To gain information on retrotransposons in the genome of Paragonimus westermani, PCR was carried out with degenerate primers, specific to protease and reverse transcriptase (rt) genes of long-terminal-repeat (LTR) retrotransposons. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced, after which 12 different retrotransposon-related sequences were isolated from the trematode genome. These showed various degrees of identity to the polyprotein of divergent retrotransposon families. A phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that these sequences could be classified into three different families of LTR retrotransposons, namely, Xena, Bel, and Gypsy families. Of these, two mRNA transcripts were detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR, showing that these two elements preserved their mobile activities. The genomic distributions of these two sequences were found to be highly repetitive. These results suggest that there are diverse retrotransposons including the ancient Xena family in the genome of P. westermani, which may have been involved in the evolution of the host genome.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Helminth/analysis ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Genome ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paragonimus/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/chemistry/genetics ; Retroelements/*genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Terminal Repeat Sequences/*genetics

The evolutionary course of the CsRn1 long-terminal-repeat (LTR) retrotransposon was predicted by conducting a phylogenetic analysis with its paralog LTR sequences. Based on the clustering patterns in the phylogenetic tree, multiple CsRn1 copies could be grouped into four subsets, which were shown to have different integration times. Their differential sequence divergences and heterogeneous integration patterns strongly suggested that these subsets appeared sequentially in the genome of C. sinensis. Members of recently expanding subset showed the lowest level of divergence in their LTR and reverse transcriptase gene sequences. They were also shown to be highly polymorphic among individual genomes of the trematode. The CsRn1 element exhibited a preference for repetitive, agenic chromosomal regions in terms of selecting integration targets. Our results suggested that CsRn1 might induce a considerable degree of intergenomic variation and, thereby, have influenced the evolution of the C. sinensis genome.
Animals ; Clonorchis sinensis/*genetics ; DNA, Helminth/analysis/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Gene Dosage ; *Genome ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Retroelements/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Terminal Repeat Sequences/*genetics

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by infection with E. multilocularis metacestode, represents one of the most fatal helminthic diseases. AE is principally manifested with infiltrative, proliferating hepatic mass, resembling primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Sometimes metastatic lesions are found in nearby or remote tissue. AE diagnosis largely depends on imaging studies, but atypical findings of imaging features frequently require differential diagnosis from other hepatic lesions. Serological tests may provide further evidence, while obtaining reliable AE materials is not easy. In this study, alternative antigens, specific to AE were identified by analyzing E. granulosus protoscolex proteins. An immunoblot analysis of E. granulosus protoscolex showed that a group of low-molecular-weight proteins in the range from 14 kDa to 16 kDa exhibited a sensitive and specific immune response to AE patient sera. Partial purification and proteomic analysis indicated that this protein group contained myosin, tubulin polymerization promoting protein, fatty-acid binding protein, uncharacterized DM9, heat shock protein 90 cochaperone tebp P-23, and antigen S. When the serological applicability of recombinant forms of these proteins was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, DM9 protein (rEgDM9) showed 90.1% sensitivity (73/81 sera tested) and 94.5% specificity (172/181 sera tested), respectively. rEgDM9 showed weak cross-reactions with patient sera from the transitional and chronic stages of cystic echinococcosis (3 to 5 stages). rEgDM9 would serve as a useful alternative antigen for serodiagnosis of both early- and advanced-stage AE cases.

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Empyema*

A highly specific antigenic protein of 31 kDa from plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni (sparganum) was obtained by gelatin affinity and Mono Q anion-exchange column chromatography. The purified 31 kDa protein was subjected to N-glycan enzymatic digestion for structural analysis. The relative electrophoretic mobility was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, before and after digestion. On SDS-PAGE after enzymatic digestion, the 31 kDa protein showed a molecular shift of approximately 2 kDa, which indicated the possession of complex N-linked oligosaccharides (N-glycosidase F sensitive) but not of high-mannose oligosaccharides (endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H, non-sensitive). Chemically periodated 31 kDa protein showed statistically non-significant changes with human sparganosis sera by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Therefore, the dominant epitopes of the 31 kDa molecule in human sparganosis were found to be mainly polypeptide, while N-glycans of the antigenic molecule in sparganum was minimal in anti-carbohydrate antibody production.
Animals ; Antigens, Helminth/*analysis/chemistry/immunology/metabolism ; Carbohydrates/analysis/immunology ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes/analysis/immunology ; Glucosaminidase/metabolism ; Human ; Peptide-N4- (N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase/metabolism ; Periodic Acid/chemistry ; Sparganosis/*parasitology ; Sparganum/immunology/metabolism ; Spirometra/immunology/*metabolism ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometra erinacei plerocerciod (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from February 1987 to September 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-spaganum antibody together with anti-Taenia solium metacestode, and anti-Paragonimus westermani antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5%(standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam province. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. Odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda

Heterotopic panereas is pancreactie tissue occuring outside its normal anatomical location and without any connection and normal pancreas and it is a developmental anormaly. The most commen site is stomach(esp. greater curvature of the antrum), duodenum and jejunum, In majority of cases heterotopic pancreas does not produce symptoms. When it produces complications, the symptoms depend on the site of lesion and the size of mass. Pathologically, the heterotopic pancreatic tissue is subject to all the lesions found in the normally placed pancreas. Tbe smooth broad base intramural defect with central niche ie typical radiologic fiadings of heterotoPic pancreas. Gastrofiberscopy revealed a small round, submucosal projection with a central umblication. The lesions are frequently confused with polys, lymphoma, in.tramural neoplasm and gastric uleer. Accurate diagnosis may prevent needless surgical procedures. Three cases of heterotopic pancreas of stomach were reported and the pertinent literature were reviewed briefly.
Diagnosis ; Duodenum ; Jejunum ; Lymphoma ; Pancreas* ; Stomach*

No abstract available.
Antibodies, Neutralizing* ; Feces* ; Rotavirus*

The purpose of this paper was to report a successful treatment of transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis (NYE) for branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) with visible emboli. Two patients with acute, severe vision loss secondary to a branch retinal artery occlusion with visible emboli in one eye underwent NYE. A complete ocular examination was performed which included biomicroscopy of the posterior pole of the retina, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photographs, and fluorescein angiography (FA). After the NYE, the two patients showed dramatic improvements in best-corrected visual acuity, as well as, immediate and dramatic restorations in flow past the obstructed arteriole in FA. NYE is a treatment modality to be considered in patients with BRAO who present acutely with severe vision loss and a visible embolus.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Lasers, Solid-State/*therapeutic use ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/diagnosis/*surgery ; Thrombectomy/*methods ; Visual Acuity

Bilateral breast cancer is not a common clinical problem, and its occurance is not suprising in this paired organ. Bilateral breast cancer is categorized as synchronous or metachronous. We propose to evaluate clinical and biological characteristics in bilateral breast cancer. Previous cancer in one breast is the strongest known risk factor for cancer to develop in the second breast, and a young age at dignosis of a breast cancer and lobular type of tumor are additional risk factors related to bilaterality. Seventeen cases of bilateral breast cancer have been admitted to the department of General surgery, Samsung Cheil general Hospital from 1980 till 1995. We report the analysis of these cases with the references. The incidence of bilateral breast cancer among all case of total breast cancer was 2.1%(17/827). Synchronous breast cancer was 3 cases(0.4%) and metachronous breast cancer was 14cases (1.7%). The median age was 41 years. The mean age at diagnosis of the primary tumor in the metachronous group was 40 years. Among metachronous cases, the mean interval between the treatment of the primary cancer and the detection of secondary cancer was 37months. The clinical stage was 0-I in 12%, II in 50%, III in 32%, and IV in 6% of tumors. The majority of patients (88%) were clinically node positive. Out of a total of 34 tumors, the clinical tumor size Tis-T1 in 8 tumors, T2 in 21 tumors, and T3 in 5 tumors. Histopathologic type of the pimary tumor was the same with the second in 70%(12/17). The location of secondary breast cancer was in the upper outer quadrant in 9 cases, and in the upper medial quadrant of breast in 2 cases. The premenopausal primary cancer was in 50% of the patients, and postmenopausal primary cancer was in 50% of patients for whom this information was available. Median survival period was 57 months, and 5 year survival rate was 80%. Bilateral breast cancers have similar biological features to unilateral breast cancer more freqently than would be predicted by chance alone. The similarity in clinical aspects of unilateral and bilateral breast cancers should be considered in clinical management of patients with breast cancer. Further investigation is required to know these similaritics and differences between unilateral and bilateral breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Population Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate