PURPOSE: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a neurodegerative disease due to persistent measles virus infection. We investigated the role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) molecule which is related with chronic viral infection in developing SSPE in mouse. METHODS: We adopt the PD-1-/-, PD-1-/+, and wild type BALB/c 3 week old mice to make an animal model of SSPE by injecting measles virus (SSPE strain) intraventricularly. Three months after infusion of virus, the mice were sacrificed and examined if the typical pathologic lesions had been progressed. The sera were collected from each group of mice and the serum level of IL-21 was measured with ELISA kit. RESULTS: The necrotic lesions on white matter and gliosis were found in focal areas in wild type BALB/c. The extent of lesion was smaller in heterotype BALB/c. Scanty lesions were found in PD-1-/- mice. The sera level of IL-21 was not elevated in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the PD-1 molecule may play a role in persistent viral infection.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Knockout Techniques* ; Gliosis ; Measles virus ; Measles* ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis ; Viruses

PURPOSE: It has been reported that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can inhibit glioma growing in vitro. However, clinical trials with ATRA alone in gliomas revealed modest results. ATRA has been shown to increase radiosensitivity in other tumor types, so combining radiation and ATRA would be one of alternatives to increase therapeutic efficacy in malignant gliomas. Thus, we intended to know the role of catalase, which is induced by ATRA, for radiosensitivity. If radiation-reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is removed by catalase, the effect of radiation will be reduced. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat glioma cell line (36B10) was used for this study. The change of catalase activity and radiosensitivity by ATRA, with or without 3-amino-1, 2, 4-triazole (ATZ), a chemical inhibitor of catalase were measured. Catalase activity was measured by the decomposition of H2O2 spectrophotometrically. Radiosensitivity was measured with clonogenic assay. Also ROS was measured using a 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: When 36B10 cells were exposed to 10, 25 and 50microM of ATRA for 48 h, the expression of catalase activity were increased with increasing concentration and incubation time of ATRA. Catalase activity was decreased with increasing the concentration of AT (1, 10 mM) dose-dependently. ROS was increased with ATRA and it was augmented with the combination of ATRA and radiation. ATZ decreased ROS production and increased cell survival in combination of ATRA and radiation despite the reduction of catalase. CONCLUSION: The increase of ROS is one of the reasons for the increased radiosensitivity in combination with ATRA. The catalase that is induced by ATRA doesn`t decrease ROS production and radiosensitivity.
Animals ; Catalase* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Glioma* ; Radiation Tolerance* ; Rats* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tretinoin*

Steroids are widely used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including autoimmune and allergic diseases. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions can occur within 1 hour after administration of steroids and are regarded as IgE-mediated hypersensitivity presenting as urticaria, angioedema, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis. Steroid hypersensitivity is rare, but can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to find implicated drugs and to choose safe alternative agents. A 44-year-old female was diagnosed with steroid hypersensitivity after intralesional steroid injection. She underwent a skin prick test and an intradermal test for methylprednisolone, triamcinolone, hydrocortisone, and dexamethasone. The results were positive to triamcinolone and methylprednisolone. The patient was educated to avoid culprit agents in order to prevent recurrence. Herein, we report a rare case of steroid hypersensitivity that showed positive reactions to triamcinolone and methylprednisolone. A review of the literature for steroid hypersensitivity is also provided.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis ; Angioedema ; Bronchial Spasm ; Dexamethasone ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate* ; Intradermal Tests ; Methylprednisolone ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Steroids* ; Triamcinolone ; Urticaria

BACKGROUND: A and B transferase are glycosyltransferase that transfer N-acetylgalactosamine and D-galactose to H antigen, respectively and lead to the expression of A and B phenotypes in ABO blood group system. Reduced or no activities of serum A and B transferase were observed in some A and B subgroup individuals. Determining the activities of serum A and B transferase can be useful in discriminating rare A and B subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ABO typing, saliva test, adsorption elution test and serum transferase assay were performed on samples from 12 individuals showing ABO discrepancy or weakened cell typing reactions which were referred to the Seoul National University Hospital to confirm their ABO blood types. Serum transferase activity was assayed by determining the ability of serum to convert group O RBCs into A or B cells. RESULTS: Determination of serum ABO transferase activity was useful in the identification of Ael (3 cases), B3 (2 cases), Bm (1 case), Am (1 case), Bx (1 case), O with weakened anti-A or anti-B (3 cases), and A without anti-B due to hypogammaglobulinemia (1 case). CONCLUSION: Determining serum A and B glycosyltransferase activity was proven to be a simple and useful tool for the classification of several ABO subgroups.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Adsorption ; Agammaglobulinemia ; B-Lymphocytes ; Classification* ; Galactose ; Phenotype ; Saliva ; Seoul ; Transferases

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 cases of removal of macular epiretinal membrane who had been treated by vitrectomy. Indication for vitrectomy was decreased central vision less than 20/60, metamorphopsia or progressive decreased vision (more than 2 lines on Snellen chart) during 6 months.Preoperative and postoperative examination include best corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopic fundus examination with contact and other routine ocular examination.A standard three port pars plana vitrectomy with removal of membrane was performed in all cases, and the lens was removed when necessary.The average follow up period was 12.9 +/-8 . 4 months.Nineteen of 25 eyes (76%)showed a postoperative visual improvement of two lines or more on Snellen chart.Postoperative visual acuity was improved more than 20/40 in 10 of 25 eyes (40%).Postoperative complications were recurrence of uveitis in 3 eyes, progressive cataract in 6 of 14 phakic eyes and recurrent epiretinal membrane in 1 eye.This study demonstrates that vitrectomy for macular epiretimnal membrane results in the overall favorable visual prognosis without serious complication.
Cataract ; Epiretinal Membrane* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Uveitis ; Vision Disorders ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Back Pain*

The use of totally implantable central venous access devices (chemoport) has increased with the development of chemotherapeutic agents in oncologic patients, especially with no venous access site. However, there can be various complications such as port site infection, thromboembolism, injury of central vein, fracture of catheter, and migration of catheter. We report a rare case of migration of catheter to right atrium due to the separation of the catheter from the chemoport.
Catheters ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Thromboembolism ; Veins

Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is the most common ovarian germ cell neoplasm comprising (10-20%) of all ovarian tumors and almost always benign, but it can be developed into malignancy rarely. We have recently experienced one case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the right ovary in 67-year-old postmenopausal woman. The ovarian tumor was measured 17x12.5x8 cm in size and had not intact capsule, and the peritoneal washing cytology was positive. The survival rate with cancerous dermoid is very poor. Neither of two forms of postoperative treatment (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) has any significant influence on survival. We report above case with a brief review of literature.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Dermoid Cyst ; Female ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Survival Rate ; Teratoma*

Primary ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, and the prevalence rate is reported to be between 1/7,000 and 1/40,000 pregnancies. Ovarian pegnancy occurs within the ovary and on the corpus luteum, usually with rupture and massive bleeding. It is frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum and the differentiation may be made only by micoroscopic examination of a tissue specimen. We have experienced four cases of ovarian pegnancy, which are presented with a brief review in the literature.
Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Prevalence ; Rupture

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To more accurately determine the incidence and clarify risk factors. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is one of the possible complications following correctional operation for scoliosis. However, when preliminary symptoms are vague, the diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome may be easily missed. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using clinical data from 118 patients (43 men and 75 women) who underwent correctional operations for scoliosis between September 2001 and August 2007. The mean patient age was 15.9 years (range 9~24 years). The risk factors under scrutiny were the patient body mass index (BMI), change in Cobb's angle, and trunk length. RESULTS: The incidence of subjects confirmed to have obstruction was 2.5%. However, the rate increased to 7.6% with the inclusion of the 6 subjects who only showed clinical symptoms of obstruction without confirmative study. The BMI for the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups were 18.4+/-3.4 and 14.6+/-3, respectively. The change in Cobb's angle for the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups were 24.8+/-13.6degrees and 23.4+/-9.1degrees, respectively. The change in trunk length for the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups were 2.3+/-2.1 cm and 4.5+/-4.8 cm, respectively. Differences in Cobb's angle and the change in trunk length between the two groups did not reach statistical significance, although there was a greater increase in trunk length for the symptomatic group than for the asymptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the incidence of superior mesenteric artery syndrome may be greater than the previously accepted rate of 4.7%. Therefore, in the face of any early signs or symptoms of superior mesenteric artery syndrome, prompt recognition and treatment are necessary.
Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Scoliosis ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome