The Seroepidemiologic Study for Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I(HTLV-I) Infection in Residents of Cheju-Do / 감염

BACKGROUND: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is a retrovirus that has been identified as a cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV-I infection is highly endemic in the southwestern islands of Japan, Caribbean basin, South America, and Africa. In 1993, we showed that the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I was 0.13% among blood donors in Korea, but surprisingly, 0.80% in Cheju-Do adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. So this study was designed to reevaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I among residents in Cheju-Do. METHODS: Total 2,372 residents in Cheju-Do were tested from December 1995 to March 1996. Anti-HTLV-I antibodies were detected by the microtiter particle agglutination test. RESULTS: Among total 2,372 residents, 19 were anti-HTLV-I positive. So the overall positive rate of anti-HTLV-I antibodies was 0.80%. The positive rate in females was higher than in males (0.82% vs 0.78%). The positive rate was 1.45% in the age group of 20-29 years, 1.41% in 40-49 years, 0.91% in 0-9 years, 0.70% in 30-39 years, and 0.54% in 50-59 years. The mean age of seropositive cases is 35.2 in males and 35.4 in females, with a mean of 35.3. Geographically, high positive rate was observed in Sogwipo-City (1.37%) and Namcheju-Gun (0.83%) compared to those of Pukcheju-Gun (0.64%) and Cheju-City (0.61%), which showed high seroprevalence in districts adjacent to endemic areas of Japan. Any specific risk factors or associated disorders of HTLV-I infection could not be found among the seropositive cases. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of antibodies to HTLV-I in Cheju-Do was noted to be very high by the microtiter particle agglutination test. So henceforth serosurvey by confirmative laboratory tests is needed, and if high seroprevalence is showed from it, screening of blood donors for HTLV-I in Cheju-Do should be considered to prevent transfusion-associated HTLV-I infection.

A Case of the Os Odontoideum Associated Neurological Syndromes

The Os odontoideum is a rare congenital disorder which is due to non fusion of axis and odontoid process so that seperation of odontoid process occurs. It causes various neurological syndrome because of atlantoaxial dislocation due to bony defect. To our knowledge, this type of malformation in a narrow sense has been reported only three cases in the world literature, and there are no reports of this malformation in Korea. With reviewing some of literatures, We present a case of the Os odontoideum which was confirmed by operation.

Increased Plasma B-Endorphin in Patients with Cerebral Thrombosis

We measured plasma B-Endorphin in 10 patients with cerebral thrombosis, with comparing normal control group and obtained the following results. 1. The mean value of plasma B-Endorphin was 6.173+0.335 pmol/l in normal control male group and 4.55+0.443 pmol/l in normal control female group. 2. The level of plasma B-Endorphin was increased as mean value was 29.2 pmol/o in acute phase of cerebral thrombosis and it showed significant statistical difference. 3. Measurement on convalescent phase in patient with cerebral thrombosis also increased significantly compared with normal control group, but reduced significantly compared with patients in acute phase.

Effect of Ketamine on the Isolated Uterus of Guinea Pig / 대한마취과학회지

Postpartum bleeding of the uterus is an important cause of maternal death. It is thought that the inhibitory effect of the majority of potent inhalation anesthetics on uterine contraction is often responsible (Munson, 1970; Lim et al., 1971; Kim, 1972). There have been numerous reports that ketamine stimulates uterine contraction clinically Chodoff and Stella, 1966; Little et al, 1972; Galbert and Gardner, 1973; Corssen, 1974). Jawalekar and associates(1972) reported that ketamine increased resting tension, contractile amplitude and frequency of the uterine strips of pregnant mice. And Kim(1975) reported research on the effects of ketamine on the isolated uterus of rabbits. According to Kim(1975), ketamine exerted .a stimulatory action on the uterus under the influence of progesterone. This progesterone-depenent uterine stimulatory action of ketamine is not concerned with adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms but appears to have a direct effect on the uterine muscle. The present study was undertaken to determine whether or not ketamine also exerted a stimlatory action on the uterus of the guinea pig and to follow up whether or not stimulatory action of ketamine also depends upon progesterone in the guinea pig. Adult female non-pregnant guinea pigs and rabbits weighing approximately 0, 5 kg and 2. 0 kg respectively were employed in this experiment. At the end of 10 to 14 days following bilateral oophorectomy, non-pregnant guinea pigs and rabbits were injected intramusculary with estradiol benzoate (2,000 I.U./kg) or progesterone (Smg/kg) once a day for four consecutive days, A uterine strip, about 1.5~2,0cm in length, was carefully isolated from the experimental animals and suspended in a muscle chamber containing 50 ml of Lockes solution, maintained at constant temperature of 38C. It was aerated with 100% oxygen bubbling through the bathing fluid by means of a sintered glass plate at the bottom of the muscle chamber. One end of the uterine strip was attached to the bottom of the muscle chamber and the other end to a lever. Motility and tonus were recorded on kymograph paper. After being washed several times with fresh Locke's solution, the uterine strip attained a constant motility and tonus. Ketamine then was added in various concentrations to the chamber. The results are as follows: 1. The uterine mctility of guinea pig shows a higher amplitude and lower frequency compared with that of rabbit. 2. Effects of ketamine on isolated uterine strips of guinea pig pre-treated with estrogen showed no change using 1~20 gamma/ml of ketamine, but with 50 gamma/ml or more, the amplitude of uterine contractions was depressed. 3. On isolated uterine strips of guinea pig pre-treated with progesterone, there was no effect with 1100 gamma/ml of ketamine, depressed amplitude of uterine contractions with 150 gamma/ml and markedly depressed amplitude of uterine contraction with 200 gamma/ml. 4. On isolated uterine strips of rabbit pre-treated with estrogen, there was no effect with 20 gamma/ml of ketamine, but depressed amplitude of uterine contraction using 50 gamma/ml. 5. On isolated uterine strips of rabbit pretreated with progesterone, there was an increase in amplitude and frequency of uterine contractions with up to 150 gamma/ml of ketamine, but depressed amplitude with 200 gamma/ml or more. From the above results it may be concluded that ketamine exerted a stimulatory action on the uterus of rabbit under the influence of progesterone but not on the uterus of guinea pig. The large amount of ketamine depressed the amplitude of uterine contraction in guinea pig and rabbit and this depressing dose is higher in the animals (guinea pig and rabbit) pre-treated with pr ogesterone than with estrogen.