Recently attention has been focused on the biology of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1, a potent regulator of cell proliferation, stimulates the proliferation of many cell types of mesenchymal origin and inhibits the growth of many epithelial cells. But its cellular distribution and temporal expression remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate immunohistochemically the cellular distribution and temporal expression of TGF-beta1 during rat hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). At an early stage of liver fibrosis, there was evidence of multiple centrilobular hemorrhagic necrosis with parenchymal lobular collapse, and at a late stage, there was septal fibrosis with micronodule formation of the parenchyme. TGF-beta1 peptide was first expressed in centrilobular clusters of macrophage which were surrounded by many TGF-beta1 negative fat-storing cells (FSCs). Along with the progression of fibrosis, the TGF-beta1 peptide was expressed in the alpha-smooth muscle actin positive FSCs and also in some peripherally located hepatocytes of micronodules. Serum IFN-gamma was detected in the serum 2 weeks after an initial administration of DMN had reached the peak level at the 4th week and then markedly decreased at the 5th week. We think that TGF-beta1 peptide is produced by macrophages influenced by soluble IFN-gamma, and is expressed in the -smooth muscle actin positive mesenchymal cells and regenerating hepatocytes, and that this cytokine may have an important role in the synthesis of the extracellular matrix and in the regulation of hepatocytic regeneration.
Actins ; Animals ; Biology ; Cell Proliferation ; Dimethylnitrosamine* ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatocytes ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver* ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1*

The author examined the immunophenotype and expression of Epstem-Barr virus RNA (EBERs) used in the situ hybridization technique in 20 cases of conventional malignant lymphoma and 28 cases of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis occured in the upper aerodigestive tract including the upper digestive tract(palatine tonsil), and upper respiratory tract(nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, nasopharynx). The results obtained were summarized as followings; 1. The favorable site of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was in the palatine tonsil(11 out of 20 cases, 55%), those of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis were nasal cavity and nasopharynx(19 out of 28 cases, 78%). 2. The immunophentype of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was mostly B-cell phenotype (15 out of 20 cases, 75%), and that of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis was predominantly T-cell phenotype(22 out of 28 cases, 79%). 3. The EBERs positivity of malignant lymphoma that occured in the upper aerodigestive tract was 25%(5 out of 20 cases), but that of polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis was 57%(16 out of 28 cases). 4. The positive cases for EBERs revealed angiocentricity with necrosis(16 out of 21 cases, 76%), predominantly T-cell phenotype(19 out of 21 cases, 90%), and favorably involved the nasal cavity and nasopharynx(16 out of 21 cases, 76%). Based on the above results, it was concluded that polymorphic reticulosis and malignant lymphoma with features of polymorphic reticulosis that occurred in the upper respiratory tract was an EBV-positive angiocentric T-cell lymphoma favorably involving the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the research trends and instruments for assessment of sleep quality in Korea. METHODS: 66 quantitative research reports published from 2000 to March 2009 in Korea were selected from 5 databases: RISS4U, KISS, KISTI, DBpia, and the National Assembly Library and were analyzed according to criteria such as publication years, type of journal, participants, study fields, research design, participants, key words and instruments for assessment. RESULTS: Research in sleep quality has been rapidly increasing in recent years. More than half of the research analyzed was conducted in nursing. The majority of research methods were survey and correlational research. Patients with chronic illness and the elderly were the major subjects in those researches. Most research was performed based on hospitals and communities. The types of variables tested for their relation and influence on sleep quality were quite limited. With respect to the instrument used for assessing sleep quality, most studies did not consider whether or not the validity of their instrument had been established. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to conduct clinically applicable interventional research with an experimental design and to develop a reliability and validity established sleep quality instrument for Koreans.
Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Publications ; Reproducibility of Results ; Research Design ; Research Report ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Two strains of vancomycin-resistant Leuconostoc species were isolated from blood cultures in two compromised patients. The isolates produced gas from Lactobacillus MRS booth, hydrolysed esculin, and produced no ammonia from arginine, thus fulfilling the major criteria as Leucorostoc spp. We recommend that clinical laboratories should perform susceptibility test to vancomycin for clinical isolates (especially from cerebrospinal fluid and blood) which resemble streptococci so as not to confuse Leuconostoc spp. with more commonly isolated pathogens such as streptococci.
Ammonia ; Arginine ; Bacteremia* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Esculin ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Leuconostoc* ; Vancomycin

The T cell responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were analyzed in acute hepatitis patients, chronic active hepatitis (CAH) patients and asymptomatic carriers. Neither proliferative responses nor substantial cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in response to HBsAg was detected. For further studies, HBsAg- reactive T cell lines were prepared from PBMC of the hepatitis patients and asymptomatic carriers. No proliferative response of the T cell lines was observed. Interestingly, however, T cell lines obtained from acute hepatitis patients were found to produce IFN-r, but not IL- 4, in response to HBsAg stimulation, whereas T cell lines obtained from CAH patients and carriers were not. Results of this study suggest that HBsAg-reactive T cells producing Thl type cytokines may play an important role in the viral clearance during acute infections, while defects in those T cells may be responsible for the viral persistency.
Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes*

BACKGROUND: Allergic inflammation was induced by activated Th2 lymphocytes, leading to IgE production and eosinophil activation. A Th2 disproportion was shown in atopic children soon after birth. During specific allergen stimulation, an increase of Th2 cells was observed in most cases. In this study, we prepared new screening "whole blood" system for searching the anti-atopic materials. Cytokine production and IgE secretion from whole blood system were assessed and we confirmed the results by using animal system. METHODS: Pathological features in NC/Nga mice are similar to those observed in human atopic dermatitis. Whole blood from NC/Nga mouse was stimulated by using TNCB (Th2 activator) or candidate materials of anti-atopic dermatitis, and the production of cytokines (IL-4, IL-12, and IFN-gamma) were measured by ELISA. In order to confirm the results of whole blood system, in vivo test was done by using NC/Nga mice. RESULTS: In whole blood system, LPS and extracts of green tea, hardy orange and onion induced the production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma while they reduced the production of IL-4. Also, LPS and extracts of onion reduced IgE production. Though atopic dermatitis was observed from a mouse stimulated with TNCB, it was not when a mouse was co-stimulated in LPS or extracts of onion. The results are same as those observed in whole blood system. CONCLUSION: Whole blood system was simple and speedy methods for searching a materials compared with the conventional high-cost animal system. And the results using whole blood system was proved to be reliable in our experiments for screening anti-atopic material. We expect that the system can be applied to other experiments for searching similar materials.
Animals ; Asthma ; Child ; Citrus sinensis ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening ; Mice ; Onions ; Parturition ; Tea ; Th2 Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen presenting cells that can activate naive T cells. Mature DCs exress high levels of MHC and costimulatory molecules on their surface and have capacity to produce IL-12, a 75 kDa heterodimeric cytokine composed of p35 and p40 subunit. IL-12 is currently thought to be one of most critical determinants for skewing the immune response towards Th1. Expression of IL-12 in dendritic cells seems to be regulated by various stimuli including CD40L. In the present study we investigated expression of IL-12 in mature DCs, which were cultured from bone marrow cells in the presence of GM-CSF. Maturity of the DCs was confirmed by morphologic characteristics, immunophenotypes, and allostimulatory activities. Exprssion levels of IL-12 p40 in the DCs were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Increases in IL-12 p40 expression were observed after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an anti-MHC class II monoclonal antibody, or an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. The most remarkable increases, however, were observed in the DCs treated with an anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody. These results support a previous notion that signals through CD40/CD40L interaction may be important for the production of IL-12 by DCs. Moreover, results of this study show a possibility of using monoclonal antibodies against CD40 molecules for preparing DCs producing high amount of IL-12, which can be used for anti-tumor or anti-viral immunotherapy.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Bone Marrow Cells ; CD40 Ligand ; Dendritic Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Immunotherapy ; Interleukin-12* ; Mice* ; T-Lymphocytes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify attributes of the concept of cancer survivorship. METHODS: Walker & Avant's concept analysis framework (2005) was used to review the medical & nursing text books, medical and nursing research articles related to cancer survivorship and published from 1985 to 2011. RESULTS: There were nine aspects of the concept of cancer survivorship: A process, liminality, uncertainty, life-changing experience, complexity, unique experience, duality of positive and negative aspects, partnership, and need for support. Antecedents of cancer survivorship were cancer diagnosis and perception as a cancer survivor. Empirical referents of cancer survivorship were survival rate, quality of life, adaptation to the survivorship experience, and health-related hardiness, social support, spirituality, and health behavior. The consequences of cancer survivorship were effects on the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and socio-economic well-being of the patients. CONCLUSION: This concept analysis of cancer survivorship is expected to contribute to promotion of survivorship care in the clinical field by removing conceptual ambiguity and confirming the true meaning of survivorship care.
Health Behavior ; Humans ; Nursing Research ; Quality of Life ; Spirituality ; Survival Rate ; Survivors ; Uncertainty

Ingested foreign bodies are common occurrences in the pediatric population. From October 2002 to April 2006, eight patients (6 male, mean age: 30.9+/-14.4 months, range: 7~45 months) who had ingested metallic foreign bodies, such as bar magnets, coin-type magnets, screws, metal beads, and disk batteries, were selected for foreign body removal using a magnetic device under floroscopic control. A 1-cm-long cylindrical magnet (6mm in diameter) was placed at the end of a 150-cm-long plastic tube from an IV set. The magnet was passed through the mouth into the stomach. Under fluoroscopic control, the magnet was maneuvered so that it attached to the metallic foreign bodies. The forgeign body was then easily removed by retracting the magnet with the metallic object attached. This procedure was successful in six patients of 8 patients. This procedure is a minimally-invasive and may avoid the use of anesthesics, endoscopy or surgery.
Endoscopy ; Fluoroscopy ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Plastics ; Stomach

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) is a computer-based image storage and retrieval system that can store, recall and display medical images rapidly on high resolution workstations. The image acquisition system consists of direct digital interface to computed radiography (CR) system. We reviewed X-rays of 84 patients who had both studies of Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and AP, lateral views of lumbar vertebrae between January and December of 1995. We tried to verify the clinical implication of pixel values on PACS for DXA by comparing pixel values and bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar vertebrae. They were all female between 44 and 72 years old, average age of 59. Bone mineral density (BMD), represented in DXA of a total of 252 vertebrae were mostly in the range of between 0.228 (22%) and 1.318 (121%). Pixel values of the AP and lateral views of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th vertebrae in the PACS workstation were closely correlated to bone mineral density (p=0.0001). The values of the DXA (bone mineral density and T score) get comparatively lower as the pixel values get smaller. In conclusion, the pixel value on PACS interfaced to CR could be utilized as an easy, speedy and economical tool for screening of osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon* ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Mass Screening ; Osteoporosis ; Radiography ; Spine