PURPOSE: In adriamycin(ADR)-induced cardiomyopathy, several different mechanisms are suggested. However, little information is available regarding the role of apoptosis. In the present study, we examined the induction of apoptosis on ADR treatment and anti-apoptotic effects of probucol, a lipid-lowering drug, and we also studied the changes of bcl-2 expression in order to see the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of probucol. METHODS: Cardiac myocytes were isolated from 3-day-old rats, and cultured in low(1 pM) or high doses(10pM) of ADR for 24 hours. Probucol(50 pM) was added 30 minutes before ADR administration. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining, and bcl-2 expression was estimated by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: The number of TUNEL-positive cells significantly increased in both groups treated with ADR. However, anti-apoptotic effect of probucol was evident only in low dose. In addition, the expression of bcl-2 was significantly increased only in the low-dose ADR treatment group and its expression was inhibited by pretreatment of probucol. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that apoptosis might play an important role in ADR-induced cardiotoxicity, and ADR-induced apoptosis was partially prevented by pretreatment of probucol. And ADR-induced apoptosis was not related with depression of bcl-2. Additionally, inhibition of bcl-2 gene expression of low-dose ADR treatment group by probucol suggests that another cell survival mechanism could be implicated in the action of probucol. (J Korean Pediatr Soc 2000;43:746-754)
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cell Survival ; Depression ; Doxorubicin ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Probucol* ; Rats*

The peripheral blood eosinophil and serum IgE level in 53 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) were measured. The patients were divided into 2 groups by severity(mild and severe grous) and into 3 groups by the associated respiratory atopic deseases and/or their family history : respiratory group(patient, with both AD and respiratory atopy), family history group (patient with both AD and family history of respiratory atopy), and atopic group(patient with neither respiratory atopy nor family history of respiratorv atopy). We designed to study which factors are important in the elevation of serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil level in AD, and to know possible relationships between the serum eosinophil and IgE level and the several groups of AD. The results are as follows : 1. Peripheral eosinophil counts were higher in severe group(224.8/mm) than in mild group (180.0/mm)(p<0.05). 2. Peripheral eosinophil counts were 220.0/mm in atopic group, l65.0/mm in family history group, and 332.4/mm in respiratory group, but there was no stitistically significant difference among 3 groups. This suggests that concomitant respiatitiry atopy or a family history of respiratory atopy is not an important factor in the elvation of peripheral blood eosinophil counts in AD. 3. Serum IgE was higher in severe group(443.2IU/ml) than in mild group(231.5IU/ml)(p<0.05). 4. Serum IgE level in respiratory group(754.6IU/ml) were signifiiantlly higher than in atopic (286.6IU/ml) or family history group(342.0IU/ml)(p<0,01). But there was no significant. difference between family and atopic group. This result suggests that concomittent respiratory atopy is a potential factor in elevation of serurn Igi in AD. 5. Slightly high correlation between peripheral blood and IgE level appeared in all 53 patients (r=0.434) and severe group(r=0.480). But, respiratory group(r=0.060), family history group(r=0.111) and atopic group(r=0.202) showed poor relationships.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E*

No abstract available.
Colorectal Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: bFGF, a member of the fibroblast growth factor family, potently induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and decreased synthesis of the collagens. OBJECTIVE: For further investigation of the effect of bFGF on extracellular matrix homeostasis in the skin, we evaluated the expression of type I and type VII collagen gene at the transcriptional levels. METHOD: We examined that recombinant human bFGF affects the expression of genes involved in ECM synthesis and remodeling in human dermal fibroblasts cultures as judged by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: The steady state levels of type I and VII collagen gene mRNA were decreased with age dependent pattern up to 0.13 and 0.44 folds respectively. The transcriptional levels of type I collagen mRNA were increased by TGF-B, treatment but markedly decreased by bFGF as well as TNF-a. But there were no synergistic effects bFGF and TNF-a on type I collagen gene expression. The levels of type VII collagen gene expression were increased by both bFGF and TGF-B,. The TNF-a showed slightly antagnostic effects on type VII collagen gene expression. CONCLUSION: The type I and VII collagen gene expression in dermal fibroblasts is clearly subjected to modulation by the cytokines including bFGF with uncoordinate regulatory pathway. In addition to its function of vascular proliferation, bFGF also may play a major role in physiologic skin condition and in repair process such as formation of a stable dermoepidermal junction during skin wound healing.
Blotting, Northern ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type VII ; Collagen* ; Cytokines ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Methods ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: To prevent the platelet refractoriness, repeated plateletpheresis is often required in HLA matched single-donors. Korean Transfusion Standard permits the repeated plateletpheresis of a single donor at 72-hour intervals. To evaluate this standard, hematological responses of donors were assessed after plateletpheresis by Haemonetics V50 (Haemonetics Co., USA). METHODS: The pre- and post-donated hematological indices of 22 healthy donors(17 males and 5 females) were evaluated. Single donated donors were 12 males and 4 females. Multiple donated donors were 5 males and one female. Post-donated platelet counts were measured immediately, 6 hours, 12 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days and 9 days after plateletpheresis. Platelet aggregation test, serum protein, PT, and aPTT were also examined before and after platelet collection. RESULTS: Only 9 (56.2%) of 16 single-donated donors and 4 (66.7%) of 6 multiple donated donors showed normal restoration up to 97% of platelet counts of pre-donation levels at the day 3. In 9 (75%) of 12 single donated males restoration of platelet count was observed within 3 days, but 3 (75%) of 4 single donated females showed restoration of platelet count within 5 days. Changes of other indices were not significantly different between the pre- and post-donations of platelet. CONCLUSIONS: Although no clinical complication was noted after plateletpheresis, these data suggested that Korean Transfusion Standard on plateletpheresis should be reconsidered.
Blood Platelets ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Count ; Plateletpheresis* ; Tissue Donors*

We report an unusual case of sebaceous hyperplasia in an 18-year-old male manifestated clinically as yellowish, grouped papules with a linear distribution, present on the right side of forehead since birth. Histopathologically, a large sebaceous gland composed of numerous lobules grouped around a centrally dilated duct was seen. The sebaceous lobules distributed in the upper dermis showed direct connection to the skin surface, which suggested a transepidermal elimination of sebaceous lobules.
Adolescent ; Dermis ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Parturition ; Sebaceous Glands ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The size of the baseplate used in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) tends to be larger than the average size of the glenoid in the Korean population. The mismatch between the sizes of the baseplate and the patient's glenoid may result in improper fixation of the glenoid baseplate. This in turn may lead to the premature loosening of the glenoid component. Thus, we evaluated the short-term results of using a 25-mm baseplate in RTSA. METHODS: Seventeen patients with cuff tear arthropathy underwent RTSA with a 25-mm baseplate. The mean age of the patients was 70.1 years, and the mean follow-up period was 14.0 months. We evaluated clinical outcomes preoperatively and postoperatively: the range of shoulder motion, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and the Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) score. RESULTS: We found that the mean ASES score and KSS improved from 35.0 to 74.4 (p<0.001) and from 46.9 to 71.8 (p<0.001) with RTSA. The mean forward elevation and abduction, external rotation also improved from 78.6degrees to 134.3degrees (p<0.05) and from 66.6degrees to 125.0degrees (p<0.05), from 20.2degrees to 28.4degrees (p=0.43). Postoperative complications were seen in 12% of patients, but neither the loosening of the glenoid baseplate nor inferior scapular notching were observed. CONCLUSION: In sum, the results of using a 25-mm baseplate in RTSA were similar to those of previous reports. Even though the outcomes are those of a short-term follow-up, neither the loosening of the glenoid baseplate nor the scapular notching were observed.
Arthroplasty* ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Shoulder* ; Tears

This case report draws attention to the possibility of symptomatic and asymptomatic intraarticular ganglion cyst which was situated adjacent to the insertion sites of the anterior or posterior cruciate ligament. In many reports and our case, MR imaging is recommended as the modality of choice in diagnosing method and the cyst, if encountered, is successfully treated with arthroscopie technique. We report one case of symptematic ganglion cyst of the posterior cruciate ligament with review of literatures.
Ganglion Cysts* ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament*

Twenty-three isolates of Fusarium spp. were obtained from decayed citrus fruits in the fields and storages in 1998-1999. Of them, six and five isolates belonged to F. proliferatum and F. moniliforme, respectively, which were the most common. F. solani and F. sambucinum had each two isolates, F. equiseti had one isolate and seven isolates were unidentified. They produced symptoms of two types in pathogenicity test: those with leathery, beige to light or dark brown, and sunken lesions without surface mycelium (type-1) and those with lesions covered with white, beige or pink surface mycelium (type-2). Four of six isolates identified to F. proliferatum and two unidentified isolates produced type-1 lesions, and all isolates identified to F. moniliforme, F. solani, F. sambucinum, F. equiseti and five unidentified isolates produced type-2 lesions.
Citrus* ; Fruit* ; Fusarium* ; Mycelium ; Virulence

BACKGROUND: Cockroaches are important components of house dust allergens. In spite of significant subject reactivity to cockroach extracts, the specific source of the allergen remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify the important allergens in German cockroach whole body (GWBE), egg (GEE) and fecal (GFE) extracts in Korean atopy, and to compare the reactivity of GWBE and GEE by Western blot inhibition. METHODS: Sera from 11 subjects with Korean atopy were used for sodium dodecil sulfate polyacrylamide gel elctrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Allergenic fractions in German cockroach extracts were numerous and distributed throughout the wide range of molecular weights. The important allergens of GWBE, GFE and GEE were similar to each other by using SDS-PAGE and Western blot ysis. The aUergen bands at 55 kd showed the most significant reactivity; in GWBE, GFE and GEE 73%, 82%, 55%, respectively. Other bands exhibiting significant activity were the 67 kd band with 37%, 19% and 19%, the 64 kd band with 64%, 37% and 9% respectively. Furthermore, Western blot inhibition investigations revealed that either GWBE or GEE could almost completely inhibit the reactivity of the other extract. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the 55 kd allergen can be considered as the major allergen in Korean atopy and demonstrated that the GWBE and GEE antigens have identical IgE-binding sites.
Allergens* ; Blattellidae* ; Blotting, Western* ; Cockroaches ; Dust ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Molecular Weight ; Ovum ; Sodium