It has been known that proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR) can be developed by various intraocular diseases. Among them, the intravitreal hemorrhage would be accounted one of the causative disorders of PVR. An experimental study of the rabbit retina following intravitreal injection of auto blood was performed in order to investigate of development processes and nature of cellular alterations in PVR. The results were as follows: 1. Macrophages containing several dense bodies appeared near the inner limiting membrane of the retina and many floating red blood cells were present in the vitreous cavity on 3 days after intravitreal injection of blood. 2. One week after intravitreal injection of blood, the Miiller cells extended to the vitreous penetrating the inner limiting membrane. Many macrophages were observed between the Miiller cell processes. 3. Preretinal proliferative tissue were differentiated to the multilayered Miiller cell processes with the cellular characteristics containing glycogen granules, SER and junctional complexes in 2 weeks after intravitreal injection of blood. In these states macrophages between the Miiller cell processes had were completely disappeared. 4. It was considered that Miiller cells extend to the vitreous penetrating the inner limiting membrane in order to phagocytose the red blood cells in the vitreous which lead to processes resulting in formation of PVR.
Erythrocytes ; Glycogen ; Hemorrhage* ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macrophages ; Membranes* ; Retina

Highly specific and sensitive immunoassay method for soluble human recombinant interleukin-6 (hu rlL-6) was established by two different immunization methods. One is conventional method by Freund's adjuvant method and the other is special method which is directly injected to mouse spleen. Among seven established monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), two typical monoclonal antibodies, designated YB3 (IgG1) and NY2 (IgM), were further characterized. These mAbs highly bound to IL-6, however did not show cross reactivity with IL-1B and IL-2. As the results of ELISA inhibition assay and western blotting method, it was further identified that YB3 and NY2 had high binding specificity with IL-6. And the limiting detection amount of rlL-6 for YB3 was 5 ng/ml and for NY2 was 0.5 ng/ml. Furthermore, N-glycosylated human rlL-6 was also bound to YB3 on ELISA. On the other hand YB-3 furtherly recognized N-glycosylated human rlL-6 by sandwich ELISA method. These mAbs may be of use to diagnose the gynecopathy which contains abortion and preterm labor.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spleen

BACKGROUND: Influenza transmission in households a subject of renewed interest especially in pandemic situation. We performed this study to investigate the laboratory-confirmatory rate in household contacts with index cases of pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For three months from 1 September and 29 November 2009, people who had a history of close contact with confirmed cases of pandemic influenza (index case) were recruited. The information on the study participants was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Presence of the pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) infection was confirmed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: A total of 113 index cases and 141 household contacts were investigated. One hundred and four index cases (92.0%) were younger than 20 years. The median age of household contacts was 40 years. Twenty eight household contacts (19.8%) had acute respiratory illness (ARI). Overall, 10.6% of enrolled household contacts were positive in RT-PCR for pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009). The positive rate of household contacts with ARI was 25.0% and it was 7.1% in household contacts without ARI. The positive rate was significantly higher in children and young adults under 30 years (28.3%) compared with that in household contacts older than 30 years (8.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This results showed a significant role of mild symptomatic or asymptomatic pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) patients as a virus carriers in households.
Child ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Pandemics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viruses ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence, lesion sites and characteristics of MR findings in patients with mild head injury and the relationship between MR findings and the postconcussion syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study involved 26 patients with mild head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale, 13 to 15 ; no subsequent deterioration ; loss ofconsciousness < 30 minutes). Prospective CT and MR Imaging was performed and the prevalence rate of abnormalities, sites and characteristics of lesions were evaluated, as well as the relationship between MR findings and the postconcussion syndrome. RESULTS: In 17 of 26 patients(65%) there were abnormal findings on MR, and in 8 of the 26(31%), abnormal findings were seen on CT. Abnormalities consisted of cerebral contusion in nine patients, diffuse axonal injury in six and small thin extracerebral hematomas in nine. MR is more sensitive than CT, especially when the lesion is non-hemorrhagic and is closer to the cranial vault. In 16 patients who wereclinically followed up, the prevalence rate of postconcussion syndrome was higher in those with abnormal MR than in those with normal MRI. CONCLUSION: The greater sensitivity of MR makes it a better indicator than CT for the presence and extent of injuries and thus potentially a better predictor of outcome, even in patients with mildhead injuries. Positive MR findings are an objective predictors for the evaluation of patients with postconcussion syndrome after mild head injury.
Axons ; Coma ; Contusions ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The combination of local anesthetics and opioids in the spinal anesthesia has a synergic analgesic effect. Therefore, we compared intraoperative conditions and clinical effects of low dose (5 mg) bupivacaine added with fentanyl versus a conventional dose(10 mg) of bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). METHODS: Forty five ASA class 1 and 2 patients scheduled for a TURP were randomly divided into three groups. Group B (n = 15) received bupivacaine 10 mg, group BF (n = 15) received bupivacaine 5 mg added with fentanyl 20microgram, and group BFE received bupivacaine 5 mg added with fentanyl 20microgram and 0.2 mg epinephrine. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded every 5 minutes before and after spinal anesthesia. Sensory blockade was measured by a pin-prick test and motor blockade was evaluated by the Bromage motor scale. Side effects including pruritus, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, and intraoperative pain were observed. RESULTS: The duration of sensory and motor blockade in group BF was significantly shorter than in group B and group BFE (P<0.05). Without statistical significance, hypotension (6.7%) and bradycardia (13.3%) were observed in group B and pruritus (26.7%) and nausea (13.3%) occurred in all patients who received fentanyl. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of fentanyl 20microgram to low dose bupivacaine 5 mg resulted in short lasting motor and sensory block, compared with conventional dose bupivacaine 10 mg. Therefore, we concluded that the clinical application of this method could provide adequate analgesia with early discharge and no serious side effects for TURP patients.
Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics, Local ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Bupivacaine* ; Epinephrine ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Nausea ; Prostate* ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Vomiting

OBJETIVE: To elucidate 1) whether there are any differences in the urine concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites between patients with leiomyoma and normal controls 2) the correlation between urinary profiles of steroid hormones and leiomyomas of the uterus according to their type, location, volume, and weight. MATERIALS OF METHODS: The study population consisted of 37 premenopausal patients with uterine leiomyoma and the control group consisted of 25 premenopausal normal volunteer women without uterine leiomyoma. Confirmation of the existence of uterine leiomyoma was done by ultrasonography and histopathological examination after surgery. The volume of the leiomyoma was estimated by trans-abdominal and/or trans-vaginal ultrasonography. The Leiomyomas were divided into 3 types (subserosal, intramural and submucosal). Seventeen patients had subserosal type of leiomyoma, 10 with the intramural type and 10 with the submucosal type. The locations of the leiomyoma were also divided into 3 groups (fundus, body and isthmus). Seventeen patients showed a fundus location, 10 in body, and 10 in isthmus. We compared urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids between patients with leiomyomas and normal controls, and also investigated the relationship between urinary profiles of the endogenous steroids and leiomyomas according to their type, location, volume and weight by using highly sensitive Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) system. RESULTS: The mean ages of the patients with leiomyomas and the control group were 43.1+/-5.6 and 40.6+/-7.2 years, the weights were 63.4+/-7.3 and 59.4+/-8.1 kg, and their heights were 155.4+/-4.8 and 159.3+/-4.8 cm respectively. Seventeen patients had subserosal, 10 had intramural, and 10 had submucosal leiomyomas. There were 17 patients with leiomyoma located in fundus, 10 in body and 10 in isthmus. 17beta-estradiol, 5-AT, 11-keto ET, 11beta-hydroxy An, 11beta-hydroxy Et, THS, THA, THE, alpha-cortolone, alpha-cortol, beta-cortol, 11beta-OH Et/11beta-OH An and E2/E1 were significantly increased in patients with leiomyoma than in the control group. 17beta-estradiol was significantly increased in the intramural and the submucosal types than in the subserosal type. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of urinary steroids according to the locations of leiomyomas. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of urinary steroids and the volume of the leiomyomas. 17beta-estradiol significantly decreased as the weight of uterus increased (r=-0.322, p=0.04). CONCLUSION: The concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites were generally increased in patients with leiomyoma but were not significantly related to the volume and weight of the leiomyomas. Our study suggests that steroid hormones may be involved in the initiation of leiomyomas but may not be involved in their progression. In addition, the concentrations of steroid hormone metabolites are not related to the leiomyoma type and location.
Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Steroids ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: To evaluate surface configuration of herniated disc on three-dimensional CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three dimensional surface images reconstructed from CT scans(1mm thick) of 24 surgically confirmed herniated discs in 23 patients were revieved. Disc surface was classified into peripheral and central zones in contact with consecutive peripheral ring and central endplate. Surface irregularity was categorized into two types(local andgeneral). The incidence, size, and extent of local irregularity were observed. General irregularity incidence and severity ranges in 4 grades, and peripheral width were evaluated. The findings were correlated with discography. RESULTS: Local irregularity compatible with anulus tear in discography was shown in all. It was large(13/24) andmainly peripheral tract extending to disc margin in protrusion(3/5) and sequestration(5/7), and cleft encompassing central zone to disc margin in extrusion(9/12). General irregularity was predominantly grade 3(15/22) and was shown in all except in 2 puotrusions. peripheral width was 0.56 of central radius. CONCLUSION: Extrusion inherniated disc shows characteristic cleft encompassing central zone to disc margin whereas sequestration or protrusion displays tract extending from peripheral zone to disc margin. Thus, three dimensional surface imagingmay aid the diagnosis, follow-up, prediction, and treatment of herniated disc.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement* ; Radius

This study was taken to measure the serum aminotransferase level and its correlation with clinical symptoms from Human Rotavirus gastroenteritis. This report is based on analysis of 434 patients who were admitted to the Pediatric department at Wonju Christian Hospital because of watery diarrhea and vomiting during 2-year period from July, 1991 to June 1993. The stool specimen on admission was tested for Rotavirus Ag by Rotazyme test. And then serum aminotransferase were checked. The result are as follows: 1) Rotavirus Antigens were detected in 194 cases (44.7%) among total 434 patients with gastroenteritis 2) The number of patients with AST elevation above the normal value in RTZ+group was 126 cases(64.9%) and, in RTZ-group was 65 cases(27.0%). 3) The mean value of AST in RTZ+ group was 41.7U/L and, in RTZ-group was 31.1U/L. The mean value of AST between the two groups were significantly different. 4) The mean value of ALT and GGT in the two groups were not different. 5) The patients with AST elevation above normal level in the RTZ+group was significantly increased in frequency and duration of diarrhea than RTZ+ group with normal AST level.
Diarrhea ; Gangwon-do ; Gastroenteritis* ; Humans* ; Reference Values ; Rotavirus* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Propofol, 2,6-diisopropyl phenol, is a short-acting, potent intravenous anesthetics agent. In both general anesthetic care and the anesthetic care of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery, the unique characteristics of propofol might make it a logical part of the anesthetic plan for patients such as pulmonary hypertension. But there are limited experimental and clinical data on the effects of propofol on pulmonary vascular resistance, and they are somewhat contradictory. the purpose of this study was to investigated.the effect and mechanism of vasodilation induced by propofol using isolated rat pulmonary artery rings. METHODS: Cumulative dose-response curves for propofol(10(-6)~10(-3)M) were obtained from tension measurements of rings that contracted with phenylephrine(10(-6)M) and KCI(40 mM) in the presence and absence of endothelium, and in the pretreatment of L-NAME(3x10(-4)M) and substance P(3x10(-4)M). Thereafter the effect of propofol(10(-4)M) on vascular smooth muscle contration in response to Ca++ mobilization in vscular rings were investigated. RESULTS: Propofol(10(-6)~10(-3)M) produced dose-dependent relaxation and had no signficant effect from endothelium. Pretreatment of L-NAME and substance P failed to have influence on cumulative dose-respose curves. Therefore vasodilator effect of propofol was not endothelium-dependent. And 10(-4)M propofol attenuated a contraction in response to CaCl2 in vascular rings depolarized by KCI, and vasoconstraction in response to calcium entry in the presence of phenylephine was attenuated by 10(-4)M propofol. Ryanodine preteament had not influence on contractile response. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that vasodilation produced by propofol is not endothelium-dependent but is probably due to nonspecific intracellular Ca++ influx blockade through voltage-operated calcium channels and receptor-operated channels.
Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels ; Endothelium ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Logic ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Phenol ; Propofol* ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Ryanodine ; Substance P ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND: Adrenal medullary transplants into the subarachnoid space have been demonstrated to reduce pain sensitivity. This analgesia most likely results from the release of neuroactive substances, particularly catecholamines and opioid peptides from the transplanted cells into spinal cord. METHODS: Isolated bovine chromaffin cells were encapsulated with alginate and poly-L-lysine prior to implantation into rat's subarachnoid space to protect them from host immune system. And then catecholamines from encapsulated chromaffin cells were measured quantitatively in vitro by High Performance Liquid Chromatograph. The animals were randomized into 2 groups, one of which received microencapsulated chromaffin cells and the other empty capsules. The effects of such implants were evaluated on the pain behavior resulting from a chronic constriction injury of the rat sciatic nerve for 30 days. RESULTS: Catecholamine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed. Data (mean SD) are considered significant at P <0.05 (ANOVA for repeated measure and Dunnett's test). Continuous release of catecholamine and met-enkephalin with responsiveness to nicotine stimulation was measured from encapsulated cells in vitro. A significant reduction of allodynic response to acetone evaporation was observed in the animals implanted with cell loaded capsules compared to control animals with empty capsules. Catecholamine concentration in CSF was higher in the cell loaded capsule group. There were no complications related to implantation. CONCLUSION: We found that encapsulated chromaffin cells released continuously catehcolamines and opioids peptides in vitro and in the CSF. Those results may prove chromaffin cell's anagesic effect indirectly.
Acetone ; Analgesia ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Animals ; Capsules ; Catecholamines* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chromaffin Cells* ; Constriction ; Drug Compounding ; Enkephalin, Methionine ; Immune System ; Nicotine ; Opioid Peptides ; Peptides ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve ; Spinal Cord ; Subarachnoid Space