Apodemus agrarius has been using for experimental purpose to identifying the route of infection and pathogenesis of korean hemorrhagic fever. However, despite the increasing amount of information being published at present about the physiologic and ecologic characteristics of Apodemus, few data are availalle about the morphologic findings in the brain. The NADPH-diaphorase[NADPH-d] positive neurons, uniquely resistant to toxic insults and neurodegenerative diseases, have been colocalized with neurons in the brain and peripheral tissue containing nitric oxide synthase, which generates nitric oxide, a recently identified neuronal messenger molecule. In this study we used NADPH-d histochemistry to evaluate the distribution of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive[NPY-IR] cells within neurons which contain nitric oxide synthase. In the cerebral cortex of Apodemus agrarius, NADPH-d positive and NPY-IR neurons were observed in all cortical layers, but they were concentrated in two bands layer II/III and V/VI extending into the subcortical white matter. Double labeling for NADPH-d and NPY showed colocalization of NPY with NADPH-d in numerous neurons of the cerebral cortex. The data obtained showed that about 74-79% of NPY-IR neurons contained NADPH-d in the neocortex and that 77-89% in the allocortex. The number of NPY-IR/NADPH-d positive neurons was about 10-13 per unit area [2,500,000 micrometer] in the neocortex and about 11-25 in the allocortex except retrosplenial cortex. In the retrosplenial cortex, the number of double labeled neurons was about 5 per unit area. NPY-IR and NADPH-d positive neurons were predominantly medium-sized with extended, multipolar or bipolar dendritic branches which belong to fusiform or stellate cell types. A moderately dense network of fine, varicose NADPH-d positive fibers was present throughout all cortical layers.
Animals ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Murinae* ; Neocortex ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase

No abstract available in English.
Clinical Study ; Femur ; Hip Fractures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathologic changes after insertion of polymer made of poly- glycolic acid(PGA) and poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)/5-FU following filtering surgery in the rabbit. METHOD: A polymer with 0.3 mm thickness made of PGA and PLGA/5-Fluorouracil(5-FU, 10% by weight) composite were made in a size of 3 x 7 mm. After full-thickness filtration surgery performed, PGA was inserted under the conjunctiva in group I, PLGA/5-FU was inserted in group II and none in control group. Twelve rabbit eyes were enrolled in each group. RESULT: Postoperatively, no serious complication was found in anterior segment. In the control eyes inflammatory cell reaction was minimal at 2 weeks after surgery and decreased thereafter. While severe fibrovascular tissue reaction with loss of conjunctival filtration space was noted at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery in group I, the filtration space was well maintained without fibrovascular tissue reaction until 4 weeks after surgery in group II. At 8 weeks after surgery, fibrous tissue reaction was observed in group I, but not in group II and contol. The polymer was not found and the filtration space was obliterated at 8 weeks after surgery in group I and II. CONCLUSION: PLGA/5-FU may be used as an effective adjunct to improve the success rate of the filtration surgery, without inducing serious fibrous tissue reaction. PGA was not suitable.
Conjunctiva ; Filtering Surgery* ; Filtration ; Polymers*

Brain size is a useful parameter describing ontogenic character and function. Despite its potential contribution to functional study and diagnosis of disease, it has been hampered by poor assessment tools in vivo and postmortem changes. Recent development of medical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT enable us to understand brain structures in vivo. Many morphometirc studies of the brain has given us new insights in the field of functional neuroanatomy and neuropsychiatric diseases. In spite of these advances, volumetric data of normal Korean brain is not available yet. As an initial approach to Korean standard brain size, we measured the cerebellar volume between 20 and 80 years old Koreans. The MRI films free from lesions in brain was analyzed and measured by NIH image program. The Korean cerebellar volume were ranged between 86.2cm(3) and 141.3 cm(3) and average male cerebellum volume was significantly larger than that of female[male : 118.2+/-11.2cm(3)] > female : 108.0+/-9.6cm(3), P=0.1021E-07<0.05]. And we could not find volume change according to aging process. This is the first report on normal Korean cerebellar volume and the presence of gender difference in the Korean cerebellar volume. These data will be used for the standard useful in studying cerebellar function and cerebellum associated disorders in the future.
Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Neuroanatomy ; Postmortem Changes

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that generally develops during adolescence or early adulthood. However, differentiating it from psychosis caused by a physical illness is difficult due to the phenotypebased diagnostic system. In this review, differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and the comorbid physical illnesses of patients with schizophrenia will be discussed.Current Concepts: Psychotic symptoms can be caused by various physical illnesses, and patients with schizophrenia have many physical comorbidities. Symptoms of psychosis can also be expressed by physical illness including brain tumors, encephalitis, temporal lobe epilepsy, autoimmune disease, and genetic disease. For the differential diagnosis of other physical illnesses that can cause psychosis, biological tests are essential. Depending on the cause, antipsychotics and treatment of physical diseases are required. In addition, patients with schizophrenia have many comorbid medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, but the diagnosis rate is low, and the mortality is higher than that of the general population due to untreated medical diseases.Discussion and Conclusion: The differential diagnoses of schizophrenia and physical illness causing psychosis are important. To decrease the high mortality of patients with schizophrenia, periodic physical condition examinations and mental status examinations should be conducted.

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that generally develops during adolescence or early adulthood. However, differentiating it from psychosis caused by a physical illness is difficult due to the phenotypebased diagnostic system. In this review, differential diagnosis of schizophrenia and the comorbid physical illnesses of patients with schizophrenia will be discussed.Current Concepts: Psychotic symptoms can be caused by various physical illnesses, and patients with schizophrenia have many physical comorbidities. Symptoms of psychosis can also be expressed by physical illness including brain tumors, encephalitis, temporal lobe epilepsy, autoimmune disease, and genetic disease. For the differential diagnosis of other physical illnesses that can cause psychosis, biological tests are essential. Depending on the cause, antipsychotics and treatment of physical diseases are required. In addition, patients with schizophrenia have many comorbid medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, but the diagnosis rate is low, and the mortality is higher than that of the general population due to untreated medical diseases.Discussion and Conclusion: The differential diagnoses of schizophrenia and physical illness causing psychosis are important. To decrease the high mortality of patients with schizophrenia, periodic physical condition examinations and mental status examinations should be conducted.

Fatal complications including cerebral edema and neurologic collapse occur during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA). A 6-week-old female infant with fever, dehydration and drowsy mental status was diagnosed as DKA and neurologically deteriorated during treatment. The cranial computed tomography scan revealed multifocal brain infarctions of the left caudate nucleus, bilateral frontal periventricular white matter, and right parietal cortex. A moderate amount of hemorrhage was also noted in both lateral ventricles. She recovered rapidly with supportive treatment over time. The clinical course and radiologic findings of this patient emphasize the importance of brain infarction as a cause of persistent neurologic loss in children with DKA.
Brain Edema ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain* ; Caudate Nucleus ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Female ; Fever ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Rabeprazole

PURPOSE: To report five cases with management of macular folds by submacluar BSS injection and partial fluid-gas exchange. METHODS: This prospective study report 5 patients (5 eyes). Between December 1999 and October 2002, 5 patients with macular folds underwent submacular BSS injection and partial fluid-gas exchange. We analysed the preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, color fundus photography, FAG and Amsler-Grid test. RESULTS: Four cases developed macular folds postoperatively and one case was due to secondary macular folds;complicated with fibrovascular traction by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The surgery was anatomically successful in all 5 cases. Visual acuity increased two line or more in 4 cases. Subjective metamorphopsia decreased in all 5 patients. CONCLUSIONS: It is thoughted that submacluar BSS injection and partial fluid-gas exchange can be new and effective method in selective cases of macular folds.
Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Photography ; Prospective Studies ; Traction ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report the results of nonvitrectomized peeling surgery in patients who have idiopathic epiretinal membrane(ERM). METHODS: This prospective, nonrandomized study covered 4 cases. From June 1999 through January 2000, 4 patients with idiopathic ERM underwent unilateral nonvitrectomizing peeling surgery. Two sclerotomy sites were made. The membrane was separated from the surface of the retina with endoilluminator and pick. It was removed from the eye in all cases with intraocular forceps. RESULTS: Postoperative average follow-up period is 14 months(12 to 21 months). Preoperative subjective symptoms were decreased vision and metamorphopsia. Preoperative visual acuity(0.4 to 0.6) was improved(0.7 to 0.9). Refractive changes did not occur. Postoperatively, metamorphopsia disappeared in 3 eyes. There were no developments of cataract during postoperative follow-up periods. No serious complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Although interpretation of the results of this study is limited due to its small size and short follow-up period, nonvitrectomized ERM peeling surgery appears to be safe and effective in selective patients with idiopathic ERM.
Cataract ; Epiretinal Membrane* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Membranes ; Prospective Studies ; Retina ; Surgical Instruments ; Vision Disorders

PURPOSE: To report a case of proptosis occurring during a Valsalva maneuver in a neurofibromatosis patient with an arachnoid cyst. CASE SUMMARY: A 42-year-old man diagnosed with type I neurofibromatosis visited our hospital with a 20-year history of enophthalmos in the left eye. The patient also complained of exophthalmos during the abdominal straining. On exophthalmometry, a 4 mm enophthalmos was found. The patient also presented with a limited motion to the superior and lateral direction. There was an ocular pulsation corresponding to the heart rate. During the Valsalva maneuver, a marked exophthalmos of the left eye occurred. The patient had light brown spots on the skin of the face and body trunk. Following an orbital computed tomography (CT), defects of the left sphenoid bone were present. Posteriorly, an arachnoid cyst was found; however, there was a lack of varix. The archnoid cyst was also observed to expand into the orbit during the Valsalva maneuver and forward the globe. CONCLUSIONS: To date, cases of proptosis occurring during a Valsalva maneuver by causes other than orbital varix are rare. Herein, the authors report a case with a review of literature.
Adult ; Arachnoid ; Enophthalmos ; Exophthalmos ; Eye ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Light ; Neurofibromatoses ; Orbit ; Skin ; Sphenoid Bone ; Sprains and Strains ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Varicose Veins