In this study, the trypsin gene (bgtryp-1) from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was cloned via the immunoscreening of patients with allergies to cockroaches. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted an 863 bp open reading frame which encodes for 257 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 42-57% homology with the serine protease from dust mites, and consisted of a conserved catalytic domain (GDSGGPLV). bgtryp-1 was determined by both Northern and Southern analysis to be a 0.9 kb, single-copy gene. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses of the recombinant protein (Bgtryp-1) over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 35 kDa, and the expressed protein was capable of reacting with the sera of cockroach allergy patients. We also discussed the possibility that trypsin excreted by the digestive system of the German cockroach not only functions as an allergen, but also may perform a vital role in the activation of PAR-2.
Allergens/analysis/chemistry/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Female ; *Genes, Insect ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Receptor, PAR-2/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/analysis/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Trypsin/analysis/chemistry/*genetics

No abstract available in English.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid

A retrospective study was undertaken to define the factors that cause the neurogenic symptoms in 18 cases of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis who were operated for leg pain and neurologic deficits of motor functions documented by neurologic examination or electromyographic findings in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fatima Hospital, Daegu for three years since June, 1986. The cases having other combined pathology to cause neurogenic symptoms were excluded. The causes were predetermined by preoperative x-rays, myelograms, electromyograms, and computerized tomograms and the causes were explored at surgery regarding the preoperative findings. The findings were compared with the avilable findings of 13 cases who were operated for low back pain only without any neurogenic pain in the leg during the same period. The cases were quite older and had narrower disc spaces than the back pain group but there were no significant differences in the degree of slipping and stability of slipped level between the two groups. The foraminal stenosis was found in all of the cases and a central stenosis was combined in a case. The intervertebral foramens were narrowed up-down in most of the cases between the bony prominence of proximal pars interarticularis above and the disc and vertebral body below but three cases had soft tissue mass only at the isthmic defect encroaching the foramen. There were hypertrophy of bone and/or soft tissue at the pars interarticularis in all cases. The nerve roots were mainly compressed up-down below pars interarticularis in the foramen in 8 cases and impinged at the anterior foramen in front of the pars interarticularis in 10 cases. The central stenosis was due to marked bony hypertrophy of pars interarticularis and osteophyte of vertebral body. The causes of neurogenic symptoms in spondylolytic spondylolisthesis were foraminal stenosis due to hypertrophy of bone and/or soft tissue at the pars interarticularis combined with narrowing of disc and seemed to be a process of degenerative changes occurring at the motion segment of slipped level.
Back Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Daegu ; Hypertrophy ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osteophyte ; Pathology ; Pheniramine ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

Visual loss and field defects commonly occur after acute blood loss. We present a case of bilateral permanent visual field defect in a 30-year-old man after a massive hemorrhage caused by large vessel injury during a right nephrectomy. His postoperative visual acuity decreased significantly, and his visual field showed peripheral constriction and inferior altitudinal field defect in both eyes. A year and a half after the operation, visual acuity recovered to the preoperative level, but the field did not show improvement. We advance that this is a possible result of extensive injury to the occipital area, excluding the corresponding area of the macula.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Blindness/*etiology ; Blood Loss, Surgical/*physiopathology ; Cerebral Infarction/complications/*etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Occipital Lobe/pathology ; Vena Cava, Inferior/injuries ; Vision Disorders/*etiology ; *Visual Fields

No abstract available.
Forearm*

No abstract available.
Dinoprost* ; Flurbiprofen* ; Gabexate* ; Prednisolone* ; Thromboxane B2*

No abstract available.
Hand* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Braces*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*

Low back pain and radiating pain in the leg are the main symptoms of the spondylolisthesis and various surgical treatments are recommended after having enough conservative treatments. The spinal fusion in situ either posterior, posterolateral or anterior route is the usual method for symtomatic spondylolisthesis or to prevent progression of slipping but the neurogenic symptoms in the legs are not well solved, so the decompression procedures are necessary. The authors reviewed 26 cases of isthmic spondylolisthesis having low back pain and sciatica which are operated during the 10 years since 1973 at Fatima Hospital and the followings are obtained. 1. There were 15 males and 11 females with ages from 18 years to 63 years having average 40.1 years. 2. The displaced vertebrae were 5th lumbar in 18 and 4th lumbar in 8 cases and the degree of displacement was Grade I in 14, Grade II in 10, Grade III in 1 and no slipping in 1 case. 3. The types of surgery were decompression and H-graft in 22, simple posterior fusion in 3 and Gll's procedure in 1 case. 4. The laminas were considerably loose in all cases and there were small fibrous mass at the pars area in half of the cases. .5. The spine became very stable immediately after H-grafting and the intervertebral foramen became widened freeing nerve root. 6. Bony union obtained in 88% and satisfactory result in 85% at the follow-up from 6 months to 7 years and 2 months with average 1 year and 7 months. 7. The decompression is necessary for the radiating pain in the leg and H-grafting is satisfactory and simple procedure after decompression laminectomy.
Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Methods ; Sciatica ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis