No abstract available.
Cellulitis* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact*

To investigate the imbalance of the cytokine production profile of T cells from atopic asthmatics, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y by ELISA method in the culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and Derrnato-phagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) J-stimulated PBMCs from Der p-sensitized atopic asthmatics, Der p-sensitized healthy atopits, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy non-atopics. The suppressive effect of IFN-y on cytokine production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs was also examined. The PBMCs from atopics showed higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA +TPA and higher IFN-gamma production in response to Der p Jq compared with non-atopits. The Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics showed a tendency of increased IL-5 production in response to Der p J and higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA+TPA compared with non-atopics. IL-5 production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics was suppressed by IFN It is suggested that an imbalance in IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y production is a feature of the atopic state. The TH2 characteristics of allergen-stimulated PBMCs could be regulated by IFN-y.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Oral allergy syndrome(OAS) is composed of it,ching sense and edema in oral cavity, lips, throat, pharynx, and larynx following eating some fresh fruits or vegetables. It has been known that most of patients with OAS are allergic to pollens. Common epitopes were found among pollens, fruits and vegetables. Although OAS is a common farm of food allergy in adults, this is the first epidemiologic study of OAS in Korea. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and fifty one patients who showed positive skin reaction to pollens were telephone-interviewed. Investigation of the prevalence and clinical manifestations of OAS was possible in 81 patients. RESULT: The prevalence of OAS among these patients was 34.6% (28/81). OAS was found in 24(48%) out of 50 patients sensitized to tree pollens, whereas 4(13%) of 31 grass or weed pollen-sensitized paients had OAS. Most common causative food was apple and all of 17 apple- OAS patients were sensitized to tree pollens. Peach was the second common food and 14 of 15 peach-OAS patients were sensitized to tree pollens. Besides oral symptoms, rhinitis, asthma, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or generalized urticaria were accompanied in half of the OAS patients (14/28). Some patients showed OAS to some unique Korean foods such as dropwort, taro and Aster. CONCLUSION: OAS was very common in pollen-sensitized patients. Larger epidemiologic studies are needed to find unique Korean foods and their antigensm causing OAS.
Adult ; Asthma ; Colocasia ; Diarrhea ; Eating ; Edema ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epitopes ; Filipendula ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Korea ; Larynx ; Lip ; Mouth ; Nausea ; Pharynx ; Poaceae ; Pollen* ; Prevalence ; Prunus persica ; Rhinitis ; Skin ; Urticaria ; Vegetables ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is a common clinical problem to which various etiologies are attributable; postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and chronic bronchitis, However, in some cases, no particular etiology can be confirmed. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate cough sensitivity and the clinical manifestations of patients with idiopathic chronic cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 70 non-smoking patients who had been coughing for more than 3 weeks without any history, symptoms or signs of rhinitis, sinusitis, typical asthma, GER or recent upper respiratory infection episodes. Nineteen healthy controls were also enrolled. Bronchial provocation tests with methacholine, capsaicin and distilled water (DW) were performed. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were positive to rnethacholine test (PC20 < 25mg/ml) and defined as cough variant asthma. The others are classified into idiopathic chronic cough. By capsaicin and DW challenge tests, idiopathic cough patients could be divided into two groups, i.e., increased cough sensitivity (ICS) and normal cough sensitivity (NCS) groups. DW- induced cough counts were negatively correlated with C7 (lowest capsaicin concentration inducing continuous 7 or more coughs) (r=-0.739, p<0.001). No difference was found in clinical features such as age, sex, atopy, or peripheral eosinophil counts between these two groups but cough counts per cough burst were significantly higher in the ICS group. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity in cough sensitivity of idiopathic chronic cough patients may refiect different pathophysiologic mechanisms. It is unclear whether patients with NCS merely have habitual or psychogenic cough or not. These suggest that different therapentic strategies should be established on idiopathic chronic cough patients according to cough sensitivity.
Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; Capsaicin ; Cough* ; Eosinophils ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Population Characteristics ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis ; Water

A male baby with intrauterine growth retardation had a short neck, small hands and feet, hypospadia, both grade I hydronephrosis, type II atrial septal defect, and moderate valvular pulmonary stenosis. The routine chromosome and banding analyses revealed a 46,XY,rec(8)del(8)(p21)dup(8) (q24.1)inv(8)(p21q24.1)pat chromosome constitution. His mother has normal chromosomes, but the father had 46,XY,inv(8)(p21q24.1). Also his uncle had an inv(8) chromosome constitution. We used lymphocytes and examined 40 mitotic cells. All mitotic cells showed deletion of 8p21-->pter and duplication of 8q24.1-->qter. Because 8p21 involves secretion of macrophage and lymphocyte against cancer cells, long-term follow-up for cancer will be needed.
Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Fathers ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Foot ; Hand ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Hypospadias ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mothers ; Neck ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Trisomy

No abstract available.
Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Prenatal Diagnosis*

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was 1) to determine whether elevated maternal serum alpha- fetoprotein(MSAFP) predict increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery and indicated preterm delivery; 2) to determine whether elevated maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin(MSHCG) predict increased risk of preterm delivery. Methods: Between September 1995 and April 1998, 945 of 2105 pregnant women who received midtrimester MSAFP screening were identified and evaluated. 81 women with MSAFP levels of 2.0 MoM or more were included in the study group while 864 women with levels less than 2.0 MoM served as controls. Pregnancy outcome were obtained from hospital records and statistical analysis were performed. RESULTS: Women with elevated MSAFP levels showed an increased risk for preterm delivery(p<0.05), fetal growth restriction(p<0.05) and hypertensive disorders(p<0.05), but not for preterm premature rupture of membrane, fetal death in utero. There was a strong association between unexplained elevated MSAFP levels and spontaneous preterm delivery(p<0.05) but our study does not support an association between unexplained elevated MSAFP levels and indicated preterm delivery. There was no association between elevated MSHCG levels and preterm delivery regardless of MSAFP levels. CONCLUSION: We concluded that unexplained elevated levels of midtrimester MSAFP were associated with an elevated risk of spontaneous preterm delivery but not with a risk of indicated preterm delivery. Elevated MSHCG levels were not associated with a risk of preterm delivery and spontaneous preterm birth.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Chorion ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth* ; Rupture

Idiopathic anaphylaxis is a life-threatening systemic reaction of unknown cause. The pathophysiology has not been established, although it has been postulated that the clinical manifestations of idiopathic anaphylaxis may result from the chemical mediators released by mast cells or basophils. The diagnosis of idiopathic anaphylaxis is made after an appropriate allergic evaluation and exclusion of provocative triggers. We report an unusual case of idiopathic anaphylaxis manifesting with periodically repeated urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea, and hypotension. His symptoms were not related to known causes of anaphylaxis such as foods, drugs, insect stings, or exercise. Other diseases simulating anaphylaxis were excluded by careful history, physical examination, and relevant diagnostic tests. High dose prednisolone, hydroxyzine, salbutamol, ketotifen, and methotrexate were prescribed to prevent recurrent episodes, but the symptoms relapsed 5 months after cessation of the treatment.
Albuterol ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Basophils ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Dyspnea ; Hydroxyzine ; Hypotension ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Ketotifen ; Mast Cells ; Methotrexate ; Physical Examination ; Prednisolone ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis* ; Takayasu Arteritis*

OBJECTIVE: Fetal biophysical profile is widely used antenatal test for fetal wellbeing, but its biochemical background is not well known. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of fetal biophysical profile and cord blood acid base status including gas analysis using cord blood obtained by cordocentesis, by which the biochemical background of fetal biophysical profile can be understood. STUDY DESIGN: 121 pregnant women received cordocentesis for various indication, of whom the fetuses were evaluated with fetal biophysical profile just before the cordocentesis. Cord blood obtained by cordocentesis was analyzed for acid-base and gas status. The results of both tests were compared by appropriate statistical method. RESULTS: Fetal biophysical profile showed definite correlation with the results of cord blood acid-base and gas analysis (p<0.001). Fetal biophysical profile was not a sensitive study for the diagnosis of fetal acidemia, but the test could be used for the diagnosis of severe fetal acidemia. Variables of fetal biophysical profile responded to acidemia differently and there were gradual changes among the variables according to the degree of acidemia. Gestational age was important factor for the normality of nonstress test, even after adjustment of pH level. Anomaly did not affect the fetal biophysical profile and fetal biophysical profile was determined mainly by fetal metabolic status. CONCLUSION: Fetal biophysical profile score is a useful noninvasive antenatal test reflecting fetal acid base status, effective for the diagnosis of severe acidemia, probably affected by fetal gestational age, but not by fetal anomaly.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Cordocentesis* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pregnant Women