OBJECTIVE: It is widely accepted that the estrogen plays an important role in the maintenance of bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of this study is to compare the BMD between premature ovarian failure (POF) patients and spontaneous menopausal women, both of which are characterized by estrogen deficiency. METHOD: We compared the BMD of Lumbar 2-4 and Femur neck(right) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 17 premature ovarian failure patients and 21 spontaneous menopausal women. RESULTS: POF patients and spontaneous menopausal women showed the BMD of 1.000+/-0.165g/cm2, 1.167+/-0.279g/cm2 at Lumbar 2-4 and 0.793+/-0.132g/cm2, 0.885+/-0.128g/cm2 at Femur neck, respectively. POF patients had lower BMD of Lumbar 2-4 and Femur neck significantly(p<0.05). FSH and estradiol level were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the BMD in POF patients was decreased more severely than that of spontaneous menopausal women. Therefore, more preventive measures against bone loss is required in POF patients than spontaneous menopausal women.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density* ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Hydrocephalus*

No abstract available.
Fetal Weight* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Parturition* ; Weight Gain*

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been suspected as a possible gene therapy candidate for orthopedic diseases. We demonstrated that the TGF-beta gene therapy can be applicable to orthopedic patients. After transfection of TGF-beta cDNA sequence to myoblasts [C2 (280)] and fibroblasts (NIH 3T3), stable cell lines with TGF-beta mRNA expression were selected by Northern analysis. To evaluate the possibility of clinical application of these cells to orthopedic diseases, the cells were injected into rabbit achilles tendon. Intratendinous injection was done to evaluate the viability of the cells and to determine the optimal concentration for in vivo expression. At 6 weeks after injection, the injected tendon was thickened with newly formed collagen. The results from this experiment indicates that these cells survived and stimulated matrix formation in rabbit achilles tendon. We concluded that TGF-beta cDNA transfected cells can be useful in the evaluation of TGF-beta biology in vivo.
Achilles Tendon* ; Biology ; Cell Line* ; Collagen ; DNA, Complementary ; Fibroblasts* ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Myoblasts* ; Orthopedics ; RNA, Messenger ; Tendons ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

Impaired endothelium dependent relaxation occurs in diabetic rabbit corpus cavernosum and normal corpus cavernosum exposed to elevated glucose. Elevation of glucose can change the activities of two key enzymes, protein kinase C (PKC) and Na+-K+ ATPase. This study addresses the question of whether impaired endothelium dependent relaxation in isolated corpus cavernosum from normal rabbit exposed to elevated glucose is related to PKC and Na+-K+ ATPase activities and, if so, whether it is associated with altered ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake, an index of Na+-K+ ATPase activity, and contractile response of corpus cavernosum tissue to ouabain. Corpus cavernosal tissue suspended for measurement of isometric tension were incubated for 6 hours in control (5.5mM) or elevated glucose (44mM) to mimic euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. Relaxations of corpus cavernosum tissue in response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh)were unaffected in control groups while significantly inhibited in the elevated glucose group. Relaxations of corporeal tissue to endothelium-independent vasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were similar in the control and elevated glucose groups. Corporeal tissue treated with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a PKC activator, showed decreased relaxations to ACh, similar to normal corporeal tissue exposed to elevated glucose. Relaxations in response to SNP were unaffected by treatment with PMA or exposure to elevated glucose. 1(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), PKC inhibitor, restored the abnormal Ach-induced relaxation in corporeal tissue exposed to elevated glucose. The contractions caused by ouabain, Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor, were smaller in elevated glucose groups than control and elevated glucose groups treated with H-7. Ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake of elevated glucose groups was significantly less than that of control groups but ouabain sensitive 86-Rb uptake of elevated glucose groups treated with H-7 was similar to those of control groups. These results suggest that activation in PKC activity and inhibition in Na+-K+ ATPase activity caused by elevated glucose contribute to impaired endothelium dependent relaxation in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Acetylcholine ; Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Endothelium ; Glucose* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nitroprusside ; Ouabain ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Relaxation* ; Vasodilator Agents

The authors report a very unusual case of ruptured aneurysm by direct vessel invasion of anaplastic oligodendroglioma (WHO grade III) confirmed by histopathological examinations. As local invasion is the hallmark of malignant gliomas, malignant glial tumors invade neighboring structure and often cause microscopic endothelial proliferation, telangiectasias in small arteriols, but direct arterial invasion by glioma is very rare. Possible mechanisms of intracranial aneurysm development by glioma are thought to be related to the close proximity to the tumor, perivascular basement membrane breakage due to high tumor pressure and increased regional blood flow through the feeding artery of tumor. The aneurysm and tumor were treated in a single operation simultaneously.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Anterior Cerebral Artery* ; Arteries ; Basement Membrane ; Glioma ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Oligodendroglioma* ; Regional Blood Flow ; Rupture* ; Telangiectasis

The diagnosis of soft tissue osteochondroma should be considered when a well-defined osseous mass is located in the soft tissues. The differential diagnosis includes myositis ossificans, tumoral calcinosis, synovial chondromatosis, and soft tissue osteosarcoma, true osteochondroma which arises from bone. One case of soft tissue osteochondroma in the knee, a lesion of uncertain pathogenesis is reported.
Calcinosis ; Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Knee ; Myositis Ossificans ; Osteochondroma* ; Osteosarcoma

This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructure of the neurons, neuroglial cells and capillaries in the area postrema[AP] of the Oriental discolured bat, Vespertilio superans. The AP of the bat was a single midline structure at the most caudal portion of the fourth ventricle. Most neurons in the AP were small cells, but their ultrastructure were similar to the typical neurons located elsewhere in the central nervous system. Astroglial cells and oligodendrocytes were also observed and showed their typical ultrastructure. Ultrastructural features of neurons, astroglial cells and oligodendrocytes were not changed during hibernating cycles. However, microglial cells were only found in the hibernating AP ; these cells were located in the parenchyma and near the blood vessels of the AP. Since the microglial cytoplasm was filled with phagocytotic inclusions, the nuclei of the these cells were eccentrically located. Phagocytotic cytoplasmic inclusions were shown to be composed of a dense irregular peripheral region and the pale round central region. A Large vacant space was often found in the electron lucent central region. Continuous and fenestrated capillaries surrounded by pericytes were found in the bat`s AP. Especially, Phagocytotic inclusions were found in the pericyte cytoplasm of the hibernating AP, and this result supports suggestion that pericytes might be phagocytotic cells. On the basis of the distributions of phagocytotic tells[pericytes and microglial cell], ultrastructure of these cells, morphology of their cytoplasmic inclusions, and the appearance of phagocytotic activity of the pericytes during the hibernating stage when microglial cells were observed, it can be concluded that pericytes may also participates in the formation of rrlicroglial cells. Tanycytes were also found in the bat AP.
Area Postrema* ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Central Nervous System ; Cytoplasm ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Fourth Ventricle ; Inclusion Bodies ; Microglia ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; Pericytes

Changes in the number, the immunoreactivities and the ultrastructures of sero- tonin immunoreactive mucosal mast cells[MMCs] in rat gastrointestinal tracts after vagus nerve stimulation were investigated by using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical methods. The vagus nerves were electrically stimulated with a square wave pulse generator for a duration of 5 minutes each, a total of 8 times at 2 minute intervals. Serotonin immunoreactive cells of the connective tissues of the gastrointestinal tract were mainly located in the lamina propria, and a small number of the cells were also scattered in the submucosa. By using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and Wright stain, the serotonin immunoreactive cells of the lamina propria and the submucosa were identified to be MMCs. A few large-sized serotonin immunoreactive connective tissue mast cells [CTMCs], showing strong metachromasia with the Wright stain, were located together with the MMCs in the submucosa of the stomach. In most of the gut regions of the control group, the majority of the MMCs did not show any serotonin immunoreactivities and only a few MMCs showed weak serotonin immunoreactivities. After stimulation of the vagus nerves, the number and the immnu- noreactivities of the serotonin immunoreactive MMCs dramatically increased in all gut regions observed, especially in the small intestines. In the samples treated with the electron microscopic immnunocytochemical methods, hardly any serotonin immunoreactivities were detected in the MMCs of the control group. However, the serotonin imrnunoreactivities of the MMCs were significantly increased after vagus nerve stimulation. The serotonin immnunoreactive products were localized, following vagal stimulation, both in the peripheral matrix of the granules and in the cytoplasm. Also, it was confirmed ultrastructurally that the Golgi complexes were expanded in the MMCs of the vagal stimulation group. The above results suggest that vagus nerve stimulation may activate serotonin biosynthesis in MMCs.
Animals ; Connective Tissue ; Cytoplasm ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Golgi Apparatus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestine, Small ; Mast Cells* ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats* ; Serotonin* ; Stomach ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation* ; Vagus Nerve*

Infectious process involves infrequently the posterior compartment of the vertebra. Three cases of such condition are experienced at the Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University during the period of August 1962 to June 1971 Two of three cases were from pyogenic infection invoIving the spinous process of third and fourth lumbar vertebra respectively, one of which was complicated by formation of paraspinal abscess and both were treated with total laminectomy of the involved vertebrae. Thee third case was tuberculosis on the transverse process of first thoracic vertebra which was accompanied by irritating sign of left ulnar nerve, and was treated with transversectomy and partial laminectomy. Excellent results were obtained without recurrence and no deformity nor instability of the spine developed postoperativeIy.
Abscess ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Laminectomy ; Orthopedics ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Spine ; Tuberculosis ; Ulnar Nerve