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

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

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

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: 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

Fractures of C1 are not uncommon, constituting only 10% of all cervical spine injuries. There is a high prevalence of concomitant fractures of the second and first cervical vertebral complex. Surgical treatment is controversal. Mainstay of treatment is various combination of traction and cervical orthosis according to degree of displacement and location of fracture. We experienced unusual type of fracture, anterior arch fracture of C1 who had a history of total laminectomy of C1,2 due to cervical cord tumor(neurilemmoma arising from C2 root). We performed C1,2 lateral mass screw fixation with posterior fusion with good postoperative outcome.
Laminectomy ; Orthotic Devices ; Prevalence ; Spine ; Traction

BACKGROUND: Increased IgE antibody responses to inhalant allergens and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are important phenotypes in development of asthma. Although heredity reported to be important in expression of these phenotypes in twin and family studies, genetic factor(s) controlling these phenotypes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether genetic factor in chromosome 11q13 may control the expression of IgE responses to common inhalant allergens and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, linkage analysis between these phenotypes and gene marker of chromosome 11q13 was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The phenotyping and genotyping using microsatellite marker (D11S97) were performed in 77 probands with bronchial asthma and 80 their sibs. The linkage analysis between these phenotypes and the genotype was evaluated by affected or quantitative trait locus (QTL) sib-pair analysis. RESULTS: Positive skin test responses to inhalant allergens were 55/77(71.4%) in probands and 44/79(55.6%) in sibs, respectively. Positive bronchial provocation test responses to methacholine were 27/61(44.3%) in sibs, geometric mean of PC20-methacholine were 5.2 mg/ ml in probands and 39.4 mg/ml in sibs, respectively, and slope of dose response curve(mean+- SE, %/mg/ml) were 11.3 +- 3.22 in probands and 1.97 +- 0.5 in sibs, respectively. Of 34 sib-pairs with positive skin test responses to allergens, two D11S97 alleles were shared by 21(61.8% ) sib -pairs, one allele by 11(32.3% ) sib-pairs, and no identical allele by two(5.9% ) sib-pairs. In affected sib-pairs, sharing rate of the alleles was 77.9%, which indicates linkage of the phenotype and genotype(p<0.001). Of 25 sib-pairs with bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, two D11S97 alleles were shared by seven(28%) sib-pairs, one allele by 11(44%) sib-pairs, and no identical allele by seven(28% ) sib-pairs. In affected sib-pairs, sharing rate of the alleles was 50%, which indicates no linkage between the phenotype and genotype(p) 0.05). Differences of geometric value(mean +- SE) of PC-methacholine and slope of dose response curve(mean +- SE, %/mg/ml) were 1.11+- 0.17 and 8.33+- 3.35 in sib-pairs sharing two alleles, respectively, 0.99 +- 0.14 and 14.27+-5.75 in sib-pairs sharing one allele, respectively, and 0.57+-0.13 and 3.64+-1.62 in sib-pairs sharing no allele, respectively. There was no difference of the above values among the three groups. CONCLUSION: The expression of skin reactivity to common inhalant allergens was linked to gene marker of chromosome 11q13, not with bronchial responsiveness to methacholine.
Alleles ; Allergens* ; Antibody Formation ; Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Child* ; Genotype ; Heredity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methacholine Chloride ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phenotype ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: The cause of acrodermatitis enteropathica(AE) is closely related to zinc deficiency. Zinc is a potent inhibitor of endonuclease. Acute rises in the apoptosis in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines during zinc deficiency has recently been reported. The method of terminal transferase mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling(TUNEL) is used in situ labelling of apoptotic nuclei in routine tissue sections. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to clarify our hypothesis that apoptosis resulted from zinc deficiency might cause keratinocytes damages in AE. METHOD: We stained 6 AE biopsy specimen with TUNEL technique. RESULTS: In acroderrratitis enteropathica, apoptotic keratinocytes were shown in the entire epidermis as compared to normal, controlled skin, in which it was found only at the uppermost layer of this stratified epithelium. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that apoptosis resulting from zinc deficiency might play a role in keratinocyte death in AE.
Acrodermatitis* ; Apoptosis ; Biopsy ; Biotin ; Epidermis ; Epithelium ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Keratinocytes* ; Myeloid Cells ; Skin ; Transferases ; Zinc