Effects of Rhodiola Sachalinensis on Nitric Oxide Synthesis by Macrophages, Hepatocytes, and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells / 대한면역학회지

No abstract available.

Comparative Effects of Paclitaxel and Nitric Oxide on Superficial Murine Bladder Tumor Cells / 대한면역학회지

No abstract available.

Effects of Tetrandrine on the Nitric Oxide Production by Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells of the Rat / 대한면역학회지

No abstract available.

The Role of L-ascorbate on Cell Death Induced by Ultraviolet A in Ciliary Body Epithelium

To evaluate the effect of ascorbate on cell death induced by ultraviolet A, cultured human ciliary body epithelial cells were exposed the UV-A at energy level of 10 and 30J/cm2. Before and after UV-A exposure the experimental group was treated with 250 microgram/ml L-ascorbate while the control group was not. Cell viability was 87.3% in the control group and 97.1% in the experimental group at energy level of 10J/cm2UV-A. Cell viability was decreased to 38.8% in the control group and 73.5% in the experimental group at energy level of 30J/cm2 UV-A. The cells in the experimental group were less affected. This phenomenon was also observed by light microscope. The degree of apoptosis was 4.68% in the control group and 4.11% in the experimental group at the level of 10J/cm2 UV-A. The apoptosis was increased to 11.01% in the control group and 4.16% in the experimental group at the level of 30J/cm2 UV-A. On electron microscope necrosis and apoptosis induced by UV-A were observed in both groups but the degree of cell death was much less in the experimental group. In conclusion, L-ascorbate has a role of decreasing cell death induced by UV-A in ciliary body epithelial cells.

Monitoring of Peak Expiratory Flow Rates during Asthmatic Children's Winter Camp / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: It is important in asthmatic children to encourage ordinary physical activity. However physical activities in winter are limited excessively by their parents for fear of bronchospasm by cold air and exercise. Children's asthma camps help them to learn about asthma management, make new friends with other asthmatic children, have positive attitude about the disease and have a more active lifestyle. But there have been few asthma camps and appropriate asthma camp programs have not been developed in Korea. Our study was done to see how camp programs influenced on asthma patient by measuring of PEFR during camp programs and thereby to have the data be used for future development of asthma camp programs. METHODS: From January 19th to 22th 1998, we recruited for camp 17 asthmatic patients and 31 normal children who had no history of admission due to respiratory infection. The main camp programs consisted of skiing and sledding. PEFR was checked 5 times a day and we analyzed variation of PEFR in relation to daily activities, temperature, humidity of atmosphere. RESULTS: 1) The mean age was 8 years with a range of 5 years to 11 years with male predominance (male/female : 2.4/1) in asthma group and the mean age was 10 years with a range of 5 years to 16 years with female predominance (male/female: 1/2) in control group. 2) The mean PEFR (% predicted) was checked early morning, prior to breakfast, lunchtime, supper and at the end of the day's activities (before sleeping) were 90.43+/-24.15%, 93.48+/-19.42%, 98.99+/-25.89%, 96.77+/-21.23%, 100.9+/-20.86% in asthma group and 93.69+/-16.41%, 94.49+/-17.13%, 94.15+/-17.28%, 96.84+/-16.44%, 96.52+/-16.24% in control group. All values were within normal range and there was no significant change of the mean PEFR value in relation to daily activity. The values of PEFR were low at early morning. We have observed a significant difference of PEFR between early morning and before sleeping in asthma group (P<0.05). 3) In the asthma group, 2 cases had respiratory difficulty prior to lunchtime but symptoms were resolved after bronchodilator nebulization. CONCLUSION: We recommend ski or sledding to be safe as one of the programs for asthma camp but control of asthma attack is needed because lung function is decreased at night and appropriate warming up is needed before cold air sports.

Follow up Study of Outcome in Severe Hyperbilirubinemic Newborns Treated with Exchange Transfusion and Phototherapy / 대한소아신경학회지

PURPOSE: Cerebral palsy or hearing disability of hyperbilirubinemic complication was reduced by blood exchange transfusion(BET) and phototherapy(PT). But in spite of these treatment, abnormal Auditory Brainstem evoked Response(ABR) finding after BET or PT and neurodevelopmental defect due to chronic bilirubin encephalopathy were observed. So we have studied risk factors and outcome of chronic bilirubin encephalopathy after BET, and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: We have analyzed clinical characteristics, the finding and change of ABR after BET in 17 hyperbilirubinemic neonates, and in 8 hyperbilirubinemic neonates who were treated by phototherapy and 15 normal control neonates. RESULTS: 1) Mean bilirubin concentraion were 27.5+/-4.1mg/dL in BET group and 22.1+/-2.3 mg/dL in PT group. There were no difference of clinical findings between BET and PT group. 2) Change of ABR (1) Wave I loss resulted in 4 neonates, wave III loss in 3 neonates, and wave V loss in 2 neonates in BET group(P<0.05). (2) Wave I peak latency and hearing threshold in BET group were significantly increased more than normal control group(P<0.01). 3) In 10 neonates(58.8%) among 17 BET group, 4 neonates(50%) in 8 PT group were observed abnormal initial ABR finding after jaundice treatment. Age at treatment and duration of jaundice(interval between onset of jaundice and treatment) in abnormal ABR group were significant prolongation compared with normal ABR group(P<0.05). 4) Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy(CBE) was observed in 3 neonates(17.6%) among 17 BET group and showed higher of bilirubin level than normalized group after BET (31.1mg/dL vs 26.6mg/dL), other clinical findings showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Bilirubin level was significantly elevated in CBE more than in BET group and duration of jaundice, age at treatment were longer in abnormal ABR group than in normal ABR group. So not only bilirubin level but also duration of jaundice shoud be considered at jaundice treatment, and ABR has a potential utility in detection of acute brain toxicity of bilirubin and follow up evaluation of bilirubin encephalopathy.

MRI Findings of Fibrovascularization in Hydroxyapatite Orbital Implants

To evaluate the degree of fibrovascular ingrowth in hydroxyapatite orbital implant, we performed gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging in 10 eyes elapsed 6 months after hydrovyapatite implantation and on 6 eyes at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months after hydroxyapatite implantation, and calcualted the volume of enhanced area. In 10 eyes elapsed 6months after hydroxyapatite implantation, all showed enhancement over 90%(average, 93.6%). In 6 eyes examined at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months after hydroxyapatite implantation, the average percentage of enhanced area was 73.2% at 1 month, 76.0% at 2 months, 80.0% at 3 months, 89.8% at 4 months, and 92.0% at 6 months. the enhanced volume was over 90% at 4 months after the implantation in almost all cases. In hydroxyapatite orbital implantation done by our modified procedures, we suggest that the drilling for peg placement is possible 4 months after the implantation.

Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity

In order to investigate the risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 153 premature badies alive and born in our hospital between October 1994 and January 1997. We performed analysis on birth weight, gestational age, duration of oxygen therapy, duration of oxygen therapy more than 40 percent, maxinmum and mean value of oxygen pressute and mean value of carbon dioxide pressure from arterial blood gas analysis in the first 2 weeks, the presence of multiple birth, surfactant therapy, corticosteroid therapy, and intraventricular hemorrhage. In univatiate analysis, birth weight, duration of oxygen therapy, value of oxygen pressure and mean value of carbon dioxide pressure from arterial blood gas analysis in the first 2 weeks, surfactant therapy, and corticosteroid therapy were statistically significant(p<0.05). Howeverm, in stepwise logistic regression analysis to correct the correlations in multiple variables, only birth weight and duration of oxygen therapy were significant risk factors in 95% confidence interval( 0.05, p<0.05). Birth weight, duration of oxygen therapy, and maximum value of oxygen pressure from arterial blood gas analysis in the first 2 weeks were significant risk factors in 90% confidence interval( 0.1, p<0.1).

Primary vitrectomy Using Scleral Depressin Technique for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

We performed a primary vitrectimy using scleral depression technique for uncomplicated rhegmetogenous retinal detachment and intended to highlight the importance of scleral depression technique. The indications for the primary vitrectomy were eyes with multiple or posteriorly located retinal breaks, unidentified retinal breaks, vitreous opacities, strong vitreous tractions on the retina tear flap, and aphakic/pseudophakic retinal detachments, Removal of vitreoretinal traction and vitreous base dissection using scleral depression technuque were performed in sixty-eight eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment uncomplicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy of grade C or worse. Scleral segmental buckle or encircling was also placed in 60 of 68 eyes. The retina was reattached after the primary operation in fifty-seven eyes(80.9%), and after reoperations in remaining eleven eyes(19.1%). Postoperative visual acuity was 0.4 or better in thirty-eight eyes (55.9%), and worse than 0.025 in eight eyes(11.8%). Vitrectomy in conjuction with scleral depression technique would be effective in increasing surgical success rate in selected cases of retinal detachment surgery.

Clinical characteristics of CHARGE syndrome

CHARGE syndrome, first described by Pagon, was named for its six major clinical features. They are: coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia of the choanae, retarded growth and development including CNS anomalies, genital hypoplasia and/or urinary tract anomalies, and ear anomalies and/or hearing loss. We experienced three cases of CHARGE syndrome who displayed ocular coloboma, heart defects, retarded growth and development, and external ear anomalies, and we also review the previously reported literature concerning CHARGE syndrome.