BACKGROUND: There have been few reports suggesting involvement of mast cell and neutrophil to induce bronchoconstriction in aspirin-sensitive asthrna. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mast cell and neutrophil activation in pathogenesis of aspirin-sensitive asthma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We observed changes of serum NCA and MPO levels during L-ASA bronchoprovocation test in 14 subjects with aspirin-sensitive asthma. RESULTS: Serum NCA was significantly increased at 30 min(p=0.01) after the inhalation of L-ASA and then, no significant changes were noted at 240 min (p=0.14). NCA was significantly higher in subjects with late asthmatic responses than in those without it (p=0.04). Serum MPO level tended to increase at 30 min with no statistical significance (p=0.08), and then it significantly decreased at 240 min (p=0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum NCA and MPO level (r=0.22, p=0.58). CONCLUSION: These results support the view that NCA derived from mast cell may contribute to neutrophil recruitment into the airway in aspirin-sensitive asthmatic patients.
Asthma ; Bronchoconstriction ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Mast Cells ; Neutrophil Activation ; Neutrophil Infiltration ; Neutrophils*

BACKGROUND: There have been a few reports suggesting involvement of neutrophil as well as eosinophil in inducing bronchoconstriction aft,er inhalation of TDI. OBJECTIVE: In order to observe the source of chemokines in TDI-induced asthma, this investigation was designed to determine whether IL-8 and RANTES could be produced by human bronchial epithelial cells and whether dexamethasone had any effects on their production. Materials and METHODS: We cultured Beas-2B, a bronchial epithelial cell line, with five concentrations of TDI-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate and compared them with those having no conjugate. The levels of IL-8 and RANTES in the supernatant were measured by ELISA. To evaluate the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cells were incubated with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatant, which was derived from PBMC culture of a TDI -induced asthmatic subject under exposure to TDI-HSA conjugate, and then compared to those without PBMC supernatant addition. To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone, four concentrations of dexamethasone were pre-incubated and the same steps were repeated. RESULTS: There was significant production of IL-8 from bronchial epithelial cells with addition of TDI-HSA conjugate in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05, respectively), which was significantly augmented with additions of PBMC supernatant (p<0.05, respectively) at each concentration. RANTES production was negligible, however, it increased significantly with addition of PBMC supernatant and TDI-HSA conjugate in a dose response manner(p<0.05, respectively). Compared to the untreated sample, pre-treatment of dexamethasone induced remarkable inhibitions of IL-8 and RANTES production. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IL-8 and RANTES released from bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to neutrophil and eosinophil recruitment occurring in TDI-induced airway.
Asthma ; Bronchoconstriction ; Chemokine CCL5* ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Dexamethasone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Interleukin-8 ; Neutrophils ; Serum Albumin ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate* ; Toluene*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator, and inhaled NO has bronchodilatory action due to their relaxation effect on conducting airway smooth muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inhaled NO on respiratory system mechanics in cats. METHODS: Nineteen cats were divided into 3 groups according to the doses of NO administered; group C (control, n=7), group 20 (20 ppm of NO, n=7), and group 40 (40 ppm of NO, n=5). After measuring the baseline value, methacholine chloride 25 microgram/kg/min was infused to induce bronchoconstriction. Inhalation of NO was started for each group 15 minutes after methacholine infusion. Pressure, volume, and flow rate were monitored with Bicore CP100 pulmonary monitor and the data were transferred to a personal computer and analyzed by a processing software. Respiratory system, airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances, and dynamic and static compliances were calculated. RESULTS: Methacholine infusion increased both airway and tissue resistances. Fifteen minutes after inhaling NO, airway resistances for NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased to 65.8+/-8.5% and 62.2+/-8.9% of the control value (p<0.05). The values of tissue resistances for NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased to 72.4+/-10.8% and 78.2+/-10.5% of the control value respectively (p<0.05). And thirty minutes after inhaling NO, there were also decreases of airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances in both groups but had no differences compared with fifteen minutes' values. There were no significant differences between the NO 20 ppm and 40 ppm in the values of airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances. CONCLUSION: Inhaled NO of 20 ppm and 40 ppm decreased both airway and tissue viscoelastic resistances and airway resistance was decreased more markedly than tissue resistance. There were no significant differences between 20 ppm and 40 ppm of NO in respiratory system mechanics in cats.
Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Bronchoconstriction* ; Cats* ; Inhalation ; Mechanics* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Microcomputers ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nitric Oxide* ; Relaxation ; Respiratory System*

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide concentration is easily controlled by respiratory ventilation. It suppresses bone marrow via the inhibition of thymidylate synthesis. The aim of this work was to determine the optimal pressure and exposure duration of nitrous oxide, as well as methotrexate concentration that maximizes the suppression of 4 cancer cells: CCRF-CEM, K562, A549 and MDA-MB-231. METHODS: Each cancer cell was cultured in a hyperbaric chamber at 1, 2 and 3 atmosphere of 74% nitrous oxide for 24, 48, and 72 hours at 0, 0.3, 0.7, 1, 2, 5 and 10 microM methotrexate (MTX), respectively. The results were expressed in the ratio of the number of cancer cells cultured under specific conditions (S cells) to that under normal conditions (N cells). RESULTS: The S/N ratio of CCRF-CEM cells was 87.4% in 24-hour culture, 95.0% in 48-hour culture and 115.9% in 72-hour culture (P < 0.05). The S/N ratio of K562 cells was 103.6% at 1 atm, 102.4% at 2 atm and 115.6% at 3 atm (P < 0.05). The S/N ratio of A549 cells was 94.3% at 1 atm, 94.1% at 2 atm, 99.3% at 3 atm, 96.2% in 24-hour culture, 99.2% in 48-hour culture and 99.3% in 72-hour culture (P > 0.05). However, the S/N ratio of MDA-MB 231 cells was 66.9% in 24-hour culture, 83.1% in 48 hour culture and 87.8% in 72-hour culture (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Only the growth of the MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly reduced after a longer exposure time to nitrous oxide, but those of the other cells were not.
Atmosphere ; Bone Marrow ; K562 Cells ; Methotrexate ; Nitrous Oxide ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: TDI is known to be the most prevalent cause of occupational asthma ( OA ) in Korea. However, the pathogenesis of TDI - induced occupational asthma still remains to be further clarified. So, we evaluated clinical significance of serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate in TDI - induced occupational asthma. Subjects and METHODS: Serum specific IgG and IgE antibodies to TDI - HSA conjugate were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum was collected from 50 TDI- induced OA patients ( classified as group I ), and was compared with that from 13 asthmatic subjects with negative TDI - bronchoprovocation test ( BPT, group II ), allergic asthmatics ( group III ), and unexposed healthy controls ( group IV ). RESULTS: The prevalence of specific IgG was significantly higher in group I than in group II (p = 0.01) or group III (p <0.01). No significant difference was noted between group II and group III (p> 0.05). However, the prevalence of specific IgE was not different between group I and group II (p> 0.05 ) or group II and group III( p> 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in prevalence of specific IgG according to the asthmatic response during TDI bronchoprovocation test ( p> 0.05 ). No statistical significance was noted between specific IgG and IgE antibodies in group I subjects ( p> 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that presence of specific IgG to TDI - HSA conjugate is closely related to TDI - BPT results and it may contribute to the development of TDI - induced asthma.
Antibodies* ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Serum Albumin* ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate* ; Toluene*

The purposes of this study were firstly to identify the microbial species on gutta-percha (GP) cones exposed at clinics using polymerase chain reaction, and secondly to evaluate the short-term sterilization effect of three chemical disinfectants. It also evaluated the alteration of surface texture and physical properties of GP cones after 5-min soaking into three chemical disinfectants. 150 GP cones from two endodontic departments were randomly selected for microbial detection using PCR assay with universal primer. After inoculation on the sterilized GP cones with the same microorganism identified by PCR assay, they were soaked in three chemical disinfectants: 5% NaOCl, 2% Chlorhexidine, and ChloraPrep for 1, 5, 10, and 30 minutes. The sterilization effect was evaluated by turbidity and subculture. The change of surface textures using a scanning electron microscope and the tensile strength and elongation rate of the GP cones were measured using an Instron 5500 (Canton). Statistical analysis was performed. Four bacterial species were detected in 29 GP cones (19.4%), and all the species belonged to the genus Staphylococcus. All chemical disinfectants were effective in sterilization with just 1 minute soaking. On the SEM picture of NaOCl-soaked GP cone, a cluster of cuboidal crystals was seen on the cone surface. The tensile strength of NaOCl-soaked group was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Also, all disinfectants significantly increased the elongation rate of GP cones compared to the fresh GP cone (p < 0.05). Present data demonstrate that three chemical disinfectants are useful for rapid sterilization of GP cone just before obturation.
Chlorhexidine ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection* ; Gutta-Percha* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus ; Sterilization* ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVES: Since Mountain proposed the new staging system of non-small cell lung cancer in 1986, the indications for operation of NSCLC have been extended. However, operative mortality is from 3 to 6%. Therefore it is important to reduce unnecessary operation and to evaluate unresectability of tumor correctly, preoperatively The purpose of this study is to find out the causes of unresectability in patients who were initially thought to be resectable preoperatively. METHODS: By retrospective analysis, 64 patients out of 291 NSCLC patients who were undergone operation for curative resection in Seoul National University Hospital from Jan. of 1987 to Dec. of 1991, ware found to be unresectable at operating roost were selected for this study. Out of 64 patients,42 were evaluable. The analysis was focused on the change of pre- & post-operative staging and the causes of unresectability of tumors. RESULTS: Among B2 patients with unresectable tumor who could be evaluated, preoperative CT finding showed resectable tumors in 55% (23 patients) and suspicious for unresectable tumors in 45% (19 patients). The causes of unresectability were technically unresectable T3 lesions in 7% (3 patients), T4 lesions in 62% (26 patients), N2 lesions in 17% (7 patients) and N3 lesions in 14% (6 patients). CONCLUSION: The major causes of unresectability of NSCLC were pulmonary artery invasions. It is suggested that careful evaluation of mediastinal structure, especially great vessels by additional imaging technique other than CT (like MRI) is indicated in selected NSCLC cases.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Since tumor necrosis factor was discovered in 1975, TNF has been well known about its cytotoxic effect on tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. According to the recent improvement of molecular biological techinques, it is possible that exogenous TNF gene is transferred to tumor cells and is expressed in theirs. By virtue of TNF gene transfer, we have expected that TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells in vivo without systemic side effect. The expected mechanisms in which antitumor effects of TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells are working would be as followings. In the first mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells around (like homicide). In the second mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill themselves (like suicide). In the third mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would recruit immune effector cells and kill tumor cells indirectly. In the last mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would augment cytokine such as interferon-γ to kill tumor cells. Among these four mechanisms of antitumor effect, only the second mechanism has not been established yet. Therefore, to elucidate the second mechanism, We performed this study. METHOD: We transferred TNF-α gene to NCI-H2058, a human mesothelioma cell line and WEHI164, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line by using retroviral vector(pLT12SNTNF). And, We determined by using MTT assay whether TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would kill themselves like suicide or not. Then, if TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would not suicide themselves, 1 would know more about the TNF sensitivity of TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines to exogenous TNF also by MTT assay. RESULT: NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 which were sensitive to TNF, became far less sensitive to endogenous and exogenous TNF after being transferred TNF-α gene to. CONCLUSION: TNF-gene-transfer to NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 gaffe them resistance to TNF.
Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor* ; Fibrosarcoma ; Humans ; Mesothelioma ; Necrosis* ; Retroviridae* ; Suicide ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Virtues ; Zidovudine

PURPOSE: Pigmented spindle cell tumor of the palpebral conjunctiva is very rare, and most of the tumors arise at extremities or trunk. To our best knowledge, no case has been repoted in Korea so far. We report one case of pigmented spindle cell nevus with literature review. METHODS: A 21 years-old male patient complaining of mass on the left upper palpebral conjunctiva underwent excisional biopsy with minimal touch technique. RESULTS: On histopathologic examination, the mass consisted of small, regular and spindle cells with pigmentation. And HMB-45 and CD-34 stains were negative, while S-100 stain was weakly positive. CONCLUSIONS: We report one case of pigmented spindle cell nevus as the first case in Korea.
Biopsy ; Coloring Agents ; Conjunctiva* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nevus, Spindle Cell* ; Pigmentation ; Young Adult