The present study investigated the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium parvum as a cause of diarrhea. We examined 942 stools of unidentified reasons occurring in patients in whom no immunosuppression had been detected. We examined the stools for Cryptosporidium parvum via modified acid-fast staining. The clinical records of all of the positive patients were then analyzed. Nine (1%) of the stools among the 942 diarrheal patients were positive for C. parvum. The positive rate in the males was 1.1% (6/522) and the positive rate of the females was 0.7% (3/420). Age distribution revealed that the highest positive rates were in patients in their sixties, with a positive rate of 2.5% (4/158). In the clinical tests, levels of c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and neutrophil proportions were normally increased in the peripheral blood, whereas the lymphocyte proportion exhibited a tendency towards decrease. The pathological findings were compatible with an inflammatory reaction in the host.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptosporidiosis/*epidemiology/immunology ; *Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification ; Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification ; Diarrhea/*epidemiology/immunology/parasitology ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; HIV Seronegativity ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Staining and Labeling

In the present study, we examined to determine the development of various lymphoid tissue including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), thymus, lymph node and liver. In order to investigate the relationship between the morphological events and the expression pattern of MIC2 antigen (CD99) during the development of lymphoid system, we performed the immunohistochemical study using DN16, a monoclonal antibody against MIC2 (CD99), on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lymphoid sections in 68 human embryos and fetuses, between 5 and 39 gestational week (GW). Four neonates, an infant, and 5 adults are also included. CD99 has been expressed along the membrane of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells for 10-28 GW, in when the liver the major site of hematopoiesis. In the thymus, CD99 was firstly detected in the presumptive epitheial cells at 10 GW. When the thymus matured and corticomedullary differentiation appeared, CD99 was exclusively expressed in cortical thymocytes. The CD99 expression in epithelial cells of MALT has initiated at 6 GW and 10 GW earlier than that at the onset of MALT development and its expression has been persisted during MALT formation especially 16-25 GW. The finnding that CD99 antigen was expressed in epithelial cells during the development of MALT rnight provide a means to identify a novel epithelial differentiated substance. In addition, endothelial cells that are present in various organs such as liver and small intestine concurrently expressed CD99 antigen and its expression persisted to late fetal period. This point rnight suggest that CD99 antigen regulate the irnigration of lymphocytes from liver, major hematopoietic organ, to thymus or peripheral lyrnphoid organ via the interaction between endothelial cells and lymphocytes.
Adult ; Embryonic Structures* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetus* ; Hematopoiesis ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Membranes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome*

A large body of evidence indicates that Helicobacter pylori is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Several techniques are currently used for detecting H. pylori. Recently the immunohistochemical method was introduced for rapid detection of H. pylori. To compare the result of the immunohistochemical method with those obtained by microbiologic methods, we glean formalin fixed, paraffin embbeded gastric and duodenal biopsy specimens from 85 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. We set fifty cases which H. pylori was cultivated and identified by Gram stain as Group I, and thirty-five cases without H. pylori in Gram stain and culture as Group II. The results were as follows. 1) The sensitivity and the specificity of immunohistochemical method were 94% and 80% compared with the microbiologic method. Positive and negative predictive value of the immunohistochemical method were respectively 87% and 90%. However, in seven cases of Group II, H. pylori were identified by immunohistichemical method. 2) Immunohistochemical staining exhibited bacteria that were present in the mucus layer, the surface of the gastric mucosa and metaplastic gastric epithelium in duodenum. With reference to the distribution and density of H. pylori in Group I and II, a significant correlation existed between microbiologic results and bacterial load of the biopsy specimen (p<0.01). 3) Chronic inflammation of gastric biopsies were seen in all 45 H. pylori-positive cases(100%) and 16 out of 19 H. pylori-negative cases(84%). The degree of chronic inflammation was more severe in positive cases than negative cases. Activity of inflammation was seen 98% of H. pylori-positive cases and 16% of H. pylori-negative cases. Intestinal metaplasia was seen 40% of H. pylori-positive cases and 58% of H. pylori-negative cases. Lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 47%(27 cases) of H. pylori-positive cases. Among 47%, cases with lymphoid follicles were 9%(4 cases) and cases with lymphoid aggregates were 38%(17 cases). In H. pylori-negative cases, lymphoid follicles and aggregates were seen in 16%(3 cases). It is possible to obtain samples from most of the individuals who underwent the endoscopy in Korea. And this method is simple, rapid and sensitive. We conclude that the immunohistochemical method is another useful diagnostic tool for detection of Helicobacter pylori.
Predictive Value of Tests ; Biopsy

The purpose of this study was to compare the sleep characteristics between the prone and the supine position in healthy newborns. The 48 newborns were observed in the prone position and the supine position respectively on the 2nd day after birth. The data were collected from January to May, 1999. The state of a newborn was classified and categorized to 6 states (deep sleep, light sleep, drowsy, quiet alert, active alert, crying) by Barnard. The movements of eyes, face and extremities, pulse and arterial oxygen were observed and recorded continuously from the start of sleep after feeding until the time of being woken for the next feeding by a trained nurse. The data was analyzed by using paired t-test. The results of this study were as follows; 1. There was no significant difference in the length of sleeping time between the prone and the supine position. 2. There was no significant difference in the length and frequencies of each states(deep sleep, light sleep, drowsy, quiet alert, active alert, crying) between the prone and the supine position. But the frequency of light sleep in the supine position was significantly higher than that of the prone position. 3. There was no significant difference in the numbers of eyes movements between the prone and the supine sleep position. But the amount of facial and extremity movement in the supine position was significantly higher than those in the prone position 4. There was no significant difference in the arterial oxygen content between the prone and the supine sleep position. 5. There was no significant difference in the heart rates between the prone and the supine sleep position. The above results indicated that the newborns in the prone position moved less and slept deeper than those in the supine position, though there was no difference in the length of sleep or arterial oxygen content between the prone and the supine sleep position. But, Nurses and mothers should consider the relationship between the sleep position and SIDS suggested by previous researches. The infant's 'awakening' during sleep is a normal process and rather valuable because it can provide an opportunity to promote a stronger relationship between mother and baby. So, It is suggested that the supine sleep position is better than the prone sleep position for infants.
Extremities ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers ; Oxygen ; Parturition ; Prone Position ; Sudden Infant Death ; Supine Position ; Child Health

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Blood Flow Velocity* ; Female ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Umbilical Arteries*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Placenta* ; Pregnancy*

To fine out the changes of DNA ploidy and cellular proliferation activity during carcinogenesis and evaluate correlation between flow cytometrically determined S-phase fraction and proportion of proliferation cell nuclear antigen(PCNA, PC10) immunoreactive cells, the authors studied on malignant fibrous histocytoma induced by intra-articular injection of 9, 10-dimethy1-1, 2-benzanthracene(DMBA) in the rats. Forty Wistar rats were used. The results obtained were as follows. 1) Firstly, tumors were palpated 5 weeks after the last injection of DMBA and formed in 27 rats at sacrificed. Histologically, these lesions showed storiform, indicative of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. 2) Three cases of DNA aneuploidy were observed at 4 and 5 months after the last injection of DBMA and one of them, which was DNA diploidy at main mass, was found at daughter mass. 3) Flow cytometrically determined S-phase fraction and proportion of PCNA(PC10) immunoreactive cells in malignant fibrous histiocytoma induced by DMBA were much higher than in control groups and slightly increased according to sequential changes after formation of mass. The comparison of flow cytometrically determined S-phase fraction and proportion of PCNA(PC10) immunoreactive cells showed significant correlation(r=0.6092, p<0.001). Above results strongly suggest that ploidy pattern may evolve into aneuploid type during the development of tumor and proliferation activity increases during the carcinogenesis.
Rats ; Animals

Cryptosporidium, a coccidian parasite first described by Tyzzer (1907) from a laboratory mouse, has become an important human enteric pathogen causing overwhelming diarrhea especially in immunocompromised patients such as AIDS. This parasite has been reported from over 20 countries and is recognized as a cosmopolitan species. In Korea, however, there has been no report on human as well as animal cryptosporidiosis. This study was performed so as to verify the presence of Cryptosporidium in Korea by activating the parasite from laboratory mice by immunosuppression. Total 65 conventionally-bred ICR mice including a control (5 mice) and 3 experimental groups (20 each) were used for this study. Group I was immunosuppressed with prednisolone injection (1 mg IM, every other day) for 7 weeks. Group II (prednisolone injection and tetracycline administration) and Group III (prednisolone injection and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole administration) were prepared to observe the effect of antibacterial agents on the activation of cryptosporidiosis. In fecal examinations of mice Cryptosporidium oocysts (4-6 microns in size) were detected from 1 week after the start of immunosuppression and the mice began to die. In H-E stained tissue sections of the lower jejunum, numerous very small (2-4 microns), dense, ovoid or spherical, slightly basophilic bodies were seen attached on the free border of mucosal epithelial cells. In scanning and transmission electron microscopic observations, these organisms were identified as various developmental stages of Cryptosporidium. The species is considered to be C. parvum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cryptosporidiosis-etiology ; Cryptosporidiosis-immunology ; Cryptosporidium-growth-and-development ; English-Abstract ; Immune-Tolerance ; Intestinal-Diseases,-Parasitic-etiology ; Intestinal-Diseases,-Parasitic-immunology ; Mice- ; Mice,-Inbred-ICR ; *Cryptosporidiosis-parasitology ; *Cryptosporidium-pathogenicity ; *Immunosuppression- ; *Intestinal-Diseases,-Parasitic-parasitology

This study is the descriptive survey for the purpose of providing the basic data that establishes the strategy to promote adolescent's hope by the examining of self-esteem, academic achievement, family functioning and hope of adolescents and the investigating of the factors influencing the hope in adolescents. The subjects for this study were 456 students of the first and second year of man's senior high school that located in Seoul. The data were gathered from 16th to 31st of the October 2000. For the survey tool, it was used that the Family Assessment Device(FAD) of Epstein, Baldwin & Bishop(1983), the Self-Esteem Inventory(SEI) of Coopersmith(1975), the class record order and Hinds & Gatusso(1991)'s Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents(HSA). The collected data was analyzed by statistics methods as the descriptive and frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and Stepwise multiple regression of SAS program. The results of this study were following : 1. The mean score of self-esteem of young people was 51.06 +/- 6.83 and the mean grade was 2.04. The high academic achievement was 29.2%, middle grade was 52.7%, and low grade was 18.1%. The mean score of the family functioning was 38.30 +/- 6.98 and the mean grade was 2.25. The mean score of hope was 84.26 +/- 16.45 and the mean grade was 3.51. 2. The hope in adolescents was significantly different according to their father's school career. The mean score of the group that the father's school career was below junior high school was 77.32. That was significantly lower than the mean score 84.59 of the group that the father's school career was above college and the mean score 85.18 of senior high school group(F=4.04, P= 0.0183). 3. The self-esteem was represented the positive correlation with family functioning(r=0.43) and the all of the 4 subscales(r=0.31, 0.41, 0.39, 0.30). And, it was highly ranked as much as family functioning was good. The academic achievement was represented the positive correlation with self-esteem(r= 0.15). Also, the positive correlation was shown between the affective responsiveness, role recognition and emotional support as the subscales of family functioning and academic achievement(r=0.11, 0.12). And so, academic achievement was high as much as self- esteem was high and affective responsiveness and role recognition and emotional support were good. The hope was represented positive correlation with self-esteem and academic achievement(r=0.42, 0.26), and with the whole of family functioning(r=0.15) and the 4 subscales(r=0.13, 0.16, 0.11, 0.13). So, hope was high as much as self-esteem was high, academic achievement was high and family functioning was good. 4. The influencing factors on the hope of adolescents were self-esteem(17.63%), academic achievement(3.41%), father's school career(0.84%). These factors made it possible to explain 21.88% of hope.
Adolescent* ; Hope* ; Humans ; Seoul ; Child Health