Leiomyomas of vagina and vulva are rare solid tumors, but most common mesenchymal tumors in adult woman. Most of the reported cases have been benign. The tumors were firm, well-defined submucosal masses in a majority of patients. We experienced two cases of vulvar and vaginal leiomyoma, thus it is presented with a brief review of the cases and its literatures.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Vagina* ; Vulva*

PURPOSE: It is important to diagnose paragonimiasis in early active stage because it can be dured by chemotherapy. However, it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis of cerebral paragonimiasis in the early active stage, and the radiographic findings of cerebral paragonimiasis have been rarely reported. Thus, this experimental study was designed to produce early active cerebral paragonimiasis and to demonstrate radiologic-pathologic correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 8 cats, 7-8 metacercariae of Paragonimus westerrnani were directly introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's after trephination of the skull. In anogher 16 cats, the juvenile worms and the adult worms that had developed for varying periods (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks) in the lunges of another cats were introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's with the same procedures described above. Follw-up MR images and chest radiographs were obtained at 2 days, 1 weeks, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after innoculation. The autopsies and histopathological examinations of the cat's brain were undertaken in 22 cats. In 9 cats that were suspected with pulmonary lesions on chest radiograph, the soft tissue radiographs of inflated-fixed lungs were obtained. RESULTS: In one cat with innoculation of adult worm, acute suppurative inflammation of the brain parenchyma was demonstrated. But the other cats with innoculction of adult worm or juvenile worm and the cats with innoulation of metacercaris did not reveal any evidence of acute cerebral paragonimiasis. More than half of the introduced metacercariae(5 out of 8 cats) were found in the lung parenchyma, while only 25%(4 out of 16 cats) of the adult worm innoculated cats were. CONCLUSION: Acute suppurative inflammation suggesting acute stage cerebral paragonimiasis was obtained in one case of adult worm innoculated cat. Most of the innoculated metacercariae and some of the juvenile worms or adult worms were migrated to the lungs.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Cats* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Metacercariae ; Paragonimiasis* ; Paragonimus ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Skull ; Trephining

The taxonomy of Acanthamoeba spp., an amphizoic amoeba which causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and chronic amoebic keratitis, has been revised many times. The taxonomic validity of some species has yet to be assessed. In this paper, we analyzed the morphological characteristics, nuclear 18s rDNA and mitochondrial 16s rDNA sequences and the Mt DNA RFLP of the type strains of four Acanthamoeba species, which had been previously designated as A. divionensis, A. parasidionensis, A. mauritaniensis, and A. rhysodes. The four isolates revealed characteristic group II morphology. They exhibited 18S rDNA sequence differences of 0.2-1.1% with each other, but more than 2% difference from the other compared reference strains. Four isolates formed a different clade from that of A. castellanii Castellani and the other strains in morphological group II on the phylogenetic tree. In light of these results, A. paradivionensis, A. divionensis, and A. mauritaniensis should be regarded as synonyms for A. rhysodes.
Acanthamoeba/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proper axial thickness of zirconia abutment applied to implant in the anterior region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zirconia abutments were prepared at different axial wall thickness by processing pre-sintered zirconia blocks via CAD/CAM to obtain equal specimens. The abutments were each produced with a thickness of 0.5 mm (Group 1), 0.8 mm (Group 2), 1.2 mm (Group 3), or 1.5 mm (Group 4). The implant used in this study was a external connection type one (US, Osstem, Pussan, Korea) product and the zirconia abutment was prepared via replication of a cemented abutment. The crowns were prepared via CAM/CAM with a thickness of 1.5 mm and were cemented to the abutments using RelyX(TM) UniCem cement. A universal testing machine was used to apply load at 30 degrees and measure fracture strength of the zirconia abutment. RESULTS: Fracture strength of the abutments for Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 were 236.00 +/- 67.55 N, 599.00 +/- 15.80 N, 588.20 +/- 33.18 N, and 97.83 +/- 98.13 N, respectively. Group 1 showed a significantly lower value, as compared to the other groups (independent Mann-Whitney U-test. P<.05). No significant differences were detected among Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 (independent Mann-Whitney U-test. P>.05). CONCLUSION: Zirconia abutment requires optimal thickness for fracture resistance. Within the limitation of this study, > 0.8 mm thickness is recommended for zirconia abutment in anterior implants.
Crowns

PURPOSE: To evaluate ethanolamine oleate (EAO)-microfibrillar collagen (MFC) mixture as a new scleroembolic material for the interventions requiring both permanent obliteration of vascular lumen and atrophy of mass, such as for the facial AVM and other hypervascular soft tissue masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine transcatheter transarterial embolizations of renal arteries were performed in six groups of rabbits classified by the EAO concentration and the addition of MFC. Postembolization angiography, gross morphological and microscopic examinations of embolized kidneys were performed immediately, 3 days, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after embotization. Analysing points were the usefulness as a scleroembolic material (endovascular retention, thrombogenic-sclerosing effect, perivascular fibrosis and inflammatory reaction), effects of the EAO concentration and the addition of MFC. RESULTS: EAO-MFC mixture satisfied all ideal conditions of scleroembolic agent;persistent endovascular retention, good thrombogenic-sclerosing effect with a mild inflammatory reaction and significant atrophy of kidney. The effect of increasing concentration of EAO was proximal embolization. The effects of MFC were promotion of proximal embolization, endovascular retention and sclerosing effect. CONCLUSION: EAO-MFC mixture can be used as a new effective scleroembolic material for the various hemodynamic situations in which embolic level can be controlled by EAO concentration and the addition of MFC.
Angiography ; Atrophy ; Collagen* ; Ethanolamine* ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics ; Kidney ; Oleic Acid* ; Rabbits* ; Renal Artery

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypophosphatemia*

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of bears' bile on tumor cell p53 protein expression with different gene properties.

METHODSThe effects of bears' bile on the expression of p53 protein in 6 cancer cell strains were determined by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Results Western blot analysis showed that the expression of p53 protein in HaCaT, KUMA3, KUMA4 and KUMA6 cell strains with gene mutation were increased, but no change was found in HCT116 and KUMA5 cell strains without gene mutation. There was no quantitative change in p53 mRNA in all cell strains by analysis of p53 mRNA with

CONCLUSIONThe effects of bears' bile on p53 protein expression in cancer cell strains RT-PCR analysis system. could be different based on p53 gene properties,i. e. ,bears' bile only affect p53 protein of mutation type.

Animals ; Bile ; Biological Factors ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ursidae

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of smoking in schizophrenic patients (74-92%) is higher than that of all psychiatric patients (34-54%) or general population (30-35%). This higher smoking Prevalence is demonstrated even after controlling for known confounders, such as marital status, alcohol use, and socioeconomic status. This study was conducted to determine whether there would be any difference in nicotine intake and metabolism between schizophrenics and normal controls. METHODS: Sixteen schizophrenic patients and sixteen normal controls were collected. All subjects were supplied with a pack of cigarette a day. Urinary cotinine excretion was measured by using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric method. RESULTS: Cotinine excretion was significantly increased in schizophrenic patients compared to normal controls (p<0.05). None of variables such as age at initial smoking, the average number of cigarettes at initial smoking, pack year (packs daily smoked x smoking year), abstinence history were found to influence cotinine levels when examined via the ANOVA, even when the interaction with diagnosis was considered. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that nicotine intake and consumption are increased in schizophrenic patients compared to normal controls, which can be an attempt to improve sensory inhibition and counteract neuronal effect of antipsychotic medications.
Cotinine* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Metabolism ; Neurons ; Nicotine ; Prevalence ; Schizophrenia ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class ; Tobacco Products

Annular pancreas is a rarely found gastrointestinal tract malformation, and is frequently associated with Down syndrome. Endocardial cushion defect is a type of congenital heart disease, commonly also related to Down syndrome. However, a combination of endocardial cushion defect with annular pancreas has not been reported previously. We recently experienced such a case in 2 month old boy. Moreover Down syndrome was excluded through physical examination and a chromosomal study. We think it difficult to obtain a complete explanation for this condition through the currently known pathogenesis of annular pancreas and endocardial cushion defect.
Down Syndrome* ; Endocardial Cushion Defects ; Endocardial Cushions* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pancreas* ; Physical Examination

This study was conducted to investigate the potential embryo-fetal toxicity and toxicokinetics of the antimalarial agent artesunate (ARTS) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pregnant rats were administered ARTS daily from gestational day 6~15 via oral gavage, at test doses of 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg (22 females per group). The fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities on gestational day 20. With regard to the dams, there were no deaths, treatment-related clinical signs, changes in body weight, or food intake in any of the treatment groups. There were no treatment-related gross findings at necropsy in any treatment group. In the 8 mg/kg group, there was a decrease in gravid uterine weight and in the weight of female fetuses. There was also an increase in fetal deaths (primarily late resorptions) and an increase in post-implantation losses (37%) at 8 mg/kg. An increase in the incidence of visceral and skeletal variations at 4 and 8 mg/kg was observed. These defects included minor changes in the appearance of the kidney and thymus, as well as absent ribs or thoracic vertebrae. Toxicokinetics were assessed in a parallel study, using 4 mated females per group. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, the concentration of ARTS and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were quantified in plasma from rats on gestational days 5, 6, 10, and 15. Amniotic fluid was assayed for ARTS and DHA on gestational day 15. There was evidence of rapid conversion of ARTS to the metabolite DHA in maternal plasma, since ARTS could not be consistently detected in plasma at the three doses tested. ARTS and DHA were not detected in amniotic fluid at gestational day 15, indicating limited placental transfer of the two agents. The embryo-fetal no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the test item was considered to be 8 mg/kg/day for dams, and 2 mg/kg/day for embryo-fetal development.
Amniotic Fluid ; Animals ; Artemisinins ; Body Weight ; Eating ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Fetus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ribs ; Spectrum Analysis ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Thymus Gland