BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) phosphorylates the prodrug ganciclovir to a nucleoside analog that inhibits DNA synthesis, causing cell death. Neighbouring nontransfected cells may be affected through a 'bystander effect', thereby amplifying the antiproliferative actions. This study was carried out to determine whether retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy could reduce intimal hyperplasia and prevent stenosis following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery. METHODS: A replication-defective recombinant retroviral vector containing HSVtk cDNA (LtkSN) was constructed. Cultured primary rat smooth muscle cells (SMCs) infected with this vector (SMC/LtkSN) were transplanted to the balloon injured rat right carotid artery. One week after transplantation, HSVtk gene therapy group was administered a 2-week treatment of ganciclovir (30 mg/kg/d). Three weeks after balloon injury and SMC/LtkSN transplantation, carotid arteriography was performed and carotid arteries were perfusion-fixed for histologic examination. RESULTS: Carotid arteriographic evaluation comparing with the uninjured left carotid artery showed that the mean luminal diameter of HSVtk gene therapy group (n=5, 85+/-3%) was significantly larger than that of balloon injury only group (n=5, 65+/-5%). The neointimal mass of HSVtk gene therapy group was less than that of balloon injury only group. SMC/LtkSN transplantation without ganciclovir treatment group (n=3) showed asymmetric intimal proliferation probably because of gravitational pooling of seeding. There were inflammatory cell infiltrations at the gravity dependent portion of HSVtk gene therapy group. CONCLUSION: Retrovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy following balloon injury of the rat carotid artery reduced neointimal expansion and arteriographic stenosis.
Angiography ; Animals ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery Injuries* ; Cell Death ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Ganciclovir ; Genetic Therapy* ; Gravitation ; Herpes Simplex* ; Hyperplasia ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Phenobarbital ; Phosphotransferases* ; Rats* ; Simplexvirus* ; Thymidine Kinase ; Zidovudine

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma* ; Neurofibromatosis 1*

PURPOSE: The residual intrahepatic stones with biliary strictures are difficult to remove percutaneously via T-tube tract after surgery in patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. We evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous balloon dilatation of benign biliary strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The balloon dilatations with 6-12mm angioplasty balloon catheter and stone extractions were performed via a T-tube tract after surgical treatment in 15 patients with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. The balloons were inflated for 3-4minutes under 5 atm. until disappearance of waist of the stricture site, from one to seven session. After balloon dilatation, residual stones were extracted with saline irrigation or stone basket. RESULTS: Among total 42 strictures, the balloon dilatation was succesful in 27 strictures(64.3%), partially successful in 12 strictures(28.6%), and failed in three strictures(7.1%). Single or central biliary strictures were dilated easily rather than multiple ductal strictures. Of 26 sites with residual intrahepatic stones, stone extraction was complete in 17 sites(65.4%), incomplete in seven sites(26.9%) due to impacted or large stone and acute ductal angulation, and failed in two sites(7.7%). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous balloon dilatation of benign biliary strictures is an effective procedure for extraction of residual intrahepatic stones associated with recurrent pyogenic cholangitis.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Cholangitis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Appendicitis* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anti-allergic effects of intragastric treatment with various strains of lactobacillus, we undertook this study in the murine model of peanut allergy. METHODS: Ten groups of mice were sensitized and boosted with 1 mg/dose of crude peanut intragastricly at day 1, 2, 3, 7 and 21. Also, each groups of mice was treated with various strains of lactobacillus or PBS starting on the 1st day of sensitization, for 3 weeks daily. During the experiment, peanut specific serum IgE, IgG1, IgG2a were measured at weekly intervals, and compared at week four which is one week after the end of lactobacillus treatment. RESULTS: By treatment with various strains of lactobacillus, peanut specific IgE levels were decreased in all treated groups of mice compared to sham-treated mice. And at least six of the 10 groups of mice treated with various strains of L. casei or L. acidophilus showed remarkable down-regulatory effects on the production of peanut specific IgE antibodies, while the regulatory effects on specific IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies were variable. Especially, L. casei IBS041 showed harmonized regulatory effect on the productions of peanut specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a. CONCLUSION: We selected and partly confirmed several strains of lactobacillus which showed anti-allergic effects in the production of antigen specific IgE in the murine model of peanut allergy.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lactobacillus* ; Mice ; Peanut Hypersensitivity*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of two-phase dynamic CT, early and equilibrium pahse, in the preoperative staging of rectal cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed incremental dynamic CT after rectal infusion of water in 34 patients with pathologically proved rectal cancers. Two-phase dynamic CT findings were prospectively analyzed and correlated with surgical and histopathologic findings. A total of 150ml of nonionic contrast medium was intravenously administered with a power injector at a flow rate of 5ml/sec for 30 sec, and two-phase images were obtained at 30 sec(early phase) and 2 min (equilibrium phase) after bolus injection. Local tumor staging and regional lymph node were classified by TNM staging. RESULTS: All 34 rectal cancers showed a moderate to marked enhancement in the early phase and a homogeneous and prolonged enhancement of the entire lesion in the equilibrium phase. T-staging of primary tumors were 85.3%(29/34) in early phase and 70.6%(24/34) in equilibrium phase. The accuracy in determining the perirectal fat invasion of rectal cancer was 92%(23/25) in early phase, and 72%(18/25) in equilibrium phase. The sensitivity & specificity of the regional lymph node metastasis were 63.6% and 79.1% in early phase, and 54.5% and 65.2% in equilibrium phase, respectively. CONCLUSION: Early phase dynamic CT was more accurate for the preoperative staging of rectal cancer than that at equilibrium phase.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prospective Studies ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water

No abstract available.
Blood Transfusion* ; Humans ; Infant*

Lactobacillus species have been widely used in both human and animals to prevent or treat gastrointestinal disorders. Recently, it was reported that Lactobacillus spp. inhibited infections by respiratory and gastroenteric viruses; however, its mechanism is not clear. Lactobacillus spp. play direct and indirect roles in the inhibitory effects of viral replication. 1) In vitro study: Highest protection effects were showed with the known probiotics L. rhamnosus GG (LGG) and L. casei Shirota against both rotavirus (RV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV). 2) In vivo study: L. acidophilus had significant immunopotentiating effects, and was therefore recommended for use as a safe oral adjuvant for rotavirus vaccines in pigs. Oral administration of lactobacilli, such as LGG and L. gasseri, might protect a host animal from influenza virus (IFV) infection. Polysaccharides are regarded to be potentially useful and biologically active as an ingredient for pharmaceutical uses due to a variety of biological activities. Especially, sulphated polysaccharides exhibit broad-spectrum antiviral activity against enveloped viruses in vitro. With respect to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), its in vitro antiviral activity is, specifically, the inhibition of virus-cell attachment, the first step in the infection process. Recently, it was reported that sulphated polysaccharides exhibited antiviral activity against HBV, HCMV, HSV and IFV. In conclusion, Lactobacillus spp. and polysaccharides with antiviral activity against diverse viruses are potential candidates as ingredients for probiotics and medicine candidate for the prevention and treatment of viral infections in animals and humans.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Polysaccharides ; Probiotics ; Resin Cements ; Rotavirus ; Rotavirus Vaccines ; Swine ; Transmissible gastroenteritis virus

Carcinoid tumors of the appendix are common incidental findings, but appendiceal tumors with histologic features of both carcinoids and adenocarcinomas are rare, and their biologic behavior and histogenesis are still unclear. We report a case of goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix in a 54-year-old male, who exhibited pain in the right lower abdomen. Microscopically, the tumor contained smooth-bordered, widely separated nests composed of tumor cells with abundant mucin. The principal tumor cell type had a close resemblance to the normal goblet cell. Histochemically, the tumor cells revealed positive reaction for PAS and alcian blue stain. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed strong reactivity for carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin and, neuron specific enolase but none for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen.
Adenocarcinoma

No abstract available.