BACKGROUND/AIMS: In order to elucidate the possible mechanism of increase of y-glutamyl transpeptidase (y-GTP) activity in cholestatic liver and serum was studied. METHOD: Rats were divided into eight groups: Normal, sham operated control, bile duct obstruction (BDO) alone (BDO group), BDO plus taurocholic acid (TCA) injection (BDO plus TCA group), BDO plus tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) injection (BDO plus TUDCA group), choledoco-caval shunt (CCS) operation (CCS groups), CCS plus TCA injection (CCS plus TCA group), and CCS plus TUDCA injection (CCS plus TUDCA group). Y-GTP activity was determined in the serum and liver cytosolic, mitochondrial and microsomal preparations isolated from above experimental rats. The values of Km and Vmax in this hepatic enzyme was measured. RESULT: the activities of liver cytosolic and microsomal y-GTP showed a significant increase in the CCS group. The activities of liver cytosolic, mitochondrial and microsomal y-GTP showed a significant increase in the BDO group. And the activity of serum y-GTP showed a marked increase in teth CCS and BDO poups. However, y-GTP activities in the serum and in liver microsomal prepatation rose more rapidly in the BDO group tban CCS. Y-GTP activity in liver cytosolic and microsomal preparatians, and its Vmax value incmmxl significantly in both CCS plus TCA group, and BDO plus TCA group than each control group, such as CCS and BDO group. On the other hand, the values of Km of the hepatic subcellular y-GTP did not change in the all experimental groups. Sennn y-GTP activity increased significantly in both CCS plus 7CA group, and BDO plus TCA group than each control group. However, these serum and hepatic enzyme activities did not change in both CCS plus TUDCA group and BDO plus TUDCA group. CONCLUSIONS: The above results suggest that 7CA stimulates biosynthesis of the y-GTP in the liver. And the elevations of the serum enzymes activity thought to be caused by increase of hepatocyte membrane permeability by a physical property (detergency) of TCA, which cause the enzyme to leak into the blood in large quantities.
Animals ; Bile* ; Cholestasis ; Cytosol ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase* ; Hand ; Hepatocytes ; Liver* ; Membranes ; Permeability ; Rats* ; Taurocholic Acid

The purpose of this study was to provide basic informations for developing family-focused nursing interventions for families with chronic illness. the results of this study were as follows. In family caregiver systems, spouses of chronically ill patients showed higher anxiety scores9t=4.71, P=.000) and higher scores of the perceived importance of family functioning(t=3.67, P=.000) than those of children of chronically ill patients. But spouses showed lower scores of the satisfaction of family functioning (t=2.92, P=.005) than those of children of chronically ill patients. For spouses of chronically ill patients, the correlation between the satisfaction of family functioning and anxiety turned out to be significant9r=-.518, P=.001). However for children the correlation between them was not statistically significant. Findings of this study suggest that families with chronic illness need family-focused nursing interventions to relieve their anxiety and to improve family functioning. In conclusion, the investigation about family functioning and anxiety provides useful information for family-focused nursing care, especially for spouses of chronically ill patients. This information will contribute to developing the support systems for family caregivers and the education programs that helps chronically ill patients.
Anxiety* ; Caregivers* ; Child ; Chronic Disease* ; Education ; Humans ; Nursing ; Nursing Care ; Spouses

PURPOSE: This research is to know whether aroma foot massage has influence on the relief of anxiety and pain during colonoscopy under conscious sedation. METHOD: This research was designed as a quasi-experiment of non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. Data were collected from April 1 2005 to August 30 2005. The subjects were divided into three groups (control group, foot massage group and aroma foot massage group) with 30 persons each. Anxiety was evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), blood pressure and pulse. Pain response was measured with VAS and non-verbal pain behavior score. Sleep satisfaction was measured with a graphic rating scale. Data were analyzed through Chi-square test, t-test and repeated measure ANOVA. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, pulse, subjective anxiety and pain scores from the aroma foot massage group decreased significantly. Sleep satisfaction score of the aroma foot massage group increased significantly. Diastolic blood pressure from the aroma foot massage group did not decrease. CONCLUSION: The results show that aroma foot massage with refined oils can increase sleep satisfaction and decrease anxiety and pain during colonoscopy under conscious sedation.
Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Colonoscopy* ; Conscious Sedation* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Massage* ; Oils

Authors observed two cases in which the formation of glass-like hyaline membranes in the anterior chamber caused by birth trauma. Case 1 revealed a curtain-like glass membrane in the anterior chamber with a central nubecula corneae of right eye (Fig. 1). Case 2 revealed two paralled glass membranes and its stripes extended across the anterior chamber attached at each extremity to the posterior surface of the cornea (Fig. 2).
Anterior Chamber* ; Cornea ; Extremities ; Glass* ; Hyalin ; Membranes ; Parturition*

The brachial plexus block by interscalene approach is useful for any procedure on upper extremity, including the shoulder. Complications such as high epidural block, total spinal anesthesia, permanent neurologic damage, phrenic nerve block, cardiac arrest, pneumothorax and Horner's syndrome etc. were reported. Ipsilateral Horner' syndrome can be used for confirmation of the accompanying sympathetic block. We experienced a case of 35-year old male patient who developed ipsilateral Horner's syndrome following the injection of 40ml of 1% lidocaine with 1 : 200,000 epinephrine to brachial plexus by interscalene approach. This compication lasted for 10days after interscalene brachial plexus block.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Brachial Plexus* ; Epinephrine ; Heart Arrest ; Horner Syndrome* ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Phrenic Nerve ; Pneumothorax ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Male* ; Shock, Septic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive factors of radiation pneumonitis (RP) and associated changes in pulmonary function after definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 60 patients with NSCLC who received definitive CCRT were retrospectively reviewed. Dose volumetric (DV) parameters, clinical factors, and pulmonary function test (PFT) data were analyzed. RP was graded according to the CTCAE ver. 4.0. Percentage of lung volume that received a dose of threshold (Vdose) and mean lung dose (MLD) were analyzed for potential DV predictors. PFT changes were calculated as the difference between pre-RT and post-RT values at 3, 6, and 12 months after RT. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (37%) developed grade > or =2 RP. Among clinical factors, tumor location in lower lobe was associated with RP. Among the DV parameters, only MLD >15 Gy was associated with grade > or =2 RP. There were statistically significant decreases in PFT at all points compared with pre-RT values in grade > or =2 RP group. MLD was associated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) changes at 6 and 12 months. V10 was associated with FVC changes at 12 months. V20 and V30 were associated with FEV1 changes at 6 months and FVC changes at 12 months. CONCLUSION: After definitive CCRT in patients with NSCLC, MLD >15 Gy and lower lobe tumor location were predictors of grade > or =2 RP. Pulmonary functions were decreased after CCRT and the magnitude of changes was associated with DV parameters.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Capacity

No abstract available.
Dendritic Cells, Follicular*

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. METHODS: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. RESULTS: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers > or =1:640 for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached > or =1:640. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.
Agglutination ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory infection in infants and young children, but the pathogenesis of RSV-induced inflammation is not well defined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In order to examine the potential interactions between virus-infected airway epithelial cells and neutrophils, we studied the ability of neutrophils to adhere to yirus-infected airway epithelial cell monolayers by myeloperoxidase assay. Also we measured the ability of airway epithelial cells to secrete interleukin-8(IL-8) and inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in virus-infected airway epithelial cell cultures by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The degree of IL-8 and ICAM-1 gene expression in the RSV-infected BEAS-2B cell cultures were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). RESULTS: The RSV-infected BEAS-2B cell resulted in significantly enhanced level of neutrophil adherence compared to the uninfected control(p (0.001). IL-8 and ICAM-1 production significantly increased by RSV infection(p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between neutrophil adherence and IL-8 level(r=0.73, p=0.002), and ICAM-1 level (r=0.843, p=0.001) in RSV-infected cells. The degree of both IL-8 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression increased in the RSV-infected cells compared with the uninfected ones. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RSV infection significantly enhances the production of IL-8 and ICAM-1 in airway epithelial cells which then results in increased neutrophil adherence.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Child ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-8 ; Neutrophils* ; Peroxidase ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses* ; RNA, Messenger