PURPOSE:Insulin-like growth factors, IGF- I and IGF-II, are proteins that promote cellular growth and differentiation of the various organs including the kidney. These peptides circulate in serum bound to specific carrier proteins, called IGF binding proteins(IGFBPs). The IGFs are produced in most organs but liver is believed to be the principal source of circulating IGF-I. We studied the correlation of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-2 pattern with aging. METHODS:Sera were collected from 320 healthy population who were grouped according to age. IGF-I was seperated from IGFBPs by Sephadex G-50 acid chromatography. We measured serum IGF-I and IGFBP-2 by using radioimmuno-assay (RIA) and immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) respectively. RESULTS:Serum IGF-I levels were quite low in early childhood, rising slowly and reaching a peak during puberty and a significant decline(P<00.01) during adulthood. The age-dependent pattern of serum IGFBP-2 levels shows a pattern opposite to that of IGF-I which are high at birth, decline by late puberty and increase again with aging. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the alteration of serum IGF-I and IGFBP- 2 pattern with aging. These data suggests that when these tests are performed in the clinic, their interpretation should be based upon age specific criteria.
Adolescent ; Aging* ; Carrier Proteins ; Chromatography ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Kidney ; Liver ; Parturition ; Peptides ; Puberty

PURPOSE: We evaluated if VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)-immunoreactivity is associated with tumor stage or grade in RCC (renal cell carcinoma), and specifically, if it could serve as a prognostic i ndicator in terms of survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histologic samples of 54 patients in whom radical nephrectomy due to RCC (clear cell type exclusively) from January 1995 to July 1999 were included in this study. VEGF-immunoreactivity was classified as 0 to 3+ according to the ratio of VEGF-positive cells in randomly selected multiple tumor areas. Histologic differentiation was classified according to Fuhrmann's classification and staging was made with TNM classification. RESULTS: The correlation between grade and VEGF-positivity was statistically significant using chi-square analysis. Among the 3 patients with grade I, showed 2, 1, 0 for VEGF 1+, 2+, 3+ respectively. In grade II the cases were 11, 7, 3 respectively. In grade III the cases were 3, 10, 11, and in grade IV the cases were 1, 2, 3 respectively. The correlation between stage and VEGF-positivity didn't show statistical significance. The survival rate for VEGF during the period was 100%, 90%, 76.5% for VEGF 1+, 2+, 3+ respectively. The survival rate for grade was 100%, 100%, 83.3%, 66.7% for grade I, II, III, IV respectively. The survival rate for stage was 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.5%, 66.7% FOR STAGE I, II, III, IV respectively. In the same grade, survival rate decreased apparently according to the increase of VEGF-positivity. For example, in the same grade III, the survival rae was 100%, 90%, 72.7% for VEGF 1+, 2+, 3+ respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study is that VEGF is correlated with tumor grade and the higher VEGF expression, the lower the survival rate, so we can predict the prognosis by VEGF immunohistochemical staining for supplement of grading system. VEGF alone can be a good predictor for survival, and importantly in the same grade, we can differentiate patient's prognosis with VEGF.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Classification ; Humans ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Atrial fibrillation(AF) diagnosed by fibrillatory waves of atrial activity and an irregular ventricular response on ECG is a common arrhythmia associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mor- tality. The incidence of AF increases markedly with advancing age and the presence of congestive heart failure. Most patients with AF can be attributed to organic heart disease such as rheumatic, atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease. But there is an increasing awareness of so-called lone AF which has no underlying cardiac or metabolic abnormality. We report a case of paroxysmal AF developed just before the induction of anesthesia in a 73-year-old patient who had no history of cardiovascular disease.
Aged* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence

The various and serious types of disaster occur everyday and everywhere on the earth. There is no doubt that it is very timely to discuss about the effectiveness and preparedness of disaster. The purpose of this study is to develop a curriculum on the disaster management through reviewing disaster concepts and the disaster management system. For the empirical relevance of the study, researchers participated in a couple or more disaster training program, reviewed references, and consulted to the experts working on action parts in the area. As a result, the 'Integrated Disaster Management System Model(IDMSM)' was designed, in which four dimensions were explained. Then the 'Disaster Curriculum Model(DCM)' was explored with its theoretical framework based on the system model. The developed curriculum is composed of four levels ; the introductory course, the fundamental course, the advanced course, and the expert course. From this DCM, basically the course-outlines of two subjects in the introductory course, 18 subjects in the fundamental course(5 of direct services, 13 of indirect services) were developed. Also each course-outline was explored by its course objective, learning objectives, contents, and its length. Finally to make the most of the results, suggestions are proposed. The governmental considerations on the policy should support the systematic and integrated educational program to practice, appointing [Disaster School] or [Disaster Training Center] of relevance and accountabilities. The further study should explore the higher levels of the DCM through interdisciplinary efforts, and develop the text materials. The further study should explore the higher levels of the DCM through interdisciplinary efforts, and develop the text materials.
Curriculum* ; Disasters* ; Education ; Learning

AIMS OF STUDY: Present study designed to observe inhibitory effects of propiverine HC1 and tiropramide against the smooth muscle contraction of female rat bladder. Propiverine has both direct smooth muscle relaxation and anticholinergic effect and has relatively fewer side effect than conventionally used drugs such as oxybutinin. Tiropramide has been known as modulatory agents of gastrointestinal motility but also has inhibitory effects against the bladder contraction. METHODS: 30 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Bladder body above ureteral orifice was resected under pentobarbital anesthesia. 1 x 0.5 cm sized smooth muscle strip was made, and incubated in Tyrode`s solution aerated with 95% oxygen. After reaching equilibrium state, each strip was stimulated by field stimulation (FS, 1-32 Hz) and bethanechol administration (0.0000001-0.0001M). From each strip, degree of muscle contraction was recorded by physiograph (Gilson IC-MP). After the control stimulations, each strip was treated by atropine, tiropramide, oxybutinin and propiverine HC1. After 30 minutes, same stimulation were repeated and degree of muscle contraction was compared to pre incubation data. RESULTS: Frequency and dose dependent muscle contractions were noted for both FS and bethanechol stimulation. Greater degree of contractions were noted for FS than for bethanechol stimulation. Inhibitory effects of tiropramide, propiverine HC1 and oxybutinin were greater than those of atropine at FS (1-32 Hz). At high concentration (0.0001M), all of the drugs but atropine inhibited field stimulated smooth muscle contraction more than 90%. At lower concentration (0. 0000001-0.000001M), inhibitory actions of oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 were greater than that of tiropramide (p>0.05). Propiverine HC1 and oxybutinin had similar inhibitory effect for all con-centration. At higher concentration (0.0001M), inhibitory effects of tiro-pramide were more than 98% whereas those of oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 were 88%. At low concentration (0.0000001-0.000001M), oxybutinin exhibited greater inhibition against the bethanechol induced contraction than did tiropramide and propiverine HC1. With these results, it was suggested that in low concentration, oxybutinin and propiverine HCI had greater inhibitory effect than did tiropramide against smooth muscle contraction of the bladder. In high concentration though, tiropramide had superior inhibitory effect than did oxybutinin and propiverine HC1. Since, no difference was noted between oxybutinin and propiverine HC1 for the inhibitory action of bladder contraction, propiverine HC1 seems reasonable substitute for the treatment of detrusor hyperreflexia with less side effects. Also these results indicate that tiropramide can be used for the management of unstable bladder.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Atropine ; Bethanechol ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Oxygen ; Pentobarbital ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Relaxation ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder*

No abstract available.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Cyclic GMP* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans*

Hemorrhagic cystitis is potentially life-threatening sequellae of chemotherapy using oxazaphosphorine alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide). Mesna contains a sulfhydryl group that is believed to bind acrolein within the urinary collecting system and reduce the hemorrhagic cystitis without affecting the chemotherapeutic potential. To date, about thirty cases of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions of the delayed and urticarial type associated with mesna have been reported. We reported two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed facial rash and flushing associated with mesna which imitate malar rash.
Acrolein ; Alkylating Agents ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cystitis ; Drug Therapy ; Exanthema* ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesna*

The most common cause of small bowel obstruction is postoperative adhesion, and besides a hernia, metastatic or primary cancer and small bowel tumors are possible causes. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal obstruction and is associated with debilitating conditions with marked weight loss. SMA syndrome results from the compression of the third part of the duodenum due to the narrowing of the aortomesenteric angle. We report a 28-year-old woman with SMA syndrome after acute gastroenteritis. Her stomach was severely dilated due to the duodenal obstruction and computed tomography showed the compression of the third portion of the duodenum by SMA. She was conservatively cared for and thus favorably improved.
Adult ; Duodenal Obstruction ; Duodenum ; Female ; Gastroenteritis ; Hernia ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Stomach ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome ; Weight Loss

Metanephric adenoma is a rare renal epithelial tumor. Its light microscopic features are very characteristic, and immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies are not critical to the diagnosis. The literature indicate that, to date, the tumor has behaved in a benign fashion, and predominantly but not exclusively occurred in middle-aged women. It occurs in a wide range up to 11 cm and is usually an incidental finding but may be symptomatic with hematuria or flank pain. Recently, we have experienced a case of renal tumor showing distinctive adenomatous features, which is incidentally found in a 52-year-old female. This tumor is confined to the renal cortex and is well-circumscribed with a characteristic uniform and orderly proliferation of compact well-differentiated small tubules lined by bland oval cells with a very low level of mitotic activity. The term metanephric adenoma is appropriate for this tumor because it accurately describes its bland proliferation of tubules and reflects the embryonic architectural and cytological appearance of this proliferation. The pattern of the tumor, with its occasional papillary glomeruloid- like bodies and foci of elongated tubules, is reminiscent of the fetal metanephric kidney.
Adenoma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Kidney* ; Middle Aged