We have performed the prick test on 70 patients with atopic lermatitis and at the same time measured the levels of serum IgE and peripheral eosinophil counts. The following results were obtained: 1. Patients with atopic dermatitis showed higher rates of positivty in the prick tests, espe cially to inhalant, allergens. 2. The levels of IgE were increased in these patients and those who were positive to at least one allergen in the prick tests showed higher levels of IgE ha those who were negative in the prick tests. 3. The patients with atopic dermatitis with a past history of allergic rhinitis demonstrated higher rates of skin test positivity. 4. There was no correlation between the levels of serum IgE and the peripheral eosinophil counts in these patients with atopic dermatitis,
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests

No abstract available.
Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

Generalized granuloma annulare is a rare skin disease presenting generalized eruption with a distinctive histologic picture. The age of onset of generalized granuloma annulare differs from that of localized granuloma annulare. Most of the patients with generalized granuloma annulare were in the fifth to seventh decades and cases of generalized granuloma annulare in infancy or in early childhood have been rarely reported. We herein report two cases of generalized granuloma annulare in 45- and 18-month-old boys, who is the youngest patient yet reported in the Korean literature. The histopathologic findings were compatible with granuloma annulare and all lesions completely involuted in two months after administration of topical or systemic corticosteroids.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Age of Onset ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: The wound healing process is impaired or delayed in aged patients. The development of a new wound healing model is needed. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a special role in wound healing because NGF is expressed only in proliferating tissues such as wounds. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to develop a wound healing model using a 3-dimensional culture system, raft culture, by comparing the level of NGF expression according to the wound stage after an artificial wound was made to the raft samples. We tried to specifically localize the site of NGF expression both in mRNA and protein level. METHODS: Raft culture using normal human keratinocytes was done and a 2 mm slit wound was made in the center of the raft samples. Raft samples of no wound, 4 d, 7 d, and 9 d after wounding were prepared. In situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect and localize NGF expression after making wounds and the addition of substance P (SP). RESULTS: We failed to localize NGF mRNA expression in raft samples by in situ RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry showed NGF staining throughout the epidermis although a little more dense staining was found in the basal layer. NGF(+) cells tended to increase until 7 d after wounding, but there were no significant differences according to the wounding days. There was `a tendency that the SP(+) group showed more NGF(+) cells than the SP(-) group, but there were no statistical differences. CONCLUSION: We think that our in vitro raft wound model using NGF expression could be used, at least in part, as an objective indicator for wound healing. In our raft model lacking nerve, NGF may not be suitable for representing wound healing process because this model can not reflect the interaction between the skin and the nervous system. Expression of growth factors or cytokines other than NGF need to be applied to our raft culture system.
Cytokines ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Keratinocytes ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nervous System ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Substance P ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

An epidemiological investigation was conducted on Metagonimus yokogawai infection in Hadong Gun (County), Gyeongsang Nam Do, Korea, and following findings were obtained. Overall prevalence rate of Metagonimus yokogawai infection was 29.1 percent from a total of 1,163 inhabitants examined. By area of river and stream, Seomjin-gang R.: 9.5 percent (out of 95 inhabitants examined) in Jeondo Ri in the lower river, 19.9 percent (156) at Dugog Ri near Hadong town, and 90.8 percent (65) in Tab Ri of Hwagae Myeon where Hwagae-cheon Stream joins; Hwagae-Cheon Stream: 42.2 percent (45) in Yonggang Ri of the middle stream and 27.5 percent (72) in Daeseong Ri of the upper stream; Hoengcheon-gang R.: 54.7 percent (161) in Gojeol Ri of the lower river, 40.6 percent (128) in Hoengcheon Ri of the middle stream, and 5.4 percent (93) in Jungi Ri of the upper stream, and 43.8 percent (89) in Uge Ri located along a tributary of the Hoengcheon-gang R. and 4.0 percent (101) in Jangam Ri which is located about 4 km away from the river; Deogcheon-gang R.: 18.5 percent (54) in Munam Ri; Gwangog-cheon Stream: 2.8 percent (107) in Gwangog Ri. The difference in prevalence rate of the infection by area was correlated with the opportunity and amount of raw eating of sweetfish by the inhabitants in the respective areas. By age and sex, the overall prevalence rate increased from young age group and reached a peak at 20-29 age group and then the rate decreased gradually. In high endemic areas, however, a peak level of the rate lasted up to 40-49 age group in male. On the other hand, in low endemic areas, the rate was significantly lower in female, though moderate level of the infection was seen in male. The overall prevalence rate was higher in male than in female and the difference was greater in middle age groups. The most significant mode of infection by the inhabitants was the raw eating of sweetfish which commonly harbour metacercariae of M. yokogawai during summer through autumn. Besides, it was noted that the infection can be acquired through contamination with the metacercariae on food of various side-dish and kitchen utensils as well as on hands of a cook when such fish are prepared or handled. The inhabitants usually begin to acquire infection from early June of a year when fishing of sweetfish opens and acquire infection more frequently in July and August when fish are caught more productively and favored for raw consumption by inhabitants. From September, sweetfish are no more favored for raw consumption and accordingly are dried and cooked in this season. The infection in the sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis as the second intermediate host was first observed from May with low level of infection and the intensity of infection in a fish rapidly increased until reaching a peak in October when sweetfish season normally ends. The first intermediate host snail of M. yokogawai in this area was Semisulcospira coreana (Martens) which is widely distributed in the streams and rivers in this locality.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; metacercaria ; Plecoglossus altivelis ; epidemiology

No abstract available.
Somatoform Disorders*

No abstract available.
Epilepsy*

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) phosphorylates the prodrug ganciclovir to a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis, causing cell death. Neighbouring nontransfected cells may be affected through a 'bystander effect', thereby amplifying the antiproliferative actions. This study was carried out to determine whether retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy could reduce intimal hyperplasia and prevent stenosis following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery. METHODS: A replication-defective recombinant retroviral vector containing HSVtk cDNA (LtkSN) was constructed. Cultured primary rat smooth muscle cells (SMCs) infected with this vector (SMC/LtkSN) were transplanted to the balloon injured rat right carotid artery. One week after transplantation, HSVtk gene therapy group was administered a 2-week treatment of ganciclovir (30 mg/kg/d). Three weeks after balloon injury and SMC/LtkSN transplantation, carotid arteriography was performed and carotid arteries were perfusion-fixed for histologic examination. RESULTS: Carotid arteriographic evaluation comparing with the uninjured left carotid artery showed that the mean luminal diameter of HSVtk gene therapy group (n=5, 85+/-3%) was significantly larger than that of balloon injury only group (n=5, 65+/-5%). The neointimal mass of HSVtk gene therapy group was less than that of balloon injury only group. SMC/LtkSN transplantation without ganciclovir treatment group (n=3) showed asymmetric intimal proliferation probably because of gravitational pooling of seeding. There were inflammatory cell infiltrations at the gravity dependent portion of HSVtk gene therapy group. CONCLUSION: Retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery reduced neointimal expansion and arteriographic stenosis.
Angiography ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Injuries* ; Cell Death ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Ganciclovir ; Genetic Therapy* ; Gravitation ; Herpes Simplex* ; Hyperplasia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Phenobarbital ; Phosphotransferases* ; Rats* ; Simplexvirus* ; Thymidine Kinase ; Zidovudine

No abstract available.