In lepromatous leprosy, it is generally believed that there is not only defective CMl specific for M. leprae, but also generalized impairment of CMI and in erythema nodosum leprosum, an immune complex-mediated pathogenesis as well cell mediated immune pathogenesis have been proposed. Neopterin is a pyrazinopyrirnidine compound derived from GTP, its raised excretion has been related to activation of T-lymphocyte/macrophage axis. A study was performed to evaluate generalized CMI status in the LL and ENL and to investigate a relationship between levels of urinary neopterin and disease activity. Urinary neopterin was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 25 healthy subjects, in 25 patients with LL and in 25 patients with ENL. The results were as follaws 1. Urinary Neopterin levels of patients with LL was 188.9+147.3umol/mol creatinine, which was higher than that of control group(144.8+40.4umol/mol creatinine)(p<0.01). 2. Urinary Neopterin levels of patients with ENL was 884.1+970.5umol/mol creatinine, which was higher than of control group, and patients with LL(p<0.01, p<0.01). 3. Serial measurement of urinary neopterin from 1 week to 13 weeks after treatment of ENL in 4 cases of ENL showed good correlation between urinary neopterin levels and disease activity. In summary, it thus appears that measurement of urine neopterin in leprosy provides generalized CMI status and reliable index for activity of disease.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Creatinine ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; Humans ; Leprosy ; Leprosy, Lepromatous* ; Neopterin*

PURPOSE: The possible mechanisms of increased arylamine N-methyl- transferase (AMT) activity in cholestatic rat livers and serum were studied. METHODS: Rats were divided into eight groups: rats receiving a sham operation, rats with a bile duct obstruction (BDO) alone (BDO group), rats with a BDO plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injection (BDO plus TCA group), rats with a BDO plus tauroursode oxycholic acid (TUDCA) injection (BDO plus TUDCA group), rats receiving a choledocho-caval shunt (CCS) operation (CCS groups), rats receiving a CCS operation plus TCA injection (CCS plus TCA group), and rats receiving a CCS operation plus TUDCA injection (CCS plus TUDCA group). The AMT activities in the serum and in the hepatic subcellular fractions isolated from the above experimental rats were determined. The values of Km and Vmax in this hepatic enzyme were measured. RESULTS: The activities of liver mitochondrial and microsomal AMTs as well as the Vmax values of AMT, were found to be increased significantly in both the CCS plus TCA group and the BDO plus TCA group compared with the CCS and BDO groups. On the other hand, the values of Km of hepatic subcellular AMT was the same in all experimental groups. The serum AMT activity increased significantly in both the CCS plus TCA group and the BDO plus TCA group compared with control the CCS and BDO group. However, these serum and hepatic enzyme activities were the same in both the CCS plus TUDCA group and the BDO plus TUDCA group. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that TCA stimulates the biosynthesis of AMT in the liver. Also, the elevated AMT activity in the serum is thought to be caused by an increase in the membrane permeability of hepatocytes from liver cell necrosis caused by TCA.
Animals ; Cholestasis ; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic ; Hand ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Subcellular Fractions ; Taurocholic Acid* ; Transferases

A study was made of the change in arylamine acetyltransferase(AAT) activity in regenerating and/or cholestatic rat livers. Cytosolic, mitochondrial and microsomal AAT activities were determined over a period of 10 days in rat livers which were regenerating after 70%(median and left lateral lobes) partial hepatectomy and over a period of 42 days in rat livers with cholestasis induced by a common bile duct ligation. The values of Km and Vmax in these hepatic enzymes were measured. Both the cytosolic and the microsomal AAT activities in the regenerating rat livers showed significant increases from the first day to the third day after the partial hepatectomy. However, the mitochondrial AAT activity did not change. The cytosolic and the microsomal AAT activities in the cholestatic rat livers showed a significant increase on the first day and from the first day to the second day, respectively after the ligation; Both the cytosolic and the microsomal AAT activities showed significant decreases from the fourteenth day to the forty-second day after the ligation. However, the mitochondrial AAT activity did not change. The Vmax values of both the cytosolic and the microsomal AAT activity in the regenerating and/or cholestatic rat livers showed significant increases on the first day after the partial hepatectomy and/or the ligation. However, the Vmax values of both the cytosolic and the microsomal AAT activities in the cholestatic rat livers showed significant decreases on the twenty-eighth day after the ligation. On the other hand, the Km values of the above enzymes did not change. In view of the above results, the AAT activity in the regenerating rat liver appears to be due to the enzyme increasing its biosynthesis in the regenerating stage. The AAT activity in the cholestatic rat liver suggests that the enzymes is increasing its biosynthesis in the severe necrotizing stage, but decreasing its biosynthesis severe hepatic dysfunction stage.
Animals ; Cholestasis ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cytosol ; Hand ; Hepatectomy* ; Ligation* ; Liver* ; Rats*

PURPOSE: The possible mechanisms of increased thiol me thyltransferase (TMT) activity in cholestatic rat livers and serum were studied. METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups: rats receiv ing a sham operation, rats with a bile duct obstruction (BDO) alone (BDO group), rats with BDO plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injection (BDO plus TCA group), rats with BDO plus tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) injection (BDO plus TUDCA group), rats receiving a choledoco-caval shunt (CCS) operation (CCS groups), rats receiving a CCS operation plus TCA Injection (CCS plus TCA group), and rats receiving a CCS operation plus TUDCA injection (CCS plus TUDCA group). The TMT activities in the serum and in the hepatic subcellular fractions isolated from these experimental rats were determined. The values of Km and Vmax in this he patic enzyme were measured. RESULTS: The activities of liver mitochondrial and microsomal TMTs as well as the Vmax values of TMT were found to be increased significantly in both the CCS plus TCA and the BDO plus TCA groups, compared with the CCS and BDO groups. On the other hand, the Km values of hepatic subcellular TMT were the same in all experimental groups. The serum TMT activity increased significantly in both the CCS plus TCA and the BDO plus TCA groups, compared with the control, CCS and BDO groups. However, these serum and hepatic enzyme activities were the same in the CCS plus TUDCA and the BDO plus TUDCA groups. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that TCA stimulates the biosynthesis of TMT in the liver. Also, the elevated TMT activity in the serum is thought to be caused by an increase in membrane permeability of hepatocytes from liver cell necrosis caused by TCA.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Animals ; Cholestasis ; Hand ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Subcellular Fractions ; Taurocholic Acid*

We present a case of transient acantholytic dermatosis which developed on the face of a 19-year-old Korean girl. Asyrnptomatic pinhead to miliary-grain sized brownish papules arranged in a somewhat band-like outbreak along the left side of the nose for about 3 months. Histopathologic findings were similar to Dariers disease. Immunoperoxidase staining showed that IgG was deposited on the intercellular area of keratinocytes around the suprabasal clefts. Skin lesions disappeared spontaneously in 5 weeks after a skin biopsy.
Biopsy ; Darier Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Keratinocytes ; Nose ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To Study the possible mechanisms of change of thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST) activity in cholestatic rat liver and serum. METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups: those receiving a sham operation (Sham group), with a bile duct obstruction (BDO) alone (BDO group), with a BDO plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injection (BDO plus TCA group), with a BDO plus tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) injection (BDO plus TUDCA group), a choledocho-caval shunt (CCS) operation (CCS groups), a CCS operation plus TCA injection (CCS plus TCA group) and a CCS operation plus TUDCA injection (CCS plus TUDCA group). The TST activities in the serum and in the hepatic subcellular fractions isolated from above experimental rats were determined. The Km and Vmax values of this hepatic enzyme were measured. RESULTS: The liver cytosolic, mitochondrial and microsomal TSTs activities, as well as the TST Vmax values were found to be significantly decreased in the BDO plus TCA and BDO groups compared to the control group. The activity and Vmax value of the liver cytosolic TST were also found to be significantly decreased in the CCS plus TCA group. Conversely, there was no variation in the Km values of the hepatic enzymes in any of the above experimental groups. The serum TST activities in the CCS plus TCA and BDO plus TCA groups, were significantly increased compared with the control, CCS and BDO groups. However, the serum and hepatic enzyme activities were unchanged in both the CCS plus TUDCA and BDO plus TUDCA groups. CONCLUSION: The above results indicate that TCA represses the biosynthesis of TST in the liver. Also, the elevated TST activity in the serum is most likely due to an increase in the permeability of hepatocytes membrane upon TCA mediated liver cell necrosis.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Animals ; Cholestasis ; Cytosol ; Hepatocytes ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Subcellular Fractions ; Taurocholic Acid* ; Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase*

PURPOSE: To Study the possible mechanisms of change of thiosulfate sulfurtransferase (TST) activity in cholestatic rat liver and serum. METHODS: Rats were divided into seven groups: those receiving a sham operation (Sham group), with a bile duct obstruction (BDO) alone (BDO group), with a BDO plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injection (BDO plus TCA group), with a BDO plus tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) injection (BDO plus TUDCA group), a choledocho-caval shunt (CCS) operation (CCS groups), a CCS operation plus TCA injection (CCS plus TCA group) and a CCS operation plus TUDCA injection (CCS plus TUDCA group). The TST activities in the serum and in the hepatic subcellular fractions isolated from above experimental rats were determined. The Km and Vmax values of this hepatic enzyme were measured. RESULTS: The liver cytosolic, mitochondrial and microsomal TSTs activities, as well as the TST Vmax values were found to be significantly decreased in the BDO plus TCA and BDO groups compared to the control group. The activity and Vmax value of the liver cytosolic TST were also found to be significantly decreased in the CCS plus TCA group. Conversely, there was no variation in the Km values of the hepatic enzymes in any of the above experimental groups. The serum TST activities in the CCS plus TCA and BDO plus TCA groups, were significantly increased compared with the control, CCS and BDO groups. However, the serum and hepatic enzyme activities were unchanged in both the CCS plus TUDCA and BDO plus TUDCA groups. CONCLUSION: The above results indicate that TCA represses the biosynthesis of TST in the liver. Also, the elevated TST activity in the serum is most likely due to an increase in the permeability of hepatocytes membrane upon TCA mediated liver cell necrosis.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Animals ; Cholestasis ; Cytosol ; Hepatocytes ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Subcellular Fractions ; Taurocholic Acid* ; Thiosulfate Sulfurtransferase*

Hemolysis is one of the side effects of cyclosporine(CsA). Some experimental and clinical data have strongly suggested that CsA-induced hemolysis is resulted from the increased production of free radical species by CsA. Melatonin, a pineal secretory product, acts as a highly efficient free radical scavenger. Thus, melatonin may have a protective effect on the CsA-induced hemolysis. To test this hypothesis, the final concentration of 4.2x106/mL with human erythrocytes was incubated in test tube at 37 degrees C water bath with 1.67 mg/mL of CsA and 72 nmol/mL of melatonin. The degree of hemolysis and the amount of malondialdehyde which gives an indirect index of oxidative injury were measured in group 1 containing only isotonic buffer solution, in group 2 containing only CsA, and in group 3 containing both CsA and melatonin. The degrees of hemolysis in group 2 were higher than those of group 1. The degrees of hemolysis in group 3 were higher than those of group 1, and lower than those of group 2. The amounts of malondialdehyde in group 2 were higher than those of group 1. The amounts of malondialdehyde in group 3 were higher than those of group 1, and lower than those of group 2. These results indicate that the direct contact of erythrocytes with CsA results in free radical mediated hemolysis and the hemolysis by CsA can be prevented with melatonin.
Humans

To determine whether oxygen free radicals are responsible for the pathogenesis of the cholestasis induced by ligation of common bile duct (CBD) variables which reflect the hepatic function in the serum, the amount of superoxide radical production, and xanthine oxidase(XO) activity were studied. The activity of serum alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin level in the serum and the amount of superoxide radical production were lower in a CBD ligation with allopurinol treated group than in a CBD ligation without allopurinol treated group. Abnormalities of the microscopic structures were reduced in a CBD ligation with allopurinol treated group than in a CBD ligation without allopurinol treated group. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of XO, prevented the hepatic damage induced by CBD ligation through the inhibition of XO. These experiments demonstrate that oxygen free radicals are responsible for the pathogenesis of the cholestatic liver.
Allopurinol/*pharmacology ; Animal ; Bile Ducts ; Cholestasis/*pathology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Free Radicals ; Ligation ; Liver/*pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxides/metabolism ; Xanthine Oxidase/analysis/*antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVE: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy(ARVC) is a progressive cardiac muscle disease characterized as progressive fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricle, severe ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden death. However, there is no report of ARVC as a cause of sudden death in Korea. METHODS and RESULTS: Postmortem studies were done to 115 cases of sudden unexplained death at department of legal medicine, school of medicine, Kyungpook national university in year 1999. We identified 7 cases(6%) of typical ARVC with no other identifiable cause of sudden death. The subjects included 5 males and 2 females, ranging in age from 19 to 41 years (mean 29.7 years). All were found dead at bed (5 cases) or workshop (2 cases). Five cases were fibrofatty types and two cases were fatty types. Right ventricular aneurysm, inflammatory infiltrates and left ventricular involvement were found in 4, 2 and 1 cases, repectively. Two cases had family history of sudden death before age 40. No one was suspected of having cardiovascular disease or ARVC before death. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that ARVC in Taegu-Kyungpook area may be more frequent than previously thought. ARVC may be a major cause of sudden unexplained death.
Aneurysm ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Death, Sudden ; Education ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardium