BACKGROUND: Th2-like cells are thought to play a crucial role in the recruitment and activation of eosinophil in bronchial asthma. In contrast to Th2 cytokine, Thl cytokine IFN-y decreases eosinophil recruitment. Previous studies have shown that IL-12 promotes differentiation of Th0 into Thl and enhances production of Thl cytokine. IL-12 also prevents differentiation of Th0 into Th2 during primary immune response. Its effect on established Th2 cell, however, is well known. OBJECTIVE: The objective of aur study was focused on whether IL-12 prevents recruitment of eosinophil and expression of Th2 cytokine in murine model for bronchial asthma, and whether its effect differs according to timing of dosage. METHOD: Administration of IL-12 was tested in the 3 different time-frames; 1) allergic sensitization (early dosage) 2) allergic challenge (late doaage) or 3) both. The number of eosinophil in the bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid and tissue was examined for change of airway inflammation. The effect on cytokine expression was assessed by measuring cytokine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (ELISA) and mRNA in peribronchial lymph node (RT-PCR) RESULTS: Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, strikingly decreased the numbers of eosinophil in both BAL fluid and tissue(p<0.05). Late dosage of IL-12 decreased tissue eosinophilia, while the number of eosinophil in BAL fluid remained unchanged. IL-12 increased IL-4 and IL-5 levels, and decreased IL-2 and I~FN-r levels. There were no differences in Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation among the three dosage times. Early dosage of IL-12, and the combination of early and late dosages, increased IL-10 level, but late dosage had no effect on IL-10. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that depending upon whether IL-12 is administered during sensitization or during subsequent allergen exposure, Thl/Th2 cytokine regulation by IL -12 shows no difference because it seems that difference of inhibition of eosinophil recruitment by IL-12 might be related with the other factors, such as IL-10.
Animals ; Asthma* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice* ; RNA, Messenger ; Th2 Cells

Hamartoma of the bladder is quite a rare entity which is composed of a disorderly admixture of mature cellular elements normally present in the urinary bladder. There is a great controversy regarding the pathogenesis of this lesion. Whether it is a true hamartomatous lesion or metaplastic lesion developed secondary to the inflammatory process. Similar or identical lesions has often been given by other names such as florid examples of cystitis glandularis. We prefer to cell florid examples of cystitis glandularis rather than hamartoma when it was occurred in an old age higher then 50th decade. Here we report a case of hamartoma of the urinary bladder in 44 years old man. Cystoscopic examination revealed a papillary polypoid mass which was attached to the fundus of bladder by long stalk. The mass measured 1.5 cm in greatest diameter. It was composed of epithelial nests resembling von Brunn's nest, cystitis glandularis or cystitis cystica dispersed in a stroma rich in smooth muscle and fibrous tissue.
Hamartoma

BACKGROUND: The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) assay is rapid, sensitive analytical technique but has problem of high false-positive rate. We applied dUTP-UDG PCR (dU-PCR) method to prevent carryover contamination major source of high false positive in PCR assays, for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: The PCRs for detection of M. tuberculosis were performed with P1 and P2 primers based on IS6110 repeated sequence. FTC-2000 was used for capillary PCR and Uno-Thermoblock was used for heating block PCR. In order to evaluate the effect of dU-PCR controlling carryover contamination, PCRs were performed in the presence of UDG and the absence of UDG. To compare the sensitivity of usual dT-PCR with dU-PCR, chromosomal DNA of M. tuberculosis ranging 500pg to 0.5fg were amplified by dT-PCR and dU-PCR method using two different thermocycler, capillary and heating block type, respectively. RESULT: The dU-PCR using UDG prevented carryover contamination by amplicon DNA up to 500pg. By capillay PCR method, the lower limits of detectability of dT-PCR and dU-PCR were 0.5fg and 500fg, respectively, which indicates the sensitivity of dU-PCR was lower than dT-PCR. But by heating block method, the lower limits of detectability of both method of dU and dT-PCR were 0.5fg. So the sensitivity of dU-PCR was same as dT-PCR. CONCLUSION: The dU-PCR by heating-block method was sensitive test for detection of M. tuberculosis that effectively prevent carryover contamination by amplicon.
Capillaries ; DNA ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Adolescent* ; Humans ; Male*

A 45-year-old woman presented with a generalized fixed drug eruption due to mefenamic acid, characterized by recurring erythematous patches with central bullae on the same sites of the whole body and leaving hyperpigmentation after each attack. Patch testing of a quiescent lesion with 50% mefenamic acid in vaselin revealed an eczematous reaction after 48 hours. The disease course was mild compared to the severe clinical manifestation. We here-in report a case of generalized fixed drug eruption due to mefenamic acid which is considered a rare occurrence.
Drug Eruptions* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Mefenamic Acid* ; Middle Aged ; Patch Tests

No abstract available.
Animals ; Blood Platelets* ; Butylated Hydroxytoluene* ; Rats* ; Streptococcus* ; Thrombin*

The morphologic abnormalities of the endocrine pancreas that underlie persistent neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia and are included under the heading "nesidioblastosis" appears to be heterogeneous. This characteristic morphologic finding is ductuloinsular complexes showing endocrine cells budding off the ductoepithelium and merging with adjacent endocrine cell clusters. A case of nesidioblastosis associated with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia occurred in a 6/365 year-old male neonate. Microscopic finding of near totally resected pancreas revealed irregular sized islets and ductuloinsular complexes, both of which contained hypertrophied B cells with a few mitosis. Because of persistent hypoglycemia after first operation, he received second operation 8 days after. This histologic finding was more severe comparative to that of first operation. According to these findings, the pathogenesis of nesidioblastosis may be congenital or developmental defect of a kind of compensatory mechanism by unknown stimuli to acquire persistent hypoglycemia.
Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship among mother-daughter relationship, husband-wife relationship, and prenatal attachment according to pregnant women's internal working model. METHOD: A convenience sample of 68 pregnant women was recruited from two OBGYN hospitals in M city. Data collection was conducted through the use of an Adult Attachment Interview and questionnaires. This study used a descriptive correlational design and the period of investigation was from July 3-20, 2002. 41 of the 68 women were in a secure pregnant women's internal working model and 27 of the 68 in insecure ones. The data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. RESULT: The results of this study were as follows: Mean score of the prenatal attachment of the secure pregnant women and mean score of the mother-daughter relationship of the secure pregnant women was significantly higher than that of insecure ones. 3) Prenatal attachment was negatively and significantly related to mother-daughter attachment and husband-wife attachment in the secure pregnant women's internal working model. However it was not significantly relationship in insecure pregnant women's internal working model. CONCLUSION: It is found in this study that there is an intergenerational attachment relationship during pregnancy. Further findings support the development of creative strategies to enhance positive attachment relationships for pregnant women. It is recommended to develop nursing education of attachment for the insecure pregnant women's internal working model.
Adult ; Data Collection ; Education, Nursing ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The activity of drug metabolizing enzymes and the modulation of their expression by inducers in the skin are the key factors for understanding of pharmacological and toxic effects of topically applied drugs. The role of these enzymes is of major importance, as they may contribute to determine the steady-state levels of biologically active substances. 3-Methylcholanthrene and all-trans- retinoic acid have been known to be inducers of the drug metabolizing enzymes. And all-trans- retinoic acid has many biological actions including anti-cancer effects. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of all-trans-retinoic acid on inducing the expression and modulation of genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes as well as to estimate the role of all-trans-retinoic acid in carcinogenesis and drug interactions. METHODS: We analyzed the activities of CYP1A1(Cytochrome P450 1Al), NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase, UGT1 and GST after administration of 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid to the Sprague-Dawley male rats. We observed the inducible gene expression of CYP1A1, UGT1, GSTJt by RT-PCR and the genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1, UGT1, GSTK by PCR. RESULTS: 1. The expression of CYP1A1, NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase, UGT1 and GST was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid. That of NADPH cytochrome P450-reductase and UGT1 is pronouncedly enhanced by all-trans- retinoic acid. 2. The effects of 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid on inducing the expression of CYP1A1 and UGT1 correlated with an increase of mRNA expression levels of CYP1A1 and UGT1. The modulation of mRNA expression levels of GST was downregulated by all-trans-retinoic acid. 3. The genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1 was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and all-trans- retinoic acid, and that of GSTM1 was not affected by the inducers. The induction of genetic polymorphism of GST was down regulated by all-trans-retinoic acid. CONCLUSION: 3-Methylcholanthrene and all-trans-retinoic acid modulate the inducible expression and genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes differentially. All-trans-retinoic acid can modulate the metabolism of procarcinogen such as 3-methylcholanthrene by inducing drug metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes by 3-methylcholanthrene, all-trans-retinoic acid and other drugs could help to understand their respective roles in drug interactions and carcinogenesis.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Cytochromes ; Drug Interactions ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Methylcholanthrene ; NADP ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Tretinoin*

OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or partial zona dissection (PZD) of human and hamster sperm into hamster oocyte in in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, the possibility of clinical application was evaluated by the comparison of usefulness and difference of these method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hamster immature oocytes were obtained from oviducts superovulated by PMSG and hCG, and hamster sperms were obtained from epididymis. The freezed human sperms were thawed before use. Fertilization were confirmed by two pronuclei, one pronucleus, swollen sperm head or/and two polar bodies at 7~8 hour after ICSI or PZD. RESULTS: The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of human sperm to hamster oocyte were 3.6%, 64.2%, 73.6%, and 55.6% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that ICSI only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). The fertilization rates after ICSI and PZD of hamster sperm to hamster oocyte were 11.1%, 51.2%, 39.6%, and 72.7% for negative control, positive control, ICSI, and PZD respectively, suggesting that PZD only showed improved fertilization rate (p<0.01). PZD showed significantly higher fertilization rate than ICSI (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As for the fertilization rate by ICSI and PZD using hamster oocyte in IVF, ICSI technique was considered to be more useful for human sperm and PZD technique for hamster sperm. Therefore, ICSI technique was considered more appropriate for experimental application using human sperm and hamster oocyte.
Humans