In order to investigate the neurotoxic effect of methylmercury (MM) on cultured mouse spinal motoneuron cell line, NSC-19, neurotoxic effect of MM was evaluated by MTT assay after neurons were incubated with various concentrations of methylmercuric chloride (MMC) for 24 hours. In addition, neuroprotective effect of vitamin E against MMC-induced neurotoxicity was examined by MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) in these cultures. The results were as follows : 1. MTT50 value was a concentration of 20µM methylmercuric chloride. 2. Methylmercuric chloride was toxic on cultured spinal motor neurons, NSC-19 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner by severe decrease of cell viability. 3. Methylmercuric chloride induced the decrease of cell number and the loss of neuritis on these cultures. 4. Vitamin E remarkably increased the viabilily of cultured neurons damaged by methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity at a concentration of 250µM vitamin E. From above the results, it is suggested that methylmercury induces severe toxic effect on cultured mouse spinal motor neurons, NSC-19 cells, and the selective antioxidants such as vitamin E are effective in the neurotoxicity induced by methylmercury in these cultures.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; Cell Count ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Intermediate Filaments ; Mice ; Motor Neurons* ; Neuritis ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

To evaluate the effect of midkine (MK), neurotrophic factor on cultured mouse spinal motor neuron, NSC-19 which was inhibited by glucose oxidase (GO)-induced oxygen radicals, MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmunoassay were carried out after NSC-19 cells were preincubated with various concentrations of midkine for 2 hours prior to exposure of glucose oxidase. The results were as follows : 1. MK increased the rate of cell viability and neurofilamental development in a dose-dependent manner on motoneurons inhibited by glucose oxidase-induced oxygen radicals. 2. MTT50 value was 25 mU/ml GO. 3. GO-induced oxygen radicals were toxic on cultured motor neurons in a time and dose-dependent manner. 4. GO-induced oxygen radicals induced the decrease of cells in number and the loss of neurites in cultured mouse spinal motor neurons. From above the results, it is concluded that oxygen radicals are toxic in cultured mouse spinal motor neurons, and selective neurotrophic factors such as MK enhance the viability of motor neurons inhibited by oxygen radicals.
Animals ; Cell Survival ; Glucose ; Glucose Oxidase ; Intermediate Filaments ; Mice ; Motor Neurons* ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Neurites ; Oxidative Stress* ; Reactive Oxygen Species

No abstract available.
Humans ; Reproducibility of Results*

A 13 years old girl came to our department with complaints of multiple ulcerating and non-ulcerating nodules on her back and buttocks since 1 month prior to visit. Skin biopsy specimen showed diffuse monomorphous infiltration of leukemic cells in the dermis and subcutis. Bone marrow biopsy specimen showed changes of erythroleukemia. Treatment was initiated with combined chemotherapy which was a combination of cytosine arabinoside, adriamyein and 6 thioguanine. When combined chemotherapy was finished, she was in complete remission state and the nodules cured after 1 month of combined chemotherapy.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Buttocks ; Cytarabine ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute* ; Skin ; Thioguanine ; Ulcer

To elucidate the neurotoxic mechanism of methylmercury on cultured bovine oligodendrocytes, neurotoxic effect was estimated by MTT assay after cultures were exposed to various concentrations of methylmercuric chloride (MMC). In addition, neuroprotective effect of antioxidant, allopurinol agonist MMC-induced neurotoxicity was examined on these cultures. Exposure of cultured bovine oligodendrocytes to MMC showed less than 50% of the cell viability 24 hours after treatment with 35µM of MMC. And also, allopurinol blocked the neurotoxicity induced by MMC on these cultures. These results suggest that oxygen radicals involve in MMC-mediated neurotoxicity, and also seletive antioxidants such as allopurinol are effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by MMC on cultured bovine oligodendrocytes.
Allopurinol* ; Antioxidants ; Cell Survival ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oligodendroglia ; Reactive Oxygen Species

No abstract available.
Cryptococcus neoformans* ; Cryptococcus* ; Interleukin-2* ; Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

A hemangioma occurred in the bony epiphysis is extremly rare. A 5-year-old boy visited to our hospital with pain and flexion contracture on the right knee. MRI showed some lesions scattered in the epiphysis of the distal femur and the proximal tibia. Biopsy specimen from the distal femoral epiphysis revealed pathologic findings compatible with hemangioma. On 8 years follow-up, the lesion in the distal femoral epiphysis had been cured, and those in the proximal tibial epiphysis were spontaneously disappeared without surgery. The scanogram shows no leg length discrepancy and angular deformity. We reports a rare case of hemangioma occurred in the bony epiphysis with the results of 8 year follow-up with the review of literatures.
Biopsy ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Epiphyses ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Knee ; Leg ; Preschool Child ; Tibia

Ninety black C 57 BL mice were divided into control and photochemotherapy groups. Control group was subdivided into a UVA 1rradiation only subgroup and a khellin only administration subgroup, while the phototherapy group was subdivided into one TMP and two khellin administration subgroups with dosages of 1.5mg/kg, 5mg/kg and 20mg/kg, respectivly. UVA was administered three thimes a week in a dose of 4J/cm for 4 weeks. Skin biopsies were taken at 0, l, 2, 3 and 4 weeks and the split DOPA stain was employed to observe pigment production. The number, size and circumference of the melanocytes were assessed. In summary, our results inclicate that khellin, which is slightly less effective than TMP at the same effective dose, is quite effective for pigment production and the degree of the production is dose related.
Animals ; Biopsy ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Khellin* ; Melanocytes* ; Mice ; Photochemotherapy* ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Thymidine Monophosphate ; Trioxsalen*