No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Bromelains*

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus activity in Korea has been reported beginning in October, peak in November, continuing in winter and ending in spring. But the peak month and the incidence of rotavirus seems to be changed recently. So we investigated the trends of rotavirus activity for the last 10 years in Hanyang University Hospital (HUH). Also latex agglutination test was compared with automated enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay for the detection of rotavirus in stool specimens. METHODS: Stool specimens (3,636 from HUH, 1989-1998; 1,171 from Hanyang University Kuri hospital, HUKH, 1996-1998) from pediatric patients with acute diarrhea were tested for rotavirus,. Sixty specimens were tested by latex agglutination test (Sliders Rota-kit 2, bioMerieux Vitek, France) and enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (VIDAS Rotavirus, bioMerieux Vitek, France) according to the instructions from the manufacturer. RESULTS: The annual incidence of rotavirus diarrhea from 1989 to 1998 was 47%, 32%, 33%, 25%, 26%, 24%, 24%, 17%, 17%, 14%, respectively. Positive rate of rotavirus was 25% for the 10year period in HUH, 20% for the recent 3 years in HUKH. Peak month was November (46%) in the first 5 year, but November incidence decreased to 17% in the last 5 year, and the peak moved to January, February, and March (34%, 35%, 33%, respectively). Epidemic period was from October to February during the first 5 year, but from December to April during the last 5 year period. The agreement rate of the two methods was 90% and VIDAS Rotavirus showed significantly higher sensitivity compared to Sliders Rota-kit 2. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of rotavirus diarrhea decreased gradually for the last 10 years and the peak month of rotavirus activity was changed from November to January, February, and March. The VIDAS Rotavirus was more sensitive than the Sliders Rota-kit 2 for the detection of rotavirus in stool.
Diarrhea ; Epidemiology ; Gastroenteritis* ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Rotavirus*

BACKGROUND: It has been known that blood group antibodies are not produced in the neonatal period and that if the antibodies exist, they are probably maternal in origin which had crossed the placenta. There have been several studies conducted abroad on when these antibodies are formed but none has been done in Korea. This study was carried out to determine the ABO blood type and blood group antibodies in children from neonates up to 5 year old. We hoped to determine when and in what pattern blood group antibodies were produced. METHODS: We selected 337 children from neonates up to 5 year old who were admitted to Hanyang university Hospital in Seoul or Kuri from 1994 to 1996. Cell typing was done immediately by the slide method. The anti-A and anti-B used for cell typing were supplied by Immucor (Norcrosis, Ga) . Sera were stored at -70 degrees C until they were tested for ABO blood group antibodies by the standard saline test tube method. When uncertain results were obtained, a drop of the mixture was placed on a slide and observed under a microscope. RESULTS: ABO blood group antibodies were detected in 9 of 50 (18%) infants less than 1 week old and in 10 of 51 (20%) infants between 1 week and 3 months of age. The pattern of ABO blood group antibody production was similar to that of the fetal period up to 3 months after birth, after which antibody production increased rapidly to reach approximately 80% at 6 months of age, There was no difference in ABO antibody production between boys and girls. The antibody formation pattern of group A and group B infants less than 6 months of age showed anti-A to be 35% and anti-B to be 20%. In group O infants of the same age, anti-A was positive In 42% and antral-B In 33%. However, after 6 months of age, there was no difference in antibody production among groups A, B, or O. CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies directed toward ABO antigens were detected in 19 out of 101 (19%) infants less than 3 months old. We therefore believe it is necessary to Perform serologic typing as well as cell typing in these Infants. Furthermore, the emergency transfusion of type A or B blood to a type O infant under the impression that anti-A and anti-B do not exist should be forbidden.
Antibodies* ; Antibody Formation ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*drug therapy ; *Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/*drug therapy ; Ganciclovir/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Virus Activation

Epinephrine ; Pulmonary Edema

Asthma is a chronic obstructive airway disease that involves inflammation of the respiratory tract. Biological contaminants in indoor air can induce innate and adaptive immune responses and inflammation, resulting in asthma pathology. Epidemiologic surveys indicate that the prevalence of asthma is higher in developed countries than in developing countries. The prevalence of asthma in Korea has increased during the last several decades. This increase may be related to changes in housing styles, which result in increased levels of indoor biological contaminants, such as house dust mite-derived allergens and bacterial products such as endotoxin. Different types of inflammation are observed in those suffering from mild-to-moderate asthma compared to those experiencing severe asthma, involving markedly different patterns of inflammatory cells and mediators. As described in this review, these inflammatory profiles are largely determined by the involvement of different T helper cell subsets, which orchestrate the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. It is becoming clear that T helper cells other than Th2 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma; specifically, both Th1 and Th17 cells are crucial for the development of neutrophilic inflammation in the airways, which is related to corticosteroid resistance. Development of therapeutics that suppress these immune and inflammatory cells may provide useful asthma treatments in the future.
Allergens ; Asthma ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Dust ; Housing ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Neutrophils ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory System ; Stress, Psychological ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Th17 Cells ; Th2 Cells

BACKGROUND: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been increasingly used to treat malignant skin tumors including the Bowen disease. However, patients could be displeased with the long incubation time required for conventional PDT. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of PDT with a short incubation time of ablative CO2 fractional laser pretreatment for treating Bowen disease. METHODS: Ten patients were included. Just before applying the topical photosensitizer, all lesions were treated with ablative CO2 fractional laser, following the application of methyl aminolevulinate and irradiation with red light (Aktilite CL 128). Histological confirmation, rebiopsy, and clinical assessments were performed. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: Five of the ten (50%) lesions showed a complete response (CR) within three PDT sessions. After four treatment sessions, all lesions except one penile shaft lesion (90%) achieved clinical and histological CR or clinical CR only. The average number of treatments to CR was 3.70+/-1.70. The treatments showed favorable cosmetic outcomes and no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that pretreatment with an ablative fractional CO2 laser before PDT has similar treatment efficacy and requires a shorter photosensitizer incubation time compared with the conventional PDT method.
Bowen's Disease ; Carbon ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cosmetics ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Light ; Photochemotherapy ; Skin ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazenes

BACKGROUND: Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been increasingly used to treat malignant skin tumors including the Bowen disease. However, patients could be displeased with the long incubation time required for conventional PDT. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of PDT with a short incubation time of ablative CO2 fractional laser pretreatment for treating Bowen disease. METHODS: Ten patients were included. Just before applying the topical photosensitizer, all lesions were treated with ablative CO2 fractional laser, following the application of methyl aminolevulinate and irradiation with red light (Aktilite CL 128). Histological confirmation, rebiopsy, and clinical assessments were performed. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS: Five of the ten (50%) lesions showed a complete response (CR) within three PDT sessions. After four treatment sessions, all lesions except one penile shaft lesion (90%) achieved clinical and histological CR or clinical CR only. The average number of treatments to CR was 3.70+/-1.70. The treatments showed favorable cosmetic outcomes and no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that pretreatment with an ablative fractional CO2 laser before PDT has similar treatment efficacy and requires a shorter photosensitizer incubation time compared with the conventional PDT method.
Bowen's Disease ; Carbon ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cosmetics ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Light ; Photochemotherapy ; Skin ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazenes

BACKGROUND: Keloids are characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the dermis, in which transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling plays an important role. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is reported as effective in preventing keloids in clinical reports, recently. To date, studies investigating the effect of LLLT on keloid fibroblasts are extremely rare. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of LLLT with blue (410 nm), red (630 nm), and infrared (830 nm) light on the collagen synthesis in keloid fibroblasts. METHODS: Keloid fibroblasts were isolated from keloid-revision surgery samples and irradiated using 410-, 630-, 830-nm light emitting diode twice, with a 24-hour interval at 10 J/cm². After irradiation, cells were incubated for 24 and 48 hours and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed. Western blot analysis was also performed in 48 hours after last irradiation. The genes and proteins of collagen type I, TGF-β1, Smad3, and Smad7 were analyzed. RESULTS: We observed no statistically significant change in the viability of keloid fibroblasts after irradiation. Collagen type I was the only gene whose expression significantly decreased after irradiation at 410 nm when compared to the non-irradiated control. Western blot analysis showed that LLLT at 410 nm lowered the protein levels of collagen type I compared to the control. CONCLUSION: LLLT at 410 nm decreased the expression of collagen type I in keloid fibroblasts and might be effective in preventing keloid formation in their initial stage.
Blotting, Western ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen* ; Dermis ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Keloid* ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; Transforming Growth Factors