PURPOSE: To assess the role of nitric oxide in the development of cataract by detection of nitrotyrosine, which is a reaction product of peroxynitrite with tyrosine. METHODS: We have collected aqueous humor and anterior capsule of lens after cataract surgery from 14 eyes. We classified lens opacities into three types such as nuclear sclerosis, cortical and posterior subcapsular opacity. Nitrite, stable oxidative product of nitric oxide, was measured in the aqueous humor and immunohistochemical staining for nitrotyrosine was performed to examine anterior capsules. RESULTS: The concentrations of nitric oxide in aqueous humor were 0.0698+/-0.0036, 0.0652+/-0.0116, and 0.0700+/-0.0022 mM in nuclear sclerosis, cortical and posterior subcapsular opacity, respectively and no significant differences existed among lens opacity types. In lenses with cortical and posterior subcapsular opacity, the expression of nitrotyrosine was observed around epithelial cell and intercellular space. There was no expression of nitrotyrosine in lenses with nuclear sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: This results suggest that nitration of tyrosine by peroxynitrite is possibly related to the cataractogenesis of lenses with cortical and posterior subcapsular opacity.
Aqueous Humor ; Capsules ; Cataract* ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Space ; Nitric Oxide* ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Sclerosis ; Tyrosine

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is introduced as a marker of disease. At present, a variety of method may be used to quantify expression of this protein. Antigen capture-ELISA is a sensitive and accurate quantification method previously used with ovine, rat, and human IL-6 proteins. However, it has never been reported to quantify porcine IL-6 protein using capture ELISA. In this study, we generated and characterized a set of IgY and mono-specific polyclonal antibodies to recombinant porcine IL-6 (rpIL-6), and combining these with a sensitive and specific capture-ELISA for a diagnostic purpose. cDNA encoding the mature protein coding region of porcine IL-6 was cloned and expressed with pQE-30UA expression vector. rpIL-6 was then expressed and purified by using Ni-NTA resin. Protein mass of 24 kDa was found with SDS-PAGE and the identity of the protein was confirmed by Western-blot. Production of polyclonal antibodies against rpIL-6 was performed using the purified rpIL-6 in mice and hens. An antigen capture-ELISA was developed with the antibodies after their extraction. To compare the IL-6 level in the different sanitary state of farms, pig sera were randomly collected and concentration of IL-6 in the sera was measured with the antigen capture-ELISA. The capture-ELISA with the optimal concentration of antibodies, in this study, was able to detect about 10 ng/ml of rpIL-6. IL-6 levels determined with the capture-ELISA in pig sera showed positive correlation with the sanitary states of the farms. These results suggested that the developed antigen capture-ELISA could be a good tool for the screening of microbial infection in pig farms.
Animals ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Chickens ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/isolation&purification ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/veterinary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods/*veterinary ; Female ; Immunoglobulins/*blood ; Interleukin-6/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Swine/*immunology

Purpose: The diagnostic usefulness of fetal echocardiography in congenital heart disease is well known. One of the indications for fetal echocardiography is presence of extracardiac anomalies and such coexistent congenital heart disease may have important implications for obstetric and neonatal management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 496 women with singleton pegnancies with amgenital anomalies that underwent penatal care and follow-up in Severance Hospital for 5 years from 1991 to 1995 were evaluated for the incidence of congenital heart disease. RESULTS: The incidence of congenital heart disease in fetuses with the associated extracardiac anomalies were as follows; central nervous system 6.9%(11/160), gastro-intestinal system 10.7%(8/75), genito-urinary sysem 4.7%(4/85), others 5.6%(4/72). Thirty-one of eighty-ane fetuses with congenital heart disease were found to have the associated extracardidac anomalies and ten of them chenoscenal abnormalities. CONCLUSION: We recommend that fetuses with congenital extracardiac anomalies sbould be checked for the presence of congenital heart disease and chmmosomal abnormalities, if needed.
Central Nervous System ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Incidence

No abstract available.
Lymphangioma*

The contour of mandibular angle is important for facial esthetics in the oriental population, because the wide and square face is thought to have had an unhappy life. A prominent mandibular angle produces a characteristics quardrangle, coase, and muscular appearance. So, uni- or bi-lateral mandibular angle reduction is usually performed. However, there is little guideline for bi-lateral angle reduction. So, this study was to investigate the pattern of Korean mandibular angle for bi-lateral mandibular angle reduction as guideline. This study was included 66 adult men and women over 19 years old who are having the normal mandibular angle. We measured the posterior border, angle, and inferior border of mandible using cephalometric view. The results of study was as followed : 1. The ratio of posterior mandible was 96.6, 97.3% in male, and 103.0, 106.0% in female. 2. The ratio of mandibular angle(R1-Go/R1-R2) was 120.2% in male, and 117.3% in female. 3. The ratio of inferior mandible(D5, 6, 7, E, F, G/D4) was 97. 3, 90.9, 79.5, 65.2, 57.8, 46.9% in male, and 98.5, 91.2, 80.5, 67.6, 59.1, 50.2 % in female. The results of this study should be useful to decide accurate amount of reduction.
Adult ; Esthetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Young Adult

Common complications in a patient with IgG subclass deficiency include recurrent respiratory infections and concomitant inflammatory lung disease. The most effective therapy in these patients is the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. The authors report a case of severe aspirin-sensitive asthma and recurrent pneumonia with combined IgG1, and IgG3 subclass deficiency in a 19-year-old man. The patient was treated with 0.4g/kg at monthly intervals for 6 months, and is still receiving 0.2g/kg every 2 weeks at our clinic. After the replacement of intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient has clinically improved.
Aspirin* ; Asthma* ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lung Diseases ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Young Adult

We reported a case of nevus sebaceus associated with trichilemmoma in a 19-year- old female patient. The lesion was a 2 x 2 cm sized yellowish verrucous plaque with two 0.3 x 0.3 cm sized dome-shaped papules. Histopathological examinat,ion revealed hyperkeratosis, papillomatosis and acanthosis, proliferation of sebaceus glands, presence of apocrine gland and mild inflammatory cellular infiltration around superficial vessels. In the epidermis of the lesion, there were two foci of lobulated mass consisted of clear cells with columnar basal cells and thick basement membrane.
Apocrine Glands ; Basement Membrane ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn ; Papilloma

PURPOSE: We studied the therapeutic effect and safety of transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) performed with improved instruments by a moderately experienced resectionist. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data of the 95 consecutive patients who underwent TURP by one surgeon from March 1995 to June 1997 were analyzed. During this period, a continuous-irrigation 26F TUR sheath with a 30-degree lens attached to a monitor screen was used in most patients. RESULTS: The average weight of the resected adenoma was 10.8 7.4 gm, and the resection time was 47.2 21.2 minutes. The average weight of tissue resected per minute was 0.23 0.13 gm. Six patients required transfusion, and four suffered operative complications (one bladder perforation, one bladder neck injury, and two urethral injuries that enforced prolonged catheterization). Postoperative complications developed in seven cases. The duration of postoperative urethral catheterization averaged 2.8 days. The maximal flow rate was improved from 11.3 mL/sec to 20.6 mL/sec. Subjective satisfaction was mentioned by 95.6% of patients (91/95). In comparison with data from the first authors former report, all differences in terms of resection speed, safety, and morbidity were statistically significant. The therapeutic efficacy of the operation with the new equipment seems to be superior to that of other less invasive procedures, and even in terms of complications and duration of catheterization, these results are comparable to those of other procedures. CONCLUSIONS: We think that TURP deserves to be the primary treatment modality for the patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia who need surgical therapy if the procedure is performed by a properly trained surgeon equipped with modern TUR instruments.
Adenoma ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Humans ; Neck Injuries ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters

The etiology of neural tube defects, a category encompassing spina bifida, anencephaly and encephalocele, remains highly controversial and unclear, However, there is overwhelming evidence supporting a multifactorial etiology for this group of defects. Recent studies have shown that folic acid supplements taken periconceptionally can reduce a woman's risk of having a child with a neural tube defect. Qenetic screening could identify women who will require folic acid supplements periconceptionally to reduce their risk of having a child with a neural tube defects. Recently, we encountered two cases of recurrent anencephaly that had occurted in a same pregnant woman in our hospital. We report these two cases with brief review of the literatures.
Anencephaly* ; Child ; Encephalocele ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Neural Tube Defects ; Pregnant Women* ; Spinal Dysraphism

Fabry disease is a rare, X-linked inborn error of glycosphingolipid catabolism caused by a mutation in the gene encoding the alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) enzyme. We report two cases of Fabry disease in a 12-year-old boy who had acroparesthesia and in his elder brother with milder symptoms who were diagnosed by GLA activity assays and the presence of the GLA gene mutation.
alpha-Galactosidase ; Child ; Enzyme Replacement Therapy ; Fabry Disease ; Humans ; Siblings