OBJECTIVE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is known as one of the frequent causes of exacerbation of bronchial asthma and it can also be a trigger for the initiation of asthma. However, little is known about the pathogenesis of respiratory M. pneumoniae infection. Furthermore, there is little data on human cytokine production and its involvement in the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection. In order to investigate the immunopathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection, we investigated the cytokine production in the bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL ) fluid of patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia and viral pneumonia, and compared the results with those of control subjects. SUBJECT AND METHOD: BAL was performed with fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia( n=9 ), viral pneumonia( n=9 ), and control subjects( n=6 ) aged 3 years to 9 years. M. pneumoniae pneumonia was documented by polymerase chain reaction and serologic analysis. Four respiratory viruses ( adenovirus, influenza A, influenza B, parainfluenza ) were detected by culture method. Cell pellets and supernatants were separated by centrifugation and Interleukin( IL ) - 2, Interferon( IFN )-r, IL-4, and IL-5 levels were measured in concentrated BAL supernatants by ELISA. RESULTS: Analysis of cytokines revealed significantly increased production of IL-4 ( p< 0.0001 ) and IL-2 ( p< 0.0001 ), in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia and significantly increased production of IL-2 (p <0.0001) in patients with viral pneumonia compared with those of the control subjects. Ratio of IL-4/IFN-r was significantly increased in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia ( p< 0.005 ) but not in patients with viral pneumonia compared with that of the control subjects. CONCLUSION: IL-4 production and IL-4/IFN-r ratio were increased in the BAL fluid of patients with M. pneumoniae infection. These findings suggest that predominant Th2 immune response could play an important role in the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae infection.
Adenoviridae ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Bronchoscopy ; Centrifugation ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Humans

Characterizations of the VP4 (P type) and VP7 (G type) genes of Korean isolates of bovine rotavirus were performed using RT-PCR/RFLP and nucleotide sequencing analysis. After RT-PCR amplification of partial length (1094bp) of the VP4 and full length (1062bp) of the VP7 genes, amplified PCR products were digested with restriction endonucleases and digestion patterns were compared with those of reference rotaviruses. With the VP4 genes, four RFLP (AD) profiles were observed; three (A, B and C) were the same as those of bovine rotavirus NCDV (P[1]), IND (P[5]) and B223 (P[11]), respectively, Profile D was the same as that of porcine rotavirus OSU (p[7]). With the VP7 genes, five RFLP profiles (I-V) were observed; three of them (1, II and III) were the same as those of bovine rotavirus NCDV (G6), Cody I-801 (G8), and B223 (G10), respectively, Profile IV and V were atypical to those of reference bovine rotaviruses used in this study. These two profiles were identified as G6 and G5, respectively, after analyzing and comparing the nucleotide sequences. The G typing analysis revealed that 61.9% (26/42) were G6, which included G6 subtype; 28.6% (12/42) were G5; 7.1% (3/42) were G10; 2.4% (1/42) were G8. The P typing analysis revealed that 54.8% (23/42) were P(5); 28.6% (12/42) were P(7); 11.8% (5/42) were P(11); 4.8% (2/42) were P(1). Our results showed that G6/P(5) were the most prevalent rotaviruses in diarrheic calves in Korea. Also, this is the first report that G5P(7) rotaviruses were identified from cattle with diarrhea.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cattle ; Diarrhea ; Digestion ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Rotavirus*

A xanthoma is a localized collection of tissue histiocytes containing lipid and is usually associated with hyperlipidemia. Tendinous and tuberous xanthomatosis have been found in association with familial hypercholesterolemia, Type III hyperlipidemia, beta-sitosterolemia and cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. Tendinous and tuberous xanthomatosis without hyperlipidemia have been reported very rarely. Especially tendinous xanthomatosis without hyperlipidemia have not been reported at all in korea. We are reporting a patient with tendinous and tuberous xanthomatosis accompanied by normal plasma lipids
Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Korea ; Plasma ; Xanthomatosis ; Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous

Guyons canal syndrome is an uncommon disease characterized by ulnar nerve compression symptoms within Cuyon s canal. The symptoms vary with the level of compression, and the cause of compression may be extrinsic or intrinsic. We have had experience with a case of the syndrome that was caused by a ganglion in the canal.
Ganglion Cysts ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes

No abstract available.
Humans ; Spouses*

PURPOSE: The loss of estrogen and progesterone receptors appeats to be associated with a progression to less differentiated and hormone-independent tumors. The gain of hormone independency over time even in estrogen receptor-positive tumors has become another obstacle to endocrine therapy for breast cancer. We tried to regain the hormone dependency in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells by lipofecting estmgen receptor cDNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA (pSGS-HEO) was lipofected into estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, in an attempt to restore their sensitivity to antiestrogen. Then the effects of 17p-estradiol and tamoxifen were studied by counting viable cell numbers after treating the lipofected cell line with either one or together. RESULTS: Culture medium cantaining phenol red, a weak estrogen, has growth advantages compared with culture medium without it. In both culture conditions, cell growth was most profoundly inhibited in 4 days after lipofection with mutant human estrogen receptor cDNA, which was overcome after that day. Tamoxifen, as an antiestrogen, showed a growth inhibitory effect slightly stronger tban combined conditions of tamoxifen and 17- estradiol compared to estrogen-treated group and to control, and the inhibitory effect was lasted 4 days. CONCLUSION: The temporary induction of estrogen receptor by lipofection with pSGS-HEO on estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 showed negative growth control on these cells by tamoxifen, indicating that liposome-mediated estrogen receptor transfection may be used as a novel therapeutic strategy for hormane independent human breast cancers in the near future.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Count ; Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Estrogens* ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans* ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Tamoxifen ; Transfection

No abstract available.
Lung* ; Oxygen* ; Rabbits* ; Ventilation*

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Mannitol* ; Renal Insufficiency*