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.
Lung* ; Physiology*

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Folic Acid* ; Metabolism* ; Methotrexate*

No abstract available.
Osteoarthritis*

No abstract available.
Urticaria*

Bile peritonitis due to spontaneous perforation of choledochal cyst is a rare disease and the etiology of spontaneous perforation is unknown in most of infant cases. Recently, we experienced a case of bile peritonitis caused by spontaneous perforation of choledochal cyst in a 6 month-old female infant. She had progressive abdominal distention with ascites, mild jaundice and intermittent passage of acholic stool. Presence of bile in ascitic fluid was revealed by peritoneal tapping. Bile peritonitis from the perforation of choledochal cyst was confirmed by explorative laparotomy and operative cholangiogram. She had discharged with good condition after choledochal cystectomy and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy. A brief review related literatures is also presented.
Appendicitis* ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Bile ; Choledochal Cyst ; Choledochostomy ; Cystectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; Korea* ; Laparotomy ; Peritonitis ; Rare Diseases

No abstract available.
Nobel Prize*

BACKGROUND: Aphasia is common in stroke patients. However, studies about characteristics and prog- nosis of aphasia by acute ischemic stroke were insufficient. The aim of this study is to disclose vascular lesions causing aphasia symptom and to evaluate and clarify types, severity and recovery patterns of vascular aphasia using quantitative aphasia test. METHODS: Twenty six patients were included in this study, who had aphasia symptoms due to acute ischemic lesions confirmed by MRI or CT. Standardized test of Korean version-the Western Aphasia Battery (K-WAB) was performed in all subjects in acute stagte of stroke and was repeated 3 month later. Based on neuroimaging findings and results of aphasia tests, we divided all subjects into two groups, cortical aphasia and subcortical aphasia, and classified further into 8 types. The severity of aphasia measured by aphasia quotient (AQ) was graded. Changes in aphasia types and AQ and prognosis between cortical and subcortical aphasia was analyzed. RESULTS: Various vascular lesions caused aphasia symptoms in cortical and subcortical areas with good clinico-anatomical correlations. Eighteen patients(69.2%) had cortical aphasia and 8(30.8%) had subcor- tical one. Among 8 types of aphasia, 7 types were detected in our patients, and the most frequent type is global aphasia(30.8%). The mean incremental score of AQ between initial and follow-up test was 21.1+/-14.0. The distribution of severity of aphasia was as follows; grade I, 3.8%; grade II, 19.2%; grade III, 42.3%; and grade IV, 34.6%. Twenty one patients(80.8%) were followed up 97.9+/-7.4 days after initial test. Subjects who showed improvement in aphasia were 13(61.9%). Nine out of 13 belonged to cortical aphasia group and 4 out of them belonged to subcortical aphasia group. There was no significant difference in prognosis between cortical and subcortical aphasia group(p=0.58). CONCLUSION: Our study discloses various acute vascular lesions cause aphasia. It also provides cha- racteristics of patients with aphasia by acute ischemic stroke, such as types, severities and recovery patterns, which may help to assess vascular aphasia and its prognosis.
Aphasia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Neuropsychological Tests* ; Prognosis ; Stroke*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis*