The characterization of genetic variation at the level of DNA has generated significant advances in gene mapping and disease diagnosis, and forensic identification of individuals. It is now possible to identify individual DNA from various tissue specimens, like hair, using the PCR and oligonucleotide probes. To date, however, the number of hairs needed, the preservation conditions, and the kinds of hair suitable for DNA extraction have not been well known. We performed DNA extraction using hairs from different body sites, using different numbers of hairs, under various different preservation conditions to investigate the acquisition conditions of DNA data from hair using PCR and specific HLA-DQA probe. HLA-DQA genotyping of DNA extracted from peripheral blood was performed to compare the results of hair and blood HLA-DQA genotyping from individuals. The results are as follows: 1) The concentration of DNA extracted from a single strand of hair is 5.23+/-0.54 g/ml. It is possible to extract sufficient DNA for HLA-DQA genotyping from a single strand of hair. 2) DNA concentration is different according to body site. Concentrations are 7.01+/-0.33 g/ml in scalp hair, 6.28+/-0.29 g/ml in axillary hair, and 6.10+0.24 microgram/ml in pubic hair. 3) There is no difference between the electrophortic bands resulting from DNA extracted from the hair of an individual preserved under different conditions, such as room temperature, exposure to sunlight, exposure to low temperature (+4degrees C), or exposure to moisture. 4) There is no difference between the electrophoretic bands resulting from DNA extracted from hair of a single individual preserved for different lengths of time. 5) In an individual, the HLA-DQA genotype obtained from peripheral blood is identical to that obtained from hair. Even though the amout of DNA obtained from hair is limited, it is possible to identify the HLA-DQA genotype of an individual using a single strand of hair. This requires adequate extraction of DNA for PCR analysis using an allele specific probe. We believe that HLA-DQA genotyping using the PCR method on DNA extracted from hair is useful for disease diagnosis and forensic science.
Alleles ; Chromosome Mapping ; Diagnosis ; DNA* ; Forensic Sciences ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Hair* ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Scalp ; Sunlight

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Female* ; Humans

Rehmannia glutinosa is a perennial medicinal plant belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae with more than 300 species known in the world, especially in temperate regions. Its roots have been used widely in Korea for medicinal purposes. However, it is commonly infected by various pathogens during storage, causing great damage to the roots, and impedes the intensive farming of the crop. Therefore, an attempt has been made to isolate and screen a resistance gene against the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum using differential display. We treated salicylic acid (SA), and isolated a resistance gene that responds to SA. As a result, we found that SA was involved in plant defense mechanism in pathogenicity tests with SA treated and non-treted plants, and we isolated a partial PR-la gene through differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) method.
Fusarium ; Humans ; Korea ; Plants ; Plants, Medicinal ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rehmannia* ; Salicylic Acid* ; Scrophulariaceae ; Virulence

No abstract available.
Dyskeratosis Congenita*

Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute febrile disease caused by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, and which has been reported with increasing frequency thorough the nation since 1986. We experienced 21 cases of Tsutsugamushi Disease diagnosed with serologic test occurring in Taegu city and Kyungpook province during October-November, 1989. The results of survey are as follow. 1) Of 21 cases, 12 (57%) were males and 9 (43%) were females, and the peak incidence was the 4th decade. 2) The outbreak was in October to November and the peak incidence was in October. 3) The most frequent symptoms were fever and chill (100%), myalgia (95%), headache (90%), Eschar and rash were observed in 18 patients (86%) and the eschar was detected in all over the body, especially thorax (33%) and lower extremity (22%). 4) Laboratory features were SGOT elevation (83%), SGPT elevation (61%), LDH elevation (67%), leukocytosis (38%). 5) Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was done in 18 patients and the antibody titer was above 1:320 in all patients. 6) The chloramphenicol, tetracycline or doxycycline regimens were very effective and mean duration of defervescence from initiation of therapy was 1.3 days. 7) The complication such as meningitis or shock, was not seen.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Chloramphenicol ; Daegu ; Doxycycline ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytosis ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Meningitis ; Myalgia ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus* ; Serologic Tests* ; Shock ; Tetracycline ; Thorax

Brown tumor of bone is a severe form of skeletal complication in patients with hyperparathyroidism. The main sites of involvement are the mandible, sternum, ribs, pelvis and femur. Involvement of the spine is less common. We report here a case of brown tumor of the spine that developed in a patient with right parathyroid adenoma.
Femur ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Mandible ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Pelvis ; Ribs ; Spine* ; Sternum

The hemostatic effect of endoscopic microwave coagulation method for upper gastrointestinal bleeding was evaluated clinically. Hemostasis over 72 hours was achieved in 18 of 20 cases (90%) with upper gastrointestinal bleeding by the endoscopic microwave coagulation method. It is noteworthy that this method was effective in all 4 cases of pulsatile bleeding from exposed vessels. We conclude that this method is useful for emergency endoscopic hemostasis on upper gastrointestinal bleeding, especially bleeding from exposed vessels.
Emergencies ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Microwaves*

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count

No abstract available.
Dilatation, Pathologic*

No abstract available.
Vena Cava, Superior*