BACKGROUND: IL-8 is a potent chemotactic cytokine that plays an important role in the host defense mechanism against M. tuberculosis by recruiting inflammatory cells to the site of the infection. Lung epithelial cells, as well as alveolar macrophages are known to preduce IL-8 in response to M. tuberculosis. IL-8 gene expression is mainly regulated on the level of transcription by NF-κB. This study investigated whether or not A549 cells produce IL-8 in NF-κB dependent mechanism in response to macrophages phagocytosing M. tubersulosis. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes that were obtained from healthy donors were cultured for 24 h with M. tuberculosis and a conditioned medium(CoMTB) was obtained. As a negative control, the conditioned medium without M. tuberculosis (CoMCont) was used. A549 cells were stimulated with M. tuberculosis, CoMCont and CoMTB and the IL-8 concentration in the culture media was measured by ELISA. The CoMTB induced IL-8 mRNA expression in the A549 cells was evaluated using RT-PCR, and CoMTB induced IκBα degradation was measured using western blot analysis. CoMTB induced nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-κB was also examined using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA), and the CoMTB induced NF-κB dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity was measured using a luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS: CoMTB induced IL-8 production by A549 cells(46.8±4.8 ng/ml) was higher than with direct stimulation with M. tuberculosis (6.8±2.9 ng/ml). CoMTB induced IL-8 mRNA expression increased after 2 h of stimulation and was sustained for 24 h. IκBα was degraded after 10 min of CoMTB stimulation and reappeared by 60 min. CoMTB stimulated the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-κB. The CoMTB induced NF-κB dependent IL-8 transcriptional activity(13.6±4.3 times control) was higher than either CoMCont(2.0±0.6 times control) or M. tuberculosis (1.4±0.6 times control). CONCLUSION: A conditioned medium of peripheral blood monocytes phagocytosing M. tuberculosis stimulates NF-κB dependent IL-8 production by the lung epithelial cells.
Blotting, Western ; Culture Media ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Interleukin-8* ; Luciferases ; Lung* ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Monocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Donors ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation*

No abstract available.

Background: Spontaneous pneumopericardium is a very rare condition. Spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum have been reported to be associated with an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, spontaneous pneumopericardium has not yet been reported in association with IPF. Here we report a case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in a patient with acute exacerbation of IPF with a review of the relevant literature.
Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Mediastinal Emphysema* ; Pneumopericardium* ; Pneumothorax

BACKGROUND: Phagocytosis is probably the first step for mycobacteria to be virulent in host because virulent strains are more readily phagocytosed by macrophage than attenuated strains. According 13 the traditional concept, multi-drug resistant strains have been regarded as less virulent. However, this concept has been challenged, since recent studies(reported) showed that the degree of virulence and drug-resistance is not related. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the phagocytic activity of M. tuberculosis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) is different according to drug-resistance or host factor. To evaluate this, we estimated the difference of phagocytic activity of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive M. tuberculosis and also estimated the phagocytic activity of PBMC from intractable tuberculosis patients and healthy controls. METHODS: PBMC from ten intractable tuberculosis patients and twelve healthy control and three different strains of heat-killed M. tuberculosis, ie, ADS(all drug sensitive), MDR(multi-drug resistant), and ADR(all drug resistant) were used. After incubation of various strains of M. tuberculosis with PBMC, the phagocytic activity was evaluated by estimating proportion of PBMC which have phagocytosed M. tuberculosis. RESULTS: Drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis were phagocylosed easily than drug sensitive strains(Percentage of PBMC phagocytosed M. tuberculosis in healthy control : ADS : 32.3α2.9%, ADR : 49.6α3.4%, p=0.0022, Percentage of PBMC phagocytosed M. tuberculosis in intractable tuberculosis patients : ADS : 34.9α3.6%, ADR : 50.7α4.5%), p=0.0069). However, there was no difference in phagocytic activity of PBMC from healthy control and intractable tuberculosis patients. CONCLUSION: Drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis were phagocytosed easily than drug sensitive strains and host factors does not seems to influence the phagocytosis of M. tuberculosis.
Humans ; Macrophages ; Monocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Phagocytosis* ; Tuberculosis ; Virulence

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effect of length of scleral tunnel incision on postoperative intraocular pressure(IOP)after sutureless phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in otherwise normal cataract patients. IOPs were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 hour, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months respectively. A total 130 patients(141eyes) completed 6 months follow-up period and were divided into group 1 (3.5mm group, 74 eyes of 69 patients)and group 2(6.0mm group, 67 eyes of 61 patients) according to the length of scleral tunnel incision. A mean preoperative IOP was 14.0mmHg and increase of IOP was noted to 3.1mmHg compared to preoperative value but decreased after 1 day and maintained up to 6 month postoperatively. At 6 months mean IOP was 12.7mmHg and IOP decrease of 1.3mmHg was noticed compared to preoperative value. There were no statistically significant differences in mean IOP between groups during follow-up periods (p<0.05). Number of cases with IOP rise over 22mmHg was 11(14.8%) in group 1 and 11 (6.4%) in group 2 at 6 hour postoperatively but reduced to 3(2.1%). At 6 months no case showed IOP over 22mmHg. This study revealed that the length of scleral tunnel incision did not affect the degree and frequency of postoperative IOP rise fter sutureless cataract surgery.
Cataract* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Phacoemulsification ; Prospective Studies

Arteiovenous malformation of the uterus is an extremely rare and becomes one of the causes of severe uterine bleeding. Because uterine bleeding can be aggravated with diagnostic dilatation and curettage, an accurate diagnosis should be achieved before the intervention. This malformation may be congenital or acquired. In the past, the diagnosis is usually made retrospectively after hysterectomy, however, recently it may be made before management by ultrasound, doppler ultrasound, pelvic angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.. We have experienced one case of arteriovenous malformation of the uterus, which is presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Female ; Hysterectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus*

We performed trans scleral fixation techniques for implantation of posterior chamber lens in 25 eyes, in case of incomplete zonular or capsular support. This was done by securing both haptics of the posterior chamber lens to the sclera at the ciliary sulcus with 10-Onylon suture. Postoperative follow-up time ranged from 12 to 23 months, with all patients having at least one year of follow up. At the last follow up visit, 16 eyes (72%) had a vision of 20/50 or better, and 13 eyes (52%) had a vision of 20/30 or better. The transscleral fixation related complications included retinal detatchment, glaucoma and cystoid macular edema. During the relatively longterm follow up period, we did not find any serious complications due to the intraocular lens and there was no significant postoperative changes in the visual acuities.
Follow-Up Studies ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Macular Edema ; Retinaldehyde ; Sclera ; Sutures ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic (US) or computer tomography (CT) findings of surgically proven epidermal cysts in the trunk, and to compare the echogenicity of cysts with internal contents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients were retrospectively evaluated. US and CT findings of epidermal cysts were assessed in regard to location, size, shape, number, echogenicity, posterior sound enhancement, internal density, septa, mural nodule and calcification, perilesional infiltration, contrast enhancement, and internal contents. RESULTS: All 45 patients (M: F=29: 16; US in 26, CT in 19) had only one cyst, and they were located in the buttocks (n=19), back (n=13), inguinal (n=4), posterior neck (n=3), perineum (n=2), abdominal wall (n=2), presternal (n=1), and axilla (n=1). Of 26 patients who underwent US, there were 8 cases of homogeneously hypoechoic mass (30.8%), 8 of inhomogeneously hypoechoic mass (30.8%), 7 of homogeneously hypoechoic mass with internal hypoechoic lines and echogenic spots (26.9%) and 3 of homogeneously hypoechoic mass with internal echogenic spots (11.5%). Posterior sound enhancement was noted in 21 patients (80.8%). Of 19 patients who underwent CT, there were 14 cases of simple cyst (73.7%) and 5 of abscess-like lesion (26.3%). Overlying skin thickening (n=13), contrast enhancement of cystic wall (n=11), perilesional infiltration (n=7), and internal septa (n=6) were demonstrated. The internal contents of the cysts were keratinous (n=27, 60.0%) or greasy (n=15, 33.3%) material. There was no statistical significance between the echogenicity of the cysts and the internal contents (p >0.2). CONCLUSION: Epidermal cysts showed homogeneous or inhomogeneous hypoechoic mass with posterior sound enhancement on US. There was no relationship between the echogenicity of the cysts and the internal contents. In the case of ruptured cyst, an abscess-like lesion with wall enhancement and perilesional infiltration was noted on CT scan.
Abdominal Wall ; Axilla ; Buttocks ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Humans ; Neck ; Perineum ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We found errors in our published article.