To identify the central innervating the mammary nerve, viral retrograde transneuronal labelling methods were employed. Pseudorabies virus 6 microliter was injected into the mammary nerve of adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. After 4 days of survival, the animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde-lysine periodate and their brains were processed for immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescent staining of Pseudorabies virus or oxytocin using polyclonal antibodies. Several nuclei in brain were retrogradely labelled with Pesudorabies virus.Only a few magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus throughout whole brain showed double immunoreactivity to Pseudorabies virus and oxytocin. Approximately 11 percent of the oxytocinergic cells of the paraventricular nucleus,especially in three subnuclei[dorsomedial cap, lateral magnocelluar part and ventral part] showed double positive reaction to both Pseudorabies virus and oxytocin. These data demonstrate that some CNS cells projecting to the mammary nerve contained oxytocin and it may acts as a neurotransmitter in this pathway and a hormone targeting milk production and secretion.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Brain ; Female ; Herpesvirus 1, Suid ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Milk ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Oxytocin ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Pseudorabies ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease with antibodies directed against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is relatively common in young women and sometimes associated with pregnancy. Because pregnancy can influence myasthenia gravis and the drugs used for its treatment influence gestation, obstetrical management can be complicated. Regional anesthesia during vaginal delivery is the anesthesia treatment of choice, and cesarean delivery should avoid epidural or spinal anesthesia to reduce postoperative problems. We performed spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine in a 38-year-old multipara myasthenic with normal lung function, with specific perioperative complications.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Antibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Bupivacaine ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Nicotinic

No abstract available.
Germ Cells* ; Klinefelter Syndrome* ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*

Epidural anesthesia and analgesia provide a better outcome after major surgery. Several complications such as hypotension, motor block and dural puncture are well known. Epidural anesthesia and analgesia may also cause pressures sore in elderly and debilitated patients. Prolonged soft tissue compression results in discomfort and pain secondary to local ischemia in normal individuals. The presence of hypotension, hypothermia and the interruption of venous or lymphatic drainage of the lower extremities, as well as the lack of frequent repositioning, are all contributing factors to the development of pressure sore. We describe a pressure sore that occurred in two young and healthy parturients after epidural anesthesia and analgesia.
Aged ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Cesarean Section ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Hypothermia ; Ischemia ; Lower Extremity ; Pregnancy ; Pressure Ulcer ; Punctures

This study aims to evaluate CT (Computed Tomography) characteristics through the estimation of HU (Hounsfield Unit) and the corresponding variations using coefficient of variation values for various materials as a function of physical factor. HU values for various materials with varying densities as a function of physical factor were measured using MDCT (Siemens SOMATOM Sensation 4, Germany). The results showed that the HU values were decreased and increased as a function of kVp and material density, respectively. Especially, the HU values for bone and iodine at 140 kVp were 32% and 42% smaller than those at 80 kVp, respectively. In case of iodine, the HU values also decreased and increased as a function of kVp and concentration, respectively. While the HU values were fixed as a function of mAs. The decreased ratio of HU values between 80 keV and 140 keV was different at various concentration and maximum difference was shown as 1.73 at 3% concentration. These results indicated that it may be possible to separate composition of materials, e.g. iodine and bone, using single source CT. The results showed that dual energy techniques using single source CT can be applied to material separation and expand CT imaging techniques to other practical applications.
Iodine ; Sensation

This study aims to evaluate CT (Computed Tomography) characteristics through the estimation of HU (Hounsfield Unit) and the corresponding variations using coefficient of variation values for various materials as a function of physical factor. HU values for various materials with varying densities as a function of physical factor were measured using MDCT (Siemens SOMATOM Sensation 4, Germany). The results showed that the HU values were decreased and increased as a function of kVp and material density, respectively. Especially, the HU values for bone and iodine at 140 kVp were 32% and 42% smaller than those at 80 kVp, respectively. In case of iodine, the HU values also decreased and increased as a function of kVp and concentration, respectively. While the HU values were fixed as a function of mAs. The decreased ratio of HU values between 80 keV and 140 keV was different at various concentration and maximum difference was shown as 1.73 at 3% concentration. These results indicated that it may be possible to separate composition of materials, e.g. iodine and bone, using single source CT. The results showed that dual energy techniques using single source CT can be applied to material separation and expand CT imaging techniques to other practical applications.
Iodine ; Sensation

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) is a method used to breakup the stone by electric discharge in the presence of liquid medium. Recently we experienced a case of successful common bile duct stone removal after EHL during choledochoscopy via T-tube tract, which was the first case of EHL in biliary tract stone in Korea. A 65-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital because of generalized pruritus after cholcystectomy with T-tube insertion. Obtained cholangiogram showed retained CBD stone which was implssible to remove by Dormian basket and tto dissolute by monooctanoin. After only one session of EHL, we can disintergrat CBD stone into several small pieces and removal of stone was easily done by Basket. After Small cut endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) remained distal impacted stone was freely passed and control choledochoscopy and cholangiogram showed no remained stone. We think that EHL may be play a potential role in removal of biliary tract stones as in urinary tract stones.
Aged ; Biliary Tract ; Common Bile Duct ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lithotripsy* ; Pruritus ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Urinary Calculi

Echocardiographic study was performed in 31 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy and 31 normal persons. measurement values of the aortic valve and root echocardiogram were compared with those in normal. The resuts were followings. 1. There were 22 males and 9 females of 31 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy whose average ages were 53 years. 2. LAD 3.86+/-0.76cm, AoD/LAD ratio 0.74+/-0.21 in dilated cardiomyopathy were significantly changed with those in normal(p<0.01). 3. C-E slope 2.14+/-0.68 cm in dilated cardiomyopathy was significantly decreased with that in normal(p<0.01). 4. cAoD 3.24+/-0.50 cm, AoPWT 0.46+/-0.14 cm in dilated cardiomyopathy were significantly decreased with those in normal(p<0.01). 5. cAVD 1.56+/-0.29cm, cAvD/mAvD ratio 0.79+/-0.10 in dilated cardiomyopathy were significantly decreased with those in normal(p<0.01). 6. AvOT or ET 0.24+/-0.03 sec. in dilated cardiomyopathy was significantly shortened with that in normal(p<0.01).
Aortic Valve ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Quadricuspid aortic valves (QAVs) is a rare congenital malformation. We report two cases of QAV associated with aortic regurgitation. The one is incidentally diagnosed and uncomplicated, and the other is symptomatic and associated with infective endocarditis. In most cases, QAVs are associated with valve regurgitation, with a concurrent stenosis in some patients, while only a small number of QAVs are functionally normal. Once the diagnosis has been made, echocardiographic follow-up is recommended, because of progression to severe valve regurgitation and the risk of infective endocarditis.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Aortic Valve* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Humans

PURPOSE: Among the cell adhesion molecules, alpha-catenin and E-cadherin play an important part in maintaining normal cell structure. The change in expression of cell adhesion molecules affects the invasion and metastasis of a tumor and the prognosis for patients. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the expression of cell adhesion molecules and the histopathologic characteristics of stage III colon cancer. METHODS: The relationship between the immunohistochemical expression of cell adhesion molecules and tumor progression were statistically analyzed in 40 patients with stage III colon cancer. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant correlations between loss of membranous alpha-catenin and E-cadherin expressions and such variables as histologic differentiation and lymph node disease based on the criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). A significant correlation, however, existed between depth of mural invasion and loss of expressions of both alpha-catenin and E-cadherin (P=0.001 and P=0.002, respectively). Expressions of both alpha-catenin and E-cadherin were also significantly decreased in patients showing liver metastases during follow-up (P=0.019 and P=0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical analyses of alpha-catenin and E-cadherin expressions may be available as predictors for distant metastasis, especially in stage III colon cancer. Such analyses may also help to identify appropriate therapeutic strategies and the need for intensive follow-up in patients with stage III colon cancer.
alpha Catenin ; Cadherins ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis