No abstract available.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

BACKGROUND: Oral tolerance is defined by the inhibition of immune responsiveness to a protein previously exposed via the oral route. Protein antigens exposed via the oral route can be absorbed through the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract and can make physical contact with immune cells residing in the intestinal lamina propria (LP). However, the mechanisms of oral tolerance and immune regulation in the intestines currently remain to be clearly elucidated. METHODS: In order to determine the effect of oral protein antigen intake (ovalbumin, OVA) on the intestinal LP, we assessed the expression profile of the T cell receptor and the co-receptors on the cells from the intestines of the tolerant and immune mouse groups. RESULTS: We determined that the proportion of OVA-specific B cells and gamma delta T cells had decreased, but the CD8alpha beta and CD8alpha alpha T cells were increased in the LP from the tolerant group. The proportion of CD8+ T cells in the spleen did not evidence any significant differences between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that CD8+ T cells in the intestinal LP may perform a regulatory role following antigen challenge via the oral route.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Intestines ; Mice ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovalbumin ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy*

In infants, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common and primarily caused by bacterial pathogens. However, little research has been conducted regarding the relationship between uropathogenic bacteria, virulent genes, and uropathogenic viruses that might induce UTIs in infants. In this study, we evaluated infants with UTIs to determine the influence of bacterial virulent genes and type of viral infections on clinical aspects. First, we detected 44 cases of bacterial UTI from 600 suspected cases in infants and children. We detected E. coli urovirulence genes (kps, usp, pap, ireA, and cnf), two enteropathogenic E. coli genes (bfpA, and eae) and four S. aureus and S. epidermidis genes (mecA, pvl, bbp, and icaA) in urine samples from infant UTI cases. We also simultaneously detected hematuria-related adenovirus type 11, 21, and BK virus (BKV) in urine samples by PCR. As a result, E. coli was the most prevalent bacteria and in Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)-positive UTI cases, the uropathogenic E. coli virulence factor pap was significantly high. We found that BKV detection was significantly higher in DMSA-positive UTI infants (89%) compared with 50% of non-UTI (no bacteria detected) cases. These results are indicative of combined multiple bacterial and viral infections and show severe infant pyelonephritis.
Adenoviridae ; Bacteria ; Benzophenones ; BK Virus ; Boronic Acids ; Child ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Infant ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyelonephritis ; Succimer ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: Neuroblastoma is a common tumor in childhood, and generally exhibits heterogeneity and a malignant progression. MYCN expression and amplification profiles frequently correlate with therapeutic prognosis. Although it has been reported that MYCN silencing causes differentiation and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells, MYCN expression influences the cytotoxic potential of chemotherapeutic drugs via the deregulation of the cell cycle. STI-571 may constitute a promising therapeutic agent against neuroblastoma, particularly in cases in which c-Kit is expressed preferentially in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine whether STI-571 exerts a synergistic effect on cytotoxicity with MYCN expression, we assessed apoptotic cell death and cell cycle distribution after 72 h of exposure to STI-571 with or with out treatment of SK-N-BE(2) neuroblastoma cells with MYCN siRNA. RESULTS: MYCN siRNA-treated SK-N-BE(2) cells did not affect apoptosis and cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase after STI-571 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: siRNA therapy targeted to MYCN may not be effective when administered in combination with STI-571 treatment in cases of neuroblastoma. Therefore, chemotherapeutic drugs that target S or G2-M phase may prove ineffective when applied to cells arrested in the G0/1 phase as the result of MYCN knockdown and STI-571 treatment.
Apoptosis ; Benzamides ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; Piperazines ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis ; Pyrimidines ; Imatinib Mesylate ; RNA, Small Interfering

While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) has recently increased in elderly adult urology patients, it has been only rarely reported in infants. Therefore, in this study to understand whether MRSA may be involved in UTI of infants who run fever without other apparent causes, we identified and counted S. aureus and S. epidermidis in suprapubic urine from 750 febrile infants via microbiological methods, and confirmed the counts via multiplex PCR. And we also detected four virulence genes, mecA, PVL, bbp and icaA genes for S. aureus and S. epidermidis via multiplex PCR in the same specimens. S. aureus (28 cases) counts were as follows: >10(4) CFU/ml (3/28), 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (1/28) and <10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (24/28). S. epidermidis (26 cases) counts were as follows: >10(4) CFU/ml (2/26), 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (4/26) and 10(2)~10(3) CFU/ml (20/26). S. aureus virulence genes were detected in 26 cases as mecA (16/26, 59.3%), PVL (17/26, 63.0%), bbp (7/26, 26.9%) and icaA (20/26, 76.9%). S. epidermidis virulence genes were detected in 22 cases as mecA (17/22, 81.0%), PVL (15/22, 71.4%), bbp (3/22, 13.6%) and icaA (13/22, 50.1%). Therefore, mecA, PVL and icaA genes of MRSA and MRSE were detected with high positivity in urines from infants with fever. The results demonstrate that community-acquired MRSA or MRSE may be responsible for UTI incidence in febrile infants.
Adenosine ; Adult ; Aged ; Benzophenones ; Boronic Acids ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The conventional instrument for video head impulse test (vHIT) records the movement of the right eye only. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the gain of vHIT results qdue to different directions of head rotation directons at different target distances and rotation speeds. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Horizontal head impulse was recorded by vHIT in 20 normal subjects. vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gains to the right and left directions were compared at different test conditions. Two different impulses with low (50-150 deg/sec) and high (200-300 deg/sec) peak-head-velocities were tested and the subjects were also instructed to fixate a laser dot on a screen at different distances of 60, 100, and 200 cm. Eye movements were recorded on the right eye. RESULTS: Regardless of the target distances and peak-head-velocities, the VOR gains to the rightward head rotation were significantly greater than those to the leftward head rotation. In more than 85% of normal subjects, vHIT gain to the rightward head rotation was greater than that to the leftward head rotation. Mean gain asymmetries were 2.16-3.33% and the mean interaural vHIT gain differences were 0.04-0.07. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the target distances and peak-head-velocities, the VOR gains to the rightward head rotation were significantly greater than those to the leftward head rotation. Directional asymmetry of VOR gain should be considered when interpreting vHIT results in patients with vestibular disorders.
Eye Movements ; Head Impulse Test* ; Head* ; Humans ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular

BACKGROUND: YMDD motif variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) emerge in some chronic hepatitis B patients after prolonged lamivudine treatment. HBV DNA breakthrough may be accompanied by the emergence of YMDD variants. The detection of YMDD motif variants will be necessary since Adefovir dipivoxil was recently approved to be an effective treatment for lamivudine-resistant patients. METHODS: Samples were chosen from twenty-one patients who experienced the DNA breakthrough after an undetectable HBV DNA period by HBV DNA hybrid-capture assay. We tested the samples of each stage for detection of YMDD motif variants by a sequencing method using Accu-Typer(TM) HBV YMDD typing Kit (DNA Link, Seoul, Korea) and ABI PRISM 3700 DNA Analyzer. RESULTS: All 17 samples that were collected before treatment had the wild-type YMDD motif. Of 20 samples amplified, which were from the undetectable HBV DNA period, three (15%) samples showed YMDD mutation. After DNA breakthrough, YMDD mutants were detected in 13 (63%) of 21 samples (YIDD 8 cases, YVDD 5 cases). CONCLUSION: We could reconfirmed that YMDD motif variants were remarkably related to the lamivudin resistance. YMDD motif variants; however, were not detected in one-third of the lamivudine resistance. The sequencing method of our study would be useful in providing the neighboring nucleotide information other than the YMDD motif in patients experiencing DNA breakthrough.
DNA ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; Seoul

Differences in the characteristics of the culture conditions can influence the multiplication rate of Plasmodium falciparum. The Petri dish method is one of the most popular methods of cultivating this parasite. In many previous studies, ideal culture conditions of the Petri dish method were achieved by using erythrocytes collected from blood that had been stored for at least 2 weeks, with daily changes of the medium. In the present study, we studied the multiplication rate of P. falciparum in cultures containing erythrocytes of various ages together with changing the medium at various intervals of time. Our results strongly suggest that the rate of in vitro multiplication of P. falciparum was higher in freshly collected erythrocytes than in aged erythrocytes regardless of the anticoagulant and that when the parasitemia is lower than 8% with a hematocrit of 5%, the medium change interval can be as long as 48 hr without a great reduction in the rate of multiplication.
Animals ; Blood Specimen Collection ; Cell Aging ; Culture Media ; Erythrocytes/*parasitology ; Plasmodium falciparum/*growth & development ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate conservative management of patients with cervical intraepithelial lesion, grade III (CIN III) and positive resection margins after cervical conization. METHODS: We reviewed records of 64 patients undergoing cervical conization revealing CIN III with positive resection margins between January 1997 and December 1999. Thirty-three (51.5%) patients underwent conization only and thirty-one (48.5%) underwent conization and subsequent hysterectomy. These patients were followed up with a Pap smear every 3-6 months and then persistence and recurrence were determined in each group. The sites of incomplete excision and HPV infection at cone and residual lesion at hysterectomy specimen were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 33 patients receiving conservative management and all 31 patients receiving subsequent hysterectomy had negative Pap smear (P=0.262). In the group of the conservative management, one case of 11 patients with extension to the endocervical margin had positive Pap smear (P=0.577). One of 17 cases with HPV infection and one of 10 cases with negative HPV testing had positive cytology (P=0.630). In the group of subsequent hysterectomy, nine cases (42.86%) of 21 patients with extension to endocervical margin and two (22.22%) of 9 patients with extension to exocervical margin had residual lesion in hysterectomy specimen (P=0.258). Only one (8.33%) of 12 cases with positive HPV and five (50%) of 10 patients with negative HPV had residual lesion (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: Patients with CIN III and positive resection margins after cervical conization can be followed appropriately with serial cytology. Endocervical margin involvement and HPV infection were not statistically significant predictors of residual lesion, persistence and recurrence in our patients.
Conization* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Recurrence