Immune enhancement effect of an herb complex extract through the activation of natural killer cells and the regulation of cytokine levels in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model

Objective: To investigate the effects of a herb complex extract (HCE) prepared from Cornus officinalis Sieb. Et Zucc., Eriobotrya japonica Lindley, and olive leaves on immune response of mouse spleen NK cells in vitro and in vivo analysis. Methods: The activity of natural killer (NK) cells was measured in splenocytes and YAC-1 cells. Mice were immunosuppressed using cyclophosphamide (5 mg/kg body weight). Three different doses of HCE (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight) and red ginseng extract (800 mg/kg body weight) which was used as standard immunomodulatory herb were administered orally for 4 weeks. The body weight, dietary, water intake, organs (liver, thymus, and spleen) weight, completed blood count, and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and interleukin-2) production was measured. Results: At the maximum concentration of HCE, the activity of NK cells was increased by 48.5%. HCE increased liver, spleen, and thymus weights without altering numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model. However, HCE recovered the inhibited cytokine expression; HCE (800 mg/kg) increased cytokines levels. The results indicate the immune enhancement potential of this HCE. Conclusion: The HCE enhances immunity by increasing NK cell activity, regulating cytokine levels, and maintaining spleen weight. Therefore, it may be used as a potential immunity enhancer.

Preoperative MR imaging for differentiation of immature from mature ovarian teratomas / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to differentiate immature from mature ovarian teratomas, using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to evaluate the MR imaging appearance of immature teratomas. METHODS: The patients with pathologic diagnosis of ovarian teratomas between January 1995 and December 2005 were restrospectively reviewed for clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 787 patients studied, 773 (98.2%) patients were mature cystic teratomas and 14 (1.8%) patients were immature teratomas. Ten patients with immature teratoma (71.4%) were diagnosed preoperatively and 4 patients (28.6%) were diagnosed postoperatively. Preoperative MRI was performed in 4of 14 patients surgically proved immature teratomas. At MR imaging, the immature teratomas characteristically have a large, irregular solid component containing coarse calcifications and numerous variable-sized cysts. Small punctuate foci of fat help diagnosing these tumors. CONCLUSION: Preoperative MR imaging are relatively specific in the detection of immature teratomas. This suggests that preoperative MR imaging is helpful in differentiating immature from mature ovarian teratomas.

A case of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome diagnosed by pelvic CT imaging prior to diagnostic laparoscopy / 대한산부인과학회지

Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome is an extrapelvic manifestation of PID. It is associated with right upper quadrant pain that likely results from the inflammation of liver capsule and diaphragm. The liver capsule becomes involved with inflammatory exudates that later forms violin string adhesion between two liver capsule and adjacent diaphragm or peritoneum. Previously, Neisseria gonorrhea was thought to be the only etiological agent, but recent studies have reported cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome due to Chlamydia trachomatis infection. 15 to 30 percents of women with PID develop symptom of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. It is often mistakenly diagnosed as either pneumonia or acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopy may be the definitive method in diagnosis of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome. However, we have experienced one cases of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome, which was diagnosed preoperative by pelvic CT imaging and report with the brief review of the literatures.

Factors Associated with Fear during labor / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant women have various fears and expectations regarding the impending birth. Fears can influence the course of the delivery and post-partum period. The DFS (Delivery Fear Scale) measures fear during labor and delivery in an effortless and fast away. The aim of this study were to compare DFS score and parity, maternal age, history of abortion, baby gender during an early stage of active labor (cervix dilatation 3-5 centimeters). METHODS: Review of the medical records from the department of obstetrics and gynecology from January 2004 to December confirmed 151 patients with the diagnosis of singleton pregnancy without medical or obstetrical complications, being in 37-42 weeks. 86 primiparous and 65 multiparous women answered the Delivery Fear Scale (DFS) once during active labor. Mann-Whitney test was applied to test possible differences between DFS and variable factors. Difference were considered to be statistically significant at p<0.05. RESULTS: Primiparous women had higher scores on the DFS than multiparous women during active labor. But DFS was not associated with maternal age, history of abortion, baby gender during an early stage of active labor. CONCLUSION: Women's psychological experiences during the actual process of labor and delivery are essential part of obstetrical care. Nevertheless, studies examining psychological variables concerning childbirth, are mostly performed before or after labor. The understanding of a fear during labor is to support the woman in labor in a way that decrease fear and the development of the DFS may facilitate future research in the field.

Hydrophobicity Test and DNA Probe Hybridization Assay in the Detection of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The hydrophobicity assay and DNA probe hybridization assay were compared for analysis of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC), heat-labile enterotoxin(LT) and heat-stable enterotoxin (ST). The ETEC isolated from diarrheal patients were serotyped and investigated for the presence of colonization factor antigens CFA/1, CFA/II, CFA/III and CFA/IV with the expression of mannose-resistant hemagglutination(MRHA) and the levels of surface hydrophobicity. The following results were obtained. 1. Out of these 48 strains, 34 strains were found to be positive for LT production by DNA probe hybridization assay. Out of 34 strains, 1 strain was ST producer, 25 strains were LT producers, and 8 strains were produced both ST+LT producers by DNA probe hybridization assay. 2. Out of 34 strains of positive DNA probe hybridization test, 31 strains was positive in the hydrophobicity test. Among strains of positive hydrophobicity test, 20, 1, and 7 strains produced only LT, only ST and both ST-LT, respectively. Screening efficiency for identifying ETEC by salting out test was 82.4% in sensitivity and 78.6% in specificity. For ETEC detection, the hydrophobicity assay was the least sensitive but was simple, rapid and a good substitute for the DNA probe hybridization assay. 4. CFAs were identified in 43.8% of ETEC strains; 2.1% of the CFAs strains with CFAs harbored CFA/I, 29.2% carried CFA/II, 16.7% carried CFA/III and CFA/IV. And 35.4% expressed none of these CFAs. CFA/I was found in ETEC of serotype 0128: K67, CFA/II was 0128: K67, 0142: K+ and 0159: K+, CFA/III was 086a: K15 and 0128: K67, CFA/IV was 0 86a: K15, 0128: K67, 0125: K70 and 0148: K+.

Seizure Induced or Aggravated by Carbamazepine

We experienced 2-cases of epileptic seizures aggravated by CBZ, of one which was 15-year old frontal lobe epileptic and the other was 8-year old occipital lobe epileptic. Their seizures were disappeared by withdrawal of CBZ. In conclusion, if a child or adult is noted to have more seizures or to have a new type of seizure when CBZ is added. One should consider the possibility that the seizures are drug-induced rather than part of the natural course of a progressive epilepsy and promptly withdraw CBZ.

Epileptic Nystagmus Associated with Occipital Lobe Epilepsy

Epileptic seizures of nystagmoid character with the fast -beat to the opposite side of the epileptogenic focus have been described as oculoclonic seizures and epileptic nystagmus. Epileptic nystagmus, especially horizontal, most commonly results from seizure activity involving the occipital cortex, although participation of adjoining portions of the parietal and temporal cortex is possible. The frequency of ictal nystagmus was less than 10% of patients with occipital lobe epilepsy. Although forty-six cases were already reported at the litherature, there was no report in korea. We reported a 20-year old patient who had history of recurrent paroxysmal attacks of epileptic nystagniu, associated with oscillopsia and followed by episodic bilateral blindness and eyelid flutter. Standard and extra occipital electrodes visualized more exact left occipital foci at the videomonitored EEG examination when the patient showed epileptic nystagmus. The ictal Brain SPECT, with the use of 99mTc-HMPAO also localized the seizures to left occipital lobe.

The risk factors of recurrent ischemic stroke / 영남의대학술지

To eveluate the risk factors which are related to recurrence of ischemic stroke, we selected subjects who were admitted to YNUH due to recurrent stroke and compared their risk factors with non-recurred group- who suffered from single ischemic stroke. In the subjects, 55 of them are men and 22 were women and in the non-recurred groups, 84 of them were men and 40 were women, Subject's age ranged from 29 to 86 years(Mean 62. 5years), and non-recurred group's age ranged from 27 to 90 years(Mean 60.7years), Peak incidence of ischemic stroke is in the 7th decade in both groups. Age and sex are not statistically significant for recurrence of ischemic stroke. The patient's history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, transient attack and type or site of ischemic stroke had no significant effect statistically on the recurrent ischemic stroke. However, when the patient had previous history of hypertension or systolic blood pressure more than 160mmHg and diastolic more than 95mmHg, there was substantial difference (P<0.05) between the two group in the recurrence of ischemic stroke. According to the above results, hypertension is most likely significang risk factor of the recurrence of ischemic stroke within 2yeats after initial one. Therefore, adequate treatment of the hypertension is impertant for the prevention of ischemic stroke. Further study is required for searching other risk factors.