Programrned cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, is a process by which cells die in response to specific physiological and toxicological signals. This genetically programmed form of cellular suicide is intirnately involved in many biological processes including growth, metamorphosis, embryogenesis, and oncogenesis. Cells undergoing PCD in normal and neoplasmic tissues display the following biochemical and morphological features: internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, reduced cell volume, condensed chromatin in nucleus, zeiosis and generation of apoptotic bodies containing intact organelles and plasma rnembrane. Hybridoma cell production, resulting from the fusion of myeloma cells with antibody producing spleen cells, is widely used in various fields of life science. This technique requires hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) deficient mutant myeloma cell line as a fusion partner. When these mutants cell is treated with aminopterin plus hypoxanthine-thymidine (HAT) after the cell fusion they are selectively and efficiently eliminated remaining fused hybridoma celis. But there hasn't been any report regarding the selective elimination mechanism of this HGPRT mutant myeloma cell. By using HGPRT myeloma P3-X 63-Ag8.653 (V653) as a model system, this study demonstrated that PCD was induced by aminopterin treatment of this V653 cell line. And the sequential ultrastructural changes during this death process were observed by using electron microscope. When V653 cells were incubated with 0.4 uM aminopterin, DNA fragmentation was detectable after 3 hours and peaked between 12 and 18 hours of aminopterin treatment and the cell viability decreased in a time dependant manner. V653 cells incubated with amiopterin showed following ultrastructural changes during the death process. Dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and detachment of ribosomes were the earliest ultrastructural changes and first seen after 30 minute incubation. Dilatation of perinuclear cisternae began to appear after 1 hour and deformation of nucleoplasm such as decreased electron density of perinuclear heterochromatin and increased electron density of euchromatin were seen after 3 hours. Increased electron density of cytoplasm, decreased cell volume, condensation of chromatin and apoptotic bodies were observed in many cells after 9 hours but vacuolation by severe dilatation of RER was seen in some cells. 24 hours after incubation with aminopterin, many cells showed typical form of apoptosis characterized by cell shrinkage, increased electron density of cytoplasm and apoptotic bodies. On the contrary, some cells showed different type of cell death characterized by increased cell volume, decreased electron density of cytoplasm, severely dilated RER and apoptotic bodies. In both types of cells, mitochondrial cristae and limiting membrane of mitochondria are comparatively well preserved. In other cells, nuclei did not show significant changes but there were deformations of mitochondria such as markedly increased electron density and formation of lamella bodies. The death process of V653 cell was not synchronized among cells. The results of this study proved that aminopterin-induced selective elimination of fusion partner V653 myeloma cell is due to PCD. The earliest ultrastructural changes observed in this process were dilatation of RER and detachment of ribosomes. And there were two distinct morphological types in the PCD.
Aminopterin* ; Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Biological Processes ; Biological Science Disciplines ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Death ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line ; Cell Size ; Cell Survival ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Dilatation ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryonic Development ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Euchromatin ; Female ; Guanine ; Heterochromatin ; Hybridomas ; Hypoxanthine ; Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase ; Membranes ; Mice* ; Mitochondria ; Organelles ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Ribosomes ; Spleen ; Suicide ; Transferases

There have been no standard treatments for recurrent aphthous stomatitis, and clinical management is usually directed toward symptomatic relief. Recent immunological investigations have focused on possible imrnunopathogenesis of the disease. Several reparters suggested that levamisole, nonspecific immune-stimulator, had a beneficiaI effect in controlling attacks of recurrent a,phthous stomatitis and in reducing subsequent episodes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of levamisole in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. A total of 8 patients who had had recurrent aphthous stomatitis for 2 to 20 years and who had experienced at least one episode per month were selected for this study from the department of dermatology, National Medical Center, through March 1979 to September 1979, Levamisole (Decaris') was given 150mg, p.o., once daily on 3 consecutive days every week for 2 months. Tbe results were as follows. 1) One patient had to have levamisole discontinued due to a high fever and exacerbations of tbe oral ulcerations. 2) 5 patients showed beneficial effects in reducing tbe number, frequency, pain and severity of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 3') One patient showed no therapeutic response. 4) One patient, who has experienced new oral ulcerations continuously before starting levamisole, showed no recurrences of the lesions during the follow-up period of 3 months. 5) Side effects during levamisole administration were transient and generally mild, They included nausea, headache, dizziness and high fever.
Dermatology ; Dizziness ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Levamisole* ; Nausea ; Oral Ulcer ; Recurrence ; Stomatitis ; Stomatitis, Aphthous*

Epidermolysis bullosa aimplex is a dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by the dissolution of the basal epidermal cells with mechanical stress. A 23 year-old man developed recurrent bullous eruptions with pain on hands, feet and face since childhood, which healed spontaneously without scarring. Grandmother of his father's side, father, aunt of his father's side and two of his three brothers had suffered similar skin lesions. Light and electron microscopy showed degeneration and bulla formation in the basal cell layer of epidermis and intact basement membrane attached to dermis.
Basement Membrane ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Fathers ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; Siblings ; Skin ; Stress, Mechanical ; Young Adult

Antigen-specific T cell activation requires interaction of the T cell with specialized antigen-presenting cells. Signaling through the TCR is necessary but not sufficient to induce antigen-specific T cell activation and cytokine secretion. This first signal, termed signal 1, is both antigen-specific and MHC-restricted. Signal 2, which is neither antigen-specific nor MHC-restricted, is necessary to induce cytokine secretion, cellular proliferation, and effector function. Recently immunological studies in T cell activation area are mainly focused on biological and molecular biological characterization of TCR/CD3 complex and accessary molecules providing costimulatory signal (signal 2). If signal 2 is not delivered, T cell enter a state of long term un-responsiveness to specific antigen-termed anergy. Monoclonal antibody technique has been especially involved in recognizing novel inducible cell surface antigens on T cell activation. This study was aimed to develop monoclonal antibodies recognizing novel cytoplasmic proteins present in activated T cells. We make 6 monoclones involved in changing pattern of T cell activated cytoplasmic proteins. Using these 6 monoclonal antibodies analyze to find novel molecules involved in T cell activation associated response, apoptosis, and/or heat shock response of the T cells in early T cell activation.
Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Antigens, Surface ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm* ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Heat-Shock Response ; Humans* ; T-Lymphocytes*

No abstract available.
Interleukin-2* ; Shock* ; Stress, Psychological*

PURPOSE: Kawasaki disease is notorious for coronary arterial complication which is usually developed as a febrile disease in early childhood. Increased polymorphonucleus(PMN) cell levels in acute phases may be associated with the pathophysiology of Kawasaki disease. We studied the relationship between coronary arterial dilatation and elastase activity which was excreted from PMN cell and roles as an important factor for vasculitis. METHODS: Ten patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease in Yonsei University Medical Center were examined between November, 2001 and January, 2002. In addition, 15 patients with other febrile diseases were also examined. Echocardiography was done in patients with Kawasaki disease on the first day of admission and four weeks after the onset of the disease. At each time, venous samples were drawn and separated into plasma and leukocytes. In patients with other febrile disease, samples were drawn on admission. Elastase activities in plasma and neutrophil extracts were measured. RESULTS: The significant increased plasma elastase activity, 6.19+/-0.74 U/mL, found in Kawasaki disease patients compared with the other febrile disease patients, 4.86+/-1.17 U/mL(P<0.05). And there was no significance between the above two diseases in terms of the elastase activity in neutrophil extracts. The relationship between initial elastase activity and the coronary arterial complication which was shown in subacute phase wasn't significant. CONCLUSION: Plasma elastase activity was increased in Kawasaki disease significantly, but the initial plasma elastase activity in the acute phase could not reflect the range of coronary arterial complication.
Academic Medical Centers ; Dilatation* ; Echocardiography ; Humans* ; Leukocyte Elastase* ; Leukocytes ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Neutrophils* ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Plasma ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Humans*

Computed tomographic (CT) scans of 46 jaundiced patients were studied to determine the value of CT in the diagnosis of biliary pathology. AII ofthe 12 cases of medical jaundice had positive CT correlation. Of the 34 cases of proven surgical jaundice, 97 .8% were correctly identified by CT. In detecting the level of obstruction, the cases were divided into four groups by anatomica l segments, according to the number of visualized low density ringlike structures produced by dilated bile duct. All of the correctly diagnosed surgical jaundice was 91.2%. The presence of stones or mass, the level of obstruction and the relative size and shape of visualized distal ring had proved to be the most important variables in etiological diagnosis of surgical jaundice. The results indicate that CT is useful and highly accurate in differenting between surgical (obstructive) jaundice and medical (non-obstructive) ajundice, and determining the level of obstruction and the etiology of surgical jaundice.
Bile Ducts ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Pathology

Serum alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity is elevated in hepatobiliary disease, bone disease, pregnancy and certain neoplasms. Recently we experienced marked elevation of serum AP activity after administration of albumin preparation in nephrotic patients who suffered from hypovolemic symptoms. So serum AP activity and the isoenzymes in the albumin preparations & patient's serum after the administration of albumin preparation were studied. Serum AP activity was significantly higher after administration of albumin preparation (318+/-101 IU/L) then before (123+/-43 IU/L). The predominant isoenzyme after administration of albumin was placental type, while liver and bone type was predominant before administration. AP activity in albumin preparation was high (2,133+/-1,410 IU/L) and the isoenzyme was mostly placental type. So we concluded that marked elevation of serum AP activity after administration of albumin was traced to the placental type AP isoenzyme in some albumin preparations which was manufactured from the plasma of placental origin. Elevated serum AP activity like these may lead to erroneous interpretation. Manufactures should notify alkaline phosphatase activity in albumin preparations of placental origin.
Administration, Intravenous* ; Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Bone Diseases ; Humans ; Hypovolemia ; Isoenzymes ; Liver ; Plasma ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: Sleep problems has been consistently reported as a suicidal risk factor in adults and, recently, also in adolescents. In this study, dividing study subjects by the previous suicidal behaviors (suicidal vs non-suicidal), we compared the group differences of suicidal risk factors, and examined the possibility of sleep as a suicidal risk factor. METHODS: Study subjects were 561 (271 boys and 290 girls) from a community sample of high school students. Suicidal Risk Behavior Checklist, Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) Anxiety and Aggression subscale, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were done. RESULTS: Forty six students (8.1%) reported previous actual self-harm behavior as a suicidal attempt, 181 students (32.4%) reported having suicidal thought only. Three hundred thirty four students (59.5%) reported no previous suicidal behavior (thought and attempt, both). Suicidal behavior group showed higher score on risk behaviors such as school violence, substance use and internet addiction. CES-D, SCL-90-R, PSQI showed significant group difference. Logistic regression analysis showed suicidal risk were significantly associated with depression, stress in suicidal risk factors and sleep latency, daytime dysfunction in PSQI. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows the most prolonged sleep latency and increased index of all PSQI components except sleep efficiency in suicidal attempt group. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep Problems had a strong association with the suicidal risk behavior in adolescents. Sleep problems, especially, prolonged sleep latency, daytime dysfunction might be important markers for suicidal behavior. Screening for sleep problems in adolescents are encouraged for the parents, school teachers, and related medical physicians.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aggression ; Anxiety ; Checklist ; Depression ; Humans ; Internet ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Parents ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Suicide ; Violence