In order to develop a method for the detection of minimal residual leukemic disease (MRD) in T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T cell ALL), T cell leukemia cell line was used to detect clonal TCR p chain mRNA and to synthesize CDR3 specific oligonucleotide probe. For the Jurkat cell line clonal TCR p chain cDNA was amplified by using RT-PCR with oligonucleotide primer, Vp universal primer. As the result of RT-PCR an approximate 300 bp fragment of the TCR chain was obtained, and the partial identification of the TCR p chain gene and the amino acid sequence of the fragment were done by gene cloning and sequencing. The gene sequence of TCR p obtained was identified as Vp8-Jp1.2-Cp2. Diversity gene segment could not be found. Within the p chain, the CDR3 region was identified as 12 amino acids (SFSTCSANYGYT). It is kown that TCR is expressed in about 40% of the all T cell ALL. However it is not kown what percentage of the TCR p chain mRNA expression translates into the actual TCR molecule. It is not certain how many patients with MRD can be detected by this method used in this study, but this technique might be useful to detect MRD in at least 40% of the patients with T-cell ALL.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids ; Cell Line* ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Leukemia, T-Cell* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVES: Significant progress has been made in understanding psychosocial, psychological, and environmental factors associated with suicide. However it is only recently that attention has been paid to the understanding of the neurobiology of suicide. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between platelet serotonin level and suicidal behavior and psychological features of the suicidal attempters. METHODS: After a suicidal attempt platelet serotonin level was measured from 21 patients and compared it with those from depression patients and normal controls. Also MMPI, HAM-D, Barratt impulsiveness scale(BIS) were done to evaluate their psychological features. RESULTS: 1) There was no significant difference in sex ratio of the suicidal attempters. 2) There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. 3) The analysis of MMPI revealed that the scores of D, Hs, Pt in clinical scales were significantly higher in suicide patients and scores of D, Pa, Si were in depression patients. 4)The HAM-D score was significantly higher in depression and suicide patients, especially in depression patients. 5) The analysis of Barratt impulsiveness scale revealed that the scores of nonplanning, motor and cognitive impulsiveness scale were significantly higher in suicide patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in platelet serotonin levels among three groups. However the analysis of psychological features revealed significant differences. Therefore we concluded that psychological examinations are benefit to evaluate the suicidal tendency.
Blood Platelets* ; Depression ; Humans ; MMPI ; Neurobiology ; Serotonin* ; Sex Ratio ; Suicide ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) has devastating effects on multiple aspects of the quality of life(QoL). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the QoL between PTSD group and non-PTSD group, and identify the variables affecting the QoL of the Vietnam War veterans. METHODS: We recruited 39 veterans with PTSD and 43 veterans without PTSD, all of whom had deployed to the Vietnam War. We used the Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus, the Korean version of Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Combat Exposure Scale and the Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument abbreviated version. We used independent samples t-test to identify the differences between PTSD and non-PTSD group in each domains of the quality of life. We also used stepwise multiple linear regression analysis to figure out the variables affecting the QoL of the Vietnam War veterans. RESULTS: In the PTSD group, all domains of the QoL and the QoL total score(p<0.01) were significantly lower than those in the non-PTSD group. In the Vietnam War veterans, PTSD, major depressive disorder and education levels were the variables affecting the QoL. Among these, PTSD uniquely explained the QoL of the overall and general health(beta=-1.411, R2=0.180), the physical health domain(beta=-2.806, R2=0.089) and the total score (beta=-11.479, R2=0.104). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that among the Vietnam War veterans, the QoL of the PTSD group is significantly lower than that of the non-PTSD group. Among the combat exposed veterans, PTSD may be one of the main reasons that affect the multiple domains of the QoL.
Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Quality of Life ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Veterans ; Vietnam ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: With the use of personal computers generalized, departmental society leveled computerization isgoing on in some other departments. So we tried to develop a program having a simple user interface, various retrieval functions and, analytic & statistic process system to effectively help patient care suitable for works concerned with department of diagnostic radiology and works of department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This programdeals with such target works as department of diagnostic radiology and some works to need a lot of book keeping. Itis deviced to operate with windows (Microsoft, America), and central processing unit(486DX-2), memory unit(8Mbyte). As a developmental tool, Foxpro 2.6 for windows R(Microsoft, America). RESULTS: This Program can be easily accessed even by staffs poor at computer and it can make many books recording various check-ups and operations unnecessary, which were difficult to keep. Besides, it can keep data as a unified form, and so it provides patient care and other works with convenience and helps applying those stored data scientific research. CONCLUSION: The above result shows that works of department can be effectively controlled by analyzing or printing various check-up and operation done by department of diagnostic radiology.
Humans ; Memory ; Microcomputers* ; Patient Care

We present a rare case of a focal intrahepatic extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) that mimicked a hypervascular hepatic neoplasm in a 33-year-old woman with idiopathic myelofibrosis. The lesion showed homogeneous and persistent enhancement on both contrast-enhanced CT and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging. The lesion did not demonstrate an apparent signal drop on a T2*-weighted sequence following administration of a superparamagnetic iron-oxide agent (SHU 555A). A hepatocellular adenoma was the initial radiological diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a histopathologically proven intrahepatic EMH evaluated with dynamic- and SPIO-enhanced MRI.
Adenoma/*diagnosis ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; *Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary ; Humans ; Liver/*physiology ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Primary Myelofibrosis/physiopathology

BACKGROUND: As brain tumor cells are immunologically active, they release various factors like a cytokine, growth factor and express a death domain on their surfaces. Accordingly they support proliferation, vascularity, invasiveness and maintain immune privileged sites. However, the relationship between tumor cells and surrounding neuron cells have been rarely reported in tumor patients with epilepsy that inhibitory neuron cells have been lost around peritumoral sites. This study was designed to address that tumor cells directly damage neuron cells. METHODS: Using LDH assay and special stain, we investigated whether or not cultured supernatants of astrocytoma cells induce the damage of neuron cells. RESULTS: The neuron cells were killed by tumor cells supernatant and increased by pretreatment of neuron cells supernatant and lysates. Protein extracted tumor cells supernatant also damage neuron cells. It was proved by Annexin-PI stain and DNA fragmentation that neuronal death by tumor cells was apoptosis. The more malignant tumor cells, the more neuronal death was induced and the more their cytokines were expressed. In comparison with various cytokine expressions in tumor cells, it can be assumed that the released protein from tumor cells was associated with TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: Brain tumor cells are active processing cells that they recognize surrounding normal neuron cells, release death factors and induce apoptosis of neuron cells. Released death factors are related toTNF-alpha. (J Korean Neurol Assoc 19(3):266~277, 2001)
Apoptosis* ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Cytokines ; DNA Fragmentation ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Neurons*

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Lung*

Because the penetrating cervical tracheoesophageal injury may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, it is important to choose the optimal method of diagnosis and management in patient with tracheoesophageal injury. We obtained a satisfactory result from repair of tracheoesophageal injuries using cardiopulmonary bypass. If the bleeding from the unidentified deep injury and the spread of infection could be controlled, the repair using CPB might increase the margin of safety during operation in the similar cases.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Wounds, Stab*

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause. It predominantly affects the aortic arch and its branches. Concomitant involvement of coronary and renal arteries is a rare entity. In this report, we described successful treatment of a patient with Takayasu's arteritis associated with coronary and renal arteries stenosis. A 23-year-old woman was presented with chest pain on exertion. Angiographic studies demonstrated left main coronary, bilateral renal, and left subclavian arteries stenosis. She underwent angioplasty and stenting of bilateral renal artery. After one week, coronary artery bypass grafting using greater saphenous veins and aorto-subclavian bypass with PTFE vascular graft were done simultaneously. She was discharged on the 13th postoperative day without any complications.
Angioplasty ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Stenosis ; Female ; Humans ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Renal Artery* ; Saphenous Vein ; Stents ; Subclavian Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Transplants ; Young Adult