PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether the pattern of optic nerve enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help to differentiate between idiopathic optic neuritis (ON), neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and multiple sclerosis (MS) in unilateral ON. METHODS: An MRI of the brain and orbits was obtained in patients with acute unilateral ON. Patients with ON were divided into three groups: NMO, MS, and idiopathic ON. The length and location of the abnormal optic nerve enhancement were compared for ON eyes with and without NMO or MS. The correlation between the pattern of optic nerve enhancement and the outcome of visual function was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients with ON who underwent an MRI within 2 weeks of the onset, 19 were diagnosed with idiopathic ON, 9 with NMO, and 8 with MS. Enhancement of the optic nerve occurred in 21 patients (58.3%) and was limited to the orbital segment in 12 patients. Neither the length nor the location of the optic nerve enhancement was significantly correlated with visual functions other than contrast sensitivity or the diagnosis of idiopathic ON, MS, or NMO. Patients with greater extent of optic nerve sheath enhancement and more posterior segment involvement showed higher contrast sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that the pattern of optic nerve enhancement was not associated with diagnosis of idiopathic ON, NMO, or MS in Korean patients with unilateral ON. We believe further studies that include different ethnic groups will lead to a more definitive answer on this subject.
Brain ; Contrast Sensitivity ; Diagnosis ; Ethnic Groups ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; Optic Nerve* ; Optic Neuritis* ; Orbit

PURPOSE: Eosinophils are cells of the granulocyte lineage that participate in host defence against parasitic disease and mediate allergic inflammation. In this study by using the combination of cytokines IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF, we explore the characterization of cultured eosinophils from CD34+ CBCs. METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated heparinized umbilical cord blood by Ficoll-paque (1.077 g/ml) density gradient centrifugation method. The CD34-bearing hematopoietic progenitor cells were collected by elution after their adhesion to a magnetic cell sepatation (MACS) column. The CD34+ cells were incubated in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and were cultured in the presence of IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF in a 6-well plate bottomed tissue culture plate at 37 degrees C for 7-28 days in humidified 5% CO2 and 95% air atmosphere. For the identification of cultured eosinophils Wright's and Giemsa staining, RT-PCR, Southern blotting and FACS analysis are used. RESULTS: We analyzed the cultured eosinophils Wright's and Giemsa staining, the total cell number of cells increased 50-fold by days 28 of culture. Also, using the sensitive RT-PCR technique, we monitered the appearance of mRNA transcrips of EPO. Identity of each RT-PCR product was confirms by southern blotting with independent gene-specific oligonucleotide probes and we found increasing of hybridization signals for EPO at 7th culture days. In addtion, we identified eosinophils in cultured CD34+ CBCs by flow cytometry. As s results, we succeeded in developing of pure eosinophils efficiently from CD34+ of CBCs in the presence of IL-3, IL-5 and GM-CSF. CONCLUSION: The in vitro growth of CD34+ CBCs may provide a useful system to study growth factor and stage-dependent adhesion molecule expression, as well as function on developing eosinophils.
Atmosphere ; Azure Stains ; Blotting, Southern ; Cell Count ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Cytokines ; Eosinophils* ; Fetal Blood* ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocytes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Heparin ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-3* ; Interleukin-5* ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Parasitic Diseases ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: Interleukin-9(IL-9), one of Th2-type cytokines, might be important in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases. We investigated the effect of IL-9 on human mast cells by assessing cell proliferation and histamine release. METHODS: Human umbilical cord blood cells were cultured in the presence of stem cell factor(SCF, 100 ng/mL) and IL-6(50 ng/mL) in liquid medium for 8 weeks. Then these cells were divided into 3 aliquots. Each aliquot was cultured for 4 more weeks in different conditions : SCF alone(100 ng/mL), IL-9 alone(50 ng/mL) and SCF+IL-9. Cell numbers were counted using hemocytometer. For evaluation of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation was determined by propidium iodide(PI) staining and flow cytometric analysis. Histamine concentration was measured by ELISA after stimulation with human IgE and anti-human IgE. RESULTS: Cell numbers increased significantly when they were cultured in the presence of SCF and IL-9 compared with SCF alone(P<0.05). Proliferation of mast cells was mediated by decreased apoptosis. Histamine release in activated mast cells was not different regardless of incubation with IL-9. CONCLUSION: IL-9 might be involved in allergic inflammation via proliferation of mast cells in target tissue.
Apoptosis ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation* ; Cytokines ; DNA Fragmentation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fetal Blood ; Histamine Release* ; Histamine* ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-9* ; Mast Cells* ; Propidium ; Stem Cells

BACKGROUND: Phlebotomy performed for laboratory testing has the potential to cause anemia in newborns and infants. This study investigated the minimum specimen volume required for an automated immunohematology analyzer DAYmate S. METHODS: Three combinations of tubes were evaluated: I. 6 mL EDTA tube, II. 0.5 mL microtainer (on top of 3 mL EDTA tube), and III. 1 mL sample cup (on top of 6 mL EDTA tube). ABO/RhD cell typing was done using centrifuged red cells; unexpected antibody screening was carried out using plasma, and Type & Screening was conducted using whole blood samples. The lowest specimen volume capable of performing 10 repetitive tests without errors was investigated. RESULTS: ABO/RhD cell typing could be performed from I. 30 μL, II. 25 μL, and III. 25 μL. Unexpected antibody screening could be performed from I. 170 μL, II. 150 μL, and III. 140 μL. According to the hematocrit levels, Type & Screening could be performed from 30%, I&III 650 μL, II. 800 μL; 40%, I&III 650 μL, II. 900 μL; and 50%, I&III 1,000 μL, II. Testing using specimen volumes below 1,000 μL was difficult. CONCLUSION: By separating red cells and plasma, pre-transfusion testing of ABO/RhD cell typing and unexpected antibody screening could be conducted with very small specimen volumes using DAYmate S compared to Type & Screening using whole blood. The application of small-sized sample tubes was more competitive and this is expected to be very useful for preventing iatrogenic anemia in neonates and infants less than 4 months old.
Anemia ; Edetic Acid ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Phlebotomy ; Plasma