BACKGROUND: Experimental data indicate that low-flow reperfusion following prolonged cardiocirculatory arrest may aggravate early cerebral microcirculatory repefusion disorders. We investigated the influence of cerebral repefusion flow change to the ischemic histopathologic damage of brain tissue after incomplete forebrain ischemia in rats. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were undergone ligation of both infernal carotid artery by microvascular clamp for 10 minutes. After release of the clamp, reperfusion was started with several different flow levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100%) of infernal carotid artery comparing to pre-clamping phase using flowmeter. After 15minutes of reperfusion, rat brains were prepared by perfusion-fixation with 3% formaldehyde. Under light microscopic examination of Hematoxylin-Eosin stained tissue slide, histopathologic damage was examined at cortex, putamen, and hippocampus regions. Categorical hisotopathologic damage scores were derived in each regions by manual counts of ischemic neurons. RESULT: The histopathologic damage scores were 0, 10. 2+/-0.5, 7.6+/-1.5, 5.9+/-1.4, 5.0+/- 2.8, 3.5+/-0.7, and 1.0+/-0.0 in control, 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100% reperfusion groups, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our insults showed significant increment of brain histopathologic damage scores along with decreasing amount of cerebral reperfusion know after incomplete forebrain ischemia. We believe restoration of repefusion flow to pre-ischemic level would be a critical component in attenuation of brain ischemic damage.
Animals ; Brain ; Carotid Arteries ; Flowmeters ; Formaldehyde ; Hippocampus ; Ischemia* ; Ligation ; Models, Animal* ; Neurons ; Prosencephalon* ; Putamen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion*

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the femoral attachment points of the graft and knee flexion angles at the time of graft fixation on stability of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. We analyzed the posterior stability of the knee on 23 patients(24 knees) with posterior cruciate ligament injury whose posterior cruciate ligament had been reconstructed arthroscopically and followed for minimum 1 year period at Asan Medical Center from May 1992 to June 1994. The patients were divided into the two groups according to femoral attachment points of the graft and knee flexion angles at the time of graft fixation. The distance from the junction of the intercondylar notch with trochlear groove of the femoral attachment points and knee flexion angles were 11mm and 0°-30° in group A and 7mm and 70°-90° in group B, respectively. 11 knees were included in group A and 13 knees in group B. Posterior stability was determined by difference in posterior tibial translation between the injured and the opposite knee with Telos device. In group A, 5 cases were at the range of 0-2mm, 3 cases 3-5 mm, 3 cases 6-10mm. In group B, 10 cases were at the range of 0-2mm and 3 cases 3-5mm, respectively. Differences in posterior tibial translation on average were 3.6mm and 1.7mm in group A and B, respectively. Conclusively, arthroscopic postrior cruciate ligament reconstruction with femoral attachment point at 7mm from the junction of interconlylar notch with trochlear groove and 70°
Chungcheongnam-do ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Transplants

T-bet is a critical transcription factor that regulates differentiation of Th1 cells from CD4+ precursor cells. Since T-bet directly binds to the promoter of the IFN-gamma gene and activates its transcription, T-bet deficiency impairs IFN-gamma production in Th1 cells. Interestingly, T-bet-deficient Th cells also display substantially augmented the production of IL-2, a T cell growth factor. Exogenous expression of T-bet in T-bet deficient Th cells rescued the IFN-gamma production and suppressed IL-2 expression. IFN-gamma and IL-2 reciprocally regulate Th cell proliferation following TCR stimulation. Therefore, we examined the effect of T-bet on Th cell proliferation and found that T-bet deficiency significantly enhanced Th cell proliferation under non-skewing, Th1-skewing, and Th2-skewing conditions. By using IFN-gamma-null mice to eliminate the anti-proliferative effect of IFN-gamma, T-bet deficiency still enhanced Th cell proliferation under both Th1- and Th2-skewing conditions. Since the anti-proliferative activity of T-bet may be influenced by IL-2 suppression in Th cells, we examined whether T-bet modulates IL-2-independent cell proliferation in a non-T cell population. We demonstrated that T-bet expression induced by ecdysone treatment in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells increased IFN-gamma promoter activity in a dose dependent manner, and sustained T-bet expression considerably decreased cell proliferation in HEK cells. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying anti-proliferative activity of T-bet remain to be elucidated, T-bet may directly suppress cell proliferation in an IFN-gamma- or an IL-2-independent manner.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ecdysone ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Kidney ; Mice ; Th1 Cells ; Transcription Factors

Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we examined the neurotoxicity of an organochlorine pesticide, heptachlor, in vitro and in vivo. In cultured SH-SY5Y cells, heptachlor induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. When injected into mice intraperitoneally on a subchronic schedule, heptachlor induced selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In addition, the heptachlor injection induced gliosis of microglia and astrocytes selectively in the ventral midbrain area. When the general locomotor activities were monitored by open field test, the heptachlor injection did not induce any gross motor dysfunction. However, the compound induced Parkinsonism-like movement deficits when assessed by a gait and a pole test. These results suggest that heptachlor can induce Parkinson's disease-related neurotoxicities in vivo.
Animals ; *Apoptosis ; Astrocytes/drug effects/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Dopaminergic Neurons/*drug effects/pathology ; Gait ; Heptachlor/*toxicity ; Humans ; *Locomotion ; Mice ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology/physiopathology ; Parkinsonian Disorders/chemically induced ; Pesticides/*toxicity ; Substantia Nigra/*drug effects/pathology/physiopathology

Actinomycosis is a rare entity which presents some difficulties in establishing a correct preoperative diagnosis. Many actinomycotic pelvic infections in women are related to IUD use and the colonization rate appears to increase in accordance with the duration of IUD use. So, all women in IUD use are recommended to make cervicovaginal smear and pelvic infection associated with IUD use should be suspected to have actinomycoses. We report a case which presented painful mass on right upper and lower quadrant of abdomen of a 40-year-old women. We identified sulfur granules by histopathologic exam of surgically resected specimen. Eventually it proved to be pelvic and abdominal actinomycosis associated with the use of an intrauterine device. Because variable clinical pictures and infrequency of the disease make the diagnosis more difficult, increased alertness of clinicians and microbiologists to the presence of anaerobic organism as the cause of infection are needed to make an earlier and more correct diagnosis of actinomycoses and to further avoid any inappropriate treatment.
Abdomen ; Actinomycosis ; Adult ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Pelvic Infection ; Pelvis ; Sulfur

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of the chosen formula in short eyes and the effect of the anterior chamber depth (ACD) and corneal refractive power on the accuracy. METHODS: A total of 251 eyes out of 185 patients (axial length below 22.0 mm) who underwent cataract surgery in our hospital were retrospectively studied. Introcular lens (IOL) power was calculated with the Hoffer Q, SRK II, SRK-T and Holladay 1 formulas and refractive outcome was measured. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on ACD. The accuracy of the 4 formulas was compared and the errors according to the ACD were also evaluated. RESULTS: In eyes with short axial lengths, all formulas showed a tendency for hyperopic shifts. The Hoffer Q formula showed significantly high predictive accuracy. This tendency for hyperopic shifts was similar in the eyes with extremely short axial length, but a large refractive error deviation was observed. The 2 groups based on ACD showed no significant difference in the refractive error, but the group with deep ACD had a tendency for hyperopic shifts. The difference of the calculated IOL power between the 4 formulas was more pronounced in eyes with lower corneal refractive power. CONCLUSIONS: In eyes with short axial lengths, preoperative ACD and corneal refractive power had an influence on the accuracies of predicted IOL power. Therefore, these factors should be considered in IOL power determination.
Anterior Chamber* ; Cataract ; Humans ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies

Metformin, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, is considered safe with minimal side-effect. Acute pancreatitis is rare but potentially fatal adverse side-effect of metformin. We report a patient on hemodialysis with metformin-related acute pancreatitis and lactic acidosis. A 62-year-old woman with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension presented with nausea and vomiting for a few weeks, followed by epigastric pain. At home, the therapy of 500 mg/day metformin and 50 mg/day sitagliptin was continued, despite symptoms. Laboratory investigations showed metabolic acidosis with high levels of lactate, amylase at 520 U/L (range, 30-110 U/L), and lipase at 1,250 U/L (range, 23-300 U/L). Acute pancreatitis was confirmed by computed tomography. No recognized cause of acute pancreatitis was identified. Metformin was discontinued. Treatment with insulin and intravenous fluids resulted in normalized amylase, lipase, and lactate. When she was re-exposed to sitagliptin, no symptoms were reported.
Acidosis ; Acidosis, Lactic* ; Amylases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insulin ; Lactic Acid ; Lipase ; Metformin* ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pancreatitis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sitagliptin Phosphate ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of sinus disease and abnormalities in patients scheduled for dental implant in maxillary posterior area using cone beam CT. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred five maxillary sinuses in eighty-seven patients who underwent cone beam CT for dental implant in maxillary posterior area were included. Any patients who had previous history of sinus operations were not included. The sinus abnormalities were classified as follows ; normal (membrane thickness <2 mm), mucosal thickening (membrane thickness > or = 2 mm and <6 mm), partial opacification (membrane thickness >6 mm but not full), full opacification and mucous retention cyst. The relationship between the remaining bone height, sinus symptoms and maxillary sinus abnormality was statistically surveyed. RESULTS: Of 105 maxillary sinuses in 87 patients, 80 (76%) maxillary sinuses showed abnormalities ; 4 of 4 symptomatic patients and 76 of 101 asymptomatic patients. Mucosal thickening was the most common sinus abnormality. Only 3 (4%) of 80 maxillary sinus abnormalities were caused by the odontogenic origin. The prevalence of maxillary sinus abnormalities was higher in the symptomatic group than asymptomatic one (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Maxillary sinus abnormalities were very common in the patients who were planning implantation in maxillary posterior areas. This result supports that thorough evaluation for maxillary sinus is recommended when implant treatment is planned for those areas.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Prevalence ; Retention (Psychology)