No abstract available.
GRB2 Adaptor Protein*

The immunocompetence is important not only to kill the neoplastic cells but also to keep the neoplastic cells from growing further. T lymphocyte is plays the most important role in maintaining the tumor immunity efficiently. T lymphocyte has its specific functions depending in the subset of T lymphocytes. The author analyzed the T lymphocyte subsets in 31 brain tumor patients using anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry to determine the immunological status of brain tumor patients. All CD3, CD4 and CD8 subsets were reduced in both benign and malignant brain tumor patients but more signigicantly reduced in malignant tumor group. But in benign tumor group, the subtypes of T lymphocytes were not so different from those of normal healthy controls except the pituitary tumor patients, who showed the significant decrease in all the subtypes. In malignant tumor group, each subtype was signigicantly reduced and CD8 subtypes was markedly reduced in metastatic tumor patients, These analyses were considered to have the possibility to be contributable to planning the further immunotherapy and also the possibility to moniter the brain tumor patients clinically.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Immunotherapy ; Lymphocytes ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes*

It is well established that mast cell proliferation and maturation are regulated by two principle cytokines, IL-3 and the c-kit ligand stem cell factor (SCF). Previous reports have demonstrated that bone marrow-derived IL-3-dependent mast cells exhibit the characteristic apoptosis on removal of IL-3. To know how the number of mast cells is controlled, we observed the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the murine bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMC). Apoptosis was measured by the analysis of flow cytometric data and electrophoretic evidence of DNA fragmentation. Our data showed that sodiurn nitroprusside (SNP)-a NO releasing substance- induced apoptosis in BMCMC. Cell cycle analysis showed that the number of the G,/G, and S phase decreased markedly, while the percentage of cell in G,/M phase was increased. Also, SNP alone induced cell death, whereas SNP in combination with SCF markedly decreased cell death of BMCMC. SNP-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by the treatment of BMCMC with SCF. Our results suggest that NO might have sorne role in the regulation of the number of mast cells.
Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cytokines ; DNA Fragmentation ; Interleukin-3 ; Mast Cells* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; S Phase ; Stem Cell Factor

Down syndrome is the most common autosomal chromosomal abnormality characterized by mental and growth retardation, and by various typical features including prominent epicanthal fold, oblique palpebral fissure, flat nasal bridge, short and broad hand, wide toe interspace, etc. The overall incidence has been shown to be 1:800 deliveries, increasing with advancing maternal age. However, twin cases are extremely rare, and thus far only 500 cases were reported worldwide. We have recently observed 10-day-old male monozygotic twins with Down syndrome, born to a mother of 30 years of age with one normal child. Both have VSD confirmed by 2D-echocardiography, in addition to various typical features. Cytogenetic examination revealed that both have karyotypes of 47, XY, +21. This is the first report in Korea as the authors are aware of.
Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Down Syndrome ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Incontinentia Pigmenti* ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Toes ; Twins, Monozygotic

No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney Transplantation*

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of high frequency percutaneous transtracheal ventilation and high frequency jet insufflation for laryngomicrosurgery performed under general anesthesia. Twenty patients were anesthetized with intermittent intravenous anesthetics and paralyzed with either d-tubercurarine or pancuronium. For the operations for 8 of them (group 1) ventilation was supplied through a 16 G Angiocatch introduced into the trachea through the cricothyroid membrane. For the operations for 12 remaining patients(group 2) ventilation was supplied through a 5 mm endotracheal catheter. A respiratory rate of 100 breaths/minute was used at an FiO2 1.0 using a solenoid valve-actuated ventilator. The inspiratory-expiratory ratio was 1:2. The driving pressure of oxygen was 10-45 psi. In neither group was there any significant change in the value of the pH, of PaCO2, or of PaO2. Cardiovascular parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate were slightly increased. Data obtained from these observations indicate that these techniques and devices when used properly, should provide adequate ventilation and improve the visibility of the operative field.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Human ; Laryngeal Diseases/surgery* ; Microsurgery* ; Middle Age ; Respiration, Artificial

BACKGROUND: Colonial morphology of Candida albicans known as 'spiking' on a primary isolation blood agar plate (BAP) allows rapid and presumptive identification of C. albicans. We evaluated the 'spiking' appearance to identify C. albicans. METHODS: A total of 144 fully identified clinical isolates of yeasts and 10 type strains of yeasts were tested. All isolates obtained from the 5% CO2 incubation on BAP and chocolate agar plate (CHOC) were macroscopically examined for the presence of an irregular margin (spiking). The germ tube test was performed by incubating test organisms in 0.5 mL of pooled human sera. RESULTS: The sensitivity for BAP-spiking, CHOC-spiking and germ tube test were 93.7%, 91.1%, and 98.7%, respectively. The specificity for three methods was 100%. CONCLUSION: Use of the spiking identification on BAP can be useful for the economic and rapid presumptive identification of C. albicans in routine laboratories.
Agar* ; Cacao* ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Yeasts

In Korea, the incidence of malaria has been increasing in the civilian population and in the areas previously considered as noninfected. Malaria can be suspected based on the patient's symptoms and the physical findings at examination. However, for a definitive diagnosis to be made, the malaria parasites or their components must be demonstrated by laboratory tests, which will take time and require expertise. Since general screening tests, such as a complete blood cell count, are always done for patients with a fever, it can be expected that the attention of laboratory hematologists drawn to any abnormalities found in automated hematology analyzers can help reduce delays in the diagnosis of malaria even if such a diagnosis was not initially considered. We report three cases of malaria that had thrombocytopenia and pseudoeosinophilia shown in the Sysmex XE-2100 (TOA Medical Electronics, Kobe, Japan) automated hematology analyzer. It is feasible that the pseudoeosinophilia presented as a result of hemozoin-containing white blood cells may contribute to the diagnosis of malaria, especially for patients unsuspected of the disease.
Blood Cell Count ; Diagnosis ; Electronics, Medical ; Fever ; Hematology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Malaria* ; Mass Screening ; Parasites ; Thrombocytopenia

Trichosporon pullulans has recently been recognized as a human pathogen. Given its rarity, however, few reports describe infection attributable to this fungal pathogen. In immunocompromised hosts, T. pullulans infection is associated with significant mortality. For the first time in Korea, we report a case of T. pullulans infection in a non.neutropenic patient. A 70.year.old woman was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. She did not undergo chemotherapy and received only supportive care and intravenous nutrition via the subclavian vein. Sixteen days after admission, a fever developed. Three sets of blood culture and a catheter tip culture were carried out and T. pullulans grew in all cultures. Although she was treated with amphotericin B deoxycholate and catheter removal, she died on hospital day 40 due to persistent fungemia.
Amphotericin B ; Catheters ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Deoxycholic Acid ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Fever ; Fungemia ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Subclavian Vein ; Trichosporon

Multiple gastric caner, now considered to be a sort of multiple primary cancer by Moertel's classification, is a special type of cancer in which two or more tumor lesions arise independently from the stomach. Although its incidence is rare and it has never been reported in Korea yet, the report of multiple gastric cancer is increasing with lengthened life survival and improved diagnostic method. We recently experienced two cases of triple gastric cancer, the one in 53-years-old male who had well differentiated adenocarcinoma(EGC IIb+c) on antrum, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on cardia and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma on mid-body, and the other in 65-years-old female who had two poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on cardia and anterior wall of low body and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (EGCIIc) on posterior wall of low body. Triple gastric cancer is rare, so we reported 2 cases of triple gastric cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cardia ; Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*