No abstract available.

There has been much interest in the involvement of wind-up in the hyperalgesia and allodynia of chronic pain syndrome. For investigating the hehaviorml parallels of this wind-up phenomenon, it was limed to evaluate the changes of neurotransmitters(aspartate. lutamate, and taurine) in central sensitization after formalin-induced peripheral nerve injurv in the rats. The experiment was divided into two subexperiments; One was the formalin test.;and the other was microdialysis for evaluation of neurotransmitters. In formalin test (n=7), 50 microliter of 5% formalin was injected suhcutaneously in the foot dorsum of the right hind limb with a 30 G neeclle. To cluantify the formilin response. the number of spontaneous t1inches was counted at 1-2 minutes and 5-6 minutes and at 5 minutes intervals during the period 10- 60 minutes after formalin injeclion. In microdialysis study. the experimental animals were divided randomly into two groups. In experimentl group (n=10). the microdialysis catheter was perfused with artificial cerehrospinal fluid by 3 microliter/min for one hour. Then. the two beseline dialysis samples were collected and 50 microliter of 5% formalin was injected .iuhcutaneously in thc plantar surface of the right hind paw with a 30 G needle. Three 10 minutes dialysate samples were collected after formalin injection. In control group(n=10), the normal saline instead of formalin was used. The results were as followed: In formalin test, there was a biphasic pattern of flinchine after formalin injection. The peak in phase I was shown at 2 minutes after formalin injection. The second peak was shown at 35 minutes alter formalin injection during phase II. In microdialysis study, thcre were statistically significant increascs of aspartate and lutamate concentrations, excitatory neuro transmitters, during the first 10 minutes after formalin injection. After lhen, all values of these neurotransmitters were rcturned to baseline values. The concentrations of taurine, an inhihitory neurotransmitter, was shown a tendency of an increase after formalin injection but, it was not statistically significant. From these results, it secms that the excitatory amino acid ncurotransmitter may partly play a role to triqer the central sensitization after peripheral nerve injury.
Animals ; Aspartic Acid ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System Sensitization* ; Chronic Pain ; Dialysis ; Dronabinol ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; Extremities ; Foot ; Formaldehyde ; Hyperalgesia ; Microdialysis ; Needles ; Neurotransmitter Agents* ; Pain Measurement ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries* ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Rats* ; Taurine

Interaction with Candida albicans (C. albicans) causes secretion of a variety of cytokines by macrophages. Although macrophages and neutrophils are thought to be major effector cell types in inflammation, fibroblasts have also been shown to participate in a wide array of inflammatory reactions. The patterns of cytokine gene (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) expression have been examined in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts (NIH 3T3) and thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages (macrophages) in response to Candida spp. (C. albicans and C. tropicalis) and compared with NIH 3T3 and macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by using RT-PCR. Active and heat inactivated (100'C, 30min) C. albicans and C. tropicalis were used at 1:10 (macrophages or NIH 3T3: yeasts ratio) concentration as a stimulators. Active and inactivated forms of Candidn spp. induced same patterns of cytokine gene expression on macrophages or NIH 3T3 cells. IL-6 mRNA was induced on both macrophages and fibroblasts, but IL-4 mRNA was not induced on both of them. Howerver, IL-10 mRNA expression was observed differently in that it was expressed in macrophages but not in fibroblasts. C. albicans-induced cytokine mRNA expression were same to C. tropicalis-induced one. C. albicans or C. tropicalis-induced cytokines gene expression (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) showed same patterns to LPS-induced one. These observation provide that, although C. albicans and C. tropicalis have different pathogenic activity, they can induce the expression of Th2 cell-derived cytokine genes with same patterns, and IL-10 gene expression may be in a cell type specific manner. But further experiment with various kinds of fibroblasts is needed to determine cell type-specific manner in C. albicans or C. tropicalis-induced IL-10 gene expression.
Animals ; Candida albicans ; Candida* ; Cytokines ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression* ; Hot Temperature ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal* ; Mice* ; Neutrophils ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets*

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and N-K cell activity (NKCA) in Korean breast and rectal cancer patients just after diagnosis. METHODS: With 35 subjects enrolled between November 2002 and May 2003, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was used to estimate BFP. FACS Analysis was used to measure N-K cell activity. The relationships between BFP and NKCA were identified by using curve estimation, simple regression, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean BFPs of the subjects and all the sub-groups were higher than acceptable BFPs. Both the mean NKCAs of male and female subjects were lower than that of healthy women. NKCA was explained by BFP with a 14.9% variance in the total subjects (p<.05). There were significant negative relationships between BFP and NKCA after controlling age, type of cancer, and stage of cancer while no significant relationship was found after controlling for gender. The relationships between BFP and NKCA in the sub-groups of female, breast cancer, and stage I, and II were significant. The relationships between male, rectal cancer, and the stage III, and VI sub-groups were not identified, but they revealed a mild to moderate steep in curve estimation. CONCLUSION: Weight reduction could prevent the risk and advancement of breast and rectal cancer in Koreans.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Fat Distribution ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnosis/psychology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/psychology

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of psoriasis remains uncertain. It is known that a variety of factors take a role in its pathogenesis. One of them is the alteration of keratinocytes differentiation. The terminal differentiation of keratinocytes includes the process of the synthesis of proteins such as involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin and cornifin, and produce keratohyaline granules and a structure termed cornified cell envelope finally. And the terminal differentiation of keratinocytes is known as a process of apoptosis, programmed cell death. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we tried to clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms of psoriasis by comparing the expression patterns of several proteins(involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin) associated with keratinocyte differentiation and of bcl-2 protein, known as inhibitor of apoptosis, between lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows, firstly early expression of involucrin in lower epidermis, secondly no or reduced expression of filaggrin and loricrin in upper epidermis and lastly no expression of bcl-2 in basal layer of psoriatic skin. CONCLUSION: This study clarified that the accelerated terminal differentiation, the shortening of cell-cycle of keratinocytes, and the increased turnover of keratinocytes may be involved in the pathogenetic role of psoriasis.
Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Epidermis ; Keratinocytes ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

The diagnosis of scrotal tumors in children can be challenging because of the rarity, vague symptoms, and varied imaging features of the tumors. The pathology and frequency of scrotal tumors that occur in children are different from tumors that arise in adults. In this pictorial essay, we illustrate the imaging findings of scrotal tumors in children with pathological correlations. In addition, we present the clinical manifestations that are valuable for a differential diagnosis. Familiarity with the imaging findings and clinical manifestations of pediatric scrotal tumors may be helpful in making an accurate diagnosis and providing proper patient management.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Recognition (Psychology)

King Jungjo who introduced the advent of cultural renaissance of Chosun Dynasty as little been known about his work in medicine. With a wide knowledge in medicine, he was the only one among the kings who wrote a book on medicine, called "SueMinMyoJeon". In this paper, his perspective on medicine will be looked into based on "The Annals of the Chosun Dynasty", "Seungjeongwon Ilgi", "Hong Je jun Se", "KukGoBoGam", "Ildkrok", "JeJungShinPyun", "SueMinMyoJeon" etc. King Jungo valued empiricism in the field of medicine. He deepened understandings in medicine while taking care of King Youngjo, the late king. And it led him to author "SueMinMyoJeon" himself, and further ordered the publications of "JeJungShinPyun" "MaGuaHeoiTong". These two books were conducted to include empirical cases of folklore remedy. King Jungjo's medical philosophy can be epitomized in filial piety and realization of people-serving politics, which are the essentials of Confucianism. His filial piety towards the late king, Youngjo and his mother is shown in his devotion when taking care of them. Especially the way he examined the differentiation of diseases and corresponding treatments is well described in "The Annals of the Chosun Dynasty". "JeJungShinPyun" was also published and it came handy for folk villagers in times of medical needs. Later this book influenced "BangYakHaepPyun" by Hwang Do Yeon. King Jungjo emphasized pragmatism in spreading medical knowledges, thus removing the theoretical contents that are related to Taoism, especially the ones on alchemy from "DongEuiBoGam", when publishing "SueMinMyoJeon". Even the excerpts from "SoMun" were taken out, if not practical. King Jungjo, however, discussed the importance of healthy regimen and mentioned himself practicing it from the book "IlDeukLok", which seems to be the only book that derailed from the pragmatistic track. King Jungjo put emphasis on consistency between diagnosis and treatment. In diagnosing, Meridian pulse was taken important as a means of finding the origin of disease, while deploring how doctors then neglected to study.
History, 18th Century ; Humans ; Korea ; Medicine, Korean Traditional/*history ; Philosophy, Medical/*history ; Reference Books, Medical

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms of secondary injury(post-ischemic injury) in the central nervous system have recently reported in a vast of amount of experiments. Among many factors which give rise to post-ischemic neuronal damage, glial deterioration probably mediated by calcium paradox, could be another of the aggravating deleterious factors to the already ischemic neurophil. METHODS: here we have designed experiment to investigate calcium paradox in astroglial cell line, human astrocytoma U1242MG. Intracellular calcium alterations in experimental cells were monitored by using calcium indicating dye fura-2 and epifluorescent photometry system. RESULTS: Intracellular free calcium changes during reperfusion phase after exposure to low calcium led to a prompt increase in intracelluar calcium level after 10 and 30 minutes. The way of calcium entry during the reperfusion phase was mediated by the reverse mode of NA+/Ca2+ exchanger. Cells that had a reduction of reperfusate calcium to 10uM increased cell viability. Also we observed an inverse relationship between major enzymatic activity in the astrocytoma cells(i.e., gultamine synthetase activity) and the duration of reperfusion in the the same protocols. CONCLUSIONS: A relatively small amount of intracellular clcium increase by the reverse mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger during the reperfusion period is related to a limitation of enzyme activity and viability 24hours later.
Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Calcium ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Central Nervous System ; Fura-2 ; Humans ; Ions ; Ligases ; Neuroglia* ; Neurons ; Photometry ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Reperfusion*

Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a benign disorder in which one, several, or occasionally numerous red to yellow nodules are present. The lesion may be present at birth, but usually arises in early infancy. Adult-onset xanthogranuloma clinically differ from juvenile xanthogranuloma in that the lesion is usually solitary and does not involve internal organs, and generally does not resolve without treatment. We report a case of xanthogranuloma in adult which occurred on the scalp and the trunk of 52-year-old male showing typical clinical and histopathological findings.
Adult* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parturition ; Scalp ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile