T cell activation is a critical event for initiation and regulation of immune responses and inhibitors of such signaling pathways are clinically useful for the treatment of patients received allogratt and autoimmune disease. In the course of screening soil microorganisms from the forest of Cheju island in Korea for new immunosuppressive agent, one of Streptomyces species (CK-95441) was found to produce a new immunosuppressant, tautomycetin which also had antifungal activity. Tautomycetin showed the inhibition of T cell proliferation in murine mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and T cell activation induced by concanavalin A. Tautomycetin also blocked the induction of IL-2 gene expression which was examined in Jurkat TAg cell line in which multiple NFAT-binding sites and minimal IL-2 promoter drive the production of B-galactosidase. Also, the level of inhibition in activation-induced IL-2 receptor expression by tautomycetin was greater than those by cyclosporin A measured by flow cytometry. But, Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells was unaffected by tautomycetin which was measured by DNA fragmentation assay. These results suggested that tautomycetin will be able to be used as a potent immunosuppressive drug following organ transplantation.

No abstract available.
Goldenhar Syndrome*

False aneurysm has been recognized for many years. Incomplete severance of an artery as the result of trauma is thought to be the precipitating factors in the formation of false aneurysm. False aneurysm of the peripheral artery is presented with pulsating mass and may show extrinsic indentations of the adjacent bone with or without neurovascular symptoms, mimicking a malignant tumor. But careful history taking can reveal a proceeding deep penetrating injury variable period prior to development of symptoms. We are reporting two cases of false aneurysm of the superior gluteal artery and superficial femoral artery in each after trauma.
Aneurysm, False ; Arteries ; Femoral Artery ; Precipitating Factors

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Humerus*

FS390, a novel microbial metabolite from Streptomyces spp. was identified as a small molecular substance and shown a inhibition activities for the release of neurotransmitter from rat hippocampal neuron and PC12 cells. FS390 is an inhibitor of trifiated norepinephrine ([3H]-NE) release in high K+ buffer solution containing ionomycin, indicating that FS390 inhibits neurotransmitter release after the influx of Ca2+ ions. When examined the effect of FS390 on beta-glucuronidase release from guinea pig neurophils, FS390 inhibited beta-glucuronidas release: when treated with 5 microgram/mL of FS390, which was not induced cellular cytotoxicity. The fact that the beta-glucuronidase release in neutrophil and norepinephrine release in neuron was inhibited suggests the similarity in the locations and the mechanisms of FS390 action targets. When treated with 5 microgram/mL of FS390, [3H]-NE release and neurite extension for both rat hippocampal neurons and PC12 cells were prevented. These observations of FS390 functioning as an inhibitor of neurotransmitter release suggest that FS390 has an important role in synaptic transmission in neuron.
Animals ; Exocytosis* ; Glucuronidase ; Guinea Pigs ; Ionomycin ; Ions ; Neurites* ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Neutrophils ; Norepinephrine ; PC12 Cells* ; Rats* ; Streptomyces ; Synaptic Transmission

The systematic study of products from bacteria and fungi has led to the development of two immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporin A and FK 506 (tacrolimus) which are useful to suppress adaptive immune responses to the grafted tissue. However, they affect all immune responses indiscriminately and are both toxic to kidneys and other organs. To facilitate the development of immunosuppressor to block the T cell receptor (TcR)-mediated signaling cascade specifically, a novel Jurkat T cell transfectants, JK NFAT-SEAP were generated in which the expression of the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) is driven by the multiple NFAT binding sites plus minimal IL-2 promoter. Upon stimulation with ionomycin or anti-TcR mAb OKT3 in the presence of PMA, these transfectants secreted high level of SEAP into the medium, which was conveniently analyzed by SEAP analysis. The secretion of SEAP was effectively inhibited by cyclosporin A or FK 506 at the concentration of [10 ' ug/ml], [10 ug/ml] respectively. JK NFAT-SEAP transfectants will provide two major advantages for the development of a novel immunosuppressor. First, analysis of SEAP secreted into the culture medium by SEAP analysis enables us to test a large number of samples within a short period of time. Second, Usage of IL-2 promoter for the expression of SEAP makes us identify bioproducts to target specifically on TcR-mediated signaling pathway.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bacteria ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line* ; Cyclosporine ; Fungi ; Interleukin-2 ; Ionomycin ; Kidney ; Mass Screening* ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Tacrolimus ; Transplants

May-Thurner syndrome is a deep vein thrombosis of the ilio-femoral vein due to compression of the left common iliac vein by the overlying right common iliac artery. Although, catheter directed thrombectomy (CDT) and thrombolysis with stent insertion has become the standard treatment method for acute or subacute May-Thurner syndrome, because of technical feasibility and lower recurrence rate, however, sometimes this methods make fatal complications. Furthermore, there are few reports on optimal treatment strategies for patients in a chronic state of May-Thurner syndrome,. We now present two cases of chronic (>1 month since onset of symptoms) May-Thurner syndrome treated by surgical thrombectomy and femoral arteriovenous shunt with simultaneous stent insertion after failed endovascular treatment. This technique may provide a significant benefit for patients who are not suitable for conventional endovascular treatment.
Catheters ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Iliac Vein ; May-Thurner Syndrome ; Recurrence ; Stents ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, is a rare autosomal dominant vascular disorder involving arteriovenous malformation. HHT is characterized by recurrent epistaxis, cutaneous telangiectasia, and visceral arteriovenous malformations. Hepatic arteriovenous malformation can lead to high output heart failure. We report a case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patient who complained dyspnea and edema on both lower extremity.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Epistaxis ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* ; Telangiectasis

We report here on our technique and outcomes of the first two cases of robot-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff excision(RLNU). RLNU was performed on two female patients who both had a muscle invasive lower ureter tumor. For the first step, nephroureterectomy was performed in the lateral flank position. For the second step, bladder cuff excision and bladder repair were performed in a steep Trendelenburg position. The specimen was extracted through a 6 cm sized incision in the umbilical trocar site. Both procedures were successfully completed with using the robot without conversion to open surgery. The total operative time, including the lymphadenectomy and the robot docking times, was 320 and 241 minutes, respectively, for the 2 patients. The estimated blood loss was 40 and 200 ml, respectively. The pathological examinations showed stage T3 and T2 invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter. The patients' postoperative recoveries were uneventful and the bladder cuff was free of tumor. RLNU may have potential advantages over open and laparosopic surgery due to its minimal invasiveness. This approach can be an alternative to open surgery or laparoscopic technique.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Female ; Head-Down Tilt ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Muscles ; Operative Time ; Resin Cements ; Robotics ; Surgical Instruments ; Ureter ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: We evaluated a rapid screening kit for the detection of hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) using an immunochromatographic method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 499 serum specimens for the evaluation. Each specimen was tested by enzyme immunoassay (EIA; Cobas Core, Roche, Switzerland), reverse passive hemagglutination (RPHA; Serodia HBs, Asan, Korea) for HBsAg, passive hemagglutination (PHA; Serodia Anti-HBs, Asan, Korea) for anti-HBs, and with the Genedia HBsAg and Anti-HBs Rapid (Green Cross Corp., Korea) kits. Results of each assay were compared with those of the EIA. RESULTS: The sensitivities and specificities of the Genedia HBsAg Rapid kit were 98.0% and 100%, and those for the Genedia Anti-HBs Rapid kit were 95.3% and 98.0%, respectively. These were higher than those for RPHA (96.0% and 100%), and PHA (83.2% and 96.0%). Concordance rates between EIA and Genedia HBsAg Rapid, Genedia Anti-HBs Rapid, RPHA, and PHA were 98.8%, 96.4%, 97.6%, and 88.4%, respectively. Extending the incubation time from the recommended 30 minutes to 2 hours increased the sensitivities of the Genedia kits. CONCLUSION: The Genedia HBsAg and Anti-HBs Rapid kits are simple, sensitive, and inexpensive assays suitable for screening or use in emergency situations.
Antigens, Surface ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Emergencies ; Hemagglutination ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Mass Screening*