No abstract available.
Corpus Callosum*

BACKGROUND: The effect of Video Display Terminals(VDT) Syndrome is well documented. The purpose of this study is to examine the difference in systemic subjective symptoms between long term users of computers with that of the general population and to help plan to avoid the risk of developing Video Display Terminal Syndrome. METHOD: Data was collected for this study between August 1996 and February 1997. Two groups consisting of seventy(70) long term computer users(Exposed Subjects) and fifty nine(59) non users (Non Exposed Subjects), were selected for the survey. Data was gathered from the exposed subjects through their response to the survey questionnaire posted on the internet requiring detailed responses concerning ten systemic subjective symptoms that were experienced as a result of the long term exposure to VDT. Data was gathered from the non exposed subjects through written responses to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the more significant difference was the experience of ocular symptoms among the exposed group. The exposed group experienced in descending order eleven items of ocular symptoms. Congestion, strain, decreased visual acuity, ocular pain, and dryness. Among seven items of lifestyle, the exposed group characteristically exercised less(P<0.05) and did more home activity (P<0.05), characteristically lead healthier life than the non exposed group. Participation in exercise differed most among the groups. The exposed group participating in moderate exercise scored 517+/-551.6 compared to the non exposed group which exercised very vigorously(p<0.05). In comparison of subjective symptom and life styles per daily exposure time(over 8,10,16 hours daily) there was significant difference between 8 and 10hour exposers only in the stress item(P<0.05). In the exposure group there were less cardiovascular symptoms(P<0.05) due to more art activity(P<0.05), more cardiovascular symptoms and less sleep activity(P<0.001) and more ocular symptoms(P<0.05) due to higher levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: By exercising, exposers can decrease the respiratory symptoms, and by seeking methods that enable efficient management of work time, the subjects can benefit from the reduced work time, and by seeking methods so that one receive less stress and can resolve them they can reduce their ocular symptoms, sleep problems, cardiovascular symptoms. And in their spare time, the subjects can be recommended to involve in art activity for each person, through PC indirectly. Designing the development of cyber gallery, museum, literature room, concert can reduce the oecur-rence rate of cardiovascular symptoms.
Computer Terminals ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Humans ; Internet ; Life Style* ; Museums ; Visual Acuity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The inhibitory effect of TGFbeta1 on survivals of L1210 and anticancer drug- resistant L1210 sublines was investigated and the gene expression of TGFbeta1 in these cells was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survivals of L1210, adriamycin-resistant(L1210AdR), vincristine-resistant(L1210VcR) or cisplatin-resistant(L1210Cis) cells were measured by MTT assay after treatment of TGFbeta1. Northern analysis was performed for TGFbeta1 gene expression in L1210, L1210AdR, L1210VcR or L1210Cis. RESULTS: There was no different survival ratio between two groups, control and TGFbeta1(10 ng/ml) treated groups in L1210 cells. However, the survival ratio of L1210AdR was 59% in TGFbeta1 treated group for 96 hours. The survival ratio of L1210VcR was 61% for 96 hours in TGFbeta1 treated group. The survival ratio of L1210Cis was 40% for 96 hours in TGFbeta1 treated group. Expressions of TGFbeta1 gene in drug-resistant sublines were significantly decreased than that of L1210 cells. CONCLUSION: Growth of anticancer drug-resistant L1210 sublines were inhibited by TGFbeta1 but not in L1210 cells. So, it is suggested that TGFbeta1 gene expression may have a part in anticancer drug-resistance.
Control Groups ; Gene Expression

BACKGROUND: CSF can be leaked from the nose or ear due to fractures, tumors or surgical procedures in the skull base region, and the threat of impending meningitis necessitates early identification of it. Since 2-transferrin occurs practically in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and not in other body fluid, its detection from the rhinorrhea or otorrhea can be used for the diagnosis of CSF leakage. We carried out immunofixation-silver stain (IF-SS) method for detection of 2-transferrin in the CSF in order to know optimal identification condition of specific cerebrogenic marker. METHODS: The fresh CSF sample was collected by spinal tapping. 2-Transferrin was estimated by quantifying the total transferrin by nephelomertry (Behring, Germany). 2-Transferrin of CSF was identified by electrophoresis using Titan gel high resolution protein system (Beckman, USA), immunofixation with anti-human transferrin antibody (Dako, Denmark) and then stained with silver nitrate. Serial dilutions of CSF were performed to know the detection limit of 2-transferrin. To know the influence of blood mixing, tests for mixed specimen of serum and hemolysate in CSF were performed. To evaluate the specimen storage condition, tests for different temperature and storage time were performed . RESULTS: By IF-SS method, identification limit of 2-transferrin was 0.5 mg/dL in 1:4 diluted CSF with distilled water. And 2-transferrin could be detected in condition of mixing serum protein (7.5 g/dL) or hemoglobin (13 g/dL) with CSF up to 6 : 4. At various sample storage condition, such as 37degrees C, room temperature, and 4degrees C, band intensity decreased abruptly after 1 day, and it was not detected 5 days later. Mean while, in -20degrees C and -70degrees C, 2-transferin band was detected after 10 days. CONCLUSIONS: IF-SS method was sufficiently sensitive and specific for invalidation by blood contamination, and seems to be used as effective identification of 2-transferrin in the CSF without sample concentration, less diagnostic test for CSF leakage.
Body Fluids ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Ear ; Electrophoresis ; Limit of Detection ; Meningitis ; Nose ; Saturn ; Silver Nitrate ; Skull Base ; Spinal Puncture ; Transferrin* ; Water

PURPOSE: After delivery, eating brown seaweed soup is a typical Korean tranditional habit. But, excessive intake of iodine transiently inhibits biosynthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones if a certain threshold of iodine is reached in the serum. The aim of our study was to demonstrate whether the observed the elevations of TSH level in the breast fed neonatal infants was caused by mother's eating brown seaweed soup or not. METHODS: We performed neonatal TSH test by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(FRELISA Screenig TSH) and cheked TSH level for 178 newborns with a appropriate gestational age. We divided the study subject into 3 groups, the group used breast feeding, mother had taken brown seaweed soup and blood sampled at 6th day after birth was categorized Group A, formular feeding, blood sampled at the 4th days after birth was categorized Group B, breast feeding and had taken brown seaweed soup and blood sampled at the 19th day after birth was categorized Group C. RESULTS: 1) The mean TSH level was 1.5+/-1.3 uU/ml in Group A, 3.3+/-2.5uU/ml in Group B, 1.7+/-l.3uU/ml in Group C(Group A vs Group B: p<0.05, Group A vs Group C: p<0.05). 2) There was no statistical significances between the TSH levels and the amount of brown seaweed soup which mother had one day, the duration which mother had brown seaweed soup and duration of breast feeding. CONCLUSIONS: Mother had taken brown seaweed soup about 3 times a day in korea at present days, There was no significant changes of TSH levels in the beast fed newborn infants after the korean mother had taken brown seaweed soup.
Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Eating* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Iodine ; Korea ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Seaweed* ; Thyroid Hormones

OBJECTIVE: To assess the axonopathy and demyelination neuropathy according to the electrophysiologic severity in diabetic neuropathy. METHOD: Electrophysiologic data of 246 patients who had been diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy was obtained and classified into suspected, possible, and definite groups by the criteria of our laboratory. Nerve conduction study was performed in the median, ulnar motor and sensory nerves, peroneal and tibial motor nerves, and sural nerve. Statistics were done with the results from the median motor and sensory, tibial motor and sural nerves. According to the severity of diabetic neuropathy, correlation and Chi-square analysis between amplitudes and latencies were performed. RESULTS: Frequencies of diabetic neuropathy according to electrophysiologic severity were as follows: 24 cases of suspected, 141 cases of possible, and 81 cases of definite neuropathy. The correlation ratios between amplitude and latency were 0.41- 0.79 (p<0.05) in the definite group of all the nerves examined, and below 0.3 in the suspected and possible groups. By Chi-square analysis, amplitude reduction was the predominant finding in the suspected and possible groups.si CONCLUSION: In the early stage of diabetic neuropathy, axonopathy might be the preceding pathogenesis, while with progression of diabetic neuropathy, axonopathy and demyelination may coexist.
Demyelinating Diseases* ; Diabetic Neuropathies* ; Humans ; Neural Conduction ; Peroneal Nerve ; Sural Nerve

The eye is a relatively isolated organ and tends to retain or accumulate compounds within itself. Unless the eye possesses a mechanism for detoxifying drugs and chemicals that are carried to ocular tissues via the circulating blood, the compounds may cause visual impairment. The purposes of this experiment was judged by drug metabolizing action by cytochrome P-450 system, distribution and effect of metabolism of arachidonic acid and distribution of lipid peroxide formation and phospholipids in the lens, cornea and choroid-retina of pig ocular tissues. The results were as follows: 1. The activities of mixed-function oxidase, cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome C reductase were the highest in the choroid-retina compared to the lens and cornea. 2. The activities of drug metabolizing enzymes, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin-o-deethy lase and benzphetamine-N-demethy lase, heme oxygenase activity, and the activity of arachidonic acid metabolizing enzyme, cyclooxygenase were the highest in the choroid-retina compared to the lens and cornea. 3. Lipid peroxide formation was the highest in the cornea compared to the lens and choroid retina. 4. In distribution of phospholipids, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine were the highest in the choroid-retina compared to the lens and cornea and phosphatidylethanolamine was the highest in the cornea campa red to the lens and choroid-retina. 5. Cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme of pig ocular tissues was confirmed in the same form of MAb(Monoclonal Antibody) PCN(pregenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile) 213-1.
Arachidonic Acid* ; Choroid ; Cornea ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System* ; Cytochromes* ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Metabolism* ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Phospholipids ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Retina ; Vision Disorders

PURPOSE: To evaluate longitudinal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness change in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and to assess the possibility that RNFL thickness change may diagnose the progression of glaucoma earlier than visual field change. METHODS: Eighteen OAG patients and twenty normal subjects who had had serial scanning laser polarimetry (Nerve Fiber Analyzer II : NFAII, version 2.1., LDT, Inc., U.S.A.) imaging and Humphrey C30-2 visual fields performed at average 27.5 months apart (8 months~48 months) were included in this study. These measurements were compared between groups at baseline and at subsequent follow-ups. Rate of change per month which was calculated by dividing the absolute value of measurements between baseline and follow-up by duration were also compared between two groups. RESULTS: Significant differences in visual field parameter, such as MD, CPSD and IOP were found between OAG patients and normal controls at baseline. Over the same time, average reduction rate in RNFL thickness was 0.36 mu m/month in OAG patients while 0.14 mu m/month in normal controls. This represented the 2.6 times as great reduction rate in OAG patients as in normal controls. And there was greater RNFL thinning in OAG patients than in normal subjects, at the parameter of superior average (p=0.014), inferior average (p=0.024), temporal average (p=0.012). Visual field parameters did not change significantly in both OAG patients and normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly greater reduction of RNFL thickness over time in OAG group , especially superior, inferior and temporal area, indicated that superior, inferior and temporal RNFL of OAG patients had thinned at a faster rate. Of all the NFA parameters, reduction rate of total polar average, superior average, inferior average and temporal average seemed to be helpful in early detection of glaucoma progression before the visual field deterioration.
Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Nerve Fibers* ; Retinaldehyde ; Scanning Laser Polarimetry ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: Increased expression of the hepatocytes growth factor (HGF) receptor (c-Met) and urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) correlate with the development and metastasis of cancers. However, the mechanisms by which HGF/c-Met signaling mediate cancer progression and metastasis are unclear. Therefore, we investigated the roles of HGF/c-Met in tumor progression and metastasis in pancreatic cancer cell lines, L3.6PL and IMIN-PC2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To see the functional c-Met protein, we were performed immunoprecipitation for functional c-Met protein. And also performed western bolot analysis and gel zymography for the functional uPA protein. To see the inhibition effects of uPAR monoclonal antibody on invasiveness of two pancreatic cancer cell lines, we were carried out standard two chamber invasion assay. RESULTS: At first, we observed the HGF-mediated c-Met phosphorylation and cell growth. c-Met phosphorylation was increased in the HGF-treated cells in a dose dependent manner. HGF resulted in increments of cell growth and ERK phosphorylation. HGF treatment increased the uPA expression and the uPA activity. A monoclonal antibody 3936, specific to uPAR receptor, inhibited HGF- mediated tumor cell invasion in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that functional c- Met and HGF/c-Met signaling up-regulate the activity of uPA and result in increments of invasion-metastasis in the pancreatic cancer cells.
Cell Line ; Hepatocytes* ; Humans* ; Immunoprecipitation ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Phosphorylation ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

Tumor cells are known to produce larger amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than normal cells. Although numerous reports have indicated the importance of ROS in urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) production, the precise mechanisms remain controversial. In our study, we investigated the effect of ROS on uPA generation in human hepatoma cells, HepG2 and Hep 3B. We determined the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the regulation of ROS, which resulted in suppression of ROS production, as measured with the fluorescent probe, 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. The role of HGF in modulating ROS production, particularly that regulated by Rac-1, was determined. HGF suppressed the increment in Rac-1-regulated ROS in both cell lines. Treatment with 200 microM of H2O2 showed a 1.6-2.1 fold increment in HGF, but a little increment occurred at 500 microM of H2O2. It looks no dose dependent manner. Combined treatment with H2O2 and HGF, resulted in a slightly increased production of HGF compared to no treatment (control). Also, H2O2 upregulated uPA expression in both hepatoma cell lines. To identify the downstream pathways regulated by ROS, we treated cells with PD 98059, an MEK inhibitor, and SB 203580, a p38 inhibitor, after treatment with H2O2, and showed negative control between ERK and p38 kinase activities for uPA regulation. We found that HGF modulate Rac-1-regulated ROS production through activation of Akt and ROS regulates uPA production via MAP kinase, which provides a novel clue to clarify the mechanism underlying hepatoma progression.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor/pharmacology/*physiology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology ; Imidazoles/pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism ; Pyridines/pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*biosynthesis ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism