No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

Epispadias is an extremely rare malformation that urethral opening is located on the dorsum of the penis. Depending upon its location epispadias is classified as balanic, penile, or penopubic, the latter being by far the most common condition. Most patients of epispadias will have severe urinary incontinence and vesicoureteral reflux. The objects of management in epispadias are to achieve continence, to facilitate normal sexual activity, and to preserve renal function. Recently we have experienced two cases of epispadias without incontinence.
Epispadias* ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Sexual Behavior ; Urinary Incontinence ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

BACKGROUND: Postoperative myalgia after administration of succinylcholine is a frequent complication after surgery. This study was designed to determine whether there was any association between postoperative myalgia and muscle relaxants. METHODS: Sixty patients were assigned to three groups of equal size. Group 1, the patients received succinylcholine, 1.0 mg/kg for tracheal intubation. Group 2, received pancuronium 0.01 mg/kg, 4 minutes before administration of succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg. Group 3, received pancuronium 0.01 mg/kg, 4 minutes before administration of pancuronium 0.09 mg/kg. Blood samples for determination of serum potassium concentration were taken before the induction of anesthesia and 3 minutes after tracheal intubation. The incidence and severity of muscle fasciculation and myalgia were assessed in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: Serum potassium concentration was significantly increased in group 1. In group 2, incidence and severity of muscle fasciculation were significantly less than groups 1. Postoperative myalgia was significantly less in group 3 when compared with group 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant correlation between succinylcholine induced fasciculation and postoperative myalgia. Pretreatment with pancuronium decreased the incidence of fasciculation and the changes of serum potassium concentration by succinylcholine, but has little effects on the succinylcholine induced postoperative myalgia.
Anesthesia ; Fasciculation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Myalgia* ; Pancuronium* ; Potassium ; Succinylcholine*

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by presence of α-synuclein-positive inclusions in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. These glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) are considered an integral part of the pathogenesis of MSA, leading to demyelination and neuronal demise. What is most puzzling in the research fields of GCIs is the origin of α-synuclein aggregates in GCIs, since adult oligodendrocytes do not express high levels of α-synuclein. The most recent leading hypothesis is that GCIs form via transfer and accumulation of α-synuclein from neurons to oligodendrocytes. However, studies regarding this subject are limited due to the absence of proper human cell models, to demonstrate the entry and accumulation of neuronal α-synuclein in human oligodendrocytes. Here, we generated mature human oligodendrocytes that can take up neuronderived α-synuclein and form GCI-like inclusions. Mature human oligodendrocytes are derived from neural stem cells via “oligosphere” formation and then into oligodendrocytes, treating the cells with the proper differentiation factors at each step. In the final cell preparations, oligodendrocytes consist of the majority population, while some astrocytes and unidentified stem cell-like cells were present as well. When these cells were exposed to α-synuclein proteins secreted from neuron-like human neuroblastoma cells, oligodendrocytes developed perinuclear inclusion bodies with α-synuclein immunoreactivity, resembling GCIs, while the stem cell-like cells showed α-synuclein-positive, scattered puncta in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, we have established a human oligodendrocyte model for the study of GCI formation, and the characterization and use of this model might pave the way for understanding the pathogenesis of MSA.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory disease with structural modification of the mucosal epithelium and the lamina propria. In one of recent studies related to the lamina propria, the myofibroblast, which is a potent inducer of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, was found to increase the pedicle area of the nasal polyp. In this study, we intended to quantify epithelial cell proliferation of the polyp. We also tried to identify the active area of epithelial proliferation within nasal polyp and to compare it with the active area of ECM synthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the endoscopic surgery of nasal polyposis patients, anatomically intact polyp, uncinate process, inferior turbinate and middle turbinate were sampled. The normal nasal mucosa of the inferior turbinate and the septum were obtained from patients who underwent septoplasty. The proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in the samples were quantified by immunohistochemistry. The PCNA index of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Epithelial proliferation of the nasal polyp was found to be more active than the normal nasal mucosa. The active area of epithelial proliferation within the nasal polyp was the body area. CONCLUSION: The active area of epithelial proliferation was different from the pedicle area, which is the active area of ECM production.
Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Myofibroblasts ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a nuclear receptor that regulate adipocyte differentiation and modulate intracellular insulin-signaling events. As such, PPARgamma is a candidate gene for several human disorders including obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of our study was to examine the relationship between genetic variation of PPARgamma2 and diabetes and obesity in Korean subjects. METHODS: We studied 99 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 128 obesity patients and 97 controls. Screening for mutation at codon 12 and 115 of PPARgamma2 were carried out by PCR-RFLP analyses. Statistical significance was evaluated by Chi-square test. RESULTS: The allele frequency of the Pro12Ala PPARgamma2 variant were 0.05 in controls, 0.06 in type 2 diabetes group, and 0.07 in obesity group (p=0.47). Pro115Gln variant were only proline homozygote in all groups. Genotype frequencies were also similar and conformed to expectations of the Hardy-Weinberg rule. The presence of PPARgamma2 gene variant was no associated with concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, and also with fasting glucose. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the Pro12Ala and Pro115Gln PPARgamma2 missense mutation may not be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in Korean patients.
Adipocytes ; Cholesterol ; Codon ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasting ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glucose ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mass Screening ; Mutation, Missense ; Obesity* ; Peroxisomes ; PPAR gamma* ; Proline ; Triglycerides

Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and cognitive dysfunction caused by expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in exon 1 of huntingtin (HTT). In patients, the number of glutamine residues in polyQ tracts are over 35, and it is correlated with age of onset, severity, and disease progression. Expansion of polyQ increases the propensity for HTT protein aggregation, process known to be implicated in neurodegeneration. These pathological aggregates can be transmitted from neuron to another neuron, and this process may explain the pathological spreading of polyQ aggregates. Here, we developed an in vivo model for studying transmission of polyQ aggregates in a highly quantitative manner in real time. HTT exon 1 with expanded polyQ was fused with either N-terminal or C-terminal fragments of Venus fluorescence protein and expressed in pharyngeal muscles and associated neurons, respectively, of C. elegans. Transmission of polyQ proteins was detected using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Mutant polyQ (Q97) was transmitted much more efficiently than wild type polyQ (Q25) and forms numerous inclusion bodies as well. The transmission of Q97 was gradually increased with aging of animal. The animals with polyQ transmission exhibited degenerative phenotypes, such as nerve degeneration, impaired pharyngeal pumping behavior, and reduced life span. The C. elegans model presented here would be a useful in vivo model system for the study of polyQ aggregate propagation and might be applied to the screening of genetic and chemical modifiers of the propagation.
Age of Onset ; Aging ; Animals ; Complement System Proteins ; Disease Progression ; Exons ; Fluorescence ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; Inclusion Bodies ; Mass Screening ; Nerve Degeneration ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Pharyngeal Muscles ; Phenotype ; Venus

Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis, or Kikuchi's disease, primarily affects the cervical lyrnph nodes of lung adults and has a self-limited clinical course. Differential diagnoses are malignant lymphoma and systemic lupus erythematosus. Recurrence rate is low as 3.3%, and there have been a few reports describing the recurrence of the disease. The symptoms in almost all recurrent cases were similar to those of the early stages of the disease. The etiology of the disease remains unknown, but various viral infections and autoimmune processes have been postulated to be the cause. A 6-year-old boy presented with a fever of approximately 40C degrees, painless lumps on both sides of the neck, and intermittent abdominal pain for 2 weeks. Subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis was diagnosed 3 years before admission, which was reported by us in 1996. Diagnosis of recurred subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis was confirmed by histological examination of the lymph node. We report a recurred case of subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis during childhood.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Neck ; Recurrence

Isolated rectal adenomatous polyp without genetic background is rarely found in children. A 4-year and 5 month-old girl was admitted for intermittent bloody stools lasting 4 months. A 1.5x1.2 cm sized rectal polyp was found by air contrast barium enema. Endoscopic polypectomy was performed without complications. In histopathologic examination, it was found to be a tubulovillous adenoma. Typical radiologic, colonoscopic, and pathological pictures are presented.
Adenoma* ; Adenomatous Polyps* ; Barium ; Child* ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Polyps ; Rectum*

This study investigated elementary, middle, and high school teachers' satisfaction, nutrition education, workload changes, and demands in school foodservice programs (SFPs). The subjects were 630 teachers at 12 elementary, 9 middle, and 9 high school within the nation. Ninety five percent of the teachers felt that there was a necessity for SFPs. Middle school teachers (MTs) and high school teachers (HTs) thought that it was necessary in order to reduce the students'burden of carrying lunch boxes. The teachers were relatively satisfied with their school's foodservice management types, food distribution types, meal quality, and sanitation. Elementary teachers (ETs) and HTs had a higher satisfaction than MTs. Teachers thought that SFPs had positive effects on their students' nutrition and health, enhancing desirable eating habits, and socialization. ETs had more positive opinions than MTs or HTs. ETs and MTs thought that their workload had been increased by SFPs more than HTs, but they had relatively positive opinions on the workload change. ETs taught nutrition and health through SFPs more frequently than MTs or HTs. Many teachers thought that there was a lack of appropriate teaching materials. Some teachers thought that the problems in the present SFPs were: a lack of cafeteria facilities, poor quality of meals, and management of leftovers. Their demands for SFPs were a improvement of meal quality and the establishment of cafeterias. In conclusion, MTs had more negative opinions than ETs or HTs. ETs perceived that SFPs had a function as an important educational activity as well as the supply of nutritional meals. MTs or HTs tended to consider only a meal. It is suggested that teachers, especially MTs and HTs, should modify their attitudes and recognize the educational functions of SFPs. Training programs should be developed under government auspices.
Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Lunch ; Meals ; Sanitation ; Socialization ; Teaching Materials