BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the regulation of hair growth might involve complex interaction between dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells. Dermal papilla cells secrete diffusible factors that would act an hair matrix cells. During anagen the papilla appears to have prominent capillary loop, whereas in telogen it is nonvascularized. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) was recently reported to be produced by dermal papilla cells in rats. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study in order to evaluate the effect of VEGF on human hair growth in vitro and on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and to define the splice forms of VEGF. METHODS: To detect the isoforms of VEGF, RT-PCR was performed on RNA isolated from dermal papilla cells and RT-PCR products were hybridized with VEGF-specific oligonucleotide probe located in exon 4. Isolated human hair follicles were cultured with various concentrations of VEGF165 and VEGF121. Hair follicle growth was measured by an Olympus inverted microscope with an eyepiece measuring graticule. RESULTS: The following results were obtained from this study. 1. Southern hybridization and size calculation of RT-PCR products revealed that mRNA species corresponding to 121, 165, 189, and 206 amino-acid forms of VEGF were praduced by cultured human dermal papilla cells. 2. 10 ng/ml of rhVEGF165, 0.1 ng/ml of rhVEGF165 and 10 ng/ml of rhVEGF121 stimulated follicle elongation in vitro(p < 0.05). 3. rhVEGF165 and rhVEGF121 had no effect on the numbers and thymidine incorporation of dermal papilla cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that VEGF is produced by dermal papilla cells and is able to promote hair growth in vitro. Increased hair growth by VEGF might occur other than by proliferation of dermal papilia cells.
Animals ; Capillaries ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Exons ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Protein Isoforms ; Rats ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Thymidine ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Fatal complications including cerebral edema and neurologic collapse occur during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis(DKA). A 6-week-old female infant with fever, dehydration and drowsy mental status was diagnosed as DKA and neurologically deteriorated during treatment. The cranial computed tomography scan revealed multifocal brain infarctions of the left caudate nucleus, bilateral frontal periventricular white matter, and right parietal cortex. A moderate amount of hemorrhage was also noted in both lateral ventricles. She recovered rapidly with supportive treatment over time. The clinical course and radiologic findings of this patient emphasize the importance of brain infarction as a cause of persistent neurologic loss in children with DKA.
Brain Edema ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain* ; Caudate Nucleus ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis* ; Female ; Fever ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Lateral Ventricles ; Rabeprazole

One of a rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM), Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB), is the most causative agents of RGM pulmonary disease. MAB can change their morphology that smooth (S) type to more virulent type of rough (R). Bacterial invasion into host cells is an important first step to initiate their infection. The phagocytic and invasion mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the host-parasite interaction have been researched. Although MAB causes a wide range of clinical diseases, little is known about their invasion ability or why the R type is more virulent than the S type. To compare invasion ability of R with S types, their infection abilities to dermal fibroblast, HaCaT cells, A549 cells and bone marrow derived macrophages were analyzed. After 2 h of infection, intracellular survival numbers of the R type were significantly higher in all infected cells than S types. The fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal microscopy assay also revealed that red fluorescent amount and intracellular bacterial numbers in all of the cells infected with MAB R type expressing the red fluorescent protein (RFP) were significantly higher than the S type. Our data suggest that the virulence of MAB is proportionally related to the invasion ability into mammalian cells and macrophages.
Fibroblasts ; Flow Cytometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Infection ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Mycobacterium* ; Virulence

No abstract available.
Intussusception* ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*

OBJECTIVE: To develop a population pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) model for alcohol in healthy volunteers and to elucidate individual characteristics to affects alcohol's PK or PD including dissolved oxygen. METHODS: Following multiple intakes of total 540 mL alcohol (19.42 v/v%) to healthy volunteer, blood alcohol concentration was measured using a Breathe alcohol analyser (Lion SD-400 Alcolmeter®). A sequential population PK/PD modeling was performed using NONMEM (ver 7.3). RESULTS: Eighteen healthy volunteer were included in the study. PK model of alcohol was well explained by one-compartment model with first-order absorption and Michaelis-Menten elimination kinetics. K(a), V/F, V(max), K(m) is 8.1 hr⁻¹, 73.7 L, 9.65 g/hr, 0.041 g/L, respectively. Covariate analysis revealed that gender significantly influenced V(max) (Male vs Female, 9.65 g/hr vs 7.38 g/hr). PD model of temporary systolic blood pressure decreasing effect of alcohol was explained by biophase model with inhibitory E(max) model. K(e0), I(max), E(0), IC(50) were 0.23 hr⁻¹, 44.9 mmHg, 138 mmHg, 0.693 g/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Model evaluation results suggested that this PK/PD model was robust and has good precision.

In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to examine the changes in the density of colonic endocrine cells - argyrophil and argentaffin cells, chromogranin A (CGA), serotonin, somatostatin and glucagon-containing cells in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis. Ulcerative colitis was induced by the instillation of 10 mg of TNBS into the colonic lumen through the anus. To confirm the inducement of ulcerative colitis, the macroscopic and microscopic scores as well as the colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were monitored for 8 days after TNBS instillation in the colonic lumens. In addition, the number of argyrophil and argentaffin cells, CGA, serotonin, somatostatin and glucagon-immunoreactive cells were counted in the colonic mucosa, respectively. After TNBS instillation into the lumen of the colon from the anus in rats, increases in macroscopic and microscopic scores in the colon tissues were observed along with increases in the colonic MPO activities. Therefore, ulcerative colitis was relatively well induced by the TNBS instillations. Marked decreases in the number of colonic endocrine cells were detected in the TNBS-treated animal compared to the sham control. These results suggest that colonic endocrine cells were also disrupted by TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis.
Anal Canal ; Animals ; Chromogranin A ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Colon ; Endocrine Cells ; Enterochromaffin Cells ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucous Membrane ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Salicylamides ; Serotonin ; Somatostatin

PURPOSE: CAPD is an important treatment modality along with hemodialysis and kidney transplantation in end stage renal disease. Malnutrition is very common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality in CAPD patients. The cause of malnutrion in CAPD patients might be multifactorial. This prospective study was carried out to investigate nutritional changes for 1 year after initiation of peritoneal dialysis by measurement body composition, especially lean body mass (LBM) using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and to evaluate the factors associated with malnutrition in CAPD patients. METHODS: Among new CAPD patients from May, 2001 to Dec, 2002 in our hospital, 25 patients were enrolled. Body weight, LBM, LBM percen t (%LBM), fat mass, fat mass percent (%fat mass), ECF volume and ECF/TBW were compared between 1st month and 12th month after initiation of PD. The biochemical parameters, Urea kinetic modeling, Peritoneal equilibration test, the amounts of glucose absorption through the dialysate, the amounts of protein and albumin loss through the dialysate were measured at the same time point with measurement of the body composition. RESULTS: There were significantly decreased LBM (46.3+/-9.1 kg to 44.7+/-9.0 kg in BIA, 45.7+/-9.3 kg to 42.1+/-7.9 kg in DEXA, p< 0.05, respectively) but significantly increased fat mass (16.3+/-6.2 kg to 20.2+/-7.9 kg in BIA, 15.7+/-6.6 kg to 20.1+/-7.4 kg in DEXA, p<0.01, respectively) during first one year. Mean weekly Kt/V were significantly correlated with the changes of LBM (r=-0.64 in BIA, r=-0.81 in DEXA, p<0.01, respectively). With the multiple regression test, 1st month weekly Kt/V in BIA and DEXA were significant predictors of the changes of LBM for 1 year (beta-coefficients: -0.573 in BIA, -0.773 in DEXA, p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Adequate dialysis, especially 1st month adequacy, is very important for maintaining good nutritional status for one year after initiation of peritoneal dialysis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Absorption ; Body Composition* ; Body Weight ; Dialysis ; Electric Impedance ; Glucose ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Malnutrition ; Mortality ; Nutritional Status ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis ; Urea

This research was performed to investigate the effects of NEP (Nutritional Education Practice) program developed by KHyDDI (Korea Hypertension Diabetes Daegu Initiative) for hypertension and diabetes patients. The subjects were 116 patients (hypertension 70, diabetes 46) who had completed basic education program at the education information center and four-session program was implemented for them. Nutrient intake was analyzed and compared before and after the program by 24-hr recall method and evaluate weight, waist circumference, body fat, blood pressure and eating habits in terms of nutrition knowledge, eating behavior, salty taste assessment. The improved results after the program were observed in weight, waist circumference, body fat ratio, blood pressure, slightly salty taste in salty taste assessment, nutrition knowledge, eating behavior, sodium, energy, carbohydrate and protein intake ratio to total energy (p < 0.001). Therefore, this program is effective in the improvement of weight, waist circumference and eating behavior, and the continued management would lead to the prevention of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases in the community.
Adipose Tissue ; Blood Pressure ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Information Centers ; Nutrition Assessment ; Sodium ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic nerve innervation plays important roles in hepatic metabolism and hemodynamic mechanisms. We compared the distribution patterns of hepatic nerves between normal livers and two liver diseases to elucidate the effects of liver disease on the distribution of hepatic nerves. METHODS: Tissue specimens were obtained by ultrasonography-guided needle biopsies from 10 normal controls, 74 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH), and 35 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). The obtained specimens were immunohistochemically stained using antibodies for S-100 protein and alpha-smooth-muscle actin (alpha-SMA). The degree of the expression in liver tissues was quantified by manual counting of positively stained nerve fibers under light microscopy. The serum hyaluronic acid level was assayed in all subjects to evaluate hepatic fibrosis. Electron microscopy examinations were also performed. RESULTS: The hepatic nerve innervation was significantly lower in LC than in normal controls, as indicated by S-100 protein staining. alpha-SMA and hyaluronic acid levels were higher in LC and CH than in normal controls. Electron microscopy revealed that unmyelinated nerve fiber bundles in the intralobar connective tissue coursed in the vicinity of hepatic triads. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hepatic nerve innervation can be decreased by hepatic inflammatory responses and/or fibrotic changes in LC patients. Further study is needed to clarify this observation.
Actins ; Antibodies ; Biopsy, Needle ; Connective Tissue ; Fibrosis ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Metabolism ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron ; Nerve Fibers* ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; S100 Proteins

PURPOSE: Islet cell transplantation, as an alternative approach to endocrine cell replacement to treat the diabetes mellitus, has received significant attention because it holds several advantages over whole gland transplantation. However cell damage from islet isolation and immunologic rejection after transplantation prevent from successful clinical application for diabetic patients. Culture of cells at low temperature has known to stabilize the cell viability, and to decrease the immunologic antigenicity. Aim of this study is to investigate the effect of culture at 24oC on cell viability, cellular function, immunogenicity and cytokine profiles in rat pancreas islet. METHODS: Pancreas islets were isolated from Lewis rat and cultured at 24oC or 37oC during 14 days. Islet recovery after culture period was counted as islet equivalent number, and islet viability was examined with fluorescent vital staining (FDA/PI). Islet function was measured with glucose stimulation test. Annexin V expression and MHC class I and II expression were measured with flow cytometric assay for apoptosis and immunogenicity respectively. Lymphocyte cell proliferation through mixed lymphocyte islet culture was examined with WST-1 proliferation assay. Cytokine profiles were analyzed with quantitative real time RT-PCR. All these parameters were measured on 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 culture days after islet isolation. RESULTS: Islet recovery was higher in islet cultured at 24oC than in islet cultured at 37oC without change of viability. Insulin secretion after glucose stimulation was more effective in 24oC culture condition. Decrease of apoptotic cell death was demonstrated in 24oC cultured islet. MHC class I and II expression on islets and lymphocyte proliferation when cocultured with islets were less prominent in 24oC cultured islet. TNF-alpha and IL-4 cytokine expression was higher in islet cultured at 24oC than in islet cultured at 37oC. IL-1beta and IL-10 cytokine expression were similar in both culture condition. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that cell recovery and function are increased in islet cultured at 24oC than in islet cultured at 37oC while antigenicity and proinflammatory cytokine expression are decreased. Low temperature culture can be a good approach to prevent the loss of islet mass, and to reduce the immunologic rejection of transplanted islet for successful clinical islet transplantation.
Animals ; Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Endocrine Cells ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-4 ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Lymphocytes ; Pancreas* ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha