Pityriasis rotunda is an uncommon chronic dermatosis characterized by multiple, round or oval, hyperpigmented or hypopigmented patches that have a fine scale on the trunk and extremities. Most of the cases reported predominantly occurred in Oriental and black patients in association with internal disease. However, in Caucasians it has been documented in healthy persons usually as a familial tendency. We report a case of pityriasis rotunda which showed familial occurrence and had no underlying disease.
Extremities ; Humans ; Pityriasis* ; Skin Diseases

No abstract available.
Asthma*

The wandering spleen is a rare condition, in which the spleen is located in other than the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The clinical manifestation is variable from asymptomatic to abdominal catastrophy due to torsion of the splenic pedicle. We experienced a case of torsion of wandering spleen in 8-year-old girl who admitted with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, palpable left abdominal mass. She was diagnosed preoperatively with the aid of abdominal sonography and C.T. scanning. A splenectomy was performed and she made uneventful recovery. The case report illustrates some of the diagnostic and therapeutic considerations pertaining to wandering spleen with a brief review of related literature.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Vomiting ; Wandering Spleen*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome* ; Survivors*

BACKGROUND: Infection with respiratory virus has been shown to exacerbate asthma in humans. However, the role of a respiratory virus in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma and/or wheezing in young children has not been clearly defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether respiratory virus infections such as RSV, and influenza A virus are related to the productions of IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions. METHOD: We compared IL-11, IFN-gamma, and ECP levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from 38 non-asthmatic wheezing children with viral infections (RSV in 21 children, influenza A virus in 17 children), and 16 non-asthmatic healthy children who were included as the controls. IL-11, and IFN-gamma levels were analysed by ELISA. ECP concentrations were measured by monoclonal antibody-based fluorometric assay. RESULT: RSV infection in children induced a greater release of IL-11 in nasopharyngeal secretions than in influenza A virus infection, and in the controls. The release of IFN-gamma levels in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with influenza A virus infection was significantly higher than in nasopharyngeal secretions from children with RSV. ECP levels of subjects with viral infection were significantly higher than in control children. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that RSV is a potent inducer of IL-11 elaboration in nasal epithelium and that IL-11 is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of RSV infection. Increased IFN-gamma production in response to the influenza A virus infection may be related to effective Th1 responses.
Asthma ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Humans ; Influenza A virus* ; Influenza, Human* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-11* ; Nasal Mucosa ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses*

An extensive variety of methods has been used to detect antisperm antibodies in infertile individuals, and this reflects a concern about the immunological validity, interpretation and standardization of the tests. Comparisons of different methods using the same test materials have shown little correlation between results. The purpose of this Study is to compare the results of three methods. ELISA, gelatin agglutination test and sperm immobilization test-using the same test materials based on recommendations from WHO workshop. The results are as follows: 1. Ten normal controls showed negative reactions in all the 3 tests. Out of 34 patients, the positive sera were noted in 23 (67.6%) on ELISA test, 20 (58.8%) on gelatin agglutination test and 18 (52.9%) on sperm immobilization test. 2. Fifteen (44.1 %) out of 34 patients showed positive reactions in all the 3 tests, and 26 (76.5%) out of 34 patients showed positive reaction in one or more tests. 3. The titers of the antisperm antibodies were higher in the following orders; ELISA, gelatin agglutination test and sperm immobilization test. Therefore, it seems to be possible to increase the detectability of the antisperm antibodies, if more than one tests are impolyed.
Agglutination Tests* ; Agglutination* ; Antibodies ; Education ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Gelatin* ; Humans ; Immobilization* ; Infertility ; Male* ; Spermatozoa*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Goblet Cells* ; Rats* ; Salt Gland*

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital*

This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of total Ginseng saponin (GTS) on the blood pressure of the rat and to elucidate its mechanism of action. GTS, when injeced into a femoral vein of the rat, caused dose-related fall in blood pressure with secondarily elevation of the blood pressure. The depressor effect of GTS was blocked by treatment of atropine and prazosin, but not affected by pretreatment with chlorisondamine or cyproheptadine. GTS inhibited significantly the pressor response evoked by norepinephrine. The pressor effect of GTS was not affected by treatment with atropine or cyproheptadine, but was attenuated markedly by pretreatment with chlorisondamine. From the above mentioned results, it is thought that GTS produces the pressor and the depressor actions in the rat, and that its depressor response is exerted partly through the stimulation of cholinergic muscaric receptors with the blockade of adrenergic alpha-receptors, and that its pressor response is revealed by stimulation of nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia.
Animals ; Atropine ; Blood Pressure* ; Chlorisondamine ; Cyproheptadine ; Femoral Vein ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; Norepinephrine ; Panax* ; Prazosin ; Rats* ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; Saponins*

PURPOSE: HBV infection acquired later in life elicits an inflammatory response. The quality and intensity of the response determines whether virus clears or persists. Clearance is mediated through antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cells. The immune response often precipitates cholestasis while releasing a number of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma, which are known to inhibit HBV replication in vivo. Transgenic mice which replicate HBV provide a useful model for studying viral pathogenesis. We try to determine whether cholestasis, apart from inflammation, modulates HBV replication. Method: HBV-expressing female 9-wk old BALD/B6 mice matched for HBeAg titer were utilized. Cholestasis was achieved by mid-length ligation and transection of the common bile duct in anesthesized animals. Sham and ligated animals were sacrificed over at 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after operation (4 animals/interval). Sera were assayed for ALT, GGT, and direct bilirubin. Histopathology was obtained. Cytokine profiles for interferons, interleukins and tumor necrosis factor were monitored by RNase protection assay. HBV replication was quantitated by measurement of HBV DNA and RNA using Southern and Northern blotting. RESULTS: Sham-operated animals remained without biochemical, pathological or serological changes. Operated animals demonstrated markedly elevated total bilirubin, ALT and GGT levels. Histologic examination showed marked periductular fibrosis and ductular proliferation and area of focal hepato cellular necrosis. Ribonuclease protection assays demon strated minimal infiltration of CD3 cells, and minimal to no migration of CD4 and CD8 cells. Interferon-gamma mRNA was not detected. TNF-alpha peaked between 1 and 3 days post surgery, but to a much lesser extent than that found in naive virus-challenged animals. Both major HBV RNA species remained unchanged during the experiment. HBV DNA production demonstrated no changes in the quantity of the relaxed circular or single-stranded intermediates for the first 2 days. However, by days 5 and 7, reduction in the quantity of viral intermediates were seen. This diminution did not appear to be due to the presence of inflammatory cytokines or CTLs (cytotoxic T lymphocytes) previously implicated in viral clearance. CONCLUSION: Whereas inflammatory cytokines and cellular immunity are essential for viral attenuation and clearance, Acute cholestasis does not appear to contribute independently to biological modulation of HBV replication.
Animals ; Bilirubin ; Blotting, Northern ; Cholestasis* ; Common Bile Duct ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Inflammation ; Interferon-gamma ; Interferons ; Interleukins ; Ligation ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Necrosis ; Ribonucleases ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha