Bcl-2 oncoprotein is being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death (apoptosis) independent of promoting cell division in the lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells. The bcl-2 oncoprotein expression has been reported in follicular lymphomas as well as in diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and a variable propotion of Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. Recent evidence suggests that some lymphomas protected from apoptosis is conferred through expression of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) latent membrane protein which turn to cause upregulation of bcl-2. To define the role of the bcl-2 oncoprotein and EBV in lymphoid malignancy, we tried immunohistochemical studies with anti-bcl-2 antibody and In situ hybridization (ISH) with EBV-encoded small nuclear RNAs(EBER) in the paraffin embedded sections of 46 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases and 20 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cases. Bcl-2 oncoprotein expression was found in 37 of 46 cases (80%) of NHL with relatively strong cytoplasmic staining, and in 14 of 20 cases (70%) of HL with weak cytoplasmic staining in limited small numbers of RS, Hodgkin and lacunar cells. The widespread presence of bcl-2 oncogene in many different types of both NHL and HL supports that the extended cell survival through overexpression of bcl-2 gene protein may be a growth advantage of neoplastic lymphoid cells. In the ISH analysis for EBV, the presence of EBV was detected in 17 of 20 cases (85%) of HL, compared to 6 of 44 cases(13.6%) of NHL. It appears to be no direct correlation between overexpression of bcl-2 oncoprotein by neoplastic lymphoid cells and the presence of EBV in NHL but it seems to be a definite association between EBV and HL.

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Rheumatic Heart Disease*

OBJECTIVES & METHODS: The authors applied Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI) Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale(BIS)to 548 enlisted men to evaluate the differences of anxious, depressive and impulsive trends according to the duration of the military service. The enlisted men were divided into 3 groups as follows: Group 1: those who had served under 8 months. Group 2: those who had served from 9 to 16 months. Group 3: those who had served over 17 months. RESULTS: 1)The scores of BDI (F=3.60, p<.05)and negative self image and psychomotor retardation subscale (F=5.82, p<.01)of group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 2, respectively. 2)The SAS score of group 1 was significantly higher than that of others (F=5.80, p<.05) 3)The scores of total BIS(F=3.42, p<.05)and impulsiveness-motor subscale (F=3.29, p<.05)of group 1 were significantly higher than those of group 3, respectively. CONCLUSION: In spite of their scores were in normal range, these results suggest that the enlisted men of group 1 are more anxious, depressive and impulsive than those of the others. So we should give more attention to them and offer more concerns for them to protect the military accident.
Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Male* ; Military Personnel* ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: Although the first coronary Wallstent implantation ushered in a new era in interventional cordiology with the purpose of circumventing the two major limitations of coronary balloon angioplasty, early acute occlusion and late restenosis, the previous investigators have reported a high rate of subacute occlusion after Wallstent implantation. However, recent studies have reported a low incidence rate of subacute closure and restenosis using the newly modified coronary Less Shortening in aortocoronary vein grafts. The present study reports the immediate results of the Less Shortening Wallstent Implantation for 21 diffuse native coronary lesions in 20 patients. METHODS: Twenty patients were enrolled at the Yonsei Univ. Cardiovasular Center of medical College, Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea from March 1996 through May 1996. The specific angiographic criteria for enrollment included at least 75% diameter stenosis, according to the estimate of two investigatior ; a lesion that was 20mm or more in lenght and a vessel diameter of at least 2.5mm. Bail-out procedure was performed in the case of abrupt closure or threatened closure, defined as a dissection and over 50% residual stenosis of the artery. RESULTS: The coronary Less Shortening Wallstents were successfully implanted in the 21 diffuse coronary lesions(more than 20mm in length) of the 20 patients(pts), including 7 pts of acute myocardial infarction, 11 pts of unstable angina, and 2 pts of stable angina. Angiographic results after Less Shortening Wallstent were 3.0+/-0.3mm in minimal luminal diameter(MLD), 6.7+/-10.8% diameter stenosis(DS) comparing with pre-stent implantation MLD and DS, respectively, 0.3+/-0.4mm and 89.9+/-8.4%. During the in-hospital phase, no major cardiac event occurred except 2 cases of transmural myocardial infarction, including one of stent thrombosis and one of side branch occlusion, despite of inclusion of 7 cases of threatened occlusion in the long lesion. The peristent spasms were observed in 11 among 21 lesions, although long term significance of peristent spasm is not defined. The relative risk for peristent spasm were 10 times higher when larger stents(expanded stent diameter/reference artery diameter>1.7) were implanted. There was no peristent spasm when stents of which expanded stent diameter 1.4 times smaller than reference artery size ware used. CONCLUSION: The results of this introductory study suggest that new Less Shortening Wallstent may reduce the requirement of multiple stent in the long lesion and a lower rate of thrombotic occusion in comparison to its prototype. Further large scale long term follow-up study is needed to evaluate the role of new Less Shortening Wallstent.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Arteries ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Phenobarbital ; Research Personnel ; Seoul ; Spasm ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Veins

BACKGROUND: In order to delineate the involvement of apoptotic death in post-ischemic cerebral infarction, the temporal expressions of some apoptosis-regulating genes (BCL-2, BAX and ICE) were studied in the parietofrontal cortex of a rat following focal cerebral ischemia using a Northern blot analysis and RT-PCR. METHODS: Animals were decapitated at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours following a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). RESULTS: With the use of Northern blotting, the expression of proto-oncogene BCL-2, the apoptosis-repressor gene, increased up to 4 hours after a MCAO and then recovered to the control level. In a RT-PCR analysis, the expression of BCL-2 increased up to 8 hours after the MCAO and then recovered to the control level at 24 hours. The expression of BAX, the apoptosis-effec-tor gene, was not altered by a MCAO in a Northern blot analysis. The expression of ICE, an cysteine protease gene, markedly decreased at 1 and 2 hours after the MCAO and then recovered to the control level. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that ischemic insults by a MCAO alter the expression of the apoptosis-regulating genes and support the notion that the apoptosis may have occurred in the post-ischemic cerebral infarction.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Northern ; Brain Ischemia ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cysteine Proteases ; Ice* ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger*

BACKGROUND: Leptin, produced in the adipose tissue, is involved in the regulation of body weight. The release of the leptin is increased in obese adults even in children. This study investigated whether the serum leptin in cord blood was related to babys birth weight and metabolic parameters. METHODS: 71 pairs of singleton pregnancy babies and their mother were studied. Babies are classified in LGA (large for gestational age), AGA (appropriate for gestational age), SGA (small for gestational age) three groups. After delivery, cord blood and maternal venous blood samples were drawn. We measured the plasma leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, insulin and proinsulin in cord and maternal serum. RESULTS: The concentration of leptin from cord blood was increased in LGA babies and decreased in SGA babies compued with the level in AGA babies. There was positive correlatian (r=0.55, p<0.01) between the plasma leptin level in cord and birth weight. There were positive correlatian between both the plasma proinsulin (r=0.37, p<0.01) and IGF-1 (r=0.32, p<0.01) and birth weight, too. But there was no difference between female and male baby's cord blood leptin level. In multiple regression analysis, cord blood leptin level was found independent factor related to birth weight ( p=0.001) CONCLUDION : The plasma leptin, proinsulin and IGF-1 is correlates to the birth weight. These data provide evidence that leptin and proinsulin are highly related to the nutritional status already during the fetal periods, and effect on the intrauterine fetal growth.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Birth Weight* ; Body Weight ; Child ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Male ; Mothers ; Nutritional Status ; Parturition* ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Proinsulin

BACKGROUND: Emergence agitation is one of the major problems in pediatric anesthesia. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of remifentanil and fentanyl on the incidence of emergence agitation, postoperative pain and postoperative vomiting after administering anesthesia with sevoflurane. METHODS: Thirty ASA physical status 1-2 children, aged 12-60 months undergoing a unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were randomized to receive either remifentanil (group R, bolus 0.5microgram/kg; infusion 0.2microgram/kg/min) or fentanyl (group F, 1microgram/kg) after thiopental sodium induction. All patients received sevoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured at baseline (T0), preintubation (T1), postintubation (T2) and 5 minutes after intubation (T3). The agitation score, pain score and incidence of postoperative vomiting were assessed upon arrival at the recovery room (P0), 30 minutes thereafter (P1) and 3 hours after discharge from the recovery room (P2). RESULTS: The agitation score were higher in group R at P0 (P < 0.05). The pain score was higher in group R at P0, P1 and P2 (P < 0.05). Postoperative vomiting was present only in one patient in group F. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant use of fentanyl during sevoflurane anesthesia revealed advantages over the use of remifentanil concerning the incidence of postoperative agitation and pain without any prolongation of recovery time.
Anesthesia* ; Blood Pressure ; Child* ; Dihydroergotamine ; Fentanyl* ; Heart Rate ; Herniorrhaphy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; Recovery Room ; Thiopental

To investigate the imbalance of the cytokine production profile of T cells from atopic asthmatics, we measured concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y by ELISA method in the culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and Derrnato-phagoides pteronyssinus(Der p) J-stimulated PBMCs from Der p-sensitized atopic asthmatics, Der p-sensitized healthy atopits, non-atopic asthmatics and healthy non-atopics. The suppressive effect of IFN-y on cytokine production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs was also examined. The PBMCs from atopics showed higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA +TPA and higher IFN-gamma production in response to Der p Jq compared with non-atopits. The Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics showed a tendency of increased IL-5 production in response to Der p J and higher IL-4 and IL-5 production in response to PHA+TPA compared with non-atopics. IL-5 production of Der p J-stimulated PBMCs from atopics was suppressed by IFN It is suggested that an imbalance in IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-y production is a feature of the atopic state. The TH2 characteristics of allergen-stimulated PBMCs could be regulated by IFN-y.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Aged* ; Humans

MELAS syndrome is a rare but distinct clinical entity belonging to a group of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies characterized by the tetrad of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. We experienced a case of MELAS syndrome in an 8 year-old boy who showed headache, pain of the eyeball, vomiting, stroke-like episodes such as visual disturbance and dysarthria, myoclonic seizure, confusion, and walking disturbance. His serum lactate level was elevated up to 48 mg/dl. MRI findings showed high signal intensities T2-weighted image and low signal intensities in T1-weighted image in the right thalamus and parietooccipital lobe and bilateral symmetric high signal intensity in T1-dweighted image in the basal ganglia. We have seen the dispersed ragged-red fibers with modified Gomori trichrome staining on light microscope, and abundant and dysmorphic mitochondria on electon microscope in the specimen of muscle biopsy. esis of SLE.
Basal Ganglia ; Biopsy ; Child ; Dysarthria ; Headache ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; MELAS Syndrome* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Seizures ; Thalamus ; Vomiting ; Walking