No abstract available.
Aloe*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Hantavirus* ; Korea* ; Murinae*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of posterior fossa hemangioblastoma and usefulness of contrast enhancement with Gd-DTPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with posterior fossa hemangioblastoma were studied with both pre- and post-enhanced MRI. The MR images were reviewed regarding the location, size, signal intensities of cysts and mural nodules, and their contrast enhancement pattern. RESULTS: Five tumors were located in cerebellar hemisphere, one in vermis, and one in posterior part of medulla. One patient with von HippeI-Lindau disease had a medullary hemangioblastoma with multiple pancreatic cysts. In 6 cases, the major portion of the tumor was cysts and had small mulkal nodules. The solid portion was relatiely lange in one case, cemprising half of the tumor Cysts were oval shaped and their sizes were 3--6.7cm in diameter. In five cases(71%), septations were noted within the cysts. Cysts were isointense or slightly hyperintense on Tl-weighted image and hyperintense on T2-weighted image compared with cerebrospinal fluid. Mural nodules were oval or rounded appearance in five cases and flattened appearance in two, and their size was 0.5--2.5cm in diameter. Mural nodules were isointense to gray matter. They were detected in five cases on Tl-weighted images and one case on T2-weighted images. In two cases, vascular signal void area was noted in mural nodules. On contrast-enhanced Tl-weighted images, all mural nodules were intensely enhanced. CONCLUSION: MRI proved to be a good diagnostic method to detect and characterize posterior fossa hemangioblastoma. The most common finding is Cystic posterior fossa lesion with enhancing mural nodule. Contrast enhancement is essential for specific diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Hemangioblastoma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pancreatic Cyst

This experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of indomethacin and methylprednisolone on PAN-induced nephrosis in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150~200gm were used and divided into controls, group I (PAN intraperitoneally), group II(PAN intraperitoneally, followed by indomethacin peritoneally for 12 days), group III (PAN intraperitoneally, followed by methylprednisolone peritoneally for 12 days) and group IV (PAN intraperitoneally, followed by cyclosporin subcutaneously for 12 days). Twenty four-hour urinary protein excretion was measured on day 0, 5, 10 and 17. On the 17th day, rats were sacrificed for the determination of total serum protein, albumin and cholesterol levels. Foot process widths of glomerular epithelial cells were measured, and anionic sites of lamina rara externa were determined by using PEI as cationic probes. The following results were obtained. Twenty four-hour urinary protein excretion (mg/day) of group I was significantly increased to 455.7+/-188.8 on the 5th day compared to 15.2+/-3.7 on day 0 (p<0.01), and increased gradulally to 525.6+/-203.5 on the 10th day, then decreased to 280.6+/-25.2 on the 17th day. In group III, 24 hr urinary protein excretion on 17 th day (180.7+/-64.5) was significantly lower than that of group I (280.6+/-25.2). Total serum protein of group III was significantly lower than that of group I, and serum albumin and cholesterol did not show any significant difference among Group I, II, III and IV. Foot process widths (nm) of glomerular epithelial cells in group I, II, III and IV were 409.5+/-15.2, 387.8+/-49.2, 279.9+/-36.9 and 398.3+/-38.3, respectively. And the value of group of group III was significantly lower than that of group I (p<0.01). The number of anionic sites per 1micrometer length of glomerular basement membrane in Group I, II, III and IV were 10.3+/-1.3, 10.1+/-1.6, 12.5+/-1.5and 10.2+/-1.5, respectively. And the value of group III was significantly lower than that of group I (P<0.01). In conclusion, cyclosporin and indomethacin did not show any significant effect on PAN nephrosis in rat. However, methylprednisolone reduced the urinary protein excretion and showed significant recovery of foot process widths and number of anionic sites of glomerular basement membrane.
Animals ; Cholesterol ; Cyclosporine* ; Epithelial Cells ; Foot ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Indomethacin* ; Methylprednisolone* ; Nephrosis* ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum Albumin

BACKGROUND: Joint symptoms frequently occur in the course of antituberculous chemotherapy and tend to be ignored and overlooked, but in some cases, they are often very troublesome in obstructing ordinary life. Joint symptoms that develop during antituberculous chemotherapy need to be understood, but there are few materials describing them systematically. METHOD: This study enrolled 33 patients with tuberculosis treated with first line antituberculous agents for more than 6months. In the course of treatment, joint symptoms not associated with specific cause, such as pre-existing joint disease or trauma, were investigated and compared with those of the asymptomatic group, We confirmed the incidence of joint symptoms and factors associated with them. RESULTS: Nineteen of 33 patients (58%) had joint symptoms. Joint symptoms developed 1.9±1.4 months after the beginning of chemotherapy and lasted for 3.6±2.5 months. IN 18 of 19 symptomatic patients, multiple joints were involved : shoulder(10 patients, 53%), knee(10,53%), finger(6,32%). Joint symptoms were expressed as pain(19 patients, 100%), stiffness(7,37%) and/or swelling (3,16%). Fourteen patients (74%) took analgesics to relieve their symptoms and in 2 patients, antituberculous agents were discontinued because of the severity of their symptoms. The symptoms seem to be caused by agents other than pyrazinamide, but it was very difficult to identify the definite causative agent. In age, sex, underlying disease and serum uric acid level, no significant differences were noted between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although joint symptoms are common during antituberculous chemotherapy, their development is difficult to predict. Because some joint symptoms can become very bothersome, the physician should pay close attention to these symptoms.
Analgesics ; Arthralgia ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joint Diseases ; Joints* ; Pyrazinamide ; Tuberculosis ; Uric Acid

No abstract available.
Animals ; Hantavirus* ; Korea* ; Murinae*

Giant cell tumor (GCT) occurs very unusually in the rib (less than 1% of GCT). We present the cytologic features of GCT of the rib. It showed multiple cellular clusters composed of characteristic, benign looking osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells and fibroblast-like mononuclear cells. The multinucleated giant cells contained numerous nuclei (average, 30 to 40 per cell, which were closely packed. The nuclei in giant cells were remarkably uniform and round to oval. The mononuclear, neoplastic stromal cells were elongated and spindle-shaped, There was no cytologically malignant portion in the tumor.
Child* ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Ribs ; Stromal Cells ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Family Practice* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte associated Antigen 4, CD152) has been known as a homologue of CD28, an accessory molecule providing a key costimulatory signal for successful antigen-driven activations of T lymphocyte. Most of biochemical and cell biological characteristics of the CD152 protein remain unknown while those of CD28 have been characterized in detail. METHODS: In this study CD152 expression in both CD4+ and CD8+ PBLs was studied by using flow cytometry. And intracellular CD152 multiprotein complex was purified and used for generating antibodies recognizing proteins composing of intracellular CTLA-4 multi protein complex. RESULTS: Level of surface expression of this molecule was peaked at 2 days of PHA stimulation in flow cytometric analysis. 40~45% of PHA blast cells were CD152+ in both of two subsets at this stage and the level of expression were equivalent in both two subsets. Contrary to this surface expression, intracellular expression was peaked at day 3 and it was preferentially induced in CD8+ cells and about 60% of CD8+ cells were CD152+ at this stage. High molecular weight (> 350 kD) intacellular CD152 protein complex purified by using preparative electrophoresis were immunized into rabbits and then 3 different anti-P34PC4, anti-P34PC7 and anti-P34PC8 antibodies were obtained. Using these 3 antibodies two unknown antigens associated with intracellular CD152 multiprotein complex were found and their molecular weights were 54 kD and 75 kD, respectively. Among these, the former was present as 110 kD homodimer in non- reducing condition. CONCLUSION: It seemed that 34 kD intracellular CD152 molecule forms high molecular weight multiprotein complex at least with 2 proteins of 75 kD monomer and 110 kD homodimer.
Antibodies ; CTLA-4 Antigen* ; Electrophoresis ; Flow Cytometry ; Lymphocytes ; Molecular Weight ; Population Characteristics ; Rabbits

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is considered as an autoimmune disorder due to the generation and presence of autoantibodies directed against melanocyte antigens in the patients sera. Previous studies have revealed an increased incidence of organ-specific autoantibodies in vitiligo patients. A number of studies have demonstrated an increased frequency of thyroid autoantibodies in vitiligo patients and vitiligo is commonly seen in patients with clinical thyroid diseases. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of antithyroid antibodies in vitiligo patients and to correlate the presence of these antibodies with factors such as sex, age, activity of the disease, duration of the disease and the type of vitiligo. Another aim of this study is to compare the incidence of abnormal thyroid function in those who have antithyroid antibody and those who don't. METHODS: One hundred and fifty seven vitiligo patients who visited vitiligo clinic in Samsung medical center from January of 1995 to November of 1996 were enrolled in this study. Detection and titration of antithyroid antibodies were performed by immunoradiometric assay. RESULTS: Among 157 patients tested, 17(10.8%) patients had antithyroglobulin antibodies and 10(6.4%) patients had antimicrosomal antibodies. Five patients had both antibodies. Statistically meaningful data are as follows; 1) Antimicrosomal antibody appeared less frequently in patients of childhood-onset. 2) Antithyroglobulin antibody was detected more frequently in active disease. Fifty nine out of 157 patients were examined for thyroid function. Four out of 22 patients with antithyroid antibody had abnormal thyroid function. None out of 37 patients without antithyroid antibody had abnormal thyroid function. CONCLUSION: The incidence of antithyroid antibodies according to onset age and activity is contradictory to previous reports, therefore large scaled study will be necessary to draw a conclusion.
Age of Onset ; Antibodies* ; Autoantibodies ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Incidence* ; Melanocytes ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitiligo*