An immunoperoxdase technique in electron microscopy was used to investigate the ultrastructural site of keratinolytic proteinase (KPase) of M crosporum cans in sections of skin from guinea pigs infected with the same organism. Ultrastructurally, the KPase was present only in the cell walls of the invading dermatophytes as a continuous deposition of the electron-dense reaction product on the inner and outer aspects of the cell wall of the fungal hyphae without deposition in the keratin surrounding the invading hyphae. Our results suggest that the KPase may not play an absolute role in the invasion of dermatophytes into keratinized tissue in vivo.
Animals ; Arthrodermataceae ; Cell Wall ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hyphae ; Immunoenzyme Techniques* ; Microscopy, Electron* ; Microsporum* ; Skin* ; Tinea

Buschke-Lowenstein tumor is a rare disease in the category of designated as verrucous carcinoma characterized by its invasive downward penetration of underlying tissues in the perineum and perianal regions. Viruses, unclean sanitation and cytotoxic immune reaction have been proposed as the etiology of the tumor. However, among all the causes, recent studies have emphasized on the associaton of the tumor and human papilloma virus (HPV). Expecially, HPV also has been discovered in several cutaneous and anogenital lesions of solid organ transplant recipients. We herein report a case of Buschke-Lowenstein tumor in a renal transplant recipient with HPV 6 and 16 coinfection proved by HPV genotyping of DNA extracted from the biopsy specimen of the tumor.
Biopsy ; Buschke-Lowenstein Tumor* ; Carcinoma, Verrucous ; Coinfection ; DNA ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; Humans ; Papilloma ; Perineum ; Rare Diseases ; Sanitation ; Transplantation* ; Transplants

The formation of spontaneous rosettes between human lymphocytes and sheep erythro ytes under suitable conditions is a constant feature of T-lymphocytes. Recently. It has been demonstrated in the mouse, rat, guinea pig and in man that a certain proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes has the property to bind autolognus erythrocytes in vitro. These lymphocytes are called auiologous rosette forming cells(ARFC). Although there are several reports on human ARFC. the results are not in accordance. The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the autologous rosette forming property of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and to enumerate the percentage of ARFC in different sex and age guoups. Fifty healthy persons entered this study between Martch and September. 1980. at the Department of Dermatolgy, Seoul National Universty Hospital. The method of quantitation of AREC was s sight modification of that of Lambermont et al(1977). The results were as follows.
Male ; Humans ; Mice ; Animals

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of polycystic ovarian follicular fluid on sperm motility in human in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: From May, 1998 to July, 1999, 55 patients who complained of infertility were involved in this study. We obtained ovarian follicular fluids form the patients by ultrasono-guided aspiration. Subjects were divided into two groups. 20 patients who had polycystic ovarian disease were belong to study group, and 25 patients who had normal ovarian follicular fluid were belong to control group. The follicular fluid dilution was done with Ham's fluid as 10%, 20%, 50%, 100%. The sperm motility was analyzed by CASA at 6hr and 12hr after incubation in follicular fluids. RESULTS: The levels of average path velocity (VAP) in all concentration fluid didn't show significant difference between study and control group. The other parameters including curvilinear velocity (VCL), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), and linerity (LIN) were didn't show any significant difference between both groups. CONCLUSION: PCOD fluid had seemed to have an adverse effect on the sperm biological function. But, this study showed that PCOD fluid had no different effect on sperm motility with normal follicular fluid.
Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Follicular Fluid* ; Head ; Humans* ; Infertility ; Ovarian Diseases ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

PURPOSE: Recently, it has been reported that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with some gastric cancers. But EBVs role in EBV-associated gastric carcinomas (EBVaGCs) has not been fully elucidated. This study was undertaken to evaluate the characteristics of EBVaGCs and to compare those with non-EBVaGCs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EBV infection was studied using paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 119 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs). In EBVaGCs and non-EBVaGCs, molecular characteristics were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for latent membrane protein (LMP)-1, p53 protein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). RESULTS: EBERs were detected in 12 cases (10.1%) of 119 gastric adenocarcinomas. LMP-1 was negative in all carcinomas tested, p53 protein was positive in 7 cases (58.3%) of 12 EBVaGCs and in 51 (47.7%) of 107 non-EBVaGCs, the difference between two groups being not significant. Mean PCNA index was 38.2+-26.1% in EBVaGCs and 22.8 +- 20.0% in non-EBVaGCs. The index was significantly higher in the former than in the latter. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that neoplastic progression in EBVaGCs was implicated with high expression of PCNA, but not consistently with overexpression of p53 protein or LMP-1.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; In Situ Hybridization ; Membrane Proteins ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; RNA ; Stomach Neoplasms

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

We present a case of pemphigus vulgaris developed during pregnancy. The clinical features of this patient were similar to those of hetpes gestationis. By immunofluorescence studies we found that the patient's serum contained autoantibodies to intercellular substance of epidermis. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy of a perilesional skin also demontrated immunoglobulin deposition in the intercellular areas. Additionally we did in vitro C3 staining for further confirmation of the diagnosis but it was negative in basement membrane zone. This patient was initially treated with corticosteroid and azathioprine. Several months later gold compound was given instead of azathioprine and corticosteroid with good therapeutic response.
Autoantibodies ; Azathioprine ; Basement Membrane ; Diagnosis ; Epidermis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Microscopy ; Pemphigus* ; Pregnancy* ; Skin

No abstract available.
Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents*

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of rodent origin are produced with ease by hybridoma fusion technique, and have been successfully used as therapeutic reagents for humans after humanization by genetic engineering. However, utilization of these antibodies for therapeutic purpose has been limited by the fact that they act as immunogens in human body causing undesired side effects. So far, there have been several attempts to produce human mAbs for effective in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic reagents including the use of humanized xenomouse that is generated by mating knockout mice which lost Ig heavy and light chain genes by homologous recombination and transgenic mice having both human Ig heavy and light gene loci in their genome. METHODS: Genomic DNA fragments of mouse Ig heavy and light chain were obtained from a mouse brain lamda genomic library by PCR screening and cloned into a targeting vector with ultimate goal of generating Ig knockout mouse. RESULTS: Through PCR screening of the genomic library, three heavy chain and three light chain Ig gene fragments were identified, and restriction map of one of the heavy chain gene fragments was determined. Then heavy chain Ig gene fragments were subcloned into a targeting vector. The resulting construct was introduced into embryonic stem cells. Antibiotic selection of transfected cells is under the progress. CONCLUSION: Generation of xenomouse is particularly important in medical biotechnology. However, this goal is not easily achieved due to the technical difficulties as well as huge financial expenses. Although we are in the early stage of a long-term project, our results, at least, partially contribute the successful generation of humanized xenomouse in Korea.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biotechnology ; Brain ; Clone Cells* ; DNA* ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Gene Knockout Techniques* ; Gene Targeting ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Immunoglobulin ; Genetic Engineering ; Genome ; Genomic Library ; Homologous Recombination ; Human Body ; Humans* ; Hybridomas ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Mice* ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Transgenic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rodentia

OBJECTIVE: The patients of endometriosis may complain of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia, but may be asymptomatic. We studied on the correlation between the pain and the psychologic stress, Also, we studied on the correlation between serum CA-l25 levels and the psychologic stress. METHODS: The data was obtained from il7 endometriosis patients. Psychological stress was studied with STAI(Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and BDI(Beck Depression Inventory). We compared the degree of anxiety and depression according to existence of pain and the duration of pain. Also we examed the scores of STAI and BDI according to the level of serum CA-125. RESULTS: The pain group had more depression and anxiety, in comparison to the pain-free group. And the depression and anxiety significantly increased in long-term pain group. There was no correlation between the level of serum CA-125 and the depression,or axiety. CONCLUSION: The pain of endometriosis may play a role of pychological stress to the patients, so it seems to increase depression and anxiety.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Dysmenorrhea ; Dyspareunia ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-7 ; Pelvic Pain ; Stress, Psychological*