No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Microbubbles*

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature

BACKGROUND: Factors that regulate hair matrix cell division within the hair follicles and control hair growth cycle have been poorly understood untill now. One of the main.causes seems to be lack of good in vitro models. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the hair growth promoting potencies of several agents including individual components of keratinocyte growth media. METHODS: Several agents such as epidermal growth factor, insulin, bovine pituitary extract which were contained in keratinocyte growth media as well as minoxidil and transforming growth factor-α were added to the isolated anagen hair follicles. Measuring the length of hair follicle, thymidine and leucine uptake were used for hair growth parameter. RESULTS: Isolated anagen hair follicles in keratinocyte growth media showed a significant increase in length over 48 hours. [Methyl-³H] thymidine and [U-¹⁴Cl leucine uptake were sustained at basal state as well as over 48 hours and [methyl-³H] thymidine uptake increased in the matrix cells under autoradiography. Insulin with a concentration above 0.5µg/ml and transforming growth factor-α with a concentration above 10ng/ml showed a promoting effect on hair growth. However, other agents did not promote hair growth at all. CONCLUSION: Our in vitro model resembles the in vivo status of hair growth for a limited period of time and we think that normal human hair organ culture may be a useful model for developing hair growth promoting agents in vitro.
Autoradiography ; Cell Division ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Hair Follicle* ; Hair* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insulin ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Keratinocytes ; Leucine ; Minoxidil ; Organ Culture Techniques* ; Thymidine

It is generally believed that the defense against mycobacterium leprae is largely mediated through cell-mediated immunity(CMI) and several investigators have reported a defective CMI in patients with leprosy. especially the lepromatous from. This study was undertaken to ennumerate the peripheral T-cell population in leprosy patients for evaluation of one aspect of its immune status. Fiftu-two patients with leprosy(26 tuberculoid, 17 active lepromatous, 9 inactive lepromatous) entered in this study. All the patients are under regular antileprosy chemotherapy for varing periods(10 months to 14 years). Peripheral blood T0lymphocytes were enumerated by the E-rosette technique and compared with normal healthy control. The results were as follows: The mean T-cell percentage in peripheral blood was 50.6% in 17 active lepromatous leprosy patients, 62.2% in 9 inactive lepromatous leprosy patients, 67.7% in 26 tuberculoid patients and 69.5% in 17 normal healthy controls, There was marked decrease in the peripheral T-cell ratio in active lepromatous group (p<0,005) and less marked decrease in inactive lepromatous group (0.01.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Leprosy, Lepromatous ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Research Personnel ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Acantholysis* ; Captopril* ; Penicillamine* ; Rifampin* ; Skin*

The fetal hemoglobin, which is structurally different from adult hemoglobin, has higher affinity for oxygen and higher resistance to denaturation with alkali than adult hemoglobin. Intrauterine growth retarded neonates have higher mortality and morbidity than normal neonates. In this article, to determine the changes of fetal hemoglobin by gestational age in infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (AGA)and to explain the mechanism underlying the increased fetal hemoglobin synthesis in intrauterine growth retarded newborn infants, the proportion of fetal hemoglobin and adult hemoglobin at birth and 1 month of age was checked in 25term infants small for gestational age(TSGA). The results were compared with 50 preterm infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (paga) and 40 term infants appropriate in weight for gestational age (TAGA). The results were as forllows. 1)The decrease of fetal hemoglobin by gestational age in infants of AGA at birth was statistically significant (p<0.01). 2) The fetal hemoglobin at birth was 74.47+/-2.4%n the TSGA group, 78.01+/-5.05% in the PAGA group and 68.32+/-4.84% in the TAGA group. The differnce between each group was statistically significant (p<0.01). 3) The fetal hemoglobin at one month of age was 55.68+/-3.76% in the TSGA group, 35.74 (13.33%in the PAGA group and 59.96+/-5.53% in the TAGA group. The difference between TSGA and TAGA infants was not significant (p>0.05). 4) The decrese rate of fetal hemoglobin between first day and one month of postantal age was 54.2% in the PAGA infants, 25.2% in the TSGA infants and 12.2% in the TAGA infants. 5) The fetal hemoglobin at forty weeks of postconceptional age was 13.20+/-5.09%in the transfused PAGA group, 62.34+/-3.01% in the nontransfused PAGA group, 64.08+/-2.08% in the TSGA group and 68.32+/-4.12% in the TAGA infants. The difference between transfused PAGA group and other groups was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Adult ; Alkalies ; Fetal Hemoglobin* ; Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Infant, Premature ; Mortality ; Oxygen ; Parturition

BACKGROUND: Myocardial ischemia in human hypertension and in various animal models of hypertension may be due to abnormal maximal coronary vasodilator reserve and disturbaces of coronary vasomotion. The vascular reactivity defects in hypertension have been associated with the defective endothelium and sympathetic neural activation. However, such abnormalities in hypertension need to be elucidated. In the present study the effectsof cardiac ischemia reperfusion on coronary circulation, intramyocytic adenylates and purine nucleosides were examined in Langendorff-perfused Sprague Dawley rat (SD) and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) hearts. Coronary venous and cardiac lactate and cardiac pyruvate were also measured. It should be noted that in the regulation of coronary flow the intrinsic flow autoregulation is highly variable due to coexisting metabolic flow control, and that natural coronary flow and cardiomyocytic energy state are normally reciprocally related in perfused heart. METHODS: For the Langendorff heart perfusion, bicarbonate perfusion buffer (pH 7.40+/-0.02,37degrees C) was equilibrated with 95% O2 : 5% CO2 and contained 5mM glucose (+5U/1 insulin) and 2mM pyruvate as energy-yielding substrates. Global hypoperfusion ischemia was induced by lowering coronary perfusion pressure of 100 to 40 cmH2O, followed by 20 min reperfusion. RESULTS: During the ischemia and reperfusion, metabolic acidosis and enhanced venous lactate output in SHR were observed with increases in coronary vascular resistance and myocardial oxygen consumption.In addition, coronary reactive hyperemia during reperfusion was depressed. Although ischemia-induced increase in combined adenosine plus inosine were abolished during prolonged reperfusion, SD still exhibited coronary vasodilation. The depressed reactive hyperemia in SHR was associated with decreases in cardiac adenosine triphosphate (ATP) pool and creatine phosphate/inorganic phosphate (CrP/Pi) ratio and an increase in cardiac lactate/pyruvate ratio. CONCLUSION: This abnormal vascular reactivity during ischemia and reperfusion in SHR may be in part due to an alteration in the cardiac energy state and hence to a mismatch between myocardial metabolic demand and supply.
Acidosis ; Adenosine ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Coronary Circulation ; Creatine ; Endothelium ; Glucose ; Heart* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Hypertension ; Inosine ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Models, Animal ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Oxygen ; Perfusion* ; Purine Nucleosides ; Pyruvic Acid ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR* ; Reperfusion ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilation

PURPOSE: Adults with GH deficiency(GHD) have abnormal body composition, reduced physical performance, altered lipid metabolism, increased cardiovascular diseases, and reduced quality of life. Administration of GH to these patients reduce clinical abnormalities to normal ranges. Therefore, patients with childhood-onset GHD might need to continue GH replacement after the attainment of final height. Recently studies have shown that a high proportion of patients with childhood-onset GHD are no longer GHD when retested at young adult. METHODS: GH secretion was reevaluated with insulin and clonidine after completion of GH treatment in 29 young adult patients(21.3+/-2.8 yrs, 17 men, 12 women) with childhood-onset GHD diagnosed at a mean age of 11.4+/-3.5 yr. The mean duration of GH treatment was 3.7+/-3.0 yrs. Eleven(11 men) with idiopathic patients presented in 2(18%) isolated GHD and 9(82%) in multiple pituitary hormonal deficiencies. Eighteen(6 men, 12 women) with organic patients presented in 4(22%) isolated GHD and 14(88%) in multiple pituitary hormomal deficiencies, which was caused from craniopharyngioma, germinoma & other lesions. Blood sampling were done as usual method for checking LH, FSH and TSH concentration after injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone & thyrotropin releasing hormone. Serum cortisol levels were also checked after insulin injection and all hormonal concentrations were measured with radioimmunoassay method. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein(LDL)-cholesterol concentrations were measured by standard techniques. Bone density was measured in the level of lumbar spine and femur with DEXA. M-mode, two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed. Quality of life was assessed from Beck depression inventory questionnaire with age-matched control. RESULTS: All patients with idiopathic and organic GHD were confirmed as GHD through combined pituitary function retesting at young adult. The additional pituitary hormonal deficiencies were increased in numbers. Their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were increased especially in patients with organic GHD. There were no specific abnormal findings in echocardiographic findings compared to normal reference. Bone density with DEXA showed osteopenia(T score <-1) was found in 20/24(83%) and osteoporosis(T score <-2.5) in 8/24(33%) in young adult GHD. Quality of life was evaluated with BDI questionnaire and showed mild depression in 32% and moderate to severe depression in 11%. CONCLUSION: 82% of patients with idiopathic and 88% of organic GHD have additional pituitary hormonal deficiencies in childhood, showing multiple pituitary hormonal deficiencies rather than isolated GHD and has GHD permanently in all young adults with idiopathic and organic GHD and that is a little different findings from other foreign reports and needs to follow up in future.
Adult ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Clonidine ; Craniopharyngioma ; Depression ; Echocardiography ; Femur ; Germinoma ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Insulin ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; Spine ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Triglycerides ; Young Adult*

This study was undertaken to investigate the optimal conditions for challenge testing with DNCB in 3 vehicles applied to guinea pigs in standardized amount/ area (pg/cm2) The results are sumrnarized as follows: 1) All test reactions were negative when tested in 10 unsensitized animals. 2) There were significant difference in positive rate between 0. 05%, DNCB in alcohol and 0.1% DNCB in alcohol, but there were no significant difference between 0. l%, DNCB in alcohol and 0, 2% DNCB in alcohol. Same results were obtaincd when DNCR was dissolved in acetone. 3) Acetone gives the significantly higher degree of positive reactions, indicating that alcohol may be the safer vehicle in eliciting a response than acetone. 4) With DNCB in olive oil, relatively few animals reacted compared to the results obtained with alcohol and acetone. Furthermore, olive oil is slippery and difficult to utilize when attempting to delineate surface area. 5) With alcohol, we obtained a good correlation between the amount applied and the resulting response, showing that this vehicle might be a superior vehicle in eliciting contact allergy.
Acetone ; Animals ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Olea ; Olive Oil

PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder of developing retinal blood vessels in extremely premature infants. In the 1950's, the relationship of ROP and prolonged administraion of oxygen was demonstrated by many randomized clinical trials. After than, Oxygen use was severely restricted and the incidence of ROP was decreased. However, with the development of modern intensive care, ventilator, artificial surfactant, and other technology, the survival of extremely premature infants and incidence of ROP are increasing So we studied the time of development and risk factors of ROP. We also studied to decide the optimal time of mass screening in the preterm infants. METHODS: We studied 436 infants who was admitted in NICU of Ewha Womans Uninvesity Hospital for the treatment of RDS, prematurity or other reasons. They were examined by indirect opthalmoscope to schedule. RESULTS: 1) Among 436 infants, 49 infants (11.2%) were diagnosed as a retinopathy of prematurity. 2) The indicence of ROP increased with small gestational ages and low birth weights and the mean gestational age in the group of ROP was 30.9+/-4.0weeks and mean birth weight was 1450+/-352gms. 3) Mean age of first diagnosing time was 5.6 weeks after birth and the range of distribution was very wide. But mean age of first diagnosing time in gestational age was 36.3 weeks and it's range was narrow 4) The risk factors of ROP were prolonged use of oxygen, high concentration of oxygen with ventilator, frequent apnea, sepsis, hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, the use of xanthine derivatives, phototherapy over than 1 week, surfactant treatment, perinatal asphyxia. CONCLUSION: Retinopathy of prematurity has a relationship with small gestational period, low birth weights, long duration of high oxygen, and other risk factors. The optimal period of mass screening in preterm infants for ROP is from 33 weeks to 36 weeks gestational age rather than chronological age after birth.
Apnea ; Appointments and Schedules ; Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Critical Care ; Mass Screening ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Phototherapy ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinopathy of Prematurity* ; Risk Factors* ; Sepsis ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Xanthine