T cell receptor (TCR) signaling plays a critical role in T cell development, survival and differentiation. In the thymus, quantitative and/or qualitative differences in TCR signaling determine the fate of developing thymocytes and lead to positive and negative selection. Recently, it has been suggested that self-reactive T cells, escape from negative selection, should be suppressed in the periphery by regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing Foxp3 transcription factor. Foxp3 is a master factor that is critical for not only development and survival but also suppressive activity of Treg. However, signals that determine Treg fate are not completely understood. The availability of mutant mice which harbor mutations in TCR signaling mediators will certainly allow to delineate signaling events that control intrathymic (natural) Treg (nTreg) development. Thus, we summarize the recent progress on the role of TCR signaling cascade components in nTreg development from the studies with murine model.
Animals ; Mice ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland ; Transcription Factors ; United Nations

No abstract available.
Wernicke Encephalopathy*

BACKGROUND: Several predictor of successful outcome after percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty(PMV) have been identified but the results were controversial. We analyzes the clinical and echocardiographic predictors of successful outcome after PMV. METHOD: We studied 214 patients(167 women and 47 men) undergoing PMV from October 1991 to December 1995. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed before and after PMV. RESULT: The study population had mean age of 41+/-11years, and the total echocardiographic score was 7.5+/-1.5. PMV using Inoue balloon and double balloon technique were performed in 113cases and 101 cases respectively. The successful outcome from PMV(defindedas mitral valve area > or =1.5cm2 and increase in valve area >+25% and less than grade 3 mitral regurgitation(MR)) was achieved in 178 cases(83.2%). The mean mitral valve area was increased from 0.90+/-0.21cm2 to 1.82+/-0.34cm2(p<0.01). The successful outcome group had good echocardiographic score(7.3+/-1.4 vs. 8.8+/-1.4, p<0.01) and larger valve area before procedure(0.92+/-0.21cm2 vs. o.75+/-0.17cm2, p<0.01) than suboptimal result group. The patients with total echocardiographic score <=8 had more increment in valve area after PMV(0.97+/-0.21cm2) than those with total echocardiographic score >8(0.83+/-0.22cm2, p<0.01). Significant MR(>=grade 3 MR) after PMV was developed in 10 cases(4.7%). In patients with significant MR afterPMV, echocardiographic calcification score were high(2.3+/-0.8 vs. 1.7+/-0.7, p<0.01) and mitral valve area before PMV were smaller(0.82+/-0.10cm2 vs. 0.90+/-0.22cm2, p<0.05) than in those without significant MR. CONCLUSIONS: The predictors of successful outcome after PMV are large mitral valve area and good echocardiographic score. The predictors of significant MR is severe calcified mitral valveand small mitral valve area before PMV.
Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Mitral Valve

OBJECTIVE: This study consists of a single open clinical trial to evaluate the treatment effects of paroxetine on symptoms of hwa-byung, a Korean culture-related anger syndrome. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, or self-labeled hwa-byung were treated with paroxetine (Paxil CR) 12.5-37.5 mg/day for 8 weeks. Treatment effects were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the State and Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI), and the Hwa-byung Scale. RESULTS: Scores on all items ; total score on the Hwa-byung Scale ; scores on state anger, trait anger, and anger-in ; total score on the STAXI ; and total score on the HAM-D decreased significantly after eight weeks of paroxetine treatment compared to baseline. CONCLUSION: Paroxetine was shown to be effective for treating symptoms of hwa-byung, a chronic anger syndrome.
Anger ; Anxiety Disorders ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Paroxetine ; Somatoform Disorders

BACKGROUND: Indications and applications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) has been broaden in reccent years. However,we considered many aspects in performing angioplasty in patient with multivessel disease. There were procedural success rate, complication, risk, restenosis and long-term effect. So we evaluated the initial success rate, safety and follow-up results. METHODS: To assess the likelihood of initial success in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, single or multiple site angioplasy were performed at 449 lesions from 273 patients(Male 202,Female 71, Mean age 60.0+/-9.4 years). To evaluate the restenosis rate of angioplasty in multivessel disease, follow-up coronary angiogram were performed at 164 lesions from 95 patients at average 6months after angioplasty. RESULTS: The extent of coronary artery disease revealed that two vessel disease were 200(73.3%) and triple vessel disease were 73(26.7%). Single vessel angioplasty(SVA) was performed in 180(40.1%) lesions and multivessel angioplasty(MVA) was performed in 269(59.9%) lesions. Procedural success was achieved 377(84.0%) out of total 449 lesions. The proccdural success rate was 81.1% in SVA and 85.9% in MVA. According to major epicardial coronary artery, procedural success rate of left anterior descending artery was 82.0%, left circumflex artery 92.4% and right coronary artery 79.4%. According to angiographic morphology of lesions, procedural success rate of type A was 95.7%, type B 88.9% and type C 56.4%. Complete revascularization was done in 87 patients(31.9%) out of 273 patients. Major cause of failure of angioplasty in multivessel disease was inability to pass the guide wire cross the lesion due to total occlusion. Complications included dissection in 101, acute closure in 7(9.7%), coronary artery perforation in 2, cardiogenic shock in 1 and ventricular fibrillation in 1. Follow-up coronary angiography revealed the restenosis rate was 42.2%. CONCLUSION: Coronary angioplasty in selected patients with multivessel coronary artery disease might be useful and have relatively good immediate and long-term results.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important component of innate defense mechanisms with broad-spectrum activities against various pathogenic microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Antibiotic resistance has become a pervasive and global health burden, resulting in the immediate need to develop a new class of antibiotic substances. We screened a 16-mer random peptide library using the yeast two-hybrid system with Beclin 1 as bait and found that two 16-mer peptides (named P4 and P30) appeared to interact with Beclin1 in the beta-gal assay. The two candidate cDNAs were introduced into the yeast secretory system of Pichia pastoris and their expression induced in the presence of methanol. Spectrophotometric analysis and Disc clear zone assay using the supernatant of the yeast growth media showed that both of the two peptides had strong activities against Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA (methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus), MRSA2242, and MRSA-2250, but no effect on commensal Lactobacillus strains. PCR analysis of the genomic DNA of transformed Pichia pastoris using AOX1 primers revealed that the two cDNAs were integrated into the genome at the AOX1 locus. Our result suggests that these peptides could be developed as a useful alternative to classic chemical antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Defense Mechanisms ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Fungi ; Genome ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Lactobacillus ; Lactobacillus casei ; Methanol ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Peptide Library* ; Peptides* ; Pichia* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Yeasts*

BACKGROUND: Restenosis remains as the major limitation of percutaneous translumainal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA). Although its mechanism remains incompletely understood, proliferative action of arterial smooth muscle cells has been found to play an important role on restenosis by neointimal formation after PTCA. Glycosaminoglycan-containing compounds, including Sulodexide (Vessel Due , ALFA, Wasserman, S.p.A, Italy), inhibit the proliferation and maigration of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the efficacy of Sulodexide, a glycosaminoglycan compound with antithrombotic and antiproliferative properties, in preventing restenosis after PTCA. METHOD: Two hundred eighty-four patients with ischemic heart disease were randomized to receive either the standard PTCA without Sulodexide in 144 patients (control group, M : F = 99 : 45, Age = 58 +9 or -9), 160 lesions or the standard PTCA with Sulodexide in 140 patients (treated group, M : F = 89 : 51, age = 58 +10 or -10), 158 lesions. Successful angioplasties were performed in 258 atheromatous coronary lesions in 224 patients for whom follow-up angiographic data were obtained 6 month later. Quantitative coronary angiographic analysis (QCA) was performed before , immediate after PTCA and 6-month later. Angiographic restenosis (>50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was the primary end point : miniamal luminal diameter at follow-up angiogram was the secondary end point. RESULT: Successful PTCA was 97.6% and 97.5% in the standard PTCA with Sulodexide and the standard PTCA without Sulodexide, respectively. Although reference vessel size and minimal luminal diamater after PTCA were larger in the control group than in the Sulodexide group(2.94+0.11 or-0.11 vs 2.83+0.13 or -0.13 mm and 2.26+0.12 or -0.12 vs 2.18+0.08 or -0.08 mm, respectively, p=NS), there was a increased tendency of minimal lumen diameter at 6 months angiogram in the Sulidexide group than in the control group (1.12+0.50 or -0.50 vs 1.07 + 0.53 or -0.53 mm, respectively, p=NS). Angiographic restenosis occured in 42% of lesions in the Sulodexide group and 52% of the control group (p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: Sulodexide treatment had a tendency to reduce restenosis rate in 6 months after coronary angioplasty. However, further study is necessary to verify the antiproliferative effect of Sulodexide with much larger number of patients.
Angioplasty ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Phenobarbital ; Prospective Studies*

BACKGROUND: Detection of left ventricular regional wall motion abnormality(RWMA) by 2 dimensional echocardiography during ergonovine provocation(Erg Echo) can be used for noninvasive diagnosis of coronary vasospasm(CVS). The aim of this study was to test the safety and diagnostic validity of Erg Echo as a screening test in patients with chest pain syndromes before coronary angiography was undertaken. METHODS: From Mar 1993 to Jun 1994, Erg Echo was performed in 80 consecutive patients (56 males) with chest pain syndromes suggestive of variant angina, after the confirmation of negative treadmill or normal stress myocardial perfusion scan using thallium 201. A bolus of ergonovine maleate was injectedd at 5min intervals up to total cumulative dosage of 0.35mg with echocardiographic montioring of the left ventricular wall motion. Twelve leads ECG was also recorded every 3min after each ergonovine injection. The positive criteria of the test was transient ST segment clevation or depression greater than 0.1mV in 12-leads ECG or development of RWMA. Coronary angiography was undertaken 2(+/-4) days after Erg Echo, and spasm provocation test with acetylcholine, or ergonovine was done in case of normal angiogram or luminal narrowing of less than 70%. The appearance of total or subtotal occlusion of a major coroary artery associated with ST segment elevation or depression on the ECG or chest pain, or both, was considered to be a manifestation of spasm. RESULTS: According to the invasive angiographic criteria, 56 patients revealed CVS ; CVS was ruled oup in 19 patients showing near normal angiogram with negative spasm provocation test and in 5 patients with restion high degree fixed stenosis(luminal narrowing of 97+/-4%). Erg Echo could diagnose CVS before the angiography with the sensitivity of 91%(51/56,95% confidence interval [CI] ; 84-98%) and the specificity of 88%(21/24,95% CI ; 75-100%). Of 53 patients showing RWMA in Erg Echo, 42%(22/53) revealed no significant changes in the simultaneously recorded ECG and characteristic ST elevation was recorded in only 38%(20/53). There was no case of myocardial infarction or fatal arrhythmia during Erg Echo. CONCLUSION: Erg Echo befor the coronary angiography is safe and can e utilized as a reliable diagnostic screening test of CVS in patients with negative tradmill or normal stess myocardial perfusion scan, This finding suggests that invasive coronary angiography can be avioded in selected patients for the diagnosis of vasospastic angina.
Acetylcholine ; Angiography ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Depression ; Diagnosis* ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Myocardial Infarction ; Perfusion ; Phenobarbital ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spasm ; Thallium

Diabetes, which has shown an explosive increase in terms of its incidence, is regarded as a serious disease that must be overcome for the sake of human life. Among animal models used for testing of drug efficacy, the mini-pig model has shown a rapid upload due to its many similarities with human, particularly concerning the pharmacokinetics of compounds after subcutaneous administration, the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract, the morphology of the pancreas, and overall metabolic status. Based on these various advantages, we sought to develop an animal model of type II diabetic mellitus using the Micro-pig, which differs from other miniature pigs. We used six male Micro-pigs for induction of a moderate insulin deficient model with nicotinamide (NIA)/streptozotocin (STZ) treatment and three animals for control. For evaluation of incidence of type II diabetes, we measured blood glucose level, and performed oral glucose tolerance test and immunohistochemistry on pancreatic tissue using insulin antibody. Compared to control animals, all animals treated with NIA/STZ showed high levels of glucose and low levels of insulin. In addition, we observed the partially destroyed beta cell population from tissue of the pancreas in treated animals. Based on these results, we report that the Micro-pig model developed in this study can be used for testing of the efficacy of therapeutic agents for treatment of Type 2 diabetic mellitus.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Niacinamide ; Pancreas ; Swine

Anticoccidial effects of Galla rhois (GR) extract were evaluated in chickens after oral infection with Eimeria tenella. This study was performed using 3-day-old chickens (n=30). The animals were divided into 3 groups as follows: GR 0.5%/infected (n=10), untreated/infected (n=10), and non-infected control (n=10). The chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without GR for 1 week before infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of GR on E. tenella infection were assessed by 2 parameters, number of fecal oocysts and body weight gain, and the results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The GR-fed chickens produced significantly lower number of fecal oocysts (P<0.05) than the E. tenella-infected chickens who were fed the standard diet. In addition, GR-based diet improved the loss of body weight caused by E. tenella infection. Positive findings of PCR were identified by distinct bands in the samples of E. tenella-inoculated chickens. However, PCR analysis revealed no E. tenella oocysts in the feces of GR-fed chickens. Our data showed that GR extracts had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of novel anticoccidial drugs.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Chickens ; Coccidiosis ; Diet ; Eimeria ; Eimeria tenella ; Feces ; Oocysts ; Polymerase Chain Reaction