Antioxidant enzymes levels were determined in monocytes during phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation. PMA induced the differentiation of a human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 into macrophage-like cells as indicated by activity of acid phosphatase and morphological changes. The level of Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was selectively increased in PMA-treated THP-1 cells after one day of culture, while the levels of Cu/Zn-SOD and catalase were progressively decreased by Western blot analysis. In contrast, levels of Cu/Zn-SOD and catalase protein and enzyme activitiy remained unchanged in THP-1 cells after transforming growth factor-p, treatment. Cu/Zn-SOD is oxidatively inactivated by exposure to H,O, which is produced by PMA-treated THP-1 cells, and then the inactivated enzyme undergoes proteolysis and fragmentation as analyzed by radiolabeled method. Thus monocytes have a coordinated system for synthesis and degradation of antioxidant enzymes during PMA-induced differentiation.
Acid Phosphatase ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Monocytes* ; Proteolysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Glutathione S-transferase (28GST) with molecular mass of 28 kDa is an antioxidant enzyme abundant in Clonorchis sinensis. In adult C. sinensis, 28GST was localized in tegumental syncytium, cytons, parenchyma, and sperm tails examined by immunoelectron microscopy. C. sinensis 28GST was earlier found to neutralize bioreactive compounds and to be rich in eggs. Accordingly, it is suggested that 28GST plays important roles in phase II defense system and physiological roles in worm fecundity of C. sinensis.
Animals ; Clonorchis sinensis/*enzymology ; Glutathione Transferase/*metabolism/physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Molecular Weight ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors report a typical case of congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD) with unique clinicopathologic characteristics. The patient was a 13-year-old boy who presented with weakness of lower extremities, especially proximal muscle, since his infancy. He has suffered from severe scoliosis which got worse since the age of 12. He showed mild dysarthria, high arched palate, and fish face. All routine laboratory data were within normal limits. EMG findings suggested myopathy. The muscle biopsy revealed fiber type disproportion with type 1 predominance. While most of the type 1 myofibers were atrophic or normal in size, the type 2 fibers showed universal hypertrophy. The difference of mean diameter between the larger and the smaller fibers was 27.9%. The patient's clinicopathologic settings fulfilled the criteria of CFTD.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Dysarthria ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscular Diseases* ; Myopathies, Structural, Congenital* ; Palate ; Scoliosis

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and clinical utility of antenatal corticosteroids in the reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality on preterm birth Material and method: Neonatal outcomes of 312 preterm babies were evaluated retrospectively. One hundred and two preterm babies(study group) were given dexamethasone more than 1 dose antenatally and 210 preterm babies(control group) were not given dexamethasone antenatally. Antenatal steroids were administered in the form of four 5mg intramuscular doses of dexamethasone 12 hours apart. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of study group were compared with those of control group. Student t- test, x2 test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis were used where appropriate. p-value< 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Antentenatal corticosteroid significantly decreased the incidence of RDS(OR:0.47, 95% CI:0.25-0.86), IVH/PVL(OR : 0.32, 95% CI : 0.12-0.86), necrotizing enterocolitis(OR : 0.49, 95% CI : 0.25-0.98), and neonatal death(OR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10 - 0.89) in preterm delivery. In the presence of PROM, antenatal corticosteoid seemed to have no protective effect on the neonatal complications such as RDS, IVH/PVL, NEC, PDA, and neonatal death. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal administration of corticosteroids was effective to decrease the incidence of neonatal morbidity and neonatal mortality in the preterm neonates with no apparent maternal complications.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Premature Birth* ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids

Fournier described five patients with gangrene of male external genitalia in 1883 and emphasized three characteristics: (1) abrupt onset in young healthy male, (2) rapid progression to gangrene,(3) absence of discernible cause. But more recent reports described genital gangrene as occurring in any age group and 4 patients in our cases, the mean age was 46 years with an age range of 31 to 59 years. Predisposing causes were as follows: case 1. prostatic calculi, Buerger's disease, case 2, perianal abscess, case 3, diabetes mellitus, case 4, tuberculous spondylitis accompanied by paraplegia and bed sores, liver cirrhosis. The duration of symptoms prior to the development of gangrene varied between 4 to 10 days. The cultured organisms were as follows : case 1. Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, case 2. E. coli, Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus case 3. Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus, case 4, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proteus species. Reconstructive surgery of defected scrotum was performed postoperative 8 to 41 days (mean 28.7) and total admission period was 25 to 83 days (mean 46 days).
Abscess ; Calculi ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fournier Gangrene* ; Gangrene ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Paraplegia ; Pressure Ulcer ; Proteus ; Scrotum ; Spondylitis ; Streptococcus ; Thromboangiitis Obliterans

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH) is a rare condition that causes paraparesis or quadriparesis. As spontaneous resolution is seldom expected, it usually requires surgical treatment for relieve symptoms. Even if spontaneous resolution occurs, relief from symptoms usually requires several hours to days. In contrast, hemiparesis is the most common symptom of a transient ischemic attack (TIA), and usually resolves over minutes to hours. We report here two patients with SCEH who presented with hemiparesis with severe neck pain. Both patients were taking antiplatelet drugs. Their neurological symptoms recovered spontaneously over a very short time. They were initially misdiagnosed as TIA. These cases show that patients with transient hemiparesis may have SCEH if there is severe neck pain and no cranial nerve involvement.

The distribution of glycogen, polysaccharide, mucopolysaccharide, lipid and nucleic acid has been studied in Echinorhynchus gadi(Acanthocephala). The results were summarized as follows: Glycogen and polysaccharide was demonstrated by Bauer PAS reaction technique and was found in fertilization membrane in ovum, central nuclear mass in acanthor and lemnisci, hypodermis in cystacanth. Mucopolysaccharide was demonstrated by Mowry alcian blue staining technique and was found in outer membrane, fibrillar coat, fertilization membrane and inner membrane in acanthocephalan ova. Lipid was demonstrated by Smith Nile blue stain and Lison Sudan black B staining technique and was found roughly parallel to that of polysaccharide. Nucleic acid was demonstrated by Rosenbeck Feulgen reaction, Taft methylgreen-pyronin stain and Diengdoh acridine orange staining technique and found in central nuclear mass in acanthor, also, was found in lemnisci, proboscis and hypodermis in cystacanth.
parasitology-Acanthocephala ; histochemistry ; Echinorhynchus gadi ; glycogen ; mucopolysaccharide ; lipid ; nucleic acid

OBJECTIVE: To report our initial experience on the technical feasibility and safety for hemostasis of a new pneumatic compression device in patients undergoing femoral arteriotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 40 consecutive patients in whom hemostasis after transfemoral catheterization was readered by using a pneumatic compression device consisting of an inflatable bulb-containing main body and four pieces of supplementary tape. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for outcomes and complications of hemostasis. Technical success was defined as achieving immediate hemostasis 10 minutes after applying the device over the arteriotomy sites, and clinical success was defined as the ability to ambulate after 4 hours of bed rest without any complications. RESULTS: Technical and clinical success was achieved in 38 (95%) and 37 (93%) patients, respectively. In two patients, hemostasis was achieved after conversion to manual compression. One patient required sand bag placement after removal of the device to control minimal oozing of blood. No patients had late complications. CONCLUSION: The new pneumatic compression device provides effective and safe hemostasis after transfemoral catheterization in selected patient populations.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Femoral Artery/*surgery ; Hemostatic Techniques/*instrumentation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Punctures ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Ataxia telangiectasia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive cerebellar degeneration, cancer predisposition, immune defects, radiosensitivity and genetic instability. Ataxia telangiectasia is rare and has not been reported in Korea. We present a 9-year-old girl with early onset progressive cerebellar ataxia. Neurologic examination showed gaze apraxia, bulbar dysfunction, retained tendon reflexes and conjunctival telangiectasia. Alpha-feto protein was elevated and serum IgA was decreased. Brain MRI showed prominent cerebellar atrophy. Literatures were reviewed.
Apraxias ; Ataxia Telangiectasia* ; Ataxia* ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reflex, Stretch ; Telangiectasis