We previously reported that the p53 tumor suppressor protein plays an essential role in the induction of tetraploid G1 arrest in response to perturbation of the actin cytoskeleton, termed actin damage. In this study, we investigated the role of p53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM), and catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) in tetraploid G1 arrest induced by actin damage. Treatment with actin-damaging agents including pectenotoxin-2 (PTX-2) increases phosphorylation of Ser-15 and Ser-37 residues of p53, but not Ser-20 residue. Knockdown of ATM and DNA-PKcs do not affect p53 phosphorylation induced by actin damage. However, while ATM knockdown does not affect tetraploid G1 arrest, knockdown of DNA-PKcs not only perturbs tetraploid G1 arrest, but also results in formation of polyploidy and induction of apoptosis. These results indicate that DNA-PKcs is essential for the maintenance of actin damage induced-tetraploid G1 arrest in a p53-independent manner. Furthermore, actin damage-induced p53 expression is not observed in cells synchronized at G1/S of the cell cycle, implying that p53 induction is due to actin damage-induced tetraploidy rather than perturbation of actin cytoskeleton. Therefore, these results suggest that p53 and DNA-PKcs independently function for tetraploid G1 arrest and preventing polyploidy formation.
Actins/*metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Catalytic Domain ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA-Activated Protein Kinase/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Furans/pharmacology ; *G1 Phase ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Pyrans/pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/*metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics/*metabolism

Intradural cervical disc herniation is an extremely rare condition and its pathogenesis is not certain. We experienced a case of intradural cervical disc herniation at the C4-5 level in a 56-year-old man. The preoperative sagittal T1- and T2- weighted images revealed an intradural iso-intensity lesion, with the spinal cord behind the posterior longitudinal ligament at the C4-5 disc level. The post-contrast T1-weighted image revealed a peripheral enhanced intradural lesion. We report here on a case of an intradural cervical disc herniation that was diagnosed by radiological examination, and we include a review of the related literature.
Humans ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Cord

Spontaneous epidural hematomas (SEHs) of the lumbar spine are rare. The pathogenesis is not entirely clear, but several reports have suggested that bleeding originating in the venous epidural plexus is the cause. This is the second report of a SEH thought to be the result of facet joint hemorrhage with no previous synovial cyst formation. A magnetic resonance image revealed a mass beginning in the left epidural space and continuing through to the left L5-S1 facet joint. Surgically, the epidural hematoma, which was covered by a very thin translucent membrane, was visualized directly. A histopathological examination revealed the wall of the epidural hematoma to be composed of very thin fibrous connective tissue with no synovium lining. The purpose of this study was to report a case of an epidural hematoma originated from lumbar facet joint, diagnosed by radiological examination, and to present a review of the subject literature.
Connective Tissue ; Epidural Space ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Membranes ; Spine ; Synovial Cyst ; Synovial Membrane ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

The Korea's first-ever on-line biomedical ethics education class began in September 1999. The class, one of the 18 on-line lectures offered in the Fall Semester, 1999 by Seoul National University Virtual Campus, allows the Korean general public the opportunity to attend an SNU lecture. Although the discussion sites are limited to the randomly selected 40 students taking the 16-week-long course, any one can read the instructor's lecture on the Internet. (http://snuvc. snu.ac.kr/class/h601) The topics of this course include abortion, euthanasia, organ transplantation, human cloning and etc. As members of the team responsible for this unprecedented biomedical ethics education program in Korea, we, the authors, report the experiences that the team went through both in preparing for and running the course. We concludes from the experience that we had that 16 weeks are too long for an on-line course without academic credits or sufficient number of tutors. Also, we suggest that in the near future the on-line biomedical ethics course should be able to be used for continuing education of such medical professions as medical doctors and nurses.
Bioethics* ; Cloning, Organism ; Education ; Education, Continuing ; Euthanasia ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Lectures ; Organ Transplantation ; Running ; Seoul ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of pseudolesions seen in the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liveron CT arterial portography(CTAP), and to evaluate the findings of CT hepatic arteriorgraphy(CTHA) and celiacangiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 450 cases of patients who had undergone CTHA,CTAP and celiac arteriorgraphy for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic lesion, and evaluated the incidence andimaging findings of pseudolesions in segment IV of the liver, as seen on CTAP, CTHA and celiac arteriography. RESULT: In 28 of 450 patients(6.2%), pseudolesions of focal perfusion defect were seen in segment IV on CTarterial portography. Pseudolesions were seen on CTAP on 39 different section slices ; these were wedge-shaped in41% of cases(16/39), rectangular in 30.8%(12/39), ovoid-shaped in 23.1%(9/39), and half moon-shaped in 5.1%(2/39); they were from 1 to 3cm(average, 1.5cm) in anteroposterior diameter, from 1 to 3cm(average, 1.9cm) in width, andfrom 1 to 4cm(average, 1.9cm) in craniocaudal diameter. Twenty-seven patients underwent CTHAs ; hyperattenuationwas seen in 13(48.2%), isoattenuation in 12(44.4%), and hypoattenuation in two(7.4%). In 19 of 28 celiacangiograms(67.9%), the right gastric artery was seen to arise from the hepatic artery, and aberrant right gastricveins directly draining into the left lobe of the liver were seen in three(10.7%). CONCLUSION: The incidence ofpseudolesion seen in segment IV of the liver on CTAP was 6.2% (28/450), and in 3 of 28 cases(10.7%), celiacangiography showed aberrant right gastric venous drainage. For pseudolesions, CTHA showed variable attenuation,and this modality is less sensitive than CTAP for the detection of pseudolesion.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver* ; Perfusion ; Portography* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Neonatal seizures are the most frequent major manifestation of neonatal neurologic disorders. The goal of this study is to help understanding neonatal seizure by analysis of etiology, clinical manifestation, method of diagnosis and prognosis. METHODS: Retrospective reviews were made on 73 cases of neonatal seizure who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, Dongkang General Hospital for 4 years from March 1994 to February 1998. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:1) Male to female ratio were 2.5 : 1.2) According to the gestational period, preterm babies were 11.0%, postterm babies were 2.7%, and term babies were 86.3%3) The causes of neonatal seizures were hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (32.9%), hypocalcemia (20.5%), hypoglycemia (9.6%), sepsis (96%), benign idiopathic neonatal seizure (6.8%), intracerebral hemorrhage(5.5%), hyponatremia(1.4%), hypernatremia(1.4%), kernicterus, hyperammonemia, in order of frequency 4) The onset of neonatal seizures were within 24 hours of postnatal age in 21 cases (28.8%), on second and third days in 34.2%, and between fourth and seventh days in 13.7%. 5) The types of neonatal seizures were subtle (39.7%), generalized tonic (27.4%), focal clonic (16.4%), multifocal clonic (13.7%), focal tonic (4.1%), and myoclonic (2.8%), in order of frequency.6) The electroencephalographies were performed in 29 cases and showed abnormal findings in 16 cases (55.2%).7) The ultrasonograms were performed in 12 cases. Abnormal findings were detected in 50% of the patients, and the findings were periventrcular leukomalacias in 4 cases, intraventricular hemorrhage in 1 case, intracerebral hemorrhage in 1 case. The brain computed tomographies were done in 23 cases, and 8 patients showed abnormal findings; diffuse cerebral ischemia in 5 cases, focal cerebral ischemia in 2 cases, subdural hemorrhage in 1 case. The brain magnetic resonance imagings were done in 6 cases, and 3 patients showed abnormal findings; diffuse cerebral ischemia in 2 cases, corpus callosal agenesis in 1 case.8) Fifty six patients (76.7%) were discharged in improved state, 3 patients (4.1%) were discharged against medical advice, 2 patients (2.7%) were transfered other hospital, and 12 patients (16.5%) were expired.9) The follow-up examination were made on 44 cases (78.6%) during the period from 5 days to 30 months of age, and 10 cases showed neurologic sequalae; recurrent seizures in 5 cases, cerebral palsy in 5 cases, and other conbined eurologic sequalae in 4 cases.
Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Palsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Kernicterus ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Sepsis ; Ultrasonography

Aconitum species have been used in western and eastern medicine for centuries. In present, chinese medicine uses the drug to treat weak constitution, poor metabolism, dysuria, cardiac weakness, gout rheumatism in the limbs, neuralgia. Poisoning may occur from intentional or accidental ingestion, and the concentration of the toxic alkaloids - aonitine, mesaconitine, and hypoconitine - varies depending on species, place of origin, time of harvest, and processing procedure. In addition to cardiac arrhythmias, and hypotension, the alkaloids cause GI upset & neurological symptoms, especially numbness of the mouth and parethesia in the extrimities. The alkaloid causes a prolonged sodium current in cardiac muscle with slowed repolarization. The aconitine acts as a agonist of Na-channel receptor. Vaughan-Williams' classification I antiarrhythmic agents which belong to might be the first choice for the therapy of aconitine induced arrhythmias. The modification of the sodium system by aconitine seems to be responsible for the prolongation of the action potential and the appearance of extrasystoles and fibrillation. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient who suffered chest discomfort and palpitation with ventricular tachycardia through to be caused by aconitine. After treatment for 3days he recovered well and discharged. We report this case with literature review.
Aconitine ; Aconitum ; Action Potentials ; Aged ; Alkaloids ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Classification ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Dysuria ; Eating ; Extremities ; Gout ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Hypotension ; Male ; Metabolism ; Mouth ; Myocardium ; Neuralgia ; Poisoning ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Sodium ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thorax

Atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP) is a 28-amino acid hormone with potent natriuretic effect and diuretic one. ANP wag originally thought to be involved in the regulation of blood pressure and blood volume. However, recent studies have indicated that ANP has much wider physiologic roles, such as the regulation of mitoses, the secretion of thyroglobulin, the production of cerebrospinal fluid and aqueous fluid formation. This peptide hag been detected in the anterior uvea, retina and corneal endothelium. It was reported that ANP decreased intraocular pressure and aqueous humor formation. However the distribution of ANP in the eye was not clearly confirmed. This study was carried out to localize the immunoreactive ANP in the rat eye. The distribution of alpha-ANP in the rat eye was studied by immunohistochemistry using a polychnal antibody against synthetic rat alpha-ANP. Immunoreactive ANP was localized intensely in the epithelium of the ciliary body. ANP immunoreactivity was also strong in the corneal endothelium, iris and in the anterior epithelium of the lens. The immunoreactivity was observed in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer in the retina. These data clearly confirm that ANP is widerly distributed and that it takes part in diverse functions in the rat eye.
Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Volume ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Ciliary Body ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Epithelium ; Ganglion Cysts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intraocular Pressure ; Iris ; Mitosis ; Natriuretic Agents ; Nerve Fibers ; Rats* ; Retina ; Thyroglobulin ; Uvea

We analized the results of treatment in 28 children with high hyperopic amblyopia or astigmatic amblyopia among 65 amblyopic children ranging from 3 to 10 years of age from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1989. The results are as follows: 1. The final corrected visual acuities of both eyes above 0.8, according to Han's visual acuity chart, were attained in 7 cases (50.0%) among children with high hyperopic amblyopia and 4 cases (28.6%) among children with astigmatic amblyopia. 2. As the degree of hyperopic errors increased, initial corrected visual acuity decreased (p<0.05). 3. The initial corrected visual acuity was not associated with the degree of hyperopic errors, but could be correlated with the initial visual acuity examination under 5 years of age (p<0.025). 4. The final corrected visual acuity recovered was above 0.8, (with Han's visual acuity chart) in 11 eyes (78.6%) among 14 eyes with high hyperopic amblyopia under 5 years of age However above 6 years of age, only one eye (12.5%) among 8 eys was correctable. 5. As the degree of astigmatic errors increased, the final corrected visual acuity decreased (p<0.025).
Child ; Male ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography*