To investigate the imbalance of the cytokine production profile of T cells from atopic asthmatics, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y by ELISA method in the culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and Derrnato-phagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) J-stimulated PBMCs from Der p-sensitized atopic asthmatics, Der p-sensitized healthy atopits, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy non-atopics. The suppressive effect of IFN-y on cytokine production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs was also examined. The PBMCs from atopics showed higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA +TPA and higher IFN-gamma production in response to Der p Jq compared with non-atopits. The Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics showed a tendency of increased IL-5 production in response to Der p J and higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA+TPA compared with non-atopics. IL-5 production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics was suppressed by IFN It is suggested that an imbalance in IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y production is a feature of the atopic state. The TH2 characteristics of allergen-stimulated PBMCs could be regulated by IFN-y.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Leydig Cell Tumor*

BACKGROUND: Serratia marcescens proliferates well in a humid environment or soil and is recently considered as an important pathogen for the severe nosocomial infections. this organism is spreads easily by hand-to-hand transmission, and contaminates medical equipment used for invasive procedures, working environment, medications, and soap. METHODS: We investigated the source of an outbreak of bloodstream infections by S. marcescens isolated that occurred during the period from July to December, 2004, at a university hospital in Gyeonggi Province and attempted to intervene in the outbreak and control it. RESULTS: From July to December, 2004, S. marcescens grew from 296 blood culture from 283 patients. The medical charts of the patients were reviewed, and surveillance cultures were taken to identify the outbreak of nosocomial infections and risk factors. Only four cases of infection were identified and all remaining positive blood cultures were due to contamination. Nine isolates randomly selected from the 296 S. marcescens showed an identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern. To identify the source of infection, environmental culture and hand cultures of the related medical workers were carried out, but S. marcescens was not isolated. CONCLUSION: As the result of aggressive infection control activities, such as re-education on environmental management methods, hand washing techniques, and blood culture sampling techniques, no more S. marcescens had been grown in blood culture since January, 2005.
Cross Infection ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Risk Factors ; Serratia marcescens ; Serratia* ; Soaps ; Soil

No abstract available.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra* ; Spondylolysis*

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgical procedure via thoracoscopy has recently gained popularity, as it avoids a thoracotomy, reducing intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, respiratory dysfunction and hospital stay. However, to visualize adequately the intrathoracic structures, creation of artificial pneumothorax by carbon dioxide insufflation during thoracoscopy would cause significant hemodynamic compromise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CO2 insufflation into the pleural cavity on the hemodynamics and the arterial blood gas tension under general anesthesia. METHODS: Twenty-five patients, after intubation with single lumen endotracheal tube, underwent enflurane (1~2%) and N2O-O2 (1:1) general anesthesia. Before placement of a thoracoscope, the baseline mean arterial pressure and heart rate were obtained. Measurements were taken at 5, 10, and 20 min. after the beginning of carbon dioxide insufflation (3~5 mmHg) and 10 min. after gas evacuation. Blood gas analyses were done before, during CO2 insufflation and after CO2 evacuation. Data were analyzed using Student t-test. RESULTS: Positive-pressure CO2 insufflation (3~5 mmHg) caused a decrease of mean arterial pressure (5~7%) and an increase of airway pressure (1.5 times) and heart rate (13~20%) throughout the gas insufflation period (p<0.05). Blood gas analyses revealed no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low CO2 insufflation pressures (3~5 mmHg) may cause cardiovascular depression during thoracoscopy. Therefore careful monitorings should be done during this procedure.
Anesthesia, General* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Depression ; Enflurane ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Intubation ; Length of Stay ; Pleural Cavity ; Pneumothorax, Artificial ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures ; Thoracoscopes ; Thoracoscopy* ; Thoracotomy

PURPOSE: To investigate the Doppler ultrasonographic parameters of a carotid ultrasound (CUS) for the stenosis of the intracranial internal carotid artery (IICA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated 15 patients with normal extracranial ICA, the common carotid artery (CCA), and stenosis of IICA (patient group). The control group consisted of 22 patients with normal findings on a magnetic resonance angiography (control group). All subjects were subjected to a CUS, whereas subjects from the patient group underwent a cerebral angiography. The following parameters were investigated: peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) in ICA, PSV in CCA, resistive index (RI) in ICA, and PSV ratio. Stenosis was measured following an angiography and was graded as follows: normal (0-24%), mild (25-49%), moderate (50-69%), and severe (70-99%). Next, the CUS findings, which reflected the IICA stenosis, were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 74 ICAs, 52 were normal (44 ICAs in the normal group and 8 ICAs in the patient group), 10 had mild stenosis, 8 had moderate stenosis, and severe 4 had severe stenosis. As the stenosis grade increased, PSV and EDV in ICA as well as PSV in CCA, decreased (p value < 0.05); however, the PSV ratio and RI remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: As stenosis of IICA increases, PSV and EDV of ICA and PSV of CCA decreases following a CUS.
Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis ; Cerebral Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Copper ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVES: The most common chromosomal abnormality contributing to recurrent abortion is the balanced chromosomal translocation. However the exact incidence of fetal losses are still unknown. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities and outcome of pregnancy in recurrent miscarriage couples with balanced translocation. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of recurrent spontaneous abortion patients with balanced chromosomal translocation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 56 couples with history of recurrent abortions from 1995 to 1999. The use of high resolution banding technique and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in the chromosomal analysis has made the precise evaluation of chromosome aberrations. RESULTS: Among 56 couples, 42 patients had reciprocal translocation and 14 had Robertsonian translocation. Chromosomal aberrations were more frequent in women (36 cases) than in men (20 cases). Prenatal cytogenetic analyses were carried out in 14 subsequent pregnancies for carrier couples with balanced translocation. The fetal karyotypes showed that 5 cases (35.7%) was normal, 8 (57.1%) were balanced translocation, and 1 (7.1%) was unbalanced translocations. And cytogenetic analyses were done on 15 subsequent chorionic villi samples of abortuses for carrier couples with balanced translocations. Fourteen of fifteen abortuses (93.3%) were abnormal karyotype. CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of chromosomal imbalance in the fetuses was relatively low in prenatal cytogenetic analysis, individuals with balanced translocations are predisposed to giving birth to malformed offsprings with chromosomal imbalance (partial trisomy or monosomy). Therefore we recommend preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for recurrent abortions with balanced translocation and preventing the birth of offspring with chromosomal abnormalities.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Abortion, Habitual* ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorionic Villi ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Family Characteristics* ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Incidence* ; Karyotype ; Male ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation, Genetic ; Trisomy

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor(TNF) has been considered as an important candidate for cancer gene therapy based on it9 potent anti-tumor activity. However, since the efficiency of current techniques of gene transfer is not satisfactory, the majorities of current protocols is aiming the in vitro gene transfer to cancer cells and re-introducing genetically modified cancer cells to host In previous study, it was shown that TNF-sensitive cancer cells transfected with TNF-α CDNA would become highly resistant to TNF. Understanding the mechanisms of TNF-resistance in TNF-α gene transfected cancer cells would be an important step for improving the efficacy of cancer gene therapy as we]1 as for better understandings of tumor biology. This study was designed to evaluate the role of new protective protein synthesis in the acquired resistance to TNF of TNF-α gene transfected cancer cells. METHOD: We transfected TNF-α c-DNA to WEHI l64, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line, using retroviral vector (pLT12SN(TNF)) and confirm the expression of TNF with PCRf ELISA, MTT assay. Then we determined the TNF resistance of TNF gene transfected cells(WEHI 164-TNF) and the changes of TNF sensitivities after treatments with actinomycin D(transcription inhibitor) and cycloheximide(translation inhibitor). RESULTS: WEHI 164 which was sensitive to TNF became resistant to TNF after being trsnsfected with TNF-α gene and the resistance to TNF was partially reversed after treatment with actinomycin D, but not with cycloheximide. CONCLUSION: The acquired resistance to TNF after TNF-α gene transfection may be associated with synthesis of some protective proteins.
Biology ; Cell Line ; Cycloheximide ; Dactinomycin ; DNA, Complementary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosarcoma ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Necrosis ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Zidovudine*

BACKGROUND: The major risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes melitus and cigarrete smoking have not been studied in an attempt to provide a composition of major risk factors in Korea. Also we have met with some patients without major risk factors. METHODS: A Retrospective Study was done on 160 patients of acute myocardial infarction who had been admitted to National Medical Center within 48 hours from onset, from January 1948 to December 1992 and studied on major risk factors of acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: 1) Among major risk factors, smoking was found in 50%, hypertension in 49%, diabetes in 25% and hypercholesterolemia in 21%. 2) The percentage of patients without major risk factors was 19%. 3) Among major risk factors, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes were increasing tendencies, recentely. CONCLUSION: Some patients with acute myocardial infarction don't have any major risk factors. Also hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes were increasing tendencies. So further study for other risk factors is needed and preventive management should require a commitment to behavior modification and alteration in life-style.
Behavior Therapy ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking