Responses of mouse lymphocytes to the soybean paste fermented by Korean traditional fashion was examined to clarify its effects in cytokine production in vitro. A fraction of the soybean paste (KFSP-100) was prepared by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and by filtration through ultrafiltration membrane. KFSP-100 were added into cultures of fresh mouse splenic cells in vitro. KFSP-100 significantly enhanced the amount of IL-6 and TNF-a produced by macrophages and IL-6 and IFN-r produced by lymphocytes. Production of IL-12 by macrophages was not much affected by KFSP-100 treatments. The most noticeable finding was the fact that lymphocytes treated with KFSP-100 proliferated to an exceeding numbers (more than 10 times to the control) in 72 hours. The KFSP-100-induced proliferative response was specific to B cells since almost all of the KFSP-100-induced cells in the cultures of splenic cells were B cells. Furthermore, such a proliferative responses were equally observed only in cultures of purified B cells but not in cultures of T cells. In thermostability test, the biologically active components of the KFSP-100 is assumed to be either linear protein or glycoprotein. KFSP-100 did not induce agglutination of lymphocytes demonstrated by lectins in the same cells. These observations suggest that KFSP-100 may be a novel mitogen for B lymphocytes. The component (s) responsible for the B cell proliferation in KFSP-100 might be a factor gained by natural fermentation. None of the fractions of not fermented soybean paste prepared by the same methods demonstrate the same effect.
Agglutination ; Ammonium Sulfate ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Proliferation ; Fermentation ; Filtration ; Glycoproteins ; Immunologic Factors* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lectins ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Membranes ; Mice ; Soybeans* ; T-Lymphocytes ; Ultrafiltration

During general anesthesia, removal of exhaled carbon dioxide by rebreathing appliances is provided by chemical absorption and this carbon dioxide absorption during anesthesia would at first glance seem to be a simple problem. The problem, however, is far more complicated and much attention must be given to details of rebreathing appliances. Incomplete removal of carbon dioxide in circle absorber systems, which are commonly used today must be carefully monitored to prevent hypercapnea caused by accumulation of carbon dioxide in the breathing circuits. Although circle absorbers have been developed through clinical trials anesthesiologists have no reliable indication of the end point of useful life of the absorbent. This study was undertaken to investigate the useful life of the soda lime used in two type of canisters (type A: canister of anesthesia machine. Quantiflex, USA. 12.9cmX16.6cm, tbye B: canister of anesthesia machine, International 2. U.K., 13.1cmX16.9cm). the effect of flow rate on this useful life and the relations between indicator change and the endpoint of useful life of the soda lime. The control group used a as total flow rate of fresh gases at 2.0 liters per minute and the experimental group used a total flow rate of 4.0 liters per minute. The carbon dioxide concentration of 0.1% at the canister exit was employed as the end point of useful life of the absorbent and the exit carbon dioxide concentration were monitored continuously by intra-red carbon dioxide monitor apparatus(Datex Normocap CD-102, Pinland). Also the carbon dioxide concentration in the respiratory circuit of exhaling side was examined. The results were as follows: 1) In type A, the average useful life of soda lime was 1,885 minutes in the control group and 2,514 minutes in the experimental group. In type B, the average useful life of soda lime was 1,587 minutes in the control group and 1,980 minutes in the experimental group. 2) At the end point of useful life of the absorbent the level of the color change of the indicator of the absorbent in all types was above the three-fourth height of two chambered canister. 3) At the end point, end tidal CO2 concentration was 3.5 vol% in the control group 2.88 vol% in the experimental group. The data obtained from this observation indicated that the increase of total flow rate of gas and the type A canister prolonged the useful life of soda lime and that the double chambered canister could be used safely until the color change of the indicator reached the level of three fourth the height of the canister.
Absorption ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Carbon Dioxide ; Exhalation ; Gases ; Respiration

We have used BALB/c mice as an animal model for the study of anaphylactic hypersensitivity to the house dust mite. For the sensitization, BALB/c mice were injected with a single dose of extracts of Oermatophagoides farinae (D. pa) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pt) mixed with adjuvants (aluminum hydroxide and Bordetella pertussis) intraperitonealy. On days of 15, 30, and 60 after the sensitization, the mice received a challenge dose of the same allergen intravenously to induce anaphylactic shock. The hypersensitivity reactions were scored by anaphylactic shock. And various immunological parameters, including cytokines and immunoglobulin isotypes, were studied in relation with the shock. A high level of anaphylactic shock was produced in the mice by both of the allergens, D, fa and D, pt, at 15 and 30 days after sensitization. In vitro Ag specific proliferative reponses of spleen cells from D. pt treated mice (D. pt mice) was six times higher than those from O. fa treated mice (O. fa mice). Regardless the differences in antigens, the production of IFN-r by spleen cells from D. pt mice or O. fa mice was equally high at 15 days after sensitization. However, the ability to produce IFN-r by the spleen cells from D, pt mice was three times higher compared to that from D. fa mice. The production of IL-4 by the spleen cells was enhanced slightly but not significant in both groups. In studies of the allergen-specific immunoglobulin isotypes in the sera of the mice, the level of IgE in both groups was enhanced slightly but not significant. In contrast, the level of IgG subtypes were increased in both groups. When the levels of IgG were compared by subtypes, the level of IgG1 increased significantly on day 15 when the anaphylactic shock score was maximized in both groups. Increase in IgG2a level at the day was not significant, instead, asignificant increase in IgG2 levels was observed on day 60 after sensitization when the anaphylaxis was almost discontinued. Although a higher level of IgG3 was examined on day 15 and 30 in D. pt mice and on day 60 in D, fa mice, anaphylaxis was not appeared to be associated with the levels of IgG3 in this study. The IgG1, rather than IgE, was assumed to the major factor involved in the anaphylactic response observed in this experiment. In conclusion, BALB/c mice would be an animal model for the study of anaphylactic hypersensitivity to D. fa or D, pt., which might be an essential tool for the future development of immuno-therapeutic agents.
Mice ; Animals

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Psychology*

No abstract available.
Apgar Score* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Psychology*

No abstract available in English.
Adult ; Clinical Study ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans

In 1943, Alberto Inclan reported tumoral calcinosis in 3 cases at major joints. This condition usually showed large, painless calcified mass in major juxtaarticular sites, and evidence of familial or racial predisposition in blacks but abnormal values of serum calcium and phosphorus, association with renal disease, metabolic disorder and collagen disease are seldom seen. Tumoral calcinosis in large joints such as hip, knee, elbow and shoulder was reported several cases. Tumoral calcinosis in hand and foot is very rare and not reported yet in this country. Recently, authors experienced a case of tumoral calcinosis in both hands and right foot and cured without recurrence in 1 year follow up.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcinosis ; Calcium ; Collagen Diseases ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Metabolic Diseases ; Phosphorus ; Recurrence ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: In spite of the successful reperfusion therapy, coronary blood flow in infarcted myocardium was known to decrease for a long time. Abciximab is known to inhibit the final pathway of platelet aggregation and maintenance the large vessel patency. But abciximab may have another important effect beyond the these effect. TIMI frame count method is simple, reproducible, objective and quantitative index of coronary flow. We tried to define the effect of abciximab that used with primary angioplasty on the coronary blood flow using TIMI frame count methods. METHODS: We consecutively studied 30 patients who admitted for acute myocardial infarction without cardiogenic shock from September 1997 to August 1999. We analyzed the changes of corrected TIMI frame count(CTFC) between the baseline(immediate after the angioplasty) and follow-up(post-op 7th day) coronary angiogram and compared the results between the group of primary angioplasty with abciximab(abciximab group, n=1) and the group of primary angioplasty without abciximab(non-abciximab group, n=9). RESULTS: There were no differences between abciximab group and non-abciximab group in baseline characteristics, treatment modalities and angiographic results. According to the results of the comparison of deltaCTFC, changing rate of CTFC, deltavelocity and changing rate of velocity, there were significant improvement of the coronary blood flow in infarct related artery in the abciximab group than non-abciximab group. But there were no differences in the changes of coronary blood flow in non-infarct related artery between two groups. The frequency of major adverse coronary events during follow up periods(mean 6 months) were similar(9.1% and 5.2% each other, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abciximab used with primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction improved the coronary blood flow significantly in infarcted myocardium. This finding may be related that abciximab enhance the perfusion and function of microvasculature in infarcted myocardium.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium ; Perfusion ; Platelet Aggregation ; Reperfusion ; Shock, Cardiogenic

PURPOSE: To understand MR imaging characteristics, of abscesses by correlation with pathologic findings, with emphasis on the hypointense rim of the abscess wall on T2-weighted images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We experimentally induced twenty abscesses on both thighs of ten New Zealand white rabbits by innoculation of E.coli. Spin-echo axial T1-weighted images(T1WI), proton density weighted images(PDWI), T2-weighted images(T2WI) and gadolinium enhanced T1WI of two rabbits were each obtained at 1 and 3 days, and at 1, 2 and 4 weeks following innoculation of pathogens. Rabbits were sacrificed after MR imaging, and freezing, sectioning along MR imaging planes and histopathologic examination were subsequently carried out. MR-pathologic correlation was performed,with emphasis on the MR signal characteristics of the abscess wall. RESULTS: In 19 abscesses, necrotic portions except gas showed hypointensity or hyperintensity on T1WI and hyperintensity on T2WI. Peripheral inflammatory reaction showed hypointensity on T1WI, hyperintensity on PDWI and T2WI, and contrast enhancement. Abscess wall showed slightly increased signal intensity on T1WI. A hypointense rim on PDWI and T2WI appeared from 3 days after pathogen innoculation. The rim was thickest at 1 week, and showed multilayers at 2 weeks and double layers at 4weeks after pathogen innoculation. Cellular and necrotic debris was accumulated at the inner portion of the abscess wall. Inflammatory cells were mainly polymorpho nuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. Macrophages, whichappeared at 3 days, suggested active phagocytosis at 1 week after innoculation. Thereafter, inflammatory reactions decreased and fibrosis progressed. CONCLUSION: The hypointense rim of the abscess wall on T2WI reflects the accumulation of cellular debris, the paramagnetic effect of free radicals due to active phagocytosing macrophages during the abscess forming stage, and fibrosis during the maturation stage.
Abscess* ; Fibrosis ; Free Radicals ; Freezing ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neutrophils ; Phagocytosis ; Protons ; Rabbits ; Thigh*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the use of external radiation therapy (ERT) in terms of survival and compliance in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 17 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma treated with ERT between 1993 and 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. ERT was administered after surgery in 14 patients and after a biopsy in three patients. Among the 14 patients who had undergone surgery, nine underwent a curative resection and five underwent a palliative resection. Six patients had associated well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas and 14 patients were diagnosed with a tumor size exceeding 5 cm. The radiation dose ranged from 6~70 Gy (median dose, 37.5 Gy). Eleven patients completed the planned course of ERT, whereas six patients did not. The follow-up period ranged from 1~104 months (median, 5 months; mean, 20 months). RESULTS: Five patients started the ERT without the presence of a gross mass and all of the patients completed ERT without a re-growth of tumor. Twelve patients (four patients after a curative resection, five patients after a palliative resection and three patients after a biopsy) started ERT with a gross mass present and only six patients were able to complete the planned course of ERT. Among the six patients who completed ERT, two patients showed a marked regression of the tumor mass, whereas two patients showed slight regression and two patients showed no response. The median survival was five months (range, 1~104 months) and the mean survival was 21 months. The overall survival was 41% at 1-year, 24% at 2-years and 12% at 5-years. Significant prognostic factors included the number of primary tumors present, tumor size, whether surgery was performed and completion of ERT as planned. Long-term survivors showed a tendency of having smaller sized initial tumors and smaller sized pre-ERT tumors than the short-term survivors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients with a small initial tumor (< or =5 cm), which was treated by surgery (curative resection or palliative resection) before ERT, and without rapid re-growth of the mass seen at the surgical site at the beginning of the ERT course, would be the best candidates for postoperative ERT. In contrast, patients with a large initial tumor (>5 cm) and did not undergo surgery before ERT or that rapid re-growth of the mass was observed at the surgical site are likely to have a short survival time, along with the interruption of ERT. In these cases, the role of ERT is very limited and the omission of ERT could be considered.
Biopsy