This study was attempted to know that the interactions of various fungi, and methionine and MgSO4 introduced as the substrate of culture media for fungi were affected to produce aflatoxins by Asp. flavus. 5 different fungi were isolated from the fermented soybean mash and were cultured in Chemically Defined medium (C.D. media) and soybean mash at 25 degrees for 10 days. (1) It was confirmed that Asp. flavus produced aflatoxins in the C.D. medium and soybean mash, but that Asp. niger, Asp. oryzae, Asp. awamori and Asp. terreus did not produced them respectively. (2) Asp. flavus cultured with Asp. niger did not produce aflatoxins in C.D. medium, but produced in soybean mash, in other hand, Asp. flavus with other fungi except Asp. niger produced aflatoxins in C.D. medium and soybean mash. (3) The growth of fungi were more prosperous in the separate culture than in the mixed culture. (4) In the C.D. medium added 20% of cultured medium of Asp. niger, Asp. flavus did not produce aflatoxins but other cultured medium did not prohibit the production of aflatoxins by Asp. flavus. (5) On the contrary, MgSO4 increasing the productivity of aflatoxins by Asp. flavus in the C.D. medium methionine known as one of precurser of aflatoxins did not affected the increasing productivity with significance.
Aflatoxins* ; Culture Media ; Efficiency* ; Fungi* ; Hand ; Methionine ; Niger ; Oryza ; Soybeans ; Viperidae*

In order to evaluate the value of vertebral angiography in assessment of hemifacial spasm, we reviewed retrospectively the vertebral angiography of 28 patients(30 cases) with surgically proved hemifacial spasm but normal CT scans of posterior fossa. There were 9 males and 19 females. Angiography revealed vascular focus of hemifacial spasm located at anterior inferior cerebellar artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and vertebral artery in 19, 9, and 2 cases respectively. Right side was involved in 20 cases. All involved vessels were elongated, tortuous, and dilated. In conclusion, vertebral angiography was valuable in evaluating hemifacial spasm of vascular origin in the posterior fossa.
Angiography* ; Arteries ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip*

No abstract available.
Lipomatosis*

No abstract available.
Drug Resistance* ; Korea* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

Although the histologic grade of astrocytic neoplasms of the brain have been used as a prognostic factor, the lack of an objective criteria is possible to create the disagreement of classification. We evaluated 25 cases of astrocytic neoplasms of brain to document the usefulness of prolifera-tive potential of tumor as a prognostic indicator and the correlation with histologic grade by Nils Ringertz. The Ringertz's classification was relatively simple in an application among the variable systems and easy to define the differentiate from grade to grade. The examined cases were com-prised of 7 astrocytomas, 9 anaplastic astrocytomas and 9 glioblastoma multif6rmes. The prolife-rative potential of tumors were measured by Ag-NORs count, PCNA labeling index and flow cytometric analysis. The mean numbers of Ag-NORs per cell and PCNA labeling index were sig-nificantly differ among each histologic grade. In addition, abnormal DNA content and high prolif-erative index were frequently identified in anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Therefore, the Ag-NORs counts, PCNA labeling index, DNA index and proliferative index were well correlated with the histologic grade.

PURPOSE: Idiopathic pruritus ani is a common and embarrassing proctological condition which can be very difficult to treat. In this study, we documented our results with methylene blue intra-dermal injection in patients with intractable idiopathic pruritus ani. METHODS: 5-ml 1% methylene blue, 100-mg hydrocortisone, and 15-ml 1% lidocaine were injected into the perianal skin of 21 patients with idiopathic pruritus ani which had proved refractory to standard care. Clinical follow-up was undertaken. RESULTS: After one injection of the above solution, 15 (71.4%) of the patients were rendered symptom free. Repeat injection in the initial non- responders ultimately rendered another four. 19 (total: 90.5 %) of the patrents symptom free. Morbidity was 0%. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that intra-dermal methylene blue injection is a safe, simple, and efficient method of treating intractable, idiopathic pruritus ani.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone* ; Lidocaine* ; Methylene Blue* ; Pruritus Ani* ; Pruritus* ; Skin

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and PCNA and VEGF protein expression, apoptosis and its related gene expression such as Bcl-2 and Bax in cervical cancer. We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients with locally advanced or bulky cervical cancer treated with three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy or radiation therapy at Seoul National University Hospital from June 1995 to June 1998. The specimen were obtained before chemotherapy by colposcopy directed biopsy. The protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF and PCNA were examined by immunohisto- chemical staining and the apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining. These results were compared with chemotherapeutical response which was evaluated by colposcopy or CT/MRI. There were 2 CR(complete response), 19 PR(partial response) and 9 NC(no change) and there was no progressive disease. There was no significant difference between responder and nonresponder according to the age, tumor size and FIGO stage. The 3 year survival rates of responder and nonresponder were 90.0% and 66.7% respectively and there was significant difference between two groups(p=0,015). The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was positive in 23.3%(7/30) and 46.7%(14/30). The expression of VEGF was positive in 83.3%(25/30). PCNA PI(positive index), defined as PCNA positive cells in percentage was more than 25.0% in 20 cases. Apoptotic index, defined as the number of the cells undergoing apoptosis per 1,000 tumor cells, ranged from 3 to 53(mean 22.3). Although there was no significant relationship between the clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the expre- ssion of Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF and PCNA PI, apoptotic index was significantly higher in responder than nonresponder when the cutoff value of positive was defined as apoptotic index more than 5(p=0.032). In conclusion, the evaluation of the pattern of apoptosis before neoadjuvant chemothera- py is potentially useful for the prediction ofz tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cervical cancer.
Apoptosis* ; Biopsy ; Colposcopy ; Drug Therapy* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and the outcome when using the Starion(TM) and the Harmonic Scalpel(TM) vessel sealing systems for a sutureless hemorrhoidectomy. METHODS: This study is a randomized, controlled trial. Patients with Grade 3 and 4 hemorrhoids were categorized into two groups: the Starion(TM) hemorrhoidectomy (30 patients) group and the Harmonic Scalpel(TM) hemorrhoidectomy (30 patients) group. The measures of the primary outcomes were the operating time, the postoperative pain score, and the patient satisfaction score. Secondary outcome criteria included early and delayed complications: postoperative bleeding, anal stenosis, urinary difficulty, and skin tag. RESULTS: The satisfaction scores 4 wk postoperatively were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.186). However, the operating time was reduced (P=0.019), the pain score was lower (P=0.009), and the satisfaction score 1 wk postoperatively (P=0.001) was lower in the Starion(TM) hemorrhoidectomy group. In addition, there were no differences in early and delayed postoperative complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Both methods were found to be surprisingly equivalent in all major aspects analyzed. A Starion(TM) hemorrhoidectomy with submucosal dissection can provide a safe, fast, bloodless, reduced-pain, and low-priced surgical alternative to hemorrhoidal surgery. More studies are needed to determine whether similar favorable results can be attained in patients with more severe, strangulated hemorrhoids.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Pain, Postoperative ; Patient Satisfaction ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin

We have experienced two cases of extramammary Paget's disease. The first case was a 68-year-old male who showed erythematous, crusted, oozing, eczematoid patches on the scroturn, penile root and pubic area, and verrucous plaque on the left pubic area of 5 years' duration. The second case was a 60-year-old male who showed erythematous, oozing, hyperkeratotic plaque and nodular mass on the scrotum of 4 years' duration. In electron microscopic findings of the first case, the Paget's cells was suggested to be formed by pleuripotential germinative cells; well developed microvilli, numerous electron lucent secretory granules, a few electron dense granules, apocrine type secretion and well developed desmosome.
Aged ; Desmosomes ; Humans ; Male ; Microvilli ; Middle Aged ; Paget Disease, Extramammary ; Scrotum ; Secretory Vesicles