No abstract available.
Hallucinogens* ; Narcotics*

BACKGROUND: Nucleolar organizer regions(NORs) are loops of DNA that transcribe ribosomal RNA; they can be easily identified in paraffin section using silver method. Recently, the application of NORs to the study of various types of benign and malignant proliferation has suggested that the number of NORs per nucleus can provide an indication of degree of cellur maligriancy. Many authors indicated a significant overlapping of NORs counts between benign and malignant proliferation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to discriminate benign m laocytic nevi from malignant melanoma effectively, thus we use simple enumeration and computerized image analysis of AgNORs in melanocytic skin lesions. METHOD: NORs were investigated on silver stained histologicec ion of 18 malignant melanoma (MM), 19 acquired nevi(AN), 21 congenital nevi(CN). For each case, 100 nucleus sample were cuantified using image analysis system(AIC Inc., Roswell, GA). There is no consensus at present as to the best criterion for quantifying AgNORs proteins in melanocytic skin lesion. We prefer to quantify a large number of parameters. The mean value or standard deviation(SD), each calculated for a batch of 100 cells, are average again(mean+SD), over the 58 cases for six morphological criteria mean number of AgNORs per nucleu, mean ratio of AgNORs area per ruc eus area, mean area of largest AgNORs, mean ratio of largest AgNORs area per nucleus area, mean nucleus area per a AgNOR, and coefficient of variation of nucleus area. RESULTS: 1. All of the six parameters show significant difference between benign melanocytic nevi and malignant melanoma. But., there is no significant difference between acquired nevi and congenital nevi. 2. In stepwise discriminate analysis, we discriminate benign melanoctic nevi from malignant melanoma effectively using combined two parameters(number of AgNORs and mean ratio of AgNORs area per nucleus area). But there is some overlapping between malignant melanoma and ber ign melanocytic nevi using each six parameters. 3. In metastatic and non-metastatic malignant melanoma, six param ters have not shown significant difference. CONCLUSION: Study of AgNORs in the image analysis system is a very useful tool to differentiate malignant melanoma from benign melanocytic nevi.
Consensus ; DNA ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Nucleolus Organizer Region ; Paraffin ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Silver ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Amniocentesis* ; Cytogenetics*

No abstract available.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Amantadine* ; Benztropine* ; Double-Blind Method*

BACKGROUND: Nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) have recently attracted much attention because of claims that their frequency within nuclei is significantly higher in malignant cells than in normal, reactive, or benign neoplastic cells. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to analyze a method allowing selection of the best morphometric criterion for quantifying AgNOR proteins under conventional observation conditions by light microscopy. METHOD: We tried to investigate the various parameters including NORs counting in cutaneous tumors using image analysis system. RESULTS: There were significant differences in mean nucleus area per a AgNOR, nucleus area between the benign and potentially malignant group. But the conventional counting of AgNORs is not able to differentiate between the two groups. We could discriminate squamous cell carcinoma from Bowen's disease using parameters of mean ratio of AgNORs area per nucleus area, mean ratio of greatest AgNORs area per nucleus area, coefficient of variation (C V) of nucleus area, and mean area of largest AgNORs. In squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma, C V of nucleus area has shown a significant difference. CONCLUSION: Study of AgNORs using image analysis system is a useful tool for the diagnosis of cutaneous tumors.
Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Keratoacanthoma ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Nucleolus Organizer Region* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Haloperidol* ; Homovanillic Acid* ; Plasma*

Retinal pigment epithelial cells(RPE) from a monolayer on the outer portion of sensory retina and have important physiologic functions that include solute transport, phagocytiosis and digestion of membrances shed from photoreceptor outer segments, and drug detoxication. Recently, transplantation of normal RPE has been proposed as a potential therapeutic modality in the surgical management of subretinal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration(ARMD). The viability of RPE at the time of transplantation is important for a good result after transplantation. This viability can be influenced by the period and environmental conditions of storage after harvest.In this study, the influence of these two factors on the viability was evaluated under controlling other remaining factors in vitro. And limitation of masimal time and optimal environmental conditions of storage were investigated.From November 1997 to February 1998, RPE cell sheets from six donor eyeballs for corneal transplantation in the department of ophthalmology of Severance Hospital were harvested and stored in -70degrees C, 4degrees C, or room temperature condotion. The viability of RPE cells at 0, 24 and 48 hours after havest was assessed and compared statistically.The viability was highest at 4degrees C condition. During storage, the viability was about 95% at 24 hours for and decreased abruptly to below 90% at 48 hours. Therefore, RPE cells for transplantation are to be stored at 4degrees C condition and transplantation should be performed within 24 hours after harvest.
Corneal Transplantation ; Digestion ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Macular Degeneration ; Ophthalmology ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Tissue Donors*

There appeared remarkably common disorder of water balance in psychiatric patients. Approximately 30% of the chronic inpatient population drinks fluids excessively, so called polydipsic, while 5% suffers episodes of water intoxication. Water intoxication is a serious problem characterized by profound hyponatremia and a diverse neurologic signs ranging from ataxia, confusion to death. The cause of polydipsia is even less clear. Although previous studies have suggested that it is related to cognitive dysfunction the possibility of an abnormality in the osmoregulation of thirst has not been investigated. But there is the hypothesis that polydipsic, hyponatremic schizophrenics exhibit increased neuroendocrine and behavioral sensitivity to dopamine in mesolimbic tracts, in proportion to the severity of their osmoregulatory disturbance. In order to provide the optimal clinical management of these common disturbances, the author will review their pathophysiology, assessment, treatment and relationship with mental illness.
Ataxia ; Dopamine ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inpatients ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osmoregulation ; Polydipsia* ; Psychotic Disorders ; Thirst ; Vasopressins* ; Water Intoxication*