OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the basophil histamine releasability in response to IgE- and non- IgE-mediated stimuli in children with atopic asthma. Met: Basophil histamine releasability was measured in Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae)-sensitive atopic asthmatics, D.farinae-sensitive healthy atopics, non-atopic asthmatics, and healthy non-atopics. Basophils were stimulated with D.farinae, goat antihuman IgE antibody, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe(fMLP), and Calcium ionophore A23187. Histamine was measured by automated fluorometric technique. RESULTS: Sponianeous histamine release was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. Histamine release by D.farinae and by anti-IgE antibody was higher in atopic asthmatics compared to the other groups. There was no difference in histamine release by fMLP among all groups. Histamine release by Calcium ionophore was higher in healthy atopics and non-atopic asthmatics compared to healthy non-atopics. The atopics showed correlation between histamine release by D.farinae, by anti-IgE antibody and total serum IgE levels. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous and IgE-mediated histamine release were related to the presence of both atopy and asthma, whereas non-IgE mediated histamine release was different depending on the stimuli.
Asthma* ; Basophils* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Goats ; Histamine Release ; Histamine* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the resilience and quality of life (QoL) of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and the factors influencing QoL. METHODS: A sample of 85 outpatients who had been diagnosed with NHL were included in a descriptive study. The instruments used were the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) version 4. RESULTS: The mean resilience score of the patients was 73.11±15.81 out of 100. The total mean QoL score was 130.23±20.70 out of 168, the highest category was physical well-being with a mean item score of 21.80±5.03, the lowest was emotional well-being with a mean item score of 19.28±3.95. Resilience and QoL were positively correlated (r=.65, p<.001). Regression analysis revealed that the QoL of the patients was explained by resilience, gender, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. These variables explained 53% of the variance of QoL. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirmed the importance of resilience for QoL among patients with NHL and the relevant factors that affect QoL. This can be used as a basis for nursing interventions for NHL patients.
Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Nursing ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life

MELAS syndrome is a rare but distinct clinical entity belonging to a group of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies characterized by the tetrad of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. We experienced a case of MELAS syndrome in an 8 year-old boy who showed headache, pain of the eyeball, vomiting, stroke-like episodes such as visual disturbance and dysarthria, myoclonic seizure, confusion, and walking disturbance. His serum lactate level was elevated up to 48 mg/dl. MRI findings showed high signal intensities T2-weighted image and low signal intensities in T1-weighted image in the right thalamus and parietooccipital lobe and bilateral symmetric high signal intensity in T1-dweighted image in the basal ganglia. We have seen the dispersed ragged-red fibers with modified Gomori trichrome staining on light microscope, and abundant and dysmorphic mitochondria on electon microscope in the specimen of muscle biopsy. esis of SLE.
Basal Ganglia ; Biopsy ; Child ; Dysarthria ; Headache ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Seizures ; Thalamus ; Vomiting ; Walking

To investigate the imbalance of the cytokine production profile of T cells from atopic asthmatics, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y by ELISA method in the culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and Derrnato-phagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) J-stimulated PBMCs from Der p-sensitized atopic asthmatics, Der p-sensitized healthy atopits, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy non-atopics. The suppressive effect of IFN-y on cytokine production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs was also examined. The PBMCs from atopics showed higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA +TPA and higher IFN-gamma production in response to Der p Jq compared with non-atopits. The Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics showed a tendency of increased IL-5 production in response to Der p J and higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA+TPA compared with non-atopics. IL-5 production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics was suppressed by IFN It is suggested that an imbalance in IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y production is a feature of the atopic state. The TH2 characteristics of allergen-stimulated PBMCs could be regulated by IFN-y.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; T-Lymphocytes

Metaplastic breast carcinoma is very rare, and metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation is even rarer. Here, we report a case of metaplastic carcinoma with extensive chondroid differentiation mimicking chondrosarcoma that was challenging to diagnose. The tumor was characterized by an abundant chondromyxoid matrix. The definitive area of classic invasive ductal carcinoma was minimal. The peripheral portion of the tumor showed increased cellularity with pleomorphism and definitive invasive growth. Tumor cells in the chondrosarcomatous areas were diffusely immunoreactive for S-100 protein, patchy positive for cytokeratin, but negative for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Tumor cells in carcinomatous areas were diffusely positive for cytokeratin, S-100 protein, and patchy positive for EMA. In both areas, tumor cells were negative for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD34, while oncoprotein p53 was overexpressed. When pathologists encounter breast tumors with chondroid differentiation, careful sampling and immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin and SMA are most helpful to differentiate metaplastic carcinoma from malignant phyllodes tumor and malignant adenomyoepithelioma.
S100 Proteins/chemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Muscle, Smooth/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Metaplasia ; Keratins/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Humans ; Female ; Cell Differentiation ; Carcinoma/*complications/metabolism/pathology ; CA-15-3 Antigen/metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms/complications/metabolism/*pathology ; Antigens, CD34/biosynthesis ; Actins/metabolism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between nurse managers' facilitative communication as perceived by nurses and nurses' self-esteem. METHODS: The subjects were 256 staff nurses at B hospital of C University in Kyeonggi-do. The data were collected between December 1, 2009 and January 12, 2010. The collected data were analyzed using the SAS program through t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Nurses' self-esteem was higher when nurse managers perceived them as facilitative communicators in empathic understanding and genuineness subgroup of facilitative communication (p<.05). There was a positive correlation between nurse managers' facilitative communication and nurses' self-esteem(r=.15, p=.015). Also there was a positive correlation among the nurse managers' facilitative communication subgroups, empathic understanding; genuineness; concreteness(r=0.18, p=.004; r=0.18, p=.003; r=0.19, p=.002) and nurses' self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Nurse managers are in need of facilitative communication. Therefore, job education and training for improving nurse managers' communication skills particularly related to empathic understanding, genuineness and concreteness are required.
Humans ; Nurse Administrators ; Phenothiazines

Two terpenoids, including one uniquely aromatized one (1), were isolated from CH2Cl2-soluble fraction of MeOH extracts of Curcuma zedoaria. They were identified to be a sesquiterpene ketolactone (1) and orobanone (2), respectively on the basis of their NMR data. The structure of compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray chrystallography and the reported NMR assignments for 1 were revised in this study. Antibiotic activities for compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated using disk diffusion assay. Compound 1 showed potent antibacterial activities against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus pseudointermedius while compound 2 was active against Bacillus cereus.
Bacillus cereus ; Curcuma* ; Diffusion ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Rhizome* ; Staphylococcus ; Terpenes ; Zingiberaceae

Digital mucous cysts are observed frequently on the lateral or dorsal aspect of the digital fingers. Digital mucous cysts are prone to recur after simple excision, electrocoagulation, intralesional injection of corticosteroid and a variety of other therapeutic maneuvers. In this report, we describe one patient with digital mucous cyst who was successfully treated with intralesional injection of 1 mg/ml of minocycline hydrochloride without any sequelae.
Electrocoagulation ; Fingers ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Minocycline ; Sclerotherapy

BACKGROUND: Susceptible health care workers are at risk of acquiring and transmitting measles, rubella, and varicella. This study was performed to assess the immune status and to determine the prevention strategy for aforementioned diseases. METHODS: A total of 182 subjects were tested for immunoglobulin G of measles, rubella, and varicella. The results were evaluated with histories of the three diseases, vaccination or contact histories to determine which historical information can predict the immunity. RESULTS: We found that 94.5% of the subjects were serologically immune to measles, 85.2% to rubella, and 82.4% to varicella. The historical information did not predict immunity for measles, rubella, and varicella. CONCLUSION: We recommend that all health care workers involved in the clinical care of patients should be screened for their antibody against varicella, and those who are susceptible to varicella, measles or rubella should be vaccinated.
Chickenpox* ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Measles* ; Rubella* ; Vaccination

This study aimed to reanalyze energy and nutrient intakes of 2007 Korean Nutrition and Health Examination Survey (KNHANES) using CAN-Pro 3.0, a commonly used nutrient analysis software in Korea. Food items and their codes were selected from 2007 KNHANES dietary intake file and converted to food codes of CAN-Pro 3.0 nutrient database (NDB). Of the 1,324 total food items, 1,155 items were converted by direct matching, 123 items were matched using other items in CAN-Pro 3.0 NDB and 42 items were matched using external sources. Consumption frequencies of items converted by direct matching contributed 94.5% of total consumption. Nutrient intakes of 4,091 participants of 2007 KNHANES, over 1 year old, were recalculated using CAN-Pro 3.0 NDB and compared with intakes in 2007 KNHANES dietary intake file. Intakes for energy and all nutrients except protein and Vitamin C calculated by two NDBs were significantly different by paired t-test (p < 0.001), but significantly correlated by Pearson' correlation coefficients (p<0.001). Percent differences between the NDBs ranged from 0.3% to 15.1%, low for protein, energy, vitamin C, iron, vitamin B2 (below 5%) but high for phosphorus, retinol, vitamin A, and beta-carotene (over 10%). Age group, sex, and their interactions significantly influenced six nutrients (p<0.05). Intake levels of zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, folate and cholesterol were not available in 2007 KNHANES but were calculated by CAN-Pro 3.0. Mean intake levels of zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and folate by age and sex groups revealed that some groups had mean levels below RI (Recommended Intake) or AI (Adequate Intake) levels. Intake level of cholesterol was higher than the recommended level (below 300 mg/day) in some groups, especially males. Results of the present study indicate the need for comparable and more comprehensive NDB to be used for dietary assessment of KNHANES and other researches. More rigorous evaluation of nutrients which have not been reported in KNHANES is needed.
Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Cholesterol ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Phosphorus ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Zinc