BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to compare the suitability of repetitive-PCR genomic fingerprinting procedures to investigate genetic relatedness of the genus Vibrio and its applicability for the molecular identification of Vibrio vulnificus. METHODS: Forty-eight Vibrio strains were included for this study. REP-, ERIC-, BOX- and SERE-PCR were compared with 13 members of the genus Vibrio. RESULTS: REP-, BOX- and SERE-PCR showed V. vulnificus strains could not be separated well from other Vibrio species. However, approximately 320 bp of highly discriminatory specific fragments was recovered from V. vulnificus strains by ERIC-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: ERIC-PCR could be used as rapid classification and identification methods of V. vulnificus from other members of the genus Vibrio.
Classification* ; Dermatoglyphics* ; Vibrio vulnificus ; Vibrio*

BACKGROUND: While aggrecanases (aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2) are substantially responsible for cartilage aggrecan breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not much information is available on the regulation or expression of the two key aggrecanases in rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The aim of this study is to determine the effect of hypoxia and several cytokines on the expression of the aggrecanases in rheumatoid FLS. METHODS: FLS obtained from RA patients were cultured under hypoxic condition for 24 hours. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays for mRNA expression of aggrecanase-1 and aggrecanase-2 were performed on FLS cultured under hypoxia. Additionally, to see the effect of various cytokines, same experiments were conducted after treating FLS with IL-1beta, IL-6, EGF, TGF-beta and TNF-alpha, compared with control. RESULTS: Hypoxia significantly increased both aggrecanase-1 and -2 mRNA expression in rheumatoid FLS compared with normoxia. IL-1beta, IL-6, EGF, TGF-beta and TNF-alpha upregulated the mRNA expression of aggrecanase-1. Both EGF and TGF-beta upregulated the mRNA expression of aggrecanase-2, but TNF-alpha significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of aggrecanase-2. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed upregulation of aggrecanase-1 and -2 by hypoxia and differential regulation of aggrecanase-1 and -2 by various cytokines in rheumatoid FLS. It suggests that hypoxia and cytokines enhance the aggrecanase activity of RA FLS and contribute to joint destruction.
Aggrecans ; Anoxia* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cartilage ; Cytokines* ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Joints ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND: In spite of various types of medical supports, many diabetic patients have not been cared adequately. This study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the patterns of management according to the types of the medical institutions. METHODS: Seven private clinics as primary care institutions, 3 hospitals as secondary care institutions, and 2 medical centers as the tertiary care institutions located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province were the targets of investigation for three months from December 2000 to February 2001. The survey included demographic information, biochemical tests and the pharmacological agents used concomitantly. The subjects who have completed the entire tests were respectively 321, 343 and 1830 patients in the primary, secondary and tertiary care centers. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and sex distribution among the study groups. The fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were highest in secondary and primary institutions, respectively. The glycated hemoglobin levels were higher in primary care institutions than in others. In tertiary care institutions, blood pressure and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol) were better controlled compared with the other study groups. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the limited data from the selected medical institutions, the overall status of the blood glucose, hypertension and hyperlipidemia management for the diabetic patients in Korea were inadequate in all types of medical institutions. For the better management of the diabetic patients, more efforts will be required including the standard management protocol as well as the education program for the primary physicians.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Education ; Fasting ; Gyeonggi-do* ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Primary Health Care ; Secondary Care ; Seoul* ; Sex Distribution ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Recently, the colour change plaster (NeuroCheck(R)) has been introduced, which measures sweat production on the basis of a colour change from blue to pink. This new test was useful to detect of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the colour change plaster (NeuroCheck(R)) for the diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: This study include 35 type 2 diabetic patients (10 male, 25 female) with a mean age of 55+/-14.9 years and a mean diabetes duration of 11.8+/-8.8 years. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed by means of Ewing's method. Peripheral autonomic neuropathy (Sudomotor function abnormality) was assessed by means of time (more than 600 seconds) until complete colour change in the indicator test. RESULTS: Peripheral autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 23 patients (65.7%). Time until starting colour change of plaster in normal and abnormal sudomotor patients were 38.3+/-33.7 sec and 367.1+/-470.3 sec (p<0.05). Time until completing colour change of plaster in normal and abnormal sudomotor patients were 372.5+/-198.8 sec and 1677.4+/-711.9 sec (p<0.05). The autonomic score of two groups were 2.4+/-2.3, 4.6+/-2.2 (p<0.05). Sudomotor abnormal group was older than normal (59.2+/-11.7 yrs, vs 47+/-17.4 yrs). Presence of retinopathy was related with sudomotor abnormality. Peripheral autonomic neuropathy was related with parasympathetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Sudomotor function abnormality was related with definite cardiac autonomic neuropathy, but it was not related with early cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of colour change plaster in the diagnosis of definitive cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was 86.7%, 62.5%, 68.4% and 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The colour change plaster (NeuroCheck(R)) is not useful for the early diagnosis of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetic neuropathy, but it may be possible for the screening test of definite cardiac autonomic neuropathy.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sweat

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress might be a role in atherosclerosis and increased intake of antioxidant appear to be protective and modify neointimal formation. An antioxidant and probucol prevents endothelial dysfunction and low density lipoprotein oxidation and also inhibits the secretion of cytokine by macrophages. We aimed 1) to study the effects of antioxidant (Vitamin C, E and probucol) supplementation on serum level of antioxidant status (TAS), P-selectin, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-10 and 2) to investigate the effects of antioxidant intake on in-stent restenosis. METHODS: Total 90 patients were assigned to control or antioxidant group (probucol; 500 mg, vitamin C; 1,000 mg, vitamin E; 400 mg). We performed follow up coronary angiography in 35 patients of antioxidant group and 36 patients of control group after 6 months of coronary bare metal stent implantation. We counted the stenotic lesions more than 50% of implanted stent lumen as a restenosis by quantitative coronary angiography. The serum levels of total antioxidant status, P-selectin, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured. RESULTS: The serum levels of total antioxidant status was not elevated in antioxidant group. Antioxidant supplementation did not change the serum levels of P-selectin, MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-10. The 6-month angiographic in-stent restenosis rate was 27% versus 30% (p=NS) with an associated late loss of 0.76+/-1.01 mm versus 0.91+/-1.00 mm (p=NS) for antioxidant group and control group. The serum levels of total antioxidant status did not correlate with the restenosis or late loss after stent implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin C, E and probucol did not elevate the serum level of antioxidant status and could not prevent in-stent restenosis after bare metal stent implantation.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Restenosis ; Cytokines ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipoproteins ; Macrophages ; Oxidative Stress ; P-Selectin ; Probucol ; Stents ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is the most common malignancy in Korea. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the chronological changes of clinical feature and usefulness of recent treatment modalities such as laparoscopic assisted gastrectomy and endoscopic gastric mucosal resection (EMR). METHODS: We analyzed the clinical characteristics of the gastric cancer patients who were diagnosed as gastric cancer by pathology from May 2003 to May 2004 in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. In addition, we classified the curable treatment modalities depending on whether it was early gastric cancer or advanced gastric cancer. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 231, and the proportion of early gastric cancer was 97 patients (42.0%). Forty three patients (18.6%) were diagnosed through health screening test. Curative treatment was performed in 169 patients (73.2%): that is, radical subtotal gastrectomy in 158 (68.4%), and EMR in 11 (4.8%). Among 158 patients who underwent curative radical surgery, 67 patients (42.4%) had been operated on laparoscopic gastrectomy (laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy or laparoscopic wedge resection). There was no cancer recurrence in the early gastric cancer after curative treatment regardless of treatment modality during mean follow-up period of 15.9 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results seem to support the usefulness of health screening test for early detection of gastric cancer. Laparoscopic gastrectomy could be the primary choice for the early gastric cancer.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: In the functional dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori has been suggested as a causative agent. But, the effect of H. pylori eradication is still debated on functional dyspesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the H. pylori eradication therapy in the improvement of the symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: The convenience sample consisted of 123 patients with functional dyspepsia and 80 patients with peptic ulcer diseases who were infected with H. pylori. All patients had received eradication therapy of H. pylori for one or two weeks and additional therapy with H2RA or PPI for one to five weeks. After the treatment was completed, the patients were asked about their symptomatic improvement every three months. The degree of symptom was rated on a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Overall eradication rate of H. pylori was 82.8% (168/203), and there were no significant differences in the eradication rate between the two groups and between one-week and two-week eradication therapies. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. The symptomatic improvement in both group was maintained over 12 months in most patients (PUD 72.5% vs. FD 67.4%). In addition, the symptomatic improvement in the patients with eradication success was maintained significantly longer than those with eradication failure in both group (FD p=0.007 vs. PUD p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The eradication therapy of H. pylori can be one of the therapeutic options for patients with functional dyspepsia and that eradication failure may cause the recurrence of the symptom.
Dyspepsia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Depletion of nutritional reserves and significant weight loss can lead to an increased risk of morbidity, reduced chemotherapy response, and shorter survival in patients with cancer. Numerous methodologies are used for the assessment of nutritional status. However, it remains unclear which of these tools is the most appropriate in the setting of cancer chemotherapy. The PINI (prognostic inflammatory nutritional index) is a simple scoring system that has been used to evaluate nutritional status and prognosis in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was designed to investigate the relationship between nutritional status after the palliative chemotherapy and prognosis in advanced metastatic cancer. METHODS: This study included 130 patients with ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status) 1~3 in advanced metastatic cancer following the palliative chemotherapy. ECOG PS, body mass index, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, protein, lactate dehydrogenase, PINI ratio, and survival time were evaluated. RESULTS: In 130 patients, the median age was 57 years. The ECOG PS was 1 68 patients, 2 43, 3 19. The mean value of PINI was PS 1 16.0+/-47.8, PS 2 55.6+/-106.9, PS 3 106.3+/-141.6. The mean survival was PS 1 144.0+/-71.8, PS 2 68.9+/-41.2, PS 3 32.0+/-6.9 days. In the PS 3 group, the mean values of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher than in the PS 1 group. In the PS 3 group, the mean values of albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin were significantly lower than in the PS 1 group. The survival time was correlated with the ECOG PS (r=-0.602, p<0.001,), PINI (r=-0.318, p<0.001,), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (r=-0.265, p=0.002), C-reactive protein (r=-0.345, p<0.001), albumin (r=0.324, p<0.001), prealbumin (r=0.260, p=0.003) and transferrin (r=0.277, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The PINI may be a useful scoring system for the assessment of nutritional status and prognosis in advanced metastatic cancer following palliative chemotherapy, but the ECOG PS is most strong correlation with the survival time.
Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Critical Illness ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status* ; Orosomucoid ; Prealbumin ; Prognosis* ; Transferrin ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Rituximab

No abstract available.
Humans ; Nutritional Status* ; Prognosis*