The concentration of clotrimazole in the cornea considering the lapse of time after topical administration of 1% clotrimazole, in a single drop or 13 drops at an interval of 5 minutes, was evaluated by agar diffusion bioassay, The rabbits were divided into 3 groups: normal cornea, deepithelized cornea and Aspergillus keratitis, In the case of a single dose, the drug concentration in the normal cornea was lower than the value which can be measured, and the concentration in deeptithelized cornea was significantly higher than in keratitis(p<0.05). In the case of multiple doses, the drug concentration in keratitis was higher than in the deepitheHzed cornea and both of these were higher than in the norma cornea. EspeciaUy the group of keratitis had a significantly higher level(p<0.05) and an abrupt decrease of the drug concentration than the group of deepithelized cornea. This result means that the cornea during inflammation has increased permeability and great metabolic activity. In general the drug concentration in all groups except a single dose in the normal cornea was higher than minimal inhibitory concentration of clotrimazole against A. fumigatus, and this result suggests that the topical administration of 196 dotrimazole is likely to be efficacious in the treatment of Aspergillus keratitis.
Administration, Topical* ; Agar ; Aspergillus ; Biological Assay ; Clotrimazole* ; Cornea* ; Diffusion ; Inflammation ; Keratitis ; Permeability ; Rabbits*

Inadvertent application of ionizing radiation, a valuable tool in diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy, results in injury and death of adjacent normal cells, inducing gene mutations or even producing latent cancers. Captopril, an angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, has been reported to prevent the structural and functional changes in variable organs, such as lung and kidney, from radiation injury in different experimental animal models. An experiment was carried out to elucidate the radiation-induced histomorphologic changes of small intestine, especially jejunum, and to determine whether captopril can reduce or prevent the radiation-induced injuries in jejunum. Twenty-six healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Experimental group (n=24) was divided into two large groups: the first one (n=16) was treated with two different single dose (9 Gy, 17 Gy) irradiation only and was sacrificed at 12 hours and at 8 weeks following irradiation; the second one (n=8) received captopril 500 mg/l per oral continuously after same doses of irradiation and was sacrificed at 8 weeks. The control group (n=2) was maintained on a stock diet in a same period of experimental group and sacrificed coincidentally. On light and electron microscopy, the 9 Gy and 17 Gy 12 hours groups revealed frequent apoptosis and necrosis but extremely decreased mitotic figures of the crypt cells. However, the 9 Gy and 17 Gy 8 weeks groups and the combined irradiation with captopril groups showed extremely reduced apoptosis and necrosis with increased mitotic figures. There was good correlation between experimental groups in apoptotic count and mitotic count (p<0.05). In the 9 Gy and 17 Gy 12 hours groups, the mucosal surface was focally or diffusely fragmented and the villi were slightly to moderately distorted. Collagen deposition was very mild and confined to the lower portion of the lamina propria. The 9 Gy and 17 Gy 8 weeks groups showed more severe mucosal surface fragmentation even with foci of erosion, short and distorted villi, and more intense collagen deposition. In contrast, the combined irradiation with captopril groups revealed complete regeneration of the mucosal surface epithelium and absent collagen deposition. These findings suggest that the acute radiation injuries to small intestine occur principally in the mucosal crypt cells. Captopril, the ACE inhibitor, might provide a useful intervention in the radiation injuries of intestinal mucosa.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Captopril ; Collagen ; Diet ; Epithelium ; Intestinal Mucosa* ; Intestine, Small ; Jejunum ; Kidney ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Radiation Injuries ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Radiotherapy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration

The apoptosis, a distinctive type of individual cell necrosis, has been considered to play a complementary but opposite role to mitosis in the regulation of animal cell populations. It can be initiated or inhibited by a variety of environmental stimuli, physiologically and pathologically. Apoptosis seems to appear in either non-neoplastic or neoplastic tissues, even malignant tumors in the state of untreatment or irradiation. This study was carried out to investigate the spontaneous occurrence of apoptosis in squamous carcinomas of the uterine cervix and its mechanisms. Light microscopically, noted were the condensation and fragmentation of individual tumor cells with formation of apoptotic bodies that were frequently phagocytosed by nearby intact tumor cells. They were commonly seen in the neighbourhood of coagulative necrosis. Electron microscopically (TEM and SEM), noted were nuclear condensation, margination toward the nuclear membrane and fragmentation of membrane-bounded apoptotic bodies that were well preserved. The intracellular apoptotic bodies were phagosomes and reduced to electron-dense lysosomal residual bodies. The conclusion obtained was as follow: Apoptosis was found in all cases of squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, of which the frequency was higher in tumors of poor differentiation than those of well to moderate differentiation. The process of the apoptosis is considered to pass through the step of formation of the apoptotic bodies, phagocytosis by adjoining tumor cells or histiocytes, and then degradation as lysosmal residual bodies.
Animals

This study was conducted to investigate plasma levels of oral methotrexate in rabbits and children receiving maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia. Eight New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2kg in body weight, were divided into 3 groups and 5mg of methotrexate from 3 different manufactorying company was administered to the each group rabbits via nasogastric tube. Time to peak concentration ranged from 30 minutes to 3 hours (mean 1.2+/-0.9 hour)and the peak plasma concentration ranged from 0.08 micro M to 0.21micron M(mean 0.14+/-0.05 micronM)and area under the plasma concentration-time curve ranged from 0.6micron M.hr to 1.66micron M,hr (mean 1.06+/-0.36micronM,hr). There were no statistically significant difference in AUC of methotrexate in 3 groups, but interindividual variability in plasma levels of methotrexate was noted. Twelve patients with ALL who were receiving maintenance chemotherapy at pediatric department of Yeungnam University Hospital from August, 1988 to August, 1991 were studied. Plasma levels of oral methotrexale were monitored following an oral dose of 3.3 mg~10mg/m2 which was modified from recommended dose of 10 mg/m2 due to hepatotoxicity or myelosuppression. Time to peak concentration ranged from 30 minutes to 2 hours(mean 1.2+/-0.4 hour) and the peak plasma concentration ranged from 0.34 micron M to 0.8 micron M (mean 0.58+/-0.18micron M). The area under the plasma concentration-time curve ranged from 1.25micron M,hr to 3.79 micronM,hr (mean 2.71+/-0.84microM,hr)while standard area under the plasma concentration-time curve ranged from 0.13micronM, hr/mg/m2 to 0.54micronM, hr/mg/m2 (mean0.4+/-0.15micronM hr/mg/m2).Interindividual variability in plasma levels following an oral dose of methotrexate was noted. Peak plasma concentrations of study patients were all less than 1 micronM which is necessary for antileukemic effect of methotrexate in vitro. It seems to be necessary to increase the dose of methotrexate for all study patients, however optimal dose increment of methotrexate avoiding hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression need to be investigated further and measurement of plasma level of methotrexate is recommended when dose modification of methotrexate is made.
Area Under Curve ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Humans ; Maintenance Chemotherapy* ; Methotrexate* ; Pharmacology ; Plasma* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Rabbits

Achalasia is a rare primary motor disorder of the esophagus. Achalasia is characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and loss of esophageal peristalsis. The patients present with symptoms such as dysphagia, regurgitation and chest pain. The diagnostic tools of achalasia include esophageal manometry, esophagogram, and endoscopy. Esophageal manometry is the gold standard however endoscopy and esophagogram plays complementary roles for diagnosis of achalasia. Endoscopy is essential to rule out pseudoachalasia and mechanical obstruction before diagnosis of achalasia. Esophagogram is recommended to assess esophageal emptying and gastroesophageal junction morphology in those with equivocal esophageal manometry findings.
Chest Pain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis* ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Sphincter, Lower ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Humans ; Somatoform Disorders*

STUDY OBJECTIVE: determine the level of medical care required for mass gatherings and describe the types of medical problems encountered in a religious mass gathered ceremony. DESIGN: Standard charts and a four-tiered triage system(minor, moderate, urgent, and emergent) were developed before the event. The triage system was applied to each chart retrospectively by a single emergency physician. SETTING: Medical staff(10 physicians,13 nurses,1 pharmacist, and 54 first-aid attendants) were based in 8 advanced life support (ALS) clinics. INTERVENTIONS: First-aid attendants referred patients to the clinics, where nurses conducted initial assessments and referred patients to physicians at the venue. Three ambulances were stationed at the venues. RESULT: 22 trauma patients were developed and 183 medical complaints were encountered. Only 7 urgent medical problems were encountered.
Ambulances ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Pharmacists ; Retrospective Studies ; Triage

Sparganosis is a rare tissue-parasitic infestation caused by a plerocercoid tapeworm larva(sparganum), genus Spirometra. The most common clinical presentation of sparganosis is a palpable subcutaneous mass or masses. Fifteen simple radiographs and 10 ultrasonograms of 17 patients with operatively verified subcutaneous sparganosis were retrospectively analyzed to find its radiologic characteristics for preoperative diagnosis of sparganosis. The locations of the subcutaneous sparganosis were lower extremity, abdominal wall, breast, inguinal region and scrotum in order of frequency. The simple radiographs showed linear or elongated calcification with or without nodular elongated shaped soft tissue mass shadows in 8 patients, soft tissue mass shadow only in 2 patients and lateral abdominal wall thickening in 1 patient. But no specific findings was noted in 4 patients with small abdominal and inguinal masses. We could classify the subcutaneous sparganosis by ultrasound into 2 types: one is long band-like hypoechoic structures, corresponding to the subcutaneous tunnel-like tracks formed by migration of sparganum larva and the other is elongated or ovoid hypoechoic nodules, representing granulomas. Long band-like hypoechoic structures within or associated with mixed echoic granulomatous masses were noted in 6 patients and elongated or ovoid hypoechoic mass or masses were noted in 4 patients. In conclusion, sparganosis should be considered when these radiologic findings-irregular linear calcifications on simple radiograph and long ban-like hypoechoic structures on ultrasonography, corresponding to the subcutaneous tunnel-like tracks formed by migration of sparganum larva-are noted in the patients who have subcutaneous palpable mass or masses. And radiologic examination especially ultrasonography is very helpful to diagnose sparganosis.
Abdominal Wall ; Breast ; Cestoda ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Larva ; Lower Extremity ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Sparganosis* ; Sparganum ; Spirometra ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Humans ; Male ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

No abstract available.
Krukenberg Tumor*