No abstract available.
Teratoma*

Human seminal plasrna (HSP) is mixture of secretion derived from various glands associated with male reproductive tract which comprises approximately 80-90% of the volume of normal ejaculate. The present study was undertaken in an effort to explore the effect of HSP pretreatment on the production of IL-1B, TNF-a and IL-12, in mice, and to investigate if HSP may cause to induce active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) in mice. In addition, effects of HSP pretreatment on contact hypersensitivity to trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB), antibody response to polyvinylpyrroridone (PVP), a thymus-independent antigen and on ASA induced by egg albumin (OVA) were also studied in this study. For the experiments of contact hypersensitivity, antibody response and cytokine production, mice were pretreated i.p. daily with 0.3ml of HSP or sterile saline alone (control) for 3 consecutive days before antigen sensitization or lipopolysaccharide injection for the cytokine induction. For the experiments of OVA- induced anaphylaxis, mice were pretreated by a single s.c. injection of HSP 0.3ml per mouse before sensitization. For induction of ASA in mice by HSP, a group of mice were sensitized i.p. 2 consecutive days with 0.3ml of HSP and one day with 0.3 ml of HSP plus 2x10(9) B. pertussis and 1.0 mg of alum (schedule A) or another group of mice were sensitized i.p. with a single i.p. injection of 0.3 ml of HSP with 2x10' B. pertussis and 1.0 mg of alum (schedule B). All sensitized and unsensitized control mice were challenged i.v. with 0.2ml of HSP 14 days after HSP sensitization, and mortality were observed. It was found that HSP pretreatment inhibited the production of IL-lB, TNF-a and IL-12, and also inhibited OVA-induced ASA, contact hypersensitivity to TNCB and anti-PVP antibody production. Interestingly, ASA was induced by HSP irrespective of the applied sensitization schedule. Taken together, this study may provide the direct evidences that HSP may inhibit the production of IL-1B, TNF-a and IL-12 and this may be the first to show the induction of ASA by HSP in mice.
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Appointments and Schedules ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Humans* ; Interleukin-12 ; Male ; Mice* ; Mortality ; Ovum ; Picryl Chloride ; Semen* ; Whooping Cough

We designed a study to determine if the tracheal tube cuff inflation in the oropharynx improves the success rate of blind nasotracheal intubation in normal, paralyzed patients because of lacking of controlled study about it. In prospective, randomized fashion, 100 ASA I or II patients undergoing elective oral surgery were studied. The trachea was intubated once keeping the tracheal tube cuff deflated throughout the maneuver and once using the technique of tracheal tube cuff inflation in the oropbarynx. A maximum of two attempts was allowed for each technique. If the first attempt was failed, the second attempt was tried with an addition of application of thyroid cartilage compression in each technique. Witb the tracheal tube cuff inflated, the success rate was significantly higher than the cuff-deflated technique(p<0.05). A application of thyroid cartilage compression increased the success rate of the blind nasotracheal intubation in each technique, but it was more useful in the cuff inflation technique(p<0.05). Time taken to intubate the trachea was longer in the cuff inflation technique. We suggest that, in normal paralyzed patients, the tracheal tube cuff inflation in the oropharynx increases the success rate of blind nasotracheal intubation.
Humans ; Inflation, Economic* ; Intubation* ; Oropharynx* ; Prospective Studies ; Surgery, Oral ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Trachea

Three patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the uterine cervix are reported and the literature is reviewed. All the three patients in the current study presented with vaginal bleeding. They were found to have diffuse large cleaved cell lymphoma, one of which was multilobated variant with marked sclerosis. Histologically, differential diagnsis from undifferentiated small cell carcinoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma & other sarcomas was difficult and requires special stains including immunobistochemical study. Vaginal pap smears were diagnosed as 'class V; malignant lymphoma' in only one patient. Immunologically, two cases were beta-cell lineage and one case was T-cell lineage. All the patients were treated with chemotherapy only and showed good responses.

PURPOSE: The "standardization" of standardized patients (SP) is one of the most crucial factors for a successful clinical performance examination (CPX). This study aimed to examine the inter-rater reliability among SPs who portrayed the same case during a CPX. METHODS: The context was a CPX conducted under the supervision of CPX Seoul-Gyeonggi Consortium in K medical school in August 2007. K medical school ran 12 stations consisting of duplicated sets of 6 cases. In total, thirty SPs participated with 5 SPs acting each of the 6 cases. The SPs evaluated the student's performances in addition to portraying the cases. ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) was used to compare scores rated by the different SPs. The dependent variables were the case scores and the 4 subcomponent (history taking, physical examination, Clinical courtesy, and Patient-physician interaction) scores for each case; the independent variable was the SPs; and the covariate was the CPX total score. RESULTS: The Headache and Cough stations showed an acceptable level of reliability. Otherwise, Weight Loss and Facial Flushing failed to show consistent scores in all 4 subcomponents. Diarrhea and Lt. hemiparesis showed partial consistency. In terms of the subcomponents, the physical exam scores were most consistent and the patient-physician interaction scores were most inconsistent. CONCLUSION: This study tested the level of "standardization" of one set of CPX cases with mixed results. The authors hope that our results will contribute to quality assurance of CPX.
Cough ; Diarrhea ; Flushing ; Headache ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Paresis ; Physical Examination ; Schools, Medical ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Ovarian Neoplasms*

Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN), synonymous with acute lobar nephronia (ALN) or focal pyelonephritis, is an inflammatory mass without liquefaction caused by severe acute bacterial infection of kidney. Unless treated effectively, progression to a renal abscees may ensue. Clinically, AFBN presents as acute pyelonephritis, and radiologically, as focal swelling or mass. The distinction between AFBN and renal abceess or even tumor may be confusing and difficult. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography(CT) aid in establishing the correct diagnosis. However, the appearance of AFBN on sonography and CT is by no means pathognomonic. Benign or malignant renal tumors may have a similar appearance. With the clinical history, a high index of suspicion, and follow-up studies after institution of medical treatment may further aid in the differentiation. Herein we report 2 cases of AFBN, which were presented as renal masses.
Bacterial Infections ; Diagnosis ; Kidney ; Nephritis* ; Pyelonephritis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: From a clinical perspective, the regurgitation of the gastric contents above the upper esophageal sphincter has greater clinical relevance than gastroesophageal reflux. The authors investigated the incidence of regurgitation of gastric contents above the upper esophageal sphincter associated with the laryngeal mask airway(LMA) and the endotracheal tube(ETT) by methylene blue(50mg) gelatine capsule and pH probe in positive pressure ventilated patients during long surgical procedures . METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery with a standardized general anesthetic technique were randomly allocated to receive either a LMA(n=34) or a ETT(n=26) for airway management. For the detection of regurgitation episodes during anesthesia, a pH monitoring probe was positioned in the hypopharynx 30 minutes before induction and a methylene blue capsule was swallowed just before induction. At the end of anesthesia, the episodes of regurgitation of gastric contents above upper esophageal sphincter were analyzed according to the pharyngeal blue staining or pH< or =4. RESULTS: There were no episodes of regurgitation of gastric contents(pH< or =4 or/and methylene blue staining) above the upper esophageal sphincter detected during the course of measurement. There was no clinical evidence of aspiration in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with ETT, the use of LMA does not appear to result in increased incidence of regurgitation of gastric contents above upper esophageal sphincter in positive pressure ventilated patients during long surgical procedures.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper* ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypopharynx ; Incidence* ; Laryngeal Masks* ; Methylene Blue ; Orthopedics

PURPOSE: This study aims to explore which coping strategies medical students use more often, and how coping styles account for medical students' subjective well-being. METHODS: Subjects included 249 medical students from undergraduate and Graduate Entry Programme of a medical school in Seoul, Korea. Coping style was measured using the Ways of Coping Checklist. Subjective well-being was measured with Positive/Negative Affect Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Analysis of Variance(ANOVA) was used to compare four coping strategies, and stepwise multiple regression was used to analyze the accountability of each of the coping strategy for subjective well-being. RESULTS: Medical students used avoidance and problem-focused coping strategy more often than they used emotion-focused coping strategy and seeking social support. Graduate Entry Programme students used avoidance less often and seeking social support more often than undergraduate students. Among subscales of subjective well-being, positive affect can be accounted for by problem-focused coping and seeking social support, and negative affect can be accounted for by problem-focused coping and avoidance. Life satisfaction can be accounted for by problem-focused coping as well. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that medical students had high adaptability as well as strong anxiety toward stressful situations in medical school. Moreover, three among the four coping strategies accounted for medical students' subjective well-being. These findings should be considered as a baseline for future research looking into additional variables affecting medical students' well-being.
Anxiety ; Checklist ; Education, Medical ; Humans ; Korea ; Schools, Medical ; Seoul ; Social Responsibility ; Students, Medical*

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the presence of multiple benign and malignant tumors including hemangioblastomas of the retina and central nervous system, pancreatic cysts and tumors, renal cell carcinomas, pheochromocytomas and epididymal cystadenomas. We report the radiologic findings of a case of von Hippel-Lindau disease, describing the family history.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Central Nervous System ; Cystadenoma ; Hemangioblastoma ; Humans ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Pheochromocytoma ; Retina ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease*