No abstract available.
Ectromelia*

The plasmepsins are the aspartic proteases of malaria parasites. Treatment of aspartic protease inhibitor inhibits hemoglobin hydrolysis and blocks the parasite development in vitro suggesting that these proteases might be exploited their potentials as antimalarial drug targets. In this study, we determined the genetic variations of the aspartic proteases of Plasmodium vivax (PvPMs) of wild isolates. Two plasmepsins (PvPM4 and PvPM5) were cloned and sequenced from 20 P. vivax Korean isolates and two imported isolates. The sequences of the enzymes were highly conserved except a small number of amino acid substitutions did not modify key residues for the function or the structure of the enzymes. The high sequence conservations between the plasmepsins from the isolates support the notion that the enzymes could be reliable targets for new antimalarial chemotherapeutics.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspartic Endopeptidases/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Human ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmodium vivax/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PURPOSE: Recent years have witness a dramatic increase in public awareness of the health risks associated with lead exposure-particularly concerning young children. The lead poisoning in children was considered a rarity, usually resulting from unique circumstances such as in appropriate use of lead-based body cosmetics or direct administration of lead-containing folk medicine or contaminated atmosphere. The increasing concern about children with lower levels of lead exposure has developed, but there are no data regarding the mean blood lead levels and the incidence of lead poisoning in Korean children. So, this study was conducted to measure the blood lead and ZPP(zinc protoporphyrin) levels of 125 children around Cheonan city. METHODS: 125 children around Cheonan city (from 1 month to 15 year-old, 68 males and 57 females) were studied. We analyzed the mean blood Zinc Protoporphyrin(ZPP) and lead values and excluded children with hematologic disorders in this study. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead level was 4.15 microgram/dl (95% CI: 3.82-4.488) and the mean ZPP level was 53.48 microgram/dl (95% CI: 48.44-58.52). Both were within normal range. 2) The mean blood lead level of 68 males was 4.23 microgram/dl and 4.06 microgram/dl in 57 females. The mean blood ZPP level was 49.88 microgram/dl in males and 57.77 microgram/dl in females. There was no significant difference in males and females. 3) There was no siginificant correlation between blood lead and ZPP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the mean blood lead level of 125 children around Cheonan city was 4.15 microgram/dl. That was within normal range and the same values with United States. It is important that there must be a national counter plan and that pediatricians continue to pay attention to lead poisoning in children.
Adolescent ; Atmosphere ; Child* ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lead Poisoning ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Reference Values ; United States ; Zinc

In recent years, it has been common to use bupivacaine for prolonged operation because of its long duration of action but, besides of this benefits, we always are cautious of using bupivacaine for its possible systemic, toxicity, such as convulsion, myocardial depression. We experienced a case of asthmatic attack right after injection of 0.5% bupivacaine 125 mg for BPB(brachial plexus block) in a 26 year old male patient with chronic renal failure for the revision of a-v fistula. With the administration of aminophylline and oxygen by mask the patient was anounced about delaying operation and the symptoms were gone. Next day with local infiltration of 2% lidocaine operation was done uneventfully.
Adult ; Aminophylline ; Bupivacaine ; Depression ; Fistula ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Masks ; Oxygen ; Seizures

PURPOSE: Certain pitching mechanics is thought to lead pitchers in danger of surgical risk and decrease performance. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of shoulder hyperabduction position during early cocking phase in association with surgical risk and performance in professional baseball players.METHODS: From 2009 to 2013, total of 93 candidates reached minimum inning qualification. After exclusion criteria (overlapped players, foreign players, age over 31 years, proceed to other league and retirement), 19 players were analyzed with slow-motion pitching video for hyperabduction of the shoulder and hyperpronation of forearm in cocking-phase. Also players were analyzed with innings pitched, earned run average (ERA), walks and hits divided by innings pitched (WHIP) and surgical history with database offered by official Korean Baseball Organization website.RESULTS: Out of total 19 players, nine players had hyperabduction arm movement and 10 players did not. Group with hyperabduction had average age of 24.3 years old, average inning/ERA/WHIP for 5 years were 55 innings/yr, 6.52 ERA/yr and 1.33 WHIP/yr, respectively, and seven players (77%) had surgeries eventually. Group without hyperabduction arm movement had average age of 25.4 years old; average inning, ERA/WHIP for 5 years were 127 1/3 innings/yr, 4.84 ERA/yr, and 1.32 WHIP/yr, respectively and five players (50%) went for surgeries. Player performance (ERA, p=0.66; WHIP, p=0.14) was not statistically influenced by the certain arm position at cocking phase but average inning pitched was statistically affected (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: Hyperabduction of shoulder in early cocking phase of throwing motion does not lead to decrease in performance (ERA, WHIP) but will result in tremendous decline of average IP. Also, risk of surgery is not associated to hyperabduction motion of the shoulder.
Arm ; Baseball ; Forearm ; Mechanics ; Shoulder

BACKGROUND: Topoisomerase II (topo II) is a major target of anthracyclines and epipodophyllotoxins for anticancer treatment. The expression of topo II is low in drug resistant cell lines. High levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST)pi have been associated with emergence of cell lines resistant to alkylating agents or adriamycin. METHODS: By immunostaining with paraffin embedded bone marrow tissues, the expression of topo II alpha and GSTpi was investigated in 51 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the relation of topo II alpha and GSTpi expression to treatment response in 29 patients with AML following induction chemotherapy was also evaluated. RESULTS: Topo II positive cells varied from less than 1% to 60% of leukemic cells and 20 (39.2%) were negative for topo II (positive cells<10%). Treatment response following chemotherapy was not related to topo II. 26 (51.0%) were positive for GSTpi. GSTpi expression was related to treatment resistance of the patients following chemotherapy. In the patients who showed both topo II alpha negative and GSTpi positive, the frequency of treatment resistance following chemotherapy was high. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that immunostaining of topo II alpha and GSTpi with the bone marrow paraffin sections of AML patients can be useful to predict the treatment response following chemotherapy and that further study including more patients with prospective study may substantiate topo II alpha and GSTpi as multidrug resistant markers.
Alkylating Agents ; Anthracyclines ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Line ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II* ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Therapy ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi* ; Glutathione Transferase* ; Glutathione* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Paraffin ; Podophyllotoxin

BACKGROUND: Adenoviruses (Ads) are a worldwide cause of endemic and epidemic respiratory infections, particularly in children, young adults and immunocompromised patients. They are responsible for 5% of the acute respiratory infections in children under the age of 4 years and account for about 10% of all cases of childhood requiring hospitalization in this age group. In this study, we report the characteristics of adenoviruses isolated from children with respiratory illness in Busan, 1999~2000. METHODS: A total of 765 children with acute respiratory illness from ten local clinics were studied. Isolation of Ads was performed by inoculating throat swab from patients into Hep-2 cells. The virus propagation was confirmed by the presence of cytopathic effect and adenoviruis specific PCR. Typing of isolated viruses was determined by sequencing analysis of hexon gene. RESULTS: Ads were isolated from throat swab of 17 (2.2%) out of 765 children. The epidemic of Ads infection was concentrated on winter months (December, January, and February). Seventeen Ad isolates showed four serotypes, with Ad3 being the most frequent strain. The distribution of Ads serotypes were eleven (64.7%) Ad3 strains, three (17.6%) Ad5 strains, two (11.8%) Ad2 srtains, and one (5.9%) Ad1 strain. CONCLUSION: Acute respiratory infections by adenoviruses in children were occurred particularly in winter season in Busan. More extended and systematic surveillance of adenovirus infection among populations is required to elucidate the extent of epidemic and disease burden of adenovirus infection.
Adenoviridae Infections ; Adenoviridae* ; Busan* ; Child* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Seasons ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Paramyxoviridae Infections* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Reverse Transcription*

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis is often accompanied by food allergies which occur through skin barrier defects. Especially Staphylococcus aureus colonization can exacerbate skin barrier defects that cause sensitization and increase specific IgE (sIgE) to food. We investigated the association between skin colonization and food sIgE changes in children with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Atopic dermatitis was diagnosed by a pediatric allergist in patients between 3 months and 3 years of age. Total IgE and sIgE to egg white, cow's milk, wheat, and peanuts were taken. Eosinophil count and eosinophil cationic protein were also taken. Comparisons were done between the groups with and without S. aureus colonization. RESULTS: It was found that 50.3% of the 294 enrolled patients had S. aureus colonization on lesional skin. Statistically significant sensitization to wheat and peanut were increased with S. aureus colonization. Statistically significant increases in sIgE (above cutoff level) were also found in egg white, milk, wheat and peanut. Higher S. aureus colony counts also increased sIgE of all foods. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus showed no statistical difference compared to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus in severity and sIgE levels. CONCLUSION: S. aureus colonization increases the risk of food sensitization in children with atopic dermatitis.
Arachis ; Child* ; Colon* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Egg White ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Methicillin Resistance ; Milk ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Triticum

To evaluate geriatric anesthetic experiences, the clinical record of 970 cases out of total 13,324 anesthetic cases perfomed at Korea university Anam hospital from January 1991 to December 1992 were reviewed according to age, sex, department, operation site, preoperative physical status, preoperative chest X-ray findings, preoperative electmcardiography readings, preoperative pulmonary function test, preoperative concurrent disease, type of anesthesia, duration of operation, intraoperative event, postoperative complication, and mortality. The result were as follows; 1) The number of the cases older than age 65 years was 970 accounting for 7.3% of 13,324 anesthetic cases from the year 1991 to 1992. 2) There were 566 (58.4%) males and 404 (41.6%) females. 3) There were 417 (43.0%) cases between the age of 65 and 69; 323 (33.3%) between the age of 70 and 74; 133 (13.7%) between the age of 75 and 79; 73 (7.6%) between the age of 80 and 84; 15 (1.5%) between the age of 85 and 89; 7 (0.7%) between the age of 90 and 94; 1 (0.1%) between the age of 95 and 100; 1 (0.1%) cases was 103 years of age. 4) In preoperative physical status according to the calssification of American Society of Anesthesiologist, 34 (3.5%) cases were class I, 471 (48.9%) class II, 465 (48.6%) class III, and 10 (1.0%) calss IV. 5) Emergency operation was performed in 107 (11.0%) cases. 6) There were 365 (37.6%) general surgery, 156 (16.1%) orthopedic surgery, 153 (15.8%) genitourinary surgery, 101 (10.4%) otolaryngologic surgery, 66 (6.8%) neurosurgery, 59 (6.1%) chest surgery, 40 (4.1%) gynecologic surgery, and etc. 7) The most frequent operation site was upper abdominal region in 242 cases (24.9%) and lower abdominal region in 184 (19,0%), upper and lower extremities in 165 (17.0%), head and neck in 126 (12.9%) and so on. 8) The findings of preoperative chest X-ray revealed that 502 (51.7%) cases were within normal limits. The most frequent abnormal finding was hypertensive heart changes in 128 (13.2 %). Another findings were arteriosclerotic changes in 72 (7.4%), inactive pulmonary tuberculosis in 37 (3.8%), emphysematous changes in 34 (3.5%), bronchiectasis in 19 (2.0%) and so on. 9) The preoperative electrocardiographic findings revealed that 452 (46.6%) cases were within normal limits. The abnormal findings were as follows ; left ventricular hypertrophy in 113 (11.6%), sinus bradycardia in 67 (6.9%), myocardial infarction in 45 (4.6%), myocardial ischemia in 32 (3.3%), and so on. 10) Preoperative pulmonary function test was performed in 702 (72.6%) cases. Two hundred sixity five cases (37.5%) showed abnormal results consisting of obstructive type in 34.7%, restrictive type in 24.9%, mixed type in 21.5%, and small air way disease in 18.9%. 11) Three hundred sixty one (37.3%) of the total cases had preoperative concurrent illness consisting of hypertension in 158 (16.3%), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in 66 (6.8%), myocardial infarction in 37 (3.8%), myocardial ischemia in 34 (3.5%), diabetes mellitus in 32 (3.3%), and so on. 12) The type of anesthesia used in these case were 678 (69.9%) general anesthesia, 96 (9.9%) spinal anesthesia, 84 (8.7%) combined anesthesia, 82 (8.4%) epidural anesthesia, and 30 (3.1%) brachial plexus block. 13) The duration of operation was 1~2 hours in 329 (33,9%) cases, 2~3 hours in 267 (27.5%), 3~4 hours in 126 (13.0%), and so on. 14) The most frequent intraoperative envent was hypertension in 155 (16.0%) cases. And hypotension in 72 (7.4%), premature ventricular contraction in 12 (1.2%), ohguria in 9 (0.9%), bradycardia in 8 (0.8%), myocardial ischemia in 8 (0.8%), myocardial ischemia in 7 (0.7%), and hyperglycemia in 7 (0.7%) were noted, 15) One hundred six cases (10.9%) were sent to intensive care unit for postoperative care. 16) The most frequent postoperative complication was hypertension in 154 (15.9%) cases. Hypotension in 21 (2.2%), myocardial ischemia in 13 (1.3%) and etc, were noted. 17) Overall mortality rate was 1.2%. The mortality rate was 0.2% in elective cases, and 9.3% in emergency ones.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Brachial Plexus ; Bradycardia ; Bronchiectasis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Head ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Hypotension ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Neck ; Neurosurgery ; Orthopedics ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Complications ; Reading ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ventricular Premature Complexes