We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the simple x-ray with that of the computed tomography, and analyzed the surgical results according to the timing of operation in 52 patients with suspected orbital blowout fractures who complained diplopia after midfacial trauma. Of all the cases, 40 orbital fractures were confirmed with CT and forced duction test and the remaining 12 patients were thought to have transient functional impairment because the clinical signs were resolved with time. CT detected all the 40 actual fractures, so the dignostic accuracy(100%) was higher than that of the simple x-ray(75%) which detected 30 fractures of the 40 actual fractures(p=0.001). We operated 19 patients who have persistent diplopia, enophthalmos of more than 2 mm, and large fracture defect, and there was significant improvement of symptoms and signs in patients on whom operations were performed within 2 weeks after trauma rather than after 2 weeks.
Diagnosis* ; Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures

Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast occurs in premenopausal women and is characterized by anastomosing channels lined by spindle cells. It has been suggested to be of hormonal origin. This unusual condition may also be mistaken for a vascular tumor. We analyzed eight cases of PASH of the breast in Samsung Cheil Hospital from 1992 through 1998. All patients were premenopausal and had painless breast lump. Clinical diagnoses were fibroadenomas. Grossly, the masses were well circumscribed, nonhemorrhagic and measure 2.2 to 5 cm. Histologically, they consisted of complex interanastomosing channels lined by slender spindle cells, which resembled low grade angiosarcoma. Cells that line the interanastomosing channels showed no immunoreactivity for Factor VIII and electron microscopic findings consistent with fibroblast. All patients were treated with surgical excision and none of them had recurrence for 1 to 69 months (mean: 19 months) postoperatively. Pathologic diagnosis of PASH may be difficult unless the pathologists are aware of the presence of a mass lesion and appreciate the characteristic stromal changes. PASH should be included in the differential diagnosis of a circumscribed mass, especially in the premenopausal women.
Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Fibroblasts ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Recurrence

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has an essential role in the process of learning and memory in the hippocampus. It has been reported that linalool, a major component of Lavandula angustifolia, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, along with other effects. However, the effect of linalool on the cognitive impairment and behavioral alterations that are induced by REM-sleep deprivation has not yet been elucidated. Several studies have reported that REM-sleep deprivation-induced memory deficits provide a well-known model of behavioral alterations. In the present study, we examined whether linalool elicited an anti-stress effect, reversing the behavioral alterations observed following REM-sleep deprivation in mice. Furthermore, we investigated the underlying mechanism of the effect of linalool. Spatial memory and learning memory were assessed through Y maze and passive avoidance tests, respectively, and the forced swimming test was used to evaluate anti-stress activity. The mechanisms through which linalool improves memory loss and behavioral alterations in sleep-deprived mice appeared to be through an increase in the serotonin levels. Linalool significantly ameliorated the spatial and learning memory deficits, and stress activity observed in sleep-deprived animals. Moreover, linalool led to serotonin release, and cortisol level reduction. Our findings suggest that linalool has beneficial effects on the memory loss and behavioral alterations induced by REM-sleep deprivation through the regulation of serotonin levels.
Animals ; Cognition Disorders ; Hippocampus ; Hydrocortisone ; Lavandula ; Learning ; Memory Disorders* ; Memory* ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Physical Exertion ; Serotonin ; Sleep, REM ; Spatial Memory

Prostate cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men, primarily because of treatment resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the role of paracrine interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the antagonistic expression of IL-8 and androgen receptor (AR), and the contribution of IL-8 to prostate cancer aggressiveness. In hormone-responsive LNCaP cells that do not express IL-8, recombinant IL-8 treatment significantly increased expressions of IL-8, CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9, Snail, and vimentin. IL-8 treatment significantly decreased AR and E-cadherin expression. IL-8-induced gene expression changes were suppressed by navarixin, a CXCR1/2 inhibitor, and gallein, a Gβγ inhibitor. In PC-3 androgen-refractory prostate cancer cells, IL-8 knockdown reduced expressions of CXCR2, MMP-2/9, Snail, and vimentin, and increased AR and E-cadherin expressions at the mRNA and protein levels. Co-culture with MEG-01 human megakaryocytic cells secreting high levels of IL-8 induced gene expression changes in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells, similar to those induced by IL-8 treatment. The altered gene expressions were accompanied by significant activation of transcription factor Snail in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Treatment with the CXCR blocker navarixin inhibited the invasion of PC-3 cells but not LNCaP cells. However, invasion induced by MEG-01 was inhibited by navarixin in both LNCaP and PC-3 cells. The collective findings demonstrate that IL-8 enhances CXCR2 expression, which antagonistically regulates AR expression. More importantly, through changes in IL-8/CXCR2-regulated gene expression, IL-8 induces antiandrogen therapy resistance and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to identify the effects of a ten-week stretching exercise program on physiological, psychological functions, and activities of daily living(ADL) among elderly women. METHOD: Using a quasi-experimental design, the experimental group received a ten-week stretching exercise program 3 times a week from March to May in 2002. They were divided into 22 persons in the experimental groups in 2 halls where the program was incorporated, and 22 persons in the control group in 2 halls, where the program wasnot incorporated. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, and ANCOVA was considered significant as a 2-tailed test. RESULT: There was a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure(P=0.023), total cholesterol (P=0.019), triglycerides (P=0.002), spine ROM(P=0.000), trunk and hip-joint ROM(P=0.000), percent of body fat(P=0.039) as physiological functions, depression(P=0.041) as a psychological function, and activities of daily living(P=0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: A stretching exercise program showed good effects on improving physiological functions, psychological functions and activities of daily living among the elderly women in a city. Therefore, we recommend this program be utilized as a health promoting program for the elderly in the community.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; *Exercise ; Female ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Physical Fitness

The Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) is a ubiquitously expressed pH-regulatory membrane protein that functions in the brain, heart, and other organs. It is increased by intracellular acidosis through the interaction of intracellular H⁺ with an allosteric modifier site in the transport domain. In the previous study, we reported that glutamate-induced NHE-1 phosphorylation mediated by activation of protein kinase C-β (PKC-β) in cultured neuron cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)/p90 ribosomal s6 kinases (p90RSK) pathway results in NHE-1 activation. However, whether glutamate stimulates NHE-1 activity solely by the allosteric mechanism remains elusive. Cultured primary cortical neuronal cells were subjected to intracellular acidosis by exposure to 100 μM glutamate or 20 mM NH₄Cl. After the desired duration of intracellular acidosis, the phosphorylation and activation of PKC-β, ERK1/2 and p90RSK were determined by Western blotting. We investigated whether the duration of intracellular acidosis is controlled by glutamate exposure time. The NHE-1 activation increased while intracellular acidosis sustained for >3 min. To determine if sustained intracellular acidosis induced NHE-1 phosphorylation, we examined phosphorylation of NHE-1 induced by intracellular acidosis by transient exposure to NH₄Cl. Sustained intracellular acidosis led to activation and phosphorylation of NHE-1. In addition, sustained intracellular acidosis also activated the PKC-β, ERK1/2, and p90RSK in neuronal cells. We conclude that glutamate stimulates NHE-1 activity through sustained intracellular acidosis, which mediates NHE-1 phosphorylation regulated by PKC-β/ERK1/2/p90RSK pathway in neuronal cells.
Acidosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; Glutamic Acid* ; Heart ; Membrane Proteins ; Neurons ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases

Behcets syndrome is a multisystem disorder presenting with recurrent oral and genital ulcers as well as uveitis, Gastrointestinal involvement associated with ileal ulcer is rare, but its outcome may by fatal. We have recently experienced a 43-year-old man who had Behcets syndrome with ileal ulcer penetrated to 3rd portion of the duodenum. He had been updergone right hemicolectomy and ileocolostomy for ileal inflammation of unknown etiology 20 years ago. Thereafter he had had relapsing oral and genital ulcers, and abdominal pain intermittently. From 15 days ago before visiting our hospital, he had severe abdominal pain and dark blood-colored stool. The colonofiberscopic finding revealed a large, deep penetrating ulcer and multiple shallow ulcers on the ileum. Deal segmental resection, gastro-jejunostomy and jejunal patch at 3rd portion of the duodenum were performed with marked improvement.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Behcet Syndrome ; Duodenum* ; Humans ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Ulcer* ; Uveitis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify exercise environments and social support associated with exercise behaviors in middle-aged women. METHOD: Subjects were 207 women aged between 41 and 59 yr in an urban community. The research instruments utilized in this study were exercise stages, exercise environments, exercise partners and social support scale. Subjects were given a self-report questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS Win program. RESULT: The subjects were in the stages of precontemplation (3.4%), contemplation (25.1%), preparation (40.6%), action (5.8%), and maintenance (25.1%). Subjects who engaged in regular exercise were 30.9%. The mean score of the exercise environment was 6.34. The mean score of social support was 21.28, and 65.7% of subjects had exercise partners. The score of the exercise environment was significantly associated with the exercise stage (p=.01). The number of exercise partners of regular exercise groups was significantly greater than that of non-regular exercise groups (p=.00). The score of social support of regular exercise groups was significantly greater than that of non-regular exercise groups (p=.00). The score of social support was significantly associated with the exercise stage (p=.00). CONCLUSION: Exercise environments and social support need to be considered in planning exercise programs to improve exercise behavior among middle-aged women.
Adult ; Attitude to Health ; *Exercise ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; *Social Support ; Urban Population ; Women's Health

Sleep is one of the most essential physiological phenomena for maintaining health. Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, are often accompanied by psychiatric or physical conditions such as impaired attention, anxiety, and stress. Medication used to treat insomnia have concerns about potential side effects with long-term use, so interest in the use of alternative medicine is increasing. In this study, we investigated the hypnotic effects of β-lapachone (β-Lap), a natural naphthoquinone compound, using pentobarbital-induced sleep test, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blot in mice. Our results indicated that β-Lap exerts a significant hypnotic effect by showing a decrease in sleep onset latency and an increase in total sleep time in pentobarbital-induced sleep model. The results of c-Fos immunostaining showed that β-Lap decreased neuronal activity in the basal forebrain and lateral hypothalamus, which are wakefulness-promoting brain regions, while increasing in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, a sleep-promoting region; all these effects were significantly abolished by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), an adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) antagonist. Western blot analysis showed that β-Lap increased extracellular signalregulated kinase phosphorylation and nuclear factor-kappa B translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus; these effects were inhibited by DPCPX. Additionally, β-Lap increased the mRNA levels of A1R. Taken together, these results suggest that β-Lap exerts hypnotic effects, potentially through A1R.

Sleep is one of the most essential physiological phenomena for maintaining health. Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, are often accompanied by psychiatric or physical conditions such as impaired attention, anxiety, and stress. Medication used to treat insomnia have concerns about potential side effects with long-term use, so interest in the use of alternative medicine is increasing. In this study, we investigated the hypnotic effects of β-lapachone (β-Lap), a natural naphthoquinone compound, using pentobarbital-induced sleep test, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and western blot in mice. Our results indicated that β-Lap exerts a significant hypnotic effect by showing a decrease in sleep onset latency and an increase in total sleep time in pentobarbital-induced sleep model. The results of c-Fos immunostaining showed that β-Lap decreased neuronal activity in the basal forebrain and lateral hypothalamus, which are wakefulness-promoting brain regions, while increasing in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, a sleep-promoting region; all these effects were significantly abolished by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), an adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) antagonist. Western blot analysis showed that β-Lap increased extracellular signalregulated kinase phosphorylation and nuclear factor-kappa B translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus; these effects were inhibited by DPCPX. Additionally, β-Lap increased the mRNA levels of A1R. Taken together, these results suggest that β-Lap exerts hypnotic effects, potentially through A1R.