No abstract available.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament*

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus are chronic autoimmune blistering disorcers characterized by acantholysis. In addition to pemphigus vulgaris(PV), the major clinical variarts are pemphigus foliaceus(PF), paraneoplastic pemphigus(PNP) and drug-induced pemphigus(DP). Detection of pemphigus antigen is important for differential diagnosis as well as research work. Most investigators have identified pemphigus antigens by means of immunoprecipitation using metabolically radiolabeled cultured keratinocytes. However, immunorepitation is generally more expensive, hazardous and time-consuming than immunoblotting. Therefore, establishment of the immunoblotting as a standard technique for the detection of the pemphig us antigens is desirable. OBJECTIVE: To characterized pemphigus antigens by an immunobloting analysis of human epidermal extract and by indirect itnmunofluroscence study using human of cultured keratinocytes as a substraie. METHOD: We performed imrnunoblotting analysis af sera from patieiits with PV, PF, PNP and DP with human epidermal extract as a source of antigen. Indirect immunof uorescence study was also performed using human keratinocytes cultured in high or low calcium media for detection of pemphigus antigens. RESULTS: In an immunoblotting analysis, all(9/9) PV sera showed secific reactivities with a 130-KD protein and all(5/5) FF sera showed reactivities with a 150-KK protein, which is most likely desmoglein 1. Furthermore, one of nine PV serum also reacted with a 150-KD protein, which seems to be the identical antigen detected in PF. All PNP(3/3) sera showed reactivities with two protein bands, 210KD and 190KD. In our indirect imrnunofluorescence study using culltured human keratinocytes as a substrate, when keratinocytes were grown in low calcium media, no pimphigus antigens could be detected. However, when grown in high calciurn media, pemphigus vulga ris and paraneoplastic pernphigus antigens were present t the cell-cell contact areas with a puncta;e pattern, whereas pemphigus foliaceus antigen was not, presint in keratinocytes even when cultured in high calcium media. CONCLUSION: Our results suggests (1) immunoblotting analysis is a reliable technique for defining pemphigus antigen and could be a valuable tool for the differentiation of PV, PF and PNP and(2) PF antigen rnay not be expresseden cultured keratinocytes.
Acantholysis ; Blister ; Calcium ; Desmoglein 1 ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect* ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoprecipitation ; Keratinocytes* ; Pemphigus* ; Research Personnel

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. METHODS: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. RESULTS: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers > or =1:640 for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached > or =1:640. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.
Agglutination ; Child ; Disease Outbreaks ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Fingers* ; Replantation*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Schizophrenia ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

Intravertebral vacuum cleft in collapsed vertebra was considered as a typical finding of avascular necrosis. However, several authors reported some cases of intravertebral vacuum cleft in primary or secondary neoplasm, or in spondylitis emphasiging the differenhal diagnosis. MRI is known to be a useful diagnostic modality for diferentiation between benign and malignanct conditions causing vertebral collapse. We report MRI findings of two cases with intravertebral vacuum cleft diagnosed as posttraumatic collapse with avascular necrosis on radiological and clinical bases.
Diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Vacuum*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.