As most infections by the helminth parasite elicit the recruitment of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T (T(reg)) cells, many scientists have suggested that these cells could be used for the treatment of immune-mediated inflammation and associated diseases. In order to investigate the distribution and alteration of activated T(reg) cells, we compared the expression levels of T(reg) cell activation markers in the ileum and gastrocnemius tissues 1, 2, and 4 weeks after infection. The number of T(reg) cells was monitored using GFP-coded Foxp3 transgenic mice. In mice at 1 week after Trichinella spiralis infection, the number of activated T(reg) cells was higher than in the control group. In mice at 2 weeks after infection, there was a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Foxp3 and CTLA-4 when compared to the control group and mice at 1 week after infection. At 4 weeks after infection, T. spiralis was easily identifiable in nurse cells in mouse muscles. In the intestine, the expression of Gzmb and Klrg1 decreased over time and that of Capg remained unchanged for the first and second week, then decreased in the 4th week. However, in the muscles, the expression of most chemokine genes was increased due to T. spiralis infection, in particular the expression levels of Gzmb, OX40, and CTLA-4 increased until week 4. In addition, increased gene expression of all chemokine receptors in muscle, CXCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR9, and CCR10, was observed up until the 4th week. In conclusion, various chemokine receptors showed increased expressions combined with recruitment of T(reg) cells in the muscle tissue.
Animals ; Gene Expression ; Helminths ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Intestines ; Mice* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Muscles ; Parasites ; Receptors, Chemokine ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory* ; Trichinella spiralis ; Trichinella*

Takayasu's arteritis(TA) is a nonspecific areritis of unknown etiology affecting segmentally the aorta and its main branches, which result in stenosis, occlusion or aneurysm of involved arteries. The clinical manifestations present with a variety of symptoms such as headache, dyspnea on exertion, pain and weakness of extremities, pulse deficit, and hypertension according to involves arteries. Usually it can be managed by medical or surgical treatment, and recently by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty. The type III classified by Lupi-Herrena and associates is the most frequent variety of TA. However the case of type III involving both subclavin arteries and both renal arteries has rarely been reported. We experienced a case of TA involving both subcalvian arteries, and both renal arteries presented with paroxysmal hypertension and right flank pain, in which the stenosis of both subclavian arteries were managed by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty and the stenosis and occlusion of both renal arteries were successfully managed by aorto-renal bypass surgery with autogenous right iliac artery and synthetic vessel(Gortex). The patient was discharged uneventfully.
Aneurysm ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aorta ; Arteries* ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dyspnea ; Extremities ; Flank Pain ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Renal Artery* ; Subclavian Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis*

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low sodium diet education program on dietary habits, diet quality, and measures of obesity in overweight or obese middle-aged women. METHODS: Subjects were 81 individuals aged 45 years or over, who completed an 8-week nutrition education. The subjects were divided into a normal group (N = 30) and an overweight-obese group (N = 51) according to the BMI. The effects were evaluated by anthropometric measurement, biochemical analysis, questionnaire, and diet records before and after the program. RESULTS: Overweight-obese group showed significant decreases in weight (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), percent of body fat (p = 0.0087), waist circumference (p < 0.0001), systolic (p = 0.0003) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0261). Nutrients intakes were not different between the two groups and only sodium intake was decreased after education. Total score of general dietary habits, dietary behavior related to sodium intake, dietary diversity score (DDS), diet variety score (DVS), and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) were improved in both groups compared to the baseline. Overweight-obese group showed significant improvement in 'having fruits everyday', 'having fish everyday', 'trying to eat many kinds of food', 'eating less broth when eating soup, stew, and noodles', 'eating less kimchi and salt-fermented vegetable', and 'propensity to think that dishes should be pretty seasoned'. In addition, moderation of empty calories food (p = 0.0064) and macronutrient ratio (p = 0.0004) were improved in the overweigh-obese group, but in the normal group, the results did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that low sodium diet education program may contribute to obesity management by improving diet quality and dietary habits in middle-aged women.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Diet Records ; Diet* ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted* ; Eating ; Education* ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Fruit ; Humans ; Obesity* ; Overweight* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sodium ; Waist Circumference

We describe a case of chronic total occlusion of the right coronary artery ostium 5 months after a repeated Bentall procedure in a patient with Behcet's disease. In this patient, an antegrade approach to delivering the guidewire during percutaneous coronary intervention was not successful. Coronary angiography revealed the existence of collateral blood supply from the left coronary artery. Using a retrograde approach, a guidewire was successfully advanced from the distal left circumflex artery through the collateral vessel and into the posterolateral branch of the right coronary artery. After the guidewire crossed over the occluded right coronary artery ostium and was snared into the ascending aorta, antegrade access for balloon and stent delivery succeeded.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Behcet Syndrome ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Occlusion ; Coronary Vessels ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; SNARE Proteins ; Stents

PURPOSE: After the first umbilical cord blood transplantation was reported in 1988, the use of cord blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cell instead of allogeneic bone marrow increased surprisingly and currently in the worldwide, more than 1,000 cases of cord blood transplantation were reported. We, herein, report the nine cases of cord blood transplants in Korea (Jul. 1996 - Jan. 1999). METHODS: The study of childhood cord blood transplantation from July 1996 to January 1999 were analyzed. 1. Patient population 1) Diseases on patients receiving umbilical cord blood transplantation included 3 aplastic anemia (1 Fanconi's anemia), 3 acute myelogenous leukemia, 1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 1 chronic myelogenous leukemia and 1 Gaucher disease. 2) Patients included 5 males and 4 females and were aged a range of 1~15 years (median 5 years), and a range of body weight at transplantation was 10 kg~50 kg (median 20 kg). 3) Four cases were used related cord blood as a source of stem cells for the transplant and 5 cases were used unrelated cord blood. In unrelated cord blood transplantation, cord blood was provided by Catholic Cord Blood Bank in 4 cases and by Samsung Medical Center in 1 case. 4) Only one case had a HLA-compatible cord blood graft. Two cases had 1 HLA antigen disparate grafts, 4 cases had 2 HLA antigen disparate grafts and 2 cases had 3 HLA antigen disparate grafts. 2. Transplantation Procedures 1) The total number of nucleated cells infused was 0.2+/-13x107/kg (median number 4.4x107/kg) and the number of CD34+ cells was 0.4+/-9.4x105/kg (median number 3.3x105/kg). 2) Patients received a variety of preparative regimens that varied with the disease and disease state at time of transplantation. All patients received ATG as a part of preparation. 3) While several regimens were used for prophylaxis of GVHD, 3 patients received cyclosporine A and methylprednisolone, 3 patients received cyclosporine and methotrexate, 2 patients received cyclosporine A alone and 1 patients received cyclosporine A, methtrexate and prednisolone. RESULTS: 1. The 6 cases of total 9 cases have successed to engraft persistently and the rate of engraftment was 67%. Two of 3 cases in severe aplastic anemia failed to engraft, 1 case failed to transplant due to rejection of grafts. All 5 cases in leukemia have successed to engraft. 2. On 6 cases of engraftment, the time to achieve an absolute neutrophil count (ANC)> or =0.5x109/L, > or = 1.0x109 /L was 10~37 days (median 13 days) and 11~40 days (median 14 days), respectively, and platelet count > or = 30x109/ L was 15~114 days (19.5 days). 3. Two of evaluable 7 cases had grade II acute GVHD and cured by steroid. 4. Seven of 9 cases (77.8%) survive (2~32 months; median 11 months) after transplantation. Five of 7 surviving cases (55.6%) live with disease-free (2~11 months; median 5 months). Four of 5 patients with leukemia (80%) live without relapse (2~11 months (median 5months). 5. The complications associated with cord blood transplantation were 2 sepsis, 2 CMV infections, 1 hemorrhagic cystitis and venoocclusive disease. 6. Two of 9 patients died of 1 graft failure and 1 venoocclusive disease. CONCLUSION: Cord blood transplantation is curative strategy for the treatment of children with malignant disease and inborn error of metabolism. For aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, the role of cord blood transplantation would be investigated.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Body Weight ; Bone Marrow ; Child ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Cyclosporine ; Cystitis ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Gaucher Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Male ; Metabolism ; Methotrexate ; Methylprednisolone ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils ; Platelet Count ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Sepsis ; Stem Cells ; Transplantation ; Transplants ; Umbilical Cord*

Excessive sodium intake leading to hypertension, stroke, and stomach cancer is mainly caused by excess use of salt in cooking. This study was performed to estimate the salt content in school meals and to compare differences in perceptions related to sodium intake between students and staffs working for school meal service. We collected 382 dishes for food from 24 schools (9 elementary, 7 middle, 8 high schools) in Gyeonggi-do and salt content was calculated from salinity and weight of individual food. The average salt content from elementary, middle, and high school meals were 2.44 g, 3.96 g, and 5.87 g, respectively. The amount of salt provided from the school lunch alone was over 80% of the recommended daily salt intake by WHO. Noodles, stews, sauces, and soups were major sources of salt intake at dish group level, while the most salty dishes were sauces, kimchies, and stir-fried foods. Dietary knowledge and attitude related to sodium intake and consumption frequency of the salty dishes were surveyed with questionnaire in 798 students and 256 staffs working for school meal service. Compared with the staffs, the students perceived school meals salty and the proportions of students who thought school meals were salty increased with going up from elementary to high schools (P < 0.001). Among the students, middle and high school students showed significant propensity for the preference to one-dish meal, processed foods, eating much broth and dipping sauce or seasoning compared with the elementary students, although they had higher nutrition knowledge scores. These results proposed that monitoring salt content of school meals and consideration on the contents and education methods in school are needed to lower sodium intake.
Cooking ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lunch ; Meals ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Salinity ; Seasons ; Sodium ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: In the clinical setting, for convenience of transfusion, blood is requested in advance, even though 'the type and screen' method has been used for the efficient supply of blood. We employed the precedent antibody screening test method for all patients who were scheduled for surgery, and compared the disposal rate and the clear rate pre and post-activity. METHODS: We evaluated the disposal rate and the cancellation ratio before and after employment of the precedent antibody screening test method for all patients expected to undergo surgery. A comparison of the frequency and type of side effects of transfusion was also performed. RESULTS: The disposal rate and the cancellation ratio showed a decrease, from 1.48% to 1.29%, and from 17.0% to 11.0%. No significant change was observed in the cause of disposal and the side effects of transfusion. CONCLUSION: Enforcement of a precedent antibody screening test resulted in a decrease in the disposal and clear rates. In addition, it aided in reduction of the amount of work performed at the blood bank by establishing the proper utilization of blood and reducing unnecessary cross match testing. There appears to be no problem regarding the stability of transfusion. However, for the sample showing a positive result on the antibody screening test, an effort to decrease the side effects of transfusion, such as exhaustive cross-matching and increasing the rate of identification, would be needed.
Blood Banks ; Blood Transfusion ; Employment ; Humans ; Mass Screening

BACKGROUND: In the clinical setting, for convenience of transfusion, blood is requested in advance, even though 'the type and screen' method has been used for the efficient supply of blood. We employed the precedent antibody screening test method for all patients who were scheduled for surgery, and compared the disposal rate and the clear rate pre and post-activity. METHODS: We evaluated the disposal rate and the cancellation ratio before and after employment of the precedent antibody screening test method for all patients expected to undergo surgery. A comparison of the frequency and type of side effects of transfusion was also performed. RESULTS: The disposal rate and the cancellation ratio showed a decrease, from 1.48% to 1.29%, and from 17.0% to 11.0%. No significant change was observed in the cause of disposal and the side effects of transfusion. CONCLUSION: Enforcement of a precedent antibody screening test resulted in a decrease in the disposal and clear rates. In addition, it aided in reduction of the amount of work performed at the blood bank by establishing the proper utilization of blood and reducing unnecessary cross match testing. There appears to be no problem regarding the stability of transfusion. However, for the sample showing a positive result on the antibody screening test, an effort to decrease the side effects of transfusion, such as exhaustive cross-matching and increasing the rate of identification, would be needed.
Blood Banks ; Blood Transfusion ; Employment ; Humans ; Mass Screening

PURPOSE: To analyze delayed diagnosis, we collected date on pediatric and adolescent patients who had been admitted to the Emergency Department with injuries due to minor trauma METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the age distribution, trauma mechanism, time interval for each affected body region at delayed diagnosis, hospital stay, and outcome for 161 pediatric and adolescent patients who had been admitted to the Emergent Department of Gachon University Gil Hospital from January 2006 to September 2008. RESULTS: The incidence of delayed diagnosis in pediatric and adolescent trauma was 11.8% in our retrospective review of 161 pediatric and adolescent patients. Lengths of hospitalization were longer in patients with delayed diagnosis (p<0.05). Patients with delayed diagnosis were more often transferred to other hospitals than patients with non-delayed diagnosis (p<0.05). The time intervals for each different affected body regions at delayed diagnosis were significantly different, but the hospital stays were not. There were no statistical significance to age on affected body region. CONCLUSION: From this study, we found that admission result and hospital stay were statistically significant differences between the delayed-diagnosis patient group and the non-delayed-diagnosis patient group. Finally, we must follow up pediatric and adolescent patients with minor trauma, closely considering missed injuries.
Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Body Regions ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) is a low grade malignant tumor in the pancreas, and extrapancreatic SPT is extremely rare. We report a case of a 61-year-old woman who complained abdominal pain with diffuse tenderness. She was diagnosed with extrapancreatic SPT with extensive peritoneal dissemination and hepatic metastases. Although a few cases have reported imaging findings of extrapancreatic SPT, there have been no reports of extrapancreatic SPT with aggressive tumor behavior and dismal prognosis. Although imaging features closely resembled those of classical pancreatic SPTs, malignant transformation of extrapancreatic SPT should be considered when focal discontinuity of the tumor capsule with ill-defined margin and invasion of adjacent structures were identified.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography