Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the roles of SEK1/MKK4, a upstream kinase for both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells which stably overexpressd kinase inactive SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-Kl) or wild type SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-WT). Treatment of kinase inactive SEK1 transfected RAW 264.7 cells (RAW/SEK1-Kl) with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO generating agent, significantly decreased the cell viability up to 20% of RAW control cells which were treated with the same amount of SNP. However, RAW/SEK1-WT cells were less susceptible to NO induced apoptosis. For a while, caspase-3 like activity in NO treated RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly increased with parallell to apoptotic death rate. However, caspase1 like activity was not affected by NO in any transfectants. The NO induced apoptosis in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly prevented by the addition of caspase-3 like inhibitor (N-Ac- DEVD-CHO). In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 in NO-treated RAW/SEK1-WT is significantly increased, but not in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells. These results suggest that SEK1 may play anti-apoptotic role in RAW cells from NO-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Clone Cells ; Macrophages ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases

No abstract available.
Rectal Prolapse* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative*

No abstract available.
Polyethylene*

40 cases of bile duct carcinoma gathered over a 6-year period at Kosin Medical College were reviewed and theirclinical and cholangiographic findings were as follows: 1. There were 29 males and 11 females (the ratio of men towomen, 2.6:1) ranging from 37 to 74 years of age. The majority (70% of cases) were in 4th & 5th decades. 2.Clinical symptoms and signs: jaundice in 95%, RUQ or epigastric pain in 75%, pruritus in 52.5%, dark urine in 35%,weight loss in 32.5%, fever and chills in 22.5%, clay colored stool in 12.5%, and palpable mass in 12.5%. 3.Lab,findings: elevated serum total bilirubin(above 20.0mg% in 45%, 10.0-19.0mg% in 22.5%, 5.0-9.9mg% in 20%,1.3-4,9mg% in 5%), elevated alkaline phosphatase in 95%. Clonorchiasis were noted in 17.5%. 4. Histologic findingswere adenocarcinoma in most cases. 5. The location of bile duct carcinoma were common hepatic duct in 35%, commonbile duct in 32.5%, porta hepatis in 12.5%, junction with cystic duct in 10% and diffuse form in 10%. 6. In 33cases, PTC or post-operative cholangiographic examination were done. And the most frequent findings weredilatation of the proximal bile duct and abrupt narrowing or complete obstruction of distal lumen. In 27cases(82%), complete obstruction of bile duct was noted. Attempts were made to analyze the type of obstruction:Constricted type in 39%, Nipple type in 18%, round or flat type (smooth or slightly irregular) in 15%, andserratd type in 9%. Incomplete obstruction were noted in 6 cases(18%). Among them, abrupt narrowing of lumen wasnoted in 9% and diffuse narrowing in 9%. 7. ERCP was done in 7 cases. Findings were constricted type in 42.6%,constricted and slightly irregular type in 14.3%, downward convexity in 14.3%, diffuse irregular narrowing in14.3% and intraluminal filling defect in 14.3%.
Adenocarcinoma ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bile Ducts ; Bile ; Chills ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis ; Cystic Duct ; Female ; Fever ; Hepatic Duct, Common ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Male ; Nipples ; Pruritus

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis*

Immunodeficiency of the patients with end-stage renal disease and various side effects of hemodialysis have been studied. We want to evaluate the effects of the duration of chronic renal failure(CRF) and hemodialysis on transplanted kidneys. This report is based on 111 patients who had received kidney transplantation at Wonkwang university hospital from August 1987 to march 1996. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the duration of CRF; Group I(1yr and 5yr, n=15). The incidence of acute rejection within 6months was 28(60.8%) in group I, 31(62%) in group II, 9(60%) in group III. The 3-year graft survival rate was 34(73.9%), 38(76%), and 14(93.3%), respectively. The bacterial infection rate of each group within 1 year was 10(22%), 8(15%), and 4(28%). The viral infection rate of each group within 1 year was 15(33%), 11(27%), and 5(35%). To evaluate the effects of hemodialysis, the patients were divided into 3 groups; Group A(without hemodialysis, n=8(7.2%)), Group B(6 months, n=63(56.7%)). The incidence of acute rejection within 6months was 6(75%) in Group A, 24(60%) in Group B, 38(60.3%) in group C. The 3-year graft survival rate was 6(75%), 30(75%), and 50(79.3%), respectively. The bacterial infection rate of each group with 1 year was 2(25%), 10(25%) and 13(26%). The viral infection rate within 1 year was 2(25%), 16(40%) and 13(20.6%). The authors' analysis reveal the 3-year survival rate in the group III was higher than the other groups. But there was no significant difference of acute rejection rate, infection rate and wound complication rate. We suggest more basic study of the immune status of chronic renal failure patients is needed to provide proper immunosuppressive regimen according to the duration of end stage renal disease and hemodialysis.
Bacterial Infections ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Survival Rate ; Wounds and Injuries

Free radicals, formed by ionization of water molecules, cause significant increase of morbidity and mortality in irradiated humans. The skeletal muscle is relatively radio-resistant because of its few content of proliferating cells. But the incidence and severity of muscular damage depends on the dose of radiation and time lapse. This study is aimed to investigate the ultrastructural changes and the effect of radiation and DMTU on two muscles, the tibialis anterior and the soleus muscle; the former is dominantly composed of white muscles while the latter is mainly composed of red muscles. Each muscle also show differences in energy production and distribution of capillaries. The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing from 200 g to 250 g were used as experimental animals. Under urethane(1.15 g/kg, i.p.) anesthesia, 30Gy irradiation to lower extremities with PICKER-C9 cobalt 60 teletherapy unit was done. DMTU(500 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 1 hour prior to irradiation. The animals were sacrificed 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after irradiation. The muscular tissues in midbelly of tibialis anterior and the soleus muscles were obtained and sliced into 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width and thickness. The specimens were prepared by routine method for electron microscopy. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Widening of interfibrillar space, mitochondrial changes of eletron-lucent matrix and dilated cristae, and cisternal dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum were observed in both muscles after irradiation. More severe ultrastructural changes with time course were observed by 2 weeks. But those were recovered to normal at 4 weeks after irradiation. 2. More severe ultrastructural changes in soleus were observed 1 and 3 days after irradiation, and in tibialis anterior at 7 days and 2 weeks. Those findings were associated with reduction of glycogen contents in the myofibers of both muscles. 3. Widening of intermyofibrillar space, mitochondrial changes of electron-lucent matrix and indistinct cristae, and cisternal dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum were observed in both muscles after DMTU treatment. 4. Pretreatment of DMTU attenuated the ultrastructural changes induced by irradiation. Those were recoved normally by 2 weeks. Consequently, DMTU attenuates the ultrastructural changes in tibialis anterior and soleus muscle after irradiation. The more severe morphological changes in soleus muscle at 1 day and 3 days, and in tibialis anterior at 7 days and 2 weeks after irradiation are associated with the reduction of glycogen contents.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Capillaries ; Cobalt ; Dilatation ; Free Radicals ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mortality ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

Compared with organophosphate or carbamate insecticides, neonicotinoids have several pharmacological benefits such as a broad spectrum of insecticidal activity, low application rate, and highly selective toxicity to insects. Imidacloprid was the first neonicotonid introduced in the market, in 1991. It has become one of the best selling insecticides globally. Several cases of imidacloprid intoxication have been reported worldwide, but few have been reported in Korea. Recently, we experienced a severe imidacloprid intoxication with delayed respiratory insufficiency and several toxicities. We report the case with the literature review.
Imidazoles ; Insecticides ; Insects ; Korea ; Nitro Compounds ; Respiratory Insufficiency

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of diagnostic laparoscopy has been changed because of the development of lesser invasive radiologic tools, which is more useful in the diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of laparoscopy in diagnosis of diffuse liver diseases during laparoscopic surgery and to find the relationship between laparoscopic gross finding and liver biopsy. METHOD: Sixty-five patients were performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy from March 1. 2001 to July 30 . 2001. We prospectively compared the result of liver biopsy with preoperative serum liver function test, ultrasonographic finding and liver surface characteristics as observed during laparoscopic surgery. RESULTS: The results of liver biopsy obtained in 59 cases were normal liver; 57.6%, mild steatosis; 15.4%, moderate to severe steatosis; 16.9%, chronic liver disease; 1.5%, cholangitis; 3.1% and cirrhosis; 1.5%. There was no correlation between preoperative liver function test and liver biopsy. However, the ultrasonographic finding was more correlated with liver diseases. The sensitivity of laparoscopic liver surface characteristics was 76.0%. The liver surface characteristics was well correlated with liver biopsy finding, especially in color of liver surface and contuor of liver margin. Importantly, when one more abnormal findings in liver surface characteristics were found, the positive predictability of liver disease was 56%. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic laparoscopy is a safe and accurate method for evaluating the diffuse liver diseases. If the abnormal findings of liver surface characteristics is found during laparoscopic surgery, one shoud confirm liver disease by liver biopsy.
Biopsy ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver* ; Prospective Studies

Multiple biliary papillomatosis involves an epithelial field change of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic portions of the biliary tree. Pathologically it is benign, occasionally with dysplasia, but the clinical behavior is regarded as having a low-grade malignant potential. Such malignancy is rare but the prognosis is poor if it is impossible to remove the tumor completely. Here, we report one case of multiple biliary papillomatosis in the biliary tree.
Biliary Tract ; Papilloma* ; Prognosis