Indirect fluorescent antibody tests were performed with sera of paragonimiasis patients and skin test positive sera against Paragonimus antigen. Paragonimus antigen was prepared from lyophilized adult worms of P. westermani by defatting with ethyl-ether before extracting with barbital buffered saline. Preparation of Paragonimus antigen for the indirect fluorescent antibody test was based upon Sato's method used for sero-diagnosis of anisakiasis, with Sephadex G-25 instead of Sepharose 4B. The results were as follows: The indirect fluorescent antibody titers of paragonimiasis patient's sera ranged from 1:64 to 1:512, whereas the control sera showed titers of less than 1:16. As controls, Clonorchis patient's sera and parasite-free healthy human sera were used. In indirect fluorescent antibody tests, the skin test positive human sera against Paragonimus antigen showed a positive rate of 41.5 per cent in the case of titers more than 1:40. On the other hand, complement fixation tests on the same sera showed a positive rate of 32.5 per cent in the case of titers more than 1:20.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; paragonimiasis ; Paragonimus westermani ; diagnosis ; indirect fluorescent antibody tests ; serum ; ethyl-ether

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to setup a concuurent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-functional MRI (fMRI) system for understanding causality of the functional brain network. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We manufactured a TMS coil holder using nonmagnetic polyether ether ketone (PEEK). We simulated magnetic field distributions in the MR scanner according to TMS coil positions and angles. To minimize image distortions caused by TMS application, we controlled fMRI acquisition and TMS sequences to trigger TMS during inter-volume intervals. RESULTS: Simulation showed that the magnetic field below the center of the coil was dramatically decreased with distance. Through the MR phantom study, we confirmed that TMS application around inter-volume acquisition time = 100 miliseconds reduced imaging distortion. Finally, the applicability of the concurrent TMS-fMRI was tested in preliminary studies with a healthy subject conducting a motor task within TMS-fMRI and passive motor movement induced by TMS in fMRI. CONCLUSION: In this study, we confirmed that the developed system allows use of TMS inside an fMRI system, which would contribute to the research of brain activation changes and causality in brain connectivity.
Brain ; Ether, Ethyl ; Magnetic Fields ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

PURPOSE: Human acellular dermal matrix(ADM) is widely used in the treatment of congenital anomalies and soft tissue deficiencies. But it is rapidly degraded in the body and does not provide satisfactory results. There is a need to improve collagen fiber stability through various methods and ultimately regulate the speed of degradation. METHODS: The ADMs were added with various cross- linking agents called glutaraldehyde, dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate to produce cross-linked acellular dermal matrices. 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether solution was applied with a pH of 4.5 and 9.0, respectively. The stability of cross-linked dermal matrix was observed by measuring the shrinkage temperature and the degradation rates. The cross- and non-cross linked dermis were placed in the rat abdomen and obtained after 8, 12 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: The shrinkage temperature significantly increased and the degradation rate significantly decreased, compared to the control(p<0.05). All of cross- linked dermises were observed grossly in 16 weeks, but most of non-cross linked dermis were absorbed in 8 weeks. Histologically, the control group ADM was found to have been infiltrated with fibroblasts and most of dermal stroma were transformed into the host collagen fibers. However, infiltration of fibroblasts in the experiment was insignificant and the original collagen structure was intact. CONCLUSION: Collagen cross-linking increases the structural stability and decreases degradation of acellular dermis. Therefore, decrease in body absorption and increase in duration can be expected.
Abdomen ; Absorption ; Acellular Dermis ; Animals ; Butylene Glycols ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Ether, Ethyl ; Fibroblasts ; Glutaral ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Imidoesters ; Rats

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is currently more popular than an open appendectomy (OA), because of its advantages, such as a decrease in postoperative pain, short hospitalization and quick recovery. On the other hand, the efficacy and safety of a laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is controversial. Therefore, this study compared the efficacy and safety of LA and OA. METHODS: This study reviewed retrospectively 262 patients with perforated appendicitis who underwent ether open or laparoscoic appendectomy between January 2001 and December 2010. The medical record and video were used to collect data. The operative time, length of hospital stay, time to diet, time to remove drain and complications were assessed. RESULTS: There were 207 and 55 patients in the OA and LA group, respectively. The operation times were significantly longer in the LA group than the OA group (OA group 68.25+/-33.08 vs. LA group 90.80+/-47.64 min) (p<0.05). The length of hospital stay was longer in the OA group than the LA group (OA group 10.96+/-5.24 vs. LA group 8.86+/-5.18 days) (p<0.05). The time to diet and time to remove the drain was longer in the OA group than the LA group (p<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The operative time was longer in the LA group but the length of hospital stay, time to diet, and time to remove drain was longer in the OA group. Such merits show that laparoscopic appendectomy is a good surgical option for perforated appendicitis.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Diet ; Ether, Ethyl ; Hand ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Nitro Compounds ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

Several compounds and extracts isolated from a brown alga, Ishige (I.) okamurae, exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated whether the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of I. okamurae (EFIO) could ameliorate carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with EFIO at 10 or 50 mg/kg per day for 2 consecutive days before CCl4 injection (3.3 mL/kg, i.p.). Twenty four hours later, the rats were anesthesized with diethyl ether and dissected. Pretreatment with EFIO significantly reduced the increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in CCl4-treated rats. Pretreatment with EFIO also significantly inhibited the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the CCl4-injured liver. Histopathological evaluations showed that hemorrhage, hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fatty degeneration induced by CCl4 treatment were ameliorated by the administration of EFIO. Additionally, liver immunohistochemical analyses revealed the marked reduction in ED1-positive monocyte-like macrophages in EFIO-pretreated rats given CCl4. These results suggest that EFIO ameliorates CCl4-induced liver injury, possibly through the inhibition of oxidative stress.
Acetates ; Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Carbon ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Catalase ; Ether, Ethyl ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase

The Kato-Katz (KK) method is a well-known method of fecal examination for helminthiases. Its diagnostic sensitivity was found very high for clonorchiasis. The present study evaluated the correlation of Clonorchis sinensis egg counts by the KK method with those by direct smear and formalin-ether (FE) technique. The egg counts obtained by the KK method (Y) were correlated with the counts by direct smear (X) with the equation of Y = 659.4 + 0.266X (r2= 0.738), but not with those by the FE method. The present study demonstrated that the KK method and direct smear were useful for both qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of clonorchiasis, especially in the field.
Animals ; Cellophane ; Clonorchiasis/*diagnosis/parasitology ; Clonorchis sinensis/*isolation & purification ; Comparative Study ; Ether, Ethyl ; Feces/parasitology ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Parasite Egg Count/*methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This study was designed to investigate the effects an 8-Br-cGMP on the neuronal activity of rat vestibular nuclear cells. Sprague-Dawley rats aged 14 to 16 days were decapitated under ether anesthesia. After treatment with pronase and thermolysin, the dissociated vestibular nuclear cells were transferred into a chamber on an inverted microscope. Spontaneous action potentials and potassium currents were recorded by standard patch-clamp techniques under current and voltage-clamp modes. Twelve vestibular nuclear cells revealed excitatory responses to 1-5 microM of 8-Br-cGMP, and 3 neurons did not respond to 8-Br-cGMP. Whole potassium currents of vestibular nuclear cells were decreased by 8-Br-cGMP (n=12). After calcium-dependent potassium currents were blocked by tetraethylammonium, the potassium currents were not decreased by 8-Br-cGMP. These experimental results suggest that 8-Br-cGMP changes the neuronal activity of vestibular nuclear cells by blocking the calcium-dependent potassium currents that underlie the afterhyperpolarization.
Action Potentials ; Aged ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Ether, Ethyl ; Humans ; Neurons ; Nucleotides, Cyclic ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; Pronase ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tetraethylammonium ; Thermolysin

Four strains of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) were isolated from 4 flocks of broiler or layer chickens affected by hydropericardium syndrome in Korea. These FAdVs were classified as serotype 4 by restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of hexon genes and whole genomes. The virus exhibited cytopathic effects consisting of rounding, ballooning and clustering in primary chicken embryo liver cell cultures. In transmission electron microscopy, virus particles in hexagonal shape aggregated exclusively in the nuclei of hepatocytes of the chickens as the typical appearances in adenovirus infections. Buoyant density of the virus in cesium chloride (CsCl) was 1.34 g/mL. The virus was stable to chloroform, ether, 50~70% ethanol, acidic condition at pH 3, 0.25% trypsin (1 : 250), heat at 50degrees C for 30 min, but labile to 100% ethanol, heat at 52~60degrees C for 30 min, 1 M MgCl2 at 50degrees C for 1 h, 1 : 2,000 formalin (37%). All of the physicochemical properties pertained to the characteristics of adenoviruses. Eight viral polypeptides were determined in CsCl-purified virus by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Adenoviridae ; Adenoviridae Infections ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cesium ; Chickens ; Chlorides ; Chloroform ; Electrophoresis ; Embryonic Structures ; Ethanol ; Ether, Ethyl ; Formaldehyde ; Genome ; Hepatocytes ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnesium Chloride ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Peptides ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sodium ; Trypsin ; Virion ; Viruses

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to examine the immunological effects of pentabrominated diphenyl ether (penta-BDE) and decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) on the immune system of the dams and the developmental immune system of the offsprings. METHODS: In this study, mated female C57BL/6J mice were orally administered penta-BDE, deca-BDE or corn oil for 5 weeks, from gestational day 6 to lactational day 21. RESULTS: The body weight of PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was significantly decreased relative to control mice, but that of post-natal day 63 (PND63) were recovered. Orally dosed dams with penta-BDE had significantly smaller absolute and relative spleen masses than control mice. Absolute and relative spleen and thymus masses of PND21 exposed to penta-BDE were significantly decreased over control. The exposure of dams and PND21 with penta-BDE reduced the number of splenocytes and thymocytes. As results of hematologic analysis, percentage WBC and percentage neutrophils increased in dams with deca-BDE. Splenic T cell proliferation in dams and PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was increased, and there were no significant difference in splenic B cell proliferation in all treatment groups. As results of flow cytometric analysis of splenocyte, percentage total T cell, Th cell and Tc cell in PND21 exposed to penta-BDE was slightly increased, and percentage macrophage in dams and PND21 exposed to deca-BDE was decreased. The ELISA results of antibody production show no significant difference in all treatment groups relative to controls. CONCLUSION: These results imply that PBDEs given to the dam were transferred to the offspring during gestation and lactation, and PBDEs transferred from the dam affect immune system of offspring.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Biphenyl Compounds ; Body Weight ; Cell Proliferation ; Corn Oil ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ether, Ethyl ; Female ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers ; Humans ; Immune System ; Lactation ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; Phenyl Ethers ; Pregnancy ; Spleen ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

Hypoxia is one of the major causes of neonatal mortality. Hypoxia-induced tissue injuries are resulted from complex mechanisms such as DNA damage and apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the changes in the expression of DNA repairing enzymes such as 8-hydroxyguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the fetal cerebral tissue after intrauterine hypoxic injury. For this study, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxic gas (10% O2, 5% CO2, 85% N2) for 2 or 4 hours at postconception day 14.5 and 15.5. After 24 hours, the animals were anesthetized with ethyl ether and fetuses were obtained by laparatomy. Hematoxylin-eosin stain, immunohistochemical stain, and western blot were employed for analysis. The caspase-3 immunolabeled cells were significantly increased within the cerebral cortex after hypoxic injury. The expressions of OGG1, APE1, and BDNF were also increased in the cerebral tissue after hypoxic injury at post-conception day 14.5, in a dose-dependent manner. However, the expression of BDNF was significantly decreased in the cortical tissue exposed to hypoxic injury at postconception day 15.5. These results demonstrate that fetal hypoxic injury induces apoptosis of the nerve cells and promotes the expressions of the DNA repairing enzymes and neurotrophic factors. In addition, these results suggest that protection mechanisms against hypoxic injury alter along the progression of the fetal development.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Caspase 3 ; Cerebral Cortex ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; Ether, Ethyl ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Guanine ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley