No abstract available.
Liver Abscess* ; Liver*

No abstract available.
Cardiotocography* ; Meconium* ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is often associated with extrahepatic autoimmune disease, and autoantibodies such as anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) or anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASA). The presence of autoantibodies may make discrimination between chronic hepatitis C with autoimmune features and type 1 autoimmune hepatitis difficult. We studied the prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with chronic HCV infection and their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ANA, ASA, anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA), anti-microsomal antibody (AmA), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) and lupus anti-coagulant (LA) were tested in 116 patients (80 chronic hepatitis C, 36 liver cirrhosis). Genotypes of HCV were determined in 25 patients by INNO LiPA. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of autoantibody was 65.5%. The most common autoantibody was aCL (34.5%), followed by ANA (25%), RF (18%), LA (15.5%), ASA (6.9%), anti-microsomal antibody (6%) and AMA (1%). The positive rate of either ANA or ASA was 30.2%, but both were positive in 1.7% only. There was no difference in the demographic features, biochemistry, HCV genotypes and disease status between autoantibody-positive and autoantibody-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Autoantibodies were commonly found in patients with chronic HCV infection. But, the presence of autoantibodies may be a non-specific finding in chronic hepatitis C infection without clinical significance.
Autoantibodies* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Biochemistry ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Liver ; Prevalence* ; Rheumatoid Factor

The methods available for arthroscopic debridement vary widely in cost and efficiency. The use of laser treatment is growing rapidly with advantages of production of smooth surface and avoidance of direct contact. Nevertheless, growing attention is directed to the negative side effects of laser-controlled cartilage ablation, especially to the depth effects of the various lasers on which various scientific studies have focused. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the thermal side effects of Ho: YAG laser and Excimer laser on human articular cartilage hy histological analysis. Sixteen human articular cartilages were obtained during total knee arthroplasty for patients with advanced degenerative arthritis. Three craters, 1cm in diameter, were created on each articular cartilage by shaver, Holmium: YAG laser and Excimer laser in the saline medium. These total 48 craters were prepared to tissue specimen by paraffin blocks and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE) and Massons trichrome. Under the light microscope, we analysed extents of thermal necrosis and thermal change in craters. Also some specimens were fixed by 2.5% glutaraldehyde and ohserved in changes of three different methods under scanning electron microscope. We report the results as follow: 1. The average times to making one crater were 25 seconds in shaver, 33 seconds in Holmium: YAG laser, and 65 seconds in Excimer laser respecti vely. 2. In gross inspection, the most smoothing surface of crater was seen on the specimens of Excimer laser. 3. In histological findings, thermal necrosis on hematoxylin and eosin sections was not noted after shaver use, whereas seen average of 243.8+/-159.6micrometer in Molmium: YAC laser and 36.6+/-17.1micrometer in Excimer laser(p=0.000). Thermal change on trichrome-stained sections was not noted after shaver use, hut showed average of 372.1 +/-203.1micrometer in Holmium: YAG laser and 76.0+/-47. Imicrometer in Excimer laser(p=0.000). 4. In scanning electron micrograph, coagulation of collagen fiher in the matrix was ohserved, with less extents in Excimer than Holmium: YAG laser. In conclusion, Excimer laser was superior to Holmium: YAG laser in terms of thermal necrosis and precision, whereas Holmium: YAG laser was more effective due to rapid time for procedure. To minimize the thermal necrosis during laser chondroplasty, we suggest it is desirable to less energy and reduce exposure time to laser beam on the articular surface.
Arthroplasty ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Collagen ; Debridement ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Glutaral ; Hematoxylin ; Holmium* ; Humans* ; Knee ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Necrosis ; Osteoarthritis ; Paraffin

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is presented as not only one of the primary glomerular diseases but also as a secondary phenomenon for chronic irreversible renal diseases. The main pathological feature of FSGS is the accumulation of extracellular matrix in the glomeruli, for which overexpression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) may be responsible for the accumulation of pathological matrix. A new animal model (FGS/NgaKist mouse) of renal failure by spontaneously generating glomerulosclerosis was developed. To elucidate the role of TGF-beta for FSGS, authors observed glomeruli of FGS/NgaKist mouse periodically. FGS/NgaKist mouse strain showed progression of proteinuria and focal glomerular sclerosis with the aging. The glomeruli showed anti IgG, IgA, IgM and complement complex deposits and extracellular matrix accumulation in the mesangium. TGF-beta mRNA and beta2antibody expressions were increased with the advance of glomerular sclerosis. The results suggest the following; FSGS of FGS/NgaKist strain is immune mediated disease and this stimuli on mesangial or endothelial cells may activate TGF-beta gene in their nuclei. This activation, in turn, can cause sclerosis by increasing TGF-beta mRNA transcription followed by secretion of TGF-beta and its action as cytokine for making collagen fibrils.
Aging ; Animals ; Collagen ; Complement System Proteins ; Endothelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency ; RNA, Messenger ; Sclerosis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The localization and number of oxytocin- and vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons (OXY-IR & VP-IR) and their fibers in the hypothalamic areas (supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area and median eminence) of the hypophysectomized rat were compared with normal rats at 6 months of survival after surgery at the light microscopic level. The number of VP-IR neurons was markedly decreased in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the hypophysectomized rats as compared to normal rats. Moreover, The number of VP-IR fibers was decresed in the SON, PVN, lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and median eminence in the hypophysectomized rats. The number of OXY-IR neurons and thier fibers were also decreased in the SON and PVN in the hypophysectomized rats. The present results demonstrate that hypophysectomy induces a significant decrease in the number of OXY- and VPIR neurons and fibers within hypothalamic areas (SON, PVN, and LHA at 6 months of post-hypophysectomy) are decreased.
Animals ; Hypophysectomy ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; Immunohistochemistry ; Median Eminence ; Neurons* ; Oxytocin* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Rats* ; Supraoptic Nucleus ; Vasopressins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a major problem associated with liver cirrhosis which has high mortality. Increased production of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin- (IL-) may be associated with development of renal impairment, one of the most important prognostic parameters in SBP. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes of these cytokines in ascitic fluid and plasma in patients with SBP and the relationship between these cytokines and development of renal impairment. METHODS: Forty patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites were studied 21 with SBP and 19 with sterile ascites. TNF-a and IL- levels in ascitic fluid and plasma were determined by ELISA at the time of diagnosis in both groups and 48 hours after antibiotics treatment in SBP patients. RESULTS: TNF-and IL- levels in ascitic fluid and plasma were significantly higher in patients with SBP than those without SBP (ascitic fluid TNF-a: 2.5+/-0.5 vs. 1.6+/-0.2; plasma TNF-a: 2.3+/-0.5 vs. 1.5+/-0.2; ascitic fluid IL-: 3.8+/-0.5 vs. 3.0+/-0.4; plasma IL-: 3.4+/-0.5 vs. 2.3+/-0.3, log pg/mL)(p<0.001). In patients with SBP, levels of TNF-a and IL- in ascitic fluid and plasma decreased 48 hours after antibiotics treatment. Eleven patients with SBP (11/21, 52%) developed renal impairment. Patients with renal impairment had significantly higher ascitic fluid and plasma TNF-a levels than those without renal impairment (median 2.5 vs. 2.1 for ascitic fluid, p=0.006; median 2.4 vs. 2.0, log pg/mL for plasma, p=0.04). Although four out of eleven (36%) patients who developed renal impairment died during hospitalization, all the patients without renal impairment survived (p=0.09). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the levels of TNF-a and IL- in ascitic fluid and plasma are increased in SBP and elevated levels of TNF-a in ascitic fluid and plasma may be associated with development of renal impairment, thus indicating poor prognosis in patients with SBP.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Necrosis* ; Peritonitis* ; Plasma* ; Prognosis

Almost all advanced glomerular diseases have glomerular sclerotic changes to varying degrees whatever causes their primary glomerular disease are. Pathogenesis of these sclerosis has been thought of as the hyperfiltration in the primary glomerulosclerosis due to development of glomerular hypertension in each insulted glomeruli. This background gave the theoretical bases for antihypertensive therapies for supporting chronic renal insufficient patients. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, one of the antihypertensive drugs, has received attention recently for its effectiveness. The aims of this study determined the effects and mechanism of the ACE inhibitor, enalapril, on the glomerulosclerosis in FGS/NgaKist mice, which was an animal model of chronic renal failure by generating spontaneously heavy proteinuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis. Five-week-old FGS/NgaKist mice (n=38) were assigned to four groups. Group 1a (n=6) and group 2a (n=8) fed with a vehicle, were sacrificed at the end of 10 weeks and 15 weeks, respectively. Group 1b (n=12) and 2b (n=12) received enalapril (100 mg/L) in drinking water for 5 weeks and 10 weeks from 6th week of age respectively, and were sacrified on the same day as the control groups. Doses of enanapril were maintained to 2 mg/kg/day by measuring the amount of water consumption. In enalapril groups 1b and 2b, systemic blood pressure (74.7 14.0 mm Hg, 74.3 15.9 mmHg) were significantly lower than control group 2a (116.1 4.6 mmHg, P<0.001). Similarly, degree of proteinuria lowered in enalapril group 2b versus control group 2a (0% and 50.0%, P<0.001). Glomerulosclerosis percentage significantly decreased (P<0.001) (group 1b and 2b; 1.9 6.5, 5.6 7.0 vs control 1a and 2a; 32.8 15.5, 31.4 13.8). Glomerulosclerosis score also decreased (P<0.001) (group 1b and 2b; 0.02 0.08 vs control 1a and 2a; 0.48 0.12, 0.30 0.14). The immunofluorescent staining of enalapril groups showed negative for mesangial deposition of IgG, IgA, IgM, and C3 which were positive in control groups. Immunohistochemical staining with TGF-beta1 was negative in enalapril groups and sclerotic glomeruli both enalapril groups and control groups. These results support that the ACE inhibitor has a renoprotective effect on glomerulosclerosis not only by decreasing the blood pressure but also by suppressing the immune deposits on glomeruli.
Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Enalapril ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Proteinuria ; Sclerosis* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

No abstract available.
Agaricales ; Dermatitis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from 32~45. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. RESULTS: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. CONCLUSION: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.
Apoptosis* ; DNA ; Female ; Follicular Atresia ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans* ; Hysterectomy ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Follicle* ; Ovary ; Pathology ; Pathology, Surgical ; Uterine Diseases