No Abstract Available.
Hepatitis B e Antigens* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the qualitative immunologic changes by ionizing radiation, we studied the altered capacities of the macrophages and lymphocytes to produce cytokines in conjunction with resistance to Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c mice and Listeria monocytogenes were used. The mice were infected intraperitoneally with 105LM at 1 day after irradiation (300cGy) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 days after infection, and then the numbers of viable LM per spleen in the irradiated and control group were counted. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and nitric oxide (NO) were assessed after irradiation. RESULTS: Under gamma-ray irradiation with a dose range of 100-850cGy, the number of total splenocytes decreased markedly in a dose-dependent manner, while peritoneal macrophages did so slightly. Cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more TNF-alpha in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation, but their capacity of TNF-alpha production showed a decreased tendency at 5 days after in vivo total body irradiation. With 100cGy and 300cGy irradiation, cultured peritoneal macrophages produced more NO in the presence of LPS during the 24 hours after in vitro irradiation than without irradiation. Activated splenocytes from irradiated mice (300cGy) exhibited a decreased capacity to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma with Concavalin-A stimulation at 3 days after irradiation. When BALB/c mice were irradiated to the total body with a dose of 300cGy, they showed enhanced resistance during early innate phase, but a significant inhibition of resistance to LM was found in the late innate and acquired T-cell dependent phases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that increased early innate and decreased late innate and acquired immunity to LM infection by ionizing radiation (300cGy) may be related to the biphasic altered capacity of the macrophages to produce TNF-alpha and the decreased capacities of the lymphocytes to produce IL-2 and IFN-gamma in addition to a marked decrease in the total number of cells.
Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-2 ; Listeria monocytogenes* ; Listeria* ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice* ; Nitric Oxide ; Radiation, Ionizing* ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Whole-Body Irradiation

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to study on 1) What is nursing students' experience of ethical problems involving nursing practice? 2) What is nursing students' experience of using ethical decision-making models? METHOD: In order to answer these two questions, we selected 97 senior baccalaureate nursing students from two Korean universities using a conceptual framework and method of content analysis. RESULT: From 97 ethical problems emerged five content categories, the largest being ethical problems involving health professionals (69%); the basic nature of the nursing students' experience of ethical problems consisted of conflict, resolution, and rationale; 94% of the students stated that using an ethical decision-making model was helpful. CONCLUSION: Although additional research is needed, these findings have important implications for nursing ethics education and practice.
Education ; Ethics, Nursing ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing

Congenital constriction band of the trunk is a rare congenital malformation. A 14-year-old girl with a congenital circumferential constriction band around the waist is described. Seven other cases of congenital constriction band on the trunk are reviewed in the literature. This malformation is probably related to the amniotic band syndrome such as constriction band on the limbs. The surgical treatment of this constriction band was W-plasty and produced good cosmetic results.
Adolescent ; Amniotic Band Syndrome ; Constriction* ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn

Congenital pericardial defects are rare and asymptomatic for both partial and complete defects. However, some patients can experience syncope, arrhythmia, and chest pain. When a patient experiences a symptom, it may be caused by herniation and dynamic compression or torsion of a heart structure including the coronary arteries. Diagnosis of a congenital pericardial defect may be difficult, especially in old patients with concomitant coronary artery disease. The clinical importance of congenital pericardial defect has not been stressed and congenital pericardial defects are regarded as benign, but in this case, pericardial defect was responsible for myocardial ischemia. The authors report a case of partial congenital pericardial defect causing herniation and dynamic compression of the coronary arteries, presenting as an acute coronary syndrome in an old man, with an emphasis on the unique features of the coronary angiogram that support the diagnosis of partial pericardial defects.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pericardium ; Syncope

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic synovial inflammation which leads to joint destruction. Gene therapy of RA targets the players of inflammation or articular destruction. However, viral vectors have safety problems and side effects, while non-viral vectors suffer from inefficient gene transfer and fast loss of gene expression. To overcome the limits of non-vial vectors, an EBV-based plasmid which is known to exert prolonged high level gene expression can be used. METHODS: pEBVGFP, pEBVIL-10, and pEBVvIL-10 were constructed by cloning GFP, IL-10, and vIL-10 genes into an EBV-based plasmid, respectively. The pGFP was used as a control plasmid. Each constructs were lipofected into HIG-82 rabbit synoviocytes. The expression of GFP was monitored by FACS and confocal microscopy. IL-10 and vIL-10 expressions were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: GFP expression 2 days after transfection was achieved in 33.2% of cells. GFP-expressing cells transfected with pGFP decreased rapidly from 4 days after transfection and disappeared completely by 11 days. Cells transfected with pEBVGFP began to decrease slowly from 4 days. But GFP expression was detected for over 35 days. In addition, HIG-82 cells transfected with pEBVIL-10 (44.6+/-1.5 ng/ml) or pEBVvIL-10 (51.0+/-5.7 ng/ml) secreted these cytokines at high levels. High level cytokine production by hygromycin selection was maintained at least for up to 26 days after transfection. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the EBV-based plasmid has a potential to improve non-viral gene transfer system and may be applicable to treat RA without the drawbacks of viral vectors.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression* ; Genetic Therapy ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Joints ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Plasmids* ; Transfection

To reconstruct the defect of nasal dorsum, factors such as skin color, texture and thickness should thoroughly be considered for more natural appearance. Authors would like to present 8 cases of soft tissue defect developed after augmentation with various materials that were treated with satisfactory results. This study is based on 8 patients who visited our clinic for the treatment of soft tissue defect on nasal radix after augmentation rhinoplasty. The materials used for augmentation were silicone implant in 5 cases, autologous microfat in 2 cases, and paraffin in 1 case. Guideline for treatment of soft tissue defects developed after augmentation as follows; 1. Soft tissue defects by silicone implant are treated with dressing or closure of the defect after removal of implant. 2. In cases of soft tissue defect after autologous microfat injection, conservative treatment can be recommended at first to increase the chance of microfat survival and infection control. Skin was resurfaced by scar healing or using the advancement local flap. 3. In paraffin injection case, conservative removal of foreign body and several months' wound dressing will obliterate dead space by granulation tissue and minimize the skin defect by wound contraction. Skin defect was reconstructed by advancement local flap.

PURPOSE: This report presents a procedure for performing power Doppler ultrasound-guided sialography using the phenomenon of increased blood flow and illustrates its application to practical patient cases.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The salivary gland was scanned using ultrasound equipment (GE LOGIQ5 Expert® device; GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) to identify pathological findings related to the patient's chief complaint. To identify the orifice of the main duct, it should be cannulated using a lacrimal dilator. After inserting the catheter into the cannulated main duct, the position of the catheter within the duct was confirmed by ultrasound. A contrast agent was injected until the patient felt fullness, and ultrasound (B-mode) was used to confirm whether the contrast agent filled the main canal and secondary and tertiary ducts. Then, power Doppler ultrasound was performed to determine whether the salivary gland had increased blood flow.RESULTS: In 2 cases in this report, a power Doppler ultrasound scan showed a significant increase in blood flow after contrast medium injection, which was not observed on a preoperative scan.CONCLUSION: Power Doppler ultrasound was found to be a simple, safe, and effective tool for real-time sialography monitoring.
Catheters ; Humans ; Salivary Glands ; Sialography ; Ultrasonography ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND: It is important that hospitals conduct disaster drills to ensure prompt response in case of a pandemic and thereby prevent a biological disaster. METHODS: In a university hospital of Seoul, a drill was arranged by the members of the drill preparation team who were a part of the response team for infection control of novel influenza A (H1N1). The drill preparation team designed the scenario for the drill, made plans to resolve the potential problems that could occur during that scenario, and organized a survey team and a survey methodology. The scenario consisted of 2 modules: (1) for an intensive care unit and (2) for an emergency care center. The surveyors and field participants were evaluated after the drill exercise. RESULTS: This drill was conducted to improve the response to outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The drill event showed that the communication among the members responsible for the infection control was effective. However, the drill revealed certain drawbacks in the process; this drawbacks involved availability of adequate quarantine space, education on using personal protective equipments, assignment of medical and nonmedical staff, management of visitors, and installment of air-conditioners, heaters, and ventilation units in the areas with H1N1 outbreak. CONCLUSION: This drill helped to improve the process of infection control and overcome the drawbacks in the current process, and thereby helped in achieving positive outcome during the actual pandemic situation when the number of hospital visits and admissions because of H1N1 pandemic had rapidly increased. Although disaster plans and drills are not actively performed, the drill for infection control is essential because the risk for an outbreak of a new infectious disease is increasing.
Communicable Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dietary Sucrose ; Disasters ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Influenza, Human ; Intensive Care Units ; Mandrillus ; Pandemics ; Quarantine ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Until now, the rejection was diagnosed through a biopsy, but this method of diagnosis reflected the advanced tissue damage of the transplanted organ and contained the innate problem of being invasive. Activation of T lymphocytes, which occurs before the overt tissue damage has a pivotal role in rejection. In relation, our research attempted to evaluate the viability of analyzing the surface antigens of the peripheral blood activated T lymphocytes in mice after skin transplantation as a noninvasive and early diagnostic tool for diagnosis of rejection. METHODS: After the mouse's skin was transplanted, the expression patterns of activated T lymphocyte markers, CD44 and CD45RB were analyzed along with T lymphocyte markers, CD3, CD4, and CD8 using flow cytometry. The skins from the tails of allogeneic Balb/c (H2(d)) mice and syngeneic C57BL/6J mice were transplanted to C57BL/6J (H2(b)) mice as test and control groups, respectively. Peripheral blood, which was sampled from the tail every other day from day 3 to day 15 was stained with anti-CD44 (or CD45RB), anti-CD4 (or CD8) and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies simultaneously, and analyzed by 3-color FACS. Repeated ANOVA test and Mann-Whitey test were used to analyze the differences between the expression patterns of peripheral blood T lymphocyte surface antigen in the control and test groups (SPSS 8.0). RESULTS: Rejection occurred only in the test group from day 8 to day 13 (median: day 10). Although the proportions of CD3(+)lymphocytes (CD3(+)%), CD4(+)lymphocytes (CD4(+) %), and CD8 lymphocytes (CD8(+)%) showed no difference between the control and test groups, the total number of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the number of CD3(+)lymphocytes (CD3(+)) and CD8(+)lymphocytes (CD8(+)) decreased more sharply in the control group after day 7. The proportion and the number of CD44 CD3(+)lymphocytes, CD44 CD4(+)lymphocytes, and CD44(+) CD4(+) CD3(+)lymphocytes began to increase after day 7, to peak on day 11, and then to decrease, showing a significant difference from those of the control group. The proportion and number of CD44(+) CD3(+)lymphocytes, in particular, showed the most significant difference among these significant markers. The proportion and number of CD44(+) CD8(+) lymphocytes and CD44(+) CD8(+) CD3(+)lymphocytes showed similar trends to those of CD44(+) CD3(+) or CD44(+) CD4(+), but the differences between the subset proportions in control and test groups were statistically insignificant. No significant difference was observed in any subsets of the CD45RB antigen. CONCLUSION: CD44(+)CD3(+) lymphocytes representing activated T lymphocytes increased significantly compared to the control group during the rejection period of skin transplantation. The analysis of the expression patterns of surface antigen CD44 on peripheral blood T lymphocytes using flow cytometry is sensitive, safe, easily repeatable, and controllable, and, therefore, can be considered a promising tool for the diagnosis of rejection. However, the clear change in CD44 occurred between day 9 and day 13, when rejection was observed grossly. Therefore, it is regarded more useful as a screening test or follow-up indicator rather than as an early diagnostic tool.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Surface ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Mice* ; Skin Transplantation* ; Skin* ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Tail