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

We reported a case of atypical thymic carcinoid tumor with ectopic ACTH syndrome which was proved by the presence of intracytoplasmic ACTH in the tumor cells using PAP method and electron microscopy. The patient was a 43-year-old housewife who was referred with Cushing's syndrome of unknown origin, and subsequantly followed by many disabling symptoms including, diabetes mellitus and electrolyte imbalance for which bilateral adrenalectomy was carried out. Thereafter, rapid rise in serum ACTH level and hyperpigmentation were followed. Pituitary irradiation was done under the impression of Nelson's syndrome despite of lacking evidence of pituitary tumor, but high serum ACTH persisted. Seven months after pituitary irradiation, two anterior mediastinal masses were first noticed and removed. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies confirmed this neoplasm as a ACTH producing spindle cell variant of atypical thymic carcinoid tumor. When dealing with a patient who developed Nelson's syndrome-like phenomenon without apparent pituitary tumor, the possibility of ectopic ACTH syndrome caused by thymic carcinoid should be considered.

Adenosis tumor is a ra re tumor of the breast and primarily consists of adenosis. Authors report a case of surgically proved adenosis tumor in a 31-year-old woman. Mammogram showed a Iobulated, well-circumscribed mass with several surrounding radiolucent halos. In the center of the mass several linear radiolucent densities were seen with the appearance of a conglomerated well-circumscribed mass such as fibroadenoma. These linear radiolucent densities were consistent with the fat between the fibrous sclerosis in pathologic specimen. Ultrasonogram showed a well-circumscribed mass with homogeneous low echogenicity, partial posterior enhancement, and bilateral acoustic shadowings.
Acoustics ; Adult ; Breast* ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Humans ; Sclerosis ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common respiratory disorder in children, which necessitates hospitalization. Bacterial pneumonia, especially lobar pneumonia and parapneumonic effusions, is associated with considerably severe clinical course and extensive alveolar infiltrates. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) level has been used to distinguish bacterial from viral infections, but its usefulness is disputed. The diagnostic accuracy and usefulness of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined by comparing their values in the patients with CAP with those in healthy controls. METHODS: The serum PCT levels, as well as CRP level, ESR, and WBC counts, were measured in 76 hospitalized patients with CAP (lobar pneumonia, 16; bronchopneumonia, 60) and 18 healthy controls. Serum PCT level was measured using VIDAS(R) BRAHMS PCT (Biomerieux, France), and ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Serum PCT levels were higher in the patients with CAP than in healthy controls, especially in the patients with lobar pneumonia than in those with bronchopneumonia. Serum CRP level was also significantly elevated in the patients with CAP, especially in those with lobar pneumonia. The diagnostic accuracy of serum PCT level for the diagnosis of lobar pneumonia was better than those of serum CRP level and ESR. The serum PCT level was significantly correlated with the CRP level, ESR, and WBC count. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT level was a better marker than CRP level or ESR for the diagnosis of lobar pneumonia in children with CAP.
Adolescent ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Sedimentation ; Bronchopneumonia/complications ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Calcitonin/*blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections/complications/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Pneumonia/complications/*diagnosis ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: This study was done to clarify nurses' duties, tasks and task elements and to develop a job description for clinical nurses on general and intensive care units in tertiary-level hospitals, and dramatically reflect changing medical trends in Korea. METHODS: The job description was developed based on the Developing a Curriculum Method (DACUM). The questionnaire included frequency, importance, and difficulty of duties, tasks and task elements, measured on a 4-point scale. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Data were collected from September 4 to 7, 2017, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a scattered graph. RESULTS: The job description consisted of 10 duties, 38 tasks, and 51 elements. Of the 10 duties, the highest duty in order of importance was ‘Direct nursing care’ followed by ‘Infection control’. The highest duties according to frequency and difficulty were ‘Document and notify’ and ‘Research and quality improvement’. ‘Safety management’ and ‘Infection control’ were considered as relatively simple duties, however, these two duties were still included as important jobs for clinical nurses. CONCLUSION: The job descriptions for clinical nurses developed from this study contain nursing ethics and safety as well as infection control, to faithfully reflect clinical nurses' jobs.
Critical Care* ; Curriculum ; Ethics, Nursing ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Job Description* ; Korea ; Methods* ; Nursing ; Patients' Rooms*

No abstract available.

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

Abdominal pregnancy that is a life threatening variant of ectopic pregnancy, has been a rare event with high maternal mortality. It is very difficult to diagnose a abdominal pregnancy clinically. We have experienced a case of early abdominal pregnancy diagnosed at emergency laparotomy and this case was presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Emergencies ; Female ; Laparotomy ; Maternal Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic

No abstract available.
Dilatation* ; Urethra*