Although cadmium is a well known heavy metal which has an influence testis and brings about male infertility, the mechanism of action in the testis is still fully unknown. In these experiment, cadmium chloride 4 mg/kg of body weight administered intraperitoneally to the rat (Sprague-Dawley) and sacrificed after 1 week, and morphological changes were observed by LM and TEM. In addition, electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation and Western blotting and N-terminal analysis performed to reveal the protein changes. 1. Major findings under light microscope were hemorrhagic necrosis and death of all the spermatogenic cells and supporting cells within the seminiferous tubules, and decreased volume of ECM, many apoptotic bodies, and death of interstitial cells and fibroblasts within interstitium. 2. The EM findings were disruption of nuclear membrane and disappearance of cell organelles of spermatogenic cells and supporting cells within seminiferous tubules, and decreased filopodia, increased inclusion bodies, vacuolation and apoptotic changes of the interstitial cells and fibroblastic cells, many short electron-dense collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix of interstitium. 3. Two proteins of molecular weight 42 kDa and 21 kDa which disappeared after cadmium treatment were rat collagen type I alpha 2. According to the above results, it is considered that cadmium degrades the collagen of the wall of small blood vessels within seminiferous tubules and interstitium and disrupts vascular walls, which results hemorrhagic necrosis, death of all the spermatogenic cells, and the death of interstitial cells and fibroblastic cells.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Cadmium Chloride* ; Cadmium* ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Electrophoresis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Immunoprecipitation ; Inclusion Bodies ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Necrosis ; Nuclear Envelope ; Organelles ; Pseudopodia ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Testis*

Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of cells, tissues or organs between individuals of different species, would resolve the current shortage of organs, but rejection remains the major hurdle to successful xenotransplantation. In the present study, we analyzed mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) and used 51Cr release assays in order to identify the proliferation and expansion of mouse CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells against PK15, PK15/pIL-18 or PK15/mIL-18 cells. In addition, we identified T cell populations in mouse splenocytes and lymph node cells using two-color flow cytometry. It was found that the CD8+T cells of xenograft recipients proliferated extensively and that the survival rates of populations of PK15/mIL-18 or PK15/pIL-18 cells were higher than untransfected controls. Moreover, CD3+T cells were increased in mice injected with PK15 cells or PK15/pIL-18 cells but PK15/pIL-18 cell numbers were lower in lymph nodes than untransfected controls. CD8+T cells numbers were reduced in the lymph nodes of PK15/pIL-18 injected mice. These results suggest that porcine IL-18 regulates anti-pig cellular rejection in C57BL/6 mice.
Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplantation ; Transgenes/immunology/physiology ; Transfection ; Tissue Distribution ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism ; Swine ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Kidney/cytology/*immunology ; Interleukin-18/*genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Immunosuppression/*methods ; Graft Rejection/immunology/*prevention & control ; Genetic Vectors/chemical synthesis ; Female ; Epithelial Cells/*drug effects/*transplantation ; Cytokines/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Animals

Thymus is a lymphoid organ forming T-cells from hematogenous stem cells. There is no report on the germinal centers in the thymus except the Myasthenia gravis in human. In this study, new germinal centers were experimentally induced from 6 days after 5-FU treatment in the Sprague-Dawley rats. With germinal center formation, proteins of molecular weight 123 kDa on 6 days after 5-FU treatment, and 162 kDa and 205 kDa on 9 days after 5-FU treatment were increased in 5-FU treated group. These proteins revealed alpha 1 -and beta 1 -integrins on integrin Western Blot. In this experiment, it was cosidered that alpha 1-integrins and beta 1 -integrins were the key proteins for proliferation of B cells within the newly formed thymic germinal centers and the massive apoptotic disposal of B-cells from the germinal centers, and the new formation of T cells within the cortex.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Fluorouracil* ; Germinal Center* ; Humans ; Integrins* ; Molecular Weight ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymus Gland*

BACKGROUND: Perindopril. a new second-generation angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor developed by Servier Research, was administered in essential hypertensive patients in order to observe the clinical effects. METHOD: The changes of blood pressure, heart rate, quality of life, clinical laboratory examinations, side effects, electrocardiogram and echocardiographic left ventricular mass were evaluated before and after 4-12mg of perindopril 12 weeks' administration in 25 essential hypertensive patients(mild 10, moderate 8, severe 5, very severe 2 : male 7, female 18 ; mean age 53.1+/-8.9 years). RESULT: 1) After treatment with perindopril alone, blood pressures were lowered markedly in 17(68%), moderately in 5(20%) and mildly in 2(8%) cases. The average of blood pressures of 25 subjects were systolic 173.1+/-22.8mmHg and diastolic 105.9+/-9.5mmHg before treatment, which were lowered to 125.2+/-14.9mmHg and 83.2+/-9.0mmHg respectively after 12 weeks(p<0.0001). 2) Quality of Life improved markedly in 11(44%) and slightly in 9(36%) cases after perindopril administration. 3) On electrocardiographic follow-up study, three out of five left ventricular hypertrophy with strain, seven out of 13 left ventricular hypertrophy, two out of three ST segment and T wave change and two sinus tachycardia were improved. Echocardiographic left ventricular mass was reduced significantly form 249.4+/-72.7g to 202.9 56.3g after 12 weeks perindopril treatment(p<0.0001). 4) Side effects were 5 cases of dry cough and 3 facial flushing. 5) Final Assessment of perindopril effect including hypotensive effect, quality of life, left ventricular mass regression and side effect showed very useful in 16(64%) and useful in 6(24%) out of 25 subjects. CONCLUSION: Perindopril may be an effective initial single antihypertensive agent for the treatment of varying degree of hypertension, especially with left ventricular hypertrophy.
Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Flushing ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Male ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Perindopril ; Quality of Life ; Tachycardia, Sinus

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery stent has been introduced recently to overcome major problems of percutaneous trausluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA). To evaluate the success rate, complications and predictive factors associated with restenosis in coronary artery stenting, clinical analysis after coronary srtery stent was performed. METHODS: Sixteen patients who underwent coronary artery stent in Chonnam University Hospital beteen Apr. 1992 and Dec. 1993 were observed. The authors analyzed the stent dilivery success, rate complications and restenosis after follow-up coronary angiogram. RESULTS: 1) The palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted in 16 patients(12 male, 4 female, mean age : 53.3 years) and clinical diagnosis of patients were 7 myocardial infarction, 8 unstable angina and one stable angina. Stents were implanted in 10 cases of left anterior descending arteries and 6 cases of right coronary arteries. Three stents were implanted in a patient with long spiral dissection after middle right coronary artery PTCA, single stent was implanted in the other patients. 2) Stent delivery was successful in all cases, but acute stent thrombosis developed just after bail-out procedure for PTCA-induced intimal dissection in myocardial infarction patient who had multivessel lesion and intracoronary thrombus. Subacute stent thrombosis and major bleeding requiring transfusion were not documented. 3) On follow-up coronary angiogram in 10 patients, no restenosis observed in 5 right coronary arterial stents, but restenosis developed in 3 of 5 left anterior descending artery stents. Restenosis was observed in none of 4.0mm stents, two of six 3.5mm stents and one of two 3.0mm stents. 4) Stent restenosis was observed in 3 cases of positive201TI dipyridamole scan which was performed one month after coronary artery stenting. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery stent is a safe and effective in elective procedure. The restenosis rate after intracoronary stent is lower in right coronary artery than left anterior descending artery and larger stent.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Dipyridamole ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stents* ; Thrombosis

Effusive constrictive pericarditis after open heart surgery is a rare complication occuring in 0.2% to 0.3%. Presenting symptoms after surgery are associated with right heart failure and an elevated jugular venous pressure is most common abnormal physical sign. Predisposing factors include hemorrhage, perioperative pericardial injury or inflammation, presence of postpericardiotomy syndrome and open pericardium. Early diagnosis is important because(1) if it is unrecognized, the patient may deteriorate clinically, and(2) if surgery is delayed, the patient may have an increased risk of operative death. Hereby we report a case of effusive constrictive pericarditis after ventricular septal defect repair, in which constriction physiology was suggested by Doppler echocardiography after pericardiostomy.
Causality ; Constriction ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Pericardial Window Techniques ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium ; Physiology ; Postpericardiotomy Syndrome ; Thoracic Surgery ; Venous Pressure

BACKGROUND: Biomedical products such as viral vaccines can be contaminated with hazardous viruses during manufacturing processes and storage, thus causing harmful side effects. To assure the safety of biomedical products, highly effective and sensitive methods should be available to detect contaminating viruses. In this study, we performed recovery tests to determine the limit of detection of HIV-1. METHODS: An HIV-1 plasmid preparation was serially diluted and spiked into various culture media (DMEM, RPMI-1640, IMDM, GICM, and SDM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The HIV-1 plasmid was detected by PCR alone or a combination of PCR and ELISA (PCR/ELISA). RESULTS: When spiked into DMEM, RPMI, and IMDM, less than 4x10(-2) ng of HIV-1 plasmid was not detectable as HIV-1 PCR products in agarose gel. Intra- and inter-assays (n=6) showed that the PCR-ELISA system could detect PCR products diluted as much as 1, 875 times from HIV-1 plasmid serially spiked in various media. CONCLUSIONS: The PCR/ELISA system can be useful for the detection of trace amounts of hazardous viruses which may be present as contaminants in biological products.
Biological Products ; Culture Media ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HIV-1* ; Limit of Detection ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sepharose ; Viral Vaccines

Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) is a multifunctional cytokine implicated in normal hematopoiesis. We previously reported that SDF-1alpha enhanced the survival of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in synergy with other cytokine such as GM-CSF, steel factor, or thrombopoietin. As adult stem cells are very rare, many investigators are trying to expand hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. In this study, we constructed an adenoviral vector and produced high titer of recombinant adenoviruses directing robust expression of SDF-1alpha determined by ELISA. We also produced control empty adenoviruses and recombinant LacZ adenoviruses. In order to check the feasibility of SDF-1alpha in ex vivo expansion system, we compared HUVEC cells tranduced by a SDF-1alpha recombinant virus with HUVEC cells transduced by a LacZ recombinant virus in supporting activity of hematopoietic cells, and found that expression of SDF-1alpha in HUVEC cells increased viable blood cell population obtained from the same number of CD34+ cells. The SDF-1alpha recombinant adenovirus seems to be useful for future application in hematopoiesis studies.
Adenoviridae* ; Adult Stem Cells ; Blood Cells ; Chemokine CXCL12* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Stem Cell Factor ; Stem Cells ; Thrombopoietin

BACKGROUND: Acute or subacute stent thrombosis, bleeding complications and restenosis remain major clinical concerns in coronary stenting despite high pressure inflation and intravascular ultrasound guidance. A new strategy of local heparin delivery may maintain sustained local concentration and limit systemic complications. To observe the feasibility and efficacy of local heparin delivery in stenting, local heparin deliveries were performed in stented patients. METHOD: Heparin was delivered(5,000 Units, 1.0ml/min over 10 min) using the Dispatch Catheter, after predilation of target lesons in 10 patients(4 unstable angina, 6 acute myocardial infarction, mean age 52+/-7 yr) in the left anterior descending artery without systemic heparin loading. After local heparin delivery. Palmaz-Schatz stents were placed using standard methods. APTT and CK were checked at 1hr, 3hrs and 24 hrs after local heparin delivery and stenting. Follow-up coronary angiograms were done at 48 hrs and 6 months after stenting. RESULTS: All patients had no ischemic symptoms or ECG changes during and after local heparin delivery. All APTT and CK values were unchanged at 3 hrs and 24 hrs after local heparin delivery and stenting. Follow-up quantitative coronary angiograms at 48 hrs and 6 months showed all stents patent, with TIMI III distal flow, and without intra-stent thrombus(%diameter stenosis : 79.4+/-4.2% before predilation, 32.9+/-7.7% after predilation, 32.4+/-13.1% after local delivery, 14.2+/-2.3% immediately after stenting, 13.9+/-2.5% at 48 hrs and 21.7+/-8.8% at 6 months after stenting). CONCLUSION: Intracoronary stenting may be performed safely and effectively without systemic heparin therapy by using local heparin prior to stent implantation. Long-term stent patency and lack of coronary events appear favorable.
Angina, Unstable ; Arteries ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stents* ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

In the early host defense system, effector function of natural killer (NK) cells results in natural killing against target cells such as microbe-infected, malignant, and certain allogenic cells without prior stimulation. NK cell cytotoxicity is selectively regulated by homeostatic prevalence between a repertoire of both activating and inhibitory receptors, and the discrimination of untransformed cells is achieved by recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles through inhibitory signals. Although it is well known that the bipotential T/NK progenitors are derived from the common precusor, functional mechanisms in terms of the development of NK cells remain to be further investigated. NK cells are mainly involved in innate immunity, but recent studies have been reported that they also play a critical role in adaptive immune responses through interaction with dendritic cells (DC). This interaction will provide effector functions and development of NK cells, and elucidation of its precise mechanism may lead to therapeutic strategies for effective treatment of several immune diseases.
Adaptive Immunity* ; Alleles ; Dendritic Cells ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Homicide ; Immune System Diseases ; Immunity, Innate ; Killer Cells, Natural* ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Prevalence