This study was performed to observe the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and gamma-globulin(gamma-globulin) in experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia of immune suppressed mice. After 9 weeks, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMZ; 10-50 mg/mouse/day), mouse IFN-gamma(5 x 10(4) units/mouse/day) and mouse gamma-globulin(20 mg/mouse/day) were administered to the mice for 3 weeks by the experimental group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by body weights, histopathologic and electron microscopic findings of the lungs, and number of P. carinii cysts by Gomori's methenamine silver stain. Body weights of the mice were significantly increased in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma or gamma-globulin, and in the group of TMP-SMZ treatment (p < 0.05), however, little effect was found in the group of gamma-globulin alone. Histopathologic findings of P. carinii pneumonia were much improved in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma. Treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma significantly reduced the number of cysts in the P. carinii pneumonia, but gamma-globulin alone was ineffective. In electron microscopic findings of P. carinii pneumonia, the number of trophozoites and cysts were reduced by treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma, and most of the cysts were empty or containing one or two intracystic bodies. The present results suggested, that combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma had synergistic effects in treatment of P. carinii pneumonia in experimental mice.
Drug-Synergism ; Drug-Therapy,-Combination ; English-Abstract ; Gamma-Globulins-administration-and-dosage ; Interferon-Type-II-administration-and-dosage ; Mice- ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination-administration-and-dosage ; *Gamma-Globulins-therapeutic-use ; *Interferon-Type-II-therapeutic-use ; *Pneumonia,-Pneumocystis-carinii-therapy ; Gamma-Globulins ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination ; Interferon-Type-II

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between disease progression and expression of c-erbB-2 and S-100 protein positive dendritic cells in Cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Tissues were analyzed from 100 patients. Each of them had invasive carcinoma(44), microinvasive(12), CIS(33), CIN(II) before treatment, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and S-100 protein positive dendritic cell were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. (Avidin-biotin complex method) RESULTS: C-erbB-2 immunostaining was significantly associated with disease progression (p<0.05). In case of CIN I, there was not noted stained specimen but in case of invasive carcinoma, 24 cases of stained specimen were noted. S-100 protein positive dendritic cell was not associated with disease progression of cervical carcinoma.(p>0.05) CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, c-erbB-2 is possible factor in Carcinogenesis of cervical carcinoma with progression of it. and S-100 protein positive dendritic cell was not associated with disease progression of cervical carcinoma.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Dendritic Cells* ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; S100 Proteins* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Immunoglobulins* ; Tetanus Toxoid* ; Tetanus* ; Vaccination*

The authors report seven cases of carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms who were surgically treated using the combined extradural-intradural or intradural approach from March, 1991, to December, 1993. Carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysms are of considerably surgical interest because some of these were considered to have technical difficulties of clipping and disastrous surgical results. Removal of the anterior clinoid process and unroofing of the optic canal are the key points to exposure the operative field adequately. On the basis of these experiences, authors concluded that this approach is very useful, because of adequate surgical field and better mobilization of the internal carotid artery and optic nerve for direct clipping of carotid-ophthalmic artery aneurysm and basilar tip aneurysm.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Optic Nerve

