We aimed to investigate the effect of in vitro allergen challenge on activation of eosinophils and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the epithelial and endothelial cells of the nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inferior turbinate mucosal specimens which were obtained from 16 perennial allergic rhinitics and sensitized to D. farinae during conchotomy operations were used. Each mucosal specimen was divided into six pieces. The first two pieces were used as basic control group without culture, the second two pieces as culture-control group which was cultured with diluent only, and the last two pieces as antigen-challenge group cultured with D. farinae solution for 24 hours. Specimens were immunohistochemically stained using monoclonal antibody against eosinophil cationic protein(EG1 for all eosinophils and EG2 for activated forms) and ICAM-1. RESULTS: Average counts of EG1 cells and EG2+ cells within 1 mm of lamina propria of nasal mucosa were 14 and 11 respectively in the basic control group, 17 and 19 in culture control group, and 16 and 16 in the antigen-challenge group. ICAM-1 expression on vessels was observed more than half of t,he vessels in the nasal mucosa and there was no significant difference between groups, however, its expression on the epithelial cells was most prominent in the antigen-challenge group (2.1 in basic control group, 3.3 in culture control group, and 6.2 in antigen-challenge group). CONCLUSION: Most of the eosinophils infiltrating into the nasal mucosae out of vessels in allergic rhinitics are activated forms. Significant up-regulation of epithelial ICAM-1 expression by antigen-challenge suggests that ICAM-1 contributes to the transmigration of eosinophils from the subepithelial tissue into the epithelial cell layer and then finally into the nasal secretion.
Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelial Cells ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Turbinates ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are suggested to play a deleterious role in the inflammatory disease of the respiratory mucosa by releasing granule substances such as major basic prorein and eosinophil cationic protein. To investigate the contribution of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps and the mechanism of their accumulation and activation, we observed the eosinophil inhllration and expression of endotjelial and epithelial cell adhesion molecules in the nasal polyp tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyp and inferior turbinate mueosal specimens (polyp group) taken out of 20 patients and 10 inferior turbinate mucosa specimens of non-allergic and non-infectious controls (control group) were immunohistochemically stained using EG1, EG2, and mAb for the ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-seleetin. The number of EG1 (+) and EG2 (+) cells within lmm2 of tissue and the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-seleetin on the vessels (% of total vessel) and epithelial eelis (area x intensity) were compared among three groups. RESULTS:The inferior turbinate mucosae of nasal polyp patients .were infiltrated by signifieantly higher number of eosinophils (EG1:17, EG2:16/mm2) compared with those of controls (EGi:0, EG2:0/mm2) (p<0.05), and the polyp tissue revealed much more eosinophils (EG1: 213, EG2:154/mm2) than inferior turbinates of same patients and those of controls (p<0.001). ICAM-1 expression in the vessels was frequenly observed both in polyps and in the turbinate mucosae with significant difference (median:85% vs. 67%, p<0.05), and ICAM-1 expression in the epithelial ceils was significantly different between the polyp and turbinate groups (median:9 vs. 2.5, p<0. 01). VCAM-1 was moderately expressed on the vessels of both polyps and turbinate mucosac (median:37%, 14%, respectively) and their expressions were significantly different (p<0.01). E-selectin expression was moderate to low both in the polyps and in the turbinate mucosae (median:18%, 10% respectively) and their expressions were not significantly different (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the eosinophils infiltrated into nasal tissue as well as nasal polyps were activated forms and they were significantly increased in the nasal polyps compared to the inferior turbinate mueosae of the same patients and control subjects. Significantly increased expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on the vessels and increased epithelial ICAM-1 expression in the nasal polyps indicate that interactions of eosinophils with ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 participate in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps.
E-Selectin ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Polyps* ; Polyps ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Turbinates ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

Higher cognitive functions refer to the highest level of human intellectual functioning, including formation, reasoning, and executive functions. The executive functions can be conceptualized as having four components ; volition, planning, purposive action, and effective performance. Because higher cognitive functions represent the most advanced stages of intellectual development, they are often highly susceptible to the effects of brain injuries and mental disorders. The ability to perform effectively within the environment is determined in large part by an individual's adequacy in performing such higher-order function. Especially executive functions are necessary for appropriate, socially responsible, and effectively sell-serving adult conduct. Therefore, an assessment of the psychiatric patient's performance in these areas will provide useful diagnostic information, as well as information concerning social and vocational prognosis.
Adult ; Brain Injuries ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Prognosis ; Volition

Human epithelial cell line immortalized by Ad12-SV40 hybrid virus was transfected with plasmid containing HPV-16 via calcium-phosphate method. Subsequently, 8 clonal cell lines were obtained after G418 selection. Among these clonal cells, clonal cell-4(C-4) and clonal cell-6(G-6) showed increases of tumorigenic cellular properties such as saturation density, soft agar colony formation and cell aggregation. Morphological alteration such as appearane of foci was observed on these two clones after passage 6 and 7(50 to 55 days after transfection). When clonal cells and control cells were treated with MNNG(0.01ug/ml), both C-4 and C-6 showed increases of tumorigenic cellular properties and the level of increase was much more elevated as compared to clonal cells prior to MNNG treatment. Appearance of foci formation was observed in C-4 and C-6 after passage-6. After passage-8, control cells and all clonal cells showed morphological alterations. It seems that treatment of cells containing HPV-16 DNA with MNNG increases tumorigenic properties of the cells and expedite morphological transformations. (continue)
Agar ; Cell Aggregation ; Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Epithelial Cells* ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine ; Plasmids

No abstract available.
Maxillary Sinus* ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures*

PURPOSE: Direct injection of doxorubicin into the eyelids results in permanent loss of muscle fiber and it is considered an attractive nonsurgical method in essential blepharospasm therapy. However, necrosis of skin overlying orbicularis oculi muscle is the most serious side effect of this therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of doxorubicin delivered by osmotic pump which release doxorubicin slowly, and to evaluate the degree of overlying skin injury following chemical myectomy. METHODS: Thirty three rabbits were assigned to three groups according to the doxorubicin concentration. The first group received direct injections of 0.5 mg doxorubicin diluted in 0.1 ml of saline in the right lower eyelid. and osmotic pump was inserted into the left lower eyelid which contained 0.5 mg doxorubicin in 0.1 ml of saline. The second group received 1 mg doxorubicin and the third group received 2 mg doxorubicin. Eight weeks after injection, the eyelids were assessed for the degree of muscle fiber loss microscopically. For the evaluation of functional change of muscle, an EMG study was carried out. RESULTS: Skin necrosis developed in all rabbits except for one which received injection of 0.5 mg doxorubicin. Skin necrosis appeared earlier in the direct injection group. The duration of skin necrosis was shortened at lower concentrations(0.5 mg, 1.0 mg) with a pump delivery(P<0.05). But there was no statistical differences in the 2.0 mg concentration. The size of necrosis was much smaller in rabbits using pump delivery than those of direct injection group in high doxorubicn concentrations(1.0 mg, 2.0 mg)(P<0.05). The total size of muscle fiber was decreased after a doxorubicin injection. There was no statistical difference between the direct injection group and the pump group(P<0.05). The similar effect on the muscle was noted regardless of the slow release of the doxorubicin into the muscle. Light microscopic study demonstrated destructive change of muscle and it was replaced by connective tissues. Electron microscopic study showed destruction of micro-architecture of muscle fibers. Functionally, in EMG study, there was no motor activity in the injection area. But some motor unit potentials appeared in the periphery of skin necrosis site. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the osmotic pump may be used as an effective adjuvant in preventing skin necrosis in blepharospasm treatment.
Blepharospasm ; Connective Tissue ; Doxorubicin* ; Eyelids* ; Motor Activity ; Necrosis* ; Rabbits ; Skin*

No Abstract Available.
Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear*

No abstract available.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac*

A survey was conducted to study perception and attitudes of health workers towards health centers activities and organization of health services, from August 15 to September 30, 1994. The study population was 310 health workers engaged in seven urban health centers in Taegu City area. A questionnaire method was used to collect data and response rate was 81.3 percent or 252 respondents. The following are summaries of findings: Profiles of study population: Health workers were predomina1itly female(62.3%); had college education(60. 3%); 'and held medical and nursing positions(39.6%), technicians(30.6%) and. public health/administrativc positions(29.8%). Perceptions on health center's resources: Slightly more than a half(51.1%) of respondents expressed that physical facilities of the centers are inadequate; equipments needed are short(39.0%); human resource is inadequate(44.8%); and health budget allocated is insufficient(38.5%) to support the performance of health center's activities. Decentralization and health services: The majority revealed that the decentralization of government system would affect the future activities of health centers(51.9%) which may have to change. However, only one quarter of respondents(25.4%) seemed to view the decentralization positively as they expect that it would help perform health activities more effectively. The majority of the respondents(78.6%) insisted that the function and organization of the urban health centers should be changed. Target workload and job satisfaction: A large proportion (43.3%) of respondents felt that present target setting systems for various health activities are unrealistic in terms of community needs and health center's situation while only 11.1 percent responded it positively; the majority(57.5%) revealed that they need further training in professional fields to perform their job more effectively; more than one third(35.7%) expressed that they enjoy their professional autonomy in their job performance; and a considerable proportion (39.3%) said they are satisfied with their present work. Regarding the personnel management, more worker (47.3%) perceived it negatively than positive(11.5%) as most of workers seemed to think the personnel management practiced at the health centers is not fair or justly done. Health services rendered: Among health services rendered, health workers perceived the following services are most successfully delivered; they are, in order of importance, Th controi, curative services, and maternal and child health care. Such areas as health education, oral health, environmental sanitation, and integrated health services are needed to be strengthening. Regarding the community attitudes towards health workers, 41.3 percent of respondents think they are trusted by the community they serve. New areas of concern identified which must be included in future activities of health centers are, in order of priority, health care of elderly population, home health care, rehabilitation services, and such chronic diseases control programs as diabetes, hypertension, school health and mental health care. In conclusion, the study revealed that health workers seemed to have more negative perceptions and attitudes than positive ones towards organization and management of health services and activities performed by the .urban health centers where they are engaged. More specifically, the majority of health workers studied revealed to have the following areas of health center's organization and management inadequate or insufficient to support effective performance of their health activities: Namely, physical facilities and equipments required are inadequate; human and financial resources are insufficient; pefsonnel management is unsatisfactory; setting of service target system is unrealistic in terms of the community needs. However, respondents displayed a number of positive 'perceptions, particularly' to those areas as further training needs 'and implementation of decentralization of government system which will bring more autonomy of local government as they perceived these change would bring the necessary changes to future activities of the health center. They also displayed positive perceptions in their job autonomy and have job satisfactions.
Aged ; Budgets ; Child ; Child Health ; Chronic Disease ; Daegu ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Education ; Health Priorities ; Health Services ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Job Satisfaction ; Local Government ; Mental Health ; Nursing ; Oral Health ; Personnel Management ; Politics ; Professional Autonomy ; Rehabilitation ; Sanitation ; School Health Services ; Urban Health*

No abstract available.
Arnold-Chiari Malformation* ; Meningomyelocele*