By animal experiments in rat, it has been known that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is secreted from renal mesangial celle and is an autocrine growth factor for the proliferation of mesangial cells. According to these facts, several studies have been tried for its clinical usefulness by measuring their serum or urinary IL-6 in glomerulonephritis patients with mesangial proliferation. The authors measured urinary IL-6 levels by Interleukin-6 [123I] RIA kit (Amersham Co. UK) in 11 patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome, in 3 patients with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN), in 3 patients with IgA nephropathy, in 9 patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in 2 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), and in 12 normal healthy children as a control group. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1) There was no significant differences of urinary IL-6 levels between minimal change nephrotic syndrome patient group and normal control group (p=0.73). The level of urinary IL-6 was increased significantly in HSPN group compared to in normal control group, statistically (p=0.045). Also there were same results in the glomerulonephritis patients with mesangial proliferation in its histopathologic findings such as IgA nephropathy, MesPGN, MPGN. 2) There was a positive correlation between the degree of mesangial proliferation and the urinary IL-6 level. In conclusion, the urinary IL-6 level reflects the glomerular mesangial proliferation and could be useful as a predictive indicator for evaluation of its clinical course in patient with mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Child* ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; Humans ; Interleukin-6* ; Interleukins* ; Mesangial Cells ; Nephritis ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; Rats

As advances in the treatment of leukemia lead to further prolongation of the life span, secondary involvement of the nervous system becomes increasingly important. Especially spinal cord or cauda equina compression by leukemic cell is a medical emergency because delay in treatment often results in irreversible paralysi,s and loss of sphinctercontrol. The hospital records of 10 patients, who were admitted to the St. Mary's hospital of CUMC from January 1, 1988 to September 30, 1989 with the diagnosis of spinal leukemia were analyzed retrospectively and the results were obtained as follows; 1. The sex ratio(M: F) of the patients was 9 :1 and the age distribution rarnged from eighteen to fifty-six years with a mean age of 34.5 years. 2. The most common symptoms were pain, urinary difficulty, sensory change, and weakness etc. 3. The segment of spine involved was, approximately. 31% thoraic. 54% lumbar, and 15 % sacral. 4. Response to radiation treatment was excellent in 8 patients(80% ) especially in early treated group within 3days.
Age Distribution ; Cauda Equina ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Leukemia* ; Nervous System ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spine

The efficacy nd tolerance of topical administration of levocabastine(0.5mg/ml)were evaluated in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. A total of 166 patients who had a typical history of atopy and a positive skin test were recruited in this study. Five clinicl symptoms(itch, tearing, chemosis, lid edema and conjunctival injection) were assessed according to a four point scale before the treatment and at 1 and 2 weeks post-therapy. Total symptom severity score before the therapy, 6.68, was remarkably decreased to 2.86 at 1 week and 2.08 at 2 weeks after the treatment. The investigators rated the treatment as globally good or excellent in 68.1% of patients checked at 1 week and 72.5% at 2 weejs after treatment. And the patients evaluated that the therapy ws good to excellent in 66.9% at 1 week and 73.1% at 2 weeks after treatment. Levocabastine eye drops has a fast onet of action with 55.4% of the patients feeling symptom relief within 15 minutes after the first administration. The adverse effect was experienced in 44 patients. Ocular irritation sign, such as foreign body sensation or soreness, was the most frequently reported complaint. These results suggest that levocabastine eye drops is an effective and safe topical alternative for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Administration, Topical ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic* ; Edema ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Research Personnel ; Sensation ; Skin Tests