The cone-beam CT (CBCT) which is acquired using on-board imager (OBI) attached to a linear accelerator is widely used for the image guided radiation therapy. In this study, the effect of respiratory motion on the quality of CBCT image was evaluated. A phantom system was constructed in order to simulate respiratory motion. One part of the system is composed of a moving plate and a motor driving component which can control the motional cycle and motional range. The other part is solid water phantom containing a small cubic phantom (2 x 2 x 2 cm3) surrounded by air which simulate a small tumor volume in the lung air cavity. CBCT images of the phantom were acquired in 20 different cases and compared with the image in the static status. The 20 different cases are constituted with 4 different motional ranges (0.7 cm, 1.6 cm, 2.4 cm, 3.1 cm) and 5 different motional cycles (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 sec). The difference of CT number in the coronal image was evaluated as a deformation degree of image quality. The relative average pixel intensity values as a compared CT number of static CBCT image were 71.07% at 0.7 cm motional range, 48.88% at 1.6 cm motional range, 30.60% at 2.4 cm motional range, 17.38% at 3.1 cm motional range. The tumor phantom sizes which were defined as the length with different CT number compared with air were increased as the increase of motional range (2.1 cm: no motion, 2.66 cm: 0.7 cm motion, 3.06 cm: 1.6 cm motion, 3.62 cm: 2.4 cm motion, 4.04 cm: 3.1 cm motion). This study shows that respiratory motion in the region of inhomogeneous structures can degrade the image quality of CBCT and it must be considered in the process of setup error correction using CBCT images.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Lung ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; Tumor Burden ; Water

No abstract available.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*