Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein normally expressed in mesenchymal cells, but the evidence of the aberrant expression of vimentin in epithelial cancer cells suggests that the vimentin expression might be related to local invasiveness and metastatic potential. There have been a few previous studies on the vimentin expression in human cervical carcinogenesis using in vivo and in vitro models. We examined the immunohistochemical vimentin expression in various squamous epithelial neoplasms of the uterine cervix, including the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia group (n=25), the microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma group (n=15), the invasive squamous cell carcinoma group (n=15) and the metastatic squamous cell carcinoma group (n=8). Vimentin positivity was significantly higher in the invasive than in the intraepithelial group, and in the cases with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis, suggesting a relationship between the vimentin expression and progression of the uterine cervical epithelial tumors.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Intermediate Filaments ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Vimentin*

BACKGROUND: Sustained-release theophylline, which is generally prescribed as a twice-daily equal-dose regimen, is one of the more common asthma treatments. the development of a sustained-release drug delivery technology that enables improved control of the theophylline blood levels represents a significant advancement in both the efficacy and safety of dosing. METHOD: A crossover study was conducted with 25 adult chronic asthmatic patients requiring daily bronchodilator therapy. The study group included thirteen males and twelve females with ages ranging from 19 to 71 years. The overall approach was to place the patients first on the twice-daily preparation(Etheophyl®) for 28 days at 8 AM and 8 PM, and measure the pulmonary function and theophylline level on the 28th day. the patients were subsequently switched to the once-daily preparation(Uniphyl®) in the same daily dose at 8 PM on the 29th day and the same parameters were measured on the 56th day. RESULTS: the mean serum levels of theophylline were 8.18±1.66µg/ml in the Etheophyl®-treated period and 8.00±1.75µg/ml in the Uniphyl®-treated period. In addition, the FEV1 showed 71.40±7.48 percent in the Etheophyl®-treated and 69.18±9.00 percent in the Uniphyl®-treated period. Thus there were no significant differences between the once-daily and twice-daily preparation. CONCLUSION: The results indicated little clinical differences between the two medication. The two drugs are equally effective in controlling asthma over the four weeks of treatment.
Adult ; Asthma* ; Cross-Over Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Theophylline

No abstract available.
Child* ; Epilepsy* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Hepatitis A Antibodies* ; Hepatitis* ; Immunoglobulin M*

This study included fifty two premature babies in whom EEG was performed at National Medical Center, from Jan. 1990 to Jun. 1991. clinical and EEG records of all subjects were analyzed and the following results were obtained. 1) The day of first EEG performed were;11 cases within 10 days, 20 cases from 11 days to days, 13 cases from 21 days to 30 days and 8 cases beyond 31 days. 2) The results of first EEG were; within normal limit in 34 cases, mild abnormality in 3 cases, moderate abnormality in 11 cases and marked abnormality in 4 cases. 3) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the sex was higher in female than in male (43.5% vs 27.6%). 4) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the gestational age was higher in shorter gestational age group than in longer gestational age group (40.9% under 32 weeks of G.A. vs 30.0% beyond 33 weeks of G.A.). 5) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the birth weight was not significant. 6) The abnormal EEG ratio according to the ventilator use was higher in used group than in not used group (38.5% vs 30.8%). 7) Combined diseases in 18 cases of abnormal EEG group were jaundice (14 cases), hyaline membrane disease (7 cases), asphyxia (4 cases), anemia (4 cases), hydrocephalus, sepsis, PDA, hypocalcemia, UTI and IVH. 8) The mean apgar score in abnormal EEG group was lower than normal EEG group both in one minute and five minute. 9) Two cases among 18 cases of abnormal EEG group showed abnormal brain sonographic findings, but one case among 34 cases of normal EEG group showed abnormal brain sonographic finding. 10) Ten cases were followed up with serial EEG, six cases of which were treated with anticonvulsant. We observed normalization of the EEG in 5 cases of anticonvulsant treated group.
Anemia ; Apgar Score ; Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Brain ; Electroencephalography* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypocalcemia ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Male ; Sepsis ; Ultrasonography ; Ventilators, Mechanical

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Meningitis* ; Scrub Typhus*

In order to elucidate the biological effects of pulsating magnetic field in in vitro culture system we designed a pulsating magnetic apparatus using 120 Hertz, 24 Volt direct current. It can generate 63~225 Gauss in the experimental area of 90 mm petri dish, and has little thermal effect on the culture media in 37.5oC, 5% CO2. Human osteogenic sarcoma (HOS) cells were cultured in the pulsating magnetic field and the nuclear changes of cultured cells were observed routinely by hematoxylin staining, and apoptotic change was detected by ApopTag staining using both peroxidase and fluorescein labelings. Compared to the control group which formed well organized whorling pattern of HOS cell line in 3 days culture, the HOS cells cultured in the pulsating magnetic field for 12 hours or 24 hours grew irregularly and showed increased number of apoptotic cells. When the flow of pulsating magnetic field was interrupted by insertion of strong permanent magnetic bar (1000 Gauss, 5530 mm) beneath the petri dish during in vitro culture, the area of sparse pulsating magnetic field showed active proliferation and aggregation of HOS cells even in 24 hour exposure group. These data suggest that the pulsating magnetic field may play a role in inducing growth retardation and apoptosis of HOS cells. Furthermore, the hazardous effects of pulsating magnetic field can be lessened or nullified by the interruption of pulsating magnetic field with a strong permanent magnetic bar.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Fluorescein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Magnetic Fields* ; Osteosarcoma* ; Peroxidase

Bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene was expressed in an insect spodoptera frugiperda cell line using a Baculovirus, Hyphantria cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HcNPV). The bGH gene in pbGH plasmid was sequenced and amplified by PCR technique with two primers containing NcoI sites. The bGH gene consisted of 654 bp (217 amino acid residues), the 5'-untranslated region of the cloned bGH cDNA contains 56 bp, and the 3'-untranslated region contains 145 bp and two pallindromic regions. The amplified bGH gene DNA fragment (654 bp) was inserted into the NcoI site of the pHcEVII vector, which was named pHcbGH. The pHcbGH transfer vector DNA and the wild type HcNPV DNA were cotransfected into s. frugiperda cells to construct a recombinant virus. Eight recombinant viruses were selected and named HcbGH. One clone, HcbGH-4-1 showed largest plaque size, therefore the recombinant virus was further studied. The multiplication patters of the recombinant HcbGH-4-1 was similar to that of the wild type HcNPV. The bGH gene DNA in the HcbGH-4-1 recombinant was confirmed by Southern lot hybridization. The amount of the bGH (217 amino acid residues, 21 kDa) produced in S. frugiperda cells infected with the HcbGH-4-1 recombinant was approximately 5.5 ng per ml (106 cells) by radioimmunoassay.
Baculoviridae* ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Growth Hormone* ; Insects ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioimmunoassay ; Spodoptera

The clinical use of topical antimicrobial substances is common in clean wounds as well as contaminated and chronic wounds. This use is based on the observation that the reduction of superficial bacterial contamination promotes wound healing. While the antibacterial efficacy of topical antimicrobials has been well documented, their effects on living tissue and the process of wound healing remain controversial. Recently, there have been several trials to detect the toxicity of various antimicrobial materials by using cultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes. In this study the cytotoxicity of several commonly used antimicrobials and the cytotoxic concentrations of antimicrobials on cultured human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were compared using 3 different METHODS: 1) the MTT method showing the ability of the cells to clear the cytotoxic agents, 2) LDH release indicating damage of cell membrane, and 3) tritiated thymidine incorporation measuring DNA synthesis. In the MTT method all topical antimicrobials in their usual clinical concentration showed cytotoxicity on both keratinocytes and fibroblasts by suppressing cell proliferation. Keratinocytes were more sensitive to certain antibiotics. When the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of topical antimicrobials were compared, the cytotoxicity to keratinocyte was, in the decreasing order, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine, sulfadiazine, fusidic acid, ethanol. Gentamicin and bacitracin. The cytotoxicity to fibroblasts was, in decreasing order, chiorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine, fusidic acid, ethanol, sulfadiazine, bacitracin, and gentamicin. Most of the antimicrobials tested increased LDH release by keratinocyte in IC50.Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and povidone iodine showed statistically significant increase in LDH release. The tritiated thymidine incorporation study showed the order of cytotoxicity to keratinocyte in IC50 of each antimicrobials was similar to that of the MTT method. Tritiated thymidined incorporation, however, appeared to be a more sensitive method in detecting cytotoxicity than MTT because the IC50 was lower in the former. In conclusion, all topical antimicrobials are cytotoxic to keratinocytes and fibroblast in their usual concentration. Because of their cytotoxicity it is suggested that one should use topical antimicrobials in a dilution of up to 1 : 1,000 of commonly used concentration for a short period only especially when applied directly on a skin graft or wounds without a protective barrier. Bacitracin or gentamicin appear to be less cytotoxic among all the antimicrobials tested.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacitracin ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Proliferation ; Chlorhexidine ; Cytotoxins ; DNA ; Ethanol ; Fibroblasts* ; Fusidic Acid ; Gentamicins ; Humans* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Keratinocytes* ; Povidone-Iodine ; Skin ; Sulfadiazine ; Thymidine ; Transplants ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*