Recent studies suggest that alterations of the immune-inflammatory system contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Neuroinflammatory response initiated by innate immune mechanism that self-attack on neurons, known as "autotoxicity" could be an initial key mechanism of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous experimental and pathological evidences showing upregulated inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and the activation of complement cascade and accumulation of activated microglia in damaged regions support the important role of immune-inflammatory mechanism in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological studies on the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), coupled with results from animal model of AD, PD and ALS, have prompted the studies to determine if immune-inflammatory modifying agents or molecules could be a new therapeutic paradigm of neurodegenerative diseases. Molecules inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines released from microglia, agents that inhibit activation of microglia, COX2 and complement system are now considered as a good candidate of immune-inflammatory modulating treatment. By better understanding inflammatory and immunoregulatory processes, it should be possible to develop anti-inflammatory approach that may not completely cure AD, PD, and ALS but will likely help slow the progression or delay the onset of these devastating diseases.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Chemokines ; Complement System Proteins ; Cytokines ; Microglia ; Models, Animal ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease

The cysteine proteases of Paragonimus westermani metacercariae are involved in metacercarial excystment, host immune modulation, and possibly in tissue penetration. In order to clarify the origin of the enzymes, 28 and 27 kDa cysteine proteases in metacercarial excretory-secretory products were purified through the FPLC system using Mono Q column chromatography. The polyclonal antibodies to the enzymes were produced in BALB/c mice. Immunolocalization studies revealed that both cysteine proteases were distributed at the linings of excretory bladder and excretory concretions of the metacercariae. It was suggested that the excretory epithelium of P. westermani undertake the secretory function of metacercarial cysteine proteases, in addition to its role as a route for eliminating waste products.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Computational Biology ; Cysteine Endopeptidases/analysis/isolation & purification/*physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Paragonimus/anatomy & histology/*enzymology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

No abstract available.
Intracranial Hypotension*

Cervical incompetence is one of the main contributors to repeated pregnancy loss and preterm delivery. Typically it results in progressive cervical dilatation, leading to a painless second or early third trimester abortion. Emergency cerclage can be used in the setting of advanced cervical incompetence, even when fetal membranes bulge through the dilated cervix. To facilitate the procedure, various techniques have been developed to replace the fetal membranes into the uterine cavity. We performed six successful cases of emergency cerclage combined with amnioreduction in advanced incompetent internal os of cervix (IIOC). Interval from emergency cerclage to delivery was 8.1 +/- 2.4 weeks (range 4-10 weeks) and we delivered viable fetuses in all but one. Hereby we report our experiences with a brief review of literature.
Cervix Uteri ; Emergencies* ; Extraembryonic Membranes ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Labor Stage, First ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third

PURPOSE: It is important to diagnose paragonimiasis in early active stage because it can be dured by chemotherapy. However, it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis of cerebral paragonimiasis in the early active stage, and the radiographic findings of cerebral paragonimiasis have been rarely reported. Thus, this experimental study was designed to produce early active cerebral paragonimiasis and to demonstrate radiologic-pathologic correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 8 cats, 7-8 metacercariae of Paragonimus westerrnani were directly introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's after trephination of the skull. In anogher 16 cats, the juvenile worms and the adult worms that had developed for varying periods (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks) in the lunges of another cats were introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's with the same procedures described above. Follw-up MR images and chest radiographs were obtained at 2 days, 1 weeks, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after innoculation. The autopsies and histopathological examinations of the cat's brain were undertaken in 22 cats. In 9 cats that were suspected with pulmonary lesions on chest radiograph, the soft tissue radiographs of inflated-fixed lungs were obtained. RESULTS: In one cat with innoculation of adult worm, acute suppurative inflammation of the brain parenchyma was demonstrated. But the other cats with innoculction of adult worm or juvenile worm and the cats with innoulation of metacercaris did not reveal any evidence of acute cerebral paragonimiasis. More than half of the introduced metacercariae(5 out of 8 cats) were found in the lung parenchyma, while only 25%(4 out of 16 cats) of the adult worm innoculated cats were. CONCLUSION: Acute suppurative inflammation suggesting acute stage cerebral paragonimiasis was obtained in one case of adult worm innoculated cat. Most of the innoculated metacercariae and some of the juvenile worms or adult worms were migrated to the lungs.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Cats* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Metacercariae ; Paragonimiasis* ; Paragonimus ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Skull ; Trephining

OBJECTIVES: No evidence has been found on various types of dental erosion, except for occupational dental erosion. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of four types of dental erosion (occupational, dietary, systemic, and gastric) and its associated factors among workers in factories that use acids. METHODS: Of 89,034 workers from 4,625 factories that use acids, 716 workers from 38 factories were selected for this cross-sectional epidemiological study by using three-stage stratified cluster sampling. Evaluation for dental erosion was performed by a trained dentist by using Kim's criteria, and a saliva sample was collected directly from each participant. Data on acid sources and associated factors were collected by using questionnaires. By using a complex sample analysis, the T test and Rao-Scott chi-square test were applied to analyze the distribution of four acid factors and to evaluate the associated factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of overall dental erosion was 37.7% for occupational dental erosion, 23.1% for dietary dental erosion, 3.1% for systemic dental erosion, and 3.2% for gastric dental erosion. The prevalence of severe dental erosion was 10.5% for occupational dental erosion, 7.1% for dietary dental erosion, 1.8% for systemic dental erosion, and 1.7% for gastric dental erosion. The factors associated with dental erosion were age, sex, acid exposure, dental cervical abrasion, and dental attrition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the prevalence of dental erosion was high, moderate, and low in occupational, dietary, and gastric and systemic dental erosions, respectively, among workers exposed to acids. The related factors differed according to the types of dental erosion. Our data suggested that different types of promotion programs for dental erosion should be considered according to acid source.
Dentists ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Saliva ; Tooth Attrition

By finding the documents of Korean physical anthropology in one place easily, everyone can use them fruitfully. We developed internet site to search them, which published from early 20th century to present days. We also analyzed documents of physical anthropology and databased the tables which is considered to be kernel of results. The advantage of this internet site is followings. We classified the documents of physical anthropology by body regions and we also classified them in detail to reach them easily. The documents are also divided into materials and its methods to search conveniently. Everyone can search a data by classification and also by using a keyword they can find document or data. There are 3 steps to search. First step is searching the title of document and author, second step is searching the name of table including the first step and the last step is searching items in table. If they don't know the contents they can search data by index. We added some pictures and explanations to restore the document or table, which are difficult and hard to understand the point. By these additions, we could understand them briefly. We could quote from past data and also we could easily compare previous data with ours by using this search engine.
Anthropology ; Anthropology, Physical* ; Body Regions ; Classification ; Internet* ; Search Engine*

To evaluate the CT and MR findings of cerebral paragonimiasis (PW) and to assess the diagnostic value of the specific antibody test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PW, 55 CT scans and 13 MR images of 57 patients with cerebral PW were reviewed retrospectively, and correlated with the serum/CSF antibody levels. We divided the into three groups, early active(n=21), chronic(n=32), and combined stage (n=4), on the basis of CT/MR findings. In the group of early active stage the most common and characteristic findings was multiple, conglomerated, ring-like enhancing lesions in the unilateral cerebral hemisphere, which was seen in 52% on CT and 44% on MR. Other non-specific findings included a solitary ring-like or irregular enhancing lesions, ill-defined low density lesions without enhancement, localized hemorrhage with or without enhancing lesions. In the group of chronic stage there were multiple calcifications of various shapes, most commonly 1-2cm sized round shape, and associated encephalomalacia. MR was superior to CT in detecting hemorrhage and in characterizing the central contents of ring-shaped calcifications, while it was inferior to CT in identifying small calcifications. Antibody levels of serum and CSF were positive in 86% and 82% in early active group, and in 48% and 31% in chronic sgage respectively. The positive rate was significantly different between the two groups (P=0.001). CT/MR findings were characteristic in only approximately half the cases in early active cerebral PW which can be cured by traziquantel therapy. Therefore, antibody test by ELISA is recommended as a complementary tool, particularly in patients with non-specific imaging findings.
Cerebrum ; Diagnosis* ; Encephalomalacia ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Paragonimiasis* ; Praziquantel ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To evaluate the CT and MR findings of cerebral paragonimiasis (PW) and to assess the diagnostic value of the specific antibody test by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for PW, 55 CT scans and 13 MR images of 57 patients with cerebral PW were reviewed retrospectively, and correlated with the serum/CSF antibody levels. We divided the into three groups, early active(n=21), chronic(n=32), and combined stage (n=4), on the basis of CT/MR findings. In the group of early active stage the most common and characteristic findings was multiple, conglomerated, ring-like enhancing lesions in the unilateral cerebral hemisphere, which was seen in 52% on CT and 44% on MR. Other non-specific findings included a solitary ring-like or irregular enhancing lesions, ill-defined low density lesions without enhancement, localized hemorrhage with or without enhancing lesions. In the group of chronic stage there were multiple calcifications of various shapes, most commonly 1-2cm sized round shape, and associated encephalomalacia. MR was superior to CT in detecting hemorrhage and in characterizing the central contents of ring-shaped calcifications, while it was inferior to CT in identifying small calcifications. Antibody levels of serum and CSF were positive in 86% and 82% in early active group, and in 48% and 31% in chronic sgage respectively. The positive rate was significantly different between the two groups (P=0.001). CT/MR findings were characteristic in only approximately half the cases in early active cerebral PW which can be cured by traziquantel therapy. Therefore, antibody test by ELISA is recommended as a complementary tool, particularly in patients with non-specific imaging findings.
Cerebrum ; Diagnosis* ; Encephalomalacia ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Paragonimiasis* ; Praziquantel ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Over activation of the DNA repairing enzyme, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in response to oxidative damage of DNA appears to play a role in cellular death in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous data suggested that PARP immunoreactivity (IR) was increased in the white and gray matter in spinal cord of the sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), predominantly in cells with astroglial morphology. METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated whether the PARP expression was present widespread in various regions of brain tissue including the motor cortex, parietal cortex and cerebellum. RESULTS: By western blot, PARP-IR in motor cortex from sALS patients, compared to the same region from age-matched normal controls, was also significantly increased (p=0.006). Importantly, PARP-IR was also increased in the parietal cortex, and cerebellum of sALS patients compared to the controls, in regions that are usually clinically unaffected in ALS (p=0.043, p=0.035, respectively). In addition, increased PARP expression in ALS was more prominent compared to Alzheimer's brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PARP staining was more significant in the cortical neurons and in the subcortical white matter glial cells from sALS patients compared to normal controls and Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate that increase in PARP-IR is not limited only to the vulnerable motor cortex. Furthermore, PARP-IR is present in both cortical neuronal and subcortical glial cells. The data suggest that widespread cellular stress on neuronal and glial cells is present in the brain of sporadic ALS patients.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; DNA ; DNA Repair ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Motor Cortex ; Motor Neurons ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroglia ; Neurons* ; Rabeprazole ; Spinal Cord