Parathyroid hormone(PTH), a major bone hormone, inhihits DNA and collagen syntheses in osteohlast-like cells in vitro, but increase the proliferation of osteoblast in vivo as secn in hyperparathyroidism. On the other hand, insulin is known to increase DNA and collagen syntheses and modify the effects of PTH in osteoblast-like cells. We have examined the effects of PTH and insulin in rat osteosarcoma UMR-l06-01 cells and whether PTH plays a role in the insulin-mediated bone formation. When 1 nM PTH and 10 nM insulin were administered to VMR-l06-01 ceils, the rates of DNA synthesis were 124% and 136% of the untreated control, respectively. When the two hormones were administered serially by exposing to 1 nM PTH for 7 days followed by 10 nM insulin lor 24h, the largest increase was observed. The protein synthesis was also increased remarkahly when the two hormones were aclministered serially: the[3H]-leucine incorporation rates, compared to the control group, were 75% and l62% with PTH ancl insulin administration, respectively, but the rate was 297% with the serial administration of the two. The collaeen synthesis, as measured by the (3H)-proline incorporation rates were 60% and l64% with PTH and insulin administration, respectively, but 351% with serial administration, again showing a dramatic effect. These results showed that 1 nM PTH decreased DNA and collagen syntheses in UMR-l06-01 cells after both a 24h and a more prolonged exposure. Similar exposures to insulin tended to increase the syntheses. The comhination of PTH and insulin tended to increase the syntheses. hut not beyond the effect of insulin alone. However, the sequential administration of PTH and insulin markedly increases ihose rales relative to the simultaneous adminstration of these two hormones. Thus, it is possihle that sequential stimulation of PTH and insulin in hone matrix exerts an synergistic effect on hone formation in vivo.
Animals ; Collagen ; DNA ; Hand ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Insulin* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma* ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Rats ; Respiratory Sounds

Tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare disease of abnormal communication between esopha- gus and respiratory system. The common causes are the acquired origins in adult such as trauma, infection of the adjacent organs, malignant tumor, and foreign body. Among the traumatic origins, chemical drug, the procedure of the dilatation on the stenotic area, blunt trauma(fall, collisions), penetrating trauma(bullet, knife), and pressure injury are much more common than others. Recently, trauma and foreign body in the esophagus and bronchus are becoming the main cause of the tracheoesophageal fistula, however the frequency of the development of tracheoesophageal fistula caused by the infectious diseases is getting decreased. Fibrinogen-thrombin glue stimulates the healing process of the wound and the ulcer. We treated a 52-year-old male patient with nan-inalignant tracheoesophageal fistula, who had symtoms of pharyngolaryngeal and chest discomfort concomitant with a paroxysmal cough on swallowing food which were caused by fish bone. The diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula was made by the esophagogram, chest CT, and esop aecopy. By using the therapeutic endoscopy with an injection of the fibrinogen-glue, the tracheoesopeal fistula was obliterated completely with dramatic symptomatic improvement. Here we conqluded that this method would be the one of the best methods for the treatment of tracheoesophageal fistula.
Adhesives* ; Adult ; Bronchi ; Communicable Diseases ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Fibrinogen* ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Intestines* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Respiratory System ; Stomach* ; Thorax ; Thrombin* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: The expression of adhesion molecules contribute to development of systemic diseases. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-1) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein that has been implicated in leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions in inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the surface expression and regulation of VCAM-1 on two different endothelial cells. METHOD: We examined the effects of the expression of VCAM-1 in two different endothelial cells, isolated from human umbilical cords and human glomerulus. Expression of VCAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In human umbilical cord endothelial cells(HUVECs), both interleukin-l B(IL-lB) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) increased VCAM-1 expression. VCAM-1 expression increased by TNF-a was higher than that increased by IL-lB. In human glomerular endothelial cells(HGECs), IL-lB and TNF-a markedly increased VCAM-1 expression. Conclusion. The regulation of VCAM-1 appears to be somewhat different in HGECs compared with HUVECs. These differences between the responsiveness of the two cells may possibly indicate inherent differences in endothelial cell derived from different vascular beds.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Communication ; Cytokines* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Necrosis ; Umbilical Cord ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

Flammulina velutipes was transformed efficiently by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. The transformation frequency was about 16% with the gill tissues of the fungal fruiting body. Southern hybridization and genetic analysis suggest that the introduced DNA was inserted onto different locations of the fungal genome, and inherited stably to the next generation via basidiospores. Transformation or gene tagging with Agrobacterium T-DNA based vector should be useful for wide ranges of genetic or molecular biological studies of the mushroom.
Agaricales* ; Agrobacterium ; Animals ; DNA ; Flammulina* ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; Genome, Fungal ; Gills

PURPOSE: In the present study, the effects of bFGF on the early responses of proliferation of UMR 106-01 osteoblast cells during cell cycle reentry from the latent(G0/G1) to the proliferative periods(S/M) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The synchronized cell culture method using the serum starvation was utilized. After the addition of bFGF, the time courses of protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, thymidylate synthase(TS) activity, TS mRNA level and expression of c-fos were determined. RESULTS: 87% UMR 106-01 cells were synchronized to G0/G1 by serum starvation for seven days in the medium containing 0.1% serum. The protein level began to increase 3 hours after bFGF treatment and reached the maximum at 18 hours. TS activity began to increase 3 hours after the bFGF treatment and reached its peak at 6 hours while its mRNA level, determined by quantitative PCR, reached the maximum at 12 hours. The expression of c-fos protein, determined by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry, increased 3 hours after bFGF treatment. On the contrary, these prominent changes and responses to bFGF were not observed in the case of using non-synchronized cells cultured in the medium containing 10% serum. CONCLUSION: Based on these data it can be concluded that bFGF-induced DNA synthesis in the early proliferative phase is due to increases in both TS activity and mRNA amount and that the increase in c-fos expression and TS activity occur before the increase in TS mRNA level.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle ; DNA ; Fibroblasts* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteoblasts* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Starvation ; Thymidylate Synthase*

PURPOSE: In the present study, the effects of bFGF on the early responses of proliferation of UMR 106-01 osteoblast cells during cell cycle reentry from the latent(G0/G1) to the proliferative periods(S/M) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The synchronized cell culture method using the serum starvation was utilized. After the addition of bFGF, the time courses of protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, thymidylate synthase(TS) activity, TS mRNA level and expression of c-fos were determined. RESULTS: 87% UMR 106-01 cells were synchronized to G0/G1 by serum starvation for seven days in the medium containing 0.1% serum. The protein level began to increase 3 hours after bFGF treatment and reached the maximum at 18 hours. TS activity began to increase 3 hours after the bFGF treatment and reached its peak at 6 hours while its mRNA level, determined by quantitative PCR, reached the maximum at 12 hours. The expression of c-fos protein, determined by western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry, increased 3 hours after bFGF treatment. On the contrary, these prominent changes and responses to bFGF were not observed in the case of using non-synchronized cells cultured in the medium containing 10% serum. CONCLUSION: Based on these data it can be concluded that bFGF-induced DNA synthesis in the early proliferative phase is due to increases in both TS activity and mRNA amount and that the increase in c-fos expression and TS activity occur before the increase in TS mRNA level.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle ; DNA ; Fibroblasts* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Osteoblasts* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Starvation ; Thymidylate Synthase*

In Yugoslavia, homorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is one of the important national health problem, but no vaccine has been used to prevent HFRS. Since first HFRS case in 1952, sporadic cases of HFRS occurred every year and over 4,000 registered cases with 1~16% mortality so far. We performed a prospective, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Hantavax(TM) against HFRS in 3,900 healthy adults living in the endemic areas of Yugoslavia. 1,900 people were given 0.5 ml of Hantavax subcutaneously twice at one month interval and a booster shot at one year after. For controls other 2,000 healthy people were given 0.5 ml of physiolosical saline as a placebo. We investigated HFRS cases in both the vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups by monitoring the program for patient registration in the areas from 1996 to 1998, and the effect of vaccine was analyzed epidemiologically No confirmed case of HFRS was observed among 1,900 Hantavax vaccinees, while 20 confirmed cases were observed among 2,000 nonvaccinated control group. There were no remarkable side effects among the vaccinees either locally or in general after inoculation of the vaccine. The Hantavax vaccine showed statistically significant protective efficacy against HFRS among Yugoslavian people.
Adult ; Fever ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Yugoslavia*

In Yugoslavia, homorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is one of the important national health problem, but no vaccine has been used to prevent HFRS. Since first HFRS case in 1952, sporadic cases of HFRS occurred every year and over 4,000 registered cases with 1~16% mortality so far. We performed a prospective, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Hantavax(TM) against HFRS in 3,900 healthy adults living in the endemic areas of Yugoslavia. 1,900 people were given 0.5 ml of Hantavax subcutaneously twice at one month interval and a booster shot at one year after. For controls other 2,000 healthy people were given 0.5 ml of physiolosical saline as a placebo. We investigated HFRS cases in both the vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups by monitoring the program for patient registration in the areas from 1996 to 1998, and the effect of vaccine was analyzed epidemiologically No confirmed case of HFRS was observed among 1,900 Hantavax vaccinees, while 20 confirmed cases were observed among 2,000 nonvaccinated control group. There were no remarkable side effects among the vaccinees either locally or in general after inoculation of the vaccine. The Hantavax vaccine showed statistically significant protective efficacy against HFRS among Yugoslavian people.
Adult ; Fever ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies ; Yugoslavia*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine is an antiviral nucleoside analogue effective for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection via the inhibition of DNA polymerase activity. The mutations, however, in YMDD motif, such as YVDD and YIDD, have been found to interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of lamivudine. This study was performed to identify the role of such mutant-type HBV among Korean hepatitis B patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis receiving lamivudine treatment. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from four groups of patients; patients with breakthrough (group I, n = 8); patients who showed no response after the treatment (group II, n = 6); patients who showed good response (group III, n = 6); patients with chronic hepatitis B without any treatment (group IV, n = 4). Mutations were detected by PCR-cloning and automated sequencing. RESULTS: Mutations in YMDD were found in only 4 (50%) in group I and were negative in group II. No mutations could be identified in the serum samples collected before treatment and from groups III and IV. YVDD mutation was found to be associated with two additional mutations, 'L-to-M' in 528th amino acid and 'L-to-V' in 577th amino acid. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine resistance appeared in three different patterns: (1) breakthrough related to the mutations in YMDD motif; (2) breakthrough not related to the YMDD mutations; and (3) primary non-responder not related to the YMDD mutations.
DNA ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Lamivudine