No abstract available.
Animals ; Indomethacin* ; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated* ; Mice*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of serum ECP as a marker of the severity of asthma and extent of airway inflammation. METHOD: We investigated 108 patients suffering from bronchial asthma, who were classified as mild intermittent(n=19), mild persistent(n=27), moderate persistent(n=42), and severe persistent(n=20) and 10 healthy controls. Atopy was defined as those who showed >2+ responses on skin prick test. Serum ECP, peripheral blood eosinophil, sputum eosinophil, and PEFR were measured on the same date and meth~acholine PC20 were determined within 2 weeks. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels were 10.1+- 2.0 ug/L in controls, and 29.1+- 23.6 ug/L in asthmatic patients. According to symptom severity, serum ECP levels were 22.9 +- 15.6 ug/L, 28. 6 +- 24.1 ug/L, 29.5 +- 22.2 ug/L, and 34.6 +- 31.2 ug/L in mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent asthmatic patients, respectively and there were no significant differences among four groups(p>0.05). Serum ECP levels correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil counts(r=0.48, p<0.01), but not with sputum eosinophil, PEFR, and methacholine PC20 levels. There was no significant difference in serum ECP level between atopic and non-atopic asthma(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Single measurevment of ECP level at clinic could not represent the severity of asthma.
Asthma* ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methacholine Chloride ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Skin ; Sputum

Heterogeneity in clinical features and pathogenesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity have been reported. NSAIDs can cause bronchial constriction in asthmatics or hives and angioedema in patients with chronic urticaria, in which case causative drugs show cross-reactivity with other NSAIDs. Normal subjects without allergic diseases may develop urticaria angioedema or anaphylaxis after ingestion of a specific NSAID. In this type of reaction, cross-reactivity between causative drugs and other NSAIDs does not occur. We experienced a case of acetaminophen anaphylaxis without aspirin sensitivity in a 38-year-old male, which was confirmed by oral provocation test. An oral challenge with 150mg of acetaminophen induced urticaria in lower legs, and erythema, with febrile sensation in ears. With a dose of 600mg acetaminophen, urticaria developed in trunk and extremities with facial angioedema. An oral provocation test with 650mg of aspirin was well tolerated without any adverse reactions. We report acase of acetaminophen anaphylaxis, which occurred in a normal individual at a small dose(150mg) without cross-reactivity with aspirin. This type of reaction supports heterogenei~ty of NSAIDs hypersensitivity and it may be caused by an other mechanism, not by cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Acetaminophen* ; Adult ; Anaphylaxis* ; Angioedema ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Aspirin* ; Bronchoconstriction ; Ear ; Eating ; Erythema ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Leg ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Sensation ; Urticaria

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular*

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Line* ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Etoposide*

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate cross - reactivity between pollens in patients with strong skin reactivity to multiple pollens. METHODS: A pool of sera from 20 patients who showed strong skin responses( > or = 3+ ) to all three kinds of pollens ( tree, grass, and weed ) was used. Oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens were chosen for the subject of study. The level and pattern of bound IgE to each pollen and cross - reactivity between pollens were investigated by ELISA and immunoblot experiments. RESULTS: In ELISA, the IgE of a pool of sera reacted to ryegrass and ragweed in 100%, to mugwort in 95%, to oak in 75%, and to hop Japanese in 65%, respectively. In inhibitory ELI - SA, more than 50% of bound IgE was mutually inhibited in oak vs ryegrass, oak vs mugwort, mugwort vs ryegrass and mugwort vs hop Japanese. In immunoblot, the IgE binding rate to major allergens of each pollen was 95% for hop Japanese, 75% for ragweed, 50% for ryegrass, 35% for mugwort, and 30% for oak, respectively. In inhibitory immunoblot, the mutually inhibited bound IgE could not be observed between major allergens of each pollen, but some minor allergens of oak pollen were mutually inhibited by ryegrass. CONCLUSION: Cross - reactivity between major allergens of oak, ryegrass, mugwort, ragweed and hop Japanese pollens was not observed at all, but some minor allergens of oak pollen cross-reacted with ryegrass and mugwort, and so did those of mugwort pollen with ryegrass and hop Japanese.
Allergens ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Humulus ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lolium ; Poaceae ; Pollen* ; Skin

PURPOSE: Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. RESULTS: The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Birth Weight ; Central Venous Catheters ; Colon ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

OBJECTIVES : The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of computerized cognitive rehabilitation training on inpatients with schizophrenia in the rehabilitation unit. METHODS : Thirty-eight patients with schizophrenia from the Yongin Mental Hospital Rehabilitation Ward were randomly assigned either to a computerized cognitive rehabilitation group or to a control group. The rehabilitation group received 12 sessions of computerized cognitive rehabilitation training (Cog-Trainer) over 3 months. This training program consisted of ten units, each of which consisted of 3 levels, practice, application, and advanced. Neurocognitive functions were assessed at the beginning and end of the training period. Cognitive measures included Span of Apprehension (SPAN), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Digit Span, Trail Making Test, and the Stroop Test. RESULTS : Compared to controls, subjects receiving computerized cognitive rehabilitation training experienced a significant improvement in attention, concentration, and working memory. CONCLUSION : These results indicate that computerized cognitive rehabilitation training can contribute to improvement in cognitive function of patients with schizophrenia. Further study to generalize these results is required.
Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Memory, Short-Term ; Pilot Projects ; Schizophrenia ; Trail Making Test

No abstract available.
Rupture* ; Subclavian Artery*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the risk of metabolic factors in adults consuming 3-in-1 coffee from the 2012~2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: A total of 5,872 subjects (male = 2,253, female = 3,619) aged 19~64 yrs were presented with food frequency questionnaires, and they were classified according to coffee consumption level and types of coffee consumed (black coffee, ≤1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee, > 1 and ≤2 times/day of 3-in-1 coffee, > 2 times/day of 3-in-1 coffee). Analysis was conducted by gender for age-stratified groups: 19~39 (male = 968 and female = 1,285) and 40~64 (male = 1,468, female = 2,151) yrs old. RESULTS: Black coffee consumption was associated with a significantly higher education level and household income compared to 3-in-1 coffee consumption in both males and females. The > 2 times/day group had significantly more smokers compared to other patterns of coffee consumption in both males and females. In the 40~64 yrs age group, males and females in the > 2 times/day group had significantly lower density of micronutrients such as fiber, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus,and potassium compared with black coffee consumption. In the 40~64 yrs age group, males (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.13~3.64) in the > 2 times/day group were at a higher risk of metabolic syndrome compared with black coffee consumption after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION: We found that frequency of 3-in-1 coffee consumption may be associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome in males aged 40~64 yrs.
Adult* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Coffee* ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Micronutrients ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Potassium ; Prevalence