No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

BACKGROUND: Costimulation is a critical process in Ag-specific immune responses. Both B7.1 and CD28 molecules have been reported to stimulate T cell responses during antigen presentation. Therefore, we tested whether Ag-specific immune responses as well as protective immunity are influenced by coinjecting with B7.1 and CD28 cDNAs in a mouse HSV-2 challenge model system. METHODS: ELISA was used to detect levels of antibodies, cytokines and chemokines while thymidine incorporation assay was used to evaluate T cell proliferation levels. RESULTS: Ag-specific antibody responses were enhanced by CD28 coinjection but not by B7.1 coinjection. Furthermore, CD28 coinjection increased IgG1 production to a significant level, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3, suggesting that CD28 drives Th2 type responses. In contrast, B7.1 coinjection showed the opposite, suggesting a Th1 bias. B7.1 coinjection also enhanced Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 type cytokines and chemokines significantly higher than pgD+pcDNA3. However, CD28 coinjection decreased Ag-specific Th cell proliferative responses as well as production of Th1 types of cytokines and chemokine significantly lower than pgD+pcDNA3. Only MCP-1 production was enhanced by CD28. B7.1 coimmunized animals exhibited an enhanced survival rate as well as decreased herpetic lesion formation, as compared to pgD+pcDNA3. In contrast, CD28 vaccinated animals exhibited decreased survival from lethal challenge. CONCLUSION: This study shows that B7.1 enhances protective Th1 type cellular immunity against HSV-2 challenge while CD28 drives a more detrimental Th2 type immunity against HSV-2 challenge, supporting an opposite role of B7.1 and CD28 in Ag-specific immune responses to a Th1 vs Th2 type.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; Antigen Presentation ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cell Proliferation ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Herpesvirus 2, Human* ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mice ; Survival Rate ; Thymidine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major cause of cervical cancer and its precancerous diseases. Cervical cancer is the second deadliest cancer killer among women worldwide. Moreover, HPV is also known to be a causative agent of oral, pharyngeal, anal and genital cancer. Recent application of HPV structural protein (L1)-targeted prophylactic vaccines (Gardasil(R) and Cervarix(R)) is expected to reduce the incidence of HPV infection and cervical cancer, and possibly other HPV-associated cancers. However, the benefit of the prophylactic vaccines for treating HPV-infected patients is unlikely, underscoring the importance of developing therapeutic vaccines against HPV infection. In this regard, numerous types of therapeutic vaccine approaches targeting the HPV regulatory proteins, E6 and E7, have been tested for their efficacy in animals and clinically. In this communication, we review HPV vaccine types, in particular DNA vaccines, their designs and delivery by electroporation and their immunologic and antitumor efficacy in animals and humans, along with the basics of HPV and its pathogenesis.
Animals ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; DNA ; Electroporation ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Proteins ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaccines ; Vaccines, DNA

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma is a human herpesvirus-8 associated with a multicentric lymphoangioproliferative tumor primarily arising in the lower extremities, but rarely in the head and neck. We herein report a 63-year-old man with primary classic Kaposi's sarcoma on the face. He presented with asymptomatic, erythematous papules on the nasal ala which had been noticed 2 months earlier. Histopathologic examination and nested polymerase chain reaction analysis in the tissue disclosed typical features of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Head ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoma, Kaposi*

The aim of this study was to analyze long-term survivals in patients with stage IB to IIA cervical cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting. Between February 1989 and January 1998, 94 women with previously untreated stage IB to IIA carcinoma of the uterine cervix who received cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. All of patients with chemoresponse (complete response, n=15; partial response, n=47) and 16 patients with chemoresistance received radical surgery (RS group). The other 16 patients with chemoresistance received radiotherapy for definite treatment (RT group). In the RS group, the 10 yr survival estimation in patients with bulky tumors (diameter > or =4 cm, n=26) was similar to that with non-bulky tumors (83.3% vs. 89.3%, p=NS). In selected patients with chemoresistance, those treated by radiotherapy (n=16) showed significantly poorer survivals than those treated by radical surgery (n=16) [10 yr survival rates of RT (25%) vs. RS (76.4%), p=0.0111]. Our results support that a possible therapeutic benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery is only in patients with bulky stage IB to IIA cervical cancer. In cases of chemoresistance, radical surgery might be a better definite treatment option.
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy/*radiotherapy/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Survival Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Multivariate Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fluorouracil/administration & dosage ; Female ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cisplatin/administration & dosage ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use ; Adult

This study examined the effects of custom nutrition education on dietary intakes and clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. A total of 34 patients visited the anemia clinic of Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. Among these, only 16 patients were available for follow-ups. A follow-up was conducted by a clinical dietitian 2 months from the first nutrition education session. Patients were all women. For custom nutrition education, we investigated anthropometric data, dietary assessment (24 hr-recall, FFQ), and self-recognized anemic symptoms. Weight did not show a significant difference but hemoglobin, hematocrit (P<0.01), serum iron, and serum ferritin (P<0.05) were significantly increased after the nutrition education. Serum total iron binding capacity was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Self-recognized symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue (P<0.001), shortness of breath, headache (P<0.01), brittle nails, and sore tongue (P<0.05) were significantly improved. Daily intakes of protein (P<0.05), total iron (P<0.01), and animal iron (P<0.001) were significantly increased. A significantly negative correlation was observed between current serum iron and the intake of carbohydrates, fat, or phosphorus (P<0.05). But current serum ferritin showed a significantly positive correlation with the frequency of intake of meat, poultry, and fish. It could be concluded that the custom nutrition education might be effective on quality of diet as well as iron status and it might also improve the clinical parameters in patients diagnosed with the iron deficiency anemia.
Anemia ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Animals ; Carbohydrates ; Diet ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Fatigue ; Female ; Ferritins ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Iron ; Meat ; Nails ; Phosphorus ; Poultry ; Tongue

Currently, metabolic surgery (Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, LRYGB) has an important role and should be recommended as an intervention in the management of obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A successful outcome of surgery requires medical nutrition therapy. Therefore, we performed a retrospective study on 25 patients with T2DM who underwent LRYGB at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital from October 2008 to May 2010. The patients were followed up for an average of 6 months after surgery (range: 2~19 months). Diabetes was resolved in 80% of the patients. Percentage of excess weight loss was (%EWL) was 56.2%. After surgery, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c were significantly reduced (123 mg/dl, A1c 6.7%, P<0.001) and triglyceride was also significantly reduced to 107.6 mg/dl (P<0.05). As diets of the patients progressed from liquid to soft to regular diet, energy, carbohydrates, and fat intakes increased significantly (P<0.001). But protein intake did not change significantly. Nutrient intake of the patients after the surgery was significantly lower than the recommended diet for the non-surgery group. Patients experienced side-effects related to the diets after surgery, including hair-loss (76%), smelly gas (52%), vomiting (48%), etc. A significantly positive correlation was observed between vomiting and FBS (P<0.001). There was a significant relationship between side effects and the amount of nutrient intakes. Therefore, guide patients to a diet progression with treatment to minimize side effects, especially vomiting. And monitor their dietary life to be healthy and not to regain weight until remission of T2DM.
Blood Glucose ; Carbohydrates ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet ; Fasting ; Gastric Bypass ; Humans ; Nutrition Therapy ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Interest in the augmentation of hair growth for functional and aesthetic purpose has increased dramatically in recent years. Many hair growth products have been released, but most of these have not been proven scientifically. This study aims to measure the hair growth effect of azelaic acid and vitamin B6, which have been known as hair growth materials, in animal models. METHODS: Six weeks old C57BL/6 mice were used in this study and hair of mice were removed by topical treatment. The mice were divided into five experimental groups according to the testing material such as saline (negative control), propylene glycol(vehicle control), azelaic acid, vitamin B6 and azelaic acid plus vitamin B6 in combination. Hair growth was documented photographically and histologically, and then analysed by the high quality hair analysis program system. The quantity of endocrine factors, IGF-I and TGF-beta1 in the skin of mice was measured by PCR analysis. RESULTS: The topical treatment of azelaic acid and vitamin B6 in combination for 2 weeks to dorsal skin accelerated hair regrowth more than other groups. The azelaic acid and vitamin B6-combined treatment also promoted hair follicle elongation and thickness compared to the others. Histologic studies showed increased number of basal cells in azelaic acid and vitamin B6-combined treatment. Furthermore, the azelaic acid and vitamin B6-combined group significantly increased the expression of IGF-I but decreased the expression of TGF-beta1 in the skin of mice compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that azelaic acid and vitamin B6, when used together, have an additive effect and might be used as hair growth materials.
Alkenes ; Animals ; Dicarboxylic Acids ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

This study examined the effects of postoperative medical nutrition therapy on patients who had undergone bariatric surgery. Eighty seven patients who underwent bariatic-surgery at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital from January 2007 to April 2009 were evaluated. The bariatric surgery patients included 42 Laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and 45 Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) patients. Weight loss was more significant after LRYGB than after LAGB after 9 months (p<0.05). The LRYGB group was more satisfied with the weight loss (LRYGB 4.4/5.0, LAGB 3.0/5.0 p<0.001). The mean albumin, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly lower in the LRYGB group than in the LAGB group at the time of discharge (p<0.05~0.001). The GOT/GPT was significantly higher in the LRYGB group at the time of the operation than the LAGB group (p<0.01). The LRYGB group showed significantly lower intakes of total energy, carbohydrates, protein and fat from 1 week after surgery than the LAGB group. Multiple regression showed that the weight change after LRYGB was significantly more associated with the intakes of total energy at 1 week after surgery (p<0.01), SWS (sweets and high-calorie beverages) at 1 and 6 months after surgery (p<0.001), and fat at 3 months after surgery (p<0.01). In addition, LAGB was significantly more associated with the intakes of protein and NLS (non-liquid sweets) at 1 week after surgery (p<0.001, p<0.01), carbohydrate at 1 months after surgery (p<0.01), total energy at 3 months after surgery (p<0.001), HCL (high-calorie liquids) at 6 months after surgery (p<0.05), and fat at 9 months after surgery (p<0.01). These results suggest that continuous-follow-up medical nutrition therapy is needed according to the types of bariatric surgery, particularly during the weight loss phase (the first 1 week to 12 months).
Bariatric Surgery ; Carbohydrates ; Gastric Bypass ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Nutrition Therapy ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the annual visit days, the annual prescription days and the medical costs of hypertensive patients. METHODS: The medical insurance records of 40,267 incident patients with the diagnostic code of hypertension from September 1998 through August 1999 in Daegu city were reviewed. RESUJLTS: The proportion of the most proper medical care pattern group (Group VIII) who visited for 6-15 days with 240 prescription days or more a year was only 6.2%. The proper care group (Group IX) who visited for more than 16 days with 240 prescription days or more a year was 9.3%. The overall proper care group (Group VIII+IX) was therefore 15.5%. The proportion of the insufficient care group (Group I,IV) in both the number of visiting days and prescription days was 57.4%. The mean prescription day of the most proper group (Group VIII) was 29 days; the mean annual medical expenses, 453,587won; the mean annual amount paid by patients, 218,013won; and mean medical expenses per prescription day, 1,483won. The proportion of the overall proper care group (Group VIII+IX) was significantly higher in adults aged 50-59, those who were enrolled in industrial workers health insurance as well as government employees and private school teachers health insurance, and those who made a higher contribution per month (p<0.01). According to the type of medical facilities, the proportion of the most proper medical care pattern group was highest in the general hospitals (9.3%) but the overall proper care group was higher in the public health centers (22.1%) and private clinics (17.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The management system of hypertension should be reinforced urgently. Therefore, it is necessary to develop guidelines including the number of visiting days per year and prescription days per visit day, and make the system provide medical facilities to more properly care for hypertensive patients.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care ; Daegu ; Direct Service Costs ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Prescriptions* ; Public Health