This study was designed to investigate the mole- cular mechanism of chemokine induction by lipopoly-saccharide(LPS) of E. coli. Chemokine gene expression was evaluated by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay using RNAs isolated either from kidneys of LPS-injected inice or from the mesangial cells stimulated with LPS, IFN-r or TNF-a. LPS was shown to induce interferon gamma(IFN- 7 ) inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and monokine induced by interferon gamma (MIG) in kidney. IP-10 gene expression was induced by LPS and IFN-r, but MIG gene expression was induced by IFN-r in mesangial cell. Chemokines induced by LPS increased splenocyte migration. Sodium salicylate, wortmanin and piperazine blocked LPS mediated chemokine induction suggesting the activation of nuclear factor-a B pathway. It is concluded from this study that mesangial cells are the target of LPS in the renal failure resulting from the systemic infections. LPS induces chemokines directly and/or indirectly in the mesan- gial cells, and these chemokines may associated with renal inflammation.
Chemokines ; Gene Expression* ; Inflammation ; Interferons ; Kidney ; Mesangial Cells* ; Renal Insufficiency ; RNA ; Sodium Salicylate

The bone mineral density (BMD) has been measured for evaluation of the osteoporosis. Of the various methods of measuring the BMD, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has been known to be an accurate, objective, and easily reproducible method. The authors measured BMD in patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur for comparison with results in the normal control. The BMD was measured in thirty-two patients with intertrochanteric fracture by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry from March 1993 to March 1995. And the relationship between the severity of osteoporosis and intertrochanteric fracture of the femur was studied. The comparison of BMD between fracture patients and normal control was done in the population below 79 years old of age (23 fracture patients and 90 normal controls). The average BMD in the intertrochanteric fracture group was 0.558g/cm2 in the neck, 0.425g/cm2 in Ward's triangle and 0.568g/cm2 in the trochanter, while in the normal control group it was 0.870g/cm2 in the neck, 0.681g/cm2 in Ward s triangle and 0.772g/cm2 in the trochanter. In comparison with the normal control group, the BMD in fracture group was about 79% of the normal control group. The BMD in the proximal femur was decreased by about 14% with the age increasing decennially after 50 years. The BMD at Ward s triangle and trochanter was much lower in type III and IV of Tronzo classification than in type I and II .The BMD did not show significant correlation with the height and weight of the patients.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Bone Density* ; Classification ; Femur* ; Humans ; Neck ; Osteoporosis

Acropustulosis of infancy is an uncommon, but not rare syndrome established as a new disease entity by Kahn and Rywlin(1976), which is characterized by recurrent, intensely pruritic vesicopustules on the distal extremities. We'd like to report a case of acropustulosis of infancy. Our patient was 19 month old girl who had been suffering from her skin disease since the age of 12 months. Intensely pruritic, 1 to 2 mm vesicopustules erupted on the palms, soles and the ventral aspects of the fingers. There were no bacteria, fungus and parasites(Sarcoptes scabiei) on the pustular lesions. Histopathologically, biopsy specimen of the left sole revealed large, well circumscribed intraepidermal pustule which was filled wth polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We confirmed our case as typical case of acropustulosis of infancy by it's characteristic clinical features and histopathologic findings. Severity of the skin lesions seems closely related to the dosage of dapsone. The eruptions were unresponsive to topical steroid, antibiotics and antihistaminics. But we observed that dapsone has dose dependent relationship with acropustulosis of infancy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Dapsone ; Extremities ; Female ; Fingers ; Fungi ; Humans ; Infant ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

No Abstract Available.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee*

Generally the clinical results of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease were evaluated until the time of disease healing. However, it is well known that the deformities of the proximal femur progress to the period of skeletal maturity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the progression of the deformities in the proximal femur. In a retrospective study of 60 patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, who visited Chonnam National University Hosipital 1974 and 1995 and who were followed until the skeletal maturity, the bony changes of the proximal femur were compared between disease healing stage and skeletal maturity. The results were as follow; 1. More bony deformities were identified in skeletal maturity than in disease healing. 2. The quotient of inferior border of medial femoral neck decreased from 60% in disease healing to 45% in skeletal maturity (P < 0.001). 3. The femoral shortening increased from 4.9mm in disease healing to 10mm in skeletal maturity (P < 0.001). 4. The femoral neck-shaft angle decreased from 128 degrees in disease healing to 125 degrees in skeletal maturity (P < 0.001). 5. The proximal migration of greater trochanter increased from 13.8mm in disease healing to 21.3mm in skeletal maturity (P < 0.001). 6. There were no significant statistical differences in clinical results between operative and conservative treatment groups. 7. The spherical quotient of femoral head and Stulberg rate revealed no differences between disease healing and skeletal maturity. These results revealed that there were considerable differences of the deformities in the proximal femur at the time of disease healing and skeletal maturity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Femur Neck ; Femur ; Head ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Retrospective Studies

There have been a few repots that serum immunoglobulins are increased in Perthes' disease suggesting possible immunological involvement in the pathophysiology of the disease. Joseph(1991) suggested that the raised IgM concentrations might be related to complications of Perthes' disease such as striking reduction of movement, fixed deformities and striking reduction of movement, fixed deformities and chondrolysis and that immunological mechanisms might be implicated in the mediation of some of the changes in Perthes' disease. More studies are necessary to prove the results. The purpose of this study is to detect if there is a true increase of serum immunoglobulins in Perthes' disease.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Negotiating ; Strikes, Employee

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the osteogenic effect of cultured rabbit mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MSCs were obtained from rabbit femur and were cultured in a Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium(DMEM) with beta-glycerophosphatate, L-ascorbic acid, and dexamethasone to proliferate and differentiate into osteoprogenitor cells until 12 weeks. The expression of osteogenic markers was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and the release of osteocalcin was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA). MSCs that were cultured on the porous poly-L-lactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA) scaffold were implanted into athymic nude mouse to observe the osteogenic activity. RESULTS: As the time, we observed osteoblastic-like cells on the culture flask. Mineralized nodules were observed at 3-4 weeks. Osteogenic markers such as osteopontin, osteonectin, type I collagen, and alkaline phophatase were all identified at 2 weeks. But, expression of osteocalcin was only detected after cells differentiation. The amount of osteocalcin which is a specific protein in osteoblast, increased gradually from 2 weeks until 7 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the MSCs were well adhered and proliferated within the PLGA scaffold. Immature bone was identified after 10 weeks in the histological examination of transplanted cell-scaffold composit. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate gradual differentiation of MSCs into osteoblastic cells. The adhesion and proliferation of the cells within the biodegradable scaffold represents the possibility of bone formation using cell-scaffold composites.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Bone Marrow* ; Collagen Type I ; Dexamethasone ; Femur ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Osteonectin ; Osteopontin

We report the case of a 42-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnea. Cardiomegaly and diffuse pulmonary edema were visible on chest X-ray and multiple oral and genital ulcers on physical examination. On admission, echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse (MVP) predominantly involving a basal portion of the posterior leaflet, with severe mitral regurgitation. A successful mitral valve replacement with St. Jude #29 was performed, after pre-treatment with prednisolone for 2 weeks. Fifteen months following the operation, the patient expired from severe pulmonary edema and secondary pneumonia. This case demonstrates, for the first time in the literature, an unusual feature of mitral prolapse in the basal portion with severe mitral regurgitation in a patient with Behcet's disease. As suggested by this case, we should consider an atypical type of MVP as a possible inflammatory involvement of the heart in patients with Behcet's disease.
Adult ; Behcet Syndrome ; Cardiomegaly ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Valve Prolapse ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; Physical Examination ; Pneumonia ; Prednisolone ; Prolapse ; Pulmonary Edema ; Thorax ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: To determine the in vivo bone formation on an osteoblastic cells-scaffold composite and the best scaffold for bone formation. This study focused on the three-dimensional culture of osteoblastic cells using various tissue-engineered scaffolds and compared the suitability of those scaffolds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were harvested from New Zealand white rabbits and were differentiated into osteoblastic cells. The expression of osteogenic proteins in osteoblastic cells was observed by RT-PCR and a phase of mineralization was checked using von Kossa staining. In addition, three-dimensional cultured osteoblastic cells-scaffolds composites using a variable scaffold were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The cell-scaffold composites were transplanted into athymic nude mice. X-ray, a histochemical study, and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the in vivo bone formation. RESULTS: The mesenchymal stem cells proliferated quite well in the early phase and differentiated into osteoblastic cells by an inducing substance. The osteoblastic cells were observed as spindle and polygonal shapes and were mineralized. Expression of the osteoblastic proteins was observed continuously after 2-3 weeks. The amount of osteocalcin secretion increased for 6-7 weeks. The osteoblastic cells adhered more to the human and porcine bone than to the hydroxyapatite-scaffold. In the case of the PLGA scaffold, the cells proliferated and formed a net-like structure but did not adhere well. No Living cells were observed in the calcium alginate scaffold. However, after the in vivo transplant, abundant cells and new tissue were observed within the human bone, porcine bone, hydroxyapatite, and PLGA but not within the calcium alginate scaffold. CONCLUSION: In the three-dimensional cultures, natural bone was found to be a more effective and suitable scaffold for cell culture than the various synthetic polymers.
Animals ; Bone Marrow* ; Calcium ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Durapatite ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Polymers ; Rabbits

Infantile spasms (IS) is a type of epileptic encephalopathy with poor developmental outcomes. The goal of treatment is complete control of spasms, improvement of hypsarrhythmia, and rapid reversal of delayed development. Improvements in diagnosis can result in the selection of appropriate therapy, which can improve a patient's developmental outcomes. However, there is no consensus on the best initial treatment for IS. Here, we describe 6-month-old boy with severe periventricular leukomalacia, developmental regression, and hypsarrhythmic pattern on electroencephalography, who was successfully treated with intravenous methylprednisolone.
Consensus ; Electroencephalography ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Methylprednisolone ; Spasm ; Spasms, Infantile