We aimed to investigate the effect of in vitro allergen challenge on activation of eosinophils and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the epithelial and endothelial cells of the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inferior turbinate mucosal specimens which were obtained from 16 perennial allergic rhinitics and sensitized to D. farinae during conchotomy operations were used. Each mucosal specimen was divided into six pieces. The first two pieces were used as basic control group without culture, the second two pieces as culture-control group which was cultured with diluent only, and the last two pieces as antigen-challenge group cultured with D. farinae solution for 24 hours. Specimens were immunohistochemically stained using monoclonal antibody against eosinophil cationic protein(EG1 for all eosinophils and EG2 for activated forms) and ICAM-1. RESULTS: Average counts of EG1 cells and EG2+ cells within 1 mm of lamina propria of nasal mucosa were 14 and 11 respectively in the basic control group, 17 and 19 in culture control group, and 16 and 16 in the antigen-challenge group. ICAM-1 expression on vessels was observed more than half of t,he vessels in the nasal mucosa and there was no significant difference between groups, however, its expression on the epithelial cells was most prominent in the antigen-challenge group (2.1 in basic control group, 3.3 in culture control group, and 6.2 in antigen-challenge group). CONCLUSION: Most of the eosinophils infiltrating into the nasal mucosae out of vessels in allergic rhinitics are activated forms. Significant up-regulation of epithelial ICAM-1 expression by antigen-challenge suggests that ICAM-1 contributes to the transmigration of eosinophils from the subepithelial tissue into the epithelial cell layer and then finally into the nasal secretion.
Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelial Cells ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Turbinates ; Up-Regulation

No abstract available.
Measles*

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-four cases of surgically treated spinal stenosis which were followed up for more than 5 yeras were analysed. OBJECTIVES: To know the relationship between long-term clinical results and various clinical factors. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Pedicle screw fixation is a common procedure after wide decompression for spinal stenosis. But, there is few report showing its long-term result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the long term results of surgically treated spinal stenosis patients according to the sex, method of fusion, level of fusion, radiologic change of adjacent level, hardware problem and complication. There were 11 males and 23 females. Average age was 53.2 years(range 34-68 years). Radiographically follow up was averaged 72 months(range 60-104 months). Clinically follow up period was averaged 76 months(range 60-113 months). Eight patients were operated with PLIF and 26 patients were with posterolateral fusion. One level surgery was done in 18 patient and more than two level in 16 patients. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients(79%) showed satisfactory result at 2year and 5 year follow-up. Two patients showed change of clinical result during follow-up. Clinical result was much better in monosegmental surgery and in male sex. Six patients showed narrowing of disc space at non-surgery level and 2 patients had compression fracture. Complications were 1 deep infection, 2 dural tears, 9 donor site pain, 2 metal failures and 1 metal pull-out. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that there is no significant change of clinical results between two year follow-up and five year follow-up. Clinical complications and metal problems are not related with the unsatisfactory results. Multiple level surgery and female sex are two variables related with the unsatisfactory clinical outcome.
Decompression* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are suggested to play a deleterious role in the inflammatory disease of the respiratory mucosa by releasing granule substances such as major basic prorein and eosinophil cationic protein. To investigate the contribution of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps and the mechanism of their accumulation and activation, we observed the eosinophil inhllration and expression of endotjelial and epithelial cell adhesion molecules in the nasal polyp tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyp and inferior turbinate mueosal specimens (polyp group) taken out of 20 patients and 10 inferior turbinate mucosa specimens of non-allergic and non-infectious controls (control group) were immunohistochemically stained using EG1, EG2, and mAb for the ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-seleetin. The number of EG1 (+) and EG2 (+) cells within lmm2 of tissue and the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-seleetin on the vessels (% of total vessel) and epithelial eelis (area x intensity) were compared among three groups. RESULTS:The inferior turbinate mucosae of nasal polyp patients .were infiltrated by signifieantly higher number of eosinophils (EG1:17, EG2:16/mm2) compared with those of controls (EGi:0, EG2:0/mm2) (p<0.05), and the polyp tissue revealed much more eosinophils (EG1: 213, EG2:154/mm2) than inferior turbinates of same patients and those of controls (p<0.001). ICAM-1 expression in the vessels was frequenly observed both in polyps and in the turbinate mucosae with significant difference (median:85% vs. 67%, p<0.05), and ICAM-1 expression in the epithelial ceils was significantly different between the polyp and turbinate groups (median:9 vs. 2.5, p<0. 01). VCAM-1 was moderately expressed on the vessels of both polyps and turbinate mucosac (median:37%, 14%, respectively) and their expressions were significantly different (p<0.01). E-selectin expression was moderate to low both in the polyps and in the turbinate mucosae (median:18%, 10% respectively) and their expressions were not significantly different (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the eosinophils infiltrated into nasal tissue as well as nasal polyps were activated forms and they were significantly increased in the nasal polyps compared to the inferior turbinate mueosae of the same patients and control subjects. Significantly increased expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on the vessels and increased epithelial ICAM-1 expression in the nasal polyps indicate that interactions of eosinophils with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 participate in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps.
E-Selectin ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Turbinates ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Coccidioidomycosis is a common infectious disease in southwestern North America, which is caused by the soil fungus, Coccidioides immitis. Due to the mobility of the modern population, increasing numbers of cases are being diagnosed outside the endemic areas. Moreover, diagnosis in non-endenmic areas may be delayed or confused due to its rarity. Here we report a case of pulmonary coccidioidomycisis in an immigrant. The patient presented with unexplained pulmonary symptoms. A history of recent travel to or immigration from an endemic area may suggest coccidioidomycosis. In addition an early tissue biopsy is helpful in establishing this diagnosis.
Bacterial Infections and Mycoses ; Biopsy ; Coccidioides ; Coccidioidomycosis* ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Fungi ; Humans ; Mycoses ; North America ; Soil

The prevalence of syphilis was sharply decreased throughout the world since the introduction of penicillin into the treatment of syphilis in 1943, however recent in formations seemed to be increased in incidence of syphilis since about 1960. In Korea, recent trends of syphilis can hardly be assesed because there are few reports of it. In order to know the current incidence of syphilis in Seoul we carried out S.T.S. in 1046 healthy young men living in Seoul. At that we classified the man as syphilitic who has positive serologic test on both VDRL and RPCF and has not recieved regular antisyplulitic treatment in the past. The result reveala that the incidence of syphilitic infection is 1.72%, which is slightiy decreased statistical figure than in 1960s. There are no much differences in incidence between each group of age or educational degree. Among the 653 unmarried men, 62.3% of them had experiences of sexual contact and their sex partners were business girls, students and prostitutes in order of frequency.
Commerce ; Equidae ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Penicillins ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Serologic Tests ; Sex Workers ; Single Person ; Syphilis*

This study was conducted to examine the effect of mefenamic acid for treatment of PDA in premature newborns. Ductus arteriosus is reopened by locally produced prostaglandin E2 in a premature newborn during hypoxia. Mefenamic acid is one of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs acting by inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase in the prostaglandin synthesis pathway. For three premature newborns with PDA, we administered mefenamic acid and evaluated them with echocardiography to study the effect of mefenmic acid for closure of PDA. In all three babies, ductus arteriosus was closed successfully. We feel that mefenamic acid is safe and effective medication for treatment of PDA in premature newborns, but further-study need to be conducted with larger numbers of cases to confirm this effect.
Anoxia ; Dinoprostone ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mefenamic Acid* ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases

No abstract available.
Gambling* ; Humans ; Inpatients*

No abstract available.
Gambling* ; Humans ; Inpatients*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Tuberculosis*