Authors analyzed 72 cases of abdominal CT of Korean adults who didn't have any medical reasons to believe thespleen was abnormal. The following criteria were measured with mulitiple transverse scanning of the entire lengthof spleen (height, breadth, thickness) & relationship with fixed midline structure, the spine( the shortestdistance from midline to medial edge of spleen, the longest distance from anterior margin of vertebral body toanterior tip of spleen). The reults were as follows; 1. The average size in adult was 8.0±1.5cm in height,8.6±1.2cm in breadth and 3.4±0.6cm in thickness; in adult female, 7.8±1.1cm, 8.4±1.0cm and 3.4±0.6cm,respectively; total average, 7.9±1.3cm, 8.5±1.1cm and 3.4±0.6cm, respectively. No remarkable difference wasnoted between both sexes and age groups. 2. The shortest distance from midline to medial edge of spleen was4.1±1.1.cm in male, 3.6±1.0cm in female and total average of 3.9±1.1cm. There was remarkable difference betweenboth sexes(p<0.005) but not between age groups. 3. The longest distance from anterior margin of vertebral body toanterior edge of spleen was 2.3±1.7cm in male, 2.0±1.4cm in female and total average of 2.2±1.6cm. Noremarkable difference was seen between both sexes and age groups.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spleen ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SXT) is considered the first-line therapy for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections, there is debate on the use of the bacteriostatic drug in serious infections, and recently, there has been an increasing occurrence of acquired resistance to TMP-SXT. In the present study, the effect of efflux pump inhibitors on the susceptibility of TMP-SXT and other antibiotics were investigated in S. maltophilia complex. The sul and/or dfrA genes were identified in only up to 27.8% of all 36 TMP-SXT-resistant S. maltophilia complex isolates. Thus, TMP-SXT resistance in S. maltophilia was not explained completely by the presence of sul and dfrA genes. Carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of TMP-SXT by eight to 128 folds in all 14 isolates. In contrast, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), phenyl-arginine-β-naphthylamide (PAβN), and reserpine did not reduce the MIC of TMP-SXT. In addition to TMP-SXT, slight decrease in MICs was observed for tigecycline and piperacillin/tazobactam by CCCP (by two folds) in one isolate. Although efflux pump may play a role in TMP-SXT resistance in S. maltophilia, inhibition of the efflux pump could be done by active proton pore.
2,4-Dinitrophenol ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone ; Korea* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Protons ; Reserpine ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* ; Stenotrophomonas* ; Thiram* ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination*

Although the characteristic cytologic features of melanoma have been well described, the diagnosis of metastatic melanoma by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) may be difficult in the case of amelanotic melanoma and in the absence of awareness of clinical history. Furthermore, when the breast is the site of initial presentation, it could simulate a primary breast carcinoma leading to misdiagnosis. The recognition of metastatic malignant melanoma in FNAC material is essential to avoid an unnecessary mastectomy and to ensure appropriate chemotherapy. We experienced a case of metastatic melanoma of breast which presented as solitary breast mass in a 56-year-old woman. She had a history of surgical excision of right foot for melanoma one year ago. The cytologic smears were composed of noncohesive epithelioid cells with round or eccentric nuclei, bi-or multi-nucleation, prominent nucleoli, fine chromatin, and intranuclear inclusions. The cytoplasm of tumor cells had scanty melanin pigment but were diffusely positive for S-100 protein.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Drug Therapy ; Epithelioid Cells ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies ; Mastectomy ; Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Melanoma, Amelanotic ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins

NAG activity has been measured in the urine of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and renal disease subjects. Results have shown significantly higher levels of Urinary NAG in hypertension, diaetes and renal disease subjects compared to normal control Subjects group(P<0.001). Urinary NAG measurement is simple and accurate and it provides a valuable information in the early detection of renal dysfunction in hypertension and diabetes subjects and also in the follow up of these patients.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension*

Clonorchiasis is known to be closely related with the development of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. In order to ascertain the cholangiographic signs for recurrent pyogenic cholangitis or carcinoma of the bile ducts arising in patients with clonorchiasis. we reviewed cholangiograms in 42 patients with proven clonorchiasis. The population consisted of 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone, six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, and seven patients with clonorchiasis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. Cholangiographic abnormalities in 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone, six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, and seven patients with clonorchiasis and carcinoma of the bile ducts. Cholangiographic abnormalities in 29 patients with clonorchiasis alone were intrahepatic multiple, oval, or elliptic filling defects measuring 2-10 mm in size, representing adult flukes (n=24). The peripheral bile duct were obstructed (n=18), and the margins were ragged (n=20) and hazy (n=12) the intrahepatic bile ducts were dilated diffusely (n=27), and the dilated peripheral small tributaries gave the impression of "too many ducts appearance" (n=7) and dilatation was mid (n=17) In six patients with clonorchiasis and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, there were filling defects of stones, and the extrahepatic ducts and larger intrahepatic ducts were predominantly dilated. In seven patients with clonorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma all the biliary tree proximal to the tumor was markedly and diffusely dilated In the latter two groups, filling defects of flukes and associated findings were less prominent, but there was disproportionately severe dilatation of too many intrahepatic ducts. In patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis or cholangiocarcinoma, clonorchiasis should be considered as a underlying cause when cholangiogram shows "disproportionately" severe dilatation of too many intrahepatic ducts. intrahepatic ducts.
Adult ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biliary Tract ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis ; Clonorchiasis* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Trematoda

Retinal horizontal cell is second-order neuron that integrates the information from photoreceptors over large retinal areas, mediating the lateral spread of visual signals to distant retina. The Neurofilament proteins, considered as neuronal markers, have been imunolocalized to mammalian retinal horizontal cess. However, the immunolabeling of Neurofilament in human, has been focused on the studies of visual pathway and large ganglion cells The goal of this study is to see whether human retinal horizontal cells are indeed neuronal nature or glial nature by immunogold labeling for electron microscopy. The sections of 65 year-old human retina showed the expression of Neurofilament by horizontal cells, which confirms the evidence of human retinal horizontal cell as neuronal nature.
Aged ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Negotiating ; Neurofilament Proteins ; Neurons ; Retina ; Retinal Horizontal Cells* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Pathways

The central dopaminergic receptor is believed to suppress the cardiovascular system So it may be involved in the blood pressure regulation But, it's action is still controversial. Furthermore, the mechanisms involved in the central dopaminergic receptor-induced blood pressure regulation is unclear. So, present study was performed in order to clarify the effects of central dopaminergic receptor and to investigate the mechamisms involved in it. Lisuride a D2-receptor agonist, and clonidine, a alpha2-receptor agonist, were administered into lateral ventricle in rat and the changes of blood pressure were compared The results were as follows; 1. Intracerebroventricular administration of lisuride amd clonidine from 0.3 ug to 10 ug elicited dose related decrease of blood pressure and heart rate. The potencies were similar in both drugs. 2. Centrally administered sulpiride, a D2-antagonist, blocked only the lisuride-induced hypotension while the clonidine induced hypotension was blocked only by centrally adrninistered tolazoline, a alpha2-antagonist. Intravenous administration of both antagonists elicited no or minimal attenuabon of agonists effects. 3. After desipramine pretreatment, which increases the norepinephrine concentration lisuride elicited somewhat further decrease of blood pressure than normal, while clonidine administration caused rather increase in blood pressure. 4. After chemical sympathectomy by 6-hydroxydopamine, lisuride administration still elicited strong suppression of blood pressure. From thses above results, it is concluded that central dopaminergic receptor activation decrease the blood pressure. Suppression of the norepinephrine release at the sympathetic nerve terminal is not related with central dopaminergic receptor induced hypotension.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System* ; Clonidine ; Desipramine ; Heart Rate ; Hypotension ; Lateral Ventricles ; Lisuride ; Norepinephrine ; Oxidopamine ; Rats ; Sulpiride ; Sympathectomy, Chemical ; Tolazoline

BACKGROUND: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is one of several opportunistic pathogens of growing significance. Several studies on the molecular epidemiology of S. maltophilia have shown clinical isolates to be genetically diverse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 121 clinical isolates tentatively identified as S. malophilia from seven tertiary-care hospitals in Korea from 2007 to 2011 were included. Species and groups were identified using partial gyrB gene sequences and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a broth microdilution method. Multi locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) surveys are used for subtyping. RESULTS: Based on partial gyrB gene sequences, 118 isolates were identified as belonging to the S. maltophilia complex. For all S. maltophilia isolates, the resistance rates to trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and levofloxacin were the highest (both, 30.5%). Resistance rate to ceftazidime was 28.0%. 11.0% and 11.9% of 118 S. maltophilia isolates displayed resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam and tigecycline, respectively. Clade 1 and Clade 2 were definitely distinguished from the data of MLVA with amplification of loci. All 118 isolates were classified into several clusters as its identification. CONCLUSION: Because of high resistance rates to TMP/SMX and levofloxacin, the clinical laboratory department should consider providing the data about other antimicrobial agents and treatment of S. maltophilia infections with a combination of antimicrobials can be considered in the current practice. The MLVA evaluated in this study provides a fast, portable, relatively low cost genotyping method that can be employed in genotypic linkage or transmission networks comparing to analysis of the gyrB gene.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Ceftazidime ; Korea ; Levofloxacin ; Methods ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* ; Stenotrophomonas* ; Tandem Repeat Sequences*

TGF-p receptor mutation is now considered as one of the carcinogenic process of many tumors. To evaluate whether there is an abnormality in TGF-p type II receptor in osteosarcoma cell lines, we performed Northern analysis, cross-linking assay, luciferase activity and TGF-p growth inhibition assay in four osteosarcoma cell lines: G292, U202, HOS and SaOS. We also transfected the tumor cells with normal TGF-p type II receptor sequence to find if there is a possibility of gene therapy in osteosarcoma. In Northern analysis, Type II receptor expressions were decreased at SaOS, U202 and HOS cell lines. In cross-linking assay, all four cell lines didnt show type II receptor at their cell surface. The growth of these tumor cells were not suppressed by TGF-p. From these findings, we concluded that the normal production of TGF-p type II receptor was impaired in osteosarcoma. The transfection of these tumor cells with normal type II receptor sequence restored growth inhibition by TGF-p. This means even though TGF-p type II receptor is abnormal in osteosarcoma, we can restore its function by transfection of normal sequence. We think that the TGF-p type Il receptor gene therapy can be one of the treatment method for osteosarcoma in the future.
Cell Line* ; Genetic Therapy ; Luciferases ; Osteosarcoma* ; Transfection

Four Gram-positive cocci were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid or blood of four different patients, but they could not be identified by an automated conventional identification system, so they were identified using cellular fatty acid (CFA) composition analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Of these, two strains (SMC-A2662 and SMC-A5889), which were previously supposed to be Rothia dentocariosa according to the API Coryne system, were identified as Rothia aeria by the 16S rRNA gene analysis. SMC-A608, which was unidentified by both the VITEK2 and API Coryne systems, was identified as Rothia mucilaginosa. The one remaining SMC-2244T was distinguished from the other Rothia species by its biochemical profile, its CFA composition and its 16S rRNA gene sequence. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it was closely related to Rothia nasimurium but the 16S rRNA gene sequence dissimilarity of 1.8% was enough to differentiate it from R. nasimurium. Based on both the phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, we propose a new species name for this bacterium, Rothia arfidiae sp. nov. The results of this study show that several Rothia species were isolated from human and we have identified them using 16S rRNA gene sequences.
Genes, rRNA ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans