Normal human B cells produce autocrine growth factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). However, the functional role and molecular nature of the B cell derived-B cell growth factor (B-BCGF) are largely unknown. We have tried to investigate the nature of B-BCGF using mAb for several years. We report here that B- BCGF is capable of binding to hemoglobin (Hb). The concentrated culture supernatant from tonsillar B cells stimulated with SAC for 24 h was loaded into the fast protein liquid chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The peak with BCGF activity was shown to have a M.W. of 16-18 Kda in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver stain. Amino acid sequence of the fraction was found to identical to human hemoglobin (Hb) by more than 85%. However, Hb itself had no BCGF activity. The presence of Hb in culture supernatant was due to the contamination of SRBC during B cell purification. SRSC were completely removed from B cells by percoll-gradient centrifugation and B cells were stimulated with SAC and exogenous Hb was added to the cultures. The Hb fraction from FPLC again showed a BCGF activity. These data strongly suggested that BCGF binds to Hb. We confirmed this in dot blot as well as Western blot. The M.W of Hb-binding BCGF was 20 Kda. This information may provide a rapid progress in research of BCGF.
Amino Acid Sequence ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Silver ; Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of disease through an analysis of Years of Life Lost due to premature deaths, one component of the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY). In addition, the cause of death statistics were adjusted to improve validity, and the results were compared with those of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD). METHODS: In closely following the approach taken in the original GBD study, most of the explicit assumptions and the value judgments were not changed. However, the statistics for some problematic concerns such as deaths of infants or those due to senility, were adjusted. Deaths, standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL), and potential years of life lost (PYLL) were computed using vital registration data compiled by the National Statistical Office. RESULTS: The burden for males is 1.8 and 2.3 times higher than that for females, according to SEYLL and PYLL, respectively. The proportions of deaths due to Group I, II, and III causes are 5.4%, 80.4%, and 14.3%, respectively, for PYLL, but in a major shift from Group II to III they are 6.3%, 66.2%, and 27.5%, respectively, for SEYLL. The proportion of Group III causes in Korea, 27.5%, is extremely high when compared to 10.1% for the world, 7.6% for developed countries, and 10.7% for developing countries. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation results showed that the total burden due to premature deaths is smaller than that for the entire world but larger than that for developed countries. The disease structure of Korea has changed to resemble that of developed countries. Also, an overly large portion of the total burden in Korea stems from injuries arising from car accidents.
Cause of Death ; Cost of Illness ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Health Transition ; Humans ; Infant ; Judgment ; Korea* ; Life Expectancy ; Male ; Mortality, Premature*

PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To characterize the MRI appearance of the peripherally located schwannoma as compared with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 11 cases of 13 lesions of the schwannoma confirmed by pathology were analyzed, retrospectively. T11 T2 and Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted sagittal and axial images were obtained. The signal intensity, contour of lesion, and relationship with surrounding tissue were analyzed. All cases were correlated with MRI and pathologic findings. RESULTS: In 9 out of the 11 cases, schwannoma was connected to the main nerve trunk. Among them, tumors were located centrally in 6 cases and eccentrically in 3 cases. MR findings of schwannoma were iso signal intensity on T1WI(8 cases) with muscle intensity, high signal intensity on T2WI(all cases), strong heterogenous enhancement in all cases. 8 cases showing heterogenous appearance on T2WI, showed mixture of Antoni-A and B area and multifocal hemorrhage. Central low and peripheral high signal intensity on T2Wl(Target sign) was mainly high cellular component in the central portion and diffuse myxoid degeneration at the periphery, pathologically. Reversed target appea.rance(central high, peripheral low on T2WI) revealed central cystic degeneration with low cellular component and hemorrhage in the central portion, and high cellular component at the periphery. Linear band-like low signal intensity on T2WI, suggesting capsule of the schwannoma, was not the true capsule proven by pathology. Thin true capsule was not visualized on T2WI. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of schwannoma was non-specific. The signal intensity on T2 weighted MR imaging was determined by the presence of multifocal hemorrhage, focal cystic and myxoid degeneration, admixture of Antoni-A and B area.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pathology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is well recognized as a chronic cutaneous disorder primarily of the convexities of the central face. Despite its apparent high incidence, the nosology of rosacea is not well established in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this epidemiological study was to investigate the clinical manifestations of Korean rosacea patients diagnosed by the US National Rosacea Society guidelines of US. METHODS: We performed a clinical study in 90 patients with rosacea who visited the Department of Dermatology, Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2005 to December 2006. These patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, primary/secondary features, clinical subtypes and predisposing factors. RESULTS: The ratio of males to females was 1 : 1.3. The age distribution showed a peak incidence in the fifth decade. Primary features of rosacea were telangiectasia (70.0%), nontransient erythema (68.9%), papules and pustules (62.2%) and flushing (61.1%). The most common secondary features of rosacea were burning and stinging (62.2%). Other secondary features were dry appearance (46.7%), edema (35.6%), plaque (20.0%), phymatous changes(18.9%), ocular manifestations (17.8%) and peripheral location (2.2%). The most common subtype was erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (51.1%), followed by papulopustular rosacea (34.4%), phymatous rosacea (12.2%) and ocular rosacea (2.2%). The majority of rosacea patients revealed mild symptoms (83.3%). Predisposing or exacerbating factors of rosacea were stress (52.2%), hot baths (46.7%), alcohol (44.4%), hot weather (42.2%), sun exposure (38.9%), exercise (35.6%), cold weather (25.5%), skin-care products (23.3%), spicy foods (21.1%), indoor heat (15.6%), heated beverages (12.2%) and humidity (4.4%). CONCLUSION: In this study, the National Rosacea Society classification system applied well to Korean patients. We identified female predominance, a peak in the fifth decade and the majority of Korean rosacea patients suffering from the erythrotelangiectatic type of rosacea. Other similarities and differences to previous reports were also discussed.
Age Distribution ; Baths ; Beverages ; Bites and Stings ; Burns ; Causality ; Classification ; Dermatology ; Edema ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Erythema ; Female ; Flushing ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Rosacea* ; Solar System ; Telangiectasis ; Weather

No abstract available.
Acetazolamide* ; Aneurysm* ; Brain* ; Humans ; Perfusion* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to explore the determinants of care burden of Korean caregiver in patients with dementia. METHODS: For the seventy-nine patients with dementia and their caregivers, data on Caregiver Burden Inventory Korean version, and various patient- and caregiver related factors potentially related to care burden were investigated. Uni- or bi-variate analyses were performed to measure the relationships between individual factors and care burden, and then stepwise multiple linear regression tests were used to determine the independent risk factors. RESULTS: Two determinants of care burden were identified: 'severer depressive symptoms in patient' and 'lower spontaneous care motivation in caregiver'. Of the patient related factors, 'shorter disease duration', 'severer behavioral and psychotic symptoms' and'severer anxiety symptoms', and of the caregiver related factors,'women','having household responsibility', 'shorter free time' and'worse subjective health state' were related to care burden, although these were not identified as independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: To mitigate the care burden of Korean caregivers in patients with dementia, therapeutic interventions focused on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of patients would be essential in terms of patient related factors. With respect to caregiver related factors, in addition to the succession of the philosophy of filial piety, establishment of multi-modal services and facilities suitable for the caregivers vulnerable to care burden would be needed.
Anxiety ; Caregivers* ; Dementia* ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Motivation ; Philosophy ; Risk Factors

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare disease of which incidence is 10-15 % of bartholins gland carcinoma. The clinical presentation is characterized by a vulval mass that existed for a prolonged period to the onset of symptoms, usually infection, pain, and burningsensation Histologically, this tumor is characterized by cribriform pattern cell growing and perineural invasion. The obtaining of clear surgical margins is the most important aspect of treatment. Here we report a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholins gland with a brief review of literature.
Adenoids* ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Incidence ; Rare Diseases

No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female

We presented a case of acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) in 57 years-old female. This case is the 31 st case in the literature and the first case in Korea. Erythematous plaque was presented on the face with tendency of recurrences. Histologically a dense inflammatory cell infiltration composed predominantly of polymorphonuclear neutrophiles, lmphocytes and histiocytes was seen in dermis. Positive laboratory findings were polymorphonuclear leukocytosis and elevated ESR. The symptoms were well centrolled with orally administered preclnisolone.
Dermis ; Female ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Recurrence ; Sweet Syndrome*