The third complementarity determining region (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa () chain is known to be located at the center of antigen binding groove and critical for antibody specificity. Ig chain has been characterized by limited junctional diversity due to the absence of N-region addition resulting in relative conservation of CDR3 lengths with 9 or 10 amino acids. CDR3 region of 11 amino acids is only possible with N-region addition. Recently, x transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 was found to be expressed in normal individuals, and in autoimrnune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, the fraction of 11 amino acids CDR3 of humkv325-derived chains was overexpressed compared to conventional adult peripheral B cells. However, the significance of this bias is difficult to interpret without a clear understanding of normal repertoire of CDR3 length during development. The purpose of this study is to determine whether developmental regulation of CDR3 amino acids codon lengths exists in chains expressed in the fetal liver, cord blood, and adult peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Lymphocytes were seperated from fetal liver, cord blood and adult PBL and cDNA was generated from extracted mRNA. PCR-based CDR3 finger- printing assay was performed with VI-IV family specific primers. CDR3 length diversity of Ig x chain increases as the development proceeds. The length diversity most frequently occured in Vlll family derived transcripts including 11 amino acids CDR3. transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 were consitently expressed in both fetal and adult Ig repertoire. These results support the hypothesis that v chain CDR3 length is developmentally regulated and implicates the diversity of antigen-antibody specificity generation.
Adult ; Amino Acids ; Antibody Specificity ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; B-Lymphocytes ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Codon ; Complementarity Determining Regions ; DNA, Complementary ; Fetal Blood ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis* ; Pulmonary Valve*

The effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine on the feline cerebral cortical blood flow in experimentally induced subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) was studied. Cerebral cortical blood flow was measured in the middle cerebral territory at specified intervals by the hydrogen clearance method. SAH was induced in 25 cats by a slow injection of fresh autogenous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. Twenty-five cats were divided into 5 groups of 5 cats each according to the timing of the cerebral cortical blood flow measurements after SAH ; immediate(Group la, lb), 24 hours(Group 2), 48 hours(Group 3) and 7 days (Group 4). Cerebral cortical blood flow dereased by 55.5%, 39.2%, 41.4%, and 38.3% from pre-SAH levels in each group respectively. During nimodipine infusion(1 microgram/kg/min) cerebral cortical flow increased by 89.0%, 51.8%, 87.5% and 24.5% from pre-nimodipine infusion levels in each group respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure(MABP) after cisternal blood injection increased by 6.5% from pre-SAH levles, and MABP during nimodipine infusion decreased by 15.4% from pre-Nimodipine infusion levels. The calcium antagonist nimodipine increased cerebral cortical blood flow significantly in experimentally induced SAH without considerable changes of MABP. Results are considered promising for trials in the treatment and prevention of cerebral by vasospasm following SAH.
Animals ; Calcium* ; Cats ; Cisterna Magna ; Hydrogen ; Nimodipine* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

The authors performed prospectively the transcranial Doppler monitoring of bilateral anterior and middle cerebral arteries in 15 patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The entry criteria for the study were confined to the patients who were admitted within 3 days after bleeding and had clinical grades of I, II, or III. The mean frequency shifts of bilateral anterior and middle cerebral arteries were increased immediately after ictus and showed continous further elevation between the 3rd and 8th rupture days. After that, they normalized slowly. The increase of frequency shift preceded clinical ischemic symptoms and an early steep increase of frequency shift was correlated to a high chance for suffering delayed ischemic deficits. The thick clots in subarachnoid cisterns shown on CT scans taken within the third rupture day were correlated well to the severe increase of frequency shifts. The aggressive treatment was done on asymptomatic patients who showed relatively rapid increase of frequency shifts, and they had shown no or trasient mild ischemic symptoms.
Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Laryngeal paragangliomas occur infrequently and are usually benign neoplasms. The overwhelming majority of these tumors are supraglottic, and submucosal lesions arise from the superior laryngeal parasympathetic paraganglia. MRI could find these lesions and evaluate vascularization of the tumor. It is important to distinguish between carcinoid, atypical carcinoid and medullary thyroid cancer. This can be done with histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemical markers. Complete excision is recommended in the treatment of the tumor. We describe a case of a 32-year-old woman who had an laryngeal paraganglioma.
Adult ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Paraganglioma* ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Matrix ; Bone Regeneration ; Confined Spaces ; Connective Tissue ; Femur ; In Situ Hybridization ; Macrophages ; Membranes ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoclasts ; Osteocytes ; Osteogenesis ; Osteonectin ; Osteopontin ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Porifera ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger

Authors concluded an experimental study in order to find out what the effects of parathyroid hormone on cells derived from human Trabecular bone in vitro are on terms of proliferation of cells, adenylate cyclase activity and production of small substances such as osteocalcin and collagen type I. The results were as follows; 1. 3H-thymidine incorporation into cultured osteoblast was initially low (day 1–2), increased by exponential curve from day 3 till day 11. The uptakes of 3H-thymidine by osteoblasts, when bovine parathyroid hormone was added, increased dose-dependently. Greater increments were seen at concentrations of bovine PTH higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. 2. Intracellular c-AMP accumulation was stimulated by bovine PTH in a dose-dependent manner and greater production was seen at concentrations of bovine PHT higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. Maximal stimulation was observed at 1 X10-7 mole of bovine PTH. The concentrations of c-AMP were observed significantly higher in the presence of bovine PTH in a dose-dependent manner when compared to those of bovine PTH-absent culture condition. 3. Treatment with bovine parathyroid hormone of cultured osteoblasts resulted in increase of alkaline phophatase activity and synthesis of osteocalcin in the cultured media in a dose-dependent manner. Greater productions were observed at concentrations of bovine PTH higher than 5.0 X10-8 mole. 4. Synthesis of type I collagen by cultured osteoblasts in bovine PTH-added media was inversely proportional to their concentration, whereas control group showed minimal increments of no significance. These in vitro findings may suggest that PTH has a stimulatory effect on proliferation of osteoblast, c-AMP production and alkaline phosphatase activity in a direct manner.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Parathyroid Hormone

No abstract available.
Rhinomanometry*

The major presenting manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Korea are known to be cutaneous manifestations, arthritis, nephritis, and fever. The ascites due to peritoneal involvement in SLE is quite common. However, it is unusual for massive ascites to be major presenting manifestations of SLE. In this report, we describe a case of SLE patient whose disease manifested as intractable ascites. This illustrates an unusual presentation and natural history of a complex autoimmune disease.
Arthritis ; Ascites* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Fever ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Natural History ; Nephritis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical effect of bucillamine in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we performed an open clinical trial for 3 months. METHODS: 10 out of 12 patients completed bucillamine trial(200mg/day) for their initial treatment against arthritis, and 9 out of 11 patients with refractory RA completed the bucillamine trial. Disease activity was assessed by the duration of morning stiffness(MS), visual analogue pain scale(VAPS), functional capacity(FC), tender joint counts(TJC), swollen joint counts(SJC), ESR, and CRP every month. Adverse effects were monitored monthly. RESULTS: At the end of trial, all parameters were decreased in the initial treatment group except of CRP. No parameters were decreased in the refractory group. Gastrointestinal disturbance was the most commmon adverse effect. Skin rash, stomatitis, proteiuria and elevated hepatic enzyme were minor adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Bucillamine was effective in the initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but not effective in the patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Bucillamine is relatively safe in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in both groups.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Joints ; Stomatitis