We correct the revised date of this article.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to validate the cell trafficking efficiency of the in vivo bioluminescence image (BLI) study in the setting of transplantation of the luciferase expressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC), which were delivered at each different time after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in a mouse model. METHODS: Transplanting donor BMSC were prepared by primary cell culture from transgenic mouse expressing luciferase (LUC). Transient focal infarcts were induced in 4-6-week-old male nude mice. The experiment mice were divided into five groups by the time of MSC transplantation : 1) sham-operation group, 2) 2-h group, 3) 1-day group, 4) 3-day group, and 5) 1- week group. BLI for detection of spatial distribution of transplanted MSC was performed by detecting emitted photons. Migration of the transplanted cells to the infarcted area was confirmed by histological examinations. Differences between groups were evaluated by paired t-test. RESULTS: A focal spot of bioluminescence was observed at the injection site on the next day after transplantation by signal intensity of bioluminescence. After 4 weeks, the mean signal intensities of 2-h, 1-day, 3-day, and 1-week group were 2.6x10(7) +/- 7.4x10(6), 6.1x10(6) +/- 1.2x10(6), 1.7x10(6) +/- 4.4x10(5), and 8.9x10(6) +/- 9.5x10(5), respectively. The 2-h group showed significantly higher signal intensity (p < 0.01). The engrafted BMSC showed around the infarct border zones on immunohistochemical examination. The counts of LUC-positive cells revealed the highest number in the 2-h group, in agreement with the results of BLI experiments (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study, the results suggested that the transplanted BMSC migrated to the infarct border zone in BLI study and the higher signal intensity of LUC-positive cells seen in 2 hrs after MSC transplantation in MCAO mouse model. In addition, noninvasive imaging in real time is an ideal method for tracking stem cell transplantation. This method can be widely applied to various research fields of cell transplantation therapy.
Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Luciferases ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Mice, Transgenic ; Photons ; Primary Cell Culture ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stroke ; Tissue Donors ; Track and Field ; Transplants

A rare case of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage from newly developed cerebral aneurysm in glioblastoma patient is presented. A 57-year-old man was presented with headache and memory impairment. On the magnetic resonance image and the magnetic resonance angiography, a large enhancing mass was found at right frontal subcortex and intracranial aneurysm was not found. The mass was removed subtotally and revealed as glioblastoma. He took concurrent PCV chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but the mass recurred one month later after radiotherapy. He was then treated with temozolomide for 7 cycles. Three months after the completion of temozolomide therapy, he suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a rupture of a small de novo aneurysm at distal anterior cerebral artery. He underwent an aneurysm clipping and discharged without neurologic complication.
Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Dacarbazine ; Glioblastoma ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: The results of the excision of both outer and inner membranes with fenestration to the basal and parasellar cisterns for symptomatic primary middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts are presented. METHODS: Twenty-three symptomatic cases of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cyst treated by excision with fenestration from 1993 to 2001 at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There was no significant morbidity and mortality after surgery and no recurrence of cyst during the follow-up period(mean 40.8 months). We observed reduction of the cyst with expansion of the surrounding brain and clinical improvement in most of the patients. All cases of type III by Galassi classification, 83% of type II cases and half of type I cases were belonged to the excellent group(reduction of the cyst size over 50% during follow-up period). Seventeen cases(74%) were belonged to the excellent group and 6 cases(26%) were the good group(reduction of the cyst size under 50% during follow-up period). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the excision and fenestration procedure may be considered as the primary shunt-independent procedure in patients with symptomatic middle cranial fossa arachnoid cyst.
Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Brain ; Classification ; Cranial Fossa, Middle* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The prevalence of rickets in the world is on the rise not only in developing but also in developed countries. In Korea, breastfeeding has increased. There have been few studies on the possible association of rickets with breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to identify the development and the clinical presentation of subclinical rickets in breastfed infants. METHODS: We investigated patients who were breastfed and had hypovitaminosis D in the blood from May 2006 to April 2007, and who were diagnosed with vitamin D deficient rickets from May 2003 to April 2006. We evaluated the results of blood tests, x-rays and other relevant information in the medical record. A questionnaire that included questions on the diet of patients, the mothers activity during pregnancy and place of residence was administered. RESULTS: Twelve patients (66%: male, 34%: female) were enrolled in this study. There were eight in the asymptomatic and four in the symptomatic group. The median age for each group was 8 months (range 4-11 month) and 5.5 months (5-8 month). All patients in the symptomatic group were breastfed until diagnosed. In the asymptomatic group, they were breastfed for four to six months, and then weaned with only thin rice soup and vegetables. Nine patients had a vitamin D concentration below 20 ng/mL and three patients had levels between 20 and 29 ng/mL. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were elevated in both groups. There were statistically significant 25-OHD3 levels in the blood in both groups (P=0.008). Ten of the patients (83%) also had iron deficient anemia. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and subclinical rickets has been identified in Korea. However, the prevalence of this disease has not been determined. The main limitation of this study was the small number of patients and the absence of a control group.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anemia ; Breast Feeding ; Developed Countries ; Diet ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Infant* ; Iron ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rickets* ; Vegetables ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency

Ethambutol is commonly used as a first-line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis. The most serious adverse effect of ethambutol therapy is optic neuropathy. However, ethambutol-induced acute kidney injury is extremely rare. We report herein a case of acute kidney injury secondary to ethambutol-associated acute interstitial nephritis. A 65-year-old man with pulmonary tuberculosis presented with a > 7-day history of nausea and vomiting. He had begun antituberculosis medications including ethambutol 3 weeks previously. His laboratory findings showed elevated blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels (32.6 and 3.6 mg/dL, respectively). Examination of percutaneous renal biopsy specimens showed diffuse interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration with mild interstitial edema. The patient was treated by cessation of ethambutol and supportive care. His renal function completely recovered (creatinine, 1.1 mg/dL) and his clinical symptoms improved.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Edema ; Ethambutol* ; Humans ; Nausea ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Development of asthma involves the interaction between genetic factors and environmental stimuli. This study aims to investigate whether major single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)s and their haplotypes of the ADRB2 (beta2-adrenoceptor) gene are associated with children with asthma in Korea. METHODS: Children with asthma aging 5 to 15 years old were recruited as the patient group, and children without respiratory diseases or asthma of the same age were recruited as the control group. Blood samples of 5 mL were collected and DNA was extracted by standard methods. Genotyping was done for 6 SNPs known to have a frequency of more than 4%, including 1309A>G, 1342C>G, 1515G>A, 1786C>A, 2316G>C, 2502G>A. RESULTS: Overall, 438 subjects (214 patients and 224 controls) were included in this study. Minor allele homozygote frequency of 6 SNP were 22%, 1.8%, 11%, 12.3%, 21.2% and 13.0%, respectively. Differences between both groups of individual SNP frequencies were not statistically significant, although the difference of the frequency of the second SNP (1342C>G) has borderline significance (P=0.06). Overall distributions of haplotypes were not significantly different between both groups. However, analysis of specific SNPs among haplotypes revealed that haplotypes including the 2nd SNP were significantly associated with asthma (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.6). Combinations of haplotypes excluding the 2nd SNP did not show significant difference between both groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the ADRB2 gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to childhood asthma and that analysis of haplotypes rather than SNPs is more reliable in this association.
Aging ; Alleles ; Asthma ; Child ; DNA ; Haplotypes ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH) is a rare condition presented with cardinal postural headache and low CSF pressure. The authors describe the characteristic clinical features, imaging findings, and treatment methods in the patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. METHODS: Between May 1994 and Aug. 2001, eight patients were diagnosed with spontaneous intracranial hypotension based on characteristic radiologic and clinical findings in our department. All cases were shown diffuse meningeal enhancement(DME) on magnetic resonance(MR) image. Two cases had subdural hematoma. RESULTS: The most characteristic feature on Brain MR image is DME with/without subdural fluid collection. Radionuclide image reveals direct leaking point and rapid appearance of urinary bladder activity. Direct leaking points were detected in all four cases who performed radioisotope study. Autologous epidural blood patches were applied to four cases, and all of them were improved without complication. Among four patients treated with conservative method, three were improved, but one patient was died of spontaneous chronic subdural hematoma. CONCLUSION: We suggest that 1) meticulous studies need to be performed aggressively if SIH is diagnosed clinically and radiologically, 2) the most effective study may be radioisotope study, and 3) if leaking point is found, aggressive management such as autologous epidural blood patches is recommended.
Blood Patch, Epidural ; Brain ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Urinary Bladder

Numerous studies have demonstrated the clinical activity of temozolomide, a second-generation alkylating agent, against malignant brain tumors, however, its activity has not been reported in an Asian population. This study analyzed the efficacy and toxicity of temozolomide in 25 adult patients with recurrent or progressive malignant gliomas after surgery and standard radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy, enrolled in our institution since July 2000. Sixteen patients had glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), six with anaplastic astrocytoma, and three with anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Of the 25 patients, 3 (12%) achieved a complete response (CR), 8 (32%) achieved a partial response (PR), 6 (24%) had stable disease (SD), and 8 (32%) had progressive disease (PD). Two patients achieved a CR, 4 patients achieved a PR, 3 patients had SD and 7 patients had PD in GBM, and 1 patient achieved a CR, 4 patients achieved a PR, 3 patients had SD, 1 patient had PD in the non-GBM patients. Median progression free survival was 8 weeks in GBM and 22 weeks in the non-GBM patients. The median overall survival of each group was 17 weeks and 28 weeks. Temozolomide demonstrated moderate activity in recurrent and progressive malignant gliomas without serious toxicity.
Vomiting/chemically induced ; Treatment Outcome ; Survival Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nausea/chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Liver Diseases/chemically induced ; Leukopenia/chemically induced ; Humans ; Glioma/*drug therapy/radiotherapy/surgery ; Female ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Dacarbazine/administration & dosage/adverse effects/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Brain Neoplasms/*drug therapy/radiotherapy/surgery ; Brain/drug effects/pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/administration & dosage/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Administration, Oral