Nitric oxide ( NO ) is now recognized as a mediator of several biological and immunological functions, but unlike classical neurotransmitters, NO simply diffuse of the postsynaptic cell and around affecting cells. Human chorionic gonadotropin ( hCG ), produced by placental trophoblasts may act as stimulator on NO synthesis in oocytes of mouse's ovary. How-ever, in the various organs or cells, the action of hCG on NO synthesis is unknown. We have examined that the effect of hCG on NO synthesis in microglial cells of murine's brain, using the Griess method. And this study was evident that hCG did not induce NO produc-tion without recombinant interferon gamma ( rIFN-gamma), whereas hCG ( 10~500 IU/ml ) with rIFN-gamma effectively produced NO in microglial cells of brain. As result, NO production in microglial cells increased most significantly in dose of 100 IU/ml of the hCG and the pro-duction of NO was dependent on the dose of hCG ( Table 1 and Fig. 1 ). And N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine ( N(G)MMA ), competitive inhibitor of NO synthase, reduced the NO production by hCG stimulation with rIFN-gamma in microglial cells of murine. Conclusively, this study sugge-sted that hCG stimulate NO production at microglial cells in brain, which may be an important factor for mediating immune and neuroendocrinologic regulation in nervous system.
Brain ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans* ; Interferons ; Negotiating ; Nervous System ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oocytes ; Ovary ; Trophoblasts

The congenital dislocation of the hip is one of the most common congenital disease in the field of the orthopedic surgery. For the normal development of the acetabulum and femoral head, the displaced femoral head shouid be replaced in the acetabular socket as early as possible. In most cases treated in proper time, closed reduction is successful. If not, operative correction will almost always be necessary due to abnormal changes of the acetabulum and femoral head. We experienced 33 cases in 32 patients of the congenital dislocation of the hip at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Hanyang University Hospital from May, 1972 to December, 1980. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The most common aged group at the first visit was ranged from 12 months to 24 months and the preponderance of girl to boy was 3.6:1. 2. The ratio of left to right side was 1.6:1. 3. In delivery history, there were 3 cases of breech presentation, 1 case of Cesarean section and 1 case of prematurity. The associated congenital anomaly was observed in a case of which combined internal tibial torsion and talipes metatarsus varus deformity. 4. In 33 cases in 32 patients, 22 cases were treated conservatively and 11 cases were treated surgically. The results of treatment were excellent in 21 cases, good in 11 cases and fair in 11 case. We experienced 4 cases of neglected congenital dislocation of the hip in the period of late childhood, 3 cases were treated with Chiari osteotomy and the other 1 case was treated with Colonna capsular arthroplasty. The overall results were excellent.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty ; Breech Presentation ; Cesarean Section ; Clinical Study ; Clubfoot ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Female ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Metatarsus ; Orthopedics ; Osteotomy ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: It is well known that a lacunar infarction may develop by an atherosclerosis of the large intracranial arteries at the site of the perforating arteries. However, their frequency, clinical, and radiological findings have rarely been described. METHODS: Carotid angiograpies were carried out in 26 Korean patients with lacunar infarctions in the carotid arterial territory. They all had classical lacunar symptoms with a computed tomogram (CT) or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) evidence of a small infarction. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was carried out in fifteen patients when either an angiography result was normal, the potential source of cardioembolism was suggested, or no other atherothrom-botic causes of stroke were found. Tc-99m single positron emission computed tomograms (SPECT) were performed in nine patients. We divided patients into two groups; one for patients with MCA occlusive lesion, and another for those without it. The clinical and radiological features were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Twenty patients (77%) demonstrated abnormal angiographic findings. Fourteen of them showed atherosclerotic changes in the proximal MCA at the site of the orifice of the lenticulostriatal arteries, while another three showed stenosis in the intracranial portion of the internal cerebral artery (ICA), and the other three in the extracranial ICA. Among six patients with normal angiograms, a TEE demonstrated embolic sources of embolism in two patients. The temporal profile and findings of MRI and SPECT in patients with MCA stenosis differed from those with ICA stenosis or normal angiograms. Unstable temporal profiles exclusively occurred in patients with MCA stenosis. The most patients with conglomatory aggregations of the lacune in a MRI showed MCA lesions. The SPECT findings were even more characteristic in that patients with MCA lesions showed relatively large areas of decreased perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The atherosclerotic diseases at the orifice of the lenticulostri-atal arteries were the most common causes of lacunar infarctions in the carotid artery territory. They were clearly different from those without MCA occlusive lesions in terms of preceding transient ishemic attacks, unstable temporal profiles, uni-lateral multiple lacunes with conglomatory MRI findings, and widespread perfusion defects SPECT.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries* ; Cerebral Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Electrons ; Embolism ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Perfusion ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

