No abstract available.
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Dopamine* ; Humans ; Pilot Projects* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

We report herein three cases of vesicular pemphigoid that is a varient of bullous pemphigoid, occuring in 38-year old female, 51-year old male, and 35-year old female patients. They had recurrent and moderate to severe pruritic tense vesicles with symmetrical distribution chiefly on the head and neck areas. The histological findings showed subepidermal bullae which contained a few eosinophils and the direct irnmunofluorescent tests revealed linear deposition of IgG, IgM and C, on the basement mernbrane zone. Futhermore, all the patients showed a good response to dapsone.
Adult ; Dapsone ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

BACKGROUND: As a result of exposure to human leukocyte antigen(HLA) by pregnancy, blood transfusion and previous organ transplantation, many patients awaiting renal transplantation can develop HLA antibodies. The level of HLA sensitization is determined by PRA(panel reactive antibody) test using a lymphocyte panel from HLA phenotyped selected donors. In Korea, PRA tests have not been performed routinely for organ transplantations. and there is no available data about HLA sensitization in renal transplantation. METHODS: PRA test was done in 136 sera of chronic renal failure(CRF) patients receiving dialysis (hemodialysis 108, peritoneal dialysis 28) by NIH standard microlymphocytotoxicity method with a frozen lymphocytes panel from 36 HLA-typed donors. PRA positive sera were re-tested after dithiothreitol(DTT) treatment and analyzed for HLA antibody specificities. RESULTS: Thirty five out of 136 sera(25.7%) showed positive PRA values in HLA antibody screening test. The PRA(%) values of the 35 positive sera were distributed into 1-10%(n=8), 10-20%(n=7), 20-50%(n=12) and 50%-100%(n=8). respectively. After DTT treatment, the change of PRA reactivity was divided into three groups. The PRA values of Group A(22 sera: 63%) showed no change, Group B(7 sera: 20%) declined, and Group C(6 sera. 17%) completely disappeared after DTT treatment. The specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 19 out of 35 sera(54%). The success rate in defining antibody specificities was 0 at PRA values of 1-10% and 70-100%, and high at PRA values of 20-70%. CONCLUSION: We observed that about a quarter of CRF patients have developed HLA antibodies of immunoglobulin class-IgG, mixed IgG and IgM, and IgM HLA antibody in decreasing order of frequency.
Antibodies ; Antibody Specificity ; Blood Transfusion ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Isoantibodies* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Organ Transplantation ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: In pregnancy, paternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that the fetus possesses can induce the development of cytotoxic HLA antibodies in the pregnant women. We investigated the frequency and the characteristics of HLA antibodies during the pregnancy in Koreans. METHODS: Sera from 192 pregnant women (46 in the 1st trimester, 120 in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd trimester) were tested for the presence of HLA antibody. Home made lymphocyte panel from 36 volunteers whose HLA-A, B and C antigens had been already identified 3nd formerly frozen in a liquid nitrogen tank were dispensed in duplicate into 72-well microplates and used as testing trays Test sera of one pregnant women with one negative control serum were dispensed in each plate and the plates were tested by microlymphocytotoxic method using anti-human immunoglobulin. The results were observed under fluorescence microscope and PRA (panel reactive antibody) values were determined by the percentage of wells showing positive reactions. HLA antibody specificities were identified by analysis of reaction characteristics. RESULTS: Among the 192 sera, 22 (11.5%) showed positive PRA value (PRA > 0%) in HLA antibody screening tests, in which 20 were less than 50% and 2 were more than 50% of PRA value. Two of the 46 subjects (4.3%) in the 1st trimester, 15 of the 120 (12.5%) in the 2nd and 5 of the 26 (19 2%) in the 3rd trimester were positive for HLA antibody. Among the 22 positive sera , specificities of HLA antibodies were identified in 14 (64%) sera: 8 sera had HLA antibody against single private HLA antigen. 5 had HLA antibodies against two or more antigens. and 1 sera showed anti-Bw4 antibody. CONCLUSION: In 192 pregnant women, 22 (11.5%) had HLA-A, B antibodies and they showed higher frequencies with the progress of pregnancy. Most of the pregnant women who were positive for HLA antibodies showed PRA value less than 50%. HLA antibody specificities were identified in 14 out of 22 positive sera (64%).
Antibodies* ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Fetus ; Fluorescence ; HLA-A Antigens* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Nitrogen ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND: CD34 positive cell enumeration by flow cytometry is currently used to determine the optimal timing of peripheral blood stem cell collections (PBSC) and to predict engraftment of stem cell transplantation. However, the technical problems and lack of a standardized method are sources of significant variability in the quantitation of the CD34 positive cells. ProCOUNT(TM) (Beckon Dickinson Immuno- cytometry System, USA) kit for three color flow cytometric analysis was introduced to enumerate CD34 positive cells using a standardized method. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the three color method, ProCOUNT(TM), in comparison with two color method. METHODS: CD34 positive cells from 25 cord blood samples were enumerated by two methods, two color (CD34-PE/CD45-FITC) and three color (ProCOUNT(TM) , nucleic acid dye/CD34-PE/ CD45-PerCP) flow cytometric analysis, in which CD34 positive cells were counted directly in comparison with counting beads introduced in the sample. RESULTS: The count of CD34 positive cells in the cord blood was 28.3(+/-20.0)/uL and 20.9 (+/-16.0) /uL by three color and two color methods, respectively, The number of CD34 positive cells enumerated by ProCOUNTTM kit was well correlated with that by two color method, but the count was significantly higher in the former method (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the three color method, loss of stem cells was significantly lower than that in the two color method, and it was possible to obtain a direct count of CD34 positive cells by using a standardized procedure.
Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: CD34 positive cell enumeration by flow cytometry is currently used to determine the optimal timing of peripheral blood stem cell collections (PBSC) and to predict engraftment of stem cell transplantation. However, the technical problems and lack of a standardized method are sources of significant variability in the quantitation of the CD34 positive cells. ProCOUNT(TM) (Beckon Dickinson Immuno- cytometry System, USA) kit for three color flow cytometric analysis was introduced to enumerate CD34 positive cells using a standardized method. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of the three color method, ProCOUNT(TM), in comparison with two color method. METHODS: CD34 positive cells from 25 cord blood samples were enumerated by two methods, two color (CD34-PE/CD45-FITC) and three color (ProCOUNT(TM) , nucleic acid dye/CD34-PE/ CD45-PerCP) flow cytometric analysis, in which CD34 positive cells were counted directly in comparison with counting beads introduced in the sample. RESULTS: The count of CD34 positive cells in the cord blood was 28.3(+/-20.0)/uL and 20.9 (+/-16.0) /uL by three color and two color methods, respectively, The number of CD34 positive cells enumerated by ProCOUNTTM kit was well correlated with that by two color method, but the count was significantly higher in the former method (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the three color method, loss of stem cells was significantly lower than that in the two color method, and it was possible to obtain a direct count of CD34 positive cells by using a standardized procedure.
Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells

We present a case of onychogryphosis of both great toe nails associated with onychomycosis of all toe nails occurring in a 90-year-old female patient. She also had senile dementia. Affected nail plates were thickened, increased in length, and curved like the horn of a ram. The nail plates were removed surgically form the nail bed. Direct microscopic examination revealed many hyphae with potassium hydroxide. Trichophyton rnbrum was isolated from the culture in Sabouraud glucose agar media. On histopathologic examination, we found many hyphae in the nail plate. We suggest an onychomycosis as one of the causes of onychogryphosis.
Agar ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Female ; Glucose ; Horns ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Onychomycosis* ; Potassium ; Toes ; Trichophyton

The purpose of this study is to verify severity of asthma in asthmatic patients through through the arterial blood gas analysis. Subjects were consisted of 103 patients (74 boys and 29 girls), between 2~13 years of ages. Clinically, asthmatic patients were classified into 6 groups, i, e., group 0(no rhonchi), group 1(rhonchi only), group 2(mild attack), group 3(moderate attack), group 4(severe attack), group 5(respiratory failure with disturbance of consciousness). PH kept normal range in the group 0, group 1, group 1 and group 3,but began decrease in the group 4.There was linear fall in Po2 and began decrease in the group 3. HCO3- maintained normal level through the whole range. BE showed acidemia on the whole, and began distinctive decrease in the group 4 and group 5, especially. Hypoxemia, hypercapnia and acidemia were common in patients in severe attacks with disturbance of consciousness.
Anoxia ; Asthma ; Blood Gas Analysis* ; Child* ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypercapnia ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; T-Lymphocytes*

PURPOSE: To compare radiation therapy alone to combined modality therapy about survival rate and tolerance of elderly patients (70=or> or =) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1998 and 2002, 57 patients given radiation therapy due to NSCLC (Stage III) were analysed retrospectively. Radiation therapy alone (RT), concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), and sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) was done to 33, 16 and 8 patients, respectively. Patients' median age was 74 (range 70~85). Male and female are 51 patients and 6 patients, respectively. 23 patients were stage IIIa and 34 were stage IIIb. Patients' characteristic distribution of RT and CRT was not significantly different except mass size that RT has a bigger than CRT. The fraction size of radiation therapy was 1.8 Gy in CRT and 1.8~3 Gy in other groups. Total radiation dose was 51~63 Gy according to the fraction size. If the prescribed total radiation dose was successfully irradiated, we stated that it was completion of radiation therapy. RESULTS: 52 patients were dead. Median period of radiation therapy was as follow: RT, 35 days, CRT, 60.5 days and SCRT, 35 days. Overall median survival time (MST) was 10.1 months. The 1 yr- and 2 yr-overall survival rate was 39.8% and 17.6%, respectively. MST of RT, CRT and SCRT was 8.9, 8.2 and 11.7 months, respectively. The 1 yr survival rate of RT, CRT and SCRT was 38.4%, 37.5% and 50% (not significant). Patients given incomplete radiation therapy were 12 (RT, 5 CRT, 6 SCRT, 1). N stage (p=0.081) and the difference of treatment methods (p=0.079) were the factors affecting incompletion of radiation therapy, but it was not significant. In case of combined-agents chemotherapy, 4 of 8 ceased radiation therapy. T stage (T> or =3), mass size (> or =5 cm), Karnofsky performance scale (< or =70) and completion of radiation therapy were the prognostic factors in uni- and multi-variate analysis. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with NSCLC, radiation therapy alone was a treatment method with similar survival period compared with other methods. Generally, patients given radiation therapy alone was tolerable to a treatment. Before planning concurrent chemoirradiation in elderly patients with NSCLC, physicians pay attention to a selection of patients and chemotherapy agents considering general condition and toxicity.
Aged* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate