In this animal study, comedones were induced by topical application of oleic acid onto the rabbit ear canal and the histopathologic and ultrastructural changes in response to topical application of HO and hexane extracts of red ginseng, and saponin were measured. No microscopical difference was observed between treatment groups. Nucle ir remnants were observed in the horny cell layer as well as the thinning of the granular cell layer. Scattered and decreased keratohyaline granules were also noted. Six weeks after initiation of treatment, we observed the thinning of epidermis and veappearance of granular cell layer with normal keratohyaline granules. After treatment, scanning electron microscopy showed a decrease in the size of comedones, and loosened and desquamating horny cells in the comedones. From the above results, it could be concluded that Panax ginseng extracts might have effects on the keratinization process of the skin.
Animals ; Ear Canal ; Epidermis ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oleic Acid ; Panax* ; Saponins ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in children <5 years of age. The first vaccine, RotaShield was developed, but withdrawn because of its association with increased risk of intussusception. Then, RotaTeq and Rotarix were developed. Although in pre-licensure studies, they were not associated with an increased risk of intussusceptions, in recent studies, it has been controversial. Regarding increased risk of intussusception, we studied the difference in the age of intussusception after rotavirus vaccination. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 136 patients diagnosed with intussusception at Yeungnam University Medical Center for 4 years in the pre-vaccination period (group A) and in the post vaccination period (group B). Sex, mean age and age distribution of intussusceptions were compared according to the type of rotavirus vaccine (group B-1, RotaTeq; group B-2, Rotarix). RESULTS: The median ages of group A and group B were 18.8+/-19.6 months and 15.5+/-10.2 months, with no significant differences (p=0.23). The median ages of group B-1 and group B-2 were 15.3+/-9.3 months and 15.6+/-10.8 months, with no significant differences (p=0.91). And No significant difference in the distribution of onset age was observed between groups, and only 6 patients were diagnosed with intussusceptions within 1 month after vaccination. CONCLUSION: No difference was observed in the distribution of onset age of intussusception after rotavirus vaccination and according to the type of rotavirus vaccine. Our study has a limitation in that it was conducted in part of the Daegu area. Additional study is needed.
Academic Medical Centers ; Age Distribution ; Age of Onset* ; Child ; Daegu ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Intussusception* ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotavirus* ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and causative organisms of meningitis in the Daegu region and seek a useful tool for the early prediction of bacterial meningitis in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 115 pediatric patients diagnosed with bacterial or aseptic meningitis at Yeungnam university hospital in Daegu from March 2012 to July 2013. We evaluated their clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, clinical courses, bacterial meningitis scores and complications. RESULTS: The subjects included 106 with aseptic meningitis and 9 with bacterial meningitis. At the time of visit, fever was the most frequent symptom, followed by headache, vomiting and neck stiffness. In cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, white blood cell (WBC) count were higher in the bacterial meningitis group (1423.8+/-1980.4 vs. 120.0+/-161.6 mg/dL). Mean CSF protein was 219.4+/-183.6 mg/dL in bacterial meningitis and 42.4+/-27.0 mg/dL in aseptic meningitis (P <0.001). Bacterial meningitis score (BMS) were higher in the group with bacterial meningitis. Abnormal radiological findings were found in 44% of the group with bacterial meningitis. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical features between the groups were similar, the CSF analysis revealed significant differences statistically. Furthermore, BMS could be helpful to predict bacterial meningitis in children. During the outbreak of aseptic meningitis, it might reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and antibiotic treatments.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Daegu ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic* ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: A limited number of studies have examined the link between F-wave abnormalities and clinical presentation in pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Therefore, this study examined the importance of F-wave abnormalities as a prognostic factor in pediatric GBS patients. METHODS: The records and electrodiagnostic studies (EDS) of 70 GBS patients were retrospectively evaluated, and divided into 2 groups according to the results of EDS. Group A (n=33) presented with F-wave abnormalities, and group B (n=26) exhibited normal findings. We compared laboratory reports, clinical features, response to treatment, and prognosis between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Motor weakness was the most frequently observed symptom for either group. Clinically, the incidence of fever and upper respiratory symptoms differed between the 2 groups, while the prevalence of abnormal deep tendon reflex (DTR) was significantly higher in group A than B (P<0.05). Patients diagnosed with GBS had received intravenous immunoglobulin treatment: 94% in group A and 58% in group B. Furthermore, significantly greater numbers of patients in group A showed H-reflex abnormalities and poor prognosis compared with group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that F-waves are a clinically important prognostic factor in GBS. F-wave abnormalities were associated with abnormal DTR and poor prognosis in patients. Limited studies have examined the link between F-wave abnormalities and clinical results; therefore, further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm the clinical characteristics and efficacy of treatments.
Child* ; Fever ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Prognosis ; Reflex, Abnormal ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: We conducted this experimental study to examine whether human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are effective in achieving a recovery of damaged renal tubular epithelial cells in an animal model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury using rats. METHODS: To examine the in vitro effects of ADSCs in improving nephrotoxicity, we treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells with both ADSCs and cisplatin mouse renal tubular epithelial cells. And we equally divided 30 male white Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into the three groups: the control group (intraperitoneal injection of a sterile saline), the cisplatin group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin) and the ADSC group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin and the hADSC via the caudal vein). At five days after the treatment with cisplatin, serum levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured from each SD rat. We performed histopathologic examinations of tissue samples obtained from the kidney. RESULTS: The degree of the expression of TNF-alpha and that of Bcl-2 were significantly higher and lower respectively, in cisplatin group (P<0.05). Serum levels of BUN (P=0.027) and creatinine (P=0.02) were significantly higher in cisplatin group. On histopathologic examinations, there was a significant difference in the ratio of the renal injury between cisplatin group and ADSC group (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: The ADSCs might have a beneficial effect in regenerating the damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Animals* ; Cisplatin ; Creatinine ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Kidney ; Kidney Tubules ; Male ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; Nitrogen ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Dexamethasone (DEX), one of the corticosteroid hormones, is one of the most common therapeutic strategies in ophthalmological treatment. Despite its widespread use and clinical efficiency, little is known regarding the specific effects of DEX on cell growth, differentiation and cell death in human trabecular meshwork cells. The presence of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR, dexamethasone receptor) in TM-5 cell line, which was derived from the primary human trabecular meshwork cells, was verified by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. The effects of DEX on the cellular proliferation of TM5 cells were measured by a BrdU incorporation assay. Western blot analysis were used to examine the effects of DEX on the Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The total Ras, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 protein levels as well as the levels of activated (phosphorylated) form were both significantly increased by the DEX treatment for 5 days. Both MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were significantly activated by phosphorylation after 10 minutes. The dependence of this increased cell proliferation on GR activation by DEX and the sustained activation of ERK was examined using RU486 (a GR inhibitor) and U0126 (a MEK inhibitor). Both RU486 and U0126 prevented the induction of cell proliferation by the DEX treatment in the TM5 cells. In conclusion this study demonstrated that GR is expressed in TM5 cells. Secondly, DEX treatment for 5 days stimulates cell proliferation in TM5 cells, and that this increased proliferation effect is mediated by the Ras/MEK/ERK pathway.
Cell Division/*drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone/*pharmacology ; Human ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf/metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid/physiology ; Trabecular Meshwork/cytology/*drug effects

p21-activated kinase (PAK)-interacting exchange factor (PIX) is known to be involved in regulation of Cdc42/Rac GTPases and PAK activity. PIX binds to the proline-rich region of PAK, and regulates biological events through activation of Cdc42/Rac GTPase. To further investigate the role of PIX we produced monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against beta PAK. Three clones; N-C6 against N-terminal half and C-A3 and C-B7 against C- terminal half of beta PAK were generated and characterized. N-C6 Mab detected beta PAK as a major band in most cell lines. C-A3 Mab recognizes GIT-binding domain (GBD), but it does not interfere with GIT binding to beta PAK. Using C-A3 Mab possible beta PAK interaction with actin in PC12 cells was examined. beta PAK Mab (C-A3) specifically precipitated actin of the PC12 cell lysates whereas actin Mab failed to immunoprecpitate beta PAK. Co-sedimentation of PC12 cell lysates with the polymerized F-actin resulted in the recovery of most of beta PAK in the cell lysates. These results suggest that beta PAK may not interact with soluble actin but with polymerized F-actin and revealed that beta PAK constitutes a functional complex with actin. These data indicate real usefulness of the beta PAK Mab in the study of beta PAK role(s) in regulation of actin cyoskeleton.
Actins/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology ; Cell Cycle Proteins/immunology/metabolism/*physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism ; Epitope Mapping ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors/immunology/metabolism/*physiology ; Immunoprecipitation ; Mice ; Microfilaments/*physiology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Rats ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't