A basal cell nevus syndrome, known as the Gorlin syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder, occuring especially in the oriental population. It is a complex hamartomatous/neoplastic syndrome with multisystemic manifestations involving the five major features: (1) multiple basal cell nevi, occasionally basal cell carcinoma usually seen at an early age; (2) multiple jaw cysts; (3) skeletal abnormalities of ribs, skull, and spine; (4) ectopic calcification; (5) palmar and plantar pits. Because patients are predisposed to this disorder prior to basal cell carcinoma of the skin, ovarian fibroma, and medulloblastoma, the most important aspects of management is frequent examination and early treatment of small tumors. We report here about a 16-year- child with odontogenic maxillary sinusitis, who has developmental multisystemic disorders which coincided with the basal cell nevus syndrome. The patient underwent a sinus operation and now is under a cautious follow-up.
Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome* ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Child ; Fibroma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jaw Cysts ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Maxillary Sinusitis* ; Medulloblastoma ; Nevus ; Ribs ; Skin ; Skull ; Spine

No abstract available.
Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital*

Osteocalcin (OC) is the most abundant noncollagenous protein of extracellular matrix in the bone. In an OC deficient mouse, bone formation rates are increased in cancellous and cortical bones. OC is known as a negative regulator of mineral apposition. OC is also expressed in the tooth of the rat, bovine, and human. However, little is known about OC during tooth development in Xenopus. The purpose of this study is to compare the expression of OC with mineralization in the developing tooth of Xenopus, by using von Kossa staining and in situ hybridization. At stage 56, the developmental stage of tooth germ corresponds to the cap stage, and an acellular zone was apparent between the dental papilla and the enamel organ. From stage 57, calcium deposition was revealed by von Kossa staining prior to OC expression, and the differentiated odontoblasts forming predentin were located at adjoining predentin. At stage 58, OC transcripts were detected in the differentiated odontoblasts. At stage 66, OC mRNA was expressed in the odontoblasts, which was aligned in a single layer at the periphery of the pulp. These findings suggest that OC may play a role in mineralization and odontogenesis of tooth development in Xenopus.
Animals ; Calcium ; Dental Papilla ; Enamel Organ ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mice ; Odontoblasts ; Odontogenesis ; Osteocalcin* ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Tooth Germ ; Tooth* ; Xenopus ; Xenopus laevis*

A totally implanted venous access system was inserted in 19 children with cancer. The devices were utilized for the administration of antineoplastic drugs, parenteral fluids, antibiotics, and blood products. Total duration of implantation was 4,046 days for 23 implanted system (range 7-445 days). Complications included cather infection (0.247/100 catheter days), occlusion (0.692/100 catheter days), and dislodgement of needle (0.643/100 catheter days). There were major complications that necessitated removal of catheters, including systemic infections (0.09/100 catheter days) and complete occlusions (0.09/100 catheter days). The system was thought to be safe and convenient in chemotherapy, and permitted full physical activity.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Catheters ; Child* ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Needles ; Prospective Studies*

The authors present a statistical survey of the general incidence, age distribution, and preferential site of 631 tumors of the brain which have been surgically treated at Korea university medical center, department of neurosurgery over the last period of 10 years from 1985 to 1994. Among them 269 cases were males and 362 were females. Of the 631 intracranial neoplasms verified histologically, tumors of neuroepithelial tissue comprised 34%(212 cases), tumors of meninges 23%(148 cases), pituitary adenoma 18%(114 cases), metastatic tumors 8%(50 cases), neurilemmomas 8%(49 cases), germ cell tumors 3%(13 cases), cyst and tumor like lesions 3%(16 cases), and lymphomas 1%(5 cases). Of the 178 gliomas, astrocytic tumors comprised 83%(148 cases), oligodendroglial tumors 11%(20 cases), ependymal tumors 3%(6 cases) and mixed gliomas 1.7%(3 cases). Brain tumors occurred most frequently in the age group of 45-50 years, as seen by an incidence of 63 cases(10%). The male to female ratio was 0.74: 1. Tumors that showed a definitive preponderance of females over males were meningiomas, neurilemmomas, and pituitary adenomas. Supratentoral and infratenorial cases were 73%(461 cases) and 26%(162 cases), respectively and the remaining cases involved both sites. Of the 114 cases of childhood and adolescent tumors, 60 were male and 54 were female. Supratentorial tumors were 56% and infratentorial were 44%. The tumors in order of frequency were astrocytomas(28%), primitive neuroectodermal tumors(21%), craniopharyngioma(10%) and so on. Meningiomas occurred most frequently in parasagittal/falx area(25%), followed by cerebral convexity 23%, sphenoid 14%, posterior fossa 13%. Among pituitary adenomas, prolactinomas(32%) were the most common and followed by null cell adenomas 31%, growth hormone cell adenomas 15%, mixed GH-PRL cell adenomas 11%.
Academic Medical Centers ; Adenoma ; Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Female ; Glioma ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Lymphocytes, Null ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Meninges ; Meningioma ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Neural Plate ; Neurilemmoma ; Neurosurgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Supratentorial Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The isolated microscopic hematuria is the most common abnormality detected by school urinary screening, but there is no consensus about the range of investigations and long-term outcomes of isolated hematuria in children yet. This study aims to elucidate the prognosis of hematuria and the range of diagnostic studies by follow-up results. METHODS: Students with isolated hematuria who were referred to the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center from Aug. 1990 to Feb. 2004 were analysed retrospectively. Cases that presented Through significant proteinuria(>250 mg/day), other symptoms of nephritis or renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance <85 mL/min/1.73m2) were excluded. Follow-up was done every six months with checking urinalysis, serum creatinine, protein and albumin. When albuminuria was detected, 24 hour urine protein was checked. Renal biopsy was done when urine protein was over 500 mg/day. RESULTS: A total of 331 students were enrolled in this study. There were 157 males and 174 females. The mean age at presentation was 9.9+/-2.3 years(7-15 years) and mean follow-up period was 2.2+/-1.6 years(1-10 years). Seventy five(22.7 percent) patients showed the resolution of microscopic hematuria. The mean resolution period was 2.6+/-1.7 years(1-8 years). Eight(2.4 percent) patients developed significant proteinuria and renal biopsy was done in four of them. Two cases of mild IgA nephropathy and two of minimal change were detected. None of them developed hypertension. At the end of the follow-up, renal function had remained stable in all subsets of patients. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of isolated microscopic hematuria was good. This study suggests that invasive studies including renal biopsy are not necessary and a regular follow-up of urinalysis is enough for children with isolated microscopic hematuria.
Albuminuria ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Consensus ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Hematuria* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Nephritis ; Pediatrics ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinalysis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risks and pattern of evolution of peritumoral brain edema (PTE) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for asymptomatic intracranial meningiomas. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 320 patients (median age 56 years, range 24-87 years) who underwent primary Gamma Knife radiosurgery for asymptomatic meningiomas between 1998 and 2012. The median tumor volume was 2.7 cc (range 0.2-10.5 cc) and the median follow-up was 48 months (range 24-168 months). Volumetric data sets for tumors and PTE on serial MRIs were analyzed. The edema index (EI) was defined as the ratio of the volume of PTE including tumor to the tumor volume, and the relative edema indices (rEIs) were calculated from serial EIs normalized against the baseline EI. Risk factors for PTE were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Newly developed or increased PTE was noted in 49 patients (15.3%), among whom it was symptomatic in 28 patients (8.8%). Tumor volume larger than 4.2 cc (p<0.001), hemispheric tumor location (p=0.005), and pre-treatment PTE (p<0.001) were associated with an increased risk of PTE. rEI reached its maximum value at 11 months after SRS and decreased thereafter, and symptoms resolved within 24 months in most patients (85.7%). CONCLUSION: Caution should be exercised in decision-making on SRS for asymptomatic meningiomas of large volume (>4.2 cc), of hemispheric location, or with pre-treatment PTE. PTE usually develops within months, reaches its maximum degree until a year, and resolves within 2 years after SRS.
Brain Edema* ; Brain* ; Dataset ; Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma* ; Radiosurgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Burden