Calcium has been implicated as a primary pathogenetic mediator of cellular injury under conditions of oxygen and substrate deprivation in the kidney aswell as other tissues. It has been proposed that calcium entry from the external medium increases intracellular free calcium to toxic levels there-by converting cellular injury from a potentially reversible to an irreversible state. Cellular calcium homeostasis is a fundamental prerequisite for many coordinate cellular functions. The regulation of cellular Ca++ -metabolism is maintained mainly by Ca++ -ATPase. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of ischemia on the subcellular specific activity of Ca++ -ATPase of renal tissues in the rabbits. 1. In both normal cortical and medullary tissues, the specific activities Ca++ -ATPase were higher in mitochondria than in cytosol. 2. In cortical tissue, the specific activities of mitochondrial Ca++ -ATPase were increased with duration of ischemic time under normothermia. But the specific activities were decreased comparing to those of control under hypothermia, and the activities were not different with those of control in Verapamil treated group. 3. The specific activities of Ca++ -ATPase of cortical cytosol were increased as in mitochondria under normothermia. And the activities were similar with those of control in hypothermic and Verapamil treated groups. 4. In medullary tissues, the specific activities of mitochondrial Ca++ -ATPase were increased with duration of ischemic time under normothermia. In Verapamil treated group, the activities were decreased comparing to those of control. And there was no difference of activities between hypothermia and control groups. 5. As in cortical tissues, the specific activities of Ca++ -ATPase of medullary, cytosol were increased in normothermic group. And the activities were similar with those of control in hypothermic and Verapamil treated groups. Above results suggested that calcium contents of mitochondria and cytosol were increased with duration of ischemic time under normothermia. Hypothermia and Verapamil treatment seemed to be beneficial effects in prevention of calcium accumulation in the renal tissues.
Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Calcium ; Cytosol ; Homeostasis ; Hypothermia ; Ischemia* ; Kidney ; Mitochondria ; Oxygen ; Rabbits* ; Subcellular Fractions* ; Verapamil

Endoscopic variceal ligation is an accepted new form of safe treatment for esophageal varices. But, there are a few reports of long-term effect of EVL. We analysed 60 patients to evaluate long-term effect of EVL for esophageal varices. The eradication rate was 96.5%, the mean session for eradication of varices 3.0, the number of bands per person 21.5 and the number of bands per session 7.2, Child-Pugh classes(A: B: C) of patients were improved in 25, not changed in 30, deteriorated in 2 cases by EVL(34:19:4 at postEVL vs 20:19:21 at baseline, p<0.01). No serious treatment-related complication resulted from 167 EVL sessions. The patients were followed for a mean of 10.5 months, during which recurrence rate of varices was 14.5%, rebleeding rate 16.4%, and mortality rate 12,7%. The period from last session to recurrence was 4-19 months(mean 9.6). No late complication of EVL was documented. In conclusion, EVL is a safe and effective for hemostasis and eradication of esophageal varices. Thus it can improve liver function and reduce bleeding-related mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. But the regular periodic examination for recurrence after an eradication of varices should be required.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Varicose Veins

Endoscopic variceal ligation is an accepted new form of safe treatment for esophageal varices. But, there are a few reports of long-term effect of EVL. We analysed 60 patients to evaluate long-term effect of EVL for esophageal varices. The eradication rate was 96.5%, the mean session for eradication of varices 3.0, the number of bands per person 21.5 and the number of bands per session 7.2, Child-Pugh classes(A: B: C) of patients were improved in 25, not changed in 30, deteriorated in 2 cases by EVL(34:19:4 at postEVL vs 20:19:21 at baseline, p<0.01). No serious treatment-related complication resulted from 167 EVL sessions. The patients were followed for a mean of 10.5 months, during which recurrence rate of varices was 14.5%, rebleeding rate 16.4%, and mortality rate 12,7%. The period from last session to recurrence was 4-19 months(mean 9.6). No late complication of EVL was documented. In conclusion, EVL is a safe and effective for hemostasis and eradication of esophageal varices. Thus it can improve liver function and reduce bleeding-related mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. But the regular periodic examination for recurrence after an eradication of varices should be required.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Varicose Veins

