The effects of various digestive enzymes, fresh biles, and bile acids on the hatching and activation of the eggs of Taenia saginata, T. pisiformis, T. solium, Hymenolepis nana, and Moniezia expansa have been investigated. On the basis of the results of the present study author attempted to elucidate the specificity of host-parasite relationships in the tapeworm infections. The results were summarized as follows: In case of the ova of T. saginata, pretreatment with artificial gastric juice before contact of intestinal juice is required to bring the disintegration of the embryophore and activation of the embryo. However the ova of T. solium and T. pisiformis may be disintegrated and activated directly into the artificial intestinal juice without the above pretreatment. Among the digestive enzymes applied in this experiment, trypsin was found most effective on the hatching. No hatching of the ova of H. nana and M. expansa was observed in the above artificial hatching-activating solutions. The fresh biles and bile salts were more effective on the hatching and activation of Taeniid ova than sodium taurocholate and sodium deoxycholate. It is turned out that the digestive enzymes or bile acids in the intermediate hosts may, not apparently be essential factor of determining the specificity of host-parasite relationships.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia saginata ; Taenia pisiformis ; Taenia solium ; Hymenolepis nana ; Moniezia expansa ; egg hatching ; host-parasite relationship ; trypsin ; artificial intestinal juice

The linear IgA bullous dermatosis is a rare chronic vesicobullous disease resembling dermatitis herpetiformis or bullous pemphigoid. We report a case of linear IgA bullous dermatosis developed in a 16 year old female, whose cutaneous lesions were unusually acute. The urticarial wheals started on her buttock and spread to her entire body in two hours and generalized blistering de veloped within four days, The response by dapsone was also dramatic. Routine histological and both direct and indirect immunofluorescent microscopic findings were typical of linear IgA bullous dermatosis.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Blister ; Buttocks ; Dapsone ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis ; Female ; Humans ; Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis* ; Pemphigoid, Bullous

Purpose of this study is to find out proper means of estimating the urinary mercury excretion the normal individuals. Whole void volume was collected every 2 hours beginning from 6 o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock next morning. Mercury excretion in each urine specimen was measured by NIOSH recommended dithizone colorimetric method (Method No. : P & CAM 145). Urinary concentration of mercury was adjusted by two means : specific gravity of 1.024 and a gram of creatinine excretion per liter of urine comparing the data with the unadjusted ones. Mercury excretion in 24-hour urine specimen was calculated by adding the amounts measured with the hourly collected specimens of each individual. Statistical analysis of the urinary mercury excretion revealed the following results : 1. Frequency distribution curve of mercury excreted in urine of hourly specimens was best fitted to power function expressed in the form of y=ax(b), Adjustment of the urinary mercury concentration by creatinine excretion was shown to be superior (y=1674x(-1.52)), r(2)=0.95) over nonadjustment(y=2702x(-1.57)), r(2)=0.92) and adjustment by specific gravity of 1.024(y=4535x(-1.66), r(2)=0.93). 2. Both log-transformed mercury excretion in hourly voided specimens and mercury excretion itself in 24 hour specimens showed the normal distributions. 3. The frequency distribution of mercury adjusting the urinary concentration of mercury by creatinine excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and excretion was best fitted to a theoretical normal distribution with the sample means and standard deviation than those unadjusted or adjusted with specific gravity of 1,024. 4. Average urinary mercury excretions in 24-hour urine specimen in an individual were as follows : a) Unadjusted urinary mercury excretions. mean and standard deviation :18.6+/-13.68 microgramHg/liter. median : 16.0 microgramHg/liter. range : 0.0-55.10 microgramHg/liter. b) Adjusted with specific gravity. mean : 20.7+/-11.76 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). median : 20.7 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). range : 0.0-52.9 microgramHg/liter x 0.024/(S.G.-1.000). c) Adjuested with creatinine excretion. mean and standard deviation : 10.5+/-6.98 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. median : 9.4 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. range : 0.0-26.7 microgramHg/g creatinine/liter. 5. No statistically significant differences were found between means calculated from 24-hour urine specimens and those from hourly specimens transformed into logarithmic values. (P<0.05).
Creatinine ; Dithizone ; Gravitation ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Specific Gravity

BACKGROUND: Extensive involvernent of alopecia areata seems to be different from the usual common type of alopecia areata in its damage to the patient and its pragnosis. The two forms are best dealt with differently. OBJECTIVE: We performed a clinical observation of a severe form of alopecia areata to understand to its course and therapeuic respones. METHODS: Clinical analysis of 68 cases of severe alopecia areata (37 alopecia totalis, 6 alopecia subtotalis, 13 alopecia universalis, 11 alopecia subtotal universalis, 1 ophiasis) was done for 9 years from 1985 to 1994. RESULTS: 1. The sex distribution was equal. The developrnent of hair loss started before the age of 30 in 67.6%(46/68). Twenty two patients(32.4%) developed the alopecia during the early twenties. The overall mean age was 26.4 years. 2. The duration from the initial hair loss to the involvement of the whole scalp was less than 3 months in 80%(40/50~) of patierits showing whole scalp baldness. 3. Exclamation mark hairs were seen in 85% (57/67) of severe alopecia areata. In 5 patients who were examined just at the start of the hair loss, exclamation mark hairs were found several weeks later. 4. When treated by methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, duration of the disease and type of involvement are the most important prognastic factors as follows. a) 71%(32/45) of patients with less than 6 months duration showed satisfyingly good results cosmetically, but this figure dropped to 30.4% (7/23) in patients with longer than 6 months duration. b) 83.7% (36/43) of patients with alopecia totalis or subtotalis showed good results but this figure dropped to 12%(3/25) in patients with alopecia universalis, subtotal universalis or ophiasis. 5. Methyl prednisolone pulse therapy seemed to be recommended in the acute stage of extensive involvement of alopecia areata. CONCLUSION: Severe alopecia areata has predilection for young adults and seems to show extensive involvement frorn its early stage. Exclamation mark hairs need some time to appear even in their early active stage of hair hedding. Pulse methyl prednisolone therapy is thought to be recommended when the disease is in its early active stage.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Hair ; Humans ; Prednisolone* ; Scalp ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Extensive involvernent of alopecia areata seems to be different from the usual common type of alopecia areata in its damage to the patient and its pragnosis. The two forms are best dealt with differently. OBJECTIVE: We performed a clinical observation of a severe form of alopecia areata to understand to its course and therapeuic respones. METHODS: Clinical analysis of 68 cases of severe alopecia areata (37 alopecia totalis, 6 alopecia subtotalis, 13 alopecia universalis, 11 alopecia subtotal universalis, 1 ophiasis) was done for 9 years from 1985 to 1994. RESULTS: 1. The sex distribution was equal. The developrnent of hair loss started before the age of 30 in 67.6%(46/68). Twenty two patients(32.4%) developed the alopecia during the early twenties. The overall mean age was 26.4 years. 2. The duration from the initial hair loss to the involvement of the whole scalp was less than 3 months in 80%(40/50~) of patierits showing whole scalp baldness. 3. Exclamation mark hairs were seen in 85% (57/67) of severe alopecia areata. In 5 patients who were examined just at the start of the hair loss, exclamation mark hairs were found several weeks later. 4. When treated by methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, duration of the disease and type of involvement are the most important prognastic factors as follows. a) 71%(32/45) of patients with less than 6 months duration showed satisfyingly good results cosmetically, but this figure dropped to 30.4% (7/23) in patients with longer than 6 months duration. b) 83.7% (36/43) of patients with alopecia totalis or subtotalis showed good results but this figure dropped to 12%(3/25) in patients with alopecia universalis, subtotal universalis or ophiasis. 5. Methyl prednisolone pulse therapy seemed to be recommended in the acute stage of extensive involvement of alopecia areata. CONCLUSION: Severe alopecia areata has predilection for young adults and seems to show extensive involvement frorn its early stage. Exclamation mark hairs need some time to appear even in their early active stage of hair hedding. Pulse methyl prednisolone therapy is thought to be recommended when the disease is in its early active stage.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Hair ; Humans ; Prednisolone* ; Scalp ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

Dose-response relationship among blood cadmium concentrations, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were studied with acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium. The Sprague-Dawley male rats to which single dose of 1-32 mg/kg CdCl2 were administered into peritoneal cavity were sacrificed by decapitation at 3-36 hours after the administration. Cadmium concentrations in blood increased significantly with dose of CdCl2 administered and reached peak level at 3 hours later. Catalase activities in rats' tests were not correlated with exposure time elapsed after the administration in rats to which 1-2 mg/kg of CdCl2 were administered, but they showed linear relationship with time in groups to which 4-32 mg/kg of CdCl2 were administered. Cu, Zn-SOD activities in tests of acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium were not altered either by dosage or by time elapsed after the administration. Mn-SOD activities in the tests were also not influenced by dosage of 1-2 mg/kg CdCl2, but remarkably inactivated by dosage of 4-32 mg/kg CdCl2 with time elapsed after the administration. Neither catalase, Cu, Zn-SOD nor Mn-SOD activities of tests were correlated with blood cadmium concentrations in acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Catalase* ; Decapitation ; Humans ; Male ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Testis*

In order to designate a status necessary for establishment of preventive measures and guidelines of health education against hepatitis B in the course of secondary school education, knowledge and practice toward hepatitis B virus infection was surveyed by a questionnaire method on total of 4,855 college entrants in the academic year of 1987 and analyzed the data collected using IBM PC(Trigem 88-II) with SAS package program. About two percent of college entrants had past history of HBV infections not showing any difference between both sexes and geographical regions. About one third(33.7%) of total students had tested hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), only 4% had tested hepatitis B surface antibody(HBsAb) and vaccination rate amounted to 24.6%, one fourth of total subjects. Both serological tests and vaccination were most commonly performed during adolescence, showing higher rates in female students than in male students. The rates also seemed to be higher in those from urban cities than those from rural cities. Students who had acquired correct knowledge that hepatitis B was infected by virus were amounted to 78.5% of college entrants, and remaining 21.5% had misunderstood that rickettsia, bacteria, fungi or parasites were casual agents. Female students were better aware of the causal agents than male students but there was no difference between places of growth. As for mode of transmission of HBV, 51.5% of male students and 47.7% of female students had correct knowledge. A very few student had known that fact that HBV was transmitted by body fluids such as tear (6.9%), nasal discharge(10.1%) and semen or vaginal secretion(19.2%) and majority(75%) of students had misunderstood that hepatitis B virus would be transmitted per os through food ingestion. Approximately one half(48.9%) of college entrants had correctly whom to be vaccinated. Approximately one half of the students knew that hepatoma(57.8%) and liver cirrhosis(57.4%) might complicate with hepatitis B virus infection, whereas 12.0% of the students responded that bronchitis was one of the complications of hepatitis B infection. In summary of the above results, we highly recommend that health education program for eradication of hepatitis B virus infection should be introduced in curricula of secondary school education in this country.
Adolescent ; Bacteria ; Body Fluids ; Bronchitis ; Curriculum ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Fungi ; Health Education ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Parasites ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rickettsia ; Semen ; Serologic Tests ; Tears ; Vaccination

Direct contact method of autoradiography was applied in order to know in Eurytrema pancreaticum which was incubated at various intervals such as 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes in the vitro media added with radioactive succinic acid, C(14)-succinate. The distribution of the radioactive succinate was clarified by this technique and possible explanation was presented. The autoradiographic procedures were essentially the same as those reported previously by Yoon et al. (1964). The most distinct autoradiograms were obtained after 240 minutes incubation. The radioactivity of this labelled succinic acid chiefly concentrated in reproductive organs, such as testes, ovary, egg containing uterine tubules and vitelline follicles.
paraisology-helminth-trematoda-Eurytrema pancreaticum ; autoradiography ; metabolism-succinic acid ; succinic acid

Polymorphic pemphigoid is a polymorphic variant of bullous pemphigoid. Tbe authors had observed a case of polymorphic pemphigoid in a 54-year-ald woman, in whom generalized chronic blistering lesions and aevere pruritus were the main symptoms. The diagnosis of polymorphic pemphigoid was based on clinical, histopa.thological, immunopathological and therapeutic features.
Blister ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Pruritus

Defense mechanisms against anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare on the leaf surface of cucumber plants after pre-treatment with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR), amino salicylic acid(ASA) or C. orbiculare were compared using a fluorescence microscope. Induced systemic resistance was mediated by the pre-inoculation in the root system with PGPR strain Bacillus amylolquefaciens EXTN-1 that showed direct antifungal activity to C. gloeosporioides and C. orbiculare. Also, systemic acquired resistance was triggered by the pre-treatments on the bottom leaves with amino salicylic acid or conidial suspension of C. orbiculare. The protection values on the leaves expressing SAR were higher compared to those expressing ISR. After pre-inoculation with PGPR strains no change of the plants was found in phenotype, while necrosis or hypersensitive reaction(HR) was observed on the leaves of plants pre-treated with ASA or the pathogen. After challenge inoculation, inhibition of fungal growth was observed on the leaves expressing both ISR and SAR. HR was frequently observed at the penetration sites of both resistance-expressing leaves. Appressorium formation was dramatically reduced on the leaves of plants pre-treated with ASA, whereas EXTN-1 did not suppress the appressorium formation. ASA also more strongly inhibited the conidial germination than EXTN-1. Conversely, EXTN-1 significantly increased the frequency of callose formation at the penetration sites, but ASA did not. The defense mechanisms induced by C. orbiculare were similar to those by ASA. Based on these results it is suggested that resistance mechanisms on the leaf surface was different between on the cucumber leaves expressing ISR and SAR, resulting in the different protection values.
Bacillus ; Colletotrichum* ; Defense Mechanisms ; Fluorescence ; Germination ; Necrosis ; Phenotype ; Plants ; Salicylic Acid