OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum ECP as a marker of the severity of asthma and extent of airway inflammation. METHOD: We investigated 108 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, who were classified as mild intermittent(n=19), mild persistent(n=27), moderate persistent(n=42), and severe persistent(n=20) and 10 healthy controls. Atopy was defined as those who showed >2+ responses on skin prick test. Serum ECP, peripheral blood eosinophil, sputum eosinophil, and PEFR were measured on the same date and meth~acholine PC20 were determined within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were 10.1+- 2.0 ug/L in controls, and 29.1+- 23.6 ug/L in asthmatic patients. According to symptom severity, serum ECP levels were 22.9 +- 15.6 ug/L, 28. 6 +- 24.1 ug/L, 29.5 +- 22.2 ug/L, and 34.6 +- 31.2 ug/L in mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthmatic patients, respectively and there were no significant differences among four groups(p>0.05). Serum ECP levels correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts(r=0.48, p<0.01), but not with sputum eosinophil, PEFR, and methacholine PC20 levels. There was no significant difference in serum ECP level between atopic and non-atopic asthma(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Single measurevment of ECP level at clinic could not represent the severity of asthma.
Asthma* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Skin ; Sputum

Heterogeneity in clinical features and pathogenesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity have been reported. NSAIDs can cause bronchial constriction in asthmatics or hives and angioedema in patients with chronic urticaria, in which case causative drugs show cross-reactivity with other NSAIDs. Normal subjects without allergic diseases may develop urticaria angioedema or anaphylaxis after ingestion of a specific NSAID. In this type of reaction, cross-reactivity between causative drugs and other NSAIDs does not occur. We experienced a case of acetaminophen anaphylaxis without aspirin sensitivity in a 38-year-old male, which was confirmed by oral provocation test. An oral challenge with 150mg of acetaminophen induced urticaria in lower legs, and erythema, with febrile sensation in ears. With a dose of 600mg acetaminophen, urticaria developed in trunk and extremities with facial angioedema. An oral provocation test with 650mg of aspirin was well tolerated without any adverse reactions. We report acase of acetaminophen anaphylaxis, which occurred in a normal individual at a small dose(150mg) without cross-reactivity with aspirin. This type of reaction supports heterogenei~ty of NSAIDs hypersensitivity and it may be caused by an other mechanism, not by cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Acetaminophen* ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Ear ; Eating ; Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leg ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sensation ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Oximetry*

From January to December 1984, 191 patients with associated ventricular septal defect(VSD) were studied in the cardiac cathetherization laboratory. Among theses 191 cases, 58 cases(30.4%) of subpulmonic VSD were identified by angiocardiography. Among the 59 cases of subpulmonic VSD, 12 cases(20.6%) were complicated with aortic infficiency(AI). The relative frequency of subpulmonic VSD increased with the increase of age and the frequency of complication of AI with the subpulmonic VSD also increased with the increase of age. The amount of left to right shunt in the patients with subpulmonic VSD and AI was small and Qp/Qs ratio was less than 2.0 in all of the 12 cases. Among the 12 patients 4 cases had a pressure gradient greater than 20 mmHg across the infundibular region of the right ventricle.
Angiocardiography ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans

No abstract available.
Cardiac Tamponade* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute*

Joints ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Recurrence ; Skull

No abstract available.
Angiofibroma*

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO), which is associated with anemia, exerts neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke. In cases of stenosis or narrowing of the main cerebral blood vessel, the prognosis is favorable if collateral blood circulation is well developed in acute stroke. Several studies have investigated the relationship between EPO administration and stroke outcomes. The present study investigated the correlation between serum EPO level and cerebral collateral circulation, which could result in favorable clinical outcomes. Methods: The study subjects were patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who underwent initial brain magnetic resonance imaging between January 2020 and March 2022. Following brain computed tomography perfusion for collateral flow, serum EPO levels were measured. Collaterals were assessed according to the Mass system and divided into good collateral (GC) or poor collateral (PC) groups. Serum EPO levels were determined using a chemiluminescence immunoassay method. A correlation coefficient analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between serum EPO levels and GC. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the cutoff value of EPO for GC. Results: Serum EPO levels were significantly higher in the GC than that in the PC group (P<0.05). The cut-off level of serum EPO for a good outcome was 9.1 mIU/mL. Conclusion A high serum EPO (>9.1 mIU/mL) could be a marker of GC in patients with acute ischemic stroke that predicts good clinical outcomes.

Rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients is important with increased isolation of mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT). DNA-DNA hybridization with streptavidin-peroxidase and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) color reaction method was recognized as a useful tool for identification of various species of mycobacteria. In this study, optimum condition of the test was determined. The optimal concentrations of tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride and hydrogen peroxide for streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase were 0.3-0.6 ug/ ml and 0.16 mM, respectively. The TMB stock solution was stable when prepared in methanol and the dilution of TBM stock solution in 10 mM sodium citrate-10 mM EDTA solution (pH 5.0) gave highest peroxidase-TMB activity. The suitable composition of hybridization solution consisted of 2 x SSC, 10% dextran sulfate, 50 ug/ml salmon DNA, 5 x Denhardt's solution, and 50% formamide. The 5-minute heating at 100C of test DNA prior to photobiotin labeling significantly increased the reaction. In conclusion, DNA-DNA hybridization method with streptavidin-peroxidase and TMB color reaction method may be useful for rapid identification of Mycobacterium spp. isolated from patients.
Dextran Sulfate ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Methanol ; Mycobacterium* ; Peroxidase ; Salmon ; Sodium

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate cross - reactivity between pollens in patients with strong skin reactivity to multiple pollens. METHODS: A pool of sera from 20 patients who showed strong skin responses( > or = 3+ ) to all three kinds of pollens ( tree, grass, and weed ) was used. Oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens were chosen for the subject of study. The level and pattern of bound IgE to each pollen and cross - reactivity between pollens were investigated by ELISA and immunoblot experiments. RESULTS: In ELISA, the IgE of a pool of sera reacted to ryegrass and ragweed in 100%, to mugwort in 95%, to oak in 75%, and to hop Japanese in 65%, respectively. In inhibitory ELI - SA, more than 50% of bound IgE was mutually inhibited in oak vs ryegrass, oak vs mugwort, mugwort vs ryegrass and mugwort vs hop Japanese. In immunoblot, the IgE binding rate to major allergens of each pollen was 95% for hop Japanese, 75% for ragweed, 50% for ryegrass, 35% for mugwort, and 30% for oak, respectively. In inhibitory immunoblot, the mutually inhibited bound IgE could not be observed between major allergens of each pollen, but some minor allergens of oak pollen were mutually inhibited by ryegrass. CONCLUSION: Cross - reactivity between major allergens of oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens was not observed at all, but some minor allergens of oak pollen cross-reacted with ryegrass and mugwort, and so did those of mugwort pollen with ryegrass and hop Japanese.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Humulus ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lolium ; Poaceae ; Pollen* ; Skin