Thelper (Th) cells play a pivotal role in the regulation of immune responses. Since Th epitopes in adenovirus have not yet been defined, in this study, it was attempted to search for Th epitopes of adenovirus antigens that are restricted by MHC class II (H-2E). Among candidate viral proteins to be screened for Th epitopes, structural protein was selected, since they induced strong IL-2 release from adenovirus immune lyrnph node (LN) cells and the presence of E1 protein, which contains immunodominant cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes, did not potentiate the T cell responses. To confirm the presence of Th epitopes in the structural protein, virions were trypsinized and the resulting polypeptides whose molecular weights were lower than 5,000 were fractionated by HPLC. Some of the HPLC fraction turned out to induce LN cell proliferation. Ten synthetic peptides were designed as candidate Th epitopes from the primary amino acid sequences of adenovirus hexon and penton protein which are major constituents of the virion. The selected sequences share the common features of other known H-2E' binding ligands. Among these ten synthetic peptides, peptide of hexon protein amino acid residue 709-721 induced noticeable proliferation of LN cells from preimmune mice, and also able to induce IL-2 secretion from adenovirus-specific T hybridomas, suggesting that the peptide was the most immunodominant Th epitope. Hexon protein 221-233 and hexon protein 676-688 are considered as epitopes also. This study revealed three epitope sequences from adenovirus structural protein that are presented by class II MHC, H-2E.
Adenoviridae* ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Epitopes ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte* ; Hybridomas ; Interleukin-2 ; Ligands ; Mice ; Molecular Weight ; Peptides ; Trypsin ; Viral Proteins ; Virion

Aneurysm of the splenic artery are the third most common intra-abdominal aneurysm, following aneurysms of the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries. Splenic artery aneurysms (SAA) are the most frequent visceral artery aneurysms and account for more than two thirds of all lesions. Incidence of SAA are rare clinical entities(0.01-0.2%) that carry risk of rupture and fatal hemorrhage(35-100%). Fibroblastic dysplasia and atherosclerosis is fecund in the majority, and the fact that these aneurysms developes more commonly in female. Most patients are asymptomatic and the diagnosis is generally made incidentally. The treatment of patient with known SAA is dictated by several factors, including location, age, sex, present of symptom, size, pregnancy. We report ruptured splenic artery aneurysm with hemoperitoneum and review of the literature.
Aneurysm* ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Splenic Artery*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common complaint in patients presenting at emergency departments. Dizziness is difficult to assess because it is a subjective complaint that cannot be measured. We report a clinical analysis of patients with acute dizziness: type, duration, symptom, incidence, etc. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical details and the results of vestibular function tests for 106 acutely dizzy patients who visited the Emergency Department of Wonkwang University Hospital during the period of Jul. 1999 through Dec. 1999. RESULTS: The most common etiology of acute dizziness was the peripheral vestibular system(66%). The most common disease of the peripheral vestibular system was benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(52.9%), and the second most one was vestibular neuronitis(42.9%). In the central nervous system, cerebrovascular accident(63.6%) was the most common cause. All of the patients had experienced a previous vertigo attack, and 42.4% of them had frequent attacks. Dizziness of the cochlear systems were usual in peripheral vertigo. The usual underlying diseases related with vertigo were hypertension, cerebral infarction and diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Dizziness is a complex and frustrating symptom with numerous possible causes. In case with suspected central disorders, CT and MRI have a great diagnostic significance.
Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dizziness* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Function Tests

The errors were discovered after publication: missing references and missing words.

No abstract available.
Stomach Neoplasms*

Acute cavitating pulmonary infection with a mycetoma is sometimes occur in immunocompromised patient. Most mycetoma lesions are due to Aspergillus species, and lesion caused by Candida species is rare. So we report an experienced case that pulmonary and rib infection caused by Candida species-'in -AML patient and complete remission with previous reports.
Aspergillus ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Candidiasis ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; Mycetoma* ; Ribs

Intestinal malrotation is a constellation of a wide spectrum of embryologic failures of rotation and fixation of the gut, resulting in a narrow-based attachment of the mesentery and the presence of abnormal peritoneal (Ladd's) band. These abnormalities predispose to midgut volvulus, intestinal obstruction and internal herniation. We experienced a case of intestinal malrotation complicated by midgut volvulus in a 4-year-old girl who presente with abdominal pain, abdominal distension and melena. The diagnosis was made by abdominal CT scan, which showed "whirl sign." The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. A brief review of literature ensues.
Abdominal Pain ; Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Adolescent ; Alkalies ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia ; Hypokalemia ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Leukopenia ; Liver Diseases ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphopenia ; Melena ; Mesentery ; Molecular Weight ; Multiple Myeloma ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Neutrophils ; Potassium ; Prednisolone ; Proteinuria ; Thyroid Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Intestinal malrotation is a constellation of a wide spectrum of embryologic failures of rotation and fixation of the gut, resulting in a narrow-based attachment of the mesentery and the presence of abnormal peritoneal (Ladd's) band. These abnormalities predispose to midgut volvulus, intestinal obstruction and internal herniation. We experienced a case of intestinal malrotation complicated by midgut volvulus in a 4-year-old girl who presente with abdominal pain, abdominal distension and melena. The diagnosis was made by abdominal CT scan, which showed "whirl sign." The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. A brief review of literature ensues.
Abdominal Pain ; Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Adolescent ; Alkalies ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Fibrosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia ; Hypokalemia ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Leukopenia ; Liver Diseases ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphopenia ; Melena ; Mesentery ; Molecular Weight ; Multiple Myeloma ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Neutrophils ; Potassium ; Prednisolone ; Proteinuria ; Thyroid Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

BACKGROUND: Recently developed electrically stimulated gracilis neosphicter or artificial sphincter is quite a promising trial in fecal incontinence However, surgical technique is not simple, the devices are expensive and only specialists can perform the procedures successfully. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed simple silicon device in incontinent dog model. METHODS: A New Colostomy Device (NCD; US Patent No. 5,569,216) for fixing in the stoma or rectum of human body, includes an internal balloon, a ring figured extemal balloon surrounding the internal balloon, a connecting tube disposed under the both infernal and external balloons and supply tube containing a pair of air passages and an enema fluid passage. It is designed to be inserted into the rectum and is held in place by an inflatable external balloon and drains irrigated fecal matter through a thin collapsible connecting tube which exist in the anal canal. Six mongrel dog with 22~26 kg of body weight were prepared. Anal incontinence was made by bilateral severing of the internal and external sphincters and puborectalis muscle under the general anesthesia. Marlex mesh ring was applied to the anal canal as Thiersch wire for the prevention of NCD expulsion in straining. After then, NCD with 2.5 cm of luminal diameter was inserted to the rectum proximal to the Malex mesh ring. Daily irrigation and evacuation was done with 800~1000 cc of tepid water in each dogs. Daily food contained 30 gm of Psyllium dextrose. RESULTS: Initially 6 dogs were observed for 7 days. Daily irrigation made evacuation of fecal matter well in each dogs. There was no prolapse of device through the anal orifice. Anoscopic examination after 7 days showed no rectal and anal mucosal injury. Two dogs were kept for 40 days as same manner. Sometimes spontaneous bowel movement without water irrigation was noted when the stool were loose. Weelky anoscopic examination revealed no evidence of mucosal injuries for 40 days also. There was no septic or other complication. CONCLUSION: NCD evacuated fecal matter well enough to empty the rectum in all incontinence dog model. Adequate sized NCD could be used for clinical trials in selected incontinence patients.
Anal Canal ; Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Colostomy* ; Dogs* ; Enema ; Fecal Incontinence ; Glucose ; Human Body ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Polypropylenes ; Prolapse ; Psyllium ; Rectum ; Silicones ; Specialization ; Water