No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

No abstract available.
Aflatoxin B1* ; Aflatoxins*

PURPOSE: The study has been done to evaluate the significance of APR test predictive of neonatal infection. METHODS: A study was made on 76 cases of clinically infeected neonates who had been admitted at the NICU of Chungnam National Unoversity Hospital during the period from January, 1996 to July, 1996 in order to know the significance of APR test predictive of neonatal infection. RESULTS: 1)The APR test Of Control group (20 cases) shows negative results on 19 cases (95%) and positive result on 1 case (5%). 2) The APR test of Patient group (76 cases) shows negative results on 17 cases (22.3%) and positive results on 49 cases (77.7%). Of cases with positive result, one points were on 23 cases (30.5%), two points were 25 cases (32.8%), three points were on 11 cases (14.4%) and More than one point were of 59 cases. The sensitivity of APR test, WBC count and CRP is 77.7%, 35% and 62.496, respectivitly. As above result, APR test has a high sensitivity. 3) APR positive values are not significantly different between those of premature and fullterm patients. 4) APR values are more significant than WBC count or CRP value to predict the neonatal infection. 5) The APR test is rnore useful for prognostic correlation than other index. CONCLUSION: APR test is very sensitive and significantly useful predictive of neonatal infection.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Fever ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn

Although there are many reports on the splenic (systemic) T cell response after Toxoplasma gondii infection, little information is available regarding the local T cell responses of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) following peroral infection with bradyzoites. Mice were infected with 40 cysts of the 76K strain of T. gondii, and then sacrificed at days 0, 1, 4, 7 and 10 postinfection (PI). The cellular composition and T cell responses of PEC and IEL were analyzed. The total number of PEC and IEL per mouse increased after infection, but the ratio of increase was higher in IEL. Lymphocytes were the major component of both PEC and IEL. The relative percentages of PEC macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly at day 1 and 4 PI, whereas those of IEL did not change significantly. The percentage of PEC NK1.1 and gamma delta T cells peaked at day 4 PI (p < 0.0001), and CD4 and CD8 alpha T cells increased continuously after infection. The percentages of IEL CD8 alpha and gamma delta T cells decreased slightly at first, and then increased. CD4 and NK1.1 T cells of IEL did not change significantly after infection. IFN-gamma-producing PEC NK1.1 T cells increased significantly from day 1 PI, but the other T cell subsets produced IFN-gamma abundantly thereafter. The proportion of IEL IFN-gamma-producing CD8 alpha and gamma delta T cells increased significantly after infection, while IEL NK1.1 T cells had similar IFN-gamma production patterns. Taken together, CD4 T cells were the major phenotype and the important IFN-gamma-producing T cell subsets in PEC after oral infection with T. gondii, whereas CD8 alpha T cells had these roles in IEL. These results suggest that PEC and IEL comprise different cell differentials and T cell responses, and according to infection route these factors may contribute to the different cellular immune responses.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Ascitic Fluid/cytology/*metabolism ; Female ; Interferon Type II/*biosynthesis ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology ; Lymphocytes/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*immunology

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-4*

The author examined expression of tumor-related antigens, such as p53 tumor supressor protein, c-myc, TGF-alpha, and TGF-beta proteins in 75 cases of surgically resected epithelial ovarian tumors. Peroxidase immunohistochemistry was used to determine the frequency of expression, the relationship among expression of these antigens and histopathological spectrums, and clinical stage, and their potential prognostic significance. The results are summarized as follows. A positive correlation was found between expression of p53(P=0.02), c-myc(P=0.03), and TGF-alpha(P=0.001) and histological degrees of malignancy(benign, borderline, or malignant) in epithelial ovarian tumors. A significant correlation was found between expression of p53 and histological degrees of malignancy in serous ovarian tumors(P=0.003) and mucinous tumors (P=0.049). A significant correlation was also found between expression of c-myc and the histological grade of serous carcinomas(P=0.02). A correlation between expression of these antigenic proteins and clinical stage of epithelial ovarian tumors was not demonstrated. Expression of p53 and c-myc was closely correlated with expression of TGF-alpha irrespective of the histological degrees of malignancy and type of epithelial ovarian tumors(0.4 < or = K < or = 0.7). The results of this study support the ideas that expression of c-myc and TGF-alpha might be a useful prognostic indicator in human ovarian carcinomas, and expression of p53 could be another indicator of prognosis, as the expression of p53 is characteristic in that the expression is mostly seen in invasive ovarian carcinomas.
Humans

Distal radial fractures are recognized as very complex injuries with a variable prognosis that depends upon the fracture type and the treatment method. The purpose of this study is to compare radiological and clinical result between external fixation and external fixation with primary bone graft in intraarticular comminuted fracture of distal radius. From January 1993 to December 1995, 32 patients with comminuted intraarticular fractures of the distal radius were treated using a external fixation. 15 cases were treated with ligamentotaxis without bone graft and 17 cases were treated with additional primary bone graft. In last follow-up examination, the mean loss of radial length, radial inclination and volar tilt were less in with bone graft group than without bone graft group. According to Demerit point system Excellent to good results were obtained in 88.2% in cases of external fixation and bone graft group, 66.6% in cases of only extemal fixation group. External fixation combined with primary bone graft is more useful method for the reconstruction and treatment of comminuted intraarticular fractures of the distal radius than closed reduction and external fixation because cancellous bone graft not only provides early mechanical stability but also helps to reduce and supports the depressed intraarticular fragments. Furthermore, this method not only prevents late collapse of fracture but also enhance fracture healing.
External Fixators* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures* ; Prognosis ; Radius* ; Transplants*

No abstract available.
Carcinogenesis* ; Oenothera biennis*

BACKGROUND: The skin prick test and in vitro allergen-specific IgE assays are commonly used to diagnose atopic diseases. However, there is still a need for comparison of their diagnostic efficiency. Objective and METHOD: To evaluate their clinical efficiency, the results of UniCAP and multiple antigen simultaneous test (MAST) were compared with skin prick test results. After 51 allergic patients completed skin prick test (SPT), serum sample was collected and UniCAP and MAST were performed to determine specific IgE to house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus : Dp and D. farinae. Df). Result : When SPT was used as a reference standard, UniCAP depicted higher sensitivity of 88.8% to Dp IgE and 91.4% to Df - IgE, but lower specificity of 73.3% to Dp IgE and 75.0% to Df - IgE. However, MAST had lower sensitivity of 75.1% to Dp-IgE and 71.4% to Df - IgE, higher specificity of 93.3% to Dp-IgE and 93.7% to Df - IgE. The values of UniCAP and MAST were significantly correlated with the reactivity grade of skin prick test, respectively. Additionally, the response of SPT was not apparently associated with ECP levels. CONCLUSION: These study results may suggest that both UniCAP and MAST are generally feasible for measuring house dust mite - specific IgE and that they are both replicable.
Dust* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: The activity of drug metabolizing enzymes and the modulation of their expression by inducers in the skin are the key factors for understanding of pharmacological and toxic effects of topically applied drugs. The role of these enzymes is of major importance, as they may contribute to determine the steady-state levels of biologically active substances. 3-Methylcholanthrene and all-trans- retinoic acid have been known to be inducers of the drug metabolizing enzymes. And all-trans- retinoic acid has many biological actions including anti-cancer effects. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid on inducing the expression and modulation of genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes as well as to estimate the role of all-trans-retinoic acid in carcinogenesis and drug interactions. METHODS: We analyzed the activities of CYP1A1(Cytochrome P450 1Al), NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase, UGT1 and GST after administration of 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid to the Sprague-Dawley male rats. We observed the inducible gene expression of CYP1A1, UGT1, GSTJt by RT-PCR and the genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1, UGT1, GSTK by PCR. RESULTS: 1. The expression of CYP1A1, NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase, UGT1 and GST was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid. That of NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase and UGT1 is pronouncedly enhanced by all-trans- retinoic acid. 2. The effects of 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid on inducing the expression of CYP1A1 and UGT1 correlated with an increase of mRNA expression levels of CYP1A1 and UGT1. The modulation of mRNA expression levels of GST was downregulated by all-trans-retinoic acid. 3. The genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1 was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans- retinoic acid, and that of GSTM1 was not affected by the inducers. The induction of genetic polymorphism of GST was down regulated by all-trans-retinoic acid. CONCLUSION: 3-Methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid modulate the inducible expression and genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes differentially. All-trans-retinoic acid can modulate the metabolism of procarcinogen such as 3-methylcholanthrene by inducing drug metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes by 3-methylcholanthrene, all-trans-retinoic acid and other drugs could help to understand their respective roles in drug interactions and carcinogenesis.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochromes ; Drug Interactions ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Methylcholanthrene ; NADP ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Tretinoin*