Standard plaque assay using agarose-overlay has long been used for titration of many infectious virus particle. Plaque assay for the titration of varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine requires three intermittent agarose overlay to visualize plaques. Overall procedure of the assay takes at least nine days from virus inoculation and microbe contamination including fungi is frequently accompanied during incubation period. We studied whether an immunofocus assay in conjunction with peroxidase-mediated immunohistochemical reaction may replace the standard plaque assay for the virus titration by comparing the two methods. A linear relationship was observed between number of foci and virus dilution. The number of foci in a given dilution of virus appeared a little higher than counted plaques formed in standard plaque assay. Independent titration results obtained from two assay methods for a given dilution of virus demonstrated a strong correlation (r2=0.99). Foci of virus infected cells as revealed by the enzyme reaction could be counted either 4 days post-infection (p.i.) under low magnification (40X) microscopy, or 6 days p.i. by naked eye observation. Larger size of cell cuture plate, virus adsorption at 35 degrees C, and 10% FBS in diluent appeared to be better conditions for the assay. Immunofocus assay will be an effective and dependable titration method for varicella-zoster virus and its live vaccine in place of the standard plaque assay in respect to accuracy, costs, and experimental convenience.
Adsorption ; Fungi ; Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Microscopy ; Sepharose ; Virion

Tumor-draining lymph node (TDLN) lymphocytes contain immunologically sensitized to tumor but functionally deficient T cells. The 30 kDa protein antigen, a major secreted protein antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, exhibits strong T cell stimulatory effect. In this study, it examined that the feasibility of using M tuberculosis 30 kDa antigen to stimulate tumor-draining lymph node cells for the generation of specific immune effector cells. Freshly isolated TDLN lymphocytes could directly respond to the 30 kDa antigen alone and their proliferative responses were markedly augmented by stimulation with rIL-2. TDLN cells were stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen for various time intervals and examined for the induction of IFN-r and IL-4 mRNA using RT-PCR. The expression of IFN-r mRNA was greatly augmented after 1 wk, whereas IL-4 mRNA is markedly decreased after 1 wk. Cytotoxic T cell activities induced by the 30 kDa antigen was also evaluated. TDLN cells stimulated with the 30 kDa antigen alone were able to generate remarkable cytotoxic response to K562 or Daudi cell lines after 6 days of culture. And their cytotoxic effects were highly augmented by stirnulation with rIL-2. These results suggest that the 30 kDa antigen of M. tuberculosis may selectively activate Thl cells of TDLN lymhocytes and induce the cytotoxic T cell activities. In conclusion, the 30 kDa antigen can be used as a biologic response modifier in tumor immunology.
Allergy and Immunology ; Cell Line ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th1 Cells* ; Tuberculosis

We performed a retrospective study to analyze the relationship between renal scar and urinary tract infection(UTI) in children with primary vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). During the last 4 years, 24 children with VUR including 15 bilateral cases were managed in this hospital. Median followup was 2 years. Renal scar was noticed in 26(67%) out of 39 renal units. The incidence and the severity of renal scar were increased according to the grade of VUR(r=0.694, p<0.005). The correlationships between the No. of UTI and the grade of VUR and between the No. of UTI and the grade of renal scar were statistically significant(r=0.394, p<0.05, respectively). However, the age of patients did not influence the grade of VUR and the grade of renal scar. In conclusion, the incidence and the severity of renal scar in patients with VUR were significantly correlated with the grade of VUR and the No. of UTI.
Child ; Cicatrix* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Tract ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Neoplasms of the nasophrynx are rare in neonates and infants. The most common nasopharyngeal tumor encountered in this age group is teratoma-neoplasm containing multiple heterotopic tissues. Four histologic types of nasopharyngeal teratoma occur-dermoid, teratoid, true teratoma, epignathiof which dermoid is most frequently seen. We have experienced a case of nasopharyngeal teratoma in a female neonate with signs and symptoms of upper airway obstruction. It was diagnosed by cervical. CT and confirmed as ture teratoma by histological examination. Nesopharyngeal teratoma was removed by contact Nd:YAG laser. In addition, we briefly reviewed the literature of neonatal nasopharyngeal teratoma.
Airway Obstruction* ; Choristoma ; Dermoid Cyst ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Teratoma*

Cardiac arrest associated with hyperkalemia during red blood cell transfusion is a rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of transfusion-associated cardiac arrest following the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a 9-month old infant. Her serum potassium level was increased to 9.0 mEq/L, soon after the newly primed circuit with pre-stored red blood cell (RBC) was started and followed by sudden cardiac arrest. Eventually, circulation was restored and the potassium level decreased to 5.1 mEq/L after 5 min. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) priming is a relatively massive transfusion into a pediatric patient. Thus, to prevent cardiac arrest during blood-primed ECMO in neonates and infants, freshly irradiated and washed RBCs should be used when priming the ECMO circuit, to minimize the potassium concentration. Also, physicians should be aware of all possible complications associated with transfusions during ECMO.
Blood Transfusion ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Potassium

No abstract available.

Inflammatory pseudotumor, originally described in the lung, is a relatively rare tumor-like lesion that occurs in various organs and tissues. It is usually well demarcated from the surrounding tissue, however it can be unfortunately resected as a malignant tumor. A few inflammtory pseudotumor in the kidney have been reported in English literature, but there have been no reports in Korea. We report a case with inflammatory pseudotumor of the kidney. A 48 year old woman had an intermittent flank pain on the right side. An ultrasonographic study suggested a renal cell carcinoma and a nephrectomy was done. Grossly, there were two separate masses with a well demarcated yellowish appearance, measuring 2.3 cm and 1.3 cm in diameter, respectively. Histologically, they were composed of smooth muscle actin positive spindle cells and a large number of foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells in the fibrotic backgound.
Actins ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma Cells

No abstract available.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium*

The purpose of this study was to investigate proportional characteristics of soft tissue profile in Korean young adults. The sample consisted of 50 young adults(25 males and 25 females) who had pleasing profile and normal occlusion. Soft tissue proportional analysis was performed on lateral cephalograms taken in natural head position. The results were as follows: 1. Mean and standard deviation of proportional analysis were obtained. 2. Horizontal and vertical dimensions were larger in male. But facial proportion had no sexual difference except upper/lower face height(p<0.05). Upper/lower face height was larger in female than in male. 3. Vertical dimensions, except SN-ST, had high correlation with horizontal dimensions. 4. Head positioning error of natural head position was smaller than inter -individual variability of SN line.
Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Vertical Dimension ; Young Adult*

The cytoskeleton has been shown to form a network, connecting the extracelluar matrix via integrin with the nucleus and the cytoplasmic constituents of the cell It is therefore assumed that the cytoskeleton may mediate signals generated by perturbations originating in the matrix. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of cytoskeletal change on osteoblastic cell activities. The author cultured osteohinstic cells obtained from neonatal mouse calvaria The cells were treated with cytochalasin B(CB) or colchicine (COL) at four concentrations for 3 hours and after another 24 hours the conditioned media was collected and assayed for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factors-alpha(TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase-1(MMP-1). In addition, the cytoskeletal protein actin were observed by immunofluorescence. The results were as follows: 1. The production of PGE(2) showed the tendency to be increased in CB-treated group. PGE(2) was increased in COL-treated group dose-dependantly. 2. IL-6 Production, in CB-treated group, was increased, except at 1.0 microgram/ml. IL-6 was induced in COL-treated group. 3. TNF-alpha production was increased in CB-treated group, except at 1.0 microgram/ml, and in COL-treated group, that was increased. 4. The MMP-1 production was decreased in CB-treated goup and was not changed in COL-treated group, which could be selectively visualized by immunoblotting with monospecific antibody. 5. The cytoskeletal actin stress fibers were disappeared and the cells showed to be rounded in CB-treated group. These results indicated that there are a relationship between the cytoskeletal rearrangements and osteoblastic cell activities, especially in release of paracrine/autocrine factors, such as PGE(2), IL-6, and TNF-alpha.
Actins ; Animals ; Colchicine ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Cytoplasm ; Cytoskeleton ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Necrosis ; Osteoblasts* ; Skull ; Stress Fibers ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha