BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Protein kinase C (PKC) is known to be related with development of various cells. In the heart, each isoform reacts differentially against agonists and the reaction changes during development. In this study, the roles of PKC isoforms (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta) were investigated through the localization of mRNA expression in the developing rat heart with in situ hybridization histochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The mRNA expression pattern of PKC isoforms (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta) was investigated with in situ hybridization histochemistry in developing and adult rat hearts. Whole body parasagittal sections were used for embryonal day 14 (E14), E16, E18 and heart sections were used for just born (P0), postnatal day 7 (P7), P14, P21 and adult rat. RESULTS: The expression of PKC alpha was found from E14, peaked at P7, and gradually decreased to adult level. The expression of PKC beta was observed from P14, peaked at P21, and decreased to adult level. The expression of PKC delta in the heart was observed from E14, peaked at P0, and abruptly disappeared at P14. The expression of PKC epsilon was observed from E14, peaked at P0, after that gradually decreased and disappeared at adult rat heart. The expression of PKC gamma and zeta was not found from any stage of developing rat heart. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is suspected that each PKC isoform may be differentially related with development of heart. The strong expression of PKC alpha, delta, epsilon around perinatal period, rapidly developing stage, suggests that PKC alpha, delta, epsilon may be related with rapid development of rat heart. And the late postnatal expression of PKC beta suggests that PKC beta may be related with maturation of rat heart.
Adult ; Animals ; Heart* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Protein Isoforms ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinase C-epsilon ; Protein Kinases* ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger*

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and chest radiolographic findings of HIV-positive patients in Pusan survitude. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 74 admission cases of 41 HIV-positive patients (38 men and 3 women), confirmed in NIH and admitted to our hospital between May 1990 and September 1997. We evaluated the clinical findings including the pulmonary disease diagnosed at each admission, and using the pattern approach assessed the radiographic findings in 63 cases available among 74 admission cases. For statistical analysis the Pearson Chi-Square test was used, and the chest CT findings available in 19 cases among 17 patients were also evaluated. RESULTS: In all cases the mode of transmission was sexual contact, and they were more frequently contacted with foreigners (73%) than koreans (27%). During the follow-up period, pulmonary diseases were diagnosed in 52 (70%) of 74 admission cases. The diagnoses were pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP, n=15), pneumo-nia(n=15), pulmonary tuberculosis(n=15), combined infection with PCP and pulmonary tuberculosis(n=5), and combined infection with PCP and bacterial pneumonia(n=1). The count of CD4+ lymphocyte in 33 of 55 available admissions cases was less than 50 cells/mm. In 28 patients (68%) who died, the time between confirmation of HIV-positive status to death ranged from 2 to 81 (mean, 39) months. Chest radiographs of 46 available admission cases (73%) showed the following abnormal findings: interstitial opacities(n=26), consolidation(n=17), single or multiple nodules (n=9), hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement(n=10), pleural effusion(n=8), cyst(n=2), mass(n=1), and pericardial effusion(n=1). Diffuse ground glass opacity was observed in eight (89%) of nine PCP cases (p<0.05), and in cases of pulmonary tubercolosis, hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement was frequent (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary diseases in HIV-positive patients in Pusan servitude were diagnosed during follow-up in 70% of cases. The majority of these diseases were infectious, and the incidence of PCP, pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia were similar. Diffuse ground glass opacity was more frequent in PCP, and mediastinal or hilar lymph node enlargement in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Busan* ; Diagnosis ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Diseases ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

We report a case of symmei.rical peripheral gangrene in a 22-day-old female associated with dissem-inated intravascular coagulation, which probably occured from septicmia of Enterobacter aerogenes. The skin lesions showed well-defined blackish gangrene surrounded by purpuric patches on the whole fingertips and toes except the loft thumb. Histopathologically, there were epidermal necrosis, diffuse extravasation of RBCs, mild petivascular inflammatory infiltrates and delated and RBC-filled vessels in the dermis. But, there was no definite evidence of vasculitis. In spit,e of aggressive antibictics therapy and other supportive measrres, she died at 39th day after birth.
Dermis ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Enterobacter aerogenes ; Female ; Gangrene* ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Parturition ; Skin ; Thumb ; Toes ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: In order to treat obese individuals, control of caloric intake after determination of patient's energy expenditure and recommendation of exercise program with possible use of specific medication is advised. There are many limitations in measuring all individuals energy expenditure by calorimetry, thus estimation is made using many variables such as weight, height, age, and gender. But, commonly used equations to predict resting energy expenditure(REE) are thought to result in overestimation of energy expenditure for use with obese individuals. This study investigated difference between measured and predicted resting energy expenditure in obese individuals. METHODS: Subjects were 133 adults who were admitted either to Internal Medicine Department and ENT Department of Yeung Nam University Hospital and their resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry. According to age, sex, smoking habits and body mass index, Measured REE by indirect calorimetry between groups was compared. Predicted REE estimated by 6 equations to measured REE was compared in the two groups by body mass index 27kg/m2 under 65 years old individuals. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of measured REE between groups according to smoking habits(p>0.05). In the older group(> or =65 years old), REE was lower compared to the younger groups(<65 years old)(p<0.05). In the obese group(body mass index>27kg/m2) measured REE was higher than the normal weight group(BMI<27kg/m2)(p<0.05). Among 108 individuals under 65 years old, other equation except for Fleish equation and Robertson and Reid equation were inaccurate when applied to the obese group. CONCLUSIONS: These commonly used prediction equations tend to overestimate the REE in obese individuals, and the best estimates for the obese seem to be derived from the Fleish and Robertson and Reid equations.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Calorimetry ; Calorimetry, Indirect* ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism* ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Obesity ; Smoke ; Smoking

In a double-blind clinical study, single-dose lumbar epidural blockade was instituted in 45 healthy patients undergoing cesarean section. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Each group received treatment with a different local anesthetic solution used were 2.0% Lidocaine HCL 20 ml in group I, 0.5% Bupivacaine HCL 20 ml in group II and Lidocaine-Bupivacaine Mixture in the ratio of 1:1 20 ml in group III The injections were made at the third lumbar interspace. The local anesthetic was injected directly through 176 Tuohy needle at 1 ml/s with the bevel directed cephalad(11 ml) and caudad(9 ml), The onset times were fastest in group I and slowest in group III. The durations were shortest in group L The times reguired to reach the highest level in group I and III were shorter than group II. The Apgar scores and blood pressure changes were similar in the diifferent groups. The frequency of pain sense was highest in group II. It is concluded that Lidocaine and Lidocaine-Bupivacine Mixture are superior to Bupivacaine for lumbar epidural blockade for cesarean section.
Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Lidocaine* ; Needles ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: It is known that HLA molecule can restrict specific IgE responses, but few studies have documented the association between HLA and sensitization to house dust mite(HDM). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a specific HLA type can be a risk or protective factor for the development of HDM sensitivity. METHOD: Total 146 subjects were genotyped for HLA-DRB1 using PCR-SSP technique and HDM sensitivity, determined by skin prick test using two mite allergens, D. pteronyssinus (Dp) and D. farinae (Df). Subjects were grouped according to Dp or Df sensitivity and linkage analysis between HDM sensitivity and HLA-DRB1 genotype was performed. RESULTS: The data revealed higher allele frequencies of DRB1*07 in Dp or Df sensitive groups compared to insensitive groups (11.6% vs. 2.6% in Dp, 11.5% vs. 3.3% in Df group, p<0.05), but the other allele frequencies showed no difference. CONCLUSION: There was a significant association between HLA-DRB1*07 genotype and HDM sensitization. These results indicate that antigen presentation by HLA class II molecule restricts the development of specific IgE response to HDM.
Allergens ; Antigen Presentation ; Dust* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype* ; HLA-DRB1 Chains* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Skin

BACKGROUND: It is known that total serum IgE levels closely corrleate with prevaience of asthma regardless of atopic status. Although heredity is reported to be important in expression of total serum IgE in twin studies, genetic factor controlling this phenotype is controversial. Objective .' To evaluate whether genetic factor in chromosome 1 1q13 may control the expression of tatal serum IgE level, linkage analysis between this phenotype and gene marker of chromosome 11q13 was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Total serum IgE level and the genotype of chromosome 11q13 with microsatellite marker (D11597) was determined in 73 probands of asthmatic chiMren and 76 their sibs. Statistical significance of linkage was evaluated by affected and quantitative trait locus (QTL) sib-pair analysis. RESULT: In 20 affected sib-pairs with total serum IgE level higher than 305 IU/ml (geometric mean plus two folds SD in 53 normal controls), two D11S97 alleles were shared by ten sib-pairs, one allele by nine sib-pairs, and no allele by one sib-pairs. Sharing rate of the alleles in affect,ed sib-pairs, was 72.5%, which indicates linkage of the phenotype and genotype (x=4. 27, p=0.03). In 35 sib-pairs with total serum IgE level higher than 170 IU/ml (geometric mean plus one fold SD in 53 normal controls), two D11S97 alleles were shared by 16 sib-pairs, one allele by 15 sib-pairs, and no allele by four sib-pairs. The shar ing rate of the alleles in affected sibpairs, was 67.1%, which indicates linkage of the phenotype and the genotype(x=4. 24, p=0.03). Difference of geometric value of total serum IgE levels between probands and their sibs wa,s smaller in 32 sib-pairs sharing two alleles than in 32 those sharing one allele and 12 those with no identical allele (0.45+0.07 vs. 0.52+0.07 vs. 0.89 +0.21). CONCLUSION: The expression of total serum IgE level was linked to gene marker of chromosome 11q13.
Alleles ; Asthma ; Child* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Genotype ; Heredity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phenotype ; Quantitative Trait Loci

BACKGROUND: Bronchial hbyperresponsiveness (BHR) is a key feature of asthma, and may precede the development of asthma. Genetically determined and acquired factors may contribute to development of BHR. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate expression of bronchial responsiveness to methacholine according to age, sex, smoking habit, and atopy in general population without bronchial asthma, a cross sectional study was performed. METHOD: A total of 1,190 general population who composed of 408 subjects with age less than 19 years (young age group), 621 subjects with age from 20 to 40 years (middle age group), and 161 subjects with age more than 41 years (old age group) were enrolled. Evaluations were made by a questionnaire, serum IgE level and skin prick test to common inhalant allergens, and methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT). Bronchial responsiveness were evaluated by positive rate of MBPT (PC,p-methacholine 4 25mg/ml), and slope of dose- response curve (slope, %fall of FEV, / log[last concentration of methacholine, mg/ml]). RESULT: Positive rate of MBPT was 11.0%, and slope (mean+SE) was 10.6+0.2 %/mg/ml. Postive rate of MBPT was more prevalent in the young age group than in middle and old age groups (19.6% vs. 6.6% vs. 6.2%, p<0.05), and slope was higher in young age group than in other groups (14.4+0.4 vs. 8.6+0.3 vs. 8.9+0.5 %/mg/ml, p<0.05). No significant differences in positive rate of MBPT and slope were noted according to sex in young and old age groups. However, in the middle age group, slope was higher in females than in males (9.5+0.4 vs. 7.9+ 0.3 %/mg/ml, p<0.05). No significant differences of slope was observed according to smoking habit in males of middle age group, but in males of old age group, the slope was higher in subjects with smoking habit than those without it (9.6+0.8 vs. 6.5+0.9 %/mg/ml, p<0.05). Significant relationship was observed between geometric value of serum IgE level and slope(r=0. 152, p=0.009). The postive rate of MBPT and slope were significantly higher in subjects with positive skin rea,ctivity to common inhalant allergens than those without it (14.3% vs. 8.6%, p ( 0.05; 11.8+0.4 vs. 9.8+0.3 %/mg/ml, p<0.05). The difference of bronchial responsiveness according to skin reactivity was observed in young and middle age groups, but not in old age group. CONCLUSION: Bronchial responsiveness to methacholine is significantly higher in children than in adults, in middle-aged females than in middle-aged males. Atopy and smoking may have a dif ferent role to determine the bronchial responsiveness depending upon age and sex.
Adult ; Allergens ; Asthma* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Male ; Methacholine Chloride* ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires