No abstract available.
Meniere Disease*

No abstract available.

Vibrio vulnificus (VV) is known to cause the wound infection, primary septicemia, gastroenteritis and other infection. The reports about the gastroenteritis by VV are very rare, and especially the mechanism of the invasion into the intestinal epithelium by VV is not known. In the present study, the rat ileum injected locally and directly with VV for 5, 30, 60, 120 minutes were examined by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. By scanning electron microscopy, VV were found on the surfaces of absorptive cells, goblet cells, and M (microfold) cells after incubation of 5 minutes. Microvilli of the epithelial cells were lost partially after incubation of 30 minutes. Microvilli of many epithelial cells were lost, and VV invaded vertically into the epithelial cell after incubation of 60 and 120 minutes. By light and transmission electron microscopy, VV attached and invaded by various degree into the epithelial cells after incubation of 30 minutes. Microvilli of luminal surface of the epithelial cell were lost partially and invaginated at the portion that VV contacted. Rich microfilaments were assembled just below its invaginated luminal membrane of the epithlial cell and represented 500 nm thick band. Electron-dense dark band, 30~90 nm, was found between VV and the invaginated luminal surface of the epithelial cell. At 60 minutes after injection, the luminal surface of some epithelial cells showed the loss of microvilli and the irregular structures protruding into the lumen. At 120 minutes after injection, the damage of the epithelial cells was prominent and extensive. In relation to VV, microvilli of the epithelial cells were lost and protruded as bleb-like or irregular structures. Luminal plasma membranes of many epithelial cells were ruptured, through which cell organelles and inclusions discharged into the lumen. VV were found within the damaged epithelial cell as well as in the defective intercellular space of the epithelium. These results suggested that the early mechanisms of the invasion into the epithelium of rat ileum by VV are endocytosis and cytolysis.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Animals ; Cell Membrane ; Endocytosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Extracellular Space ; Gastroenteritis ; Goblet Cells ; Ileum ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Membranes ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microvilli ; Organelles ; Phenobarbital ; Rats* ; Sepsis ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB) in patients is mainly caused by acquired drug resistance, However, a small proportion of MDR-TB is caused by initial drug resistance(IDR), which may be somewhat different from acquired drug resistance. This study analyzed the clinical characteristics of IDR in MDR-TB patients to use the results as basic data in managing the disease. METHODS: A retrospective study of 30 IDR cases in MDR-TB patients from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 1998 was perormed. In order to analyzed the clinical charcteristics, the age, sex, family history, duration of negative conversion, number of resistant drugs, treatment regimens, duration of treatment, extent of disease and cavitary lesion on the chest X-ray was examined. In order too analyzed the level of improvement, the extent of the disease and cavitary lesion on the chest X-ray, tested by Wilcoxon signed rank sum test, and the disease free interval rate of 1-year and 4-year was examined using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 46.6 years and the sex ratio 1:1. Six(20%) patients had a family history. The mean negative conversin of the sputum AFB stain was 2.6 months. The number of resistant drugs was 7.6 and the number of used drugs 3.6. Twenty-three(67%) patients were treated for less than 12months and 28(93%) patients were treated with first-line drugs. The extent of the disease and the cavitary lesion on the chest X-ray improved after treatment(p<0.05). Among 13 patients who were followed up for 22.6 months, 2(15%) patients relapsed and the disease free interval rate of 1-year and 4-year was 85%. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the duration of treatment of IDR in MDR-TB with first-line drugs be 9-12 months even if the extent of disease and cavitary lesion on the chest X-ray improves.
Drug Resistance* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

No abstract available.

E-cadherin is one of intercellular adhesion molecules, and it has been demonstrated that E- cadhedrin acts as an invasion suppressor in vitro and loss of its expression is an important prognostic factor in human malignancies. However the prognostic value of loss of expression of E-cadhedrin in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains to be defined. We herein immunohistochemically examined the expression of E-cadhedrin in paraffin- embedded tissues of 43 patients with RCC to investigate the prognostic value of loss of expression of E-cadherin. Twenty three of 43 patients (54.5%) showed loss of expression of E- cadherin. There were significant correlations between loss of expression of E-cadherin and histopathologic grade, Robson stage, T stage, N stage and M stage (all p<0.05). Patients with loss of expression of E-cadherin showed significantly decreased 2 year disease free survival as compared with those with normal expression of E-cadherin (p<0.001). These results suggest that loss of expression of E-cadherin has a ominous prognostic value in patients with RCC.
Cadherins* ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Suction auto epidermal graft for the treatment of stable vitiligo has become popular clinically. In general, depigmented epidermis is removed by liquid nitrogen freezing for preparation of the recipient site. There have been some problems with the nitrogen freezing method, uneven repigmentation, appearance of Koebner's phenomenon on normal colored skin around the graft site, scar formation on recipients sites. In our view these resulted in unwanted damage to the dermis and epidermal and skin appendageal melanocytes of normal skin by freezing. OBJECTIVE: To introduce a method to remove the depigmented epidermis of recipient site with minimal unwanted damage to melanocytes and dermal tissue. METHODS: Using Ellman surgitron, irradiation equipment of 3.8MHz frequency the depigmented epidermis was removed with a blade electrode under rated electric power around 10 watts depending on the thickness of the epidermis. Operating mode was fully filtered current for minimal charring and destruction of tissue through pure micro-smooth cutting. RESULTS: In the case of removal of the epidermis with Ellman surgitron, oozing and inflammation decreased markedly compared with those applied with liquid nitrogen. And it was confirmed histopathologically that there was no significant unwanted destruction of healthy tissue. Moreover, the electrode of Ellman surgitron is designed to be apt to trace the margin of depigmented lesion. And Ellman surgitron features a continuously linear intensity setting for precise, predictable control to minimize tissue destruction and charring. So we were able to remove the epidermis of the shallow lesion looking like a pseudopod and of the thinnest part of the body like eyelid also. And we grafted normal epidermis successfully on the depigmented lesion. CONCLUSION: The removal of depigmented epidermis by radio-frequency gave satisfactory results in the suction auto epidermal graft by overcoming the defects shown as depigmented epidermis which were removed by liquid nitrogen freezing. And this method made patients comfortable because of less pain, a one day operation procedure and good results.
Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Electrodes ; Epidermis* ; Eyelids ; Freezing ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Melanocytes ; Nitrogen ; Skin ; Suction* ; Transplants* ; Trout ; Vitiligo

It is not easy and simple to evaluate of the range of motion (ROM) of the head and neck, although it is important clinically. This study was performed to evaluated ROM of the head and neck in eighty young korean adults (50 men and 30 women). Both side rotations, flexion, extension and lateral bending were measured, and especially side rotation was performed with cases, natural and forced rotation. And the sitting habit of most subjects (48 men and 28 women) in classroom or theater were studied with questionnaire. Natural rotation in men was larger in right than left side (left : right=51.1.degrees: 53.9.degrees). Forced rotation was not significant between right and left sides in men and women, and between men and women (left : right=77.6.degrees: 76.8.degreesin men; left : right=77.4.degrees: 76.2.degrees in women). Flexion was larger in men (65.7.degrees) than women (58.9.degrees). The rage of the extension were 84.3.degrees and 80.0.degrees in men and women. Right lateral bending was larger in men than women (42.1.degrees and 38.6.degrees). The subjects dominant in the left or right rotation preferred to center of classroom generally (72.7% and 81.2%). In case that the subjects must select the one side between left and right, the subjects dominant in left rotation preferred to sit to the right (57.6%), and the subjects dominant in right rotation preferred to sit to the left (53.5%). This results suggested that this data might be the basis of ROM of the head and neck in young korean adults.
Adult ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rage ; Range of Motion, Articular

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the long-term skeletal responses to hormone replacement therapy(HRT) with or without active vitamin D(VD) by using short-term changes of bone markers in postmenopausal women (PMW). METHODS: Biochemical markers of bone formation(osteocalcin,OC) and (&) resorption(deoxypyridinoline, Dpd ) at 3 months & lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) at 1 year were measured in 64 natural PMW taking HRT(n=41) & HRT with calcitriol 0.25 microgram/day(n=23). The correlation of percent changes of bone markers after 3 months of Tx with those in lumbar BMD after 1 year was evaluated. RESULTS: 1. serum-OC & urine-Dpd showed decrease of 20.9% & 30.1% at 3months respectively & BMD increase of 3.8% after 1 year of Tx. 2. Among 58 PMW with decreased u-Dpd change, 49 (84.5%) revealed increase in BMD, while 40 (81.6%) among 49 PMW with decreased serum-OC change showed increased BMD. 3. Bone gainers showed significant decrease in changes of serum-OC(18.1% vs 9.2% p<0.05) & urine-Dpd(32.6% vs 20.4%, p<0.05) compared with those of bone losers. 4. No correlations of change of serum-OC (r=-0.174 p>0.05) & urine-Dpd (r=-0.091 p>0.05) at 3month with BMD changes at 1year were seen in total PMW, but urine-Dpd changes in HRT without active VD group revealed significantly inverse correlation(r=-0.376 p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term changes of bone markers did not precisely predict the long-term changes of BMD in total PMW except urine- Dpd in HRT without active VD.
Biomarkers ; Bone Density* ; Calcitriol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*