A 42-year-old woman presented with ichthyosiform eruptions on her trunk and buttock which developed 20 days prior to consulatation. She had taken the cholesterol-lowering drug(lovastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitor) for 4 months. After stopping the drug, the skin lesions gradually improved and after two months most of the lesions had disappeared. After 3 months of follow up the skin lesions could not be seen any more. Acquired ichthyosis in our patient could be an untoward effect of HMG CoA reductase inhibitor by disturbing the skin lipid metabolism.
Adult ; Buttocks ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; Ichthyosis* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lovastatin ; Oxidoreductases ; Skin

No abstract available.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the CT features of the cystic masses in the neck and to review differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the CT findings of 22 histopathologically proved, cystic neck masses in regard to the location in fascial plane and relationship with adjacent organ. RESULTS: Of 22 cases, ten congenital cysts two ranulas, seven inflammatory lesions, and three solid tumors were includded. Ten congenital cystic masses were located in typical locations as branchial cleft cyst(5) in mandibular angle, thyroglossal duct cyst(3) in visceral space embeded within the strap muscles, cystic hygroma(1) and cavernous hemangioma(1) in posterior cervical space with insinuating appearance. Two cases of ranula included one simple ranula localized in sublingual space and a plunging ranula extending to adjacent submandibular space. Seven cases of inflammatory lesions were characterized by multispatial locations and good contrast-enhancement of walls and adjacent tissue. Solid masses of low density mimicking cyst were two pleomorphic adenomas of submandibular gland and one neurilemmoma. CONCLUSION: It is considered that thorough analysis of the CT findings with attention to typical location, CT appearance, and the relationship with the adjacent structures usually leads to the correct diagnosis.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Branchial Region ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Muscles ; Neck* ; Neurilemmoma ; Ranula ; Retrospective Studies ; Submandibular Gland

The Bombyx mori decapentaplegic gene is one of the conserved genes in vertebrate and invertebrates. The TGF-beta superfamily contains conserved polypeptide growth factors that play important roles in different cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and cell-fate determination. The B. mori dpp gene shares genetic homology with hBMPs and Drosophila dpp. Until now, only few studies have been conducted to examine the functions of B. mori dpp; and hence, its function is not yet well understood. In this study, the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) was used for expression of the recombinant B. mori dpp protein and in which the recombinant baculovirus is recovered in the host Sf9 cells. The selected pure recombinant baculovirus containing B. mori dpp gene (rBV-egfp-Bm dpp) was used to increase the effective protein purification by using His-tag extraction strategy. After selection of recombinant baculovirus, recombinant B. mori dpp proteins were extracted from the re-infected cells with pure rBV-egfp-Bm dpp. Herein, we summarize the efficient expression and purification of B. mori dpp proteins from the insect cells using the BEVS. This recombinant protein could be suitable for functional test and various application studies.
Apoptosis ; Baculoviridae* ; Bombyx* ; Drosophila ; Insects ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Invertebrates ; Sf9 Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Vertebrates

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to discover ways to screen urine culture specimens through Gram stains, urine stick analyses and microscopic examinations for the laboratory cost saving. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight urine specimens for culture were included. Fifty uL of urine were inoculated onto one well each of 10-well slide, dried on the hot plate, and Gram-stained. The results combined with routine urinalyses including urine nitrite and leukocyte esterase, and pyuria, were compared with the routine culture results. RESULTS: The screening of bacteriuria by Gram stains, urinalyses and microscopic examinations revealed the high sensitivity (91.9%) and negative predictive value(95.5%) with cost saving of 41.8% of inoculating media. Not considering the Gram stains, the screening revealed 83.8% sensitivity and 92.5% negative predictive value, even if the cost saving of inoculating media were as high as 50.1%. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that it was sensitive and economic and produced rapid preliminary results to screen bacteriuria by the Gram stains combined with urinalyses and microscopic examinations.
Bacteriuria ; Coloring Agents ; Cost Savings ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening* ; Pyuria ; Urinalysis*

BACKGROUND: Naringin, one of the flavonoids in citrus fruit peels, is known to have antioxidant and hepatotonic effects in animal studies. We evaluated the effect of naringin on 1) blood lipid profiles, 2) regression of fatty streak of aorta, and 3) liver toxicity in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: New Zealand White Rabbits (2.0 - 2.5 Kg) were divided to three groups; group without treatment, group treated with 100 mg/kg/d or 500 mg/kg/d naringin, and group treated with 1 mg/kg/d or 20 mg/kg/d lovastatin. They were fed on 0.25% or 1.0% cholesterol-containing diet for 8 weeks and then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for measurement of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, serum GOT and GPT. Aortas and livers were harvested for evaluation of fatty streak and pathologic examination. RESULTS: 1)Feeding of 1% cholesterol diet for eight weeks significantly increased the cholesterol level upto 20 folds. Neither lovastatin nor naringin did lower these marked hypercholesterolemia. But both naringin (500 mg/kg/d) and lovastatin (1 mg/kg/d) significantly reduced the area of fatty streak by 75% and 58%, respectively. Naringin was more effective in inhibition of fat infiltration into liver than lovastatin which showed hepatotoxicity as increase of serum GPT level (p=0.01). 2)Feeding of 0.25% cholesterol diet for eight weeks significantly increased the cholesterol level upto 17 folds. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels tended to decrease by treatment with naringin (500 mg/kg/d) and lovastatin (20 mg/kg/d), but this decreases were not statistically significant. However, areas of fatty streak significantly decreased by treatment with naringin and lovastatin by 64 and 82%, respectively (p<0.05). Microscopic analysis revealed that foam cell infiltration into intima was significantly reduced by naringin and lovastatin. In contrast to lovastatin, naringin significantly reduced the level of serum GPT (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Like lovastatin, naringin has strong antiatherogenic action which may not be associated with its very mild lipid lowering action. In contrast to lovastatin, naringin does have hepatoprotective effect.
Animals ; Aorta ; Cholesterol ; Citrus ; Diet ; Flavonoids ; Foam Cells ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Liver ; Lovastatin ; Rabbits* ; Triglycerides

This studly was perormed 10 define the role of compulerized quantitative analysis in ewalualion for overexpression of p53 by immunohistochemistry. Total and ladeled cells wers counted automatically using commercially available software for color-image analysis. In 16 uterine cerwical carcinomas, the p53 ladeling index calculted bycomputerized5quantitatiwe analysis was 9.22%+/-8.70% and by visual analysis 5.90+/-6.51%. The present results suggest that the computerized quantitative analysis may be valuadle in objective interetation of immunohistochemical expression of p53 and reliable than conventional ways of visual analysis.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry

Ground-glass opacity is a frequent but nonspecific finding seen on high-resolution CT scans of lung parenchyma. Histologically, this appearance is observed when thickening of the alveolar wall and septal interstitium is minimal or the alveolar lumen is partially filled with fluid, macrophage, neutrophils, or amorphous material. It has been shown that ground-glass opacity may be caused not only by an active inflammatory process but also by fibrotic processes. When a focal area of ground-glass opacity persists or increases in size, the possibility of neoplasm-bronchioloalveolar carcinoma or adenoma, or lymphoma, for example- should be considered. Diffuse nonsegmental ground-glass opacity in both lung fields was incidentally found on follow up abdominal CT in a stomach cancer patient and signet-ring cell-type metastatic lung cancer was confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. We report a case of diffuse ground-glass opacity seen in metastatic lung cancer from adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymphoma ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Neutrophils ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Duplex ultrasonography (USG) is an accepted method to assess noninvasively arterial inflow to the penis. Optimal pharmacological agents as well as timing of the scan and stimulation during the scan continue to be debated. Between August 1994 and May 1996, 24 normal males (control group) and 45 impotent patients (impotence group) underwent penile doppler sonography, and their records were reviewed. Scans were performed at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after intracavernous injection of PGE1 (10 pg) in all subjects. Any subject not having a full erection at 15 minutes performed private self-stimulation for at least 5 minutes before the 30 minute scan. If we define normal arterial inflow as a peak systolic velocity (PSV) of 30 cm. per second or greater in the best artery, 46% of control group and 55% of impotence group achieved this velocity until 5 minutes. One (4%) of control group and three (6%) of impotence group achieved maximum velocity at 1 or 3 minutes but continually PSV of 30 cm. per second or greater after 5 minutes, so any subject may not have had an incorrect diagnosis. When we calculated maximum velocity in the best artery in relation to percentage tumescence, maximum velocity were recorded most often at 10% tumescence (46% of control group and 51% of impotence group). If we define normal arterial inflow as PSV of 30 cm. per second or greater in best artery, the cumulative percentage of patients who achieved this velocity at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes were 4, 34, 46, 88, 96, 96 and 100% in control group and 6, 28, 55, 90, 92, 94 and 96% in impotence group. In conclusion, we support delaying the initial scan until 5 minutes, performing the additional scans until 30 minutes and self-stimulation when necessary. We believe all efforts should be made to have studies performed in the setting of least anxiety to the patient.
Alprostadil* ; Anxiety ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate that men with prostatodynia have petechiae in the bladder and improvement of symptoms after hydrodistension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 men with the diagnosis of prostatodynia underwent cystoscopy and hydrodistension under a general or regional anesthetic. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 14 men 5(36%) had moderate to severe petechiae similar in appearance to women with interstitial cystitis after hydrodistension. Men with moderate to severe bladder petechiae had fewer leukocytes in expressed prostatic secretions and smaller bladder capacities than men with more normal appearing bladders after hydrodistension. Symptomatic improvement 2 to 6 weeks after hydrodistension was more common in men with moderate to severe petechiae than in those with fewer petechiae. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that bladder petechiae after hydrodistension may be a diagnostic finding in men with prostatodynia as well as women with interstitial cystitis. Therefore, the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis should be considered in patients with prostatodynia.
Cystitis, Interstitial ; Cystoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Purpura ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder