BACKGROUND: Studies of immune response for cancer have demonstrated that the antitumor immune response plays a role in competing against the growth of cancer cells and is frequently altered in advanced cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the changes of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subsets during preoperative and postoperative periods according to the time sequence of the postoperative condition in gastrointestinal carcinoma patients. Lymphocyte surface markers were determined in 39 stomach cancer patients and 33 colon cancer patients by using the indirect immunofluorescence technique with monoclonal antibodies. The patient's body weights, hemoglobin, hematocrits, total protein, and albumin were also measured preoperatively at and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: There were significant differences of clinico-laboratory findings between the preoperative and the postoperative periods except for hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin in postoperative course. The total leukocyte count significantly decreased from the postoperative 6th month. The lymphocyte count significantly increased from the postoperative 3rd month. The granulocytes decreased significantly in the postoperative 6th month. The T cells and B cells decreased in the postoperative 3rd month and 1st month, respectively. CD8 increased in the postoperative 3rd month and NK cells also increased in the postoperative 3rd, 6th and 24th months. Other peripheral lymphocytes and their subsets showed no significant differences. The changes in the lymphocyte subsets according to stage were not statistically significant (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative changes in lymphocytes, granulocytes, and NK cells were significantly different compared with preoperative levels, but these results did not correlate with postoperative survival and recurrence rate because of the short postoperative follow-up periods.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; B-Lymphocytes ; Body Weight ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulocytes ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphocytes* ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms ; T-Lymphocytes

In this paper, using ultrasonic doppler signal, we composed fetal heart sound / fetal movement diagnosis and web-based database server/client environment. Detecting fetal heart rate and movement at the same time, for the data loss-caused from telemetering-protection and the high speed diagnosis, we made two signals mix and transmit. For the better communication between obstetrician and remote woman/fetus, we proposed database table that could reflect the whole information about remote fetus and its mom. And we supported HL-7 format so that we might be compatible with other vendor product and easy to access web-based hospital computerization system. Applying doctor to web-based high level biosignal analysis algorithm and expert system, we offered remote fetal biosignal and diagnostic assistant data inducing fast diagnosis. We made web-based fetal diagnostic system and improved web system compatibility, fast diagnosis and minimum of the rate of misdiagnosis.
Commerce ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Expert Systems ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; Fetal Monitoring* ; Fetal Movement ; Fetus ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonics

No abstract available.
Ear Cartilage ; Rabbits ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Cartilage ; Rabbits ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Transplants

Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal toxin-mediated febrile illness. Although classically associated with tampon use, it is now known that many nonmentral conditions are related to this syndrome. Serious morbidity and mortality can occur if this syndrome is not promptly recognized. Now, we are presenting that we have experienced a case of toxic shock syndrome patient who had been received augmentation mammoplasty using saline filled mammary implant and mastopexy concommittantly, and we managed the patient with massive hydration and systemic antibiotic therapy. Early recognition and aggressive management can decrease the overall morbidity and motality.
Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty* ; Mortality ; Shock, Septic*

There are many conditions which are associated with neutropenia, such as infections, chemical and physical agents, and hematopoietic diseases. But ticlopidine-induced neutropenis is rarely reported in Korea. We experienced a case of neutropenia which developed after approximately 1 month of ticlopidine administrarion to a stable angina pectories patient. A 59 year-old woman with stable angina pectoris was placed on ticlopidine. Forty days later, she was admitted for high fevers and shaking chills. On admission, leukocyte count was 900/mm (3) (neutrophil 0/mm (3)), hemoglobin was 11.8g/dl, and platelet count was 440.000/mm (3). After confirming ticlopidine-induced neutropenia by bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, we administated rhG-CSF (neutrogen (r), Choongwae. Co. Korea) at a dose of 3-5ug/kg daily. On the 25th day of treatment, leukocyte count reached 2,890/mm (3). She experienced no adverse effects of rhG-CSF treatment and recorved completely. We assume that the rapid recovery of granulocytes was attributable to rhG-CSF, and we suggest that rhG-CSF should be tried in a patients with ticlopidine-induced neutropenia with depletion of myeloid precursors in the hypocelluar bone marrow.
Angina, Stable ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Chills ; Female ; Fever ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; Platelet Count ; Ticlopidine

We report a case of primary cutaneous infection by Aspergillus fumigatus in a 19-year-old immunocompetent woman. She developed pruritic erythematous papules on the frontal and temporal scalp area and pubic area. The lesions rapidly progressed to ulcers with central black eschars and pus drainage. The diagnosis of Aspergillus fumigatus infection was established by the mycologic study of cultures from wound exudate and histopatholosic examination of the skin lesion. The skin lesions were improved after 5 weeks of antifungal therapy with oral itraconazole (200mg/day). Five months later, the skin lesions had healed, leaving some scar.
Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Exudates and Transudates ; Female ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Scalp ; Skin ; Suppuration ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Child* ; Fibroma* ; Frontal Bone* ; Humans

Graft-versus-host disease can develop in immunosuppressed individuals who receive blood product transfusions that contain imrnunocompetent lymphocytes. We report a case of transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease(TA-GVHD) that developed in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who were undergoing therapy. The groups at risk for development of TA-GVHD, the clinical presentation and course, and methods of diagnosis are summarized. Prevention of TA-CVHD is possible by irradiation of blood products given to patients at risk, but problems remain in determining the groups that warrant such measures. We should be aware of the risk of developing TA-GVHD after routine blood transfusion, especially in areas where the population's HLA types are rather homogeneous.
Blood Transfusion ; Diagnosis ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Lymphocytes ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: There has been a scarcity of integrated, long-term (>4 week) studies on structural and functional alterations in the penis according to the period following cavernous nerve (CN) injury. The aim of this study was to investigate time-dependent structural and functional changes in the corpus cavernosum following CN injury in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats (10 weeks old) were divided into 4 groups: normal control (C), sham (S), bilateral CN resection (R), and bilateral CN crush injury (I) groups. At 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the procedure, erectile function was assessed by electrostimulation. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed for detection of apoptosis. Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry were performed for detection of alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). Western blot analysis was then performed. RESULTS: The R and I groups showed persistent impairment of erectile function at all three points in time. Apoptosis peaked at 1 week after resection or crush injury and then gradually subsided. The smooth muscle cell/collagen ratio and expression of alpha-SMA gradually decreased over time after CN resection or crush injury. Myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 phosphorylation progressively increased over time after CN resection or crush injury. On the other hand, expression of phospho-protein kinase B, phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase transiently decreased at 1 week after resection or crush injury and then recovered to the control values. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that persistent up-regulation of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway and structural change such as decreased smooth muscle cell and increased cavernosal fibrosis might play an important role in persistent erectile dysfunction following CN injury.
Actins ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caves ; Deoxyuracil Nucleotides ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Fibrosis ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Penis ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Prostatectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylamides ; Up-Regulation