No abstract available.
Sterilization, Tubal*

No abstract available.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Humans ; Oxygen*

PCR implication using the primers for gag, pol and rev genes in BLV (bovine leukemia virus) proviral DNA and syncytium assay were carried out for the Korean native goats experimentally infected with bovine leukemia virus to investigate pathogenesis of BLV in the goats, and to establish a model animal for BLV infection. The oligonucleotide primers used in PCR revealed very high specificity, The minimal amount of FLK-BLV cellular chromosomal DNA to detect the integrated BLV proviral DNA was 10 ng. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from the goat infected with BLV were examined at regular intervals by PCR amplification and syncytium assay. Pol or gag genes were detected in none of three infected goats at the 1st week post-infection (p.i.). At the 4th week p.i., one of three goats showed the amplified gag gene. Thereafter detection rates for the genes were increased, indicating that the BLV proviral genes were integrated in all of the lymphocytes from three goats, at the 16th weeks p.i., when it was evident in syncytium assay that the lymphocytes from all of three goats were infested with infective BLV. Investigating the tissues from the necropsied goats at the 8th month p.i., the amplified BLV proviral genes and infective BLV were detected in all of the peripheral lymphocytes from three infected-goats. Among various tissues examined, the amplified BLV proviral genes were observed in spleen and superficial cervical, mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, and the infective BLV, in superficial cervical and mandibular lymph nodes. It was assumed that the Korean native goat was quite susceptible to BLV infection, indicating that the goat could be a good model animal for BLV.
Animals ; Cattle ; Deltaretrovirus Infections ; DNA Primers ; DNA* ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis* ; Genes, gag ; Genes, rev ; Giant Cells ; Goats* ; Leukemia ; Leukemia Virus, Bovine* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spleen

The gene encoding F protein of CBP-1 strain, a heat-stable Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolated from the diseased pheasants in Korea, was characterized by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), nucleotide and amino acid sequences. Virus RNA was prepared from the chorioallatoic fluid infected with NDV CBP-1 virus and cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR, cloned and sequenced to analyze. The PCR was sensitive as to detect the virus titer above 25 hemagglutination unit. 1.7kb (1,707bp) size of the cDNA was amplified and cloned into BamHI site of pVL1393 Baculo transfer vector. The nucleotide sequences for F protein were determined by dye terminator cyclic sequencing using four pairs of primers, and 553 amino acid sequences were predicted. In comparison of the nucleotide sequence of F gene of CBP-1 with those of other NDV strains, the homology revealed 88.8%, 98.5% and 98.7% with Kyojungwon (KJW), Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. As the deduced 553 amino acid sequences of F protein of CBP-1 were compared with those of other NDV strains, the homology appeared 89.9%, 98.7% and 98.9% with KJW, Texas GB and Beaudette C strains, respectively. The putative protease cleavage site (112-116) was R-R-Q-K-R, indicating that CBP-1 strain is velogenic type. The amino acid sequences include 6 sites of N-asparagine-linked glycosylation and 13 cysteine residues. These data indicate that the genotype of CBP-1 strain is more closely associated with the strains of Texas GB and Beaudette C than KJW strain.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Molecular* ; Cysteine ; DNA, Complementary ; Genotype ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutination ; Korea ; Newcastle disease virus* ; Newcastle Disease* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Texas ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVES: We compared the characteristics of the pain threshold and pain experience between demented group and non-demented group. METHODS: This study was part of Gangwon projects for early detection of dementia in 2010. We recruited 8302 local resident ages over 65 years old. Of theses, 1259 people who scored low MMSE were selected and 365 of them completed CERAD-K(Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease). Finally, 90 in non-demented group and 57 in demented group(mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease) were analyzed. Pain threshold was experimentally measured by pressure algometer and we investigated the pain experience, by Brief pain inventory (BPI), a self-report test. RESULTS: In the demographic characteristics, there are more female, higher ages, lower education in the demented group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the pain threshold. On the BPI results, 'shoulder pain', 'the number of pain' and 'interference of working' were significantly more prevalent in non-demented group. However, there are no significant differences between the groups in the 'pain severity', 'prevalence of pain' and 'pain treatment'. CONCLUSIONS: Demented group report less pain experience but, still perceived pain. It support previous studies that patient with dementia have increased pain tolerance but preserved pain threshold. Thus, active pain assessment and treatment for patients with dementia is needed.
Aged* ; Dementia* ; Education ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Pain Threshold*

No abstract available.
Eosinophils* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: We performed laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) partial nephrectomy in a porcine model with the objectives of overcoming the technical challenges of this surgery and exploring its feasibility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six partial nephrectomies were performed on a pig aged 5 months, three cases on each kidney, by four surgeons: two urologists with much experience in laparoscopic surgery (E1, E2) and two less-experienced urologists (B1, B2). While under general anesthesia, the swine was placed in a lateral flank position. Umbilical placement of an Octoport was done with a 2.5 cm incision. After dissection of the renal hilum and Gerota's fascia, a bulldog clamp was applied on the renal artery and parenchymal resection was done. Renorrhaphy was then performed with interrupted sutures with the use of a sliding knot technique. RESULTS: All six partial nephrectomies were performed successfully after repair of the vascular and collecting system at the resection margin and renorrhaphy without the need to introduce any additional ports. There were no noticeable intra- or postoperative complications. The mean warm ischemic time was 42 minutes (range, 30-60 minutes). The shortest warm ischemic time, 30 minutes, was achieved by using the early unclamping technique during renorrhaphy. The longest warm ischemic time was 60 minutes. The average number of renorrhaphy stitches was 3.2 (range, 2-5). CONCLUSIONS: LESS partial nephrectomy was successfully performed in a porcine model but resulted in a longer ischemic time than that of conventional laparoscopic surgeries. Therefore, further laboratory disciplinary efforts are needed to decrease the warm ischemic time and to improve this surgical technique.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Fascia ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Laparoscopy ; Nephrectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Artery ; Sutures ; Swine ; Warm Ischemia

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic value of the 5-tiered grade group in Korean patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2016, a number of 2,883 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were included for the analysis. The impacts of biopsy and pathologic grade group on predicting biochemical recurrence (BCR) were assessed using multivariate analysis. Median follow-up duration was 49.0 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 66.5 years and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 11.8 ng/mL. Prostate cancer was locally advanced on magnetic resonance imaging in 13.4%. Biopsy grade group was as follows: 1 (46.8%), 2 (19.8%), 3 (14.2%), 4 (14.1%), and 5 (5.1%). Pathology stage was ≤T2 in 63.6%, T3a in 26.0%, and T3b/T4 in 10.4% patients. Pathologic grade was as follows: 1 (31.3%), 2 (37.9%), 3 (20.2%), 4 (4.7%), and 5 (5.1%). In multivariate analysis using biopsy-related variables, biopsy grade group (1, reference; 2, hazard ratio [HR], 1.771; p=0.001; 3, HR, 2.736; p < 0.001; 4, HR, 2.966; p < 0.001; 5, HR, 3.707; p < 0.001) was associated with BCR-free survival, PSA level and % positive core. In multivariate analysis using pathologic outcomes, pathologic grade group (1, reference; 2, HR, 1.882; p < 0.001; 3, HR, 3.352; p < 0.001; 4, HR, 3.890; p < 0.001; 5, HR: 3.118, p < 0.001) was associated with BCR-free survival in addition to pathologic stage and positive surgical margin. CONCLUSIONS: New 5-tiered grading system could be useful for predicting oncological outcomes in Korean patients although its role for distinguishing outcomes between patients with grade groups 3–5 need to be validated before wide application of this grade system in Korea.
Biopsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Pathology ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

We evaluated the role of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RPLU) for upper ureter stones. Between February 1998 and July 2004, 12 patients (10 men and 2 women) underwent RPLU for upper ureter stones (mean size 18.1 mm, range 10-25). RPLU was carried out in 5 patients as a salvage treatment after failed shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) (3) and both of failed SWL and ureteroscopy (URS) (2), and in 7 patients as primary treatment for large impacted stones. Total 6 of 12 cases were converted to open surgery. The reason of open conversion was failure of locating ureter due to severe adhesion in 5 cases and vascular injury in 1 case. In 6 successful cases, mean operation time, mean estimated blood loss, and mean postoperative hospital stay were respectively 109 min (90-120 min), 50 mL (10-100 mL), 4.6 days (2-7 days). There was no serious postoperative complication except for one patient who showed delayed urinary leakage but was cured with conservative management. Our experience suggested that RPLU was not easy to perform simply because it was indicated mainly in ureter stones with severe adhesion or after failed SWL and/or URS. Nevertheless, it can be considered as a primary procedure before open ureterolithotomy.
Urologic Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Ureteral Calculi/*therapy ; Ureter/pathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Time Factors ; Sex Factors ; Retroperitoneal Space/pathology ; Peritoneum ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Lithotripsy/*methods ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Humans ; Female ; Adult

PURPOSE: Recently, the whole DNA sequence of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) was identified, revealing the existence of the YvrK gene encoding a 43 kD oxalate decarboxylase (OXDC), which degrades oxalate by a simple pathway. The objective of this study was to develop recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) expressing the Yvrk gene from B. subtilis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After the extraction of total DNA from B. subtilis, the YvrK gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction. The cloned DNA encoding OXDC was inserted into the pBAD/gIII-A vector, downstream of the L-arabinose promotor. The plasmid vector was transformed into TOP 10 E. coli, and the transformants were selected with ampicillin. The recombinant E. coli, named pBy, was then analyzed by DNA sequencing and Western blot. To evaluate the oxalate-degrading function of pBy, pBy was cultured in LB broth containing oxalate, and then the amount of oxalate in the medium was assessed. The oxalate-degrading activity of homogenates of pBy was evaluated. RESULTS: DNA sequencing showed the successful transformation of the YvrK gene into TOP 10 E. coli. Western blot analyses showed that pBy expressed OXDC. pBy removed oxalate during the overnight culture in oxalate-containing LB broth, and the homogenate of pBy degraded 90% of oxalate under acidic conditions. CONCLUSIONS: A recombinant E. coli expressing the YvrK gene was successfully produced. The bacteria showed potent oxalate-degrading activity. The results of this study will provide a solution to the treatment of calcium oxalate stones and hyperoxaluria, for which there are few medical treatment modalities.
Ampicillin ; Arabinose ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium Oxalate ; Carboxy-Lyases ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; Escherichia coli ; Hyperoxaluria ; Oxalates ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA