Cell type-specific upregulation of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate and protein kinase C-alpha, -beta I, -beta II, and -delta in microglia following kainic acid-induced seizures

Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a widely distributed protein kinase C (PKC) substrate and has been implicated in actin cytoskeletal rearrangement in response to extracellular stimuli. Although MARCKS was extensively examined in various cell culture systems, the physiological function of MARCKS in the central nervous system has not been clearly understood. We investigated alterations of cellular distribution and phosphorylation of MARCKS in the hippocampus following kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. KA (25 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to eight to nine week-old C57BL/6 mice. Behavioral seizure activity was observed for 2 h after the onset of seizures and was terminated with diazepam (8 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were sacrificed and analyzed at various points in time after the initiation of seizure activity. Using double-labeling immunofluorescence analysis, we demonstrated that the expression and phosphorylation of MARCKS was dramatically upregulated specifically in microglial cells after KA-induced seizures, but not in other types of glial cells. PKC alpha, beta I, beta II and delta, from various PKC isoforms examined, also were markedly upregulated, specifically in microglial cells. Moreover, immunoreactivities of phosphorylated MARCKS were co-localized in the activated microglia with those of the above isoforms of PKC. Taken together, our in vivo data suggest that MARCKS is closely linked to microglial activation processes, which are important in pathological conditions, such as neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

The Agreements between FEV1 and PEFR in the Patients of Mild Bronchial Asthma / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown considerable disagreement when using the FEV1 and PEFR to assess the severity of an airflow obstruction. A differential classification of the severity of asthma would lead to serious differences in the evaluation and management of asthma. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the FEV1 and PEFR in asthma patients with mild symptoms. METHODS: In this study, the PEFR and FEV1 were obtained from 92 adult asthma patients with mild symptoms attending an outpatient pulmonary clinic. The mean differences and the limits of agreement in the paired measurements of the FEV1 and PEFR were calculated. RESULTS: There was a considerable correlation between the FEV1 and PEFR measurements when expressed as a % of the predicted values (r=0.686, p<0.01). The 95% limit of agreement (mean difference +/-1.96SD) between the FEV1 % and PEFR % were acceptable(-27.4%~33.8%). In addition, the weighted k(kappa) coefficient for the agreement between the FEV1 % and PEFR % was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.63-0.81), indicating excellent agreement between the two measurements. CONCLUSION: The spirometer (FEV1) and the Mini-Wright peak flow meter (PEFR) can be used interchangeably in adult asthma patients with mild symptom.

Twenty cases of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: A single center retrospective study / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is an uncommon pulmonary disease. It could be occurred by diverse causes with the different response to the treatment. However, the clinical features of DAH have not been well known in Korea. METHODS: Twenty cases identified as DAH between March of 1990 and July of 2000 at a university affiliated hospital were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median age was 45 yr (range: 18~73 yr) with 11 females. Diagnosis was made by clinical and radiologic findings including hemoptysis, newly developed anemia, and diffuse bilateral lung opacities with the continuous bloody lavage fluid or bloody bronchial aspirate on bronchoscopy. The mean APACHE III score was 50.8 (+/-26.7) points. Hemoptysis prior to admission was observed in 8 (40%) patients. Diffuse crackles were heard on the bilateral lung fields in 18 cases. On chest radiographs, diffuse ground glass appearance and/or confluent air space consolidation with ill defined irregular margin were mainly observed. In patients with DAH the hemoglobin level fell a mean of 2.0 (+/-0.8) g/dL. Fourteen (70%) patients received mechanical ventilation due to the respiratory failure. Six patients (30%) were dead during admission. Among these patients, 4 patients were dead due to refractory respiratory failure with continuous DAH. The bleeding tendency such as disseminated intravascular coagulation or low platelet count was higher in dead patients than the survivors (p=0.018). The survivors of DAH with noninfectious causes showed better responses to immunosuppressive drugs with/without plasmapheresis compared to nonsurvivors (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: DAH was prone to develop acute respiratory failure and needed mechanical ventilation frequently. However, DAH of non-infectious causes showing a good response to the immunosuppresive therapy would have a better prognosis. In addition, DAH would have a worse prognosis in cases of combined bleeding tendency.