Pulmonary Function tests are widely used in clinical practice in the assessment of a variety of patients. the values obtained in this test are obtained using the standard formula made by Morris et al based on the age and height of Caucasian population.

in this study, a comparison was made of the PFT results of 358 patients using both the Morris Standard formula and those made by Roa et al based on a filipino population, using the statistical program MICROSTAT. results revealed a statistically significant difference in practically all variables, except for the FEV% and the FVC in males, this means therefore that the filipino standard developed by Roa et al should be used since the final patient classification significantly changes.

The “Kokon Hoi” was compiled by Koga Tsugen and was the most widely used formulary in the Edo era. Here are the results of this author's examination of various “Kokon Hoi” editions.1) Koga Tsugen received the source book of “Kokon Hoi” from the publisher Umemura, and compiled “Sanpo Kokon Hoi”.2) The original edition of “Kokon Hoi” was published by Umemura in around1692. This edition was a lengthwise book and contained 1263 prescriptions, which is the fewest of all the editions examined here.3) Umemura published an expanded edition of the original “Kokon Hoi” around1696. This was an oblong book, and included almost all of the prescriptions of the original “Kokon Hoi” with an additional 273 prescriptions.4) At the request of Umemura, Koga Tsugen published “Sanpo Kokon Hoi” with an additional 348 prescriptions in 1733, and subsequently, “Jutei Kokon Hoi” with an additional 43 prescriptions in 1747. “Jutei Kokon Hoi” was then reprinted in the years 1780, 1808 and 1862.
Books ; Editions ; Comparative Study ; historical period ; seconds

Fluid shear stress plays a critical role in vascular health and disease. While protein kinase A (PKA) has been implicated in shear-stimulated signaling events in endothelial cells, it remains unclear whether and how PKA is stimulated in response to shear stress. This issue was addressed in the present study by monitoring the phosphorylation of endogenous substrates of PKA. Shear stress stimulated the phosphorylation of cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) in a PKA-dependent manner. Western blot analysis using the antibody reactive against the consensus motif of PKA substrates detected two proteins, P135 and P50, whose phosphorylation was increased by shear stress. The phosphorylation of P135 was blocked by a PKA inhibitor, H89, but not by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin. Expression of a constitutively active PKA subunit stimulated P135 phosphorylation, supporting the potential of P135 as a PKA substrate. P135 was identified as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by immunoprecipitation study. PKA appeared to mediate shear stress-stimulated eNOS activation. Shear stress stimulated intracellular translocation of PKA activity from 'soluble' to 'particulate' fractions without involving cellular cAMP increase. Taken together, this study suggests that shear stress stimulates PKA-dependent phosphorylation of target proteins including eNOS, probably by enhancing intracellular site-specific interactions between protein kinase and substrates.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic/cytology ; Blotting, Western ; Cattle ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Extracts ; Cells, Cultured ; Comparative Study ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/analysis/*metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular/cytology/*enzymology/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/analysis/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Precipitin Tests ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Stress, Mechanical ; Time Factors

New-born cells continue to proliferate and survive to become mature granule cells in adult rat hippocampus. Although this process, known as neurogenesis, is inhibited by acute stress, it is not clear whether chronic stress affects neurogenesis. To determine whether chronic mild stress (CMS) influences neurogenesis in the adult rat hippocampus, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to CMS and administered bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) before or after CMS to observe the survival/differentiation or proliferation of new-born cells, respectively. In addition, we measured brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the granule cell layer (GCL) of the hippocampus, because BDNF is known to play an important role in the survival of new-born cells. CMS significantly decreased the survival of newborn cells in the GCL, but did not influence the proliferation or differentiation of new-born cells. CMS did not affect the proliferation and survival of new-born cells in the hilus. In addition, CMS did not change BDNF mRNA levels in the GCL. These results demonstrate that CMS reduces the survival of new-born cells but not of their proliferation, suggesting that repeated mild stress could influence a part of neurogenesis, but not the whole part of neurogenesis. These results raise the possibility that the survival of new-born cells may be suppressed in the presence of normal BDNF mRNA levels in GCL.
Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism ; Bromodeoxyuridine/*administration & dosage ; Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent/metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Comparative Study ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/metabolism ; Hippocampus/cytology/growth & development/*pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Restraint, Physical ; Rhodamines ; Stress/pathology/*physiopathology

The mitochondrial pathway of swine influenza virus (SIV)-induced apoptosis was investigated using porcine kidney (PK-15) cells, swine testicle (ST) cells, and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells which are known not to support viral replication. As judged by cell morphology, annexin V staining, and DNA fragmentation, PK-15 and ST cells infected with three different subtypes of SIV (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) were obviously killed by apoptosis, not necrosis. SIV infection in PK-15 and HeLa cells was shown to decrease the cellular levels of Bcl-2 protein compared to that of mock-infected control cells at 24 h post-infection, whereas expression levels of Bax protein increased in the PK-15 cells, but did not increase in HeLa cells by SIV infection. Cytochrome c upregulation was also observed in cytosolic fractions of the PK-15 and HeLa cells infected with SIV. Apoptosome (a multi-protein complex consisting of cytochrome c, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and ATP) formation was confirmed by immunoprecipitation using cytochrome c antibody. Furthermore, SIV infection increased the cellular levels of TAJ, an activator of the JNK-stressing pathway, and the c-Jun protein in the PK-15 and HeLa cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the mitochondrial pathway should be implicated in the apoptosis of PK-15 cells induced by SIV infection.
Animals ; Annexin A5/metabolism ; *Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Fractionation ; Cell Line ; Comparative Study ; Cytochrome c Group/metabolism ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA Fragmentation ; Enzyme Activation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Hela Cells ; Humans ; Influenza A virus/*physiology ; Kinetics ; Mitochondria/metabolism/*physiology ; Precipitin Tests ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Swine ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics/metabolism

Alcohol influences the neuroadaptation of brain cells where receptors and enzymes like protein kinase C (PKC) exist. Naltrexone acts on opioid receptors. However, other mechanisms of action remain unknown. We prepared SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, and fed them with 150 mM ethanol for 72 h followed by treatment with naltrexone for 24 h. We performed microarray analysis and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed that PKC epsilon increased 1.90 times and showed an overall decreasing pattern as time increased. Phosphorylated ERK also increased 2.0 times according to the change of PKC epsilon. Integrin alpha7 increased 2.32 times and showed an increasing pattern as time increased. In conclusion, naltrexone influences PKC epsilon neuronal signaling system and endothelial adhesion molecule integrin alpha7 in addition to the well-known opioid system.
Antigens, CD/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Comparative Study ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Humans ; Integrin alpha Chains/*metabolism ; Naltrexone/*pharmacology ; *Neuroblastoma/enzymology/metabolism/pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Protein Kinase C-epsilon/*metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

GITR (glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor) is a recently identified member of the TNF receptor superfamily. The receptor is preferentially expressed on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and GITR signals break the suppressive activity of the subset. In this study, we wanted to reveal the in vivo function of GITR in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a lupus-like autoimmune disease. A single injection of anti-GITR monoclonal antibody (DTA-1) was effective in blocking the progression of cGVHD in the parent-into-F1 model. Treatment of DTA-1 significantly decreased levels of IgG1 anti-DNA autoantibody, inhibited glomerulonephritis, and increased survival. The DTA-1-mediated inhibition of autoantibody production correlated with deletion of B cells and could occur independently of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. Our results indicate that anti-GITR monoclonal antibody may be used as a potential immunotherapeutic agent for preventing cGVHD.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/immunology/transplantation ; Comparative Study ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Glucocorticoids/*pharmacology ; Graft vs Host Disease/*prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/*immunology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Transplantation, Homologous

The gastrointestinal functions of secretin have been fairly well established. However, its function and mode of action within the nervous system remain largely unclear. To gain insight into this area, we have attempted to determine the effects of secretin on neuronal differentiation. Here, we report that secretin induces the generation of neurite outgrowth in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The expressions of Tau and beta-tubulin, neuronal differentiation markers, are increased upon secretin stimulation. In addition, secretin induces sustained mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and also stimulates the cAMP secretion. Moreover, the neurite outgrowth elicited by secretin is suppressed to a marked degree in the presence of either PD98059, a specific MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, or H89, a specific protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that secretin induces neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells through cAMP-MAPK pathway, and provide a novel insight into the manner in which secretin participates in neuritogenesis.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Comparative Study ; Cyclic AMP/analysis/metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism ; Neurites/*drug effects ; Neurons/cytology/drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Secretin/*pharmacology

Although laparoscopic surgery has become more popular, its technical difficulties have limited the applications of this technique to liver surgery. We report here on our experience with liver resection with using the laparoscopy-assisted (Lap-Assist) and total laparoscopic (Total-Lap) methods. From April 2001 to June 2003, a total of 20 laparoscopic anatomical resections of the liver were retrospectively reviewed. These were comprised of 10 cases in which the Lap-Assist method was used (these were performed during the early study period), and 10 cases in which the Total-Lap was used (these were done in the later study period). In the Lap-Assist group, the following resections were performed: 7 cases of left lateral sectionectomy, a case of left hemihepatectomy, a case of right hemihepatectomy and a case of open conversion. In the Total-Lap group, 6 cases of left hemihepatectomy and 4 cases of left lateral sectionectomy were performed. The sizes of the incisions were 8.7 cm and 4.6 cm, respectively, (p=0.000). There were no differences in the operation times, the transfusion amounts, the starting days of the patients' diets, the complication rates or the durations of the hospital stay between the two groups. Both the laparoscopy-assisted method and the total laparoscopic method are feasible to use for performing anatomical liver resection.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/surgery ; Cholelithiasis/surgery ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy/*methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Length of Stay ; Liver/pathology/*surgery ; Liver Neoplasms/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Mesenchymal hamartoma (MH) of the liver is an uncommon benign lesion related to ductal plate malformation. It is usually cystic and mainly composed of myxoid mesenchymal tissue with tortuous or cystic bile ducts. In order to characterize the clinicopathological features of MH, the Korean Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group collected a total of 17 MH cases diagnosed in 7 hospitals from 1992 to 2002 and compared the clinicopathologic findings of cystic MH with those of solid variant. Among the 17 cases, 7 (41%) were solid. The solid form showed a higher serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the smaller bile ducts, and more frequent proliferation of vessels. Serum AFP level was related to the amount of hepatocytes. Two of seven solid cases harbored a larger amount of evenly distributed hepatocytes and proliferation of small duct with focal hepatocyte-bile duct transition. These histologic findings are similar to those of mixed hamartoma. Therefore, the mixed hamartoma and the MH of both solid and cystic types could be the variants of one disease spectrum. And hepatocytes within MH might be rather a genuine tumor component than entrapped into the tumor. In conclusion, MH can show various clinicopathological features and recognition of these features will facilitate accurate diagnosis of MH.
Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comparative Study ; Cysts/pathology ; Female ; Hamartoma/*pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Diseases/*pathology ; Male