Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase and Aquaporin-3 in Cyclophosphamide Treated Rat Bladder / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

PURPOSE: The expression of Nitric oxide Synthase (NOS) and aquaporin (AQP) water channels in rat bladder is recently reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS), aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) in cyclophosphamide (CYP) induced rat bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into cystitis group (n=20) and control group (n=12). In cystitis group, 100mg/kg CYP was injected every second day for 1 week whereas in control group, normal saline was injected. After extracting of the bladder and dividing dome, body and trigone of the bladder, independently H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining for iNOS and AQP-3 were performed. Expressions of iNOS and AQP-3 were analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope and an image analyzer. RESULTS: The expression of iNOS significantly increased in the mucosa, submucosa layer of dome in cystitis group (p<0.05). The expression of AQP-3 significantly increased in the mucosa, submucosa, vessel layer of dome in cystitis group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that inflammatory change activates NOS and AQP-3 expression in the bladder tissue of rats. These may imply that NOS and AQP-3 have a pathophyiological role in the cyclophophamide induced interstitial cystitis. Further study on the NOS and AQP-3 in bladder is needed for clinical application.

The Effect of Finasteride on Microvessel Density and Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and 5alpha-Reductase in Prostatic Hyperplasia

PURPOSE: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent stimulator of angiogenesis and microvessel density (MVD), which is an important indicator of neoangiogenesis, were independently evaluated to elucidate the mechanism of decreased bleeding observed in patients treated with finasteride, an inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase (5AR). We evaluated MVD and the expression of VEGF and 5AR type II in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 61 patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) for BPH. Among these patients, 29 had well-preserved paraffin blocks, 13 of whom were given finasteride for a minimum of 3 weeks before surgery; the remaining 16 patients served as controls. MVD was calculated by counting the number of positively stained blood vessels on 5 random, high-power fields within the prostatic section. Expressions of VEGF and 5AR type II were analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope and an image analyzer. RESULTS: Prostatic MVD was significantly lower in the finasteride-treated group (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF and 5AR type II at the level of the prostatic glandular epithelium and stroma was not significantly different between the 2 groups. VEGF and 5AR type II were more strongly expressed in the epithelium of both groups than in stromal smooth cells (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Finasteride treatment had no clear effect on the expression of VEGF or 5AR type II. It is possible, however, that finasteride improves blood loss after TURP and BPH-induced hematuria by reducing MVD. Further study on the mechanism of MVD reduction is needed.

Early Experience of Prostate Cancer Treated with CyberKnife(TM) Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: We investigated the outcome in patients with prostatic cancer treated by means of CyberKnife(TM) radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2007 and April 2009, 16 patients with prostate cancer underwent CyberKnife(TM) radiotherapy. The histologic diagnosis was established by transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy. Radiotherapy was performed for a dose of 34 Gy at 8.5 Gy per day over 4 to 18 days. Nine patients were treated with hormone therapy. After treatment, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse was evaluated with periodic PSA follow-up. RESULTS: The numbers of patients in clinical stages T2 and T3 were 13 and 3, respectively. Two patients had lymph node metastasis with no distant metastasis. The numbers of patients with a Gleason grade of 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were 1, 5, 4, 3, and 2, respectively. The mean time to PSA nadir and the mean PSA at nadir were 7 months and 0.43 ng/ml, respectively. To date, there has been no biochemical failure or clinical recurrence. No severe complications were observed in any patients; observed minor complications [n (%)] were perianal pain [2 (12.5%)] and defecation discomfort [2 (12.5%)]. CONCLUSIONS: Generally good responses were observed in patients treated with CyberKnife(TM) radiotherapy for prostate cancer. No severe complications were observed. More patients and a longer follow-up are required for further conclusions.

Inhibition of Graft Versus Host Disease Using CD4+ CD25+ T Cells Induced with Interleukin-2 in Mismatched Allogeneic Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND: In kidney transplantation, donor specific transfusion may induce tolerance as a result of some immune regulatory cells against the graft. In organ transplantation, the immune state arises from a relationship between the immunocompromised graft and the immunocompetent host. However, a reverse immunological situation exists between the graft and the host in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition, early IL-2 injections after an allogeneic murine HSCT have been shown to prevent lethal graft versus host disease (GVHD) due to CD4+ cells. We investigated the induction of the regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells after a transfusion of irradiated recipient cells with IL-2 into a donor. METHODS: The splenocytes (SP) were obtained from 6 week-old BALB/c mice (H-2(d)) and irradiated as a single cell suspension. The donor mice (C3H/ He, H-2(k)) received 5x10(6) irradiated SP, and 5,000 IU IL-2 injected intraperitoneally on the day prior to HSCT. The CD4+CD25+ cell populations in SP treated C3H/He were analyzed. In order to determine the in vivo effect of CD4+CD25+ cells, the lethally irradiated BALB/c were transplanted with 1x10(7) donor BM and5x10(6) CD4+CD25+ cells. The other recipient mice received either 1x10(7) donor BM with 5x10(6) CD4+ CD25- cells or the untreated SP. The survival and GVHD was assessed daily by a clinical scoring system. RESULTS: In the MLR assay, BALB/c SP was used as a stimulator with C3H/He SP, as a responder, with or without treatment. The inhibition of proliferation was 30.0 13% compared to the control. In addition, the MLR with either the CD4+CD25+ or CD4+CD25- cells, which were isolated by MidiMacs, from the C3H/He SP treated with the recipient SP and IL-2 was evaluated. The donor SP treated with the recipient cells and IL-2 contained more CD4+CD25+ cells (5.4+/-1.5%) than the untreated mice SP (1.4+/-0.3%)(P<0.01). There was a profound inhibition in the CD4+CD25+ cells (61.1+/-6.1%), but a marked proliferation in the CD4+CD25- cells (129.8+/-65.2%). Mice in the CD4+CD25+ group showed low GVHD scores and a slow progression from the post-HSCT day 4 to day 9, but those in the control and CD4+CD25- groups had a high score and rapid progression (P<0.001). The probability of survival was 83.3% in the CD4+CD25+ group until post-HSC day 35 and all mice in the control and CD4+CD25- groups died on post-HSCT day 8 or 9 (P=0.0105). CONCLUSION: Donor graft engineering with irradiated recipient SP and IL-2 (recipient specific transfusion) can induce abundant regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells to prevent GVHD.

Availability of Capillary Blood Gas Analysis in Neonate

PURPOSE: Arterial blood gas analysis is frequently performed in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to evaluate ventilation and the metabolic state of critically ill infants. In occasions when umbilical arterial catheterization is not available, frequent arterial puncture is mandatory. This requires some technical skill and may occasionally have side effects. So we studied the validity of capillary blood gas analysis which can be performed conveniently compared with arterial blood. METHODS: Twenty-four neonates admitted to NICU during April to Aug. 2001 were studied. They were more than two weeks old without indwelling arterial catheters. Thirty-six times, simultaneous arterial, and capillary blood gases were drawn by puncture and the pH, pCO2 and pO2 of each sample was measured. Blood pressure and body temperature was checked before sampling to rule out impaired peripheral circulation. Capillary blood was collected from warmed heels. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between capillary and arterial pH(r=0.91, P<0.05). The absolute value of the difference between arterial and capillary pH was less than 0.05. Also capillary pCO2 showed correlation with arterial pCO2(r=0.77, P<0.05). Despite a statistically significant correlation between capillary and arterial pO2(r=0.68, P<0.05), the absolute value of the difference was more than 10 mmHg in 92% of cases. CONCLUSION: Capillary blood gases accurately reflected arterial pH and pCO2 and showed a relative correlation with pO2. Capillary blood gas analysis can be a useful alternative to arterial blood when continuation of the umbilical arterial catheter is no longer available.

A Case of XX Male Syndrome with Anophthamia

XX male has a male phenotype with testes or gonads of testicular type and a female chromosomal constitution of 46, XX with no evidence of either ovarian tissue or female genital organs. Generally, they have normal male genitalia and all are infertile. We experienced a neonate with anophthalmia, hypospadia, small penis, and normal testes, whose chromosomal analysis demonstrated 46, XX. Polymerase chain reaction revealed the existence of a sex-determining region of Y (SRY). These findings suggest that the translation of an SRY on the X chromosome led to the development of a male phenotype. We report the case with a review of the related literature.

The Effect of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection on the Production of Interleukin-5 and RANTES in Bronchiolitis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Purpose: Bronchiolitis, one of the most common lower respiratory tract diseases in infants, is similar clinical aspects to bronchial asthma. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis than non-RSV bronchiolitis predisposes to later development of bronchial asthma. However, the role of RSV in these disease caused by airway inflammation has not been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of RSV infection on the production of IL-5 and RANTES in bronchiolitis. METHODS: We measured ECP, RANTES, IL-5 levels in nasopharyngeal aspirated fluids from 20 infants with RSV bronchiolitis(RS group) and 20 infants with non-RSV bronchiolitis(non-RS group) and 15 infants without pulmonary or gastrointestinal viral diseases(control group). RESULTS: ECP and RANTES in both RS and non-RS groups were significantly higher than in controls. ECP and RANTES in RS group were significantly higher than in non-RS group. IL-5 was only significantly higher in RS group than in controls. RANTES and ECP levels were significantly correlated in both RS and non-RS groups. IL-5 and ECP levels showed significant correlations only in RS group. IL-5 showed a higher correlation with ECP than RANTES. CONCLUSION: RSV infection of the airway promotes the production of IL-5 and RANTES followed by activation of eosinophiles. And IL-5 might play more important roles than RANTES in RSV bronchiolitis.

A Case of Congenital Dislocation of the Knee / 대한주산의학회잡지

Congenital dislocation of the knee is very rare skeletal deformity and was firstly described by Chatelaine in 1822. Since then there have been a few number of case reports and some series discussing the etiology and treatment. The tibia is displaced anteriorly in relation to the femur. It is generally subdassified as simple hyperextention, subluxation, and dislocation depending on the degree of the joint displacement and the severity of disease. Early gentle manipulation and serial splintage or plaster cast are recommended for treatment and were successful in the majority except the case of quadriceps contrarture or late correction. The authors experienced one case of congenital dislocation of the right knee and brief review of the related literatures was made.

A Case of Open - lip Schizencephaly

Schizencephaly, first described by Yakovlev and Wadsworth in 1946, is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by gray matter-lined clefts that extend through the entire cerebral hemisphere, from the ependymal lining of the lateral ventricle to the subarachnoid space. Clinically, patients with schizencephaly present motor dysfunction such as hemiparesis, seizures, and variable developmental delay. Absence of septum pellucidum, gray matter heterotopia, polymicrogyria, and hypoplasia of optic nerves were also frequently found to be associated with schizencephaly. We experienced a case of open-lip schizencephaly in a one-day-old male infant with wide, tense fontanel, which was confirmed by MRI.