It is imperative to analyse brain injuries directly in real time, so as to find effective therapeutic compounds to protect brain injuries by stress. We established a system which could elucidate the real time Ca2+ dynamics in an organotypic cultured hippocampal slice by the insults of artificial stress hormone, dexamethasone. The real time Ca2+ dynamics could continuously be detected in cornus ammonis 3 (CA3) of the organotypic hippocampus for 8 hours under confocal microscopy. When dexamethasone concentration was increased, the Ca2+ was also increased in a dose dependent manner at 1~100 microM concentrations. Moreover, when the organotypic cultured hippocampal slice was treated with a glutamate receptor antagonist together with dexamethasone, the real time Ca2+ dynamics were decreased. Furthermore, we confirmed by PI uptake study that glutamate receptor antagonist reduced the hippocampal tissue damage caused by dexamethasone treatment. Therefore, our new calcium ion dynamics system in organotypic cultured hippocampal slice after dexamethasone treatment could provide real time analysis method for investigation of brain injuries by stress.
Brain Injuries ; Calcium* ; Cornus ; Dexamethasone* ; Hippocampus ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Receptors, Glutamate

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the clinical and radiological long-term follow-up results of patients with femoral head fracture who received surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation was performed for 20 patients with femoral head fracture who received surgical treatments between December 1997 and May 2010. According to Pipkin's classification, there were five type I, six type II, one type III, and eight type IV fractures. RESULTS: The average Merle d'Aubigne'-Postel score was 12.8 (12.80+/-3.53). According to surgical method, the score for the bony fragment excision group was 9.8 (9.83+/-2.79), and that for the open reduction and internal fixation group was 13.9 (13.92+/-3.07). Depending on Thompson-Epstein criteria, two patients were good, two were fair, and two were poor in the bony fragment excision group. Four patients were excellent, six were good, and three were poor in the open reduction and internal fixation group. CONCLUSION: Bony fragment excision should be performed with caution in patients with femoral head fracture. Considering fragment size, location, and presence of acetabular fracture, better outcome can be expected using the open reduction and internal fixation method in comparison with excision.
Acetabulum ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abnormal visceral sensitivity and disordered motility are common in patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether visceral sensation and bowel motility were altered in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied by weight loss. METHODS: A type 2 diabetic rat model in adulthood was developed by administrating streptozotocin (STZ; 90 mg/kg, i.p.) to neonatal rats. Eight weeks after STZ administration, rats with blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher were selected and used as diabetic group (n = 35) in this study. Abdominal withdrawal reflex and arterial pulse rate were measured to examine visceral nociception induced by colorectal distension (0.1-1.0 mL). The amplitude, frequency, and area under the curve (AUC) of spontaneous phasic contractions of colonic circular muscles were recorded in vitro to examine colonic motility. RESULTS: STZ-treated diabetic rats gained significantly less weight for 8 weeks than control (P < 0.01). Forty-eight percent of the diabetic rats showed enhanced visceral nociceptive response to colorectal distension. Diabetic rats did not differ from control rats in colorectal compliance. However, the frequency and AUC, not the amplitude, of colonic spontaneous contraction in vitro was significantly decreased in diabetic rats compared to control rats (P < 0.01 in frequency and P < 0.05 in AUC). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate visceral hypersensitivity and colonic dysmotility in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied by weight loss.
Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Glucose ; Colon* ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Models, Animal ; Muscles ; Nociception ; Rats* ; Reflex ; Sensation ; Streptozocin ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study examined the rate of degeneration of acetabular cartilage by the bipolar head according to time, and also which clinical factors are related to the degeneration of acetabular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 192 patients (226 hip joints) who received bipolar hemiarthroplasty from August 1996 to August 2002, 61 patients (65 hip joints) were enrolled in this study, who were followed up for more than 2 years and showed no signs of dislocation, infection, or functional problems. A modified form of a computer assisted vector wear analysis program was used to measure the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. The factors that appeared to affect the rate of acetabular degeneration in the two groups was evaluated. RESULTS: The average linear degenerative change in the acetabular cartilage and the volumetric degenerative change were 0.23 +/- 0.107mm/year and 114 +/- 47.2mm3/year, respectively. The result showed significant differences in activity and HHS between the 2 groups. The HHS showed a reverse relationship with the linear degeneration and volumetric degeneration, and the activity showed a correlation with the linear and volumetric degeneration. CONCLUSION: The acetabular cartilage degenerates faster as the patient' activity increases, and slower with a higher HHS. When surgeons perform hip joint arthroplasty, it is strongly recommended that the life expectancy and the level of activity should be considered when deciding between a hemiarthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.
Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*adverse effects ; Cartilage, Articular/*radiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Caroli's disease is associated with the combination of congenital dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, polycystic disease of the kidney and congenital hepatic fibrosis. The disease entity was first reported by Caroli and associates(1958) and was extensively reviewed in a monograph by Caroli and Corcos (1964). The original first description of Carolis disease is characterized by congenital saccular dilation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, a high incidence of stone formation and cholangitis, absence of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension but associated with renal tubular ectasia or other forms of cystic disease of the kidneys, possibly of the pancreas. However the pure form, as described above, has been uncommon. We have experience with a case of general anesthesia for a 12 year old female patient who had Caroli's disease, which was confirmed preoperatively by computerized tomography in Kyung Hee Medical Center. As the Carolis disease may involve hypofunction of the liver and kidney, anesthetics with less action on the liver and kidney are-preferable. This patient was premedicated with atropine and meperidine. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental and succinylcholine for intubation, then maintained with N2O-O2 pancuronium and meperidine. The anesthetic and immediate postoperative course was uneventful, but the patient expired with expected cardiac arrest one week later.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics ; Atropine ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Caroli Disease* ; Cholangitis ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Kidney ; Liver ; Meperidine ; Pancreas ; Pancuronium ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical and radiological findings as well as the and effectiveness of a two-stage reconstruction using the PROSTALAC for an infected hip bipolar hemiarthroplasty. This reconstruction technique comprises of an initial procedure, the removal of the implant, the insertion of a selfmade PROSTALAC and, a reconstruction with cementless implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1996 to October 2001, at our institution, an infection around a hip arthroplasty which had been performed elsewhere in 13 patients (13 infected hips) was treated with a two-stage reconstruction. Postoperatively, all the patients returned for a clinical and radiographic followup at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and every year after the reconstruction to examine the recurrence of the infection and to determine if there was any loosening of the component. The average follow-up duration was 41.6 months (range, 28 months to 89 months). RESULTS: At the latest follow-up, there were no recurrence of the infection nor was there any loosening of the implants and Harris hip score changed from 52.4 preoperatively, to 84.0 postoperatively. CONCLUSION: A two-stage reconstruction for infected hip arthroplasty with cementless implants showed excellent results, no recurrence of the infection or loosening of the implants, and it is believed that this technique is effective and safe.
Arthroplasty ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: This study examined the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage by the bipolar head according to time, and which clinical factors are related to the degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 192 patients (226 hip joint) who were received bipolar hemiarthroplasty from August 1996 to August 2002, 61 patients (65 hip joint), who were followed up for more than 2 years and showed no signs of dislocation, infection and functional problems, were enrolled in this study. A modified form of a computer assisted vector wear analysis program was used to measure the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. The subjects were divided into two groups, those whose amount of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage was less than average and those whose amount of degeneration was more than average. The factors that appeared to affect the level of acetabular degeneration in the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: After a bipolar hemiarthroplasty, the average linear degenerative change in the acetabular cartilage and the volumetric degenerative change was 0.23+/-0.107 mm/yr and 114+/-47.2 mm3/yr, respectively. The result showed significant differences with activity and the HHS between the two groups. The HHS showed a reverse relationship with the linear degeneration and volumetric degeneration, the activity showed a correlation with the linear and volumetric degeneration. CONCLUSION: The acetabular cartilage degenerates faster as the patient's activity increases, and slower with a higher HHS. When surgeons perform hip joint arthroplasty, it is strongly recommended that the life expectancy and the level of activity be considered when deciding between a hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty.
Acetabulum* ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Dislocations ; Head ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Life Expectancy

PURPOSE: This study aims to access the usefulness of indirect computed tomographic venography (CTV) after performing computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) to detect deep venous thrombosis. METHODS: Eighty six patients who were diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All the patients had CTPA & CTV performed within 24 hours after Doppler ultrasound (US). The CTV was compared with Doppler US for their ability to diagnose DVT. Pulmonary embolism (PE) and other findings that were detected by CTPA & CTV were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 86 patients, 83 had thrombi detected by Doppler US. CTV did not detect DVT in 11 of the 83 patients. Among the 11 patients, 8 had below the knee thrombosis, which was not in the scan area of CTV. In 2 patients, their Doppler US results could not be guaranteed. One case was a false positive result on Doppler US. The results for determining the thrombi level between Doppler US and CTV were roughly concordant. In addition to DVT or PE, 32 new lesions in 27 patients were incidentally detected by CTPA & CTV. CONCLUSION: Compared with Doppler US, CTPA & CTV are not inferior to detect DVT of the lower extremities and these modalities can also provide information about incidental disease, as well as pulmonary embolism.
Angiography ; Benzoates ; Heterocyclic Compounds ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Phlebography ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonics ; Venous Thrombosis

The relationship between anti-Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibody levels and the prevalence of malaria in epidemic areas of South Korea was evaluated. Blood samples were collected from inhabitants of Gimpo-si (city), Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (county) in Gyeonggi-do (province), as well as Cheorwon-gun in Gangwon-do from November to December 2004. Microscopic examinations were used to identify malaria parasites. ELISA was used to quantitate anti-circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibodies against P. vivax. A total of 1,774 blood samples were collected. The overall CSP-ELISA-positive rate was 7.7% (n=139). The annual parasite incidences (APIs) in these areas gradually decreased from 2004 to 2005 (1.09 and 0.80, respectively). The positive rate in Gimpo (10.4%, 44/425) was the highest identified by CSP-ELISA. The highest API was found in Yeoncheon, followed by Cheorwon, Paju, and Gimpo in both years. The positive rates of CSP-ELISA were closely related to the APIs in the study areas. These results suggest that seroepidemiological studies based on CSP may be helpful in estimating the malaria prevalence in certain areas. In addition, this assay can be used to establish and evaluate malaria control and eradication programs in affected areas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Malaria, Vivax/*blood/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium vivax/*immunology/physiology ; Prevalence ; Protozoan Proteins/immunology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The contraction of smooth muscle depends on an increase in the concentration of intracellular calcium ion and the source of this increase to various stimuli is different according to organs or species. Nevertheless, there have been only a few studies on human stomach smooth muscle. This study was designed to identify the source of the calcium utilized in the muscle contraction induced by carbachol, which is an important factor among various stimuli. METHODS: After the administration of carbachol with various conditions in cultured human stomach smooth muscle cells, fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester was used to measure the increase in the intracellular calcium concentration. RESULTS: (1) The carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration was not attenuated after removal of extracellular calcium. (2) Carbachol induced a small increase in the intracellular calcium concentration even after the depletion of intracellular calcium store. (3) Repeated histamine administration blocked the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in calcium-free extracellular solution. CONCLUSION: The main source of calcium utilized in human stomach smooth muscle contraction by carbachol is intracellular calcium store, particularly inositol triphosphate(IP3)-sensitive calcium stores. However, extracellular calcium also contributes to the carbachol-induced increase in the intracellular calcium concentration.
Calcium* ; Carbachol* ; Histamine ; Humans* ; Inositol ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Stomach