OBJECTIVES: The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of acquired clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by peripheral cytopenias and a hypercellular or normocellular dysplastic bone marrow. The mechanisms responsible for development of MDS are not known. We performed this study to evaluate the hematopoietic abnormalities and apoptosis in MDS. METHODS: Long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) was performed for colony assays, cobblestone area assay, stromal morphologic changes from 7 patients with MDS and 7 normal controls. In situ nick end labeling (ISNEL) method was performed for detection of apoptosis from LTBMC in 7 patients with MDS and 7 normal controls. ISNEL method also performed in bone marrow cell bloc samples in 36 patients with MI3S. RESULTS: Viability of nonadherent cells from LTBMC of patients with MDS was not decreased compared with normal controls at 1 week, but significantly decreased at 2 and 3 weeks compared with normal controls (P<0.0001). Formation of the cobblestone areas from patients with MDS was slightly decreased compared with normal controls at 1st week, but significantly decreased at 2nd and 3rd weeks compared with normal controls (P<0.0001). Slightly decreased compared with normal controls at 1 week, but significantly decreased at 2 and 3 weeks compared with normal controls (P<0.0001). Stromal layers produced in LTBMC of normal controls and 1 patient with MDS were detected at 1 week and were formed confluent stroma from 3 weeks, but another patients with MDS who did not form a confluent stroma. Patients with MDS had significantly lower colony forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) compared with normal controls at 1 (P<0.01) and 2 weeks (P<0.001) of LTBMC. Two weeks of LTBMC resulted more profound inhibition of CFU-GM formation than 1 week (P<0.0001). Apoptotic cell death was absent in adherent and non adherent cells from normal controls at 1 and 2 weeks, but massive apoptotic cell death was found in adherent and non adherent cells from patients with MDS at 1 and 2 weeks and the degree of apoptosis was profound at 2 weeks compared with 1 week. Among the 36 patients, fifteen patients demonstrated varying degrees of apoptosis positive cells, 4 having low, 8 intermediates, and 3 high scores. Remaining 21 patients showed absent apoptosis or only occasional positive cells. CONCLUSION: Hematopoietic abnormalities such as a failure of differentiation are caused by the stromal defects and the biologic basis of the apparent paradox of peripheral cytopenias in the face of hypercellular (or normocellular) marrow is related by intramedullary apoptotic cell death of the stromal and hematopoietic cells.
Apoptosis* ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Death ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: Exercise is frequently recommended in the management of diabetes mellitus(DM) and can improve blood control by increasing insulin sensitivity and psychological benefits. Exercise can result in good glycemic control in type 2 DM, when combined with diet and drug therapy. However, in type 1 DM, the expected improvement in glycemic control with exercise have not been clearly established. Effects of exercise on glycemic control in patients with type 1 DM were investigated. METHODS: 20 patients with of type 1 DM, who were no retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiac disorders, were enrolled and exercised for 30min. with 50% of individualized maximum VO2. Blood sugar concentration were measured before, immediate and 15min after exercise. The results were evaluated with HbA1c, C-peptide and DM duration. RESULTS: Blood sugar concentration were significantly decreased from pre-exercise 198+/-9.7mg/dL to immediate 145+/-7.1mg/dL and at 15min. Post-exercise 134+/-4.0mg/dL(P<0.05). In case with HbA1c<10%, there was significantly decreased in blood sugar level from pre-exercise 176+/-9.7mg/dL to immediate 123+/-63.2mg/dL and at 15min post-exercise 113+/-1.9mg/dL(P<0.05). In case with HbA1c>10% there was also significantly decreased in blood sugar levels 222+/-64.7mg/dL, 169+/-6.1mg/dL, 157+/-1.2mg/dL respectively(P<0.05). Group with moderate decreased blood sugar(40-99mg/dL) was 8 patients(42.1%), group with mild decreased blood sugar(<40mg/dL) was 7 patients(36.8%) and group with decreased more than 100mg/dL was 4 patients(21.5%). There was no correlation in degree of decreased blood sugar concentration among HbA1c, C-peptide, DM duration. CONCLUSION: Proper exercise in type 1 diabetic children can decrease blood sugar level significantly and make good glycemic control and can decrease DM microvascular complications in addition to motivating physically active lifestyle.
Blood Glucose ; C-Peptide ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; Diet ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Life Style

No Abstract Available.
Knee* ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*

OBJECTIVES: From February 1995 to April 1998, those patients who had visited for evaluation of infertility, shown abnormal endometrial pattern on hysterosalpingography underwent resectoscopic operation. We evaluated about its therapeutic effect, recurrence rate of uterine adhesion and effectiveness of its assisted method. METHOD: We have reviewed 45 cases of intrauterine adhesion, classified as a central type, marginal type and multiple type. We used 26F resectoscope made in Storz for operation and inserted Lippes loop or pediatric foley catheter for prevention of readhesion. For promoting reepithelialization, conjugated estrogens(premarin) 5mg daily for 30 - 50 days were given and then 10mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate(provera) were added daily for the last 10 days. We evaluated the uterine cavity condition preoperatively and postoperatively by using hysterosalpingography. RESULT: In 45 cases, 41 cases were followed up postoperatively. 21 cases were markedly improved, 12 cases were improved and 8 cases were not improved or recurred on hysterosalpingography. In 41 cases, for prevention of readhesion 20 cases were used pediatric foley catheter and 5 cases(25%) were recurred. 21 cases were used Lippes loop and 3 cases(14%) were recurred. Pregnancy outcome was as follows;15 cases were pregnant and 10 cases delivered a viable infant, 3 cases aborted spontaneously, 1 case was ectopic pregnancy and laparoscopic salpingectomy was done, 1 case was ongoing pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This report suggests that resectoscopic operation is very effective in the treatment of intrauterine adhesion(therapeutic rate of 81%) and that the use of Lippes loop seems like to have the less recurrence rate than the use of pediatric foley catheter in prevention of postoperative readhesion, but more experience and further follow-up are necessary to obtain more detailed conclusions.
Catheters ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterosalpingography ; Infant ; Infertility ; Medroxyprogesterone ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Recurrence ; Salpingectomy

The incidence of ectpic pregnancy has increased rapidly over the past decade. Currently, the complications of this disorder make it one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. In the late 1980s, reports of successful use of methotrexate (MTX) as a non surgical treatment for ectopic pregnancy (EP) also began to appear in the literature. With MTX emerging as a possible alternative management of selected women with an EP, an analysis of its comparative costs is now needed. We examined retrospectively the costs associated with management of EP in our hospital. We selected 30 women with EPand divided them into two groups of MTX treated group (n= l0) and surgically treated group (n=20). There were no statistically significant differences in the doctors fee, room, charge and cost of laboratory and radiologic examination between two groups. But We found significant reduction in cost with regard to pharmacy, injection, procedure and operation of MTX treated group compared to surgically treated group (p<0.05). Consequently the use of MTX for EP should still be considered investigational; we recognize and agree that the evolution of this remedial option should be based primarily on its ability to decrease morbidity and mortality rather than on its ability to reduce costs. If medical treatment proves to be effective, the potential cost savings demonstrated in this report will become an important influential factor on selecting alternative remedy.
Cost Savings ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Mortality ; Methotrexate ; Mortality ; Pharmacy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is subclassified into acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, acute motor or motor-sensory axonal neuropathy, and the other variants. While most studies from Western countries report demyelinating type as predominant form of GBS, some reports from Asian countries suggest the opposite result. Because they are not easily discriminated clinically, electrophysiological study is the most practical method for their subclassification. METHODS: Among the patients who had been admitted to our hospital with typical clinical features of GBS over the past 4 years, we analyzed 32 patients, who had undergone at least 2 serial nerve conduction studies (NCS) throughout the course. In each case, conventional NCS in at least 3 limbs were performed and the criteria of Hadden et al., and 2 other criteria were applied. RESULTS: Using the criteria of Hadden et al., 91% of the patients were classified as primary demyelination, and none as primary axonal pathology. Among the cases of primary demyelination, 21% showed electrophysiological features of axonal GBS at least in one occasion during the serial studies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the primary demyelinating type is by far more predominant in our population. Secondary changes of electrophysiological findings in some of our cases suggest that primary demyelination could be misinterpreted as primary axonal pathology without timely serial studies. For the epidemiologic study of larger scale in conjunction with clinical features and immunologic investigations, the protocol and criteria of consensus is necessary, with the qualified normal limit values of each laboratory.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Axons ; Classification* ; Consensus ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Extremities ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Humans ; Neural Conduction ; Pathology