The third complementarity determining region (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa () chain is known to be located at the center of antigen binding groove and critical for antibody specificity. Ig chain has been characterized by limited junctional diversity due to the absence of N-region addition resulting in relative conservation of CDR3 lengths with 9 or 10 amino acids. CDR3 region of 11 amino acids is only possible with N-region addition. Recently, x transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 was found to be expressed in normal individuals, and in autoimrnune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, the fraction of 11 amino acids CDR3 of humkv325-derived chains was overexpressed compared to conventional adult peripheral B cells. However, the significance of this bias is difficult to interpret without a clear understanding of normal repertoire of CDR3 length during development. The purpose of this study is to determine whether developmental regulation of CDR3 amino acids codon lengths exists in chains expressed in the fetal liver, cord blood, and adult peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Lymphocytes were seperated from fetal liver, cord blood and adult PBL and cDNA was generated from extracted mRNA. PCR-based CDR3 finger- printing assay was performed with VI-IV family specific primers. CDR3 length diversity of Ig x chain increases as the development proceeds. The length diversity most frequently occured in Vlll family derived transcripts including 11 amino acids CDR3. transcripts with 11 amino acids CDR3 were consitently expressed in both fetal and adult Ig repertoire. These results support the hypothesis that v chain CDR3 length is developmentally regulated and implicates the diversity of antigen-antibody specificity generation.
Adult ; Amino Acids ; Antibody Specificity ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; B-Lymphocytes ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Codon ; Complementarity Determining Regions ; DNA, Complementary ; Fetal Blood ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Antipsychotic Agents ; poisoning ; Clozapine ; blood ; poisoning ; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of speech-language development and to find out the relationship between them and radiological findings, and mental/motor developmental quotient in the children with cerebral palsy and other delayed development. METHOD: Fifty-eight children with cerebral palsy or delayed development were evaluated with Bayley scales of infant development, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). At the same time, the speech-language development using several evaluation batteries was assessed. RESULTS: Most of the children with cerebral palsy or delayed development showed delay in speech-language development. There was no relationship between speech-language development and presence of the lesion on brain MRI or SPECT, and mental/motor developmental quotient. CONCLUSION: Speech-language development was delayed in most of the children with cerebral palsy or other delayed development. Therefore, early interventions for speech-language development and comprehensive speech therapy are required for improving functional outcome in these children.
Brain* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Child Development ; Child* ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Speech Therapy ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Blood Cells* ; Radionuclide Imaging*

We experienced a case of aeute cerebral infaretion after operation. A 74 year old female patient slipped down and received left femoral neck fracture. Preoperatively, orthopedist, internist and anesthesiologist visited and evaluated her but could not find any suspicious symptoms related to cerebral infarction. She have suffered from hypertension and diabetes mellitus for 1Q yrs. She underwent bipolar endoprosthesis under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, she became deep drowsy and revealed respiratory depression, abnormal neurological sign and was diagnosed as acute cerebral infartion on cranial computed tomography and ultimately expired.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General* ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Respiratory Insufficiency

No abstract available.
Scrub Typhus*

We evaulated the effectiveness and adverse effects of deep sclerectomy with collagen implant (DSCI), which is a kind of nonpenetrating filtering surgery. In this retrospective study, DSCI was performed in 15 eyes of 11 glaucoma patients. An trabeculo-Descemet's membrane (TDM) window is created by a deep sclerokeratectomy, and the collagen implant is placed in the sclera bed under a superficial flap (deep sclerectomy with collagen implant). In 3 of 15 eyes the DSCI was intraoperatively converted to conventional filtering surgery for a large perforation of the TDM. These eyes were not included in the results of the surgical outcomes. The mean age of the patients was 50.3 +/- 14.4 years, and the mean follow-up period was 11.1 +/- 5.9 months. A diagnosis of chronic open angle glaucoma was made in 7 eyes and a diagnosis of secondary glaucoma in 5 eyes. The mean preoperative IOP was 25.8 +/- 11.9 mmHg, the immediate postoperative IOP was 6.4 +/- 2.9 mmHg, and at the final follow-up, the IOP was 11.9 +/- 2.5 mmHg. The IOP in 5 eyes was under 6 mmHg temporarily. However, there was no serious complication such as shallow anterior chamber. DSCI is considered to be a good surgical procedure that has similar surgical outcomes to a conventional trabeculectomy without serious complications.
Adult ; Aged ; Collagen/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glaucoma/etiology/*surgery ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/surgery ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; *Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclera/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome

The major presenting manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Korea are known to be cutaneous manifestations, arthritis, nephritis, and fever. The ascites due to peritoneal involvement in SLE is quite common. However, it is unusual for massive ascites to be major presenting manifestations of SLE. In this report, we describe a case of SLE patient whose disease manifested as intractable ascites. This illustrates an unusual presentation and natural history of a complex autoimmune disease.
Arthritis ; Ascites* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Fever ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Natural History ; Nephritis

PURPOSE: To present the T1 and T2 relaxation times of the major cerebral metabolites at 1.5T and 3.0T and compare those between 1.5T and 3.0T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the phantom containing N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Choline (Cho), and Creatine (Cr) at both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, the T1 relaxation times were calculated from the spectral data obtained with 5000 ms repetition time (TR), 20 ms echo time (TE), and 11 different mixing time (TM)s using STEAM (STimulated Echo-Acquisition Mode) method. The T2 relaxation times were obtained from the spectral data obtained with 3000 ms TR and 5 different TEs using PRESS (Point-RESolved Spectroscopy) method. The T1 and T2 relaxation times obtained at 1.5T were compared with those of 3.0T. RESULTS: The T1 relaxation times of NAA were 2293 +/- 48 ms at 1.5T and 2559 +/- 124 ms at 3.0T (11.6% increase at 3.0T). The T1 relaxation times of Cho were 2540 +/- 57 ms at 1.5T and 2644 +/- 76 ms at 3.0T (4.1% increase at 3.0T). The T1 relaxation times of Cr were 2543 +/- 75 ms at 1.5T and 2665 +/- 94 ms at 3.0T (4.8% increase). The T2 relaxation times of NAA were 526 +/- 81 ms at 1.5T and 468 +/- 74 ms at 3.0T (11.0% decrease at 3.0T). The T2 relaxation times of Cho were 220 +/- 44ms at 1.5T and 182 +/- 35 ms at 3.0T (17.3% decrease at 3.0T). The T2 relaxation times of Cr were 289 +/- 47 ms at 1.5T and 275 +/- 57 ms at 3.0T (4.8% decrease at 3.0T). CONCLUSION: The T1 relaxation times of the major cerebral metabolites (NAA, Cr, Cho), which were measured at the phantom, were 4.1%-11.6% longer at 3.0T than at 1.5T. The T2 relaxation times of them were 4.8%-17.3% shorter at 3.0T than at 1.5T. To optimize MR spectroscopy at 3.0T, TR should be lengthened and TE should be shortened.
Aspartic Acid ; Choline ; Creatine ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Protons ; Relaxation ; Steam ; Tromethamine

Isometric contractions of muscles in upper extremities occur frequently during ordinary daily activities. The isometric handgrip exercise can be one of the best methods for the evaluation and treatment of patients with disability of upper extremity. However these isometric contractions can impose sudden and significant high stresses to the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this study was to document the torque patterns and cardiovascular responses of subjects by the isometric handgrip exercises and hopefully to provide a guidance for the safe evaluations and prescriptions of isometric exercises. Eighty healthy male subjects from 21 to 60 years of age performed isometric handgrip exercises using a Baltimore therapeutic equipment work simulator. The peak torque, time to peak torque, and torque at each second were measured by a six-second isometric strength trial program. The blood pressure and heart rate were measured simultaneously at rest and at each minute during isometric exercises at 30%, 50%, and 70% of the peak torque. There were no differences in the peak torque, time to peak torque, and torque at each second between age groups(p>0.05). After the onset of peak torque, the torque gradually decreased and recorded 72.8% of the peak torque at 6 seconds. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate increased significantly during exercise(p<0.001), but returned to the resting state immediately when the exercise stopped. The mean arterial pressures were significantly different when the duration of exercise prolonged at 50% and 70% of the peak torque(p<0.05). And also the mean arterial pressures increased significantly when the strength of exercise increased as well(p<0.001). We have concluded that attentions should be given to patient's cardiovascular state, and duration and strengh of exercise when the isometric handgrip exercises are prescribed for the evaluation and treatment of patients.
Arterial Pressure ; Attention ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular System ; Exercise ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Isometric Contraction ; Male ; Muscles ; Prescriptions ; Torque ; Upper Extremity