Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the roles of SEK1/MKK4, a upstream kinase for both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells which stably overexpressd kinase inactive SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-Kl) or wild type SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-WT). Treatment of kinase inactive SEK1 transfected RAW 264.7 cells (RAW/SEK1-Kl) with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO generating agent, significantly decreased the cell viability up to 20% of RAW control cells which were treated with the same amount of SNP. However, RAW/SEK1-WT cells were less susceptible to NO induced apoptosis. For a while, caspase-3 like activity in NO treated RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly increased with parallell to apoptotic death rate. However, caspase1 like activity was not affected by NO in any transfectants. The NO induced apoptosis in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly prevented by the addition of caspase-3 like inhibitor (N-Ac- DEVD-CHO). In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 in NO-treated RAW/SEK1-WT is significantly increased, but not in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells. These results suggest that SEK1 may play anti-apoptotic role in RAW cells from NO-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Clone Cells ; Macrophages ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare disorder characterized by localized or generalized absence of skin at birth. The various hypothesis and classification are proposed. Type V in Frieden's classification, which is associated with fetus papyraceus or placental infarcts, occurs as a large cutaneous defect on the trunk and extremities. We experienced the patient had skin defect affecting the lower abdomen symmetrically, with no family history of the any disorders or chromosomal anomalies and associated anomalies. A twin fetus was died in utero. We report a case of aplasia cutis congenita associated with fetus papyraceus with the review of the associated literatures.
Abdomen ; Classification ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Extremities ; Fetus ; Humans ; Parturition ; Skin ; Twins

The effect of topical steroid application on clinical results of 215 eyes(126 patients) performed with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) from July 1993 to July 1994 was evaluated, postopertively. The range of myopia was between -2.5 and -11.5 diopter and followed for 9 months after PRK with Summit Omnimed(TM). Topical corticosteroid or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) was not applied for one month after operation in all cases. After one month, in cases of 115 eyes showing myopic regression of more than -1 diopter or stromal haziness of more than grade 1(delayed steroid group; DSG), 0.1% fluorometholone was applied 4 times daily for 4 weeks, then tapered according to the planned schedule. 46.5% (100 eyes, non-steroid group;NSG) did not show the myopic regression nor stromal haziness without treatment of fluorometholone throughout the follow-up period. Uncorrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent and corneal haziness were evaluated 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 week after operation. 73%(73 eyes) of NSG and 27%(30 eyes) of DSG showed a myopia less than 6.0 diopters preoperatively. The proportion of male was 36% in NSG and 50.4% in DSG. 88.1% of male high myopia(>6.0 diopters) needed 0.1% fluorometholone, while 17.6% of female moderate and mild myopia( Appointments and Schedules ; Female ; Fluorometholone ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Male ; Myopia ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Rhinitis*

No abstract available.
Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis*

No abstract available.
Lymphomatoid Papulosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Tuberculosis*

The antibacterial activity of 11 domestic topical antibiotic eye drops were examed by use of Reddish method, in vitro test. 5 clinical strains which were recovered as common pathogens of corneal ulcer, were inoculated into the diluted antibiotics added with 1% human serum, and 0.01 ml were plated for bacterial survival at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16. and 24 hours. Our result showed that gentamicin eye drops effective in Gram negative strains and penicil-line and cefazoline eye drops were effective in Gram positive strains. These results indicated that gentamicin and cefzolin eye drops in combination would be covered the common ocular pathogenic bacteria.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteria ; Cefazolin ; Corneal Ulcer ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

OBJECTIVES: A case-control study was conducted on 2,323 male soldiers(771 herniated nucleus pulposus patients and 1542 controls) to identify risk factors for cumulative trauma disorders especially lower back. METHODS: The collecting data included individual physical, psychological, and work environmental factors. Korea Military Personality Inventory(KMPI) was used to examine the assess trait that have been associated with clinically with herniated nucleus pulposus. A measurement of the workplace support system was obtained by using of the modified work APGAR, a brief, seven-item workplace function questionnaire. RESULTS: The herniated nucleus pulposus patients were more common among Artillerymen and Engineer than among infantrymen. In logistic regression analysis of military occupational specialties, Artillerymen, Engineer, radio operator, driver were higher risk of herniated nucleus pulposus than infantrymen. Multivariate analysis of KMPI scales found hypochondriasis scale, hysteria scale, hypomania scale, social introversion scale to have strong relationship to incidence of herniated nucleus pulposus. And 'can communicate with peers' and 'enjoy job task' item of modified work APGAR to have strong relationship to incidence of herniate nucleus pulposus CONCLUSIONS: Study of the relative contributions of many physical and non physical variable shows that evaluations of back problems in workplace that exclude these highly significant work perception and psychosocial variables are of limited value. Simple, unidimensional approaches that ignore the effect of work perceptions and psychological factors on back problems reporting oversimplify a multifaceted problem. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting a broader approach to the multifaceted problem of back complaint in workplace.
Case-Control Studies ; Cumulative Trauma Disorders ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Hysteria ; Incidence* ; Introversion (Psychology) ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Multivariate Analysis ; Psychology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Weights and Measures

One hundred and thirty-two cases(132 eyes) of corneal ulcer were analysed on the clinical and etiologic basis. The history of evident ocular trauma was found in 28.8% of the cases and ocular disease was found in 7.6% of the cases. Positive results were 16/55 in smear and 33/61 in culture, and the most common isolate was coagulase negative staphylococcus in bacteriologic studies. In fungal studies, positive results were 1/42 in smear and 5/42 in culture, and Aspergillus was the most common isolate. Cephalexin was the most sensitive antibiotics for Gram positive organism and carbenicillin and gentamicin were the most sensitive antibiotics for Gram negative orgamsm. These results indicate that gentamicin and cephalexin in combination would be recommended as the initial treatment of wide-spectrum antibiotics coverage for bacterial corneal ulcer until the final culture results and senitivity are available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspergillus ; Carbenicillin ; Cephalexin ; Coagulase ; Corneal Ulcer* ; Gentamicins ; Staphylococcus