No abstract available.

The CD8(+)CD28(+) T cells have known to mediate major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytolysis and to secret an HIV-1 inhibitory factor. As HIV infection lead to dramatic changes within the cellular immune system, the cellular cytotoxicities decrease in the duration of the HIV infection. To determine the importance of the cellular cytotoxicities in long-term nonprogression, we tried to compare CD28 expression on total T, CD4(+) T, and CD8(+) T cells as one of methods for cellular cytotoxicity measurements between long-term nonprogressor and normal person or between long-term nonprogressor and rapid progressor. The median percentages and counts of CD4(+) T cells of the norrnal, the long-term nonprogressor, and the rapid progressor groups were 39.9 and 0.96 * 10(9) cells/L, 24.6 and 0.58 * 10(9) cells/L, 9.9 and 0.15 * 10 cells/L, respectively. As a result of comparison of the cells having CD28 surface molecules on CD8(+) T cells in the long-term nonprogressor and the rapid progressor group, they showed over 5 times lower than that in the normal group. Especially, the long-term nonprogressor regarded to the healthy HIV-infected patient showed much lower CD28 expression on total T, CD4(+) T, and CD8(+) T cells than those of the normal person. The proportions of CD4'CD28 T and CD3CD28 T cell subsets showed the significant difference between the LTNP and the RP group. In conclusion, although HIV-infected patients were LTNPs having the steady CD4(+) T cell counts and no clinical symptoms, we suggested that HIV led to abnormality within the lymphocyte subsets such as the altered expression of CD28 molecules on various T cell subsets and this result would cause deficiency of host immune function and failure of control of HIV replication by anergy in T cell subsets.
Cell Count ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Immune System ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide and poses a major threat to public health. Cancer incidence and death rates have increased in most countries since 1990. Therefore, the importance of systematic measures within the public health system, such as special hospitals for cancer patients, has been emphasized. Korea has established a 10-year plan to treat cancer patients and has implemented national cancer control policies (the 10-Year Plan for National Cancer Control) over the past 20 years, and these policies have resulted in dramatic breakthroughs in cancer survival. However, by focusing on the visible outcomes of cancer control, these policies have not shown adequate results in terms of building an integrated support system to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors or terminal cancer patients. In the future, the government should strive to build a comprehensive cancer management system that incorporates multipurpose integrated support measures, such as multidisciplinary, palliative, and hospice care.
Cancer Care Facilities ; Hospice Care ; Hospitals, Special ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Palliative Care ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Survivors

No abstract available.
Animals ; Colloids* ; Mice*

No abstract available.
Spine*

OBJECTIVES: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation are commonly associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, and through their defects in homocysteine metabolism, they have been implicated as a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion. Recent report describe that 28-bp tandem repeat polymorphism in thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) that influence enzyme activity would affect plasma homocysteine level. We have investigated the relationship between TSER genotype and plasma homocysteine level in 54 patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. METHODS: Plasma homocysteine level was measured by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay. MTHFR mutation (C677T and A1298C) was identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay and TSER mutation was analyzed by PCR method. The data were analyzed using the program SAS 8.2 for Windows. RESULTS: Total homocysteine level was significantly higher in MTHFR 677TT genotype (9.80+/-3.87 mumol/L) than MTHFR 677CC genotype (8.14+/-1.74 mumol/L) in Korean patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (p=0.0143). However, the plasma homocysteine level was not significantly different in the MTHFR 1298AA (8.42+/-2.65 mumol/L) and 1298CC (6.09+/-0.32 mumol/L; p=0.2058) and, TSER 2R2R (8.61+/-1.68 mumol/L) and 3R3R (8.05+/-2.81 mumol/L; p=0.9319) mutant genotypes, respectively. In this study, we found the combination effects of TSER and MTHFR C677T genotypes. Plasma homocysteine levels were the highest (11.47+/-4.66 mumol/L) in individuals with TSER 3R3R (8.05+/-2.81 mumol/L) and MTHFR 677TT (9.80+/-3.87 mumol/L) genotypes. Individuals with a combination of both TSER 2R2R/2R3R and MTHFR 677CC/CT genotypes (7.69+/-1.77 mumol/L) had lower plasma homocysteine levels than TSER 2R2R (8.61+/-1.68 mumol/L) and MTHR 677CC (8.14+/-1.74 mumol/L) genotypes, respectively. The effect of MTHFR polymorphism in the homocysteine metabolism appears to be stronger than that of TSER polymorphism. CONCLUSION: Although statistically not significant, we found the elevated level of plasma homocysteine in combined genotypes with TSER and MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) in Korean patients with unexplained habitual abortion. In this study, we reported the possibility that TSER polymorphism is a genetic determinant of plasma homocysteine levels in the Korean patients as well as MTHFR C677T polymorphism. A large prospective study is needed to verify our findings.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Female ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Immunoassay ; Metabolism ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Plasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Thymidylate Synthase*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the negative pressure wound therapy for traumatic soft tissue defects by vacuum-assised closure (V.A.C.(R)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 33 patients with traumatic soft tissue defects were treated by using V.A.C.(R) which removes edema fluid, eliminates an extrinsic cause of microcirculatory embarrassment and may directly stimulate cellular proliferation of reparative granulation tissue. We removed all necrotic tissue prior to application of the V.A.C.(R). The foam dressing was placed into direct contact with wound and was changed every 48~72 hours. The setting for vacuum pump was continuous pressure of 100 to 125 mm Hg. C-reactive protein was checked to evaluate wound infection. We measured wound size and total duration of treatment. RESULTS: Mean duration of treatment was 25.2 days and mean decrease of wound size was 31.9%. The concentration of CRP after V.A.C.(R) therapy reduced by day 8 below 1.0 mg/dl and gradually decreased to normal level by day 10. All patients showed hastened wound healing by rapid formation of granulation tissue. CONCLUSION: Negative pressure wound therapy is useful in patients with traumatic soft tissue defects, which reduces treatment duration and cost by rapid wound healing and effective infection control.
Bandages ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cell Proliferation ; Edema ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy* ; Vacuum ; Wound Healing ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Human cancel can be induced by various environmental factors such as virus, chemicals, and radiations. However, susceptibility of host to these environmental factors is not well studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chromosomal vulnerability to gamma-1rradiation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with luring, gastric, and liver cancer. METHODS: Micronuclei (MN) test was done in 15 patients with gastric cancer, 18 patients with lung cancer, and 20 normal controls. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test was done in 13 patients with hepatocellular cancer and 14 normal controls. RESULTS: The baseline frequency of MN before irradiation in patients with lung cancer and gastric cancel was significantly higher than in controls (47+/-8, 73+/-9, and 8+/-l, respectively; p<0.01). After gamma-irradiation, the frequency of MN was also significantly higher than in controls (223+/-19, 269+/-43, and 285+/-56, respectively; p<0.05). The frequency of SCE in Patients with hepatocellular cancer was significantly higher her than in controls (9.0+/-0.6, 4.3+/-0.7, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From this preliminay data, we concluded that chromosomes of peripheyal blood lymphocytes in patients with various cancers were more vulnerable to gamma-irradiation as compared to normal controls.
Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphocytes* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Blister* ; Nevus* ; Rubber*

No abstract available.
Blister* ; Nevus* ; Rubber*