BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Early in inflammation, adhesion occurs between leukocytes and endothelium where selectins bind to sialyl Lewis x(Sle,) and related oligosaccharides. We tested glycerrhetinic acid(GA), msjor anti-inflammmatory component of licorice, for its ability to inhibit selectin-mediated adhesion of human eosinophils and neutrophils in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Neutrophils and eosinophils were isolated by density grsdient centrifugation and eosinophils were further purified by immunomagnetic negative selection. Adhesion to unstimulated or IL-1 p-stimulated(5ug/ml, 4-6hr, 37C) umbilical vein endothelial monolayers was tested under static or rotating conditions, where adhesion is E- or L-selectin dependent, respectively. P-selectin-dependent adhesion was tested on immobilized platelets treated with or without TPA(10-7M, 10mins, RT). Stimulus-induced adhesion was always at least four-fold higher than without stimulus, and selectin dependence was confirmed with specific blocking monoclonsl antibody RESULT: All three kinds of selectin-mediated eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion were inhibited by GA and they were reversible without affecting viability. CONCLUSION: The ability of GA to interfere with the selectin mediated adhesion may contribute the one of the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects by licorice.
Centrifugation ; Endothelium ; Eosinophils ; Glycyrrhiza* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; L-Selectin ; Leukocytes ; Neutrophils* ; Oligosaccharides ; Selectins ; Umbilical Veins

No abstract available.
Drug Interactions*

Methemoglobinemia is an uncommon clinical problem generally caused by inherited disorders of hemoglobin metabolism or environmental toxicity from oxidizing agents. Since methemoglobin has no oxigen carrying capacity, patient with severe methemoglobinemia may have dangerous hypoxia even when arterial oxygen tension is normal. Degree of exposure to oxidants which are benign for older individuals may produce severe methemoglobinemia I Fetal hemoglobin has increased susceptibility to oxidatin. NADH diaphorase activity is reduced to 60% of adult levels in newborn erythrocytes. Low pH further reduces the activity of the enzyme. We report our experience with 5 unrelated nweborns, ranging in age from 9 to 33 days, who presented with diarrhea, dehydration, acidosis and transient methemoglobinemia. No history of toxin exposure could be elicited. On admission, all patients weighted less than their birth weights. All were mild to severely dehydrated, acidotic and methemoglobin levels ranged from 14.7% to 49.1%. In one cases Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in the stool. Rehydration and correction of acidosis were done. Three of them were trated with 2mg/kg of methylene blue and improved immediately. Two patient improved without methylene blue injection. Methemoglobinemia under acidosis may be a common phenomenon in newborn period.
Acidosis* ; Adult ; Anoxia ; Birth Weight ; Natural Resources ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea ; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase ; Erythrocytes ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant, Newborn* ; Metabolism ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Methylene Blue ; Oxidants ; Oxygen ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

No abstract available.
Edema* ; Eyelids* ; Lip*

In asthma, eosinophil roles as main end inflammatory effector cell, but neither the activation process nor the stimuli of that is known clearly, yet. Even though allergic asthma is IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity disease, it is not clear whether there is FcepsilonRI on the surface of eosinophil like mast cell or basophil which is activated through the FcepsilonRl bridging with sensitized allergens. In this study, we speculate if there's FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil, sensitized allergen activates it like mast cell in allergic asthmatics, and with this result we can find out one of the stimuli of eosinophil in asthma and can suggest the possibility of the existence of FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil. We did direct stimulation of the house dust mite -sensitized astknatics'purified peripheral blood normodense eoisnophils with Dermatophagoides pteronyssiuns. Then we measured the LTC4 and ECP from the supernatant by RIA kit and observed the morphological changes with electron microscopy. There was neither increase in LTC4 and ECP level nor the morphological changes in asthmatics. And there were no significant differences in both LTC4, and ECP level, and morphologic changes between asthmatics and controls. We would summerize that house dust mite dose not dirctly activate eosinophil from house dust mite-sensitized asthmatics and couldn't find out the possibility that there's FcepsilonRI on the surface of eoslnophils. But no exitstence of FcepsilonRI on the eosinophil is the indirect evidence, so from now on we try to find more direct evidence of that by blotting.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Basophils ; Dust* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans* ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Leukotriene C4 ; Mast Cells ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pyroglyphidae*

The upshoot and downshoot in Duane's retraction syndrome is believed to be related to a leash effect from the lateral rectus muscle. When the eye is rotated into the adducted position, the lateral rectus muscle slips over the globe, producing the up-and downshoot on adduction. The splitting of the ends of the lateral rectus into a Y configuration prevents the rotation of the globe up or down by stabilizing the muscle's position on the eye. Three patients with Duane's retraction syndrome demonstrated abnormal vertical movement on adduction and underwent a Y-splitting on the lateral rectus. In all patients, marked decrease in the up-and downshoot in noted after surgery.
Duane Retraction Syndrome* ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find taxi drivers' smoking behavior, self-efficacy and expectation level of success in smoking cessation. It will provide useful information for developing nursing interventions in health promotion programs. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 271 taxi drivers in Seoul and its metropolitan area. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire asking smoking history, smoking behaviors, health problem, stages of change for smoking cessation, self-efficacy and the expectation level of success in smoking cessation. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Pearson's correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Cronbach's a. RESULTS: Of the taxi drivers, 83.8% were current smokers. Stages of change were as follows: 45.8% were in the precontemplation stage, 26.2% in the contemplation stage, 13.7% in the maintenance stage, 12.2% in the preparation stage and 1.5% in the action stage. In addition. 20.3% of the subjects reported health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and respiratory disease. The expectation level of success in smoking cessation was positively related with self-efficacy. There were statistically significant differences in the expectation level of success in smoking cessation according to the number of cigarettes per day and nicotine dependency. In addition. there were statistically significant differences in self-efficacy according to the number of cigarettes per day, duration of smoking (years) and nicotine dependency. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that taxi drivers' health problems and smoking rate were serious. Therefore more systematic health promotion programs for smoking cessation should be developed and executed by health care specialists at individual taxi companies.
Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Heart Diseases ; Hypertension ; Nicotine ; Nursing ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Specialization ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A 25-year-old male with asthma suffered from generalized urticaria, angioedema and syncope associated with exercise after ingestion of food made with wheat flour. Skin prick test with bread showed strong positive reaction(++++), but with wheat flour, a weak positive(+). Challenge test with wheat flour, and food made with wheat flour, without or with exercise, were done several times. Exercise such as 25 min of running on treadmill following 30 min after 50 grams of bread or 50 grams of hot pepper-stuffed rice cake only showed positive reaction such as generalized urticaria, angioedema and hypotension, but not with 15 grams of bread or 15 grams of hot pepper-stuffed rice cake. Ingestion of bread in such high amounts as 15 grams alone did not trigger reaction, not even with is min of exercise. This is the first clear case of food dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) in which the allergic reaction depended on both the amount of food ingested and the amount of exercise was clarified.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Asthma ; Bread ; Eating ; Flour* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypotension ; Male ; Running ; Skin ; Syncope ; Triticum* ; Urticaria

To elucidate the role of plasmid-mediated AmpC-type B-lactamases in clinical practice, cefoxitin-resistant isolates of E. coli (19 strains) and K. pneumoniae (7 strains) from three hospitals in Korea were studied. All of the 26 isolates produced at least one j3-lactamase and 16 (62%) isolates produced AmpC-type B-lactamases poorly inhibited by clavulanic acid. In 16 such isolates, 4 kinds of AmpC enzymes were detected; the pI 8.0 AmpC enzyme in 11 isolates, the pI 8.9 in 3 isolates of E. coli, the pI 8.5 in 1 isolate of E. coli, and the pI 7.8 in 1 isolate of K pneumoniae. The pI 8.0 and 7.8 AmpC enzymes had an apparent molecular mass of 38 kDa and the pI 8.5 and 8.9 AmpC enzymes had a molecular mass of 35 kDa. Cefoxitin resistance was transmissible in six E. coli and three K pneumoniae strains due to a common AmpC-type B-lactamase with a pl of 8.0. This enzyme was confirmed to be CMY-1 B-lactamase by Southern blotting and PCR analysis. Four E. coli isolates produced large amounts of AmpC-type j3-1actamase. They were chromosomal AmpC hyperproducers carrying some alterations in the promoter and attenuator regions of the ampC chromosomal gene. The pI 7.8 AmpC enzyme is currently under study. In conclusion, this study showed that the CMY-1 plasmid-mediated cephamycinase play an important role in cephamycin resistance of K. pneumoniae and E. coli clinical isolates in Korea.
beta-Lactamases* ; Blotting, Southern ; Cefoxitin ; Clavulanic Acid ; Korea ; Pneumonia* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No Abstract Available.