Capsaicin, the pungent principle of hot peppers, is a neurotoxin that depletes unmyelinated primary sensory neurons (polymodal nociceptors) of neuropeptides like tachykinins. However, the role of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerve in the production of cytokines, penicillin V (PEV)-induced active fatal anaphylaxis and other immune responses is not yet fully established. Neonatal mice were pretreated s.c. with a single injection of 10 ug of capsaicin per mouse in volume of 20 ul within 5 days of age. Using 5-8 week old mice pretreated as neonates with capsaicin, the capsaicin- pretreated and vehicle-treated control mice were examined for various parameters of immune responses described above. For the induction of active fatal anaphylaxis with PEV, 8 week old mice pretreated as neonates and age-matched capsaicin- untreated control mice were sensitized i.p. with 500 ug of PEV-ovalbumin conjugate plus 2*10(9) B. pertussis and 1.0 mg alum and challenged i.v. with PEV-bovine serum albumin conjugate 14 days later. It was found that neonatal capsaicin-pretreatment significantly enhanced contact hypersensitivity to TNCB and hemagglutination response to SRBC, but significantly inhibited the proliferation response of rnurine splenocyte to Con A and LPS. Interestingly, neonatal capsaicin pretreatment significantly inhibited the intensity of PEV-induced active fatal anaphylaxis and decreased the mortality due to anaphylactic shock. It also significantly inhibited LPS- induced production of cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12. The capsaicin-pretreatment also resulted in an inhibition of the activation of NF-kB. Taken together, these data showed for the first time that neonatal capsaicin-pretreatment significantly inhibited an antibiotic (PEV)-induced anaphylaxis and production of various cytokines, and suggest that capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory nerve may play an important regulatory role in active fatal anaphylaxis and cytokine production, thus potentially presenting tools for immune intervention. In particular, the data presented also indicated the possibility to selectively down-modulate cytokine production and NF-kB activation may offer a broad application for therapeutic intervention in neuroimmunological diseases and other pathological situations.
Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Capsaicin* ; Cytokines ; Denervation* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Mortality ; Neuropeptides ; NF-kappa B ; Penicillin V ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; Serum Albumin ; Tachykinins ; Whooping Cough

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Gynecology* ; Laparoscopy*

The mortality rate of aneurysmal surgery had recently been reduced due to modern microsurgical technique and refinement of the timing of operation. Despite recovery without neurological deficits, many patients remain with emotional and psychological sequelae postoperatively. We evaluated 33 patients, operated on intracranial aneurysm for recent 2 years, about quality of life and degree of cognitive function. For proper evaluation of outcome of aneurysmal surgery, in addition to the neurological outcome, psychological aspects must be considered.
Aneurysm ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Mortality ; Quality of Life

No abstract available.
Methotrexate*

This report describes two cases of complete heart block associated with acute myocarditis. Both cases developed Adams-Stokes attack. One patients was considered to be due to viral infection as judged by clinical course and the other patient was confirmed as Korean hemorrhagic fever by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Both cases improved during about 4 weeks admission without sequelae with general supportive treatment only.
Heart Block* ; Heart* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Myocarditis*

A 59-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of occipital headache and multiple cranial nerve dysfunction. The patient had been suffered from chronic otitis media. MRI of the brain showed a thickened and markedly enhanced dura mater in the temporal lobe. The patient underwent a left temporal craniectomy and dural biopsy. Histopathological examination revealed thickened duar amter infiltrated with giant cell, lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration. The fungus, acid-fast and PAS stains were all negative. After administraion of steroid, cranial nerve disturbances and headache improved. The cause of the hypertrophpic intracranial pachymeningitis in this patient was thought to be related with the chronic otitis media, although the clinical course of the patient was similar to the idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Coloring Agents ; Cranial Nerves ; Dura Mater ; Female ; Fungi ; Giant Cells ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis* ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Plasma Cells ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evalulate the usefulness of internal fixation with two modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring in displaced proximal humeral fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen cases of displaced proximal humeral fracture were surgically treated with modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring and followed for an average 24.9 (6-39) months. Male to female ratio was 6 to 7. Average age was 58.1 (39-81) years. Results were assessed using Neer's evaluation criteria. RESULTS: Excellent results were noted in 9 cases and satisfactory results in 4 cases. All cases obtained radiological union. There was no complication such as avascular necrosis of humeral head or metal failure. Two cases showed impingement syndrome of the proximal portions of Steinmann pins, which were managed by early removal of the metal after union. CONCLUSIONS: Internal fixation using modified Steinmann pins and tension band wiring for proximal humeral fracture minimizes perioperative soft tissue damage, has a low risk of complications, and enables early rehabilitation by rendering relatively rigid fixation.
Female ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Male ; Necrosis ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder Fractures*

No abstract available.
Female ; Fetal Heart* ; Heart Rate, Fetal* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: Children with cancer are immunosuppressed as a result of the underlying malignancies and their treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate immunophenotypic recovery of lymphocyte populations following completion of treatment in children with hematologic malignancies. METHODS: Thirty eight patients were followed up to the Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital from Jan. 1995 to Nov. 1999. Using flow cytometry with fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies of lymphocytes, T-, B-, and Natural killer (NK) cells and CD4/CD8 ratio were enumerated in 38 patients {acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 19; acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 14; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), 5} from 3 months after completion of therapy and every 3 months thereafter over 2 years. The recovery rates of each parameters were compared according to diseases, age and gender. RESULTS: Absolute lymphocyte count was achieved in 50.0% (19/38) and 73.7% (28/38) of patients at 3 and 12 months after completion of therapy, respectively. Absolute B cell counts as well as the proportion of patients with normal B cell counts were low in NHL than in AML (298+/-250/microliter vs 594+/-356/microliter; P=0.037) at 12 months. T cell recovery tended to be faster in ALL, followed by AML and NHL. NK cell recovery was comparable among 3 disease subgroups. CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly lower in NHL (0.14+/-0.16) than ALL (0.79+/-0.33; P=0.018) at 3 months. CD4/CD8 ratio of NHL (0.41+/-0.14) was lower than ALL (0.79+/-0.29; P=0.033) at 6 months. Differences of CD4/CD8 ratio among the three disease groups were not statistically significant after 9 months. CD4/CD8 ratio was inverted in 22 of 38 (57.9%) patients even after 24 months of therapy. At 12 months higher proportion of male (47.4%, 9/19) achieved a normal CD4/CD8 ratio than that of female (15.8%, 3/19; P=0.036). Age did not make any differences in the recovery. CONCLUSION: Children with hematologic malignancies have persistent abnormalities of lymphocyte subpopulations often after 2 years following completion of chemotherapy. These results suggest that immunologic assessment are required and that preventive measures for infections might be required for more than 2 years after chemotherapy in some patients. Duration of follow-up observation should be differed according to underlying malignancies and their treatment intensity.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cell Count ; Child* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Pediatrics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma