No abstract available.
Bronchitis, Chronic*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Carnitine* ; Heart* ; Myocardium* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Th2-like cells are thought to play a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of eosinophil in bronchial asthma. In contrast to Th2 cytokine, Thl cytokine IFN-y decreases eosinophil recruitment. Previous studies have shown that IL-12 promotes differentiation of Th0 into Thl and enhances production of Thl cytokine. IL-12 also prevents differentiation of Th0 into Th2 during primary immune response. Its effect on established Th2 cell, however, is well known. OBJECTIVE: The objective of aur study was focused on whether IL-12 prevents recruitment of eosinophil and expression of Th2 cytokine in murine model for bronchial asthma, and whether its effect differs according to timing of dosage. METHOD: Administration of IL-12 was tested in the 3 different time-frames; 1) allergic sensitization (early dosage) 2) allergic challenge (late doaage) or 3) both. The number of eosinophil in the bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid and tissue was examined for change of airway inflammation. The effect on cytokine expression was assessed by measuring cytokine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (ELISA) and mRNA in peribronchial lymph node (RT-PCR) RESULTS: Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, strikingly decreased the numbers of eosinophil in both BAL fluid and tissue(p<0.05). Late dosage of IL-12 decreased tissue eosinophilia, while the number of eosinophil in BAL fluid remained unchanged. IL-12 increased IL-4 and IL-5 levels, and decreased IL-2 and I~FN-r levels. There were no differences in Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation among the three dosage times. Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, increased IL-10 level, but late dosage had no effect on IL-10. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that depending upon whether IL-12 is administered during sensitization or during subsequent allergen exposure, Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation by IL -12 shows no difference because it seems that difference of inhibition of eosinophil recruitment by IL-12 might be related with the other factors, such as IL-10.
Animals ; Asthma* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger ; Th2 Cells

The accidental swallowing of foreign bodies by infants and children is a common problem. The proper methods of therapy must be carefully selected according to the age of the patient, the type of forei gn body, the location of impaction, the duration of ingestion, and the available medical resources and skills. This report reviews 41 cases of ingested foreign bodies in the upper GI tract at the Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine between January 1981 and June 1991. The results were as follows: 1) The ages ranged from 3 months to 13 years with 34 cases less than 5 years of age, 5 cases between 5 to 10 years of age, and 2 cases greater than 10 years of age. 2) The male to female ratio was 1.9:1 with 27 male and 14 female patients. 3) The types of ingested foreign bodies were coins in 15 cases(36.6%), pins in 9 cases(22.0%), rings in 3 cases, food in 3 cases, nails in 2 cases, and others. 4) presenting symptoms were varable with vomiting in 8 cases(19.5%), coughing in 4 cascs(9.8%), dysphagia in 4 cases(9.8%), poor oral intake in 2 cases(4.9%), diarrhea in 2 cases(4.9%), and others. 5) Ingested foreign bodies were located in the esophagus in 14 cases(34.2%), stomach in 24 cases(58.5%), duodenum in 1 cases(2.4%)and uncertain locations in 2 cases. 6) Methods for the removal of ingested foreign bodies included 15 cases of endoscopic removal(53.6%), 1 surgical removal (3.6%), and 12 spontancous removals(42.8%). 10cndoscopic removals were carried out in 12 esophageal cases(83.3%), but 10 out of 16 stomach cases were removed spontaneously (62.5%). 7) Duration from ingestion to removal of foreign bodies renged from 19 hours to 2 years. All 12 spontaneous removal cases were within 2 weeks, and 1 surgical case was performed 2 years after ingestion. 8) Endoscopic findings of patients with esophageal foreign bodies included 3 normal cases(30.0%)and 7 moderate to severe abnormal cases(70.0%), and those patients with gastric foreign bodies included 3 normal cases(60.0%)and 2 mild superficial mucosal lesion cases.
Child* ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diarrhea ; Duodenum ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Female ; Foreign Bodies* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Infant* ; Male ; Numismatics ; Pediatrics ; Stomach ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Vomiting

Acute digitalization with ouabain were performed 28 times in 20 intact Mongrel dogs, who were devided into four groups : i.e. 1) Control group; Acute digitalizations were performed to observe the changes of the plasma potassium and sodium concentrations and the concomittent electrocardiographic findings. 2) Group 1;-Electrolyte solution, either KCl or NaCl, was infused during acute digitalization to observe the influences of these ions on the actions of cardiac glycoside, especially arrhythmia producing action. 3) Group 2 ; -The K depleted group and the Na depleted group was each made by the measure of diet control and the usage of oral diuretics to observe the influences of the state of depleted electrolyte (K or Na) on the action of cardiac glycoside during acute digitalization. 4) Group 3 ; -The intravenous infusion of either KCl or NaCl solution was introduced as the cardiac arrhythmia by the ouabain was produced to observe the effects of these ions on the digitalis induced arrhythmia. The results obtained were summarized as follows. (1) The arterial plasma concentration of potassium was increased during acute digitalization. The rise occurred at early stage, and the maximal increase of potassium was observed at the ventricular tachycardia. The average increase was 0.65 mEq/L as compared to control value (p<0.05). The arterial plasma concentration of sodium was reduced during acute digitalization. The fall occurred following the rise of plasma K level. The maximal reduction of sodium was observed after ventricular tachycardia, and the average decrease was 5.2 mEq/L as compared to control value (p<0.05). (2) Rapid increase up to toxic level of the plasma potassium concentration occurred occasionally during acute digitalization in the group with KCl infusion. This result was best explained due to the inhibitory action of cardiac glycoside on the K transport. (3) The interesting change was on T wave, which showed the peaking at late portion. This change occured in 60.6% during digitalization with ouabain, and paralleled mostly, but not consistently and even sometimes inversely, with the shift of plasma potassium concentration. It is tempting to assume that the change of T wave was resulted from an altered potassium gradient across the myocardial cells rather than a ssuming the changes of the plasma K level. (4) Just prior to intoxication, the marked prolongation of PR interval and ST depression were observed in about 70~80% of the cases studied. These changes might be applicable to a clue of the cardiac glycoside overdosage. (5) The intravenous infusion of KCl suppressed markedly the arrhythmia producing action of the cardiac glycoside, and resulted in prompt and dramatic abolishing, of digitalis induced arrhythmia. The intravenous infusion of KCl solution, however, produced A-V block or dissociation occasionally. This finding would be likely resulted from the additive or synergistic action of K and cardiac glycoside in suppressing A-V conducting system. (6) The NaCl infusion affected nothing to the arrhythmia producing action of cardiac glycoside. (7) The K depletion reduced markedly the threshold of the heart to the toxic effects of cardiac glycoside. (8) Potent diuretics in the state of deficient diet would produce clinically significant hypopotassemia and hyponatremia or both. The inducced hypopotassemia may provoke serious cardiac arrhythmia in the digitalized patients or animals.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Depression ; Diet ; Digitalis ; Diuretics ; Dogs ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes* ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Hyponatremia ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ions ; Ouabain ; Plasma ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Among the many causes producing lower back pain herniated nucleus pulposus and bulging disk have occupiedlarge percentaages and uniformly showed defect on lateral aspect of contrast filled thecal sac. But it isessential to differentiate each conditions from the other because of their different treatment methods.differentiation at metrizamide myelography between a diffusely bullging disk(unlikely to cause nerve rootcompression) and a herniated disk is based on the curature, extent, and multipllicity of the extradural deformityof the anterolateral margin of the contrast filled sac and o hte presence of fusiform widening of the most distalpart of the affected nerve root. The deformities caused by a bullging disk are round, usually symmetrical(aothoughoccasionally more prominent on one side), do not extend above or below the disk space, and can show multiple levelinvolvement; the nerve root is uniform in caliber and normal in size(although some of severe bulging show fusiformwidening of the most distal part of the affected nerve root). The deformities caused by a herniated disk isangular and extends cephalad and/or caudal to the level of the disk space; the affected nerve root is usuallywidened in its most distal visible part. A consecutive series of 50 patients with low back pain and no pasthistory of back surgery who did metrizamide myelography underwent spine CT and /or laminectomy. Using the criterialisted above for differentiation of bulging from herniated disk on metrizamide myelography, the myelographicdiagnosis was correct in 32(22 patients) of 34(24 patients) (95%) surgically and/or computed tomographicallyconfirmed bulging disks and in all 26 (100%) surgically and/or computed tomographically confirmed herniated disks.
Clothing ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Laminectomy ; Low Back Pain ; Metrizamide ; Myelography ; Spine

Glomus tumor shows histologically characteristic three components of glomus cells, vascular structures, and spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells. It is classified into solid glomus tumor, glomangioma and glomangiomyoma according to relative proportions of components. Glomangiomyoma, the least frequent type of glomus tumor, has its overall histopathologic pattern identical to common solid glomus tumor or glomangioma. In contrast to the foregoing types, however, it has an important number of spindle-shaped smooth muscle cells, which blend with the glomus cells. A 49-year-old woman presented with 2-year history of painful bluish red nodule beneath nail plate of right 4th finger. We made a diagnosis of glomangiomyoma by virtue of routine histopathologic examinations and immunohistochemical stains such as vimentin, smooth muscle actin and desmin.
Actins ; Coloring Agents ; Desmin ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fingers ; Glomus Tumor ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Spine ; Vimentin ; Virtues

Livedo reticularis is a mottled bluish discoloration of the skin which occurs in a netlike pattern and is not a diagnosis in itself, but is a nonspecific reaction pattern. It may be classified as idiopathic and secondary livedo reticularis. Decompression sickness can occur during decompression after diving into deep sea water or during a rapiid ascent from sea level, and is one of the many causes of the secondary livedo reticularis. We report a case of livedo reticulris which developed in a patient with decompression sickness. A biopsy from the purpuric patch revealed an unusual histopathologic finding that resembles those of bullae and sweat gland necrosis in drug induced coma.
Biopsy ; Coma ; Decompression Sickness* ; Decompression* ; Diagnosis ; Diving ; Humans ; Livedo Reticularis* ; Necrosis ; Seawater ; Skin ; Sweat Glands

We report a detailed course of one case of Gianotti-Crosti syndreme in 9 year-old boy. Characteristically the case presented cutaneous eruptions as its first clinical symptom. The eruptions were seen for five weeks and abnormal liver function tests persisted at least more than four months. The case caused the authors to think that alertness to the syndrome in dermatological clinic is necessary, especially in the country where viral hepatitis is endemic.
Acrodermatitis* ; Child ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Liver Function Tests ; Male

Herein reported were three cases of papillary eccrine adenoma also called as tubular apocrine adenoma, characterized by dilated ducts containing eosinophilic secretion or kerain and intraluminal papillations. Case 1. A 23 year old male had a well defined erythematous nodule, measuring 1x1 cm. On the ankle of right leg over ten years. Clinical impression was dermatofibroma. Microscopic features were those of papillary ecrine adenoma. Case 2. A 53 year old female had a well demarcated dermal nodule, measuring 1.5x1 cm. On the buttock. Cut surface exhibited relatively well circumscribed tumor with yellowish brown color, Microscopic features were those of papillary eccrine adenoma with alcian blue positive materials in their lumens. Case 3. A 22 year old female had a showly growing hard painless small bean sized nodule at the metatarsal head area of right sole, measuring 2.3x1.8x0.7 cm. Clinical impression was calcinosis cutis. Microscopic features were those of papillary eccrine adenoma with foreign body granuloma and dystrophic calcification.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Adenoma