Lipocortin represents a family of similar Ca++ depentent phospholipid-binding proteins capable of blocking the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in vitro. Generally, these proteins are believed to inhibit the release of arachidonic acid from photopholipids and the formation of lipid mediators such as prostaglandin, leukotriene, and platelet activating factor. Lipocortin 1, initially identified as a glucocorticoid- responsive protein in macrophages and neutrophils has been implicated in transmembrane signal transduction during growth factor-mediated cell proliferation and transformation. To define the synthesis and its regulation, we investigated the expression of lipocortin 1 in both the mRNA and protein level in U937 cell line in the presence of several differentiation factors. The results were as follows. 1. The expression of lipocortin 1 and its mRNA was increased during TPA-induced differentiation of U937 cells to maximum of 2-fold and 5-fold respectively. Both the protein and mRNA levels decreased after 48 hours. 2. With the treatment with IFN-gamma, the expression of CD16 was increased. However, the protein and mRNA levels of lipocortin 1 were, not changed significantly. 3. Neither the dexamethasone or hydrocortisone have any effects on the expression of lipocortin 1 in both TPA-differentiated and undifferentiated U937 cells. The results from this study would give a light on defining the functional role of lipocortin 1 in macro-moncycle cell lineage and possibly some informative clues for the pathogenic mechanisms of the inflammatory diseases.
Annexin A1* ; Annexins* ; Arachidonic Acid ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Proliferation ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Macrophages ; Neutrophils ; Phospholipases A2 ; Platelet Activating Factor ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; U937 Cells*

PURPOSE: Congenital Iobar agenesis of the liver is a rare anomaly. We report five cases (three cases of right Iobar agenesis and two cases of left Iobar agenesis) and discuss the radiologic findings of this congenital anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July, 1992 and February, 1993, three cases of right Iobar agenesis and two cases of left Iobar agenesis of the liver were diagnosed by means of computed tomography(CT) and/or sonography. MR imging was performed in two patients, cholangiography in two, and digital subtraction angiography in one. RESULTS: The main findings of right Iobar agenesis of the liver were nonvisualization of the right portal vein and absence of liver tissue to the right of gallbladder. The findings of left Iobar agenesis were nonvisualization of left portal vein, absence of liver tissue to the left of the gallbladder, and absence of ligamentum teres. The ancillary finding of the Iobar agenesis was visualization of less than three hepatic veins. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider Iobar agenesis of the liver in differential diagnosis when imaging studies reveal abnormal portal vein branches, unusual position of gallblader, absence of ligamentum teres, and visualization of less than three hepatic veins.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Cholangiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gallbladder ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver ; Portal Vein

OBJECTIVES: To examine the factors affecting passive exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in non-smoking student nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 196 college students who had not smoked cigarettes in the past 12 months. Urinary cotinine levels were examined to identify exposure to SHS, and social factors were identified that influenced exposure to SHS, including requests that smokers extinguish cigarettes. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the factors influencing SHS. RESULTS: Urinary cotinine measurements showed that 32 students (16.3%) were exposed to SHS. Risk factors that increased exposure to SHS affected 80 students (40.8%) in the previous 7 days. Students who were exposed to SHS were 4.45-times more likely to have increased urinary cotinine levels than those who were not exposed. Students who asked others to extinguish their cigarettes were 0.34 times less likely to test positive than those who did not. CONCLUSION: Urinary cotinine was a useful biomarker for identifying exposure to SHS, with respect to the influence of demographic, health-related, and smoking-related factors. In non-smoking nursing students, avoiding exposure to SHS was attributed to self-assertive behavior by requesting smokers to extinguish cigarettes.
Assertiveness ; Cotinine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Students, Nursing ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Carcinoma of lung is classified by histologic cell type, this is based on predominant major cell population by tissue specimen. But in fact a range of 13% to 63% of lung cancer has been appeared to be heterogeneous cell type at the light microscopic level. After treatment of the mixed lung cancer and/or with time there are reports that cell type is changed. Because it is possible that the tumor were pleomorphic and that the antitumor therapy eliminated the more sensitive cell population and permitted the subsequent emergence of the more resistant cell population. The authors reported here, a case of 32 year old female patient with mixed lung cancer composed of three cell type, and this is the first case in Korea.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Population Characteristics

PURPOSE: Though atopic and nonatopic asthma have different clinical manifestations, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and airway inflammations are common characteristics of them. We investigated BHR to both methacholine and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), and their relationships with blood eosinophil markers in nonatopic asthma as well as atopic asthma. METHODS: We studied 116 children (82 atopics; 34 nonatopics) with mild to moderate asthma. Methacholine and AMP challenge tests were performed and bronchial responsiveness was expressed as PC20 (provocative concentration causing a 20 percent fall in FEV1); blood eosinopil counts (ETCs) and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were gauged. RESULTS: In atopics, 95.1 percent and 90.2 percent showed hyperreactivity to methacholine (PC20<16 mg/mL) and AMP (PC20<200 mg/mL), respectively. Meanwhile, in nonatopics, 94.1 percent and 52.9 percent displayed hyperreactivity to methacholine and AMP, respectively. The geometric mean of AMP PC20 was lower in atopics (31.6 mg/mL) than in nonatopics (125.9 mg/mL); that of methacholine PC20 was similar in the two groups. AMP PC20 correlated with blood ETCs in both atopics(r=-0.30, P<0.01) and nonatopics (r=-0.57, P<0.01), and correlated with serum ECP levels (r=-0.23, P<0.01) in atopics, but not in nonatopics. Apart from AMP, methacholine PC20 was not associated with blood eosinophil markers in either group. CONCLUSION: Atopics more frequently displayed BHR to AMP than nonatopics. Furthermore, BHR to AMP was associated with not only blood ETCs, but serum ECP levels in atopics but was correlated with only blood ETCs in nonatopics. Those results suggest that BHR to AMP reflects airway inflammation in asthma and is more related to atopy.
Adenosine* ; Asthma* ; Child* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride*

PURPOSE:Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine and exaggerated peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability are hallmarks of asthma. The aims of our study were to evaluate the relationship between PEF variability and BHR to methacholine and which PEF index correlates best with BHR to methacholine. METHODS:Methacholine challenge test was performed in 73 children having mild to moderate asthma. Those subjects recorded PEF morning and evening before and after bronchodilator for 2 weeks. The response to methacholine challenge was measured by PC20 (provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1), and seven different PEF variability indices(including prebrochodilator amplitude%mean, postbronchodilator amplitude%mean, standard deviation%mean) were calculated. RESULTS:Geometric mean of methacholine PC20 was 1.7 mg/mL. All PEF variability indices were associated with BHR to methacholine. Among PEF variability indices, two indices showed the best correlation with BHR to methacholine: standard deviation%mean (r=-0.45, P<0.001) and postbronchodilator amplitude%mean (r=-0.42, P<0.001). CONCLUSION:Standard deviation%mean provided the strongest correlation with BHR to methacholine. Meanwhile, postbronchodilator amplitude%mean which is counted easily and is more intuitively visualized manifested similar correlation as standard deviation%mean. Methacholine challenge test and PEF variability were correlated significantly but weakly; therefore we supposed that they do not reflect the same pathophysiological process in the airways.
Asthma* ; Child* ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride*

Herein is a retrospective study of 220 cases of open heart surgery at Yeungnam University Hospital from April, 1984 to March, 1987 anti the anesthetic methods employed. Among the 226 caaes, there were 169 cases of congenital acyanotic disease, 21 cases of congenital cyanotic disease and 36 cases were acquired heart disease. One hundred fourteen cases were male and 112 were female. The mean age of patients with congenital heart disease was 9.2+/-7.9 gears and it was 34.2+/-13.8 years in acquired heart disease. The primarily utilized premedicants were morphine, hydroxyzine and glycopyrrolate. Induction agents included thiopental in the congenital acyanotic group, ketamine in the congenital cyanotic group and morphine and Valium in the acquired heart disease group. Mainten- ance agents were mainly halothane+N2O in the congenital acyanotic group, ketamine in the congenital cyanotic group and morphine with or without inhalation agents in the acquired heart disease group. Muscle relaxants such as succinylcholine and pancuroniurn were used in the early days of open heart surgery, but recently vecurnnium has been utilized for intubation and maintenance of muscle relaxation. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross clamp, surgery and anesthesia were longer in the order of congenital acyanotic, congenital cyanotic and acquired heart disease group. Overall the mortality rate was 3.1%, and the main cause of death was respiratory failure (42.9%) .
Anesthesia* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cause of Death ; Diazepam ; Female ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Heart* ; Humans ; Hydroxyzine ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Ketamine ; Male ; Morphine ; Mortality ; Muscle Relaxation ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental ; Thoracic Surgery*

PURPOSE: After discharge from the hospital, very low birth weight infants require care consultation, information, and interaction and so forth, due to sequelae, different growth and developmental pattern; which increase the burdens and the worries of patients in nurturing them. With the counseling of experts in the related fields, the authors and the Food for the Hungry have run a department of childcare for a year, emphasizing on more family support than extreme early detection of disabilities. This study reports on relieving child care anxiety, promoting growth and development, educating parents on home treatment of sequelae, finding and coping with minor disabilities. METHODS: The subjects were chosen among infants under 1,500 g of birth weight and younger than a corrected age of 6 months. Meetings were held once in a month for a year. Infant care support classes were taught by experts in their fields including a music therapist (with play program), neonatologist, a children's nurse, a child-care director, a clinical psychologist, a rehabilitation therapist, a social worker and, a nutritionist. Within the self-dependent groups, the families were able to share their concerns and experiences on child-caring. Second home visits were carried out to monitor home oxygen therapy, tube feeding, cerebral palsy signs, and to find neglect or abuse in suspected cases. RESULTS: Fifty-one infants participated; the average weight was 1,060 g, the average gestational age was 27 weeks and 2 days. Eighteen were boys and 23 girls. The average age of the mothers was 33.4, and there were 26 appropriate for gestational age, 8 small for gestational age, and, 5 large for gestational age. Twenty three were first-born, 13 were second-born, 1 was third-born, and twins were 4 pairs. Home visits were done in 33 families, and secondary visits were done in 6 families. The depression score of mothers in the attendant group decreased from 10.47+/-5.18 to 8.18+/-5.87 (P=0.080). CONCLUSION: The depression score of mothers in the attendant group decreased after infant care support classes.
Anxiety ; Birth Weight ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Child Care ; Counseling ; Depression ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Gestational Age ; Growth and Development ; House Calls ; Humans ; Infant Care ; Infant* ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Mothers ; Music ; Nutritionists ; Oxygen ; Parents ; Psychology ; Rehabilitation ; Social Workers ; Twins

No abstract available.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic* ; Wegener Granulomatosis*

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. However, the role of allergy in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of antigen sensitization and development of respiratory allergy disease on severity of atopic dermatitis. METHODS: 211 children with atopic dermatitis were monitored for 2-3 years and classified into three groups: mild, moderate, severe. The severity of atopic dermatitis was compared with antigen sensitization identified by MAST CLA Korea Panel and development of respiratory allergy disease; such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. RESULTS: The frequency of mild, moderate, severe atopic dermatitis was respectively, 38.4%, 33.6%, 28.0%. Food sensitization was significantly higher in patients under 4 years old and aeroallergen sensitization was higher in patients above 5 years old. There was a good correlation between the severity of atopic dermatitis and food sensitization but not in aeroallergen. There was no significant association the severity of atopic dermatitis and development of respiratory allergy disease. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the sensitization to food allergen is associated with the severity of atopic dermatitis, but sensitization to aeroallergen and development of respiratory allergy disease are not correlated. The restriction of sensitized diets might be helpful in management of atopic dermatitis.
Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diet ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Korea ; Rhinitis ; Skin Diseases