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*

bcl-2 and c-myc protein expression were studied in 44 epidermal (8 seborrheic keratoses, 21 squamous cell carcinomas, and 15 basal cell carcinomas), and 26 melanocytic tumors(8 nevi, and malignant melanomas) by immunohistochemistry using the specific anti-bcl-2 and anti-c-myc monoclonal antibodies. 14 out of 15 basal cell carcinomas(BCC) (93.3%) showed expression of bcl-2 protein, 12 of which (85.7%) showed coexpression of c-myc protein. In the melanocytic tumors, 7 out of 8 nevi showed bcl-2 expression (87.5%). Five of these 7 cases (62.5%) also showed c-myc protein expression. Eight of 18 malignant melanomas(MM) (44.4%) showed expression of bcl-2 protein and 7 of these 8 cases (38.9%) also showed c-myc protein expression. All seborrheic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) were negative for bcl-2 proteins. 12 of 15 SCCs(80%) were positive for c-myc protein. In conclusion, bcl-2 and c-myc proteins were coexpressed in BCCs, nevi, and MMs. Coexpression of bcl-2 and c-myc proteins in these tumors was statistically significant(p<0.01), while no considerable differences of bcl-2 and c-myc expression were found between nevi and MMs. These results suggests that bcl-2 may cooperate with c-myc to promote tumorigenesis of BCCs, nevi, and MMs(p<0.01).
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic

Accelerated atherosclerosis is not only a frequent complication but also the most common cause of death in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Although mechanisms are unclear, disorder of lipid metabolism may be a major factor. Since apolipo-protein (apo) E is known to play a major regulatory role in lipid metabolism, we evaluated apo E genotype in 72 male patients with CRF and compared with that in 194 rnale normal controls. In addition, we measured plasma lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations and evaluated them according to apo E genotype in patients and controls. Apo E genotype was determined with the INNO-LiPA Apo E kit (Innogenetics, Belgium), which is based on reverse hybridization. The results are as follows ; 1) The distribution of the three major apo E alleles in patients with CRF ( e 2: 6.2%, e 3: 80.6%, e 4: 13.2%) was not different from that in controls ( e 2: 4.1%, e 3: 87.6%, e 4: 8.3%). 2) In patients with CRF, total cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were significantly lower and the triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) levels were significantly higher than those in controls. 3) In controls, E 4/3 group had significantly lower levels of HDL than E 3/3 and E 3/2 groups. In patients with CRF, E 4/3 group had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol and apo B lipoprotein than E3/2 group. In conclusion, although there was no significant difference in the apo E genotype frequencies between male patients with CRF and controls, apo E polymorphism may play an important role in the determination of individual differences in plasma lipids in male patients with CRF.
Alleles ; Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins E ; Apolipoproteins* ; Atherosclerosis ; Cause of Death ; Cholesterol ; Genotype ; Humans ; Individuality ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Lipoproteins ; Male* ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.

Five adult cases of post-laminectomy swan-neck deformity are reported. The factors causing the deformity, prophylactic measures, and treatment of the deformity are discussed. It is strongly adviced to the neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons that they should be aware of this unwanted complication of the multi-level cervical laminectomies, and that they should provide every preventive measures before post-laminectomy swan neck deformity develops. Anterior interbody fusion spanning the entire unstable segments is preferably recommended together with application of pre-fusion traction.
Adult ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Neck ; Neurosurgeons ; Orthopedics ; Surgeons ; Traction

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP) is a rare disease in which the alveolar spaces are filled with an eosinophilic, PAS-positive material, whereas the interstitial architecture of the lung usually remains unaffected. Although a definitive diagnosis is usually made by an open lung biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) cytology may play a decisive role in the diagnosis and therapy of these patients and may spare a patient a more invasive diagnostic procedure. The author presents a patient in whom BAL cytology specimen contained the characteristic globules of amorphous proteinaceous PAS-positive material accompanied by background of rare macrophages and inflammatory cells. Ultrastructural study using BAL specimen can confirm the diagnosis of PAP.
Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis* ; Rare Diseases

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare tumor accounting for less than 1% of all cervical adenocarcinoma. This tumor is characterized by aggressive biological behavior with frequent local recurrence or metastatic spread, postmenopausal onset, and occasional association with conventional squamous cell carcinoma. The cytologic diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the uterine cervix is often difficult because of negative smear due to intact overlying mucosa, cytologic findings mimicking endometrial cells, and masquerade as squamous cell carcinoma. Recently we have experienced a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in the uterine cervix, which was identified on the routine Papanicolaou smear and was histologically confirmed by the consequent biopsy. The smear showed abundant cellularity composed of relatively uniform cells. The tumor cells were arranged in small clusters, acini, naked cells, and loose sheets with abortive cribriform pattern. There were scattered globoid basement membrane-like materials and tumor diathesis. The nuclei were pleomorphic and showed hyperchromatic and coarsely granular choromatin with inconspicuous nucleoli. The punch biopsy of the uterine cervix showed typical histologic findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma characterized by tumor nests composed of hyperchromatic uniform basaloid cells, cribriform pattern, and cylindrical hyaline bodies.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoids* ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Diagnosis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Hyalin ; Mucous Membrane ; Papanicolaou Test ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital*

This study was designed to investigate the effect of GABA and related substances on the spontaneous contraction of rat small intestine. The rats (Sprague-Dawley), weighing 200-250g, were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the small intestine was isolated. Longitudinal muscle strips from duodenum, jejunum and ileum were suspended in Biancani's isolated muscle chambers and myographied isometrically. GABA and muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist relaxed the duodenum and jejunum significantly, but baclofen-induced relaxation in those muscle strips negligible. The effectiveness of GABA and muscimol in various regions were the greatest on duodenum, and greater on jejunum than on ileum The effect of GABA and muscimol was antagonized by bicuculline, a competitive GABA A receptor antagonist and picrotoxin, a noncompetitive GABA A receptor antagonist. Duodenal relaxation induced by GABA and muscimol was unaffected by hexamethonium, but was prevented by tetrodotoxin. These results suggest that GABA inhibit the contractility of smooth muscle with distinct regional difference of efficacy, and the site of inhibitory action is the GABA A receptor existing at the presynaptic membrane of postganglionic excitatory nerves.
Animals ; Bicuculline ; Dislocations ; Duodenum ; GABA-A Receptor Agonists ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Hexamethonium ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small* ; Jejunum ; Membranes ; Muscimol ; Muscle, Smooth ; Picrotoxin ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Relaxation ; Tetrodotoxin

Gastric glomus tumor is an uncommon benign, submucosal neoplasm and does not require radical surgical procedure. Because there are no specific clinical or radiologic features associated with the glomus tumor, it can be recognized only by its histologic characteristics. We report a 30-year-old woman who had 10 years history of epigastric hunger pain. Radiologically, a gastric submucosal tumor was discovered, which was suggestive of leiomyoma. Gastric antrectomy was performed. The tumor cells showed immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence of smooth muscle differentiation.
Female ; Humans