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

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the mothers' rearing attitude of ADHD children and that of children with depressive disorder. METHODS: The participant consisted of 58 school-aged children diagnosed as ADHD, 14 children diagnosed as depressive disorder based on DSM-IV criteria. Normal control group consisted of 34 school-aged children who are free of any diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire, Parenting Style Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, Marital Satisfaction Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory were administered to all children and their mothers. RESULTS: The parents of ADHD children showed more aggressive/hostile, neglecting/indifferent and less warm/affectionate parenting styles to their children than those of the depression and control groups. The depressive group perceived their parents as more rejecting than the control groups. CONCLUSION: The externalizing symptoms of ADHD might provoke parental distress and make it difficult for the parents to show positive rearing attitude toward their children. The depressive children might be more sensitive and perceptive to the negative sign of their parents' rearing attitude.
Child ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Parenting ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare changes in higher-order aberrations after superior-incision cataract surgery between eyes with a within-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism and an against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism in patients with positive vertical coma. METHODS: This study included patients who presented with positive vertical coma and who underwent cataract surgery through a 2.5 mm superior clear corneal incision. The eyes included in this study were divided into two groups (37 eyes with WTR astigmatism and 33 eyes with ATR astigmatism), and uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and corneal astigmatism were measured before and after surgery. In addition, anterior, posterior, and total aberrations (i.e., oblique trefoil, horizontal trefoil, vertical coma, horizontal coma, spherical aberration, and total higher-order aberrations) were measured using a Pentacam. RESULTS: In the WTR astigmatism group, anterior/posterior corneal aberrations and total aberrations were significantly decreased after surgery (p < 0.05). However, in the ATR astigmatism group, a significant decrease in the posterior vertical coma (p = 0.008) was observed, although there was no change in total vertical coma. A significant increase in oblique trefoil was observed in both groups, while a significant decrease in horizontal trefoil was found in the ATR astigmatism group (all p < 0.05). For spherical aberration, the ATR astigmatism group showed a significant decrease in anterior cornea aberrations (p < 0.001). For total higher-order aberrations, the WTR astigmatism group showed a significant increase in anterior and posterior aberrations, while the ATR astigmatism group showed a significant increase in posterior aberrations (p < 0.05, p = 0.001, respectively). In the case of horizontal coma and corneal astigmatism, both groups exhibited no significant changes after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: When superior-incision cataract surgery was performed, vertical coma was affected by the axis of astigmatism, resulting in a significant decrease in the WTR astigmatism group. However, no significant changes in corneal astigmatism were observed before and after surgery.
Astigmatism ; Cataract* ; Coma* ; Cornea ; Humans ; Lotus ; Visual Acuity

The research of p53 is being conducted to find the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and to treat various cancers. Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase2 (HIPK2) is an important factor to regulate p53 and to increase the stability of p53. Activation of HIPK2 leads to the selective phosphorylation of p53, resulting in growth arrest and the enhancement of apoptosis. In this study, the canine HIPK2 cDNA fragments were obtained, and their overlapping regions were aligned to give a total sequence of 3489 bp. The canine HIPK2 cDNA (GenBank accession number; AY800385) shares 93% and 90% sequence identity with those of human and mouse HIPK2, respectively. The canine HIPK2 cDNA contains an open reading frame encoding 1163 amino acid residues and the predicted amino acid sequence has 98% and 96% identity with those of human and mouse, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of canine HIPK2 has also all domains' sites compared with human and mouse HIPK2. Therefore, these structural similarities suggested that the canine HIPK2 shares the basic biological functions that HIPK2 exhibit in other species.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/chemistry/genetics ; Dogs/metabolism/*physiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using croton oil-induced inflammation models. Croton oil (20 microgram/mL) up-regulated mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and COX-II in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, resulting in the release of high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). EAG (1~10 microgram/mL) markedly suppressed croton oil-induced COX-II mRNA expression and PGE2 production. Application of croton oil (5% in acetone) to mouse ears caused severe local erythema, edema and vascular leakage, which were significantly attenuated by oral pre-treatment with EAG (50~500 mg/kg). Croton oil dramatically increased blood levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and PGE2 without affecting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) levels. EAG pre-treatment remarkably lowered IL-6 and PGE2, but did not alter TNF-alpha or NO concentrations. These results indicate that EAG attenuates inflammatory responses in part by blocking the COX-PGE2 pathway. Therefore, EAG could be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Angelica/*immunology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cyclooxygenase 1/genetics/*immunology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics/*immunology ; Dinoprostone/genetics/immunology ; Inflammation/drug therapy/enzymology/*immunology ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide/blood ; Phytotherapy/*methods ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Plant Roots/immunology ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood

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)