The antigenic domain of the major surface protein (Nc-p43) of Neospora caninum was examined by polymerase chain reaction of its gene fragments and recombinant expression as GST fusion proteins. The fragments of Nc-p43 were as follow: a total open reading frame (OFR), T; OFR without signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence, S; N-terminal 2/3 parts of S, A; C-terminal 2/3 parts, P; N-terminal 1/3 part, X; middle 1/3 part, Y; and C-terminal 1/3 part, Z, respectively. The DNA fragments were cloned into pGEX-4T vector. Recombinant plasmids transformed into Escherichia coli of BL21 pLysS (DE3) strain were induced to express GST or GST fused fragments of Nc-p43 such as 69 kDa protein for T, 66 kDa for S, 52 kDa for A, 53 kDa for P, and 40 kDa proteins for X, Y, and Z, respectively in SDS-PAGE. The Nc-p43 fragments of T, S, and P reacted with a bovine serum of neosporosis while those of A, X, Y, and Z together with GST did not in the western blot. These findings suggest that the antigenic domain of Nc-p43 of N. caninum may be localized in the C-terminal 2/3 parts. Together with A19 clone in SAG1 of Toxoplasma gondii (Nam et al., 1996), the P fragment of Nc-p43 could be used as efficient antigens to diagnose and differentiate those infections with both species.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Coccidiosis/diagnosis ; Neospora/*immunology ; Protozoan Proteins/*analysis/genetics/immunology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Vero Cells/parasitology

As the use of muscle relaxants routinize in the clinical general anesthesia, the proper estimation of neuromuscular blockade and recovery is needed for the more safe anesthetic management. Three recording methods of measurement in recovery are available; measurement of the evoked mechanical responses (mechanography), measurement of the evoked electrical responses (electromyography), and measurement of the acceleration of the muscle responses, The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations among mechanomyographic, electromyographic and accelerographic responses during recovery from vecuronium induced neuromuscular blockade. 15 ASA class 1 adult patients were studied. Measurements were as follows: 1) Recovery time of T(1)/Tc, of 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% in each device. 2) Recovery index in each device 3) The values of T(1)>Tc, in EMG and ACC corresponding ta that of MMG. 4) The values of TOF ratio in EMG and ACC corresponding to that of MMG. The results were as follows: 1) Recovery time of T(1).
Acceleration ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Vecuronium Bromide*

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia and purpura have boon developed by many various agents. Rifampin and Pyrazinamide have been known as bactericidal antituberculous drugs, but, the above side effects have been a problem. Especially, hematologic side effects art fatal to patients occasionally. Rifampin-induced thrombocytopenia and purpura have been well known, also, pyrazinamide-induced thrombocytopenia have been reported. A new quilonone agent Ciprofloxacin, has been commonly used in clinics now, but it's side effects are not known well. So, we report a case of a 23-year-old female with thrombocytopenia and purpura after taking Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ciprofloxacin as antituberculous agents.
Ciprofloxacin* ; Female ; Humans ; Purpura* ; Pyrazinamide* ; Rifampin ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Young Adult

The developing brain is highly plastic and thus brain lesions during development interfere with the innate development of architecture, connectivity and mapping of functions and trigger modifications in structure, wiring and representation. Unilateral inhibition of the sensorimotor cortex during development results in a sparse contralateral projection from this cortex and retention of a greater number of ipsilateral projections from the more active cortex. We report a patient with bilateral cerebral lesions. She had mild hemiparesis. Transcranial magnetic stimulation to the less affected hemisphere elicited bilateral motor evoked potentials of the first dorsal interossei and ipsilateral responses revealed shorter onset latencies and larger peak to peak amplitude than contralateral response, implying a greater ipsilateral than contralateral projection. This observation indicates direct ipsilateral corticospinal projections from the less affected brain hemisphere.
Brain ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Humans ; Paresis ; Plastics ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Retention (Psychology) ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis(CTL) is one of the most common extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Recently overall incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis has decreased, but the incidence of tuberculous lymphadenitis has not decreased. Its duration of treatment is still controversial and the pathogenesis, prognosis and relationship with other site tuberculous are poorly published. So we did a retrograde study of 120 cases of confirmed CTL about its clinical manifestations. METHODS: All patients were applied fine needle aspiration(FNA) of palpable enlarged cervical lymph nodes and 114 patients were examined for AFB smear and 34 patients for TB culture with aspirated fluid. 57 patients were examined Mantoux test(5TU with PPD-S). With above methods, a total of 120 patients was diagnosed as having CTL RESULTS: 1) CTL is most prevalent in young women between the age of 20 30 years and the incidence of CTL in female is 2.5 times higher than that of male. It is located most commonly in the posterior cervical area. The most common presenting symptom is painless palpable enlarged cervical lymph nodes. 2) With FNA of enlarged cervical lymph nodes, the percentage of histopathological positivity is 82.3%. The percentage of AFB smear positivity is 38.6%, and that of TB culture positivity is 17.6% (p<0.001). 3) Pulmonary tuberculosis is noted in 79 cases(65.8%). And 42 cases(53.5%) of them had minimal pulmonary tuberculosis. In 14 cases(11.7%),other extrapulmonary tuberculosis coexsisted and pleural tuberculosis was most common in the order. 4) CTL was treated with anti-tuberculous medication(first line drug) and median treatment duration was 18.5months. During treatment, the size of involved lymph nodes decreased gradually in 62 cases(75.8%), newly developed lymph nodes were found in 25 cases(30.4%),fluctuation formation in 22 cases(26.8%) and fistula formation in 14 cases(17.0%). CONCLUISON: CTL is prevalent in women between the age of 20 ~ 40 years and it involves posterior cervical area most commonly. CTL is treated with long-term anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. We think it is one manifestation of systemic disease and frequently coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, the size of involved lymph nodes was increased, new lymph nodes were developed or fluctuation and fistula formed in involved lymph nodes. After sufficient medication, when the patient felt pressure discomfort from enlarged lymph node or fistula was formed, we recommended total excision of involved lymph nodes.
Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Needles ; Prognosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node* ; Tuberculosis, Pleural ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer continues to increase worldwide. Also, the proportion of female patients incease and adenocarcinoma is the predominant histological type among lung cancer in many western countries. So, we studied these current trends of lung cancer by clinical approach of recent patients from our department. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 212 subjects who were diagnosed with lung cancer at the department of chest medicine in National Medical Center between January 1990 and July 1996. The contents of analysis were patient's profile, clinical manifestation, smoking habits, accuracy of diagnostic methods, histological cell type, staging and treatment, etc. RESULTS: The results were as follows. 1) The ratio of male to female was 5.2:1. The peak incidence of age was 7th decade(35.4 %). 2) Chief complaints were cough, dyspnea and chest pain, etc. The most common duration of symptoms before the first admission was less than 3 months(57.7%). On the other side, duration more than 1 year represented 6.5%. The early diagnosed patients has been increased from the 1980s. 3) Smokers among the total patients were 77.2%. The proportion of smokers in sqamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 88.4%, 85.7% and 55.7%, respectively. Smoking history and histological cell type were correlated in squamous and small cell carcinoma. 4) Squamous cell carcinoma is still the predominant histological type(44.8%), but, adenocarcinoma increased more than the previous study(30.7%). The other histological types were small cell carcinoma(17.0%) and large cell carcinoma(3.8%) in order of their proportions. 5) The accuracy of diagnostic methods were as follows : sputum cytology 75.3%, bronchoscopic biopsy 65.7%, lymph node aspiration cytology 95.8%, percutaneous lung aspiration cytology 94.6% and open lung biopsy 100%. The general accuracies of diagnostic methods were improved than previous studies. 6) Performance status scales on admission were relatively good. After diagnosis, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were undertaken in 69.3% of the patients, and only 7.5% of the patients were operated. CONCLUSION: In our study, squamous cell carcinoma is still the predominant histological cell type, but, adenocarcinoma continues to increase. Because adenocarcinoma is less correlated with smoking habits, further evaluation of other carcinogens than smoking is requested. Screening and early diagnosis of lung cancer is important for good performance status scales in spite of advanced stages. But, we think that the prevention, for example, stop smokings is more important as because of no perfect treatment for lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinogens ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: A conventional treadmill provides manually controlled constant speed during exercise. A fast interactive automatic speed control treadmill (FAST), which is highly sensitive to the position of the user on the belt and spontaneously adjusts its speed accordingly, was evaluated in terms of energy expenditure (EE) during exercise. METHODS: A total of 43 subjects were recruited and assigned to one of three exercise intensity groups-low (LIG; 40-50% of VO2max), moderate (MIG; 55-65% of VO2max), and high (HIG; 70-80% of VO2max). During the first test (Test-1), each subject performed an exercise bout on the FAST while spontaneously changing their locomotion speed within their assigned range of intensity. The average speed in Test-1 was calculated and applied to the second test (Test-2), in which the subjects exercised at a constant belt speed and matched the total travel distance of Test-1. During the tests, the oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory quotient (RQ), oxygen pulse (OP), and EE of each subject were measured. RESULTS: The average VO2 in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (22.95+/-2.55 vs. 21.72+/-2.90 ml/kg/min) and MIG (31.17+/-3.75 vs. 29.73+/-4.86 mL/kg/min) (P<.05) subjects. The EE in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (7.09+/-1.67 vs. 6.71+/-1.73 kcal/min) and MIG (9.79+/-2.62 vs. 9.32+/-2.71 kcal/min) (P<.05) subjects. The HR, RQ, and OP in the LIG and the MIG were similar. There was no difference between Test-1 and Test-2 in any of the metabolic parameters for the HIG subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that, low- to moderate-intensity treadmill exercise at varying speeds required higher energy expenditure than that at a constant speed. Thus, a treadmill with a spontaneous speed variation function may be an effective exercise modality that increases energy expenditure.
Energy Metabolism* ; Heart Rate ; Locomotion ; Oxygen ; Running ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types of lymphadenitis after BCG vaccination and the effect of local rifampicin instillation on the treatment of suppurative BCG lymphadenitis. METHODS: A total of 32 otherwise healthy infants with suppurative BCG lymphadenitis, who visited the Department of Pediatrics of Chonbuk National University Hospital, from March 2002 through June 2004, were enrolled in this study. They were treated with needle aspiration and local rifampicin instillation. We investigated the time the lymphadenitis took to be suppurative, accompanying clinical manifestations, and the treatment effects. RESULTS: Of the 32 infants, 19 were male and 13 were female. They were full term babies and one preterm baby with a gestational age of 30 weeks. They received intradermal administration, with the BCG vaccine of Pasteur(R)(French) strain mostly on the left deltoid area(96.9 percent). Regional lymphadenitis occurred in 1 to 11 months after BCG vaccination, mostly 1-5 months after vaccination (78.1 percent). Among the infants, 87.5 percent had unilocular lesion but 12.5 percent had more than one enlarged lymph node cares. Most of the lymphadenitis presented in the left axillary area(77.8 percent), and the left supuraclavicular area(11.1 percent). After one to three times of needle aspiration with rifampin instillation, all infants recovered completely without surgical excision or severe complication. CONCLUSION: The regional lymphadenitis is the most common complication in infants who receive intradermal BCG vaccination. This study supports that in suppurative BCG lymphadenitis the needle aspiration and local rifampicin instillation is very effective and can be a more economical treatment modality.
BCG Vaccine ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Jeollabuk-do ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Male ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Needles ; Pediatrics ; Rifampin* ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare type of eccrine sweat gland carcinoma. Although it is mostly known as a neoplasm of the salivary gland, it could occur as a primary skin tumor. We present a patient with a primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma at the genital area. METHODS: A 60-year-old man had a slowly growing 1 cm sized single tender mass near the left scrotum and he underwent excisional biopsy at a local clinic. A diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was made and thus he was transferred to our hospital. In physical examination, other specific findings were not detected except a linear scar caused by a previous skin biopsy near the left scrotum. In CT scan, PET-CT scan and endoscopy, there was no evidence of neoplasm in other organs. It was diagnosed as the primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma and then wide excisions were performed including total 4.5cm margin of normal skin. RESULTS: Microscopic findings revealed proliferation of tumor cell islands with cribriform or tubular patterns containing several round, pseudocystic structures. The tumor cells showed basaloid cells with uniform and small nuclei. Tumor cells infiltrated into the dermis and upper portion of subcutaneous tissue. There was multifocal perineural invasion of tumor cells. In postoperative 6 months, we found no recurrence and other complications. CONCLUSION: Herein we found a rare case of primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma at the genital area.
Adenoids ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Islands ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Salivary Glands ; Scrotum ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Sweat Glands

Osteomyelitis caused by Salmonella Typhi is rare in an otherwise healthy person. Here, we describe a case of Salmonella osteomyelitis in a sternoclavicular joint mimicking malignancy or tuberculosis, in an immunocompetent patient. Salmonella infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of osteomyelitis, especially in patients with a previous history of diarrhea.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Osteomyelitis* ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella typhi ; Salmonella* ; Sternoclavicular Joint* ; Tuberculosis*