The purpose of this report is to study further the presence and nature of the serum inhibitory factor against C. albicans and to investigate whether the pregnant mother sera and corresponding the sera of newborn cord blood would have any differend in inhibitory effect compared with normal adult sera. The sei um samples were obtained from 100 normal healthy adults, 50 pregnant mothers, and 5() samples of sera of newborn cord blood respectively. The degree of candidal growth was determined by the change of percent transmission on pectrophotometry of the organism inoculated in nutrient broth during 24-hour incubation. The results obtained were as follows: The sei a from normal healthy adults were found to retain the inhibitory effects on in vit o candidal growth compared with control, The inhibitory effect of pregnant mother or infant cord sera was also demonstrated, but v, as weaker than that of norrnal adult sera. The inhibitory effect of each group sera was reversed nearly to the control level after con..plete saturation with iron. The inhibitory action of normal adults sera in the standard strain of C. albicans was weaker than in the strain from the patient, The nature of the human serum inhibitory factor against in vitro growth of C. albicans seems to be closely related with the unbound iron-binding capacity of transferrin
Adult ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Fetal Blood ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Iron ; Mothers ; Transferrin

No abstract available.
Arteriovenous Fistula*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Skin* ; Tuberculosis, Cutaneous*

PURPOSE: TGF-beta is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Among the TGF-beta responses, cell migration is closely associated with the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, we determined which MMPs are regulated by TGF-beta and examined the TGF-beta signaling involved in this event, focusing on Src family tyrosine kinases (SFKs) METHODS: First we examined the expression of MMPs in rat lens explant culture treated with TGF-beta and LECs attached to the anterior capsules of patients with nuclear (N), anterior polar (AP) cataracts using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. It was examined whether the expression of MMPs is regulated by SFKs. RESULTS: The study using RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed the expression of MMP-2 and -14 in explants and the expression of MMP-14 LECs of AP cataracts. The expression of MMP-2 and -14 was blocked by PP2 in explants. Furthermore, the activated form of SFKs was observed in LECs of AP cataracts by immunofluorescence staining. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a novel role of SFKs signaling in the expression of MMP-14 induced by TGF-beta.
Animals ; Capsules ; Cataract ; Cell Movement ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Rats ; src-Family Kinases ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

No abstract available.
Diazepam* ; Seizures, Febrile*

No abstract available.
Diazepam* ; Seizures, Febrile*

Open carpal tunnel release has been the standard method of sumical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Recently endoscopic carpal tunnel release has been introduced and is heing used by many authors. The advantages of this new technique are less postoperative pain, rapid restoration of power and rapid return-to-work. However many considerate authors, in spite of these advantages. insist that the inevitahle risk of neurovascular injury during the endoscopic procedure should not he underestimated. The purpose of our study is to compare the clinical results of endoscopic carpal tunnel release with those of open release. 20 open carpal tunnel releases in 16 patients and 15 endoscopic carpal tunnel reieases (single-portal technique) in 11 patients were performed hy the first author. Preoperative conditions of both groups are not different. Authors compared the clinical results between the two groups with some parameters. The overall clinical results were not different significantly hetween two groups. Rapid return-to-work(36 days in endoscopic group versus 60 days in open group) and less postoperative scar and pillar pain in endoscopic group were demonstrated. However, the major complication of one median nerve injury in endoscopic group seemed to overweigh these some benefits. We suggest that the standard operative technique for carpal tunnel syndrome should be open carpal tunnel release and more considerations should be takcn in choosing endoscopic method because of its inherent risk.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Pain, Postoperative ; Return to Work

We experienced one case of tuberous sclerosis occurred in brothers. Case 1 is 8-year-old male patient who presented seizure, mild mental retardation, subependimal nodule and Shagreen patch. Case 2 is 9-year-old male patient who presented adenoma sebaceum, Shagreen patch, subependymal gient cell astrocytomas. Diagnosis was confirmed by brain CT and biopsy. Brief review and related literatures were also presented.
Astrocytoma ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Male ; Seizures ; Siblings* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*