CTLA-4 (=CD152), a T cell activation antigen, has been known to be homologous to CD28 in its molecular and genomic structure. Both of these two molecules are sharing their counterreceptors, B7 (CDSO) and B7-2 (CD86) and are known to play a crucial role in T cell activation. In previous our study it was reported that there are 2 forms of CTLA-4 antigen in activated human T cells, 30 kD membrane-bound form and 34 kD cytosolic-sequestered form and the former was less than 5 % of total of this antigen induced. Aims of this study are to confirm previous finding by using flow cytometry and to characterize the cytoplasmic form of human CTLA-4 by using ultrafiltration and immunoprecipitation techniques. In PHA stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte surface expression of CTLA-4 was less than 2.1% of any of CD4+, CD8+ and CD56+ subsets. And the 34 kD form of CTLA-4 was detected in CDS+ subset only. This discrepancy confirms that 34 kD antigen is the cytoplasmic form of human CTLA-4. In ultrafiltration and subsequent Western blot analysis study this 34 kD antigen was detected in >100 kD fraction only. And in non-reducing condition this antigen formed high molecular weght complex (MW > 350 kD). In immunoprecipitation study using anti-peptide A antibody it was found that this high molecular weight complex consists of the 34 kD cytoplasmic form of CTLA-4 and previously unknown 54 kD antigen and 46 kD antigen at 1:1:8-10 ratio. And none of these 3 molecules were identified in membrane fraction of activated human T cell. The result of this study implies that CTLA-4 molecule induced upon T cell activation mainly sequestered in cytoplasrn and another signal is necessary to target this antigen on the activated T cell surface.
Antigens, CD27 ; Blotting, Western ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Cytoplasm* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Lymphocytes ; Membranes ; Molecular Weight ; T-Lymphocytes ; Ultrafiltration

No abstract available.
Myasthenia Gravis* ; Thymectomy*

Congenital chylothorax is a rare disorder and can be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography recently. Most cases of congenital chylothorax were characterized by different clinical courses of respiratory distress. We describe two female cases with congenital chylothorax observed by ultra- sonography prenatally. In the first case, left-sided pleural effusion was noted by prenatal ultrasonography taken at 34 weeks of gestation, and then pleural fluid was extracted by intrauterine thoracentesis under sonography guidance. After birth, this patient was managed by TPN(total parentral nutrition) and intermittent thoracentesis without surgical treatment. But, pleural fluid was accumulated recurrently and respiratory distress was aggravated. At 15th hospital day, shock state was developed and patient died. In the second case, bilateral pleural effusion and ascites were noted by prenatal ultrasonography, and then patient was delivered immediately without intrauterine thoracentesis. After birth, the second case received conservative therapy including mechanical ventilation, TPN, intermittent thoracentesis and paracentesis. The patient was discharged with complete regression of chylothorax. We report the two cases with brief review of related literatures.
Ascites ; Chylothorax* ; Female ; Humans ; Paracentesis ; Parturition ; Pleural Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Shock ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Urticaria pigmentosa developed in twins at the age of 6 weeks. They have numerous round to oval shaped, discrete or confluent reddish brown colored macules over whole body surface and neither twin had vomiting, diarrhea, flushing or irritability. Their relatives are unaffected. Biopsy specimen of. back lesion showed. pooling of mast cells in the upper dermis, and electron microscopic examinattion revealed normal mast cells.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Diarrhea ; Flushing ; Humans ; Mast Cells ; Twins* ; Urticaria Pigmentosa* ; Urticaria* ; Vomiting

Ultrastructural changes of the retinal capillary basement membrane in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Cho, Hokyun, M.D., Lee, Dohyung, M.D. We studied the changes of the retinal capillary in diabetic retinopathy. We measured the thickness of the basement membrane of the retinal capillary endothelial cells and the capillary pericytes using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and the results were compared with that of normal control rats. And also an morphological lterations of the retinal capillary were examed on the prediabetes and 3, 7 month-aged diabetic rats. The basement membrane thickness was measeured with 0.1mm calibrated ruler overlaying the electron micrograph with a transparent plastic sheet on which were etched 20 radiating lines exactly 18degree apart. The SPSS and Instat program were used for statistical evaluation of the data. An age related increase of the basement membrane of the capillary pericyte and endothelial cell was evident in both diabetic and control group. It was more prominent in the pericyte basement membrane of diabetic rats (diabetic rats 112.5%, control 62.5%). Comparing the age related thickening of the pericyte basement membrane and endothelial basement membrane, the increase of the thickness of the pericyte basement membrane at 7 month-aged diabetic rats was statistically significant(p<.0005). Some degenerative changes of the basement membrane itself and cytoplasmic degeneration of the endothelial cell and pericyte were visible, and those were more prominent in diabetic rats. Some capillary endothelial cell shows thinning in 7 month-aged diabetic rats.
Animals ; Basement Membrane* ; Capillaries* ; Cytoplasm ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Endothelial Cells ; Pericytes ; Plastics ; Prediabetic State ; Rats* ; Retinaldehyde*

Hydrofluoric acid(HF) burn is characterized by progressive tissue necrosis and severe pain. A 31 year old employee in the semiconductor industry came in contact with the 50% aqueous HF through a pin hole in the thumb of his protective gloves. About 2 hours after exposure, h noted deep, severe burning, excruciating pain and svtelling of right thumb. Thereafter, clark bluish eclematous necrotic patches were visible through the nail plate and on the distal end of right thumb. Pain was not effectively relieved by digital nerve block.
Adult ; Burns* ; Gloves, Protective ; Humans ; Hydrofluoric Acid* ; Necrosis ; Nerve Block ; Semiconductors ; Thumb

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets* ; Platelet Activating Factor* ; Progesterone*

No abstract available.
Infectious Mononucleosis*

Two cases of malignant histiocytosis, in which skin involvement was a prominent finding at initial clinical presentation, are reported. 1nteresting histopathologic findings, including Langerhans granule in one case and numerous eosinophils in another, were observed. In one case remission was achieved with BACOP chemotherapy (Bleomycin, Adriamycin, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and Prednisone). In the other case, the patient died nine months after the onset of the disease without any treatment.
Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytic Sarcoma* ; Humans ; Skin ; Vincristine

Sudoriparous angioma is an unusual form of angioma with pain and hyperhidrosis. We present two cases of typical sudoriparous angioma. Case 1: 9-year-old female showed 0. 8 to 2. 0cm multiple dark brownish tender palpable hypertrichotic masses on the right lower leg after birth. Muscular atrophy and flexion contracture was also developed on the right lower leg for 2 years. Case 2: 4-year-old rnale showed 3 * 3cm tender elevated mass on the left shin after birth. Marked hyperhidrosis was developed when even slight pressure applied on the lesion in these cases. On histologic examination, these two cases showed proliferation of varible sized blood veasels hyperplasia and dilated hyperplastic eccrine glandular and ectopic adipose tissue on the mid and deep dermis. Muscular biopsy from case 1 showed fibrotic and degenerative change. Electromicroscopic examination done from case 1. The secretory epithelial cell of eccrine gland showed cytoplastic degradation and slight dilated intercellular canaliculi (Fig. 11). The lumen of subepithelial capillaries were dilated and some of endothelial cells showed degenerative changes evidenced by RER dilation, mitochondrial swelling and detachment from underlying tissue(Fig. l2). The cutaneous nerve showed many non-myelinated axons enclosed in cytoplasm of Schwann cells.
Adipose Tissue ; Axons ; Biopsy ; Capillaries ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Contracture ; Cytoplasm ; Dermis ; Eccrine Glands ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Mitochondrial Swelling ; Muscular Atrophy ; Parturition ; Schwann Cells