BACKGROUND: Many physiologic, pharmacologic and immunologic abnormalities were reported in atopic dermatitis but the cause and pathogenesis of the disease remain obscure. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to investigate the systemic immunologic abnormalities in atopic dermatitis. METHOD: To evaluate the cell mediated immunity, me quantified pei ipheral blood T lymphocytes and their subsets, using flow cytometery, and assessed plasma neopteiin levels by means of radioimmunoassay. To evaluate the abnormal humoral immunity, we assessed the serum IgE levels by means of enzyme-immunoassay. RESULTS: Mean proportions of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and, heir subsets in atopic Dermatitis patients were within normal limits. Hut the suppvessor/cytotoxic T lyrphocytes(T8) were significantly decreased in the group of se"ere atopic dermatitis compared with the group of mild atopic dermatitis(P<0.05). Plasma neopterin lervels in the group of atopic dermatitis were found to be significantly elevated as compared vith the control group(P<0.01), but no significant cifference was found between the mild and severe group of atcpic dermatitis(P>0.05). Mean serum IgE levels in the patients with atopic dermatitis were higher than reference value. But there was no significant difference between the mild and severe atopic dermatitis group. Serum IgE levels ivere negatiiely correlated with T8(r=-0.3774, P<0.05) and positively with T4/T8 ratio(r =0.5007, P<0.05). Conclusions : These data;uggest that the atopic der matitis has abr ormalities in cell mediated immunity as well as elevated IgE level.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin E ; Neopterin* ; Plasma* ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

We present a case of mucous gland adenoma arising from the main bronchus of the lower lobe of the left lung in terms of clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural aspects as well as review of related literatures. The patient, a 31-year-old female, was admitted to Catholic University Medical College Hospital with complaints of coughing and purulent sputum for about seven years. The chest CT showed a severely calcified tumor in the left lower lobe of the lung. Grossly, the calcified tumor arising from the main bronchus protruded into the lumen and showed bronchiectasis of the lower lobe and atelectasis of the upper lobe of the lung. The tumor was pale brown-gray and sharply circumscribed and showed some small cystic spaces filled with mucoid material. Microscopically, most of the tumor showed dystrophic calcification. The growth pattern of the tumor is composed of cysts, tubules, and glands lined by cytologically bland columnar, cuboidal, or flattened mucus secreting cells. Electron micrograph of tumor cells showed some round or oval mucous granules measuring 0.5-1.8 micrometer.
Adenoma* ; Adult ; Bronchi* ; Bronchiectasis ; Cough ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Mucus ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Sputum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Granular Cell Tumor*

Cardiac arrest associated with hyperkalemia during red blood cell transfusion is a rare but fatal complication. Herein, we report a case of transfusion-associated cardiac arrest following the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in a 9-month old infant. Her serum potassium level was increased to 9.0 mEq/L, soon after the newly primed circuit with pre-stored red blood cell (RBC) was started and followed by sudden cardiac arrest. Eventually, circulation was restored and the potassium level decreased to 5.1 mEq/L after 5 min. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) priming is a relatively massive transfusion into a pediatric patient. Thus, to prevent cardiac arrest during blood-primed ECMO in neonates and infants, freshly irradiated and washed RBCs should be used when priming the ECMO circuit, to minimize the potassium concentration. Also, physicians should be aware of all possible complications associated with transfusions during ECMO.
Blood Transfusion ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Erythrocyte Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia* ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Potassium

BACKGROUND: It is well known that ischemic preconditioning protects the heart against infarction or arrhythmias from a subsequent ischemic injury. Recent laboratory data indicate that the adenosine during the ischemic period may trigger protection via A1 or A3 adenosine receptor and also protein kinase C(PKC) plays a central role. This study was designed to determine the role of adenosine receptor subtypes and PKC in the preconditioning protection. METHODS: All cat heart groups were subjected to 40min ischemia and 30min reperfusion. The preconditioning protocol consists of 4min ischemia and then 10min of reperfusion 4 times. The effects of ischemic preconditioning, nonselective adenosine receptor blocker(SPT), an A1 specific antagonist(DPCPX) and protein kinase C inhibitor(Polymyxin B), on ischemic preconditioning were determined by infarction size. There were 5 groups : (1) control group (Group 1, n=10)(2) Ischemic preconditioned group(Group 2, n=9)(3) DPCPX pretreatment group(Group 3, n=6)(4) SPT preteatment group(Group 3, n=6)(5) Polymyxin B pretreatment group(Group 5, n=6). SPT and DPCPX were given intravenously 5 min before ischemic preconditioning. Polymyxin B was administered to cats for 30min during ischemic preconditioning period. RESULTS: Ischemic preconditioning only or pretreatment with DPCPX prior to preconditioning demonstrated a significant reduction in infarct size(22.6+/-1.5, 25.4+/-0.9% infarction of the risk zone, respectively, p<0.05) with respect to control, SPT-pretreatment, and polymyxin B-pretreatment groups(44.0+/-1.7, 43.0+/-2.0 and 40.3+/-0.4% infarction of the risk zone, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic preconditioning protects heart from subsequent ischemia. Protection was blocked by SPT and protein kinase C inhibitor(polymyxin B), but not by A1 antagonist DPCPX. The cardioprotective effects by ischemic preconditioning in the in vivo cat heart appear to be dependent on A3 adenosine receptors and activation of protein kinase C.
Adenosine* ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cats* ; Heart* ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Ischemic Preconditioning* ; Polymyxin B ; Polymyxins ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Purinergic P1* ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Methods to reduce the amount of blood transfusion include perioperative hemodilution, hypotensive anesthesia, the transfusion of previously deposited autologous blood, and intraoperative autotransfusion used the cell saver. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the use of the cell saver in orthopedic spinal surgery. METHODS: One hundred and one patients for orthopedic spinal surgery were involved in this study and divided into two groups: group 1 (no used cell saver, n=51) and group 2 (used cell saver, n=50). We checked transfusion amounts during operation and the changes of hematocrit after operation. RESULTS: The amount of blood obtained from cell saver apparatus was 1220 +/- 651 ml (mean SD). Hematocrit of the autologous blood from this apparatus was 48.5 +/- 2.5%. Amounts of blood transfusion during operation were 4.1 +/- 0.9 IU (400 ml/IU) in group 1 and 2.5 +/- 0.7 IU in group 2 (p<0.05). The hematocrit was markedly decreased at the postoperative 2 and 3 days in group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that intraoperative salvage technique with cell saver apparatus could decrease the use of bank blood by 40% in orthopedic spinal surgery. However, we should be prepare the blood for the decrease of the hematocrit at the postoperative 2 and 3 days.
Anesthesia ; Blood Transfusion ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Hematocrit ; Hemodilution ; Humans ; Orthopedics*

To elucidate the role of p53 and nm23 in the development, progression, and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer, we studied 91 paraffin sections of the primary non-small-cell lung cancers and the 34 paraffin sections of their metastatic lymph nodes using the immunohistochemical method. The results are as follows: 1) The incidence of p53 protein expression was positively correlated with the staging of lung cancers (p<0.025). 2) The incidence of p53 protein expression was higher in the lung cancers with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis (p=0.009). 3) The incidence of nm23 protein expression was lower in the adenocacinomas than in the squamous cell carcinomas (p=0.032). 4) The incidence of nm23 protein expression was lower in the lung cancers with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis (p=0.026). The expression of nm23 protein between the primary lung cancers and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes showed positive correlation (Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient=0.47140, p=0.0068). 5) The expression of p53 was not correlated with the expression of nm23 protein (Kendall's Tau-b correlation coefficient=0.11387, p=0.2800). The above results suggest that an overexpression of p53 protein and a downregulation of nm23 protein are associated with tumor progression and metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Down-Regulation ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

BACKGROUND: A question was whether it was preferable to give the reversal agent when profound block was present or wait for some spontaneous recovery before antagonizing the block. This study has been conducted to evaluate the reversal effects of neostigmine with divided doses in the rabbits after pancuronium when profound relaxation(PTC=O) or the first twitch of TOF stimulation was appeared (TOF,T1) was confirmed. METHODS: Rabbits(n=60) were randomly allocated to 5 groups. After pancuronium 0.2 mg/kg intravenously, spontaneous recovery was evaluated in group 1. When the profound relaxation(PTC=O) was confirmed at 5 min. after pancuronium, neostigmine 50 ug/kg with atropine 20 ug/kg were injected in group 2. At that time, neostigmine 10 ug/kg with atropine 4 ug/kg were injected and after 3 min. neostigmine 40 ug/kg with atropine 16 ug/kg were injected in group 3. When TOF, Tl was confirmed, neostigmine 50 ug/kg with atropine 20 ug/kg were injected in group 4. At that time, neostigmine and atropine were injected in group 5 as the same way of group 3. RESULTS: The mean time from injection of pancuronium to 95% recovery was 98.9 min. in group 1, 60.3 min. in group 2, 50.9 min. in group 3, 71.0 min. in group 4 and 67.1 min. in group 5. The recovery index was significantly reduced when neostigmine was injected at TOF,T1(p<0.05). The recovery time after neostigmine with divided doses was reduced, but there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggested that total recovery time was reduced when neostigmine was injected earlier with divided doses than single dose unrelated to profound relaxation.
Atropine ; Muscle Relaxation* ; Neostigmine* ; Pancuronium ; Rabbits* ; Relaxation

Primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare but distinct entity to be distinguished from nodal Hodgkin's lymphoma and from lymphomas involving lung secondarily. This lymphoma affects women more frequently than men, and typically involves superior portions of the lung. This case is reported to illustrate the clinical, radiographic and anatomic characteristics of the primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma. A 34-year-old woman presented for the evaluation of hemoptysis. A chest CT revealed a large poorly defined mass in the medial aspect of the right upper lobe, extending to the right mediastinum and trachea. The microscopic examination of the biopsied lesion revealed fibroblastic stroma infiltrated by a mixture of lymphocytes, histiocytes, and eosinophils. The clinical impression was inflammatory pseudotumor, presumably due to slightly favorable response to corticosteroid therapy. Two months later the patient's symptoms worsened despite the steroid therapy and a lobectomy was done. The specimen showed a soft to firm, pale yellow, ill defined mass, 10.0 8.0 cm, involving the visceral pleura. A few satellite nodules around the main mass were noted. The histologic findings were consistent with Hodgkin's lymphoma, nodular sclerosis type.
Adult ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Hemoptysis ; Histiocytes ; Hodgkin Disease* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Pleura ; Sclerosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea

PURPOSE:It is important to evaluate the healing process of avascular necrosis (AVN) involving femoral head after treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of pinhole bone scintigraphy in the AVN of femoral head after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the changing pattern of pinhole bone scintigram in 21 femoral heads of 16 patients (14 lesions/11 male, 7 lesions/5 female, mean age: 39.4 yrs) before and after multiple drilling or vascularized bone grafting for AVN of the femoral head. In all patients, pre-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months before treatment and the first post-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months after treatment. All patients were followed for 2 to 4 years after operation. RESULTS: The findings of the pinhole scintigrams were divided into three patterns: 1) curvilinear, 2) scattered spotty and 3) undetermined. The 10 of 11 lesions with curvilinear pattern had good postoperative clinical and radiological follow-up findings. However, all 6 lesions with scattered spotty pattern showed poor postoperative findings, which necessitated total hip joint replacement. Of the 4 lesions with undetermined pattern, 2 required total hip joint replacement. There was significant difference in postoperative prognosis between the curvilinear and scattered spotty patterns (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the pattern of pinhole bone scintigram obtained within 1 to 3 months after multiple drilling or vascularized bone graft operation is a useful prognostic indicator in the AVN of femoral head.
Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Transplants*