No abstract available.
Humans ; Internet* ; Patient Care*

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Humans

No abstract available.

The computerized image analysis is a useful tool for the quantitative assessment of histopathologic findings. In contrast to the usual microscopic examination by pathologists, the computerization should be accompanied with the standardization process of the image. We developed an algorithm to standardize images and to determine the optimal gray level threshold, using a myocardial fibrosis model. Sirius red staining was more convenient for the image analysis than Masson's trichrome staining because of a better contrast with the surrounding structures. To get an optimal measurement, light intensity was standardized at each of the fibrosis, myocardium and background. In this study, the most promising method to determine the degree of fibrosis was that of revising the background without tissue to a gray level of 200, obtaining a green component of the color image, revising the myocardial fiber to 163, and defining a partial ratio as fibrosis index when the gray level threshold was 120. These threshold levels and parameters were determined after drawing the binarization index curves according to the change of the gray level threshold and by the morphological examination of the actual binarization figures overlaid to the original color image. Through these processes we could get a consistent result on the myocardial fibrosis and we expect a similar principle applies when we analyze color images in the histopathologic quantitation by computerized image analysis.
Fibrosis* ; Myocardium

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Ascorbic Acid* ; beta Carotene* ; Tretinoin*

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the prevalence and functional impairment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome(PMS) in young women. METHODS: A total of 1063 female college students were recruited from two urban areas(Seoul and Suwon) of Korea. Questionnaires for sociodemographic data and risk factors of PMDD, attitude about menstruation, and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool(PSST) were applied. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe moderate to severe PMS and PMDD were 16.9% and 11.7%, respectively. There were differences in the alcohol and coffee consumption, severity of menstrual cramp, and family history of PMS among the moderate to severe PMS, PMDD, and no/mild PMS groups. Although some participants did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for PMDD, they showed significant functional impairment. Participants with negative attitude about menstruation reported premenstrual symptoms more frequently than those with positive or ambivalent attitude about menstruation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PMS and PMDD were prevalent and associated with functional impairment in young females. Some participants reported significant functional impairments although they did not meet the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PMDD. Negative attitude about menstruation was associated with more premenstrual symptoms experiences.
Coffee ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Menstruation ; Muscle Cramp ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

The frequent occurrence of hematuria in children necessitates diagnostic evaluation. Hematuria may occur with either renal or lower urinary tract disease. Clarification of the etiology of hematuria, whether microscopic or gross, is facilited by localizing the site of bleeding to the kidney (glomerular) or the lower urinary tract (non-glomerular). The mean cellular volume (MCV) of urinary red blood cells (RBCs) of pediatric patients with glomerular (group I; n=77) and non-glomerular (group II; n=34) hematuria was determined using Coulter Counter Model S plus IV. We found that re blood cells of glomerular origin had a smaller volume than non-glomerular cells(73.79 9.75 m3 vs 83.55 3.77 m3, p<0.001). If an urinary MCV equal to 80.56 m3 was taken as the cut-off value between glomerular and non-glomerular hematuria, a correct assessment of the site of bleeding was made in 89 (80%) of the 111 patients studied (sensitivity 76%, specificity 88%). The ratio of the urinary erythrocyte MCV to that in blood(Umcv/Bmcv) was compared with the diagnosis. If an Umcv/Bmcv ratio equal to 0.95 was taken as the cut-off value between glomerular and non-glomerular hematuria, a correct assessment of the site of bleeding was made in 93 (83%) of the 111 patients studied (sensitivity 79.6%, specificity 94%). Coulter counter analysis of urine provides a simple noninvasive and objective aid to the diagnosis of hematurai. This test, when used early in the management of pediatric patients with hematuria, may help to avoid invasive investigations.
Blood Cells ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes* ; Hematuria* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Tract ; Urologic Diseases

No abstract available.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Follicular Fluid* ; Humans* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Hypoglycemia*

Infection with V. vulnificus resulting in septicemia accompanied with skin gangrene and high mortality of 50% or more freqently occurs in people with liver disenses. And it has also been demonstrated that serum iron, essential to the growth of microorganisms, has been elevated in liver damaged animals. In spite of many efforts to reveal the pathogenesis of this fatal disease, there is no clear conclusion so far. Significant increase or decrease in LD of V. vulnificus (CDC C7184) was observed when mice were treated with ferric arnmonium citrate (FAC) and a specific iron chelator, desferal(Df), originated from Streptomyces pilosus and a broad spectrurn cation chelator, calciurn disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA) widly used in heavy metal poisoning treated alone or in combination. The results were obtained as follows. FAC and Df lowered LD to approximately 1.96x 10(3) colony forming unit (CFU) and 9.77x10(2) CFU respectively from 4.46 x 10(5) CFU, LDso of the control group. However, CaEDTA elevated the I D to 4.97 X 10(7) CFU. The LD of the group administered FAC and Df simultaneously was about 9.28x10(1) CFU. Whereas, the LD of the group administered FAC and CaEDTA simultaneously was approximately 7.88 x 10(5), similar to that of the control group. This study demonstrates that there is a close association of the iron with V. vulnificus septicemia and Df lowers LD of the rnice. CaED7A, however, elevated the LD. The author hereby proposes carefully iron chelators such as CaEDTA as an agent for a new adjuvant therapy of the V. vulnificus septicernia.
Animals ; Chelating Agents* ; Citric Acid ; Gangrene ; Iron* ; Liver ; Mice* ; Mortality ; Poisoning ; Sepsis* ; Skin ; Stem Cells ; Streptomyces ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*