PURPOSE: Troglitazone (TRO) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist. TRO has antiproliferative activity on many kinds of cancer cells via G1 arrest. TRO also increases Cu2+/Zn2+-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and catalase. Cell cycle, and SOD and catalase may affect on radiation sensitivity. We investigated the effect of TRO on radiation sensitivity in cancer cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three human cervix cancer cell lines (HeLa, Me180, and SiHa) were used. The protein expressions of SOD and catalase, and catalase activities were measured at 2-10 microM of TRO for 24 hours. Cell cycle was evaluated with flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Cell survival by radiation was measured with clonogenic assay. RESULTS: By 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, the mRNA, protein expression and activity of catalase were increased in all three cell lines. G0-G1 phase cells were increased in HeLa and Me180 by 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, but those were not increased in SiHa. By pretreatment with 5 microM TRO radiation sensitivity was increased in HeLa and Me180, but it was decreased in SiHa. In Me180, with 2 microM TRO which increased catalase but not increased G0-G1 cells, radiosensitization was not observed. ROS produced by radiation was decreased with TRO. CONCLUSION: TRO increases radiation sensitivity through G0-G1 arrest or decreases radiation sensitivity through catalase-mediated ROS scavenging according to TRO dose or cell types. The change of radiation sensitivity by combined with TRO is not dependent on the PPARgamma expression level.
Catalase ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Cervix Uteri ; Chromans ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluoresceins ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Thiazolidinediones ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

This study was performed to examine the effect of a 7-week comprehensive health promotion program for improving pain, depression, and disability by employing a quasi-experimental design. The subjects were regular out-patients of a RA aclinic in an University Hospital in Inchon from November 11. 1998 to December 24. 1998. The Experimental group included 18 patients who participated in an arthritis health promotion program, and the control group included 18 patients who did not. The 7-week health promotion program, which had the objective to enhance health promoting skills, was provided to patients. The effects of this program on the patients' pain, depression, and functional disability were examined. According to the study results, a significant group difference was found on these dependent variables (Hotelling's T =.30, F=3.11, p=.04). To examine which dependent variables had significant effects, one-way ANOVAs were performed. There were significant group differences in pain (F=4.35, p=.05) and in depression (F=4.22, p=.05) However, no significant group differences on functional disability (F=.04, p=.84) were found. Conclusively, the arthritis health promotion program, which was designed to enhance 11 health promoting skills, can be evaluated as successfully achieving the ultimate goal of enhancing the patients' quality of life. It can also be contended that the improvement of the patients' quality of life was enabled by relieving pain and reducing depression.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Depression ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Sulindac

This study was performed to examine the effect of a 7-week comprehensive health promotion program for improving pain, depression, and disability by employing a quasi-experimental design. The subjects were regular out-patients of a RA aclinic in an University Hospital in Inchon from November 11. 1998 to December 24. 1998. The Experimental group included 18 patients who participated in an arthritis health promotion program, and the control group included 18 patients who did not. The 7-week health promotion program, which had the objective to enhance health promoting skills, was provided to patients. The effects of this program on the patients' pain, depression, and functional disability were examined. According to the study results, a significant group difference was found on these dependent variables (Hotelling's T =.30, F=3.11, p=.04). To examine which dependent variables had significant effects, one-way ANOVAs were performed. There were significant group differences in pain (F=4.35, p=.05) and in depression (F=4.22, p=.05) However, no significant group differences on functional disability (F=.04, p=.84) were found. Conclusively, the arthritis health promotion program, which was designed to enhance 11 health promoting skills, can be evaluated as successfully achieving the ultimate goal of enhancing the patients' quality of life. It can also be contended that the improvement of the patients' quality of life was enabled by relieving pain and reducing depression.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Depression ; Health Promotion* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Sulindac

Cerebrocostomandibular syndrome is characterized by micrognathia, cleft palate, multiple thorax deformity and frequently, mental deficiency. Respiratory compromise is a common cause of death. We experienced a case of cerebrocostomandibular syndrome with congenital heart disease in a 2 day old female baby with the chief complaint of cyanosis and respiratory difficulty since birth. She was delivered by cesarian section due to delayed labor at IUP 42 weeks. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical features, radiologic findings and echocardiogram, which showed micrognathia, deformity of 3rd finger Lt, hemivertebrae of T1-T6 Lt., absence of 1-6th rib Lt., dextrocardia, tetralogy of fallot, atrial septal defect secondum. We reported this case and reviewed related litertures briefly.
Cause of Death ; Cleft Palate ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cyanosis ; Dextrocardia ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fingers ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Parturition ; Ribs ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Dexamethasone*

BACKGROUND: In the Duffy blood group system (Fy(a), Fy(b), Fy(x), and Fy antigens), Fy(x) antigen is associated with weak Fy(b) while Fy antigen means the null phenotype Fy (a-b-). Fyx antigen and Fy antigen result from the polymorphisms of Fy125 allele. This report assessed the allele frequency and genotype frequency of Fy(a), Fy(b), Fy(x), and Fy antigens in Koreans. METHODS: We performed a study of the followings on 253 visitors to the health promotion center of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital: PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSP for the detection of Duffy 125G > A and -33T > C; PCR-SSP for the detection of Duffy 265C > T and 298G > A. RESULTS: The results of PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSP were consistent with each other in a total of 253 subjects. Allele frequency was as follows: Fy 92.3%, Fy(125) 6.1%, and fy(125/265) 1.6%. The fy(125/265) allele was newly observed. Fy(125/298), fy(125/265/298), and fy(-33/125) alleles were not detected in Koreans. The distribution of Duffy phenotypes in Koreans was as follows: Fy (a+b-) 88.1%, Fy (a-b+) 0.4%, Fy (a+b+) 11.5%, and Fy (a-b-) 0.0%. Fy (a+) was 99.6% and Fy (b+) was 11.9%. CONCLUSION: In our study for Duffy polymorphisms, the frequency of Fy allele was very high. The frequency was similar to those of other Asian populations, but different from those of Caucasians. The fy(125/265) allele, which was associated with Fy(x) antigen, was newly detected in Koreans.
Alleles* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Duffy Blood-Group System ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul

Squamous cell carcinomas arising from the paranasal sinuses are often accompanied by eyeball pain, proptosis, decreased visual acuity and diplopia because of the proximity to the orbit. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of maxillary sinus mimicking chronic dacryocystitis and orbital cellulitis due to destruction of lacrimal apparatus.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Dacryocystitis ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Lacrimal Apparatus* ; Maxillary Sinus ; Orbit ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Visual Acuity

Acquired tumors of the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium are rare diseases. They are difficult to diagnose and present as pseudoadenomatous hyperplasia, adenoma or adenocarcinoma. They exhibit slowly progressive enlargement leading to a subluxated lens, cataract, and secondary glaucoma. And some of the more malignant tumors may extend extrasclerally. We report a case of adenoma of nonpigmented ciliary epithelium which produced a cataract.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma* ; Cataract ; Epithelium* ; Glaucoma ; Hyperplasia ; Rare Diseases

Background: A clinician reported unusually high incidence of A. xylosoxidans isolation from aspirated tissues in outpatient clinic. Methods: A. xylosoxidans isolates from January 2002 to June 2002 were investigated. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and observed the procedures of tissue aspiration and culture at the clinical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were obtained for investigational cultures from dye, aspiration gun, slide alcohol sponge, tray, sink. water of sink, buffer solution, microscope, computer, and telephone. Results: A. xyloxosidans was isolated from twenty-four patients during 6 months. None of 24 cases had any typical signs or symptoms of infections by A. xylosoxidans. Observation of tissue aspiration and culture procedure revealed that buffer solution was used for prevention of specimen drying after tissue aspiration. Culture of the buffer solution yielded a heavy growth of A. xylosoxidans from four out of ten specimens. A. xylosoxidans was not isolated from any other investigational specimens. Conclusions: This was supposed to represent pseudoepidemic. Contaminated buffer solution was documented as the cause of this pseudoepidemic. The usage of buffer solution was stopped. During the follow-up period of 2 months, no additional A. Xylosoxidans was cultured from aspirated tissues.
Alcaligenes* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Porifera ; Telephone ; Water

To evaluate the realtionship of neural regulation of tear production and autonomic neuropathy, this study was assessed using Schirmer test, tear film break up time and diabetic autonomic neuropathy based on cardiovascular responses. 50 patients were recruited. The results were as follows. The more degree of autonomic neuropathy was present, the less tear production was found. There was a statistically significant difference between mean Schirmer test of normal group with autonomic neuropathy and mean Schirmer test of definitive group with autonomic neuropathy. The more degree of autonomic neuropathy was well correlated with the less tear film break up time. there was no statistically significant difference of mean tear film break up time among 3 groups with autonomic neuropathy. If the definitive group with autonomic neuropathy was screened by Schirmer test, the high sensitivity above 80% was achieved.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans ; Tears*