No abstract available.
Fever* ; Humans

A study was made to see the family back ground abandonment of mother's right, clinical and laboratory examination(urinalysis, blood examination, tuberculous skin test, VDRL, PKU screening test and chest X-ray) on 1,793 infants and children in an institure for foreign adoption. The results were as follows: 1) Gilrs were much more predominant than boys with male to female ratio of 1 : 2.3. 2) Most of them were Korean and only ten were mixed blood, Five were Korean-white, five were Korean-negro. 3) Most of them were under one year of age(70%). 4) Mid-wife delivery was the most common birth place among known ones. 5) Most of deliveries were normal full term delivery(46.9%). 6) There was no difference in monthly distribution. Duration of admission was 2~3 months usually. 7) concerning the family background, most of them were unknown, 432 of them(24.8%) were from unmarried mother, 397 from married mother, and founding, parents dead or left home, divorced and unmarried father in order of decreasing frequency. 8) Age of mothers, between 21~25 years was most frequent. Most of unmarried mothers were between 20~22 years of age. 9) In order of birth, most of them were between 3~5th children. 10) Disease pattern; Upper respiratory tract disease was the most common, and diarrhea was the next. Skin and mucous membrane disease were frequently seen. There were 12 cases of tuberculosis and 18 cases of congenital syphilis. There developed 15 cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. 11) On routine laboratory examination, there noted 85 cases of positive TB sin test, 18 cases of positive VDRL reaction. No positive case in PKU screening test.
Child* ; Child, Institutionalized ; Diarrhea ; Divorce ; Female ; Humans ; Illegitimacy ; Infant ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Mucous Membrane ; Parents ; Parturition ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Residence Characteristics ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: This study focuses on the pathogenesis of inflammatory reaction and cell necrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and examines the possible effects of follicular dendritic cells, HLA-DR and CD8+ presenting lymphocytes by analyzing their expression and the histological activity index (HAI) in liver tissues. METHODS: Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 59 patients with chronic hepatitis B and from 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The expressions of dendritic cells, HLA-DR and CD8+ presenting lymphocytes were determined by immunohistochemical stain. RESULTS: The incidence of lymphoid follicle and/or lymphoid aggregates in portal tracts of the liver was higher in chronic hepatitis C than it was in chronic hepatitis B (84.6% vs. 15.3%, p=0.000). Follicular dendritic cells were exclusively expressed within lymphoid follicles and/or lymphocyte aggregates in portal areas. HLA-DR restricted cells were mainly observed in portal and periportal areas as well as in the area of piecemeal necrosis. CD8+ lymphocytes were diffusely expressed in portal and periportal areas and within intralobular parenchymal sinusoids. The expression of dendritic cell and HLA-DR was more frequently observed in moderate chronic hepatitis than in mild chronic hepatitis. While that of CD8+ lymphocyte expression was more frequent in severe chronic hepatitis with a high HAI score. CONCLUSIONS: The follicular dendritic cells may trap viral antigens in intraportal lymphoid follicle and present them to HLA-DR and CD8+ presenting lymphocytes. It is suggested that the associated expression of dendritic cells, HLA-DR and CD8+ presenting lymphocytes in liver tissues may play one of the biological role in immune injury in chronic viral hepatitis.
Antigens, Viral ; Biopsy ; Dendritic Cells* ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Lymphocytes* ; Necrosis

BACKGROUND: Abnormal platelet activation has been identified in several disorders characterizedby vascular patholo-gy including coronary artery disease, Alzheimer disease, myeloproliferative disorders, diabetes, preeclampsia, inflam-matory bowel disease and glomerular disease. Antiplatelet therapy has been valuable in the management of some of these conditions. The aim of this study is to verify usefulness of mean platelet component (MPC) concentration as a marker of thrombotic process in patients with cerebral infarction. Our hypothesis is that MPC as measured by the ADVIA(R) 120 hematology system is used to detect and monitor platelet activation associated with thrombotic process of ischemic stroke. METHODS: To study the existence of platelet activation at the onset of cerebral infarction, mean platelet concentration of platelets were measured daily during post-stroke 10 days. Thirty-four acute thrombotic cerebral infarction and seventeen age-matched healthy persons were selected for this study. To investigate the time course of the platelet MPC changes observed in stroke patients, the blood samplings for MPC measuring were done and analyzed on the ADVIA 120(R) system. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in MPC concentration of the platelets at post-stroke 3rd to 7th day compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a reduction of MPC as measured by the ADVIA 120(R) hematology system may be used to detect and monitor thrombotic process associated with platelet activation in ischemic stroke.
Alzheimer Disease ; Blood Platelets* ; Cerebral Infarction ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Hematology ; Humans ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Platelet Activation* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dipyridamole* ; Perfusion*

Assessment of Myocardial contractility is critically important task in the evaluation of patients with heart disease. In recent years many indices have been studied to evaluate myocardial inotropic state, applying the skeletal muscle mechanics to intact heart. Among such indices, Vmax(maximum velocity of shortening of the unloaded contractile elements) and Vpm(physiologic maximum observed velocity of myocardial shortening) provide a measure of myocardial contractility independent of preload or afterload. To obtain normal values in Korean adults, the left ventricular pressure data of 16 patients with normal physical activities were analyzed, using the digital computer. Seven patients had ventricular septal defect with Qp/Qs less than 2.0, one patient had mitral stenosis, another one patient had mitral stenosis and aortic regurgitation (grade I/IV and the remainder seven patients had no intrinsic cardiac disorder. But, the cardiac performances of all patients were apparently normal. The results were as follows: 1) Cardiac index was greater than 3.0 l/min/m2 in all patinets: 4.9+/-1.32(+/-S.D.)l.min/m2. 2) Ejection fraction was greater than 55% in all patients: 71.2+/-8.04(+/-S.D.)%. 3) Left ventricular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP) ranged from 3 mmHg to 12 mmHg. 4) Vmax: 48.1+/-9.41(+/-S.D.) sec(-1). 5) Vpm: 39.3+/-8.13(+/-S.D.) sec(-1).
Adult* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Computers ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Mechanics ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Motor Activity* ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Reference Values ; Ventricular Pressure

In patients with chronic aortic regurgitation, irreversible left ventricular dysfunction, which is associated poor longterm prognosis, often develops before onset of severe symtoms. To determine whether evidence of left ventricular dysfunction could be detected before it appeared at rest, 48 patients with chronic aortic regurgition were studied using exercise echocardiography, and 25 patients were followed-up for 16.1 months in average by serial echocardiographical and clinical examination to evaluate the prognostic value of exercise-echocardiographic data. Among 41 patients with normal resting ejection fraction, left ventricular ejection fraction increased more than 5% with exercise(big up tri, DeltaEF> or =5%) in 14 patients (Group I), while in 27 patients ejection fraction change with exercise was less than normal (big up tri, DeltaEF <5%) (Group II). In the remaining 7 patients with subnormal resting ejection fraction, the exercise response was also subnormal (big up tri, DeltaEF<5%)(Group III). 1) There was no significant difference in radius-thickness ratio, ejection fraction at rest, work capacity, exercise duration and NYHA functional class between group I, II and III. But left ventricular internal dimension and wall stress were greater in group II than in group I. Group III had the largest left ventricualr internal dimension and stress. 2) Among the 15 patients with left vnetricular end-systolic dimension(LVESD) greater than 55mm, only one patient belong to group I. The other 14 patients belonged to group II(7 patients) and group III(7 patients). In contrast, in 22 patients with LVESD less than 50mm, 13 patients were group I, 9 patients were group II. In 26 patients with LVESD greater than 50 mm, only one patient showed normal exercise response, but the remaining 25 patients showed subnormal response. 3) Serial echocardiographic and clinical follow-up study for average 16.1 months showed group I the best, group II better than group III, group III the poorest clinical course and prognosis. Left ventricular functional status of group II patients seemed to be intermediate stage between group I and group III. 4) Total work duration and work capacity were more reduced in NYHA functional class II and III than in class I. But, using NYHA functional classification there were no differences in left ventricular internal dimension, ejection fraction at rest, exercise change in ejection fraction(big up tri, DeltaEF), wall stress and radius-thickness ratio between class I, II and III. According to the above results the classification based on the resting ejection fraction and big up tri, DeltaE.F., seemed to be useful for identification of patients with different clinical course and prognosis, especially in asymptomatic cases. The consideration of indices obtained by exercise-echocardiography, such as, LVESD, resting ejection fraction, big up tri, DeltaE.F. and wall stress, as well as the clinical status of patient, would be a useful guideline for follow-up and determining the optimal time for surgical intervention in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Classification ; Echocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and to correlate them with clinicopathological factors in uterine cervical neoplasia. METHODS: A total 81 cervical biopsy specimens obtained from Jan.1995 to Aug. 1996 at YUMC were evaluated for the expressions of VEGF and TP : 9 were designated as benign, 6 as CIN 1, 11 as CIN 2, 12 as CIN 3, and 43 as invasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix. We applied the immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies, such as VEGF and TP monoclonal antibody on formalin-fixed, and paraffin-embedded tissues. The results of immunostaining were correlated with various clinicopathological factors of cervical cancer and patient 5-year survival. RESULTS: As the cervical tumorigenesis progressed, there was significant increase of expression of VEGF and TP. VEGF expression was inversely correlated with stage of cervical cancer and showed a significant correlation with the depth of stromal invasion and lymphovascular space invasion. TP expression in cancer cells was significantly high in tumors with advanced stage, large tumor size, pelvic node metastasis. There was an inverse relationship between VEGF and TP expression. VEGF had no significant power to predict patient survival but TP showed statistically significant correlation with poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Both VEGF and TP play important roles in invasiveness of uterine cerival neoplasia. However, the former is important in early process and the latter in the late process of cervical tumorigenesis and affects the patient's survival in uterine cervical carcinoma, respectively.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thymidine Phosphorylase* ; Thymidine* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Arm ; Facial Hemiatrophy ; Humans ; Skeleton

We report a case of cytomegalovirus(CMV) pneumonitis in a 21-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). She was diagnosed 3 years ago with lupus nephropathy and was on immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide. She developed dyspnea with fever and hypoxemia. Chest X-ray, and HRCT showed interstitial pneumonitis. We performed open lung biopsy. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonitis was made by the virus culture and immunohistochemical staining for CMV in lung tissue. Despite the admini stration of ganciclovir and high dose immunoglobulin therapy and assistance of mechanical ventilator, the patient died.
Anoxia ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pneumonia* ; Prednisolone ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Young Adult