To delineate the individual role of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and T cells at each stage of GC B cell differentiation at the clonal level and to analyze the signals required for the differentiation, we developed an experimental model using an FDC line, HK and a lymphoma cell line, L3055 for centroblasts. Phenotypic analysis of L 3055 revealed its origin of GC and the homogeneity. L3055 cells undergo spontaneous apoptosis when cultured in the absence of HK cells. L3055 cells proliferate continuously in the presence of HK cells, while they differentiate into a population with the phenotype of centrocytes after stimulation with CD40 ligand (CD 40L) plus IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. L3055 undergo anti-Ig-mediated apoptosis, which is not protected by HK but by CD40L and the cytokines. These experimental results suggest that FDC provide signals for the survival and rapid proliferation of centroblasts and T cells trigger the differentiation of centroblasts into centrocytes.
Apoptosis ; CD40 Ligand ; Cell Differentiation* ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Germinal Center* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphoma ; Models, Theoretical ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Allografts* ; Cartilage*

PURPOSE: Recently, two tests are commercially available for the identification of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI): tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Due to its false positiveness, TST tends to be preferred by IGRA until now. In our study, we simultaneously performed both TST and QuantiFERON(R)-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and compared their results. METHODS: TST and QFT-GIT were done for the diagnosis of LTBI among children who visited pediatric out-patient clinic at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea from February of 2007 to May of 2008. The study group was stratified into two groups in terms of whether there was intrafamilial contact or not. RESULTS: Out of total 35 children, 29 were tuberculosis (TB)-exposed cases and the remainders were diagnosed as clinical pulmonary TB. Among these 29 children, TST was positive 38.9% (7/18) for the intrafamilial and 45.5% (5/11) for the non-intrafamilial, and at the same time, the result for QFT-GIT was positive 5.6% (1/18) and 9.1% (1/11), respectively which implies that TST was more sensitive than QFT-GIT. Among 29 TB-exposed cases, 26 initially went through TST and QFT-GIT together on their first visit to out-patient clinic, and 15 continued the follow-up tests. Out of total 41 cases collected, the agreement (known as kappa value) was 0.063 which was relatively low. Including 6 cases with pulmonary TB who were all positive for TST and only 5 being positive for QFT-GIT, the final kappa value was 0.334. CONCLUSION: In our study, the agreement for TST and QFT-GIT was low, and the majorities were almost the cases of positive TST. In current situation with lacking a gold standard test and limited data on children to adolescents, this result is quite alarming that the recent trend tends to replace TST by QFT-GIT when diagnosing LTBI.
Adolescent ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Korea ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Outpatients ; Skin ; Skin Tests ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Disinfection is essential for the prevention of hospital infoction. Tego-51, one of the amphoteric surfactants based on the dodecyl-di( aminoethyl)-glycine, has been considered as an effctive disinfectant having a broad specturn of antimicrobial activity. We evaluated the disinfective activity of Tego-51 against several clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts including Helicobacter pyiori. METHODS: Twenty three strains of vacteria including H. pylori, and a strain of yeast were exposed to the various concentrations (0.05%, 0.01%, 0.005%) of Tego-51 for the various periods (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16min). After the exposure to Tego-51 disinfectant, 0.01 mL of mixture of microorfanisms and Tego-51 was inoculated into brain-heart infusion broth, into Sabouraud dextrose agar. or Wilkins-Chalgren agar with 10% sheep blood, and incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 hours or in the Campy Pouch microaerophilic system. RESULTS: Most strains were killed within 30 seconds after an exposure to 0.01% of Tego-51, but Proteus mirabilis was eradicated after two minutes of exposure. At the concentration of 0.005 % concentration. P. mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis were killed after eight minutes od exposure. H. pylori was killed with 0.005% Tego-51within 30 seconds. Conslusions: This study showed that Tego-51disinfectant was effective for the disinfection of commonly isolated bacteria and yeast from hospital. It may be recommended that Tego-51 should be used at concentration greater than 0.1% for the effective disinfection of skin, instruments and hospital floors.
Agar ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Glucose ; Helicobacter ; Mirabilis ; Proteus mirabilis ; Sheep ; Skin ; Surface-Active Agents ; Yeasts

We presented a case of perifolliculitis capitis abscedens et suffodiens associated with acne conglobata in 40-year-old rnale. He had a sausage-shaped plaque containing many fistular tracts on right temnporal area and cicatrizing alopecia on occiput. On the middle portion of upper back he had a adult fist-sized plaque containing many fistular tracts. Histopathologically epidermis showed mild byperkeratosis and keratotic plugging and in the dermis most hair follicles were destroyed and replacel by fibrous tissue but there were moderxte cellular infiltration composed of neutrophils, lymphocytes a.nd hist.iocytes around the remained hair follicles. On serum electrophoresis alpha,-globulin was elevated and gamna globulin was the upper liviit of nornal variation. Skin tests with murnps vaccine, dinitrochloro benzene (DNCB) and old tuberculin disclosed the evidence of de reased c "ll-mediated immunity(CMI). All th se findings suggest thzt immune rriechanisni r,-ay be concerned ivith the pathogenesis in this case. He wa.s treated with th internal administration of antibiotic and corticosteroid and with surgical opening and curettage of fistular tracts
Acne Vulgaris ; Adult ; Alopecia ; Benzene ; Curettage ; Dermis ; Electrophoresis ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; Skin Tests ; Tuberculin

PURPOSE: Lower caliceal stones treated with ESWL do fail to pass more frequently than middle or upper caliceal stones. We analyzed the results of ESWL of renal caliceal stones according to the location of calix. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the stone-free rate in 119 caliceal stone patients treated with 3rd generation lithotriptor, EDAP LT-02 according to the caliceal location of the stone. Location of the stones were upper calix in 30, middle calix in 30, and lower calix in 59 patients. RESULTS: Stone-free rate was 90.0%(27/30 patients) in middle caliceal stones, 74.6%(44/59 patients) in lower caliceal stones, and 66.7%(20/30 patients) in upper caliceal stones. CONCLUSIONS: Stone-free rate of lower caliceal stones is higher than upper caliceal stones.
Humans ; Lithotripsy* ; Shock*

No abstract available.
Bipolar Disorder*

No abstract available.
Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Prospective Studies*

No abstract available.
Memory*

No abstract available.
Humans