No abstract available.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Humerus*

Cortex mori (Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), the root bark of mulberry tree, has been used as an antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant in herbal medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated that the phenolic extract of Cortex mori have hypotensive, hypoglycemic, antifungal, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and anticancer effects, and the hot water extract from Cortex mori has inhibitory effects on compound 48/80- induced mast cell degranulation and histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). This study was perforrned to investigate the effects of polysaccharide fraction from Cortex mori (PFCM) on compound 48/80-induced degranulation, histamine release, calcium influx, changes of intracellular cAMP and cGMP level, and morphological changes of RPMCs. The results were summarized as follows. 1) Compound 48/80-induced cytomorphological changes such as swelling, degranulation, intracellular vacuoles, and interrupted cell boundary were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with either hot water or polysaccaride fractions frorn Cortex mori (PFCM), 2) the compound 48/80-induced histamine release from RPMCs pretreated with PFCM was significantly inhibited, compared to that of control without PFCM pretreatment, 3) the PFCM inhibited remarkably the compound 48/80-induced calcium influx into the RPMCs, 4) the PFCM increased significantly the intracellular cAMP levels and decreased the intracellular cGMP levels of RPMCs, compared to those of normal control, and 5) the compound 48/80-induced cAMP levels of RPMCs pretreated with PFCM were significantly increased, compared to those of positive control without PFCM, and the compound 48/80-induced cGMP levels of RPMCs pretreated with PFCM were remarkably decreased, compared to those of positive control without PFCM. From the above results, it is suggested that PFCM have an activity to inhibit the compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation.
Animals ; Calcium ; Herbal Medicine ; Histamine Release ; Mast Cells* ; Morus ; Phenol ; Rats ; Trees ; Vacuoles ; Water

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The introduction of Hansenula polymorpha for recombinant hepatitis B vaccine production allowed high product yield with plasmid stability and less glycosylation than conventional Saccharomyces cerevisiae system. A Green Cross HG-II vaccine formulated from HBsAg produced by a recombinant strain of the yeast H. polymorpha was evaluated for immunogenicity and safety in an open label triaL METHOFD: A 20 ug dose of Green Cross HG-II vaccine was administered intramuscularly at 0, 1 and 6 months at the deltoid region in 118 healthy adults seronegative for HBV markers. The anti-HBs titers were determined at one month after administration of the third dose of vaccine by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The seroconversion rate was 96.8% (90 out of 93), with seroprotective rate of 95.7% (89 out of 93). The geometric mean titers(GMT) of the anti-HBs response was 153.1mIU/ml in seroconverters. An age-dependent effect was observed in the anti-HBs response. But sex-dependent effect was not prominent. Reactogenecity was in incidence and general reactions were short-lasting and a mainly mild in severity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have shown that the Green Cross HG-II vaccine is safe and clinically well tolerated, a nd that it may provide protection against HBV infection.
Adult* ; Glycosylation ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pichia ; Plasmids ; Radioimmunoassay ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Yeasts

The incidence of colorectal cancer has been increased gradually and it was about 6.9% of all malignancies in Korea. Early diagnosis was recognized as the most important factor influencing the prognosis of colorectal cancer and the incidence of early colorectal cancer was increasing. Thus great change was observed in the treatment of early colorectal cancer, endoscopic therapy as well as curative surgical resection is being accepted. We report a case of effective and safe endoscopic therapy for early rectal cancer in 5S-year-old male patient. He presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding of a year's duration. A large polypoid mass with fine nodular surface and thick, short stalk was seen in the rectum at 4cm above the anal verge during flexible sigmoidoscopy. After the histologic examination of specimen obtained by bite biopsy, CT scan of pelvic cavity and ultrasonogram of abdomen, the tumor was removed safe and completely by 2 sessions of piecemeal polypectomies and strip biopsy. He has been well without symptoms and signs of recurrence of rectal cancer for 20 months.
Abdomen ; Biopsy* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Rectal Prolapse ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

The relationship between the intestinal histopathology and number and position of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) was observed chronologically in the small intestine of rats experimentally infected with Metagonimus yokogawai. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were orally infected each with 3,000 metacecariae, and 3 were kept uninfected for controls. Three rats each were sacrificed on the day 5, 10, 15, 24 and 70 post-infection (PI) and samples of the small intestine, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm and 70 cm posterior to the pylorus were taken. The samples were processed routinely and stained with Giemsa. The intestinal histopathology was severe during the day 5-15 PI and characterized by villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and decrease of villus/crypt height ratio. After the day 24 PI, the intestinal lesions showed some tendency of recovery. The number of IEL increased at the early stage of infection, but decreased thereafter to a lower level than that of controls, with progression of the pathological changes. Then, the IEL number began to increase again after the day 24 PI. In control rats, the great majority of the IEL were located at the basal region of the epithelium. During the early stage of infection, however, a considerable proportion of IEL was found to have moved to the intermediate or apical region of the epithelium. From the above results, it is suggested that the change of IEL number and position during the course of M. yokogawai infection should be closely related to the progression and recovery of the intestinal histopathology.
English-Abstract ; Epithelium-pathology ; Rats- ; Rats,-Sprague-Dawley ; Time-Factors ; *Heterophyidae- ; *Intestinal-Diseases,-Parasitic-pathology ; *Intestines-pathology ; *Lymphocytes-pathology ; *Trematode-Infections-pathology

This study was carried out to investigate the mechanisms of acinar cell deletion, leading to the pancreatic atrophy of rat pancreas after experimental duct ligation. Fifty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats, maintained on a stock diet, weighing 200 gm, in average, were divided into 2 experimental groups. Group 1. Control group. Six rats. Abdominal cavity was opened and closed without further treatment. Group 2. Fifty-one rats. Animals were treated with partial ligation of the pancratic ducts according to the procedure developed by Hultquist followed by sequential sacrifices at: 1 hour (3 rats), 3 hours (3 rats), 6 hours (6 rast), 12 hours (3 rats) and 24 hours (8 rats); 2 days (8 rats), 3 days (3 rats), 4 days (3 rats) and 5 days (5 rats); 1 week (3 rats), 2 weeks (3 rats) and 8 weeks (3 rats); after partial ligation was extirpated and examined by both light and electron microscopy. The results obtained were as follows: Light microscopically, noted were an interstitial edema and focal necrosis of the pancreatic tissue along with fine vacuolization and depletion of the zymogen granules in the acinar cell cytoplasms and condensation of the acinar cell nucleus. These changes were observed by 2 days after ligation. At about the same time, one can observe the dense body, identified to be apoptotic body, in the acinar cell which were found to be decreased in quantity. By 5 days after ligation, no recognizable acinar cells left in the collagenous stroma except intercalated ducts. Conspicuous stroma except intercalated ducts. Conspicuous stromal hyalinization, thereafter. Electron microscopically (TEM and SEM), nuclear condensation and margination toward the nuclear membrane was noted by 6 hours after duct ligation. By 24 hors sporadic membrane-bounded apoptotic bodies appeared in the acinar cells, the number of which reaching to the peak by 3 days after ligation. These apoptotic bodies were found to be phagocytosed by either intraepithelial mononuclear phagocytes or adjoining acinar cells. It can be concluded, therefore: That orderly remodeling of pancreatic exocrine tissue during atrophy is effected by rapid deletion of acinar cells by apoptosis.
Male ; Humans ; Rats ; Animals

Carcinosarcoma, often referred to as "malignant mixed tumor" is a rare neoplasm, but this tumor occurs in various organs, including the gallbladder. We report herein a carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder which consisted of adenocarcinomatous and undifferentiated sarcomatous ares, the latter differentiating towards abundant osteoid and calcified but nonlamellated bony trabeculae formation. There are 18 reported cases of this type tumor of the gallbladder in the literature.