OBJECTIVE: To investigate the specific cytokine pattern and its profiles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we measured the mRNA expression of the IL-4, IL- 2, IFN-r7 and IL-10 in the PBMC s and synovial tissue samples. METHOD: We analyzed the cytokine mRNA copy number semiquantitatively in the fresh PBMC s from 13 rheumatoid patients who were not treated with corticosteroid or DMARDs(disease modifying antirheumatic drugs) which may affect the expression of cytokine and 16 healthy normal controls. Mononuclear cells were separated into three compartment(total PBMC, CD4+ cells, and CD4 cells) by the magnetic bead method. Synovial tissues were obtained from surgical procedure freshly. RNA was extracted from 1x10 cells of each PBMC compartment and synovial tissue. To determine the copy number of cytokine mRNA expression, RT-PCR and dot blot hybridization was performed with the RNA extracted from the samples. RESULT: In CD4+ compartment IFN(interferon)-r mRNA was marginally lower in RA patients(143+114) than in normal control(742+1052, p=0.0517) but IL(interleukin)-4 mRNA expression was higher in RA group(73+50 vs. 32+23 in normal control, p=0.0066). Also in CD4- compartment IFN-r mRNA expression was lower in RA(479+850 vs. 6154+15,059 in normal control, p=0.1875) although it was not significant statistically and IL-4 expression was higher in RA group(308+277 vs. 150+100 in normal group, p=0.0428). In PBMC compartment IFN-1 mRNA expression was also decreased in RA group (148+145 vs. 712 +768, p=0.0148), but IL-4 mRNA expression was marginally increased(186+145 vs. 109+62, p=0.0652). In synovium, interestingly, there was virtually no de novo synthesis of IL-4. CONCLUSION: There is significant difference in cytokine pattern of peripheral PBMC between RA and control group. The main cellular IL-4 source in periph- eral blood is not the CD4+ cells. Also there is significant difference of cytokine pattern between the peripheral blood and eynovium in rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Synovial Membrane*

No abstract available.
Delivery of Health Care*

No abstract available.
Female* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Ambulatory Care Facilities* ; Humans ; Outpatients*

No abstract available.
History of Medicine ; Korea

No abstract available.
Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter*

BACKGROUND: Cyclic flow variations(CFVs) is defined as morphological evidence of wide flow velocity variations in the Doppler signals due rapid spontaneous changes showing cyclic reduction and abrupt reperfusion of blood flow velocity seen in the critically stenotic arteries. Since first development of the CFVs model using dog by Folts and Uchida, it has been widely used as exellent experiemental model for study of the Acute ischemic heart disease syndrome including unstable angina. Nowadays it has been well documented that these CFVs are closely associated with temporal platelet aggregation and followed thrombus formation at the stenotic arterial lesion with endothelial or medial injury and subsequent release of various chemical mediators, eg. thromboxan A2 and serotonin. Also the CFVs can be seen in some patients of coronary artery stenosis during underwent PTCA, femoral artery stenosis and carotid or cerebral artery stenosis as well as in animal models. Moreover, CFVs has been thought to be the natural preconditioning in the unstable angina. METHODS: We tried to make the CFVs model using left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in 6 dogs. Pericardial cradle was made through 5th intercostal thoracotomy. The LAD was isolated carefully and critically stenosed by plastic constrictor and Doppler velocimeter probe was placed under the constrictor. After then intimal and medial layer of the LAD was damaged by a forcep. After appearing of CFVs, we observed and recorded for an hour. Myeloperoxide(MPO) activity in the ischemic and non-ischemic area of the myocardium were studied and compared after sacrifice. RESULTS: CFVs was found in all 6 dogs within an hour. The mean frequency of the CFVs was 9.8+/-4.45 times/hour. The mean coronary blood flow was 5.7+/-2.7 ml/min. And MPO activity was 1.47+/-0.5 units/g tissue in the ischemic myocardium and 0.49+/-0.27 units/g tissue in the non-ischemic area with statistical significance(p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: CFVs model using various animal models and arterial sites can widely provide usefulness to document pathophysiology and pharmacologic mechanism in human acute ischemic heart disease syndromes.
Angina, Unstable ; Animals ; Arteries ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Cerebral Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dogs ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical* ; Myocardial Ischemia* ; Myocardium ; Plastics ; Platelet Aggregation ; Reperfusion ; Serotonin ; Surgical Instruments ; Thoracotomy ; Thrombosis

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Malformations*

No abstract available.
Obesity*

No abstract available.
Urology