ABSTRACT
We developed a program to estimate an examinee s ability in order to provide freely available access to a web-based computerized adaptive testing (CAT) program. We used PHP and Java Script as the program languages, PostgresSQL as the database management system on an Apache web server and Linux as the operating system. A system which allows for user input and searching within inputted items and creates tests was constructed. We performed an ability estimation on each test based on a Rasch model and 2- or 3-parametric logistic models. Our system provides an algorithm for a web-based CAT, replacing previous personal computer-based ones, and makes it possible to estimate an examinee's ability immediately at the end of test.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cats , Humans , APACHE , Database Management Systems , Indonesia , Logistic ModelsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We considered two possible mechanisms that might be responsible for the increased accumulation of lysozyme in retinoic acid (RA)-deficient cultures, either increased lysozyme synthesis or decreased lysozyme degradation based on our previous data. This study was to determine whether the synthesis and decay rate of intracellular lysozyme in RA-sufficient cultures are different from those in RA-deficient cultures. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Passage-2 normal human airway epithelial cells were used. For synthesis rate of lysozyme, day 10 RA-deficient and RA-sufficient cultures, incubated over 6 hour period with 35S-methionine-cysteine and cell lysates, were collected. For decay rate, day 10 cultures grown in the presence or absence of RA were labeled with 35S-methionine-cysteine for 4 hours and the labeling media were then removed. Cell extracts were collected over 8 hours. Newly synthesized or labeled lysozyme was immunoprecipitated with anti-lysozyme antibody and separated by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: Lysozyme synthesis rate in RA-sufficient cultures was higher than in RA-deficient cultures. In the RA-deficient cultures, the levels of newly synthesized lysozyme barely changed over the 8 hour post-labeling period. In contrast, in the RA-sufficient cultures, radiolabeled lysozyme levels decreased rapidly during the 8 hour post-labeling period, with a half-life of approximately 6 hours. CONCLUSION: Discrepancy in mRNA and protein of lysozyme in RA-deficient cultures is due to the increased stability of lysozyme protein in RA-deficient cultures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Extracts , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Epithelial Cells , Half-Life , Muramidase , RNA, Messenger , TretinoinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of mucin and lysozyme in passage-2 normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells with those in human in vivo nasal epithelium and human tracheal RNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell lysates and total RNA from passage-2 NHNE cells, and human in vivo nasal epithelial cells were obtained. The amount of mucin and lysozyme protein was measured by immunoblotting. and qualitative RT-PCR was done to investigate the expression of mucin mRNAs and lysozyme mRNA. RESULTS: Passage-2 NHNE cells contained 16% of mucin and 76% of lysozyme when compared to the amount of intracellular mucin and lysozyme of normal in vivo nasal epithelial cells. MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC7, MUC8 and lysozyme mRNAs were expressed in passage-2 NHNE cells. However, MUC2 and MUC5B mRNAs were not expressed. CONCLUSION: Passage-2 NHNE cells contain enough amount of mucin and lysozyme protein and express most mRNAs of secretory genes which are known to be expressed in the human airway. Thus, we find passage-2 NHNE cells to be suitable for conducting studies on secretions in the human upper airway.
Subject(s)
Humans , Epithelial Cells , Immunoblotting , Mucins , Muramidase , Nasal Mucosa , RNA , RNA, MessengerABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Retinoic acid (RA)-deprived cultures of normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells became squamous metaplastic, failed to produce mucin and instead secreted or released large amounts of lysozyme (LZ). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between RA-deficiency induced squamous metaplasia and increased LZ as a function of time. MATERIALS AND METHOD:The change of lysozyme protein and lysozyme mRNA was investigated over time in cultures using passage-2 normal human tracheobronchial epithelial (NHTBE) cells and passage-2 normal human keratinocytes (NHK). The amount of lysozyme and mucin was measured with dot blot, message of lysozyme with RT-PCR, and cornifin mRNA with Northern blot. RESULTS: Lysozyme message levels were consistently higher in RA-sufficient than RA-deficient cultures. Intracellular and extracellular LZ increased to a peak on the day 16 and thereafter decreased in the RA-deficient cultures. LZ gene expression in the RA-deficient cultures was barely detectable on the day 7 but was clearly expressed between days 10 and 14, but thereafter message levels decreased markedly. On day 12, large numbers of cells began to exfoliate in the RA-deficient cultures. Extracellular LZ appeared simultaneously at the apical surface, presumably released from the exfoliated cells, which contained high concentrations of LZ. Intracellular LZ levels were more than 11 fold less in NHK cells compared to NHTBE cells. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that cellular accumulation of lysozyme protein is a unique feature of metaplastic squamous differentiation. Further studies are needed to find out what mechanisms are involved.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blotting, Northern , Epithelial Cells , Gene Expression , Keratinocytes , Metaplasia , Mucins , Muramidase , RNA, Messenger , TretinoinABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Basic epidemiologic investigations are important given the need for prevention and proper treatment of the patient with allergic disease. However, basic epidemiologic data of allergic disease in Korea are rarely found. Especially, data about school children in the rural areas of Korea are not found in the review of literature. We attempted to obtain epidemiological data of allergic diseases, such as prevalence rate, skin test results and family history, in school children living in the rural area of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed statistical analysis of 13,160 students who responded to the questionnaire concerning several allergic symptoms and family history. Of these 13,160 students, 171 students were given skin tests, and their results were also statistically analyzed. RESULTS AND SUMMARY: The percentage of students who had ever suffered from allergic diseases were as follows: atopic dermatitis (11.2%), urticaria (31.3%), asthma (11.1%), and allergic rhinitis (28.5%). The prevalence rate of allergic disease at the point of study performed were as follows: atopic dermatitis (1.5%), urticaria (4.7%), asthma (2.2%), and allergic rhinitis (5.3%). Students with allergic symptoms showed positive skin test results (64.7%). The most common allergen causing the allergic symptoms were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Seasonal predominance was prominent in the winter (33.8%) for students who have allergic rhinitis.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Humans , Asthma , Dermatitis, Atopic , Dermatophagoides farinae , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Epidemiologic Studies , Epidemiology , Korea , Prevalence , Surveys and Questionnaires , Rhinitis , Seasons , Skin Tests , UrticariaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Paranasal sinus mucocele is a slowly expanding benign lesion which can occur as a result of trauma, spontaneous obstruction of sinus ostium or ostial tract. Since it may destruct the adjacent bony structures by pressure, early diagnosis and proper treatment are necessary. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of primary paranasal sinus mucoceles, and to compare the treatment results of external and transnasal approaches based on the rates of complications and recurrences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty one cases of primary paranasal sinus mucocele diagnosed at Severance Hospital from January 1988 to September 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty one cases were approached transnasally, 7 cases by external approach and 3 cases by sublabial approach. The most common site of origin was ethmoid sinus and proptosis was the most common presenting feature. Among the mucoceles of frontal and frontoethmoid sinuses, there was no difference in the rates of recurrences or complications between the two different approach methods. CONCLUSION: Primary paranasal sinus mucocele occurs most commonly in the ethmoid sinus, and the endonasal approach is considered to be effective for the initial treatment of primary paranasal sinus mucoceles.
Subject(s)
Early Diagnosis , Ethmoid Sinus , Exophthalmos , Mucocele , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Airway hypersecretion is a frequent feature of several respiratory tract diseases including rhinitis, sinusitis, and otitis media. Efforts are being made in several laboratories to elucidate mechanisms involved in the regulation of secretion. There are several factors which modulate expression of the secretory phenotype, such as retinoic acid (RA), triiodothyronine, steroid, and extracellular matrix. We have been interested in elucidating the role of retinoids in regulating differentiation of mucin and non-mucin secretions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retinoic acid was removed from the culture media of normal human tracheobronchial epithelial cells grown in the air-liquid interface cultures. The effects on cell phenotype and mucin, lysozyme (LZ), and the secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) secretion and gene expression were examined. RESULTS: Removal of RA from the media induced squamous differentiation and caused a drastic decrease in mucin secretion and a decrease in expression of the mucin genes, MUC2 and MUC5AC. Lysozyme and SLPI secretions were increased in RA-depleted cultures. Paradoxically, LZ mRNA was decreased, while the SLPI mRNA levels were increased. A most intriguing finding was the paradoxical response of LZ to RA-depletion. The reason for this apparant incongruity between mRNA and protein levels is currently under investigation. CONCLUSION: Our studies show that RA is an important factor for mucous differentiation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Culture Media , Epithelial Cells , Epithelium , Extracellular Matrix , Gene Expression , Mucins , Muramidase , Otitis Media , Phenotype , Respiratory Tract Diseases , Retinoids , Rhinitis , RNA, Messenger , Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor , Sinusitis , Tretinoin , TriiodothyronineABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha plays a critical role in normal host resistance to infections and to the growth of malignant tumor. Among its actions, the induction of the cytokines and the involved factors in the inflammatory reaction is the most important action of TNF-alpha. Until now, the functional role of TNF-alpha has been intensively studied, but the morphological effects on epithelial cells by it was not. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the ultrastructural changes of cultured human nasal epithelial cell(HNEC) by TNF-alpha. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HNEC culture was done as floating method and the epithelial cells on the floating 14th day were cultured in the culture media containing TNF-alpha(0.1, 1, 10, 100ng/ml) for 48 hours. The observation was done with scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and transmission electron microscopy. For the quantitation of area of ciliated and secretory epithelial cells, SEM photo(1000 magnification) was taken and each area per 60nm 2 was calculated. RESULTS: The ultrastructural changes were observed from 1 ng/ml through 100 ng/ml TNF-alpha and the changes(damage of cilia, increase of mitochondria, intracellular vacuole, increase of intercellular space and the increase of secretory epithelial cell area) were similar to the inflammatory changes in vivo. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the ultrastructural changes of culture HNECs are induced by TNF-alpha. The study on the reversibility of the changes and the estimation of size and numbers of cells with be required.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cilia , Culture Media , Cytokines , Epithelial Cells , Extracellular Space , Microscopy, Electron , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Mitochondria , Necrosis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , VacuolesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This is study of whether 3-D conformal radiotherapy for carcinomas of the ethmoid sinus were better than those treated with conventional 2-D plan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3-D conformal treatment plans were compared with conventional 2-D plans in 4 patients with malignancy of the ethmoid sinus. Isodose distribution, dose statistics, and dose volume histogram of the planning target volume were used to evaluate differences between 2-D and 3-D plans. In addition, the risk of radiation exposure of surrounding normal critical organs are evaluated by means of point dose calculation and dose volume histogram. RESULTS : 3-D conformal treatment plans for each patient that the better tumor coverages by the planning target volume with improved dose homogeneity, compared to 2-D conventional treatment plans in the same patient. On the other hand, the radiation dose distributions to the surrounding normal tissue organs, such as the orbit and optic nerves are not significantly reduced with our technique, but a substantial sparing in the brain stem and optic chiasm for each patient. CONCLUSION : Our findings represented the potential advantage of 3-D treatment planning for dose homogeniety as well as sparing of the normal tissue surrounding the tumor. However, further investigational studies are required to define the clinical benefit.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain Stem , Ethmoid Sinus , Hand , Optic Chiasm , Optic Nerve , Orbit , Radiotherapy, ConformalABSTRACT
This paper analyzed the relationship among the differential diagnosis, treatment, and results for allergic rhinitis using the covariance structural model. The data were collected from 274 patients with suspected allergic rhinitis who visited the Otorlaryngology Department of the Paik Hospital during 1991-1993. After each patient's characteristics was categorized and combined into several common factors, covariance structure analysis was performed to analyze the structural relationships among the differential diagnosis, treatment, and results of treatment using the significant factors obtained from discriminant analysis. The significant characteristics influenced the diagnosis were the results of skin test from mite/animal, and from mugworts, the results from laboratory tests, rhinorrhea and sneezing, and nasal polyps. The significant characteristics that influenced the method of treatment were: nasal polyps, headache/general symptom, family history/medication, and septal deviation. Headache/general symptom was the only significantly influencing factor for the treatment results.
Subject(s)
Humans , Diagnosis, Differential , Discriminant Analysis , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Models, Structural , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosisABSTRACT
This paper deals with the problem of improving the capability of the medical decision support system (MDSS) for diagnosing nasal allergy by integrating the previously developed expert system with the neural network approach. Three knowledge acquisition methods were used to develop the expert system: statistical, rule-based, and the combined approach. Among the three, a combined approach showed the best prediction rate based on discriminant analysis. Using the results of a combined approach as input values, the neural network was developed using back-propagation method. Unlike the expert system, the neural network system provides the resulting allergy status in probabilistic terms. Managerial as well as legal issues were also discussed in this paper.
Subject(s)
Humans , Decision Support Techniques , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/diagnosis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosisABSTRACT
No abstract available.