Psoriasis is characterized by disregulation of keratinocyte growth with profound epidermal hyperplasia. Keratinocyte hyperplasia in psoriasis may be expained in part by overproduction of growth factor, and by altered metabolism of the epidemal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in affected skin. The expression of epidermal growth f ictor receptor was investigated by Northern blot and slot-blot analysis of total RNA extrated from biopsies of normal skin and psoriatic lesions. In Northern blot analysis, EGFR-specific mRNA transcripts from psoriatic tissues demonstrated the specificity of hybridizarion with a EGFR mDNA probe. The size of EGFR mRNA transcript was 6.7kb in psoriasis lesions which showed no change of quality. In slot-blot analysis, the levels of EGFR mRNA in poriasis revealed a 1.2 fold to 4.1 fold elevation when compared to normal skin. EGFR were present in all epidermal layers by immunoperoxidase staining, whereas in normal skin they were primarily present in the stratum basalis. These results indicate that the increased expresion of the EGFR gene may be, in part, responsible for the hyperproliferation of the epider nis and that retained EGFR may reflect incomplet; abnormal differentiation in active porasis. This altered process of EGFR metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Northern ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Hyperplasia ; Keratinocytes ; Metabolism ; Psoriasis* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Receptors, Growth Factor ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin

Reviewing the results of the blood cultures performed at Yeungnam University Hospital during 4-year-period through January, 1, 1984 to December 31, 1987, the following results were obtained. 1) Out of 8083 blood specimens cultured microorganisms grew in 582 specimens with positivity rate of 7.20%. Polymicrobial bacteremia was found in 16 patients. 2) Among 582 positive specimens, Gram-positive cocci grew in 189 specimens, and Gram-negative bacilli, in 393 specimens. Clinically significant microorganisms consisted of 82 Staphylococcus aureus, and 20 Streptococcus species in Gram-positive cocci group, 80 Salmonella typhi, 72 Escherichia coli, 72 Salmonella paratyphi A in Enterobacteriaceae, and 46 Pseudomonas cepacia, and 16 Pseudomonas aeruginosa in glucose non-fermenting microorganisms. 3) Increasing incidence of Serratia, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas species as major nosocomial infection source is noteworthy. They showed increased tendency from 6.3% of 1984 to 17.7% of 1987 of total positive blood cultures. 4) High isolation rate of Pseudomonas species and Aeromonas hydrophila was noted in summer, while Salmonella typhi showed high prevalence from May to September and in January. 5) In susceptibility tests of isolated organisms, staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to basic antimicrobial agents except for ampicillin. The glucose non-fermenting microorganisms showed high resistance to basic antimicrobial agents in 32.2%. In conclusion, considering the relatively higher incidence of growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis than ideal level indicates that sampling technique should be improved. Secondly, all the hospital staffs in cooperation with Hospital Infection Committee are desirable to pay efforts to decrease the nosocomial infection.
Acinetobacter ; Aeromonas hydrophila ; Ampicillin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteremia ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Cross Infection ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Escherichia coli ; Glucose ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Salmonella paratyphi A ; Salmonella typhi ; Serratia ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Streptococcus

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart* ; Potassium* ; Thoracic Surgery*

Pure red cell aplasia in uncommon disorder characterized by finding of anemia, absence of nucleated red blood cell in the marrow, absence of reticulocytes in the peripheral blood and normal peripheral platelet and leukocytes counts. We experienced one case of pure red cell aplasia associated with hemolytic anemia characterized by hemoglobinuria, reticulocytopenia, and erythroid hypoplasia of the bone marrow. The cause of the illness was not definitely identified, but we concluded that this patient had simultaneous occurrence of PRCA and hemolytic anemia following administration of diphenylhydantoin after craniotomy rather than virus or bacteria induced. The simultaneous occurrence of PRCA and hemolytic anemia in uncommon and the mechanism for diphenylhydantoin induced PRCA and hemolytic anemia is unclear.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Bacteria ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Craniotomy ; Erythrocytes ; Hemoglobinuria ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Phenytoin ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* ; Reticulocytes

Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme are separated 5 fractions (LD1-LD5) in normal serum by agarose electrophoresis. An unusual band on the cathodic side of LD5 isoenzyme has been found on lactate dehydrogenase electrophoresis is of serum, called LD6, and the presence of which signifies a poor prognosis for the patients of myocardial infarction. In recent, we have experienced LD6 in two patients with myocardial infarction. Cardiac arrest was noted within 24 hours after exhibition of LD6 extra band and they did not recover from their illness.
Electrophoresis ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Sepharose

Met protein is a transmembrane 190 kD heterodimer with tyrosine kinase activity, encoded by c-Met oncogene. It serves as a high affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor (SF), a cytokine which stimulates cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. In this study, we immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of Met/hepatocyte growth factor receptor in colorectal cancers. Met protein was expressed in 31 of 72 patients (43.1%). The staining pattern was cytoplasmic in nature, present throughout the tumor, and showed variable intensity from case to case. The relationship between the expression rate and intensity, and age and sex of patients, tumor size (p=0.645), tumor site (p=0.902) and tumor differentiation (p=0.844) was not statistically significant. The expression rate and intensity were significantly correlated with lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.010), depth of invasion (0.019), and stage (p=0.023). Cytoplasmic accumulation of Met protein was not associated with enhanced PCNA index of tumor cells (p=0.052). These results suggest that Met protein may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.
Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytoplasm ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

In 10 cases with intracranial arterivenous malformation (AVMs) diagnosed by MR spin echo images, MR angiography was evaluated and compared with conventional angiography in regard to depiction of nidus, arterial feeders, and draining veins. Spin echo images demonstrated the nidus of the AVM in all cases, but displayed the feeding vassels inadequately. These vessels were directly visualized with 3 dimensional STAGE(small tip angle gradient echo) MR angiography using rephasing/dephasing pulse sequences. In 5 cases MR angiography and conventional angiography showed the same results. However, in the others, MR angiography showed lower resolution than conventional angiography. MR angiography is useful in preangiographic evaluation of intracranial AVM but improvement in image resolution, which is dependent on MR hard ware and pulse sequence, is still to be desired.
Angiography* ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Veins

No abstract available.

The 35 newborns with neonatal sepsis admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit of Dong-A University Hospital during 2 years and 6 months from April 1990 to October 1992, and were reviewed on the bases of incidence, clinical manifestations, underlying conditions, etiologic organisms, results or antibiotics sensitivity test and mortality rates. The results were summarized as follows; 1) The incidence of neonatal sepsis was 1.2% and male predominated. Sepsis was more prevalent in premature babies (7.5%) than in full term babies (0.8%). 2) Neonatal sepsis occured more frequently in low birth weight infant below 2500 g(6.3%) than in normal birth weight infant. 3) Underlying conditions associated with neonatal sepsis were as follows; pneumonia (25.7%), HMD (17.1%), urinary tract infection (11.4%), DIC (8.6%). 4) Common clinical manifestations observed in neonatal sepsis were jaundice (45.7%), poor feeding (22.9%), abdominal distension (20.0%), lethargy, convulsion, apnea and diarrhea in order. 5) Blood culture report revealed that gram negative organisms (57.1%) were more frequently associated with neonatal sepsis than gram positive organisms (37.1%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common microorganisms in neonatal sepsis. 6) Vancomycin (100%), cephalothin (84.6%) and chloramphenicol (84.6%) were the sensitive drug to gram positive organisms. Gram negative organisms were sensitive to amikacin (100%), and cephalothin (95%). 7) Overall mortality rate was 17.1% in all patients with neonatal sepsis, 7.7% in gram positive sepsis and 25% in gram negative sepsis. We conclude that the etiologic organisms of neonatal sepsis have been altered, and have to choose appropriate antibiotics which particularly sensitive to these gram negative organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and also have to specify antibiotics according to the predominant organisms of the each institute.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Apnea ; Birth Weight ; Cephalothin ; Chloramphenicol ; Dacarbazine ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Jaundice ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lethargy ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Seizures ; Sepsis* ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vancomycin