BACKGROUND: Eotaxin, a CC chemokine specific for eosinophils, is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma recruiting eosinophils into the airways. Theophylline has been used for the treatment of asthma and rece was proposed to have an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study is to examine whether theophylline may inhibit the eosinophilic airway inflammation by reducing the expression of eotaxin. METHODS: The expression of eotaxin mRNA was assessed by Northern analysis in A549 cells 4 h after stimulation with TNF-α or IL-1β And then, theophylline was added to A549 cells stimulated with 0.1 ng/ml IL-1β. RESULTS: Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL TNF-α as compared with β-action were 7%, 22%, 28%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml IL-1β as compared with β-action, were 10%, 42%, 63%, 72%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 µM dexamethasone induced by 10 ng/mL TNF-α, as compared with β-action were 27%, 18%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 mM dexamethasone induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1β, as compared with β -action, were 43%, 47%, 12%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 mM theophylline induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1β, as compared with β-action, were 48%, 40%, 33%, 22%, 16%, 14%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that theophylline may reduce eosinophil infiltration of the airway at least in part by reducing the expression of eotaxin under the conditions of these experiments.
Asthma ; Dexamethasone ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells* ; Inflammation ; RNA, Messenger* ; Theophylline*

We report an autopsy case of secondary hemochromatosis associated with multiple frequent blood transfusion for the treatment of aplastic anemia. A 23-year-old man had been diagnosed as having aplastic anemia at the age of 13. He received a whole blood transfusion, about 1280 ml, every month during the past 10 years. Recently he developed diabetes mellitus and a congestive heart failure. The autopsy revealed that multiple organs were affected by secondary hemochromatosis, including the liver, heart, pancreas, spleen, bone marrow, stomach, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and testes. The lungs and liver showed gross and microscopic findings consistent with a congestive heart failure in addition to hemochromatosis. The details are presented. This is a case of rare secondary hemochromatosis occurring in a young man and presenting the classic histopathologic changes indistinguishable from those of primary hemochromatosis.
Adrenal Glands ; Anemia ; Anemia, Aplastic* ; Autopsy* ; Blood Transfusion ; Bone Marrow ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Hemochromatosis* ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Pancreas ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Testis ; Thyroid Gland ; Young Adult

To evaluate the degree of competitive exclusion against Salmonella gallinarum(S. gallinarum) of Salmonella enteritidis(S. enteritidis) infected chickens, fifty-six, 4-week old Hyline layer suspected of S. enteritidis infection were challenged with S. gallinarum. All chickens were tested for S. enteritidis isolation using cloacal swabs and serum plate agglutination test using S. enteritidis Ag. before challenge and classified into four groups(SE isolated, SE nonisolated, SE seropositive and SE seronegative). None of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups died after challenge and the average weight gains were 245.5g and 254.6g, respectively. But in the SE nonisolated and the SE seronegative groups, mortality was 18.2% and 20.6% and the average weight gains were 150.1g and 111.2g. The incidence of reisolation of S. gallinarum of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups were 41.7% and 47.6% from liver, 33.3% and 47.6% from spleen and 8.3% and 14.3% from cecum, respectively, and the SE nonisolated and the SE seronegative group were 63.6% and 64.7% from liver, 84.1% and 88.2% from spleen and 47.7% and 52.9% from cecum. The serological response of the SE isolated and the SE seropositive groups hardly changed from 75.0 and 81.8% before challenge to 75.0 and 85.7% after. But, the other two groups were found to be significantly higher after challenge and increased from 0 and 18.2% to 100%. Consequently, S. enteritidis preinfected chickens were found to be significant different in terms of mortality, weight gain, reisolation of S. gallinarum and serological response compared to noninfected chickens. Moreover, our study shows that S. enteritidis infected chickens appear strong competitive exclusion against the colonization of S. gallinarum.
Animals ; Chickens ; Disease Outbreaks/veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Oviposition ; Poultry Diseases/*microbiology ; Salmonella/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*microbiology ; Salmonella enteritidis/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Serotyping ; Weight Gain

The author list should be corrected.

No abstract available in English.
Female ; Humans ; Urinary Incontinence*

Since the introduction of epidural corticoateroid injections for the management of sciaticall, luintosacral radiculopathy has become one of the most common pain problems enco-untered by anesthesiologists. In order to function effectively, anesthesiologiats should be able to: 1) recognize those syndromes which may respond to nerve block: 2) understand the pathophysiology of the conditions being treated and 3) be familiar with alternate ther-apeutic pathways for patientg not responding to merre b1ock. There are many etiologic factors of low back pain and lumbosacral radiculopathy. Particularly, Nerve root compression caused by a protruding disc, a osteophyte or tumors are usually responsible for pain. Neural inflammation, therefore, is considered to play a major role in pain production.The use of local anesthetics in mixture with steroids is believed to break down neural inflammation. Steroids and local anesthetics were injected lumbar or caudal epidmal to 106 patients for the purpose of relieving low back pain and lumbosacral radiculopathy. The resu1ts are as follows : Excellent Pain relieved group : 27 Patients (25.5%) Good Pain relieved group: 49 Patients(46.1%) Fair pain relieved group : IS patients(14.2%) Not effective group : 15 Patients (14.2%).
Anesthetics, Local ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Low Back Pain ; Nerve Block ; Osteophyte ; Pain Management* ; Radiculopathy ; Steroids

Intrathecal administration of morphine for pain relief became popular since Pert, et al (1973) reported the opioid receptors in spinal cord. It is obvious now morphine bas prolonged and profound analgesic effect with few compl-ications but the leant dose which produces sufficient analgsia with insignificant complication is still controversial. The dosage of intrathecal morphine used for postoperative analgesia has varied from 0.1 mg to 2 mg, but significantly low dosage was required br direct intrathecal route than by epidural one to reach the appropriate analgesic CSF concentration. We selected 60 Patients (50 for cesarean section, 10 for total hysterectomy) and divided into 3groups to compare the effects respectively. Group l : 20 patients receiving 0.05mg of intrathecal morphine, Group ll : 20 patients receiving 0.1 mg of intrathecal morphine, Group lll : 20 Patients receiving 0.2 mg of intrathecal morphine The results are as follows ; 1) The analgesic effects of group l and ll were good and similiar, but 2 of group l and 1 of group ll required a single supplementary intramuscular demerol 6 hours after intrathecal morphine injection. The quality of analgesia was judged to be better in group lll than in group I and ll. 2) The duration of analgesia of group lll was a little longer than group I and ll, which showed similar duration. 3) The side effects of group l, ll and lll were similar, but pruritus was noted twice as much in group in lll than in group l and ll.
Analgesia ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Meperidine ; Morphine* ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Receptors, Opioid ; Spinal Cord

Malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia to osteosarcoma is rare. We report a case in which monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the proximal femur treated with curettage, Ender nailing and bone grafting was differentiated into the osteosarcoma in a 58-year-old female.
Bone Transplantation ; Curettage ; Female ; Femur ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Monostotic ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteosarcoma

A 64-year-old male was admitted due to weight loss of 5kg during a month. Chest X-ray showed two large, lobulated masses on both lower lobe. Chest CT showed ill-defined, multilobulated mass on left lower lobe and r-regular, relatively homogenous mass with air-bronchogram on right lower lobe. Left lower lobectomy and right lower lobectomy was performed sequentially with three months intervaL Microscopic findings showed squamous cell carcinoma of both mass. It was thought that this patient had synchronous double primary lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Weight Loss

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the skin. It is characterized by severe pruritus, sleep disturbance, and poor quality of life. In addition, AD frequently occurs in childhood and is considered the first manifestation of atopic march, which progresses into respiratory allergic diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, as the patient grow older. In this regard, the early diagnosis and active treatment of AD are required to lower the severity of disease and to prevent the development of atopic march. The proper management of AD includes avoidance of aggravating factors, barrier repair by skin care, and control of inflammation and infection with appropriate medications. Among them, identification and elimination of environmental risk factors responsible for worsening skin symptoms are essential. They include temperature, humidity, food and inhalant allergens, microorganisms, air pollutants, ultraviolet radiation, water hardness, and so forth. In particular, there is growing concern about indoor environment because time spent indoors and exposure to various kinds of pollutants is increasing with modernization and industrialization. In this review, we summarize the hazardous effect of temperature, humidity, cigarette smoke, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and phthalates on the development or aggravation of AD. Current epidemiological studies and animal experiments suggest possible contributions of various indoor environmental factors to the development and aggravation of AD. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate a causal relationship between indoor environmental factors and AD.