No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Love*

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is the physiological changes to maintain homeostasis. Dysregulation of apoptosis can lead to pathophysiologic changes and, especially, delayed apoptosis of eosinophils has been considered to be an important mechanism to contribute to eosinophilia. In atopic dermatitis, peripheral blood eosinophils increase in severe condition and decrease with therapeutic improvement. Cyclosporin A (CsA), potent immunosupressant, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of cyclosporin A on apoptosis of IL-5 stimulated eosinophils by analysing the cell cycle. METHOD: Peripheral eosinoiphils were isolated from 21 patients with atopic disease using Ficoll-Hypaque gradient and purified by negative selection technique using MACS (Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, CA) system. The samples were divided into 3 groups: Group A, cultured without IL-5; Group B, cultured in the presence of recombinant human IL-5 (0.1 ng/ml); and group C cultured in the presence of recombinant human IL-5 (0.1ng/ml) and cyclosporin A (10U/ml). Eosinophil apoptosis were measured by FACScan (Becton Dickinson Co., Saujose, USA). RESULTS: At 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours without IL-5 (group A), 35.87+/-.75%, 52.01+/-.73%, and 69.31+/-.56%, respectively of eosinophils showed apoptosis, whereas 27.71+/-.81%, 43.69+/-.72%, and 57.32+/-.21% of the cells showed apoptosis in the presence of 0.1ng/ml human recombinant IL-5 without cyclosporin A (group B). However the addition of cyclosporin A (10U/ml) significantly enhanced the eosinophil apoptosis to 41.79+/-.92%, 59.69+/-.91%, and 80.10+/-.21%, respectively (group C). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that apoptotic death of eosinophils stimulated by IL-5, is augmented with cylosporin A, and that apoptosis of eosinophil of peripheral blood in atopic dermatitis may be due to account for the inhibitory effect of cyclosporin A on eosinophilia.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclosporine* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Interleukin-5*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Oriental self-help group program on living-alone elders in rural areas. METHOD: A one-group pretest-post test design was used. The subjects of the experimental group participated in the oriental self-help program, health education, feet bathing in hot water, cupping therapy, and foot-reflexology. The obtained data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Pearson correlation coefficients of SPSS. RESULTS: 1) The level of blood triglyceride, SGOT and glucose decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 2) The scores of depression and stress decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 3) The score of Yangsaeng increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. 4) Depression was higher when the score of stress was high, and the score of depression and stress were lower when the score of Yangsaeng was high. CONCLUSION: Considering the results of this research, the program is effective in improving physiological indexes partially, emotional indexes and Yangsaeng. Therefore this program can be implemented as a community-based self-help group program for living-alone elders in rural areas.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Baths ; Depression ; Foot ; Glucose ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Self-Help Groups* ; Triglycerides ; Water

BACKGROUND: Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinases (AMPKs), as a sensor of cellular energy status, have been known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications. Because AMPKs are known to be expressed in podocytes, it is possible that podocyte AMPKs could be an important contributing factor in the development of diabetic proteinuria. We investigated the roles of AMPKs in the pathological changes in podocytes induced by high-glucose (HG) and advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) in diabetic proteinuria. METHODS: We prepared streptozotocin-induced diabetic renal tissues and cultured rat and mouse podocytes under diabetic conditions with AMPK-modulating agents. The changes in AMPKalpha were analyzed with confocal imaging and Western blotting under the following conditions: (1) normal glucose (5mM, =control); (2) HG (30mM); (3) AGE-added; or (4) HG plus AGE-added. RESULTS: The density of glomerularphospho-AMPKalpha in experimental diabetic nephropathy decreased as a function of the diabetic duration. Diabetic conditions including HG and AGE changed the localization of phospho-AMPKalpha from peripheral cytoplasm to internal cytoplasm and peri- and intranuclear areas in podocytes. HG reduced the AMPKalpha (Thr172) phosphorylation of rat podocytes, and similarly, AGEs reduced the AMPKalpha (Thr172) phosphorylation of mouse podocytes. The distributional and quantitative changes in phospho-AMPKalpha caused by diabetic conditions were preventable using AMPK activators, metformin, and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1beta-riboside. CONCLUSION: We suggest that diabetic conditions induce the relocation and suppression of podocyte AMPKalpha, which would be a suggestive mechanism in diabetic podocyte injury.
Adenosine* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytoplasm ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Glucose ; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced ; Metformin ; Mice ; Natural Resources ; Phosphorylation ; Podocytes* ; Protein Kinases* ; Proteinuria ; Rats

BACKGROUND: Since the management of atopic dermatitis often needs prolonged administration of medication, the laboratory index reflecting disease severity is necessary for optimal treatment for this disease. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate peripheral eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, eosinophilic cationic protein(ECP), IL-4 and soluble E-selectin as severity indices or disease marker. METHOD: A total of 21 patients with atopic dermatitis and 21 normal controls were evaluated for the symptoms and signs according to SCORAD index and measured for peripheral eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, ECP, IL-4 and soluble E-selectin. RESULTS: Peripheral eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, ECP and soluble E-selectin levels of patients with atopic dermatitis were significantly increased compared with those of normal control(p<0.05). Moreover, serum ECP and soluble E-selectin correlated with SCORAD score. Serum IL-4 levels of patients with atopic dermatitis were slightly increased compared with those of normal control but not statistically significant(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: ECP and soluble E-selectin were good serum marker reflecting the severity of atopic dermatitis.
Biomarkers ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; E-Selectin* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Interleukin-4*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether pathologic changes in zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) are induced by interleukin-13 (IL-13) in the experimental minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) model and to determine whether montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, has an effect on ZO-1 restoration in cultured human podocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human podocytes cultured on bovine serum albumin-coated plates were treated with different doses of IL-13 and montelukast and then examined for distribution using confocal microscopy and for ZO-1 protein levels using Western blotting. RESULTS: ZO-1 was internalized and shown to accumulate in the cytoplasm of human podocytes in an IL-13 dose-dependent manner. High doses (50 and 100 ng/mL) of IL-13 decreased the levels of ZO-1 protein at 12 and 24 h (both p<0.01; n=3), which were significantly reversed by a high dose (0.5 microM) montelukast treatment (p<0.01; n=3). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IL-13 alters the expression of ZO-1, and such alterations in the content and distribution of ZO-1 may be relevant in the pathogenesis of proteinuria in the MCNS model.
Acetates/*pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Interleukin-13/*pharmacology ; Leukotriene Antagonists/*pharmacology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Podocytes/*drug effects/metabolism ; Proteinuria/pathology ; Quinolines/*pharmacology ; Tight Junctions ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/*metabolism

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether pathologic changes in zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) are induced by interleukin-13 (IL-13) in the experimental minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) model and to determine whether montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, has an effect on ZO-1 restoration in cultured human podocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human podocytes cultured on bovine serum albumin-coated plates were treated with different doses of IL-13 and montelukast and then examined for distribution using confocal microscopy and for ZO-1 protein levels using Western blotting. RESULTS: ZO-1 was internalized and shown to accumulate in the cytoplasm of human podocytes in an IL-13 dose-dependent manner. High doses (50 and 100 ng/mL) of IL-13 decreased the levels of ZO-1 protein at 12 and 24 h (both p<0.01; n=3), which were significantly reversed by a high dose (0.5 microM) montelukast treatment (p<0.01; n=3). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IL-13 alters the expression of ZO-1, and such alterations in the content and distribution of ZO-1 may be relevant in the pathogenesis of proteinuria in the MCNS model.
Acetates/*pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Interleukin-13/*pharmacology ; Leukotriene Antagonists/*pharmacology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Podocytes/*drug effects/metabolism ; Proteinuria/pathology ; Quinolines/*pharmacology ; Tight Junctions ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/*metabolism

PURPOSE: This study was performed to analyze the factors affecting local control in malignant tumors of the parotid gland treated with surgery and postoperative radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients were treated for malignant tumors of the parotid gland from 1986 to 1995 at Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Chonnam University Hospital. Age of the patients ranged from 14 to 72 years (median : 55 years). Histologically 10 patients of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 7 of squamous cell carcinoma, 4 of acinic cell carcinoma, 4 of adenoid cystic carcinoma and 1 of adenocarcinoma were treated. Total parotidectomy was performd in 15 of 26 patients, superficial in 7, subtotal in 4. Facial nerve was sacrificed in 5 patients. Postoperatively 4 patients had residual disease, 4 had positive resection margin. Radiation was delivered through an ipsilateral wedged pair of photon in 11 patients. High energy electron beam was mixed with photon in 15 patients. Electron beam dose ranged from 900 cGy to 3800 cGy (median : 1760 cGy). Total radiation dose ranged from 5000 cGy to 7560 cGy (median : 6020 cGy). Minimum follow-up period was 2 years. Local control and survival rate were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Generalized Wilcoxon test and Cox proportional hazard model were used to test factors affecting local control. RESULTS: Five (19%) of 26 patients had local recurrence. Five year local control rate was 77%. Overall five year survival rate was 70%. Sex, age, tumor size, surgical involvement of cervical lymph node, involvement of resection margin, surgical invasion of nerve, and total dose were analyzed as suggested factors affecting local control rate. Among them patients with tumor size less than 4 cm (p=0.002) and negative resection margin (p= 0.011) were associated with better local control rates in univariate analysis.Multivariate analysis showed only tumor size factor is associated with local control rate (p=0.022). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that tumor size is important in local control of malignant tumors of parotid gland.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Acinar Cell ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Facial Nerve ; Fibrinogen ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Lymph Nodes ; Parotid Gland* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

Fine needle aspiration cytology is considered as a useful diagnostic procedure in management of patients with breast lesions. This study was undertaken to evaluate the scoring system of Masood in the interpretation of breast aspirates, to establish the most useful cytologic criteria for the diagnosis of breast lesions, and to subclassify the benign breast diseases. To assess the feasibility of a cytologic grading system, 57 cases of benign breast disease, 61 cases of malignant breast disease were studied, respectively. The aspirates were evaluated for the cellular arrangement, the degree of cellular pleomorphism and anisonucleosis, and the presence of myoepithelial cells and nuceoli. Values ranging from 1 to 4 were assigned to each criterion and the sum of the individual values was made for each case. The presence of stroma, apocrine metaplasia, foamy histiocytes and inflammatory cells, background of the smear, and cellularity were also evaluated. Cut-off value of the scoring system of Masood between benign and malignant lesion was 15. Among the cytologic criteria, cellular arrangement, presence of myoepithelial cells, nucleoli, and stroma, status of chromatin pattern, and background of smear were useful criteria in the differentiation between benign and malignant lesions. Application of the scoring system of Masood does not always make the accurate diagnosis and the subclassification of benign breast disease.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast Diseases ; Breast* ; Chromatin ; Diagnosis ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Metaplasia

Background/Aims: This study aimed to develop a rehabilitation program for musculoskeletal pain experienced by gastrointestinal endoscopists and to investigate its usefulness. Methods: This was a multicenter cohort study. During the first 2 weeks, a questionnaire regarding daily workload and musculoskeletal symptoms was administered. Then, a rehabilitation program including equipment/posture correction and stretching was conducted during the remaining 6 weeks. Follow-up daily workload and musculoskeletal symptom surveys were distributed during the last 2 weeks. The program satisfaction survey was performed at the 6th and 8th weeks. Results: Among 118 participants (69 men), 94% (n=111) complained of musculoskeletal pain at baseline. Various hospital activities at baseline were associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain, whereas only a few workloads were correlated with musculoskeletal pain after the rehabilitation program. Follow-up musculoskeletal pain was negatively correlated with equipment/ posture program performance; arm/elbow pain was negatively correlated with elbow (R=–0.307) and wrist (R=–0.205) posture; leg/foot pain was negatively correlated with monitor position, shoulder, elbow, wrist, leg, and foot posture. Higher performance in the scope position (86.8% in the improvement vs 71.3% in the aggravation group, p=0.054) and table height (94.1% vs 79.1%, p=0.054) were associated with pain improvement. An increased number of colonoscopy procedures (6.27 in the aggravation vs 0.02 in the improvement group, p=0.017) was associated with pain aggravation. Most participants reported being average (32%) or satisfied (67%) with the program at the end of the study. Conclusions Our rehabilitation program is easily applicable, satisfactory, and helpful for improving the musculoskeletal pain experienced by gastrointestinal endoscopists.