A quantitative assay was performed on the effects of gamma-irradiation (30-300 Gy) on intracellular proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii RH tachyzoites in human leukemic HL-60 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages by means of 3H-uracil uptake assay. Infected non- irradiation group (NI) and uninfected group (incubating only host cells) were prepared. The 3H-uracil uptake by tachyzoites of NI group 12-24 hrs after infection was 2,190-4,787 counts per minute for macrophages and 2,967-8,254 for HL-60 cells, whereas the irradiated tachyzoites revealed only 381-703 (100 Gy) and 218-408 (300 Gy) for macrophages, and 1,911-2,618 (30 Gy), 1,253-1,384 (70 Gy), 1,013-1,090 (100 Gy), and 483-588 (300 Gy) for HL-60 cells. The proliferation inhibition rate was similar in macrophages and HL-60 cells, for example, 89-94% and 80-94% respectively by 300 Gy, 12-24 hrs after infection. It is concluded that RH tachyzoites of T. gondii are severely affected by gamma-irradiation in their capability of intracellular proliferation.
Animal ; Cell Division/RADIATION EFFECTS ; Cells, Cultured ; Gamma Rays ; Human ; HL-60 Cells/PARASITOLOGY ; Macrophages/PARASITOLOGY ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Radiation Dosage ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Toxoplasma/*RADIATION EFFECTS/*CYTOLOGY

No abstract available.
B-Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, B-Cell

PURPOSE: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a disorder caused by the delayed clearance of fetal alveolar fluid. beta-adrenergic agonists such as albuterol (salbutamol) are known to catalyze lung fluid absorption. This study examined whether inhalational salbutamol therapy could improve clinical symptoms in TTN. Additional endpoints included the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of salbutamol as well as its overall safety. METHODS: From January 2010 through December 2010, we conducted a prospective study of 40 newborns hospitalized with TTN in the neonatal intensive care unit. Patients were given either inhalational salbutamol (28 patients) or placebo (12 patients), and clinical indices were compared. RESULTS: The duration of tachypnea was shorter in patients receiving inhalational salbutamol therapy, although this difference was not statistically significant. The duration of supplemental oxygen therapy and the duration of empiric antibiotic treatment were significantly shorter in the salbutamol-treated group. No adverse effects were observed in either treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalational salbutamol therapy reduced the duration of supplemental oxygen therapy and the duration of empiric antibiotic treatment, with no adverse effects. However, the time between salbutamol therapy and clinical improvement was too long to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn. Further studies examining a larger number of patients with strict control over dosage and frequency of salbutamol inhalations are necessary to better direct the treatment of TTN.
Absorption ; Adrenergic beta-Agonists ; Albuterol* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Inhalation ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Lung ; Methods ; Oxygen ; Prospective Studies ; Tachypnea ; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn*

A total of 542 children under 10 years of age, admitted to the Seoul National University Children's Hospital, was examined for antibody titers of Toxoplasma gondii using indirect latex agglutination (ILA) test. Among them, 7.7% showed positive titers higher than 1:32, without significant difference between males (7.3%) and females (8.5%). The seropositive rate increased with age although the statistical significance was negligible (0.05 < P < 0.1). By residential areas, the prevalence appeared higher among children from southern provinces (Kyongsang-do and Cholla do) than those from other areas, but the statistical significance was also very low (0.05 < P < 0.1). When the seropositive cases were analyzed by coincidental diseases, the prevalence was significantly higher in patients with congenital diseases than in patients with non-congenital diseases (P < 0.05). The results showed that the seropositive rate of toxoplasmosis in children examined was not high compared with other endemic countries. Some correlations are suggested between toxoplasmosis and congenital anomalies in Korea.
Animal ; Antibodies, Protozoan/blood* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Korea/epidemiology ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma/immunology* ; Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology*

The importance of opiate dependence or abuse is increasing in the context of the increasing number of cancer survivors and patients with chronic cancer pain. Cancer patients are likely to have psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. It is important to distinguish these psychological disorders from opiate dependence or abuse. We report a case of a cancer patient with major depressive disorder who was initially suspected of opiate dependence or abuse.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Opioid-Related Disorders ; Survivors

PURPOSE: We designed the aft-multiple-slit (AMS) system to reduce scatter in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). As a preliminary study, we performed a Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) simulation to verify the effectiveness of this system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MCNPX code was used to build the AMS geometry. An AMS is an equi-angled arc to consider beam divergence. The scatter-reduced projection images were compared with the primary images only and the primary plus scatter radiation images with and without AMS to evaluate the effectiveness of scatter reduction. To obtain the full 2 dimensional (2D) projection image, the whole AMS system was moved to obtain closed septa of the AMS after the first image acquisition. RESULTS: The primary radiation with and without AMS is identical to all the slit widths, but the profiles of the primary plus scattered radiation varied according to the slit widths in the 2D projection image. The average scatter reduction factors were 29%, 15%, 9%, and 8% when the slit widths were 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: We have evaluated the scatter reduction effect of the AMS in CBCT imaging using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. A preliminary study based on the MCNP simulations showed a mount of scatter reduction with the proposed system.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Molecular karyotyping was applied to Pneumocystis carinii(Pc) from two strains of experimental rats, Sprague Dawley(SD) and Fisher(F), in Korea. Field inversion gel electrophoresis and contour clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis resolved 15 chromosomal bands from the Pc. The size of the bands was estimated 270kb to 684kb from SD rats, and 273kb to 713 kb from F rats. The bands of 283 kb from SD rats and of 273 kb from F rats stained more brightly suggesting duplicated bands. Total number of chromosomes was at least 16, and total genomic size was estimated 7 x 10(6) bp. All of the bands from F rats hybridized to the probe of repeated DNA sequences of Pc and the band of 448 kb size was proved to contain rDNA sequences, but Pc. chromosome bands from SD rats showed no reactions to the probes. The 2 different karyotypes of P. carinii from 2 strains of rats were maintained consistently for 2 years.
Electrophoresis- ; ; Korea- ; ; Nucleic-Acid-Hybridization ; Pneumocystis-carinii-isolation-and-purification ; Rats- ; *Karyotyping- ; ; *Pneumocystis-carinii-genetics ; *Rats,-Inbred-F344-microbiology ; *Rats,-Sprague-Dawley-microbiology

PURPOSE: Rigid external distraction(RED) is a highly effective technique for correction of maxillary hypoplasia in patients with cleft or syndromic craniosynostosis. Despite many advantages of RED, it also has the problem of relapse as the conventional advancement surgery. Bicoronal approach, that is the common approach to gain access to the craniofacial skeleton, had some morbidity, such as hair loss, sensory loss, wide scar and temporal hollowing. We present our clinical experience of RED distraction with minimal invasive approach and early rigid fixation to overcome these disadvantages. METHODS: A 27-year-old female patient with Crouzon's disease underwent Le Fort III osteotomy and RED device application through the minimal invasive direct skin incisions. After the latent period of 5 days, distraction was undertaken until proper convexity and advancement were obtained. During the rigid retention period, inflammation occurred on the right cheek, and proper conservative managements were done including continuous irrigation. To maintain the stability of distraction, early rigid fixation was undertaken on the osteotomy sites through another skin incisions. Preoperative and postoperative orthodontic treatments were performed. Serial photographs and cephalometric radiographs were obtained preoperatively, after distraction and 6 months after distraction. RESULTS: The cephalometric analysis demonstrated postoperatively significant advancement of the maxilla and improvement of facial convexity. After 6-month follow-up period, the maxilla was stable in the sagittal plane and no relapse was found. Facial scars were not noticeable and other deformity and morbidity did not occur. CONCLUSION: This effective and stable technique will be a good alternative for the patients who need large amount of distraction and for adult patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia or syndromic craniosynostosis.
Adult ; Cheek ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniofacial Dysostosis* ; Craniosynostoses ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteotomy* ; Recurrence ; Skeleton ; Skin

PURPOSE: Rigid external distraction(RED) is a highly effective technique for correction of maxillary hypoplasia in patients with cleft or syndromic craniosynostosis. Despite many advantages of RED, it also has the problem of relapse as the conventional advancement surgery. Bicoronal approach, that is the common approach to gain access to the craniofacial skeleton, had some morbidity, such as hair loss, sensory loss, wide scar and temporal hollowing. We present our clinical experience of RED distraction with minimal invasive approach and early rigid fixation to overcome these disadvantages. METHODS: A 27-year-old female patient with Crouzon's disease underwent Le Fort III osteotomy and RED device application through the minimal invasive direct skin incisions. After the latent period of 5 days, distraction was undertaken until proper convexity and advancement were obtained. During the rigid retention period, inflammation occurred on the right cheek, and proper conservative managements were done including continuous irrigation. To maintain the stability of distraction, early rigid fixation was undertaken on the osteotomy sites through another skin incisions. Preoperative and postoperative orthodontic treatments were performed. Serial photographs and cephalometric radiographs were obtained preoperatively, after distraction and 6 months after distraction. RESULTS: The cephalometric analysis demonstrated postoperatively significant advancement of the maxilla and improvement of facial convexity. After 6-month follow-up period, the maxilla was stable in the sagittal plane and no relapse was found. Facial scars were not noticeable and other deformity and morbidity did not occur. CONCLUSION: This effective and stable technique will be a good alternative for the patients who need large amount of distraction and for adult patients with severe maxillary hypoplasia or syndromic craniosynostosis.
Adult ; Cheek ; Cicatrix ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniofacial Dysostosis* ; Craniosynostoses ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteotomy* ; Recurrence ; Skeleton ; Skin

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Banxia Houpu Decoction on a chronic mild stress model of depression and investigate the antidepressive mechanism.

METHODWith consumption of a 1% sucrose solution as an index, and by subjecting rats to a variety of mild stressors for a prolonged period of time, a chronic mild stress model was developed. The levels of the blood lipid were measured by blood lipid kits, the natural kill (NK) cell activity in the spleen was measured with the method of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in red blood cell was assayed by the Autoxidation of Pyrogallol method, the NO synthase (NOS) activity in serum and tissue was measured by NOS kits, and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) was measured by MDA kits.

RESULTBanxia Houpu Decoction significantly increased the consumption of sucrose solution, increased the level of the high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), decreased the level of the Triglyceride(TG) in serum, enhanced the activity of the NK in spleen, decreased the activity of the SOD in red blood and the activity of the NOS in serum and tissue, and reduced the content of MDA in tissue by effect on lipid Peroxidation in CNS model of depression.

CONCLUSIONBanxia Houpu Decoction has antidepressant effect in different ways.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Depression ; immunology ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Sucrose ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; blood