Nitric oxide (NO) induces apoptotic cell death in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. To elucidate the roles of SEK1/MKK4, a upstream kinase for both c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and p38 kinase, on NO-induced apoptosis, we generated clones of RAW 264.7 cells which stably overexpressd kinase inactive SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-Kl) or wild type SEK1 (RAW/SEK1-WT). Treatment of kinase inactive SEK1 transfected RAW 264.7 cells (RAW/SEK1-Kl) with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO generating agent, significantly decreased the cell viability up to 20% of RAW control cells which were treated with the same amount of SNP. However, RAW/SEK1-WT cells were less susceptible to NO induced apoptosis. For a while, caspase-3 like activity in NO treated RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly increased with parallell to apoptotic death rate. However, caspase1 like activity was not affected by NO in any transfectants. The NO induced apoptosis in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells was significantly prevented by the addition of caspase-3 like inhibitor (N-Ac- DEVD-CHO). In addition, the phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 in NO-treated RAW/SEK1-WT is significantly increased, but not in RAW/SEK1-Kl cells. These results suggest that SEK1 may play anti-apoptotic role in RAW cells from NO-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Clone Cells ; Macrophages ; Mortality ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases

Aplasia cutis congenita is a rare disorder characterized by localized or generalized absence of skin at birth. The various hypothesis and classification are proposed. Type V in Frieden's classification, which is associated with fetus papyraceus or placental infarcts, occurs as a large cutaneous defect on the trunk and extremities. We experienced the patient had skin defect affecting the lower abdomen symmetrically, with no family history of the any disorders or chromosomal anomalies and associated anomalies. A twin fetus was died in utero. We report a case of aplasia cutis congenita associated with fetus papyraceus with the review of the associated literatures.
Abdomen ; Classification ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Extremities ; Fetus ; Humans ; Parturition ; Skin ; Twins

The effect of topical steroid application on clinical results of 215 eyes(126 patients) performed with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) from July 1993 to July 1994 was evaluated, postopertively. The range of myopia was between -2.5 and -11.5 diopter and followed for 9 months after PRK with Summit Omnimed(TM). Topical corticosteroid or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) was not applied for one month after operation in all cases. After one month, in cases of 115 eyes showing myopic regression of more than -1 diopter or stromal haziness of more than grade 1(delayed steroid group; DSG), 0.1% fluorometholone was applied 4 times daily for 4 weeks, then tapered according to the planned schedule. 46.5% (100 eyes, non-steroid group;NSG) did not show the myopic regression nor stromal haziness without treatment of fluorometholone throughout the follow-up period. Uncorrected visual acuity, spherical equivalent and corneal haziness were evaluated 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 week after operation. 73%(73 eyes) of NSG and 27%(30 eyes) of DSG showed a myopia less than 6.0 diopters preoperatively. The proportion of male was 36% in NSG and 50.4% in DSG. 88.1% of male high myopia(>6.0 diopters) needed 0.1% fluorometholone, while 17.6% of female moderate and mild myopia( Appointments and Schedules ; Female ; Fluorometholone ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Male ; Myopia ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Rhinitis*

It has been studied that a variety of fauna and flora are sensitive biological indicators which reflect the severity of regional pollution of heavy metals, but in the center of part of Taegu city the controversial issue of lead poisoning attributable to the atmosphere which contains an increased concentrations of lead has been raised recently, it is usually hard to find suitable plants or animal in the areas with heavy traffic. Pigeons are ubiquitous in and around Taegu city area, inhabiting even the most densely populated areas with heavy traffic with its small body size, high metabolic turnover, and rather limited mobility, a pigeon, as a biological indicator is expected. This study was conducted to monitor lead pollution in the Taegu and kyongju city in Korea. We measured the lead content of the various tissue of three groups of feral pigeon(Columbia livia) and soil and atmospheric lead concentration. First group was obtained io heavy traffic area in Taegu City, the second group was obtained a park in Taegu city and the third group was obtained light traffic area in kyongju city. The air and soil lead concentration of heavy traffic area in Taegu city was 0.11 microgram/m2, 4.96 microgram/g, that of park in Taegu city was 0.05 microgram/m3, 2.65 microgram/g and that of light traffic area in kyonngju city was 0.03 microgram/m3, 0.01 microgram/g. The lead content of lung, blood, kidney, femur and liver of feral pigeons in heavy traffic area in Taegu city was significantly higher than pigeons obtained in a park in Taegu city and low traffic density area in Kyonfju city(p<0.01). But stomach lead content of three group did not reflect a significant difference. In this study positive correlation was found between atmospheric lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's lung(r=0.5040, p<0.001), blood(r=0.3322, p<0.01), kidney(r=0.4824, p<0.001), femur(r=0.7214, p<0.001) and liverer (r=0.4836, p<0.01). we can also found positive correlation between soil lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's femur(r=0.4850, p<0.001), kidney(r=0.4850, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.4386, p<0.01). In the pigeon`s tissue there were significant correlations between concentration of lead in the blood and kidney(r=0.4818, p<0.001), femur(r= 0.6157, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.3889, p<0.001). In conclusion, at the heavy traffic area in Taegu city, lead concentrations found in the atmosphere and soil are reflected in the lead concentrations of different tissue of urban pigeons. It is suggested that the tissue of pigeons can be good biological indicators of environmental lead pollution.
Animals ; Atmosphere ; Body Size ; Columbidae ; Daegu ; Femur ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Kidney ; Korea ; Lead Poisoning ; Liver ; Lung ; Metals, Heavy ; Soil* ; Stomach

Heterotopic pregnancy is the coexistency of intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy is about 1 to 30,000 pregnancy in a natural cycle. However, the frequency of heterotopic pregnancy has steadily increased because of rising incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic surgery and the development of ovulation induction and assisted reproduction. Because heterotopic pregnancy is difficult to diagnose and it has high morbidity and mortality rate, one should always take this into consideration and should conduct careful and thorough gynecologic evaluation. We have experienced a case of heterotopic pregnancy in a 29-year old woman who presented with acute abdominal pain in a natural cycle and report this case with a brief review of literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Ovulation Induction ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic* ; Reproduction

No abstract available.
Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma*

The thirty eight newborn infants with periventricular leukomalacia who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Gil General Hospital from March 1, 1988 to June 30, 1991, were investigated for ultrasonographic findings, risk factors and neurological outcome. The results were as follows: 1) There were 38 cases of PVL including 21 echogenic flarings and 17 cystic PVL's. 2) Mean birth weight was 2,250 gm and mean gestational age was 35 week. 3) Mean detection timing was 4th day in echogenic flarings and 18th day in cystic PVL's. 4) PVL's were located in the parietal region in 1 case and fronto-parieto-occipital in 3 cases. 5) Mean cyst size was 6 mm. 6) Multiple logistic regression analysis for the risk factors of PVL showed that low birth weight, apnea and seizure were the most significant contributing factors (p<0.05). 7) In the follow-up study of cystic PVL's, 7 cases showed improvement, 7 cases developed into multicystic encephalomalacia and 3 cases developed into atrophy. 8) Neurodevelopmental outcome of cystic PVL's showed nomal; 6.2%, minor neurodevelopmental defect; 43.8%, major neurodevelopmental defect; 31.2% and death; 18.8%. 9) Neurosonographic predictability for neurodevelopemental sequelae by cystic PVL's showed sensitivity; 63.6%%, specificity; 98.0%, positive predictive value; 92.8% and accuracy; 88.2%. 10) Major neurodevelopmental defect was more frequent, cyst size being larger and location being more extensive (p<0.05).
Apnea ; Atrophy ; Birth Weight ; Encephalomalacia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular* ; Logistic Models ; Rabeprazole ; Risk Factors* ; Seizures ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The authors studied on anxiety, using Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), on the subjects of 329 men and 522 women of 60 years old and older. This study was carried out for 8 months from November 1983 to June 1984 in the area of Seoul, Taegu and Kyungsan Gun, Kungpook province. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the means of total anxiety scores between the two groups of men and women. The anxiety scores in items of sweating, apprehension, dyspnea, restlessness and insomnia were relatively high in both groups. The scores of faintness, panic, fear, tremor and facial flushing were low in both groups. Among 329 men, 48 (14.6%) showed rather serious anxiety level of score 50 or higher, while 153 of 522 women (29.4%) showed the same score. Among these psychosocial factors, supporter, living, place, religion and security system are significantly related with anxiety scores in both groups (p<0.01).
Anxiety* ; Daegu ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Flushing ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Panic ; Psychology ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Seoul ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tremor

No abstract available.
Hyperthyroidism*