Thyroid dysfunction has heen reported as a side effect of alpha-interferon(IFN) therapy. The incidence of thyroid disorders was 1.2-12%' duripg 1FN therapy for chronic active hepatitis. We experienced a case of hypothyroidism developed after IFN therapy in a 48 year-old man with chronic hepatitis B. Baseline thyroid function before IFN therapy was normal and thyroid auioantibodies were also negative. High tiers ol' antimicrosomal antibody and anti-thyroglobulin antibody appeared and severe hypothyroidism followed at 6 months after starting the IFN therapy.
Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Incidence ; Interferon-alpha* ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Gland

This study was undertaken to observe the effects of organic or inorganic calcium antagonists and to investigate the involvement of cyclic nucleotides in regulating the vascular tone in the chorionic artery from normal or preeclamptic placenta. KCI and prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha produced marked and constant contractions in chorionic arterial preparations of both normal and preeclamptic placentas. Nifedipine (NIF), verapamil (VER) and diltiazem (DIL) reduced the tension that had been produced by KCI and PGF2 alpha in a concentration-dependent fashion in both preparations, and the potency order of the three agents was NIF> VER > DIL. In preeclamptic arteries, however, the magnitudes of vasodilatation induced by NIF and DIL were much smaller than those in normal chorionic arteries. Mg2+ and Cd2+ also relaxed the tension induced by KCI and PGF2 alpha. In preeclamptic chorionic artery, the vasodilatation induced by Mg2+ was significantly potentiated, while that by Cd2+ was not. Removing endothelium did not alter cyclic GMP content in both preparations. In both preparations contracted by PGF2 alpha, nitroprusside markedly increased cyclic GMP content, but neither cyclic GMP nor cyclic AMP content was affected by acetylcholine, NIF, isopro-terenol, or Mg2+. The above results suggest that neither cyclic AMP nor cyclic GMP is involved in regulating the vascular tone of chorionic artery and that sensitivity of the artery in preeclampsia to the inhibitory action of calcium antagonist might be different from that in normal placenta.
Arteries/physiopathology ; Calcium Channel Blockers/*pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP/analysis ; Cyclic GMP/analysis ; Dinoprost/pharmacology ; Female ; Human ; Placenta/*blood supply ; Potassium Chloride/pharmacology ; Pre-Eclampsia/*physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Vasoconstriction/*drug effects

No abstract available.
Cleidocranial Dysplasia* ; Leukemia*

PURPOSE: To evaluate protective mechanism of melatonin against radiation damage and its relationship with apoptosis in mouse jejunum. MATERIALS AND METHODS:' 168 mice were divided into 28 groups according to radiation dose and melatonin treatment. To analysis crypt survival, microcolony survival assay was done according to Withers an (l Elkind's method. To analysis apoptosis, TUNEL assay was done according to Labet-Moleur's method. RESULTS: Radiation protection effect of melatonin was demonstrated by crypt survival assay and its effect was stronger in high radiation dose area. Apoptosis index with 8 Gy irradiation was 18.4% in control group and 16.5% in melatonin treated group. After 18 Gy, apoptosis index was 17.2% in control group and 15.4% in melatonin treated group. Apoptosis index did not show statistically significant difference between melatonin treated group and control group. CONCLUSION: Melatonin shows clear protective effect in mouse jejunum against radiation damage but it.', protective effect seems not to be related with apoptosis protection effect.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Survival* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Jejunum ; Melatonin* ; Mice* ; Radiation Protection

BACKGROUND: The Multiplate analyzer (Dynabyte GmbH) has been recently introduced as a platelet function test for patients taking antiplatelet drugs. The study aimed at providing basic data for determining the reference interval of parameters produced by Multiplate in Koreans and to study the factors that influence those parameters. METHODS: Blood was collected from 35 healthy volunteers (female 18, male 17) into tubes containing hirudin or 3.2% sodium citrate. Whole blood platelet aggregations triggered by adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP), ADP-high sensitive (ADP+PGE1 only in hirudin samples), arachidonic acid (AA), collagen or thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP) were investigated using Multiplate according to the manufacturer's instructions. Data from healthy volunteers for the area under the curve (AUC) were determined from the central 95th percentile of the results. RESULTS: The values of AUC in hirudin samples for all agonists were significantly higher than those in sodium citrate samples. The AUC values in hirudin (sodium citrate) samples were as follows: ADP 38-107 (18-119) U; ADP+PGE1 16-91 U; AA 64-156 (32-117) U; collagen 53-112 (26-108) U; and TRAP 81-163 (49-149) U. The parameters from Multiplate were significantly correlated with leukocyte counts, but not with hematocrit levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data were derived from only 35 subjects, the results are expected to be helpful in determining the reference interval at a single institute and may serve as basic data for future cumulative data of reference intervals from multiple institutes in Korea.
Academies and Institutes ; Adenosine Diphosphate ; Arachidonic Acid ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Platelets ; Citrates ; Citric Acid ; Collagen ; Hematocrit ; Hirudins ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Platelet Function Tests ; Receptors, Thrombin ; Sodium

The Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by macular hyperpigmentation of the lips and buccal mucosa associated with melanonychia. Onset is usually in adult life and no consistent systemic associations have been reported. Here we report a 39-year-old wonam with a longitudinal pigmented band on a finger and pigmented macules on the lip. We suggest that this is the first report in Korea and the syndrome is presumably more common than recognized.
Adult ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Korea ; Lip ; Mouth Mucosa

We recently encountered a case of pemphigus vulgaris, which was localized within the oral mucosa and esophagus. The patient was a 62-year-old women, who had had a few recurrent erosions on the oral mucosa for 1 year. Newly developed erythematous erosions on the esophagus appeared 7 days pre previously. Histopathological findings showed suprabasal blisters in the epithelium of the buccal and esophageal mucosa. On direct immunofluorescence, intercellular IgG and C3 bindings were found in the epithelium of the buccal mucosa. Treatment with oral steroids resulted in a remission of the lesions and the other skin lesions were not found for a period of 6 months.
Blister ; Epithelium ; Esophagus* ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa* ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigus* ; Skin ; Steroids

Acanthoma fissuratum is a localized thickening of the skin in response to pressure by an eyeglass frame and usually occurs on the retroauricular fold, superior auricular crease, or bridge of the nose. The definitive diagnosis can be confirmed by characteristic clinical and histopathological features in association with anamnestic data. Herein we report a case of acanthoma fissuratum developing on an unusual site-the mucosa of the upper lip and it was successfully treated with simple excision.
Acanthoma* ; Diagnosis ; Lip* ; Mucous Membrane* ; Nose ; Skin

Kimura's disease is a rare benign disease characterized by subcutaneous or dermal tumors occurring predominantly on the head and the neck. It usually occurs in young adults without constitutional symptoms, except for peripheral blood eosinophilia. The histopathologic features of the tumor are characterized by dense lymphoid aggregates containing a prominent germinal center and by the proliferation of endothelial cells associated with varying degrees of lymphocytic, histiocytic, and eosinophilic infiltration. We report a case of Kimura's disease without peripheral blood eosinophilia in a 24-year-old male who had had a painless and slowly growing tumor-like swelling on his right groin for one year. The mass was excised, and the specimen was confirmed as Kimura's disease. After surgical excision, the lesion recurred, so 30 mg of oral prednisone was given daily for one month and then decreased gradually for another one month. Now, the lesion is completely healed.
Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Germinal Center ; Groin* ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Prednisone ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Animals ; Metaphase* ; Mice* ; Oocytes*