PURPOSE: In mammals, alphaand beta-defensins are antimicrobial peptides that are expressed in various epithelial and phagocytic cells. Human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (hBD-1, hBD-2) have recently been shown to be expressed in various epithelial cells. Vaginal mucosa can be a target of vaginitis and the site of uropathogens' colonization that precedes urinary tract infections. Therefore, innate host defense mediators like antimicrobial peptides in the vaginal mucosa are important. Estrogen and progesterone receptors have been shown to be expressed in the vaginal squamous epithelium. Sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone may cause vaginal atrophy or susceptibility to uropathogens. So, we performed this study to investigate the expression patterns of hBD-1 and -2 mRNA in vaginal squamous epithelium (VSE) with using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 17beta-estradiol and progesterone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Normal VSE cells that were retrieved from vaginal tissue during vaginoplasty were primarily cultured in keratinocyte growth medium and they we allowed to undergo their 3rd passage. Modulation of the expressions of hBD-1 and -2 mRNA by various stimuli (LPS 0.5microgram/ml, E2 2nM, P 1micrometer) was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: HBD-1 and -2 were constitutively expressed in the normal VSE cell lines, but the hBD-2 expression was not significant. A marked increase of the constitutive expression of hBD-2 mRNA was observed upon stimulation with LPS, but not upon stimulation with E2. A moderate decrease of the constitutive expression of hBD-2 mRNA upon stimulation with LPS was observed with administering progesterone. CONCLUSIONS: These expressions of hBD-2 mRNA may have important roles in the innate host defense of the urogenital area. Artificial intake of progesterone may lead to susceptibility via a decrease of defensins.
Atrophy ; beta-Defensins ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Defensins ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Estrogens ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Mammals ; Mucous Membrane ; Peptides ; Phagocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vagina ; Vaginitis

No abstract available.
Abscess* ; Bacteria, Aerobic* ; Quinolones* ; Virulence*

Eight patients with primary non-transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder during the period from January 1978 to December 1982 were reviewed, and following results ware obtained. 1. Primary non-transitional bladder carcinomas were 8 cases (11%) of 52 bladder carcinomas. 2. The age distribution was from 28 years to 72 years. Male to female ratio was 5 to 3. 3. Hematuria was presented in all cases, dysuria in 2 cases, frequency in 2 cases, lower abdominal pain in 2 cases. 4. Histopathological findings showed squamous cell carcinoma in 3 cases, adenocarcinoma in 3 cases, undifferentiated carcinoma in 1 cases, carcinosarcoma in 1 cases. According to 2Iewett classification, the degree of invasion was stage C in 5 cases, stage B2 in 1 case, stage B1 in 1 case and stage A in 1 case. 5. Five cases arised on lateral wall, 3 cases on dome, 1 case on posterior wall and 1 case on trigone. Four cases were nodular in type. 2 cases were papillary and 2 cases were smooth surface round pedunculated mass. Five cases were single and 3 cases were multiple. 6. 1) In stage C of adenocarcinoma, partial cystectomy was made in 1 case, radical cystectomy with ureteroileocutaneostomy in 1 case, partial cystectomy with postoperative irradiation in 1 case. In former two case, tumor metastasized to periaortic lymphnodes and lumber vertebrae after 6 months post-operatively. 2) Partial cystectomy was performed in 1 case of carcinosarcoma in stage A, tumor recurrence or metastasis did not occur after 1 year post-operatively. 3) In 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of stage C, preoperative irradiation with total cystectomy and ureterocutaneostomy was made in 1 case, total cystectomy with ureterocutaneostomy in 1 case and partial cystectomy with 5-FU instillation into the bladder was performed in 1 case of stage B2. In all cases, we couldn't follow up post-operatively. 4) In stage B1 of undifferentiated carcinoma, radical cystectomy with ureteroileocutaneostomy was performed. This case also couldn't be followed up.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Age Distribution ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carcinosarcoma ; Classification ; Cystectomy ; Dysuria ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Spine ; Urinary Bladder*

Evidence of antigenicity of testis and semen has been presented since Landsteiner (1899), Metchinikoff (1900) and Metalnikoff (1900) first demonstrated the induction of a spermatoxic antibody in animals sensitized with testicular homogenates or semen. Interest in the field of male accessory sex gland began longtime ago, when the first cross-reaction between extracts of prostate, seminal plasma were demonstrated. Saline extracts of prostatic secretion from bulls, tested by double agar diffusion technique showed four antigens common to serum proteins and spermatozoa. The seminal vesicle have been found to have three to five antigens, also with common reactivity to spermatozoa. Attempts have been made to induce cross-immunologic damage in the testes by repeated immunization of mice with epididymal extracts (free of sperm) plus adjuvant and it was claimed that spermatogenesis was adversely effected and fertility of females was markedify reduced following mating with immunized male (Shethye and Rao, 1968; Kim and Kim, 1982). Rabit antiserum produced against the tissue protein of rat epididymis and seminal vesicle was capable of immobilizing and agfflutinating the sperm of both animals and the rabbit antiserum against complex antigen of epididymal tissue protein and seminal vesicle tissue protein of rat was most potent on sperm immobilization and agglutination of both animals (Cha and Kim, 1975). The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of rabbit anti-rat epididymal serum on epididymis and spermatogenesis in rat. The results were as follow; 1. The intraluminalspermatozoa of epididymis were decreased in number but immature sperm cells were much more noted than normal control group. The interspaces of epididymal ducts were widened and infiltrated with mononuclear cells and congestion in some places. There was no definite degenerative changes on epididymal epithelium. 2. Spermatogenesis was mildly to moderately impaired in the experimental group whereasit was unaffected in the control group. Degeneration and exfoliation were found in the germinal cells of seminiferous tubules. Intraluminal Spermatozoa of seminiferous tubules were decreased in number.
Agar ; Agglutination ; Animals ; Blood Proteins ; Diffusion ; Epididymis* ; Epithelium ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Female ; Fertility ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Immunization ; Male ; Mice ; Prostate ; Rats* ; Semen ; Seminal Vesicles ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis

No abstract available.
Doxorubicin* ; Membrane Potentials* ; Membranes* ; Papillary Muscles*

We report a case of heart failure and pulmonary edema in patient with Graves disease during recovery from general anesthesia for cesarean section. A 34-year-old multigrivida, at 35 weeks gestation underwent emergency cesarian section for preterm labor, twin pregnancy and polyhydramnios. She has been treated with Graves' disease for 5 years. After premedication with propranolol and glycopyrrolate, anesthesia was induced with thiopenthal and maintained with O2 -N2 O-enflurane. At the end of skin closure, heart failure and pulmonary edema were developed. On auscultation, systolic murmur was audible at the left sternal border and immediate echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse accompanied with mitral regurgitation. After proper treatment, she was discharged without complication at 14 days after surgery.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Auscultation ; Cesarean Section ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Glycopyrrolate ; Graves Disease ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polyhydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Premedication ; Propranolol ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Skin ; Systolic Murmurs

We report a case of heart failure and pulmonary edema in patient with Graves disease during recovery from general anesthesia for cesarean section. A 34-year-old multigrivida, at 35 weeks gestation underwent emergency cesarian section for preterm labor, twin pregnancy and polyhydramnios. She has been treated with Graves' disease for 5 years. After premedication with propranolol and glycopyrrolate, anesthesia was induced with thiopenthal and maintained with O2 -N2 O-enflurane. At the end of skin closure, heart failure and pulmonary edema were developed. On auscultation, systolic murmur was audible at the left sternal border and immediate echocardiography revealed mitral valve prolapse accompanied with mitral regurgitation. After proper treatment, she was discharged without complication at 14 days after surgery.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Auscultation ; Cesarean Section ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Glycopyrrolate ; Graves Disease ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Polyhydramnios ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Premedication ; Propranolol ; Pulmonary Edema* ; Skin ; Systolic Murmurs

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a member of beta-herpesvirus and contains a double-stranded genome with longer than 230 Kbp. HCMV infection of human is mostly asymptomatic, but often causes fatal diseases in immunocompromised people. In this study, codon usages of HCMV genes were analyzed and attempted to correlate with evolutionary conservancy. Core genes are the most conserved genes common among herpesvirus family, beta-herpes genes are common to beta-herpesviruses, and CMV genes are the least conserved found only in CMVs. Core genes had higher codon adaptation index (CAI) and GC content of silent 3rd codon position (GC3s) values and lower effective number of codons (Nc) and Nc/GC3s values than CMV genes. The average length of core genes was statistically longer than CMV genes, and core genes were found to be less varied than CMV genes. beta-herpes genes could be placed between core and CMV genes. Higher CAI and GC3s values along with lower Nc and Nc/GC3s values are suggestive of higher codon usage bias and more adaptation to host cells. Thus it is concluded that core genes of HCMV are more biased in codon usage and adapted to host cells compared to CMV genes.
Base Composition ; Bias (Epidemiology)* ; Codon* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Genome ; Humans*

BACKGROUND: The use of caudal morphine for postoperative analgesia has been increased in popularity since 1981. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of analgesia and incidence of side effects of a mepivacaine-morphine mixture with mepivacaine alone. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups. In group 1, caudal block was performed with 1% mepivacaine 1 ml/kg alone. In group 2, caudal block was performed with 1% mepivacaine 1ml/kg-morphine 0.03 mg/kg mixture. Postoperative five-point pain scores and side effects were measured. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sedation dose, incidence of side effects and supplemental analgesics. Pain scores were significantly lower at postoperative 2 and 3 hours in mepivacaine-morphine mixture group. CONCLUSIONS: Caudal epidural mepivacaine-morphine (0.03 mg/kg) mixture is effective in children for control of postoperative pain without significant side effects.
Analgesia* ; Analgesics ; Child* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mepivacaine ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative

No abstract available.
Humans ; Poroma* ; Tissue Donors*