• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.323-334
• /
• 1996

Male Mongolian gerbils $(60{\sim}80g)$ were given DL-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO; 250mg/kg, ip) and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG; 50 mg/k, ip), respectively, 1 h prior to transient (7 min) occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries (OBC7) and a daily dose of one of them for 6 days after recirculation, and the polyamine contents, activities of ornithine and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylases (ODC and SAM-DC), and light microscopic findings of the hippocampus were evaluated. The hippocampal putrescine (PT) levels of the control gerbils treated with saline (STGr), markedly increased after OBC7, showing a peak level at 24 h after recirculation. The peak PT level was reduced in DFMO treated gerbils (DTCr) and in MGBG treated gerbils (MTGr). And 7 days after recirculation, the PT level of DTGr was decreased to about 75% of the PT level in the sham operated group (nonTGr) and to about 55% of the STGr level, respectively. The hippocampal spermidine (SD) level of STGr tended to decline, showing the lowest value at 8 h after recirculation. But the spermidine (SD) level of DTGr was somewhat higher at 8 h after OBC7 than those of STGr and MTGr The hippocampal spermine (SM) levels of all the experimental groups were little changed for 7 days after OBC. OBC7 markedly increased the hippocampal ODC activity. reaching a maximum (about 3 times higher than preischemic level) at 8 h and rapidly recovered to the control value by 24 h in STGr gerbils, and the OBC7-induced increase of ODC activity was significantly attenuated by DFMO or MGBG treatment. Whereas OBC7 induced a rapid decrease of the hippocampal SAMDC activity follwed by gradual recovery to the preischemic level, and the decrease of the SAMDC activity was slightly attenuated by DFMO or MGBG treatment. 7 Days after OBC7 the histological finding of the hippocampal complex stained with cresyl violet showed an extensive delayed neuronal damage in the CA1 region and to a lesser extent, in the dentate gyrus, sparing the CA3 region. And the neuronal death was aggevated by DFMO but significantly attenuated by MGBG. The immunochemical reactivity of hippocampus to anti-GFAP antibody was significantly increased in the CA1 region and to a lesser extent, in the dentate gyrus 7 days after OBC7, but was little changed in the CA3. And the increase of the anti-GFAP immunoreactivity was moderately enhanced by DFMO and significantly suppressed by MGBG. These results suggest that the polyamine metabolism may play a modulatory role in the ischemic brain damage.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.226-234
• /
• 2017

Purpose: With the implementation of the Act on Life Sustaining Treatment, hospice-palliative care will be extended to non-cancer diseases including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there are concerns about negative perceptions and prejudice toward AIDS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related with willingness to volunteer (WV) for patients with end-stage AIDS among hospice volunteers. Methods: Participants were 326 hospice volunteers from 19 institutions. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to investigate the participants' WV for end-stage AIDS patients, and the questions were answered using an 11-point rating scale. Demographics, volunteer activity, satisfaction with hospice volunteering, knowledge of AIDS, and attitudes towards AIDS patients (i.e., fear AIDS patients, negative attitude towards AIDS patients, personal stigmatization and stigmatizing attitude) were also investigated. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with WV for patients with end-stage AIDS. Results: WV for patients with end-stage AIDS was 2.82 points lower than that for cancer patients (P<0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that the higher the level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering (P=0.002) and the lower the level of "personal stigmatization" (P<0.001), participants showed greater WV for end-stage AIDS patients. Conclusion: The level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering and "personal stigmatization" were factors associated with participants' WV for patients with end-stage AIDS.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.234-241
• /
• 2009

Purpose : We investigated the relationship between thyroid hormone and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL-6) and N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). Methods : Serum levels of thyroid hormone, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and NT-proBNP were measured in 52 KD patients in the acute and subacute phase and 10 patients with acute febrile illness (control group). TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Echocardiography was performed to detect coronary artery lesions (CAL) in KD patients. Results : Low $T_3$ syndrome occurred in 63.5% of KD patients. $T_3$ in the acute phase of KD was lower than that in the control. In KD patients, $T_3$ was lowered in the acute phase and elevated in the subacute phase, whereas TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NT-proBNP were elevated in the acute phase and decreased in the subacute phase. NT-proBNP, and IL-6 were higher in patients with low $T_3$ than in those with normal $T_3$. In addition, $T_3$ inversely correlated with IL-6 and NT-proBNP. Of the 4 patients with CAL, 3 had very low $T_3$. Compared with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-responsive patients, IVIG-resistant patients had lower $T_3$ and higher IL-6 and NT-proBNP. Conclusion : $T_3$ decreases in the acute phase of KD and normalizes in the subacute phase without thyroid hormone replacement. Low $T_3$ may be partially induced by IL-6 rather than TNF-${\alpha}$, and is strongly associated with high NT-proBNP. $T_3$ in KD may be used for the differential diagnosis, monitoring the activity of the disease, and predicting the severity of inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.390-394
• /
• 2017

Unexpected antibody screening and identification tests are highly important in the prevention of hemolytic transfusion reactions. Therefore, it is highly recommended to perform unexpected antibody screening test in all transfusion candidates. Here, the frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies identified in Jeju for the past 3 years were evaluated. Between Jan 2014 and Dec 2016, unexpected antibody screening test was performed for 10,360 sera of transfusion candidates in Jeju general hospital using a column agglutination method with the Ortho BioVue system (Ortho-clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA). Eighty-seven (0.84%) of 10,360 cases that underwent unexpected antibiotics screening showed positive results. Among them, unexpected antibodies were identified in 41 cases (0.40%). Unidentified antibodies were detected in 8 cases (19.51%) and autoantibodies were detected in 3 cases (7.32%). The anti-E antibody included in warm antibodies were detected most frequently in 8 cases (19.51%); 6 cases (14.63%) of anti-E + anti-c antibody and 3 cases (7.32%) of $anti-Le^a+anti-Le^b$. $Anti-Le^a$ and $anti-Le^b$ antibodies were detected in 2 cases (4.88%), respectively. The anti-D, $anti-Di^a$, $anti-Fy^b$, $anti-Jk^a$, $anti-Jk^b$, anti-M and anti-P1 were detected in 1 case (2.44%). Complex antibodies were detected in 1 case (2.44%) in anti-C+anti-D and anti-E+anti-c+$anti-Jk^b$, respectively. In this study, we analyzed the frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies in one general hospital for the past 3 years. However, there has been a general increase in multicultural families and foreign workers in Jeju, and it would be a meaningful study to compare the frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.409-420
• /
• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical assessment, panorama & MRI findings and cephalometric characteristics in 42 patients with condylar resorption, who visited in the Department of Oral Medicine Kyungpook National University Hospital at 2006. The results were as follows; 1. Clinical assessment 1) Female was 34 and male was 8, females were predominant. Distribution of age showed as follows; 10s was 14, 20s was 13, 30s was 7, 40s was 3, 50s was 4 and 60s was 1 patient. 10s and 20s were predominant. 2) Most of the patients had parafunctional habit. 2. Findings of panorama & MRI 1) Most of the patients had degree of Grade II condylar resorption by panorama taking. 2) Most of the patients had disc dislocation and belonged to the degree of stage IV by MRI taking. 3. Cephalometric Characteristics 1) SN, SAr and saddle angle in female patients were significantly smaller and SN in male patients showed only significantly smaller than normal group. 2) SNA showed no difference from the normal group in both patients. SNB was smaller and ANB was lager in female patients than normal group. 3) SN-GoMe and FMA increased in patients. 4) Total posterior facial height & ramus height were significantly smaller. 5) Mandibular body length did not show any significant difference.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.67-76
• /
• 2004

Background : Pulmonary hypertension is a poor prognostic factor in patients with chronic respiratory disease. However, diagnosing pulmonary hypertension is a difficult procedure which often requires an invasive test. Thus new alternative biochemical markers would be useful in clinical field and are in search. We sought to assess the role of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Method : We measured plasma NT-proBNP level in twenty nine patients suspected for pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension was defined as being right ventricular systolic pressure more than 35 mm Hg estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma NT-proBNP level was measured by electrochemiluminescence sandwich immunoassay. Results : The log-transformed values for plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a linear correlation (correlation coefficiency: 0.783, p-value <0.001) with right ventricular systolic pressure. Plasma NT-proBNP levels closely correlated with right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, interventricular septal flattening and right ventricular dilatation. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma NT-proBNP level is an useful marker of the presence of pulmonary hypertension.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.192-197
• /
• 2001

Purpose: Urinary cytology and cystoscopic exam are effective methods for diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma(TCC). But the former shows drawbacks such as the need for a well-trained examiner, and wide imprecision related to the variability of microscopic exam; the latter is an invasive method. $UBC^{TM}$ test detects the epitope on specific cytokeratin fragments released from epithelium of bladder cancer by immunoradiometric assay. We compared $UBC^{TM}$ test with urinary cytology for diagnosis of TCC to evaluate the utility of $UBC^{TM}$ test. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with hematuria were included in our study. $UBC^{TM}$ tests (IDL Biotech, Sweden) were assayed in mid-stream urine according to the ordinary assay protocol. Nineteen patients were confirmed as TCC by cystoscopic examination and underwent transurethral resection (Group A). Other patients had various benign urinary tract conditions (Group B). Samples were considered positive as the $UBC^{TM}$ concentration was greater than $12{\mu}g/L$. Results: $UBC^{TM}$ levels were significantly different between group A ($95.9{\pm}166.4\;{\mu}g/L$) and group B ($19.2{\pm}85.6{\mu}g/L$) (P<0.001). Sensitivity for diagnosis of TCC was 89.5% (17/19) in UBC test and 47.4% (9/19) in cytology (p<0.05). Specificity for diagnosis of TCC was 81.5% (53/65) in $UBC^{TM}$ test and 100% (65/65) in cytology. $UBC^{TM}$ test was significantly more sensitive in stage Ta, $T_1$ tumors (84.6 vs 38.5%, p<0.05) and in grade I (83.3% vs 16.7%, p<0.05) than cytology. $UBC^{TM}$ test showed a tendency to be more sensitive as the grade was higher (83.3% in Grade I, 90% in Grade II and 100% in Grade III). Conclusion: $UBC^{TM}$ test could be a useful method in distinguishing TCC from other benign genitourinary diseases. Moreover, $UBC^{TM}$ test could be an especially valuable marker for diagnosis of TCC in patients with early TCC of low grade TCC compared to urinary cytology. Therefore, mbined use of $UBC^{TM}$ test in association with cytology is helpful to overcome the limited sensitivity of cytology.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.175-182
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist(IL-1ra) is an endogenous antiinflammatory agent that binds to IL-1 receptor and thus competitively inhibits the binding of IL-1$\alpha$ and IL-1$\beta$. Allele 2 in association with various autoimmune diseases has been reported. In order to evaluate the influence of IL-1ra gene VNTR polymorphism on the susceptibility to HSP and its possible association with disease severity, manifested by severe renal involvement and renal sequelae, we studied the incidence of carriage rate and allele frequency of the 2 repeats of IL-1ra allele 2($IL1RN^{*}2$) of the IL-1ra gene in children with HSP with and without renal involvement. Methods : The IL-1ra gene polymorphisms were determined in children with HSP with(n=40) or without nephritis(n=34) who had been diagnosed at Busan Paik Hospital and the control groups(n=163). Gene polymorphism was identified by PCR amplification of the genomic DNA. Results : The allelic frequency and carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}1$ were found most frequently in patients with HSP and in controls. The allelic frequency of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in patients with HSP compared to that of controls($4.7\%\;vs.\;2.5\%$, P=0.794). The carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher In patients with HSP compared to that of controls($8.1\%\;vs.\;6.8\%$, P=0.916). The allelic frequency of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in patients with HSP nephritis compared to that of HSP($5.3\%\;vs.\;2.9\%$, P=0.356). The carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}2$ was higher in Patients with HSP nephritis compared to that of HSP($10.0\%\;vs.\;5.9\%$, P=0.523). Among 13 patients with heavy proteinuria(>1.0 g), 11 had $IL1RN^{*}1$, 1 had $IL1RN^{*}2$ and the others had $IL1RN^{*}4$. At the time of last follow up 4 patients had sustained proteinuria and their genotype was $IL1RN^{*}1$. Conclusion : The allelic frequency and carriage rate of $IL1RN^{*}1$ were found most frequently in patients with HSP and in controls. Our study suggests that the carriage rate and allele frequency of the 2-repeats of IL-1lra allele 2($IL1RN^{*}2$) of the IL-1ra gene may not be associated with susceptibility and severity of renal involvement in children with HSP (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:175-182)

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.85-100
• /
• 1986

To evaluate the clinical and pathogenetic roles of TSH receptor antibodies in autoimmune thyroid diseases, TBII were measured by TSH-radioreceptor assay methods in 352 patients with Graves' disease, 108 patients with other thyroid diseases and 69 normal persons. The normal range of TBII activity was less than 15%. The frequencies of detectable TBII in 169 patients with untreated Graves' disease, 31 patients with hyperthyroidism under treatment and 70 patients with euthyrodism under treatment were 92.4%, 87.1% and 54.3% respectively. However 12 (21.8%) out of 55 patients who have been in remission more than one year after discontinuation of antithyroid drugs treatment had detectable TBII activities in their sera. In 196 patients with untreated Graves' disease, the frequency of TBII increased by increasing size of goiter and the frequency of proptosis was significantly high in patients whose TBII activities were more than 60%. TBII activities were roughly correlated with total $T_3,\;T_4$ and free $T_4$ index but low $\gamma^2$ value(less than 0.1). In 67 patients with Graves' disease who were positive TBII before antithyroid drugs treatment, TBII activities began to decrease from the third months and it was converted to negative in 35.8% of patients at 12 months after treatment. There were no significant differences of the declining and disappearing rates of TBII activities between high dose and conventional dose groups. TBII activities were significantly increased initially (2-4 months) and then began to decrease from 5-9 months after $^{131}I$ treatment. There were two groups, one whose TBII activities decreased gradually and the other did not change untill 12 months after subtotal thyroidectomy. Although preoperative clinical and laboratory findings of both groups were not different, TBII activities of non-decreasing group were significantly higher than those of decreasing group$(74.6{\pm}18.6%\;vs\;39.2{\pm}15.2%;\;P<0.01)$. Thirty three(55.9%) out of 59 patients with Graves' disease relapsed within 1 year after discontinuation of antithyroid drugs. The positive rate of TBII at the end of antithyroid drug treatment in relapse group(n=33) was significantly higher than those in remission group (n=26) (63.6% vs 23.1%; P < 0.05). The mean value of TBII activities at the end of antithyroid drug treatment in relapse group was significantly elevated $(29.7{\pm}21.4%\;vs\;14.7{\pm}11.1%,\;P<0.05)$. Positive predictive value of TBII for relapse was 77.8%, which was not different from those of TRH nonresponsiveness(78.6%). The frequencies of detectable TBII in 68 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 10 patients with painless thyroiditis and 5 patients subacute thyroiditis were 14.7%, 20% and 0%, respectively. However in 25 patients with primary nongoitrous myxedema, 11 patients(44%) showed TBII activities in their sera. 9 out of 11 patients who had TBII activities in their sera showed high TBII activities(more than 70% binding inhibition) and their IgG concentrations showing 50% binding inhibition of $^{125}I-bTSH$ to the TSH receptor were ranges of 0.1-2.6 mg/dl. One patient who had high titer of TBII in her serum delivered a hypothyroid baby due to transplacental transfer of maternal TBII. These findings suggested that 1) TSH receptor antibodies are closely related to a pathogenetic factor of Graves' hyperthyroidism and of some patients with primary non-goitrous myxedema, 2) measurement of TSH receptor antibodies is helpful in evaluating the clinical outcome of patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug treatment and in predicting the neonatal transient hypothyroidism of baby delivered from primary myxedema patients. 3) there are 2 or more different types of TSH receptor antibodies in autoimmune thyroid diseases including one which stimulates thyroid by binding to the TSH receptor and another which blocks adenylate cyclase stimulation by TSH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.367-375
• /
• 2002

Background : Murine typhus is a flea-borne, worldwide Rickettsial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi. Its symptoms are typically mild but sometimes can be fatal. The major clinical features include fever, rash, and headache. Recently, we experienced 6 cases of ARDS associated with a Rickettsia typhi infection. This study was aimed to analyze the attributing factors for fatal murine typhus and to review the characteristics of the patients who showed acute respiratory distress syndrome as the initial presentation. Methods : The medical records of 15 patients diagnosed as murine typhus were reviewed. The diagnosis was made by single titers of 1:512 or higher, or a 4-fold rise with compatible clinical features. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) was defined according to the American-European Consensus Conference. The Characteristics between the ARDS group and the non-ARDS group of murine typhus were compared. Results : Six patients developed ARDS as their initial presentation. Two of them were women and three of them had lived urban area. None of Them a showed skin rash. One of them expired during treatment. The time lapse until the commencement of the specific treatment, the lower serum albumin level, the higher serum total bilirubin level, the higher APACHE III score and the higher MOD score were significantly associated with the ARDS group compared to the non-ARDS group. Conclusion : Murine typhus should be considered as one of the etiologies for the ARDS of unknown cause, particularly in an endemic regions. ARDS caused by Murine typhus generally has a good prognosis.