No abstract available in English.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at evaluating the expressions of types I and III collagen, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), hypoxic inducible factor-1alpha(HIF-1alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the hemodynamic changes of the bladder during the acute stages of a partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) in adult rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bladder specimens were aseptically removed from 35 Sprague-Dawley adult rats (8 week old, weight 250-300gm) of both sham and experimental groups at 6, 12 and 24 hours, and 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after establishing a partial bladder outlet obstruction. Bladder blood flow was measured at the left vesicular artery using a laser flowmeter. The expressions of types I and III collagen, iNOS, HIF-1alpha and VEGF in relation to changes of the bladder wall were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the vesical blood flow between the sham and experimental groups after the establishment of a PBOO. The bladder blood flow of the experimental groups was significantly decreased after establishing a PBOO of 3 days duration. The expressions of type III collagen and iNOS from the immunohistochemical staining of the bladder were markedly increased during the acute stages of a PBOO. The expressions of HIF-1alpha and VEGF from the Western blot of the bladder increased with duration of the obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: A decreased bladder blood flow during the acute stages of PBOO generally enhanced the expressions of iNOS and type III collagen. This study suggests that hypoxia of the bladder after establishing a PBOO induces the expression of HIF-1alpha, and then enhances the production of nitric oxide (NO) due to activation of iNOS, which finally results in bladder growth and a decrease in bladder wall compliance.
Adult ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Arteries ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; Collagen Type III ; Compliance ; Flowmeters ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urinary Bladder* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

PURPOSE: As suggested by many investigators, the cause of age-related female sexual dysfunction is the decline of serum estrogen. We investigated the effects of estrogen on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and the histologic composition in the uterus and proximal and distal vagina of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups; the control group (C), the oophorectomy group (O), and the estrogen replacement group (E). The expression rates of neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), VEGF and the changes of the collagen component in the uterus and proximal and distal vaginal tissues were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and Masson's trichrom staining. RESULTS: The expression rate of NOS was highest in the proximal vagina, and this was followed by the portion of the vagina distal to the uterus. The nNOS and eNOS expression rates were significantly decreased in the uterus and the proximal vagina of the E group (p<0.05), and they were increased in the uterus and proximal vagina of the O group (p<0.05). However, the VEGF expression rate was increased in only the uterus of E group. In all tissues, the collagen component was significantly decreased in the E group, while it was increased in the O group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that estrogen downregulates nNOS and eNOS. In addition, estrogen deficiency induces collagen synthesis and it decreases the content of smooth muscle in the uterus and vagina, resulting in structural relaxation difficulty.
Animals ; Collagen ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III* ; Ovariectomy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Relaxation ; Research Personnel ; Uterus* ; Vagina* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Currently intracavernous pharmacotherapy is the second common therapeutic modality for erectile dysfunction after the introduction of Viagra. Nevertheless, intracavernous pharmacotherapy has increased in popularity for the past 15 years. While having an overwhelming safety after complete training in injection method, this treatment option can reveal unexpected complications related to self-injection. We report two cases of intracavernous needle breakage associated with alprostadil (Caverject , Pharmacia-Upjohn) and trimix self-injection therapy with a brief review of the literature.
Alprostadil ; Drug Therapy ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Male ; Needles* ; Sildenafil Citrate

BACKGROUND: Mitotic arrest deficiency protein 2 (MAD2) is a key component of spindle assembly checkpoint function, which mediates cell apoptosis through microtubule kinetics. Aberrant expression of MAD2 is believed to be associated with the development of chromosome instability. MAD2 also has a signihicant role in cellular drug resistance to taxane chemotherapeutic agents. METHODS: Expression of MAD2 and p53 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in 85 cases of ovarian carcinomas. Clinicopathological data including progression-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant (p=.035) association was observed between the grade of serous carcinoma and the expression level of MAD2. While low-grade serous carcinoma showed a low-level expression of MAD2, high-grade serous carcinoma showed a high-level expression of MAD2. We also determined that low-level expression of MAD2 was associated with reduced progression-free survival (PFS) (p=.016) in high-grade serous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: MAD2 expression in ovarian carcinoma is related to the grade of serous carcinoma and PFS of high-grade serous carcinoma. Expression level of MAD2 detected by immunohistochemistry may serve as an indicator in predicting the response of microtubule-interfering chemotherapeutic agents.
Apoptosis ; Bridged Compounds ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; Chromosomal Instability ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Resistance ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kinetics ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Microtubules ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Repressor Proteins ; Taxoids

No abstract available.
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Autoradiography ; Receptors, Angiotensin* ; Renin* ; Renin-Angiotensin System*

No abstract available.
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Autoradiography ; Receptors, Angiotensin* ; Renin* ; Renin-Angiotensin System*

No abstract available.

In June of 1983 authors had investigated the occurrence of the avian malaria in the Humboldt penguins imported from Japan to the Farm-land Zoo in central district of Korea. The disease was characterized by acute course and high mortality. The peripheral blood smears from the affected penguins demonstrated different developmental stages of Plasmodium sp. in the mature erythrocytes. The predominant gross lesions noticed were pulmonary and epicardial edema and hepato-splenomegaly. Microscopically the lesions were characterized by extensive reticuloendothelial cell hyperplasia with striking feature of exoerythrocytic schizogony affecting a variety of tissues. The report also signifies the first description of a disastrous epizootic of avian malaria in Korea.
parasitology-protozoa ; malaria ; penguin ; Plasmodium sp. ; hepatosplenomegaly ; case report

PURPOSE: This prospective study was conducted to evaulate the effect of nebulized steroid (budesonide) and parenteral steroid (dexamethasone) on chidren with croup. METHODS: Twenty nine infants and children (6months-5years of age) admitted to hospital with croup were randomly assigned to receive either 1mg (4ml) of nebulized budesonide (17 patients) or 0.6mg/kg intramuscular injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (12 patients). Total croup score, heart rate and respiratory rate of patients were assessed on admission, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: 1) In total cases, total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.01) but at 2 hours after treatmetn in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 2) In mild cases (total croup score<5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the both group (p<0.05). 3) In moderate to severe cases (total croup score> or =5), total croup score were significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with nebulized budesonide (p<0.05). But in group treated with dexamethasone, there were no statistical significance because of small cases. 4) Respiratory rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 2 hours after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 5) Heart rate was decreased after treatment in the both group, but significantly decreased at 30 minutes after treatment in the group treated with dexamethasone (p<0.05). 6) There were no significant side effects in the both group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that both nebulized budesonide and parenteral dexamethasone were effective in treatment of croup, and that nebulized budesonide leads to more rapid clinical improvement in children with croup, especially moderate to severe one.
Budesonide ; Child* ; Croup* ; Dexamethasone ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Rate ; Sodium