BACKGROUND: Th2-like cells are thought to play a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of eosinophil in bronchial asthma. In contrast to Th2 cytokine, Thl cytokine IFN-y decreases eosinophil recruitment. Previous studies have shown that IL-12 promotes differentiation of Th0 into Thl and enhances production of Thl cytokine. IL-12 also prevents differentiation of Th0 into Th2 during primary immune response. Its effect on established Th2 cell, however, is well known. OBJECTIVE: The objective of aur study was focused on whether IL-12 prevents recruitment of eosinophil and expression of Th2 cytokine in murine model for bronchial asthma, and whether its effect differs according to timing of dosage. METHOD: Administration of IL-12 was tested in the 3 different time-frames; 1) allergic sensitization (early dosage) 2) allergic challenge (late doaage) or 3) both. The number of eosinophil in the bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid and tissue was examined for change of airway inflammation. The effect on cytokine expression was assessed by measuring cytokine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (ELISA) and mRNA in peribronchial lymph node (RT-PCR) RESULTS: Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, strikingly decreased the numbers of eosinophil in both BAL fluid and tissue(p<0.05). Late dosage of IL-12 decreased tissue eosinophilia, while the number of eosinophil in BAL fluid remained unchanged. IL-12 increased IL-4 and IL-5 levels, and decreased IL-2 and I~FN-r levels. There were no differences in Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation among the three dosage times. Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, increased IL-10 level, but late dosage had no effect on IL-10. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that depending upon whether IL-12 is administered during sensitization or during subsequent allergen exposure, Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation by IL -12 shows no difference because it seems that difference of inhibition of eosinophil recruitment by IL-12 might be related with the other factors, such as IL-10.
Animals ; Asthma* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger ; Th2 Cells

BACKGROUND: Naringin, one of the flavonoids in citrus fruit peels, is known to have antioxidant and hepatotonic effects in animal studies. We evaluated the effect of naringin on 1) blood lipid profiles, 2) regression of fatty streak of aorta, and 3) liver toxicity in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits. METHODS: New Zealand White Rabbits (2.0 - 2.5 Kg) were divided to three groups; group without treatment, group treated with 100 mg/kg/d or 500 mg/kg/d naringin, and group treated with 1 mg/kg/d or 20 mg/kg/d lovastatin. They were fed on 0.25% or 1.0% cholesterol-containing diet for 8 weeks and then sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for measurement of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, serum GOT and GPT. Aortas and livers were harvested for evaluation of fatty streak and pathologic examination. RESULTS: 1)Feeding of 1% cholesterol diet for eight weeks significantly increased the cholesterol level upto 20 folds. Neither lovastatin nor naringin did lower these marked hypercholesterolemia. But both naringin (500 mg/kg/d) and lovastatin (1 mg/kg/d) significantly reduced the area of fatty streak by 75% and 58%, respectively. Naringin was more effective in inhibition of fat infiltration into liver than lovastatin which showed hepatotoxicity as increase of serum GPT level (p=0.01). 2)Feeding of 0.25% cholesterol diet for eight weeks significantly increased the cholesterol level upto 17 folds. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels tended to decrease by treatment with naringin (500 mg/kg/d) and lovastatin (20 mg/kg/d), but this decreases were not statistically significant. However, areas of fatty streak significantly decreased by treatment with naringin and lovastatin by 64 and 82%, respectively (p<0.05). Microscopic analysis revealed that foam cell infiltration into intima was significantly reduced by naringin and lovastatin. In contrast to lovastatin, naringin significantly reduced the level of serum GPT (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Like lovastatin, naringin has strong antiatherogenic action which may not be associated with its very mild lipid lowering action. In contrast to lovastatin, naringin does have hepatoprotective effect.
Animals ; Aorta ; Cholesterol ; Citrus ; Diet ; Flavonoids ; Foam Cells ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Liver ; Lovastatin ; Rabbits* ; Triglycerides

To evaluate the clinical and histopathological significance of the proliferative activity in neoplastic and non-neoplastic thyroid lesions, we analyzed the mitotic count and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-LI) by immunohistochemistry as the proliferation- related markers. In this study included were surgically removed normal thyroid tissue (27 cases), adenomatous goiter (15 cases), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (5 cases), follicular adenoma (13 cases), follicular carcinoma (7 cases), papillary carcinoma (44 cases), poorly differentiated carcinoma (2 cases) and undifferentiated carcinoma (3 cases). The median PCNA-LI was 0 in normal thyroid tissue, 0.5 in adenomatous goiter, 6.2 in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 1.2 in follicular adenoma, 4.8 in follicular carcinoma, 8.5 in papillary carcinoma, 60.8 in poorly differentiated carcinoma, and 55.2 in undifferentiated carcinoma (p=0.0001). Although PCNA-LI was exceptionally high in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it was suggested that PCNA-LI could be used as a marker differentiating benign lesions from malignant neoplasm. Also, it could differentiate follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma. Except clinical stage (p=0.0397), PCNA-LI was not related with sex, size, histologic subtype, and lymph node metastasis in papillary carcinoma. The presence of mitosis differentiated the neoplastic thyroid lesions from the non-neoplastic lesions (p<0.05), however, it could not divide benign and malignant neoplasm. These results suggest that an evaluation of the proliferative activity can help to differentiate the thyroid lesions. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the value of PCNA-LI and the presence of mitosis. It can be recommended to evaluate both the mitotic count and the PCNA-LI for determining the proliferative activity of the thyroid lesions.
Adenoma ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Goiter ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Mitosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis

The Purpose of this article is to present a clinical case report for palateless complete denture. Despite the contravacy of palatal uncoverage in upper complete denture, palateless complete denture has some merits for upper edentulous patient. Following the uncovering of the palatal portion, the patient became easy to talk and restored the lost good tastes. He is happy despite of the decrease of the retention of the upper complete denture. Palateless complete denture is a compatible alternative for upper edentulous patients in cases of gagging, large palatal torus and restoring the lost good tastes. The clinical points are as follows : 1. The remaning alveolar ridge should be ovoid and have enough width and height for the support and retention. 2. The patient must have strong wish to the palateless complete denture. 3. Palatal beading made on the palatal peripheral border give good border sealing of the palatal flange and minimaized the prominence of the denture flange. 4. The peripheral border of the palatal flange should be reduced as thin as possible for more comfort. 5. Upper artificial posterior teeth should be arranged over the alveolar ridge crest and inner incline of the buccal cusp relieved for denture stability while chewing. 6. For stability of palateless complete denture, bilateral balanced occlusion should be sttained. Palateless complete denture will restore the lost good tastes and more comfortable and physiologic to upper edentulous patients and a good alternative to full palatal coverage complete denture in the properly selected cases.
Alveolar Process ; Denture Retention ; Denture, Complete* ; Dentures ; Gagging ; Humans ; Mastication ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: N-acetylcysteine(ACE) is used both orally and intravenously in a variety of experimental pathologies resembling human disease states which exhibit endothelial toxicity as a result of oxidative stress, including acute pulmonary oxygen toxicity, septicemia and endotoxin shock. Despite these observations in vivo, it is not certain how this thiol drug produces its protective effects. ACE is a cysteine derivative which is able to directly react with oxygen radicals and may also act as a cysteine and glutathione(GSH) precursor following deacetylation. In this paper, we tried to know whether the therapeutic doses of ACE can modify the inflammatory function of the neutrophils and can increase the glutathione level of plasma in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients. In addition, the effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil in terms of superoxide release and glutathione synthesis were observed. METHOD: Firstly, we gave 600mg of ACE for seven days and compare the release of superoxide, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence from the neutrophils, neutrophil chemotaxis, and plasma GSH levels before and after ACE treatment in COPD patients. Secondly, we observed the dose dependent effect of ACE to the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and GSH levels in vitro. RESULTS: 1) Usual oral therapeutic doses(600mg per day) of ACE for seven days did affect neither on the neutrophils superoxide release, chemiluminescence, chemotaxis, nor on the plasma GSH concentration in the COPD patients. 2) ACE decreases the purified neutrophil's superoxide release and increase the GSH production in dose dependent fashion in vitro. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that oral ACE treatment did not affect on the neutrophil's inflammatory function and plasma GSH concentration in COPD patients in usual therapeutic doses, it decreases the superoxide release and increases the GSH production from the isolated neutrophils in high molar concentrations. These findings suggest that to obtain an antioxidative effects of ACE, it might be needed to increase the daily dosage of ACE or therapeutic duration or change the route of adminisration in COPD patients.
Acetylcysteine* ; Chemotaxis* ; Cysteine ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Luminescence ; Molar ; Neutrophils* ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Pathology ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Superoxides*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Hypertension, Renovascular* ; Renal Artery*

Neurilemmomas of the trachea are extremely rare. The most common site of them is the distal third of the trachea and the age of the patients at presentation varied from 6 to 78 years old. They usually have a freqeuntly very long natural history, causing symptoms only after they have attained a considerable size. We experienced a case of near-total obstruction of the trachea by an intraluminal sessile neurilemmoma. The patient was a 66-year-old man with 2-year history of progressive exertional dyspnea and had several episodes of pneumonitis associated with productive cough. Grossly, the tumor was a well-circumscribed mass. Microscopically, typical cellular Antoni A and myxoid Antoni B areas were revealed.
Aged ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Natural History ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pneumonia ; Trachea

Purpose: This study identified the epidemiological characteristics, including the size and major strains, of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) and CP-CRE-related factors by comparing the characteristics of patients in the CP-CRE and non-CP-CRE groups and the CP-CRE and non-CRE groups. Methods: This secondary data analysis study included 24 patients in the CP-CRE group, 113 patients in the non-CP-CRE group, and 113 in the non-CRE group. The size and type of CP-CRE were analyzed in terms of frequency and percentage, and CP-CRE risk factors were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The rate of CP-CRE positivity among patients with CRE was 17.5%, and the most common causative organism in the CP-CRE group was Klebsiella pneumoniae (81.8%). There were no significant differences between patients in the CP-CRE and non-CP-CRE groups. When compared with the non-CRE group, the isolation of multidrug-resistant organisms except for CRE, particularly vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, was confirmed as a major risk factor. Conclusion To prevent CP-CRE acquisition, patients with multidrug-resistant organisms require treatment with more thorough adherence to CRE prevention and management guidelines.Keywords

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the concept of hope, so to provide basic data to develop a valid instrument to measure hope, and to develop hope enhancing nursing intervention a program for cancer patients. The hybrid model approach was applied in three phases, the theoretical phase, the empirical phase, and the analytic phase. The study was developed on universal attributes explaining generalized hope and specific hope, which were revealed in a comprehensive review of the literature. In the empirical phase, eight cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were interviewed to reveal causes, motivation, and their resource of hope according to The Hope Assessment Guide (Farren, Herth, & Popovich, 1995). In the analytical phase, the results of the two previous stages of the study were compared. The results were as follows: In the theoretical phase, six dimensions of hope emerged; affective, cognitive, behavioral, affiliative, temporal and contextual dimension. The antecedent of hope was loss, crisis, uncertainity, and stress. The consequences were renewal, development of new methods, safety, peace and transcendental competence. In the empirical phase, these six dimensions emerged as theoretical phases were verified and specified as these descriptive terms: feeling, intention, expectation, activity, relation, future- orientation, reality and goal-setting. The antecedent factor of hope was occurrence or recurrence of cancer. The consequence of hope was ability to cope with real condition, feeling of safety and comfort, peace, development of new strategy and recovery of disease. The major content of hope in this phase was related to specific hope, but it was also influenced on by general hope. In the analytic phase, general and specific hope was renamed as trait and state hope. All attributes emerged at the empirical phases, and also emerged at the theoretical phase. However, cognitive and contextual dimensions were revised and specified. In conclusion, the concept of hope is divided into trait hope and state hope, and state hope is an anticipatory expectation that occurs at the time of a stressful stimulus, such as being diagnosed with cancer. Hope is a multidimensional dynamic energized mental state which has the dimensions of affective, cognitive, behavioral, affiliative, temporal and contextual. There should be further studies to develope the state and trait hope scale according to definition and attributes of hope investigated in this study. In addition, considering results of the empirical phase, the family is very a important factor as a resource of hope, so it is necessary to consider family in implementing a nursing intervention program to enhance hope.
Drug Therapy* ; Hope* ; Humans ; Intention ; Mental Competency ; Motivation ; Nursing ; Recurrence