The distribution of transforming growth factor -alpha (TGF -alpha ) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the cardiovascular system of developing mouse embryos of gestational age 7 to 12 days were immunohistochemically (ABC method) studies to investigate the differential expression of these growth factors. Paraffin embedded sections were immunostained with antibodies for TGF -alpha and EGF. In the 8 -day -old mouse embryos, the endocardial tissue, myocardial tissue and cardiac jelly were all TGF -alpha stained. EGF stain was observed in the cardiac jelly and myocardial tissue but was not observed in the endocardial tissue. This suggests that in the initial phase of the cardiovascular system development, TGF -alpha function as earlier growth factor than EGF. The 9, 10 and 11 -day -old embryos showed TGF -alpha stain in the broad spectrum of developing cardiovascular tissues such as, the bulbus cordis, primitive atrium, sinus venosus, aortic sac, dorsal aorta, vitelline artery, endocardial cushion tissue, and myocardium of primitive ventricle. However, EGF stain was observed only in the bulbus cordis, primitive atrium and endocardial tissue. This finding indicates that TGF -alpha function as a more extensive growth factor than EGF. The 12 -day -old embryos showed stronger EGF stain than TGF -alpha in the primitive ventricle, bulbus cordis, and endocardial tissue. This suggests that EGF function as a more growth factor than TGF -alpha at this particular developmental stage and plays important role at the end stage of the primitive heart development.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Cardiovascular System ; Embryonic Structures* ; Endocardial Cushions ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Gestational Age ; Heart ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice* ; Myocardium ; Paraffin ; Transforming Growth Factors* ; Vitellins

To localize glycoconjugates of surface mucous cells, mucous neck cells and chief cells in the developing rat, nine of biotinylated lectin(SBA, DBA, PNA, BSL-1, RCA-1, sWGA, UEA-1, Con A and LCA) were applied with ABC method. In the surface and gastric pit epithelium of body of the stomach, DBA affinity was not demonstrated. Although Con A and LCA affinity were slightly increased after birth, these affinities with RCA-1 and sWGA maintained constantly from fetal to adult rat. And UEA-1 affinity gradually increased from the end of suckling period. BSL-1 and PNA affinity showed a tendency to decrease and was not observed in most cells from the suckling and weanling period respectively. In the gastric gland proper, mucous neck cells and chief cells were not distinguished until the early weanling period. All affinities examined except DBA and BSL-1 were observed and increased in the gland of postnatal rat. With the approach of weanling period, more intense affinity for PNA, RCA-1, sWGA and UEA-1 were found on lower portion of the gastric gland proper and more intense affinity for SBA on upper portion. The mucous neck cells showed a similar affinities as gastric gland proper from the weanling period and two affinities for PNA and Con A were detected in the chief cell.
Adult ; Animals ; Epithelium ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Glycoconjugates ; Humans ; Neck* ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Stomach

To examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on central nociceptive modulation, expressional changes of spinal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were investigated in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-injected rats. Inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of CFA into the hindpaw of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Bilateral EA stimulation at 2 Hz, 15 Hz and 120 Hz was applied at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man with 3-day intervals for 30 days. At 30 days after CFA-injection, effects of EA on nNOS expression were observed in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord using immunohistochemical methods. The mean integrated optical density of nNOS immunoreaction was significantly increased in the dorsal horn throughout L1 to L5 lumbar segments in CFA-injected rats. The nNOS expression was attenuated in all regions of the dorsal horn by all types of EA. Especially, these reaction was markedly decreased in the superficial laminae and nucleus proprius of L1 and L3 lumbar segments by three types of EA, but a marked decrease in the neck of the dorsal horn was observed only in 2 Hz stimulation. The marked decrease of nNOS also showed in nucleus proprius and the neck of L5 lumbar segments in 2 Hz and 15 Hz EA stimulated rats. It is concluded that EA treatment can attenuate chronic inflammatory process in CFA-injected rats through modulating expression of nNOS in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture* ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Horns ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Neck ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord

Upward migration of the peritoneal catheter of a subgaleo-peritoneal (SP) shunt and coiling into the subgaleal space is an extremely rare complication of a SP shunt. A 32-year-old male patient visited our hospital presenting with a large skull defect due to a prior craniectomy performed elsewhere. The patient underwent a cranioplasty with methylmetacrylate, but subsequently developed progressive pseudomeningocele and subgaleal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection. The patient underwent CSF diversion via a SP shunt. After SP shunting, the pseudomeningocele disappeared completely. Six months later, the patient presented with progressive scalp swelling. Skull X-ray showed migration and coiling of the distal catheter of the SP shunt. The patient was treated by removing the entire shunt catheter and the dura was covered with a subgaleal flap. We would like to report our experience with a very rare complication of subgaleo-peritoneal shunting.
Adult ; Catheters* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Humans ; Male ; Scalp ; Skull

Purpose: In this paper, we propose deep-learning methodology with which to enhance the mass differentiation performance of convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architecture. Materials and Methods: We differentiated breast mass lesions from gray-scale X-ray mammography images based on regions of interest (ROIs). Our dataset comprised breast mammogram images for 150 cases of malignant masses from which we extracted the mass ROI, and we composed a CNN-based deep learning model trained on this dataset to identify ROI mass lesions. The test dataset was created by shifting some of the training data images. Thus, although both datasets were different, they retained a deep structural similarity. We then applied our trained deep-learning model to detect masses on 8-bit mammogram images containing malignant masses. The input images were preprocessed by applying a scaling parameter of intensity before being used to train the CNN model for mass differentiation. Results: The highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.897 (Î 20). Conclusion Our results indicated that the proposed patch-wise detection method can be utilized as a mass detection and segmentation tool.

Failure of normal embryogenesis may result in various anomalies of the inferior vena cava that can bereli-ably detected by computed tomography. Agenesis of the intrahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava withazygos continuation is a rare anomaly due to a complex developmental process of the inferior vena cava. Theauthors report a case in which this anomaly was diagnosed on computed tomography and confirmed by inferi-or venacavography.
Azygos Vein ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

Between March 1994 and March 1995, 10 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures underwent a one-stage operation consisting of anterior decompression, reduction, bony fusion with iliac bone and stabilization with Kaneda device. The mean follow-up was 6.4 Months. Most patients with incomplete neurologic lesions showed postoperative improvement and were upgraded one or two steps in the Frankel scale. No patient showed neurological deterioration after surgery. Loss of reduction was 5.5 degree during follow-up period. Anterior decompression and strut fusion was used to effectively recover the neurological deficit and reduce the pain in a thoraco-lumbar burst fracture.
Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the sonographic findings of neonatal coccygeal abscess,previously not described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen neonates (5-18 days old) presented with swelling in thecoccygeal area and by either open drainage (n=13) or follow-up after antibiotic therapy (n=5), this was diagnosedas coccygeal abscess. We retrospectively reviewed the size, shape, location, echo pattern and marginalcharacteristics of the abscesses, as seen on sonography, as well as their intradural content and relationship withthe spine. Additional MR images (n=5) were separately reviewed. RESULTS: Mean longest diameter of the abscesseswas 1.5cm (range, 0.8-2.3); they were oval or round and located in the subcutaneous fat layer. Echogenicitycompared with surrounding fat varied: in nine patients it was isoechoic, and in nine, hypoechoic. Internalechogenicity was homogenous in 14 patients and heterogeneous in four, and in seven cases, the margin of theabscess was well demarcated. Intradural structure and bony spines were normal, and the possibility of spinaldysraphism, could thus be excluded. All cases except one were correctly diagnosed by sonography and clinicalfindings; on sonography, the echogenicity of one lesion was exactly the same as that of lipoma, and it was thusmisdiagnosed. In cases where sonography revealed an isoechoic mass, the use of MR excluded the possibility oflipoma. Three of five cases showed marginal or diffuse enhancement on contrast enhanced MR images. CONCLUSION: Coccygeal absesses were confined to the subcutaneous fat layer and were either iso- or hypoechoic compared. withsurrounding fat. In neonates, abscess formation in the coccygeal area is possible, and coccygeal abscess shouldtherefore be included in the differentiation of coccygeal masses.
Abscess* ; Coccyx ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Lipoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: To analyse and interpret different sonographic findings in acute nonperforated and appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 46 cases of acute appendicitis in children(26 girls, 20 boys) proven by surgery, sonographic findings were reviewed retrospectively. The findings of nonperforated and perforated appendicitis were analysed, focusing on the size, shape and echogenicity of the appendix, echo patterns of periappendiceal abscesses, mesenteric lymphadenopathy, and the prevalence of appendicolith. RESULTS: A noncompressible distended appendix was present in 18 of 21 patients with nonperforated appendicitis and in 13 of 25 patients with perforation. In 18 patients with nonperforated appendicitis, the average diameter of distended appendix was 8.6mm;target appearance was noted in 16 patients and loss of echogenic submucosa in two. In 13 patients with perforated appendicitis, the average diameter of appendix was 9.1 mm;target appearance was noted in four patientsand loss of echogenic submucosa in nine. periappendiceal abscesses were present in 21 of 25 cases of perforated appendicitis, and the echogenicity of abscesses was mixed in 12 patients, hypoechogenic in eight, and hyperechogenic in one. Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was present in two of 21 patients with nonperforated appendicitis and in four of 25 with perforation. Appendicolith was detected on sonography in three of 25 patients with perforated appendicitis, but was found in seven patients during surgery. One patients with perforated appendicitis also had right side hydronephrosis. Sonographically false-negative results were obtained in sixcases. CONCLUSION: A sonographic examination was useful to differenciate perforated and nonperforated appendicitis in children. Loss of echogenic submucosa in the distended appendix and periappendiceal abscess formation were important findings in diagnosis of perforated appendicitis.
Abscess ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the microanatomy and histological features of the central myelin in the root exit zone of facial nerve. METHODS: Forty facial nerves with brain stem were obtained from 20 formalin fixed cadavers. Among them 17 facial nerves were ruined during preparation and 23 root entry zone (REZ) of facial nerves could be examined. The length of medial REZ, from detach point of facial nerve at the brain stem to transitional area, and the thickness of glial membrane of central myelin was measured. We cut brain stem along the facial nerve and made a tissue block of facial nerve REZ. Each tissue block was embedded with paraffin and serially sectioned. Slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Microscopy was used to measure the extent of central myelin and thickness of outer glial membrane of central myelin. Thickness of glial membrane was examined at two different points, the thickest area of proximal and distal REZ. RESULTS: Special stain with PAS and GFAP could be differentiated the central and peripheral myelin of facial nerve. The length of medial REZ was mean 2.6 mm (1.6-3.5 mm). The glial limiting membrane of brain stem is continued to the end of central myelin. We called it glial sheath of REZ. The thickness of glial sheath was mean 66.5 microm (40-110 microm) at proximal REZ and 7.4 microm (5-10 microm) at distal REZ. CONCLUSION: Medial REZ of facial nerve is mean 2.6 mm in length and covered by glial sheath continued from glial limiting membrane of brain stem. Glial sheath of central myelin tends to become thin toward transitional zone.
Brain Stem ; Cadaver ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Facial Nerve* ; Formaldehyde ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hematoxylin ; Membranes ; Microscopy ; Myelin Sheath* ; Paraffin