BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein C(SP-C) is a hydrophobic 5,000 dalton molecule. SP-C has the primary roles in accelerating surface spreading of a surfactant phospholipid. The filter hypbridization and solution hybridization assays are both rapid and sensitive and can be used to measure the RNAs complementary to any cloned DNA sequence. METHODS: The authors measured the SP-C mRNA levels quantitatively using solution hybridization and filter hybridization assays to obtain a standard curve equation to quantify the mRNA of unknown samples comparatively. RESULTS: 1. The minimum level of the specimens by solution hybridization was 3 pg for SP-C mRNA. 2. The standard curve equation of the solution hybridization assay between the counts per minute(Y) and the SP-C mRNA transcript input(X) was Y=6.46 X+244. The correlation coefficient was 0.9. 3. The minimum detection level of specimens by filter hybridization was 0.1 ng for SP-C mRNA. 4. The standard curve equation of the filter hybridization assay between the counts per minute(Y) and SP-C mRNA transcript input(X) is Y=2541.6 X+252.7. The correlation coefficient was 0.99. CONCLUSION: A comparison of CPM/filter in the linear range allowed an accurate and reproducible estimation of the SP-C mRNA copy number. Filter hybridization and solution hybridization assays are both rapid and sensitive and can be used to measure the RNAs complementary to any cloned DNA sequence. It is ideally suited to situations where accurate quantitation of multiple samples is required.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Protein C* ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

The choroid plexus papillomas are uncommon neoplasms of the central nervous system, and constitute 0.5~0.6 percent of intracranial tumors. These tumor are surgically treatable and the encouraging results of surgical removal justify an aggeressive surgical approach. We present a case of lateral ventricle choroid plexus papilloma in a child with communicating hydrocephalus.
Central Nervous System ; Child* ; Choroid Plexus* ; Choroid* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Lateral Ventricles* ; Papilloma, Choroid Plexus*

PURPOSE: Racemose hemangiomas of the retina are rare developmental vascular anomalies with abnormal arteriovenous anastomoses. We report our observations of a retinal racemose hemangioma with marked dilation and tortuosity of the retinal vessels in the entire left retina. METHODS: In a 9-year-old boy with loss of vision and mild esotropia who presented with hugely dilated and tortuous retinal vessels in left retina, we examined fundus, fluorescein angiography, cerebral angiography, brain CT and MRI. RESULTS: Fundus and fluorescein angiography of the left eye showed marked dilation and tortuosity of the retinal vessels. Angiographic finding showed rapid filling of all vessels and no dye leakage. MRI finding revealed small tortuous vessels around left optic nerve, optic chiasm and tract. Brain CT and cerebral angiography showed nothing abnormal.
Arteriovenous Anastomosis ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Child ; Esotropia ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Optic Chiasm ; Optic Nerve ; Retina ; Retinal Vessels ; Retinaldehyde*

BACKGROUND: Changes in body fat distribution and antioxidant status can be shown in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and these changes may be more pronounced in CHD patients with than those without diabetes. This study was undertaken to determine the discrimination of body fat distribution, hormones and antioxidants among healthy male and CHD male patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: An oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 64 healthy males and 56 CHD male patients. CHD group was subdivided into patients with and without diabetes. Adipose tissue and muscle areas were calculated from computed tomography scans made at four body levels, L1, L4 and mid portion of thigh and calf. Fasting serum levels of lipids, hormones and antioxidants and plasma level of homocysteine were determined. RESULTS: 28% of healthy males, 33% of CHD patients without diabetes and 15% of CHD patients with diabetes were current smokers. 56% of healthy males, 30% of CHD patients without diabetes and 46% of CHD patients with diabetes supplemented their diet with synthetic vitamin preparation. There were no differences among groups in means of age, body mass index and blood pressure. While CHD patients without diabetes showed an increase in visceral fat area at only L1 level, CHD patients with diabetes showed an increase at both L1 and L4 levels, compared with healthy males. CHD patients with diabetes showed the lowest mean value of HDL-cholesterol and testosterone. The mean response areaof insulin and C-peptide during OGTT was higher in CHD patients without diabetes than healthy males. CHD patients with and without diabetes showed higher plasma level of homocysteine and lower serum levels of IGF-1, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and beta-carotene, compared with healthy males. Serum levels of cryptoxanthin and lycopene were lower in CHD patients with diabetes than healthy males. CONCLUSION: Visceral fat accumulation, an increase in insuline and homocysteine levels and a decrease in IGF-1, SOD and beta-carotene levels in CHD patients indicate a difference in body fat distribution, hormones and antioxidant systems between CHD patients and healthy males. In addition, a further increase in visceral fat and a decrease in the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, testosterone and carotenoids in CHD patients with diabetes show the increased risk in the simultaneous presence of CHD and diabetes. Thus, the lifestyle modification of these CHD patients such as quitting smoking, reducing abdominal fat and taking antioxidant-rich foods is recommended.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue* ; Antioxidants ; beta Carotene ; Blood Pressure ; Body Fat Distribution* ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide ; Carotenoids ; Coronary Disease* ; Diet ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fasting ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Life Style ; Male ; Plasma ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Testosterone ; Thigh ; Vitamins

No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the balance training effects of balance system in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHOD: The study consisted of 14 male and 6 female hemiplegic patients, aged 48 to 70 years, time postattack ranged from 6 to 17 months. Balance training was done by conventional method (control group) and using balance system (Chattanooga Group, Inc., training group) and the effect were evaluated by balance system. RESULTS: Body sway index and moving target accuracy rate were not significantly different between training group and control group before training, but were significantly different after training. Training group showed significantly decreased sway index and increased moving target accuracy rate at four weeks after training compared to the status before training. CONCLUSION: The hemiplegic patients trained by balance system showed significantly improved static and dynamic postural balance control. Therefore, the balance system is considered to be a valuable training modalitiy for the hemiplegic patients.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postural Balance ; Stroke

No abstract available.
Child* ; Fingers* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value and optimal sampling time of serum S-100B protein for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH). METHODS: We prospectively measured serum S100 calcium binding protein beta subunit (S-100B protein) levels 12 times (0-96 hours) after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patients were classified into two groups based on cerebral performance category (CPC): the good neurological outcome group (CPC 1-2 at 6 months) and the poor neurological outcome group (CPC 3-5). We compared serial changes and serum S-100B protein levels at each time point between the two groups and performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study. S-100B protein levels peaked at ROSC (0 hour), decreased rapidly to 6 hours and maintained a similar level thereafter. Serum S-100B protein levels in the poor CPC group (n = 22) were significantly higher than in the good CPC group (n = 18) at all time points after ROSC except at 4 hours. The time points with highest area under curve were 24 (0.829) and 36 (0.837) hours. The cut-off value, the sensitivity (24/36 hours) and specificity (24/36 hours) for the prediction of poor CPC at 24 and 48 hours were 0.221/0.249 ug/L, 75/65% and 82.4/94.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S-100B protein was an early and useful marker for the prediction of poor neurological outcomes in post-CA patients treated with TH and the optimal sampling times were 24 and 36 hours after ROSC.
Area Under Curve ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is important in the regulation of surfactant secretion, synthesis and recycling. SP-A has important roles in regulating surfactant metabolism as well as in determining surfactant's physical properties. Since systemic sepsis is one of the common causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in ARDS, the authors investigated the effects of endotoxemia on the accumulation of mRNA encoding SP-A and SP-A protein content. METHODS: Adult rats were given various doses of intraperitoneal endotoxin from Salmonella enteritidis and sacrificed at different times. SP-A mRNA was measured by filter hybridization method. Lung SP-A protein content was determined by double sandwich ELISA assay using a polyclonal antiserum raised in rabbits against purified rat SP-A. RESULTS: 1) The accumulation of SP-A mFNA in the endotoxin treated group 24 hours after 2mg/kg and 5mg/kg endotosin treatments was significantly increased 50.9% and 27.3%, respectively, compared to the control group (P<0.001, P<0.025). 2) The accumulation of SP-A mRNA 24 hours in the 5mg/kg endotoxin treated group was significantly increased by 26.5% compared to the control group (P<0.01). 3) Total amount of lung SP-A was not altered at 24 hours by various doses of treatment. Total lung Sp-A content 144 hours after endotoxin administration was significantly decreased by 51.4% compared to the control group (P<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: The specific regulation of SP-A by various time course in vivo is evident. The late decline in SP-A protein content was unexpected and suggests that SP-A may be differentially regulated during lung inflammation. The functional significance of these alterations remains to be clarified.
Adult ; Animals ; Endotoxemia ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Lung ; Metabolism ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A* ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Recycling ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Sepsis

A 62-year-old male was admitted for evaluation of a mass shadow on chest film. Chest PA showed 7×5cm lobulated homogenous mass in right upper medial area of lung. On chest computed tomography, there was a Barge irregularly lobulated mass with central necrotic low density area in apical segment of right upper lobe. Right upper lobectomy of the lung was performed. Partial adhesion to parietal pleura of posterior mediastinum and severe adhesion to right upper apicoposterior segment was found during the operation Microscopic and ultrastructural studies(including immunocytochemical stains) of the mass revealed malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Coal* ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Lung* ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; Thorax