"Capsaicin, the pungent principle of hot peppers, is a neurotoxin that depletes primary sensory neurons of neuropeptides like tachykinin. The objectives of these experiment was to examine the effects of capsaicin on Salmonel/a typhimurium-induced production of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 and on production of nitric oxide in peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the effects of capsaicin on survival rates of S. typhimurium-infected mice and on nuclear transcription factor (NF-kB) activation were also investigated. Mice were pretreated with a single s.c. injection of 100 ug of capsaicin and were infected i.v. with S. typhimurium (5xO5/mouse) in 0.2 ml volume after capsaicin pretreatment. The serum cytokine levels were measured 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after Salmonella infection, using ELISA kits. The activation of NF-B was also examined by gel shift assay in spleens, thymuses and brains of mice that had been pretreated with a single s.c. injection of 100 ug of capsaicin. It was found that Sa/mone/la infection induced the production of TNF-a, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12, but capsaicin pretreatment inhibited the production of TNF-a, IL-1B, IL-10 and IL-12, but enhanced IL-6 production 120 min after Salmonella infection. Interestingly, the capsaicin pretreatment inhibited the activation of NF-kB in spleens and thymuses. There were no differences in the numbers of bacteria in livers, brains, spleens, kidneys and lungs between capsaicin- pretreated mice and the control animals in applied experimental conditions. Suprisingly, however, capsaicin pretreatment increased both the survival rates of Sa/mone//a-infected mice and production of nitric oxide by peritoneal macrophages compared with capsaicin-untreated control mice. Taken together, these results indicate that the capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons may play an important modulatory role in the production of cytokine, nitric oxide and NF-B activation and the pathogenesis of salmonellosis."
Animals ; Bacteria ; Brain ; Capsaicin* ; Cytokines* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Neuropeptides ; NF-kappa B* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Salmonella Infections* ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Salmonella* ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Spleen ; Survival Rate ; Tachykinins ; Thymus Gland ; Transcription Factors

No abstract available.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*

BACKGROUND: Recent evidences suggest that anesthetic action within the spinal cord is important in suppressing somatic responses to painful stimuli. Intrathecal endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to have antinociceptive effect. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether intrathecal ET-1 may influence the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in rats and access the role of the spinal cord as the sites of anesthetic action in blocking somatic responsiveness. METHODS: In Sprague-Dawley rats fitted with an indwelling intrathecal catheter, we determined the MAC of isoflurane using a tail-clamp technique as a painful stimulus, combined with end-tidal anesthetic sampling. In experiment 1, the control MAC was determined and changes of control MAC were observed after intrathecal ET-1 (4x10-2 nmol, 4x10-3 nmol) administration. In experiment 2, we observed the effects of L or N type Ca++ channel blocker such as verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) on the MAC after measurement of the control MAC. In experiment 3, after measurement of the control MAC, ET-1 (10-2 nmol) was administered intrathecally and the MAC was determined again. Next, intrathecal verapamil (50 g) or W-conotoxin (0.5 g) was injected. After that, the MAC was determined again. RESULTS: In experiment 1, ET-1 decreased the MAC of isoflurane and its effect was sustained over 2 hours. In experiment 2, the MAC, determined following administration of verapamil or W-conotoxin, was not different from that of the control. In experiment 3, the MAC was decreased after ET-1 administration and then increased following injection of verapamil or W-conotoxin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ET-1, in relation to calcium, might play an important role in determining the MAC of isoflurane in the spinal cord.
Animals ; Calcium ; Catheters ; Endothelin-1* ; Isoflurane* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; Verapamil

Both Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) are important genital mycoplasmas which are found in the cervix, vagina and the urogenital tracts of females. It has been associated with various disease states including non-gonococcal urethritis, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight and chorioamnionitis. Moreover they can be transmitted up to 40% of infants born to infected mothers. The culture methods which is commonly used for the determination of above mycoplasmas requires special culture media and can take up to 7 days. Recently the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been successfully applied for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, M. hominis and U. urealyticum were determined using PCR in 70 vaginal swabs and 48 urine samples. In a total of seventy vaginal swabs, thirteen (18.5%) and twenty four (34.3%) samples were positive for M. hominis and U. urealyticum, respectively. In forty eight urine samples, M. hominis and U. urealyticum were found in 3 cases (6.3%), respectively. Among vaginal swab and urine samples, one case was found to be coinfectious state. Amplified DNA bands were more frequently found in vaginal swabs than urine samples. This study shows that PCR is a relatively simple, fast and practical tool for the detection of M. hominis and U. urealyticum in a clinical materials instead of culture method.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Cervix Uteri ; Chorioamnionitis ; Culture Media ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Mothers ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pregnancy ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; Urethritis ; Vagina

No abstract available.
Folliculitis* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Scalp*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of CT features of appendiceal mucocele in the diagnosis and evaluation of complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CT findings and compared with operative findings in 7 cases of pathologically proven appendiceal mucocele. CT findings such as location and extent of the lesion, Issue density, thickness or calcification of the wall, presence of adjacent inflammatory infiltration, and visualization of normal vermiform appendix were analyzed. RESULTS: Appendiceal mucocele was found as homogeneous low density cystic mass adjacent to the cecum, which has no surrounding inflammatory infiltration except in one case of perforation and one case of intussusception. Mean CT number measured in 4 cases was 21 Hounsfield unit. Thin curvilinear calcifications were noted along the cystic wall in 2 cases. Normal vermiform appendix couldn't be demonstrated in all cases. CONCLUSION: Appendiceal mucocele is characterized by homogeneously low density and thin walled cystic tumor adjacent to cecum without surrounding inflammatory infiltration, and absence of normal vermiform appendix on CT. Therefore, CT is valuable in preventing operative complications of appendiceal mucocele.
Appendix ; Cecum ; Diagnosis ; Intussusception ; Mucocele* ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Anaphylaxis* ; Animals ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Interferons* ; Mice*

Hemodynamic depression (hypotension and bradycardia) can occur during or after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) due to stretching of the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus. The predisposing factors of hemodynamic depression have not been reported previously. In general, hemodynamic depression after CAS may continue for up to 3-5 days, but disappears within 7 days. We report herein a 65-year-old man with severe hemodynamic depression after sequential CAS, and discuss the possible causes from an anatomical point of view.
Aged ; Angioplasty ; Carotid Sinus ; Depression ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pressoreceptors ; Stents

We describe a case of inflammatory pseudotumor involving the anal sphincter complex, and its ultrasonographyand MR imaging features. Transperineal ultrasonography showed a well-marginated ovoid low echoic lesionintermingled with sparse echogenic foci within the right anal sphincter complex. The lesion was of intermediatesignal intensity on T1-weighted images and of heterogeneous hyperintensity on T2-weighted, compared tosurrounding muscle. After the infusion of gadolinium, the le-sion showed heterogeneous enhancement, with amultifocal non-enhanced center. T 2 - weighted endorectal MR images were more accurate in depicting the lesion andanal sphincter complex, and the patient underwent surgical resection. The final histo-logic diagnosis wasinflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.
Anal Canal* ; Diagnosis ; Gadolinium ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myofibroblasts ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Because moving means can be easily shiftable according to their crude data, we made a selective expected ranges to calculate the moving means. Bull's mean (exponential factor, P=0.50) and Exponentially Adjusted Moving Mean (EAMM, P=0.66) were assessed. we studied to determine appropriately expected range and exponential factor. METHODS: We made the target values from RBC indices being measured with H-2 hematology autoanalyzer from 800 patients and the expected range from red cell indices data of additional 600 patients. Both moving means using this expected ranges were calculated. The % difference of Bull's mean and EAMM was compared and total mean of (deltaBull's mean/deltaBatch mean) and (deltaEAMM/deltaBatch mean) was compared. RESULTS: The target values were MCV: 90.6 fL, MCH: 29.8 pg. MCHC: 32.8 g/dL. The expected ranges were within +/-6% of their target values. Among the 20 batches obtained from expected range, there were no above +/-3% difference of red cell indices in both moving means. The comparison between % difference of Bull's mean and that of EAMM showed no difference. Total mean of (deltaEAMM/deltaBatch mean) was higher than that of (deltaBull's mean/deltaBatch mean). CONCLUSIONS: The % difference results of Bull's mean and EAMM were basically similiar within the expected range but EAMM method was more sensitive than Bull's mean method under the aspect of specimen effects, so EAMM was more detectable than Bull's mean on the quality control of red cell indices.
Erythrocyte Indices* ; Hematology ; Humans ; Quality Control