OBJECTIVE: The pathogenesis of endometriosis is generally accepted that retrograde menstruation and alterations in the local pelvic immune environment. This study was performed to help elucidate what kind of role various cytokines might play in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. METHOD: Concentrations of peritoneal fluid cytokines were compared in 7 women with normal pelvic finding and 23 women with endometriosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The patterns of cytokine mRNA expression in 8 ovarian endometrioma and 12 superficial pelvic endometriosis lesions were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) amplification method. RESULT: Both IL-6 and IL-10 levels in peritoneal fluid specimens with endometriosis tended to be higher than normal. However, there were no significant differences between peritoneal fluid concentrations of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-5 of women with and without endometriosis. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly higher in peritoneal fluid of women with severe endometriosis compared to women with mild endometriosis. IL-1beta mRNA was expressed in all of 8 deep and 12 superficial endometriosis lesions. IL-5 and IL-6 mRNA were expressed in only two black lesions respectively, however, both were not expressed in the all deep lesions. Expressions of IL-10 mRNA occurred in one red and one black lesion while this was expressed in only one of the deep lesions. TNF-alpha mRNA was expressed in one red and one black lesion of 12 superficial lesions compared with four of the deep lesions. There was the difference between kinds of increased cytokines in the peritoneal fluid and those of expressed cytokines in the endometriotic lesions of patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: This study supports the concept that local immunologic factors may be important in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosis. The pattern of cytokine mRNA expression of endometriotic lesions would seem to indicate that proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are responsible for the development or progression of endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-5 ; Interleukin-6 ; Menstruation Disturbances ; RNA, Messenger* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: Various vasopressor agents are used to raise systemic vascular resistance (SVR) during liver transplantation. After grafted liver was reperfused, postreperfusion syndrome could be treated with various vasopressors. However, epinephrine can decrease the splanchnic perfusion and oxygen saturation and then hepatic blood flow would be jeopardized. Decreased hepatic blood flow might result in centrilobular necrosis which contributes to disruption of liver functions. We tried to know the effect of epinephrine on tissue perfusion of the liver. METHODS: In this study, measurement of hepatic microcirculation (HMC) and hemodynamic changes was performed in eight dogs to investigate the effect of vasopressors on hepatic microcirculation. Animals were divided into four groups in which low-dose epinephrine (0.05mug/Kg/min) and high-dose epinephrine (0.5mug/Kg/min) were randomly infused into the systemic vein and portal vein (1/6 of systemic dose) for ten minutes. Hepatic microcirculation was measured by Thermal Diffusion Probe. RESULTS: At low-dose systemic infusion of epinephrine, mean arterial bloodpressure (MABP), cardiac output (CO), and hepatic microcirculation (HMC) were significantly increased but systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was decreased. On high-dose epinephrine, MABP, CO (P=0.01), and SVR were significantly increased without changes of HMC. Intraportal infusion of low- and high-dose epinephrine increased hepatic vein pressure and SVR, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results would provide clues that systemic low-dose epinephrine infusion is enough to raise HMC and high-dose infusion of epinephrine to raise SVR could be used without jeopardizing HMC.
Animals ; Cardiac Output ; Dogs ; Epinephrine ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Veins ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Microcirculation* ; Necrosis ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Portal Vein ; Thermal Diffusion* ; Transplants ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; Veins

An association study with Korean alcoholic patients(n=50) and normal controls(n=53) was performed to find the relationship between catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene polymorphism and alcoholism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. When we compared the allele and genotype frequencies of Nla III COMT gene polymorphism in alcoholism and normal controls, there was no significant difference between two groups. Our results do not support an association between the Nla III polymorphism of COMT gene and alcoholism.
Alcoholics ; Alcoholism* ; Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans

To evaluate the possibility of the newly developed highly porous glass ceramics as a space-filler in the cavitary bone defect, we made the opening sized 1 × 0.5 cm on the medial aspect of the right proximal tibia of nine rabbits. We impacted the highly porous glass ceramics firmly to the medullary cavity of rabbit tibia through the opening. Each three were sacrificed at 4th, 8th, and 12th week and analyze in vivo reaction of the glass ceramics in rabbit tibia with radiological and histological methods. On radiological examination, radiolucent line was seen around impacted glass ceramics at 4th week, but this radiolucent line was obliterated gradually to 12th week. On histological examination, new bone formation with osteoblast was appeared at 4th week without foreign body reactions. At 8th week, newly formed bone infiltrated into the porous space between glass ceramics particles was noticed, and the surface of glass ceramics was tightly bound by newly formed bone with osteoblastic rim and mature bone, At 12th week, the amount of newly formed mature bone increased, though there was on evidence of resorption of glass ceramics particle. So, we suggest that the highly porous glass ceramics is one of the possible artificial bone graft substitutes, especially as a space-filler.
Ceramics ; Foreign Bodies ; Glass ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Tibia ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis(TB) is still prevalent and remains a significant clinical problem for the elderly. However, the disease presents in many ways, and there are frequent adverse drug reactions that may prevent the early diagnosis and treatment of elderly TB patients compared to the young. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there are any differences in the clinical feature of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB) in both the diagnosis and treatment between the young (less than 64 years) and the elderly (65 years and more). METHODS: The medical records of 125 young and 70 elderly pulmonary TB patients, who were diagnosed with and treated for pulmonary TB at the Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital from November 1991 to January 1997, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Anorexia(12% vs. 31.4%), general weakness (20.0% vs. 54.3%), dyspnea(21.6% vs. 37.1%) and an abnormal mentality (0.8% vs. 15.7%) were more frequent presenting symptoms in elderly TB patients, whereas hemoptysis (32.8% vs. 10.0%) and fever (BT>37℃ 58.4% vs. 35.7%) were more frequent in the young. The elderly had a higher number of cardiovascular and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases as underlying illnesses. In chest PA, there were no differences in the location of the TB lesion, but the appearances were initially diagnosed more frequently as pneumonia or lung cancer (8.8% vs. 30.0%, p<0.05) in the elderly. There was no difference in the detection rate of acid fast bacilli(AFB) in the sputum between the two groups. There were no differences in the treatment response and follow-up loss. However, adverse drug reactions (13.6% vs. 45.7%, p<0.05), and changes in medication (4.9% vs. 25.7%, p<0.05) during treatment occurred more frequently in the elderly. One among the 125 young patients died from tuberculosis whereas 6 among the 70 elderly patients died from the disease. CONCLUSION: Because the clinical and radiological presentations were more atypical, a sputum AFB smear and culture should be done immediately in the elderly who are TB. The elderly experienced more frequent adverse drug reactions and mortality during treatment, but the response to treatment was good and rapid.
Aged* ; Diagnosis ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Lung Neoplasms ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Lymphangioma, Cystic* ; Turner Syndrome* ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy. METHODS: This study included 185 eyes of 112 patients treated with beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy. Treated eyes were divided into 3 groups: beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation (group A), beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy after cataract surgery (group B) and beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy alone (group C). Follow-up visits were at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. The outcome measures included uncorrected distance visual acuity, astigmatism, efficacy, safety and predictability. RESULTS: At 6 months postoperatively, astigmatism was significantly reduced: 68.9 +/- 18.24% in total, 69.24 +/- 20.76%, in the group A, 67.84 +/- 17.56% in the group B and 67.82 +/- 13.97% in the group C. The proportion of eyes with astigmatism 1.0 or less was 88.65% in total, 91.49% in the group A, 87.5% in the group B and 70.0% in the group C. Mean improvement in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 0.56 lines; no eyes lost 2 lines of CDVA after 6 months postoperatively. Postoperative complications were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the beveled, full thickness astigmatic keratotomy is effective and safe for correcting astigmatism alone as well as correcting astigmatism after ICL implantation or cataract surgery.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Postoperative Complications ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy (AK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of high astigmatism. METHODS: Thirty-five eyes of 19 patients who had astigmatic keratotomy were studied. The patients had a secondary procedure, LASIK, to correct the residual refractive error. Follow-up visits were at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The outcome measures included uncorrected distance visual acuity, refractive error, efficacy, safety, and predictability. We compared preoperative and post-AK expected corneal ablation depth using an Amaris Ablation depth table. RESULTS: After astigmatic keratotomy, astigmatism was reduced by 61.43 ± 14.62%, and after LASIK, astigmatism was reduced by 91.65 ± 8.68%. Expected corneal ablation depth was reduced by 18.72 ± 11.77% after astigmatic keratotomy. The proportion of eyes with spherical equivalent 0.5 D or less was 85.71% at 6 months after the combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy and LASIK. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the combined procedure of astigmatic keratotomy and LASIK is effective for visual acuity, refraction, and reduction in corneal ablation depth.
Astigmatism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Postoperative Complications ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To report a case of suction loss during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and a good visual outcome after switching to femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). CASE SUMMARY: A 20-year-old female was admitted to receive refractive surgery. During SMILE in the left eye, suction loss occurred at 65% of posterior cut completion. We switched to LASIK and SMILE was performed in the right eye as planned. The uncorrected distance visual acuity was 1.2 with a manifest refraction of +0.25 Dsph with 0 Dcyl. The patient had no complications at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Suction loss during SMILE is a rare complication. Good visual outcome was achieved by switching to LASIK.
Female ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Suction* ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is widely used as a vasopressor agent. Some recent studies have suggested that AVP may exert an immunomodulatory effect. However, the mechanism about the anti-inflammatory effect of AVP is not well known. We investigated the effect of AVP on the ihibitor of kappa B (IkappaBalpha)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway in RAW 264.7 cells. METHODS: Cultured RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with AVP and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To evaluate the effect of AVP on inflammatory cytokines, the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The expression of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 were measured by Western blotting, and IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity was analyzed by an in vitro immune complex kinase assay. To confirm the AVP effect on IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade and via V2 receptor, we added tolvaptan (V2 receptor antagonist) after AVP pretreatment. RESULTS: The increase of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was suppressed by a treatment with AVP. Pretreatment of AVP inhibited increasing of IKK activity and IkappaBalpha degradation induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, LPS induced and NF-kappaB transcription was inhibited by AVP pretreatment. The observed changes in IKK activity, IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB transcription by AVP was abolished by tolvaptan treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AVP showed anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced IkappaBalpha/NF-kappaB cascade in mouse macrophages via V2 receptors.
Animals ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphotransferases ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha