BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein C(SP-C) is a hydrophobic 5,000 dalton molecule. SP-C has the primary roles in accelerating surface spreading of a surfactant phospholipid. The filter hypbridization and solution hybridization assays are both rapid and sensitive and can be used to measure the RNAs complementary to any cloned DNA sequence. METHODS: The authors measured the SP-C mRNA levels quantitatively using solution hybridization and filter hybridization assays to obtain a standard curve equation to quantify the mRNA of unknown samples comparatively. RESULTS: 1. The minimum level of the specimens by solution hybridization was 3 pg for SP-C mRNA. 2. The standard curve equation of the solution hybridization assay between the counts per minute(Y) and the SP-C mRNA transcript input(X) was Y=6.46 X+244. The correlation coefficient was 0.9. 3. The minimum detection level of specimens by filter hybridization was 0.1 ng for SP-C mRNA. 4. The standard curve equation of the filter hybridization assay between the counts per minute(Y) and SP-C mRNA transcript input(X) is Y=2541.6 X+252.7. The correlation coefficient was 0.99. CONCLUSION: A comparison of CPM/filter in the linear range allowed an accurate and reproducible estimation of the SP-C mRNA copy number. Filter hybridization and solution hybridization assays are both rapid and sensitive and can be used to measure the RNAs complementary to any cloned DNA sequence. It is ideally suited to situations where accurate quantitation of multiple samples is required.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Protein C* ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

PURPOSE: Cortical dysplasia (CD) designates a diverse group of malformations resulting from one or more abnormalities in the development of the cerebral cortex. We investigated the findings of interictal SPECT and the diagnostic usefulness of interical and ictal SPECT according to pathological grading (PG) in comparison with MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 16 patients (M:F=9:7, age: 19.9+/-11.8 yrs) with pathologically proven CD. Tc-99m ECD SPECT was performed in all patients: interictal 11, interictal and ictal 3, ictal 2. MRI were obtained in all patients and image analysis was done blindly as to the result of SPECT. Pathologic findings of CD were classified into grade 1 (G1, dyslamination), grade 2 (G2, dysplastic neurons) and grade 3 (G3, balloon cells). We compared SPECT with MRI in lesions-to-lesions and analyzed the result according to PG. RESULTS: In SPECT and MRI, 38 and 27 lesions were visually recognized. In 14 interictal SPECT, variable findings in 35 lesions were demonstrated: 26 were hypoperfusion, 7 hyperperfusion, 2 heterotopic perfusion in the white matter. By comparison between two studies, missed lesions were founded: SPECT were 1 lesion, MRI 12. Review of missed 12 lesions of MRI were followed according to PG; G1 patients were 16.7% (4/19), G2 40.0% (6/15), and G3 50% (2/4). CONCLUSION: Interictal SPECT in CD showed variable findings such as hypoperfusion, hyperperfusion or heterotopic perfusion. However, for detection of missed CD on MRI, SPECT may help to detect a functional abnormality of the lesion with high PG.
Cerebral Cortex ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Perfusion ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

No abstract available.
Blepharoptosis*

Owing to the paucity of information on the clinical outcomes in female patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in relation to the comorbid disease burden, we explored the differences in their clinical outcomes and identified predictive indicators.A total of 3,419 female AMI patients were stratified into two groups: Group A (those with zero or one comorbid diseases) (n=1,983) and Group B (those with two to five comorbid diseases) (n=1,436). Five comorbid conditions were considered: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, prior coronary artery disease, and prior cerebrovascular accidents. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). The incidence of MACCEs was higher in Group B than in Group A in both the unadjusted and propensity score-matched data. Among the comorbid conditions, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and prior coronary artery disease were found to be independently associated with an increased incidence of MACCEs. Higher comorbid disease burden was positively associated with adverse outcomes in the female population with AMI. Since both hypertension and diabetes mellitus are modifiable and independent predictors of adverse outcomes after AMI, it may be necessary to focus on the optimal management of blood pressure and glucose levels to improve cardiovascular outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is important in the regulation of surfactant secretion, synthesis and recycling. SP-A has important roles in regulating surfactant metabolism as well as in determining surfactant's physical properties. Since systemic sepsis is one of the common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in ARDS, the authors investigated the effects of endotoxemia on the accumulation of mRNA encoding SP-A and SP-A protein content. METHODS: Adult rats were given various doses of intraperitoneal endotoxin from Salmonella enteritidis and sacrificed at different times. SP-A mRNA was measured by filter hybridization method. Lung SP-A protein content was determined by double sandwich ELISA assay using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against purified rat SP-A. RESULTS: 1) The accumulation of SP-A mFNA in the endotoxin treated group 24 hours after 2mg/kg and 5mg/kg endotosin treatments was significantly increased 50.9% and 27.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (P<0.001, P<0.025). 2) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA 24 hours in the 5mg/kg endotoxin treated group was significantly increased by 26.5% compared to the control group (P<0.01). 3) Total amount of lung SP-A was not altered at 24 hours by various doses of treatment. Total lung Sp-A content 144 hours after endotoxin administration was significantly decreased by 51.4% compared to the control group (P<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: The specific regulation of SP-A by various time course in vivo is evident. The late decline in SP-A protein content was unexpected and suggests that SP-A may be differentially regulated during lung inflammation. The functional significance of these alterations remains to be clarified.
Adult ; Animals ; Endotoxemia ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Lung ; Metabolism ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A* ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Recycling ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Sepsis

OBJECTIVES: In order to reveal the effectiveness of the intervention in the workplace on patients suffering from cervicobrachial disorder (CBD), we reexamined 96 workers out of 137 workers suffering from CBD on the assembly lines of an electric manufacturing factory by using questionnaires, physical exams and neurological exams. METHODS: Analyses were made of the characteristics of the 96 workers of this company suffering from 1994 to 1996 with special concern for differences before and after the improvement of the working environment. After reexamination of the 96 patients the following results were obtained. RESULTS: We observed an improvement in the 10 most common subjective symptoms of CBD. These symptoms included general fatigue, pain on neck and shoulders, dullness of the upper extremities, back pain and discomfort and a tingling sensation in the hands and wrists (p < 0. 05). The percentage of workers who complained muscle tenderness of neck and shoulder were reduced (p < 0.05). the percentage of workers with abnormal Morley examination was reduced from 28. 5% to 2. 100 (p < 0.01), and of workers with abnormal EMG finding went from 12. 4% to 2. lao (p < 0. 01) and of grade 3 and grade 4 CBD was reduced from 42. 3% and 18. 3% respectively to 33. 3% and 2. ba (p < 0. 01). Grade 3 and over laborers of CBD had higher scores in somatization, anxiety, depression, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, neurasthenic, hypochondriacal than other sufferers in the SCL-90-R exam (p < 0. 01). CONCLUSIONS: in conclusion intervention had effectiveness on subjective symptoms of neck and shoulder and decreasing abnormal finding of muscle tenderness, neurological examination and EMG.
Anxiety ; Back Pain ; Depression ; Fatigue ; Hand ; Hostility ; Humans ; Intervention Studies ; Myalgia ; Neck ; Neurologic Examination ; Questionnaires ; Sensation ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

This study was conducted to examine the effect of chronic low dose organic solvent exposures in the industries towards then neurobehavioral functions of workers subjective symptoms on neurobehavioral function as well as a visual reaction time test (Flicker test) were administered to 94 exposed and 162 unexposed workers in a oil refinery and some other auto-repair shops. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Symptom complaints were higher and Flicker test values were lower in exposed workers than in unexposed workers. 2. Flicker values were inversely correlated with urinary Hippuric acid concentration in exposed workers (r=-0.26, p<0.05). 3. Flicker values were inversely correlated with subjective symptom score (r=-0.15, p<0.05). Low Flicker value were also related with some subjective symptoms such as "Dimmed vision", "Nightmare", "weakness on extremity" in workers as a whole. While symptoms of "Dimmed vision", "Nightmare" only observed among exposed workers.
Reaction Time

When the skin and soft tissue necrosis occurs due to extravasation of intravenously administrated biological active materials and drugs, no specific mode of treatment modality is known except for supportive management or debridement and skin graft. This experiment was designed to determine the effective dosage of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide on the extravasation necrosis caused by calcium gluconate and to establish the optimal time of administration of the antidotes. Initially 0.4 ml of 10% calcium gluconate was injected subcutaneously into the rabbit back. Study I was designed to observe the skin change in 8 groups including control group with no treatment and treated groups with normal saline, saline with hyaluronidase(dosage: 150, 300, 600 unit), saline with triamcinolone acetonide(1 mg, 2 mg), and 150 unit hyaluronidase and 1 mg triamcinolone acetonide (all in volume 0.2 ml, treatment delay: immediate, 15-minutes, 30-minutes, 1-hour, 3-hours delay). The sizes of skin necrosis and induration were measured and compared between each group. Study II was designed to examine the histologic findings of the skin and evaluate the effect of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide on tissue damage. The sizes of induration and necrosis are smaller in all treated groups than non-treated group and the statistically significant protective effect on reducing the size of necrosis was found in groups treated with the drugs within 15 minutes to 30 minutes(p < 0.05). The most effective protection was obtained by the immediate injection of 150 unit dosage of hyaluronidase with 1 mg triamcinolone acetonide. This study suggests that intralesional injection of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone acetonide within half hour delay for the treatment of extravasation necrosis of calcium gluconate is the most effective, probably due to their diffusion, antiinflammatory effect and role in facilitating the resorption of calcium in the tissue.
Antidotes ; Calcium Gluconate* ; Calcium* ; Debridement ; Diffusion ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase* ; Injections, Intralesional ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Transplants ; Triamcinolone Acetonide* ; Triamcinolone*

During a 12-month period high-resolution, real-time ultrasonography (US) with graded compression was performed on 268 consecutive patients with clinically suspected acute appendicitis and its complication. US visualization of a fluid-filled, non-compressed appendix or a decompressed, thick-walled appendix was the primary criterion for a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The sonographic findings were correlated with surgical-pathologic outcome in 92 cases and with the findings of clinical follow-up in the remainder. US was found to be accurate in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its complication with a sensitivity of 93.3%, a specificity of 98.9%, and an accuracy of 97%. The predictive value of a positive test was 97.7%; that of a negative test was 96.7%. There were two false-positive examination in patients with a thick-walled appendix or periapperdiceal abscess, which were surgically confirmed as appendiceal adenocarcinoma and perforated cecal diverticulitis respectively. There were six false-negative examination in patients with a sonographically no-visible appendix, which were confirmed surgically as acute appendicitis(n=5) and perforated appendicitis(n=1). Our results show that high-resolution, real-time US is an accureate imaging modality in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the evaluation of its complication.
Abscess ; Adenocarcinoma ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Diagnosis* ; Diverticulitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*