The role of GABA or glycine as an inhibitory neurotransmitter is well established, and GABAergic or glycinergic neurons appear to play an important role in the mammalian retinas. It has been reported that certain amacrine, bipolar, displaced amacrine and ganglion cells are consistently labeled with anti-GABA or anti-glycine antisera in the mammalian retinae so far, and it has been suggested that colocalization of GABA and glycine within the retinal neurons could be common in the mammalian retina by recent immunecytochemical and electrophysiological studies. This study was conducted to localize GABAergic and glycinergic neurons and to define whether GABA and glycine are colocalized within same retinal neurons of the rat retina by immunocytochemical method using anti-GABA and anti-glycine antisera. The results were as follows : 1. GABAergic neurons of the rat retina were amacrine, interplexiform, bipolar, displaced amacrine and ganglion cells, and processes of GABAergic neurons formed dense networks with distinct two bands in the inner plexiform layer. 2. Glycinergic neurons were amacrine, bipolar, displaced amacrine and ganglion cells,and their processes were evenly distributed as dense networks through whole inner plexiform layer. 3. 28.5% of GABA immunoreactive amacrine cells and 9.8% of GABA immunoreactive bipolar cells located in the inner nuclear layer,and 11.9% of labeled neurons located in the ganglion cell layer showed glycine immunoreactivity in the rat retina. These results demonstrate that GABA and glycine, major inhibitory neurotransmitters, are colocalized within certain amacrine and displaced amacrine cells, and a few bipolar cells, and that neurons synthesizing and utilizing both GABA and glycine as their neurotransmitters may play an unique role in the visual processing in the rat retina.
Amacrine Cells ; Animals ; GABAergic Neurons ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Ganglion Cysts ; Glycine* ; Immune Sera ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats* ; Retina* ; Retinal Neurons

No abstract available.
Stents* ; Ureter*

PURPOSE: To evaluate postoperative knee joint function, activity, stability and complications of the patients who had taken PCL reconstruction with tibial inlay method which has the advantages of firm tibial fixation and no killer turn. METHODS: From August 1998 to September 2000, tibial inlay method of PCL reconstruction was used in 20 patients who could be followed over 15 months. The Lysholm score and Tegner activity score was applied for the function and activity of the patients, KT-2000 arthrometer and posterior stress X-ray was used for the stability of the knee joint. RESULTS: 1) Lysholm score: the mean value of the preoperative score was 40.7 and the postoperative score was 83.8(Excellent 3, Good 9, Fair 7, Poor 1). 2) Tegner activity score: 1.9 of preoperative score was improved to 3.8. 3) The posterior displacement on the preoperative stress X-ray to compare with normal side showed 17 cases of grade III, 3 of grade IV(mean 13.6 mm). The postoperative posterior displacement showed 16 cases of grade I, 4 of grade II( mean 3.6 mm). 4) The side to side difference of KT -2000 arthrometer between affected and normal side was 2.4 mm under loading of 20 lb. 5) The difference of Quadriceps circumference between normal and affected side was 2.2cm and post-operative range of motion revealed slight extension limitation (10 degrees) in reconstruction group. CONCLUSION: Although disadvantages of inlay method are technical difficulty and risk of neurovascular injury and intraoperative positioning, tibial inlay method is thought to be an excellent option for PCL reconstuction with its advantages no killer turn and firm tibial fixation.
Humans ; Inlays* ; Knee Joint ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Range of Motion, Articular

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease which, depending on its severity, can have a significant impact on the quality of life of affected individuals. In cases of severe AD, systemic immunomodulatory agents can be considered for treatment. However, the available treatment options for moderate AD are limited. According to previous reports, however, 308-nm excimer light is a potential treatment for localized, moderate AD. Objective: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of 308-nm excimer light in Korean adults with AD. Methods: This study included Korean patients aged over 19 years, who were diagnosed with AD by a dermatologist, with bilateral, symmetric, and eczematous lesions. The symmetrical lesions in each patient were treated as control-test pairs. Treatment with 308-nm excimer light was applied to the test lesion twice a week for 4 weeks. The severity of the eczema, trans-epidermal water loss, and epidermal capacitance were measured. Results: A total of 25 participants were enrolled in the study. After the first visit, two participants withdrew, whereas the remaining 23 completed the study. There was a statistically significant improvement in AD severity in the test group than in the control group (p<0.001). Skin barrier function also improved in the test than in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence for the use of 308-nm excimer light as a treatment option to improve symptoms and skin barrier function in moderately localized AD.

No abstract available.
Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Immunoglobulin A*

In our previous study, we observed that hydrosalpingeal fluid (HSF) adversely effect mouswe embryo development and hatching. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HSF as assessed by the blastocyst development rate (BDR) and by cell counting in vitro HSF was collected from nine patients undergoing salpingoneostomy to correct hydrosalpinx. Two-cell embryos were obtained from superovulated ICR mice. T6 medium and T6+/-0.4% bovine serum albumin were used as control media. T6 medium containing 10% or 50% HSF and 100% HSF from each patient were used as test media. Nine to 15 embryos were cultured in microdrops prepared from each of these media. To assess the total cell number within each blastocyst, the blastocysts were fixed and stained with Hoechst 33342 to facilitate cell counting. The mean BDR in two control media were 88.89% and 85.40%. The mean BDR in media containing 10%, 50%, 100% HSF were 85.87%, 89.58% and 75.57%, respectively (*: p<0.05). The overall mean cell count (+/-SEM) in control media were 87.6+/-9.65 and 90.12+/-11.38. The BDR was affected adversely only by 100% HSF and not in media containing 10% or 50% HSF. Mean cell counts were decreased significantly only in blastocysts cultured 100% HSF (63.8+/-13.66; p<0.01) but not in blastocysts cultured in 10% or 50% HSF (91.3+/-12.44 and 82.9+/-18.27, respectively). Thus, it is concluded that HSF has no embyotoxic effect but has a mildly negatively effect on embryonic growth and development.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Humans* ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pregnancy ; Serum Albumin, Bovine

OBJECTIVE: With improved technology, the values of intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) have been reevaluated. We describe our early clinical experience with a mobile CT (mCT) system for iCT and discuss its clinical applications, advantages and limitations. METHODS: Compared with intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging, this mCT system has no need for major reconstruction of a preexisting operating room for shielding, or for specialized instruments or equipment. Patients are placed on a radiolucent head clamp that fits within the gantry. Because it consists simply of a scanner and a workstation, it can be moved between locations such as an operating room, an intensive care unit (ICU) or an emergency room without difficulty. Furthermore, it can achieve nearly all types of CT scanning procedures such as enhancement, temporal bone imaging, angiography and three-dimensional reconstruction. RESULTS: For intracranial surgery, mCT can be used for intraoperative real-time neuronavigation by interacting with preoperative images. It can also be used for intraoperative confirmation of the extent of resection of intracranial lesions and for immediate checks for preventing intraoperative unexpected accidents. Therefore, the goals of maximal resection or optimal treatment can be achieved without any guesswork. Furthermore, mCT can achieve improved patient care with safety and faster diagnosis for patients in an ICU who might be subjected to a ventilator and/or various monitoring devices. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience demonstrates that mCT with high-quality imaging offers very useful information in various clinical situations.
Angiography ; Emergencies ; Head ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuronavigation ; Operating Rooms ; Patient Care ; Temporal Bone ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Conjoined twinning is a rare congenital malformation, accounting for 1% monozygotic twins. Conjoined twins result if twining is initiated after the embryonic disc and rudimentary amniotic sac have been formed and if division of the embryonic disc is incomplete. Recently we experienced a case of conjoined twins, dicephalus dipus dibrachius, who had died at 3 hours of life, and performed autopsy. Autopsy revealed a total duplication of the heads, spines up to sacrum, small bowels, thymus and lungs. Two hearts existed within a common pericardium.
Autopsy ; Head ; Heart ; Humans ; Lung ; Pericardium ; Sacrum ; Spine ; Thymus Gland ; Twins, Conjoined* ; Twins, Monozygotic

No abstract available.
Hand* ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamins*