BACKGROUND: CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte associated Antigen 4, CD152) has been known as a homologue of CD28, an accessory molecule providing a key costimulatory signal for successful antigen-driven activations of T lymphocyte. Most of biochemical and cell biological characteristics of the CD152 protein remain unknown while those of CD28 have been characterized in detail. METHODS: In this study CD152 expression in both CD4+ and CD8+ PBLs was studied by using flow cytometry. And intracellular CD152 multiprotein complex was purified and used for generating antibodies recognizing proteins composing of intracellular CTLA-4 multi protein complex. RESULTS: Level of surface expression of this molecule was peaked at 2 days of PHA stimulation in flow cytometric analysis. 40~45% of PHA blast cells were CD152+ in both of two subsets at this stage and the level of expression were equivalent in both two subsets. Contrary to this surface expression, intracellular expression was peaked at day 3 and it was preferentially induced in CD8+ cells and about 60% of CD8+ cells were CD152+ at this stage. High molecular weight (> 350 kD) intacellular CD152 protein complex purified by using preparative electrophoresis were immunized into rabbits and then 3 different anti-P34PC4, anti-P34PC7 and anti-P34PC8 antibodies were obtained. Using these 3 antibodies two unknown antigens associated with intracellular CD152 multiprotein complex were found and their molecular weights were 54 kD and 75 kD, respectively. Among these, the former was present as 110 kD homodimer in non- reducing condition. CONCLUSION: It seemed that 34 kD intracellular CD152 molecule forms high molecular weight multiprotein complex at least with 2 proteins of 75 kD monomer and 110 kD homodimer.
Antibodies ; CTLA-4 Antigen* ; Electrophoresis ; Flow Cytometry ; Lymphocytes ; Molecular Weight ; Population Characteristics ; Rabbits

We studied 193 Diabetics without any symptoms of coronary artery disease and 39 Normal healthy subjects as Control group, using treadmill exercise test and obtained following results. 1) The positive rate was significantly higher in Diabetics(19.4% in Normal ECG groups and 25.4% in total Diabetics)than Control groups(5.1%)(0.010.05). 5) There was no difference in HbAIC, Total cholesterol and Triglyceride between positive and negative groups(P>0.05). In summary, with exercise test, the positive rate was higher in Diabetics than in Normal control groups and it seemed to be treadmill exercise test is a useful screening method for evaluation of coronary artery disease as well as for assesment of treatment and follow up care.
Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Electrocardiography ; Equidae ; Exercise Test* ; Heart Rate ; Mass Screening ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Hysterectomy* ; Sexual Behavior*

We report a rare case of adenoid basal carcinoma in uterine cervix. The patient was a 43-year-old Korean female. She received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with Quick Cis-VP16 (cisplatin and VP16 with 7-10 days interval), three times and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph nodes dissection under the diagnosis of cervical cancer stage IIa. After the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the mass size was 3 x 2.5 Cm and which was protruded in exocervical region. Microscopically, scattered small nests of uniformed small cells with dark nuclei and scant cytoplasm were observed. Peripheral palisading as well as the formation of gland-like or acinar structures were noted. There were also foci of squamous differentiation in same portion of the small nests. The epithelial surface in other portions showed squamous cell carcinoma, large cell non-keratinizing cell type. Distribution between adenoid basal carcinoma of the cervix and other disease, such as adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with basaloid features, is important for clinical management because the clinical behavior of adenoid basal carcinoma is less malignant than adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Adenoids* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: To learn which inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-nitro arginine methylester(L-NAME) induces a preeclampsia-like syndrome in pregnant rabbits and high dose of L-arginine reverse the adverse changes induced by nitric oxide synthesis inhibition in pregnant rabbits. MTERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty Newzealand rabbits with 22-days of gestation were injected subcutaneously with 400mg of L-NAME for 7days and 100mg/kg L-arginine was also given intravenously 10 of 20 L-NAME injected pregnant rabbits. They are compared with the control group in which same volume of saline was subcutaneously injected to 5 rabbits with same condition. They were anesthesized by ketamine 50 mg/kg and roupum 2 mg/kg intramuscularly. Cutdown of femoral artery was performed and 22 gauge angioneedle was inserted. On manometer,three way catheter was connected, zeroed with saline, and blood pressure was read. Blood samples were taken from the vein of ear and checked for count of blood cells and bood chemistry (BUN/Cr, GOT/GPT, LDH, Uric acid). Urine protein was measured with nelaton catheterized urine. We injected drugs for 7 days begining on 22 days after mating and performed cesarian section to deliver fetus. To observe their effects on organs, lung, liver, placenta and kidney were taken and fixed with formalin. The sliced kidney tissue in thickness of 1 mm, was fixed with glutaraldehyde for electron microscopy and stored at 4degree C. Special staining was done for closed observation of pattern changes. For statistical analysis, mean+/-SEM was used. The control and experimental groups were compared by unpaired t-test and the differences were significant if probability level is less than 0.05(<0.05). RESULT: Mean blood pressure(MAP) in the experimental group I was significantly high compared to the control group(P<0.05). There was no significant differences in MAP between experimental group II and control group. Urine Protein, BUN, Cr, GOT/GPT, LDH, platelet count in the experimental group I was significantly high(p<0.05) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between experimental group II and control group. In light microscopic examination, lung, liver, kidney, placenta showed specific finding in experimental group I. Misconstructive of glomerulus in the experimental kidney was well preserved under EM examination. Interstitium of kidney was widened by increase of mesangial matrix. Mild effacement of foot process and cytoplasm of proximal tubule containing electron dense myelin figure like structure were observed. CONCLUSION: Long term injection of L-arginine analogue produced preeclampsia like syndrome and pathologic changes of organ system in pregnant rabbits. Concurrent high dose of L-arginine reversed such chages.
Arginine* ; Blood Cells ; Blood Pressure ; Catheters ; Chemistry ; Cytoplasm ; Ear ; Femoral Artery ; Fetus ; Foot ; Formaldehyde ; Glutaral ; Ketamine ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal* ; Myelin Sheath ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Placenta ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Rabbits ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the GnRH antagonist (Cetrotide) minimal stimulation protocol comparing with GnRH agonist combined long step down stimulation protocol in PCOS patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From Apr 2001 to May 2002, 22 patients (22 cycles) were performed in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using by GnRH antagonist and GnRH agonist for PCOS patients. GnRH antagonist (Cetrotide) combined minimal stimulation protocol was administered in 10 patients (10 cycles, Study Group) and GnRH agonist long step down stimulation protocol was administered in 12 patients (12 cycles, Control Group). We compared the pregnancy rate/cycle, total FSH (A)/cycle, Retrieved oocyte/cycle, the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. Student-t test were used to determine statistical significance. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: Group of GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) minimal stimulation protocol produced fewer oocytes (6.4 versus 16.3 oocytes/cycle) using a lower dose of FSH (22.2 versus 36.1 Ample/cycle) and none developed OHSS and multiple pregnancy. Although the trends were in favour of the GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) protocol, the differences did not reach statistical significance. This was probably due to small sample size. CONCLUSION: The use of GnRH antagonist reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancy. We suggest that GnRH antagonist might be alternative controlled ovarian hyperstimulation method, especially in PCOS patients who will be ovarian high response.
Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* ; Sample Size

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the GnRH antagonist (Cetrotide) minimal stimulation protocol comparing with GnRH agonist combined long step down stimulation protocol in PCOS patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From Apr 2001 to May 2002, 22 patients (22 cycles) were performed in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation using by GnRH antagonist and GnRH agonist for PCOS patients. GnRH antagonist (Cetrotide) combined minimal stimulation protocol was administered in 10 patients (10 cycles, Study Group) and GnRH agonist long step down stimulation protocol was administered in 12 patients (12 cycles, Control Group). We compared the pregnancy rate/cycle, total FSH (A)/cycle, Retrieved oocyte/cycle, the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups. Student-t test were used to determine statistical significance. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: Group of GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) minimal stimulation protocol produced fewer oocytes (6.4 versus 16.3 oocytes/cycle) using a lower dose of FSH (22.2 versus 36.1 Ample/cycle) and none developed OHSS and multiple pregnancy. Although the trends were in favour of the GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix) protocol, the differences did not reach statistical significance. This was probably due to small sample size. CONCLUSION: The use of GnRH antagonist reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation and multiple pregnancy. We suggest that GnRH antagonist might be alternative controlled ovarian hyperstimulation method, especially in PCOS patients who will be ovarian high response.
Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* ; Sample Size

This study attempted to assess the risk factors for mortality of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU, n=2,386). Using data from the Korean Neonatal Network, we investigated infants with birth weights <1,500 g and gestational ages (GAs) of 22-31 weeks born between January 2013 and June 2014. Cases were defined as death at NICU discharge. Controls were randomly selected from live VLBW infants and frequency matched to case subjects by GA. Relevant variables were compared between the cases (n=236) and controls (n=236) by Cox proportional hazards regression to determine their associations with cause-specific mortality (cardiorespiratory, neurologic, infection, gastrointestinal, and others). In a Cox regression analysis, cardiorespiratory death were associated with a foreign mother (hazard ratio, HR, 4.33; 95% confidence interval, CI, 2.08-9.02), multiple gestation (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.07-2.54), small for gestational age (HR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.25-3.41), male gender (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.10-2.60), Apgar score < or =3 at 5 min (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.18-3.31), and delivery room resuscitation (HR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.53-4.40). An Apgar score < or =3 at 5 min was also associated with neurological death (HR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.29-6.73). Death due to neonatal infection was associated with outborn delivery (HR, 5.09; 95% CI, 1.46-17.74). Antenatal steroid and preterm premature rupture of membranes reduced risk of cardiorespiratory death (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27-0.67) and gastrointestinal death (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.13-0.70), respectively. In conclusion, foreign mother, multiple gestation, small gestation age, male gender, Apgar score < or =3 at 5 min, and resuscitation in the delivery room are associated with cardiorespiratory mortality of VLBW infants in NICU. An Apgar score < or =3 at 5 min and outborn status are associated with neurological and infection mortality, respectively.
Apgar Score ; Cohort Studies ; Databases, Factual ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; *Infant Death ; *Infant Mortality/trends ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Resuscitation ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the body weight, body mass index (BMI), and basal serum level of LH, FSH, testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) are related to the ovarian response to clomiphene citrate (CC) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). MATERIALS AND METHOD: From January 1996 to June 1997, total 57 patients with PCOS were enrolled in the present study. Women who had other infertility factors were excluded from our study. The ovulation induction using CC was used in all patients. The patients were grouped into 50 mg group, 100 mg group, and 150 mg group according to their daily CC dose. The patients were also grouped to ovulatory and non-ovulatory group. The body weight, BMI, arid basal serum level of LH, FSH, T, DHEA-S were measured in all patients on the 2nd or 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. Results were analysed with Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The body weight and BMI of the nonovulating group were significantly higher than those of the ovulating group in all groups (50, 100, 150 mg of CC). However, there were no significant differences of the level of LH and FSH between ovulating and nonovulating groups in all CC groups (50, 100, 150 mg). The level of T of nonovulating group was significantly higher in 50 and 100 mg of CC groups, but not in 150 mg group. The level of DHEA-S of the non-ovulating group is significantly higher in 50 mg group, but not in 100 and 150 mg groups. CONCLUSION: The body weight and BMI could be useful predictors of ovarian response to CC in patients with PCOS, and basal T and DHEA-S also might be useful in cases of low-dose CC treatment.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Clomiphene* ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* ; Testosterone

OBJECTIVE: To survey the clinical features, complications, prognostic factors and Five-year survival rates of 398 patients with invasive cervical cancer(stage Ib-IIb), subjected to radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Medical records and pathologic reports were reviewed retrospectively on 398 cases, diagnosed and operated on during the period of Jan. 1988 - Dec. 1998. Five-year survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were assessed using Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Of the 398 cases, 285 were in stage Ib(71.6%), 58 in stage IIa(14.5%), and 55 in stage IIb(13.8%). The mean age of patients was 48+/-9.9 years. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to 200 patients(50.2%), Adjuvnat radiotherapy in 160 patients(40.2%) postoperatively. Operative complications occured in 121 patients(30%). Massive blood loss and bladder dysfuction were frequent complications(11.3% and 10.3%, respectively). Others were urinary tract infection(9.3%), wound infection(7.5%), lymphocyst(3.5%) and urinary tract fistula(0.7%), respectively. The Five-year survival rates for stage Ib, IIa, and IIb were 84.2, 82.8%, and 75.8%, respectively. Factors that affect the Five-year survival rates were cell type(small cell Vs other, P=0.0146), tumor size(< or = 3cm Vs >3cm, P=0.0425), depth of invasion( < or = 5gm Vs >5ne, P= 0.0007), response of chemotherapy(poor response Vs other, P= 0.0001), LN metastasis(1 Vs 2 Vs more, P=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Accumulating the clinical experience, we could improve results, reduce complications and speculated that the survival rates could be improved by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or adjuvant postoperative radiotherpy. Prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate our approach and to be compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy to definite its precise role in locally advanced cervical cancer.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Medical Records ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Wounds and Injuries