No abstract available.
Hernia*

Four hundred and sixty five randomly selected clones from a cDNA library of Blattella germanica were partially sequenced and searched using BLAST as a means of analyzing the transcribed sequences of its genome. A total of 363 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from 465 clones after editing and trimming the vector and ambiguous sequences. About 42% (154/363) of these clones showed significant homology with other data base registered genes. These new B. germanica genes constituted a broad range of transcripts distributed among ribosomal proteins, energy metabolism, allergens, proteases, protease inhibitors, enzymes, translation, cell signaling pathways, and proteins of unknown function. Eighty clones were not well-matched by database searches, and these represent new B. germanica-specific ESTs. Some genes which drew our attention are discussed. The information obtained increases our understanding of the B. germanica genome.
Sequence Alignment ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Male ; Female ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Animals

The status of Dirofilaria immitis infection was assessed in pet dogs of Busan, Korea, and chemoprophylactic effects of microfilaricidal medication were evaluated. A total of 294 pet dogs older than 6 mo were examined, 217 of which had been maintained indoors, and 77 had been kept outdoors. The Snap(R) kit and direct microscopic examinations of the peripheral blood were used. The mean overall parasite positive rates were 10.2% and 6.5%, respectively. Outdoor dogs evidenced adult worm infection rate of 31.2% and microfilaria infection rate of 18.2%. The indoor dogs, however, evidenced adult worm infection rate of 2.8% and microfilaria infection rate of 2.3%. The prevalence in males was more than 2 times that of females. The changing pattern of infection rates by age evidenced a gradual increase, from 2- to 6-year-old dogs, after which, a decrease in infection rates was noted. With regard to chemoprophylaxis, the infection rates of complete and incomplete chemoprophylaxis groups were found to be 2-3 times lower than that of the non-chemoprophylaxis group. The results of the present study indicate that the risk of exposure to D. immitis in pet dogs is quite high, particularly in male outdoor dogs, and chemoprophylactic measures were quite effective.
Animals ; Chemoprevention ; Dirofilaria immitis/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Dirofilariasis/blood/*epidemiology/parasitology/prevention & control ; Dog Diseases/blood/*epidemiology/parasitology/prevention & control ; Dogs ; Female ; Heart/parasitology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mosquito Control ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: The decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is a major complication after kidney transplantation. This was reported to occur preferentially during the first 6 months. However, the treatment and prevention strategies against a decline of BMD are not yet clear. METHODS: The data on the pre-transplant baseline and post-transplant 1 year BMD were archived and retrieved in 125 renal transplant recipients. The post-transplant changes of the BMD were compared by the baseline status of the BMD and the types of anti-osteoporosis treatment either with a vitamin D agent (alfacalcidiol) (n=18) or alendronate (n=21). Anti-osteoporosis treatment began within 30 days after transplantation, with an oral administration of 0.5 mcg/day vitamin D or 70 mg/week alendronate, and maintained until 1 year after transplantation. RESULTS: Regardless the degree of baseline BMD status, each group (the control, vitamin D, or alendronate group) showed a significant and uniform decrease of BMD during the post-transplant 1 year. The mean change in the spine BMD in the control, vitamin D, and alendronate group was -7.1+/-7.5%, -3.3+/-7.4% and -2.6+/-6.5%, respectively. The femur BMD also changed -5.1+/-7.7%, 1.1+/-5.3% and -1.5+/-8.2%, respectively. The degree of BMD decrease in the treatment groups was significantly lower than that in the control (P=0.014 in spine, P=0.003 in femur). When the severely reduced baseline BMD (T-score of spine or femur < or =-1) subgroups were analysed separately, the treatment groups (-3.7+/-6.5% in vitamin D and -1.1+/-6.4% in alendronate group) showed a significantly less decrease in the spine BMD than the control (-8.2+/-6.2%)(P=0.036). The femur BMD also showed a less decrease in the BMD in the treatment group, but this was not statistically significant (P=0.234). There was no significant difference between the vitamin D and alendronate treatment groups. CONCLUSION: After renal transplantation, early administration of vitamin D or alendronate showed some benefit to reduce the post-transplant decrease of BMD in both spine and femur area.
Administration, Oral ; Alendronate* ; Bone Density* ; Femur ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Spine ; Transplantation ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Larval excretory-secretory products of Anisakis simplex are known to cause allergic reactions in humans. A cDNA library of A. simplex 3rd-stage larvae (L3) was immunoscreened with polyclonal rabbit serum raised against A. simplex L3 excretory-secretory products to identify an antigen that elicits the immune response. One cDNA clone, designated as alpha-methylacyl CoA racemase (Amacr) contained a 1,412 bp cDNA transcript with a single open reading frame that encoded 418 amino acids. A. simplex Amacr showed a high degree of homology compared to Amacr orthologs from other species. Amacr mRNA was highly and constitutively expressed regardless of temperature (10-40degrees C) and time (24-48 hr). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Amacr was expressed mainly in the ventriculus of A. simplex larvae. The Amacr protein produced in large quantities from the ventriculus is probably responsible for many functions in the development and growth of A. simplex larvae.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anisakis/*enzymology/genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Larva/enzymology/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rabbits ; Racemases and Epimerases/genetics/*metabolism ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

PURPOSE: Four-hour area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-4) was considered to be superior rather than C0 in predicting the development of acute rejection, and was reported most well correlated with C2 in post-transplant period. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the correlation between AUC0-4 and each C0,1,2,3,4, and to compare C2 with C0 in predicting acute rejection in de-novo kidney recipients. METHODS: Fifty- six adult living donor kidney transplants were followed up 3 months after transplantation. Cyclosporine A (CsA) dose was adjusted with C0. AUC0-4 was measured on 5th and 19th post-operative day, and C2 as well as C0 was measured on post-operative 5, 12, 19, 30, 60, 90 days. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (26.8%) experienced acute rejection 12.0+/-10.9 (5~48) days after transplantation. CsA absorption pharmacokinetics was different with data based on Caucasian recipients. In more than 60% of patients, peak concentration (Cmax) was reached 2 hours after oral intake of CsA regardless the occurrence of acute rejection and postoperative days. AUC0-4 was most critically correlated with C2 on 5th and 19th post-operative days (R2>0.800, respectively). Recipients having acute rejection between 5th and 7th post-operative day, had statistically lowered AUC0-4, C2, C3 (P<0.05) compared with patients without acute rejection. CONCLUSION: In early post-transplant days, AUC0-4 was powerfully correlated with C2. Monitoring of C2 rather than C0 could predict the occurrence of acute rejection in this period. Value of C2 monitoring in Koreans beyond 7th day awaits further study by adjusting CsA dose with C2 rather than C0.
Absorption ; Adult ; Cyclosporine* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Pharmacokinetics