Normal human B cells produce autocrine growth factor in response to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). However, the functional role and molecular nature of the B cell derived-B cell growth factor (B-BCGF) are largely unknown. We have tried to investigate the nature of B-BCGF using mAb for several years. We report here that B- BCGF is capable of binding to hemoglobin (Hb). The concentrated culture supernatant from tonsillar B cells stimulated with SAC for 24 h was loaded into the fast protein liquid chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. The peak with BCGF activity was shown to have a M.W. of 16-18 Kda in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver stain. Amino acid sequence of the fraction was found to identical to human hemoglobin (Hb) by more than 85%. However, Hb itself had no BCGF activity. The presence of Hb in culture supernatant was due to the contamination of SRBC during B cell purification. SRSC were completely removed from B cells by percoll-gradient centrifugation and B cells were stimulated with SAC and exogenous Hb was added to the cultures. The Hb fraction from FPLC again showed a BCGF activity. These data strongly suggested that BCGF binds to Hb. We confirmed this in dot blot as well as Western blot. The M.W of Hb-binding BCGF was 20 Kda. This information may provide a rapid progress in research of BCGF.
Amino Acid Sequence ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Silver ; Staphylococcus aureus

No abstract available.
Humans ; Physicians, Family*

Heart failure (HF) is a growing health concern in aging societies worldwide. Sacubitril/valsartan is changing the real-world treatment in the whole spectrum of HF. The beginning was the PARADIGM-HF trial published in 2014, which demonstrated the beneficial effects of inhibiting natriuretic peptide breakdown in combination with hindering the renin-angiotensin system in HF patients with a reduced ejection fraction. Subsequent large-scale randomized trials have evaluated angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in HF patients with acute decompensation or with preserved ejection fraction. The post hoc analyses are being conducted as well. This review summarizes the recent evidence of sacubitril/ valsartan regarding patient-centered outcomes, based on randomized controlled trials and their associated studies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of MR characteristics of cystic acoustic neurinomas and to correlate with pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MR findings of 12 patients with cystic acoustic neurinomas. The signal intensity and enhancement pattern of the cystic components as well as the location relative to the tumors were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 30 cysts were found in 15 acoustic neurinomas;28 were intratumoral cysts and the remaining two were extratumoral cysts. The signal intensity of all 28 intratumoral cysts was higher than that of CSF on Tl-weighted images, and isointense to CSF on T2-weighted images, while the signal intensity of the two extratumoral cysts was same as CSF on both Tl-weighted and T2-weighted images. Rim enhancement was seen in 27 of 28 intratumoral cysts but in none of the two extratumoral cysts. CONCLUSION: We concluded that intratumoral cyst was due to tumoral necrosis, hemorrhage or degenerative change and extratumoral cyst due to secondary arachnoid cyst formation.
Acoustics* ; Arachnoid ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Neuroma, Acoustic* ; Retrospective Studies

We describe a 69-year-old woman who presented with a dedifferentiated extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma arising in the left masticator space. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 5 cm sized mass in the left masticator space. Histologically, the tumor consisted of two distinct areas. The less cellular area was a low-grade extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, composed of strands or cords of uniform spindle cells and abundant myxoid stroma. The more cellular, dedifferentiated area corresponded to a high grade myxofibrosarcoma, consisting of anaplastic tumor cells in myxoid stroma and geographic necrosis. The tumor cells of the former area were positive for S-100 protein, microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and class III beta-tubulin, but negative for cytokeratin, smooth muscle actin, and desmin. The tumor cells in the latter, pleomorphic area showed MAP-2 and beta-tubulin immunoreactivity with a high Ki-67 labeling index. Based on its histologic and immunohistochemical features, the tumor was considered a dedifferentiated extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.
Actins ; Aged ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; Chondrosarcoma ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle, Smooth ; Necrosis ; S100 Proteins ; Tubulin

We describe a 69-year-old woman who presented with a dedifferentiated extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma arising in the left masticator space. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 5 cm sized mass in the left masticator space. Histologically, the tumor consisted of two distinct areas. The less cellular area was a low-grade extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, composed of strands or cords of uniform spindle cells and abundant myxoid stroma. The more cellular, dedifferentiated area corresponded to a high grade myxofibrosarcoma, consisting of anaplastic tumor cells in myxoid stroma and geographic necrosis. The tumor cells of the former area were positive for S-100 protein, microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and class III beta-tubulin, but negative for cytokeratin, smooth muscle actin, and desmin. The tumor cells in the latter, pleomorphic area showed MAP-2 and beta-tubulin immunoreactivity with a high Ki-67 labeling index. Based on its histologic and immunohistochemical features, the tumor was considered a dedifferentiated extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma.
Actins ; Aged ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; Chondrosarcoma ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle, Smooth ; Necrosis ; S100 Proteins ; Tubulin

The purpose of this study was to examine the long term effects of breast feeding on growth, bone development and nutrient intakes in preschool children. Subjects were 62 preschool children. Anthropometric characteristics and bone mineral density of carpus were measured using DEXA. The questionnaire was composed of health status, life style, dietary behaviors, and dietary intakes and was completed by the children's mothers. The average age of the boys was 62.4 months and that of the girls was 62.1 months. Average birth height and weight of the subjects was 50.9 cm and 3.4 kg for boys and 50.3 cm and 3.3 kg for girls, respectively. The average height, weight, % body fat, and obesity index were 111.7 cm, 19.6 kg, 15.0%, -2.1% in boys and 109.4 cm, 18.7 kg, 17.5%, 0.2% in girls, respectively. Forty children were fed colostrum, 21 were fed breast milk, 29 were fed formula, and 12 were fed mixed milk. There was no significant difference in growth status between children who were fed colostrum and those who were not. Children who had mixed feedings were significantly taller than those who did not (p < 0.001), and children who had colostrum had significantly higher bone mineral density than those who did not (0.25 +/- 0.04 g/ cm2 vs. 0.23 +/-0.04 g/cm2, p < 0.05). However, the different feeding methods did not show any difference in bone mineral density. Except vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin E, vitamin, mineral and calorie intakes did not meet the Korean RDAs. Calcium intake was especially lower than recommendations by as much as 62% and 70% in boys and girls, respectively. There was no significant difference in nutrient intakes between children who had colostrum and those who did not. However, children who were formula consumed significantly more animal fat than those who did not (p < 0.05). Neonatal feeding and breast or formula feeding seems to associate with height, bone mineral density and animal fat intakes in preschool children, based on the results of this study. A longitudinal study is needed to clarify this relationship.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Bone Density* ; Bone Development ; Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Calcium ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Colostrum ; Feeding Methods ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Life Style ; Milk ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Obesity ; Parturition ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Carbohydrate intake is decreasing along with the reduction of rice consumption among the Korean population. There is an increasing trend of diet-related degenerative diseases with the increased consumption of animal food, and therefore, the increase of animal food intake can be considered as one of causes of the diet-related disease. The objective of this study is to investigate the differences in rice preference and breakfast patterns between the subjects have breakfast regularly and those skipping it. One thousand participants were selected by the stratified sample method from the primary, middle, high school and college, and company workers from 24 cities of Kyeonggi-do. The interviewing procedure was carried by regional home extension workers. Approximately half participants (49.9%) were under the age of 20. Although 86% of the subjects considered eating breakfast good for health. only 46.4% of the subjects had breakfast regularly (HB). The rest of them skipped breakfast (SB) more than twice a week. The proportion of subjects hiving no breakfast were 9.3% of male and 12.2% of female subjects. The main reason for not having breakfast was due to the limited time. For their breakfast 85% of the HB ate boiled rice with the side dishes. More subjects in SB (27.8%) preferred the boiled rice with various grains for breakfast than those of HB (21.8%). The subjects in HB (65.5%) preferred boiled plein rice more than those of SB (56.9%). In cases they must have breakfast, 47.7% of the subjects wanted rice with the side dishes, 24.2% preferred rice ball or rice roll with laver, 10.5% preferred a rice beverage. More subjects in HB (59.8%) wanted rice with side dishes than those in SB (36.9%). It was found out that selecting rice at the breakfast is still the main choice. Diverse ready-to-eat rice menus have to be developed to increase the rice consumption, specially to increase breakfast eating frequencies of SB through saving time and effort.
Animals ; Beverages ; Breakfast* ; Edible Grain ; Eating ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Humans ; Male

Supernunmerary nipple is a developmental anomaly occuring alon, the course of the embryological milk lines. This entity has receieved little attention in the dermatologic literature and has been confused with a pigmented nevus in some cases. We have experienced two ease of the more unusual form of supern umerary nipple. According to the Kajavas classification, our caes are classified as polithelia pilosa and complete breast with nipple
Breast ; Classification ; LEOPARD Syndrome* ; Milk ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Nipples

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify factors affecting nurses' burnout in secondary general hospitals. METHODS: Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 241 nurses working at the secondary general hospitals with below 400 beds in the P, C, and S city between April and May, 2009. Data analysis was done with independent t test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple stepwise multiple regression with SPSS WIN v 17.0. RESULTS: Burnout was significantly different according to religion, age, clinical experiences, and shift work. Burnout score of the subjects was 58/100. Burnout of the subjects were positively correlated with job stress and negatively correlated with hardness, self efficiency, self esteem, spiritual wellbeing, social support, and job satisfaction. The explained variances for burnout was 51.8% and factors affecting nurses' burnout in secondary general hospitals were job stress, hardness, self efficiency, job satisfaction and shift work. CONCLUSION: These results showed the significant factors fo nurses' burnout in secondary general hospitals. These findings can be utilized to development of strategies for reducing job stress and enhancing hardness, self efficiency and job satisfaction.
Hardness ; Hospitals, General ; Job Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic