BACKGROUND: E2/nonstructural protein 1 (E2/NSl) glycoprotein of hepatitic C virus (HCV) is most variable region of HCV and appears to cause positive selection of escape mutants, which may play a role in the mechanism of persistent viral infection. We analyzed the sequence diversity of E2/NSl of HCV from twelve Koreans. METHODS: The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the putative E2/NSl region of HCV were determined by analysis of twelve independent amplified CDNA clones obtained from Korean patients with chronic hepatitis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma, using dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. RESULTS: High level of variations in both nucleotide and amino acid sequences were observed in the hypervariable region 1 and 2 (HVR1 and HVR2). Sequences of HVR1, situated at the nucleotide positions from 1478 to 1552 (amino acid positions : from 383 to 407), showed from 27.8 to 94.4% diversity at the nucleotide level and from 25.0 to 87.5% diversity at the amino acid level. 4 few amino acid residues (amino acid positions: 384, 388, 389 405, 406) within HVR1 were highly conserved in most cases. Sequences of HVR2, situated at the nucleotide positions from 1736 to 1774 (amino acid positions from 469 to 481). Two groups of highly conserved amino acid sequences were observed in the HVR2 of twelve Korean cases, indicating that there are type specific conservation in the HVR2 region. 4 large part of the eave lope region located at the nucleotide positions from 1832 to 1892 (amino acid positions : from 501 to 521) was highly conserved, to show 100% Identity of amino acid sequences. The positions of six putative N-glycosylation sites were highly conserved. The percent diversities of nucleotide of E2/NSl was from 60.4% to 92.7% and the percent diversities of amino acid of E2/NSl was from 57.6% to 95.5% among twelve Korean HCV clones. CONCLUSION: Extensive genetic variations including two hypervariable regions were clustered and interspersed with highly conserved nucleotides sequences in E2/NSl region of HCV isolated from Koreans.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Genetic Variation ; Glycoproteins ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Nucleotides ; United Nations

BACKGROUND: E2/nonstructural protein 1 (E2/NSl) glycoprotein of hepatitic C virus (HCV) is most variable region of HCV and appears to cause positive selection of escape mutants, which may play a role in the mechanism of persistent viral infection. We analyzed the sequence diversity of E2/NSl of HCV from twelve Koreans. METHODS: The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the putative E2/NSl region of HCV were determined by analysis of twelve independent amplified CDNA clones obtained from Korean patients with chronic hepatitis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma, using dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. RESULTS: High level of variations in both nucleotide and amino acid sequences were observed in the hypervariable region 1 and 2 (HVR1 and HVR2). Sequences of HVR1, situated at the nucleotide positions from 1478 to 1552 (amino acid positions : from 383 to 407), showed from 27.8 to 94.4% diversity at the nucleotide level and from 25.0 to 87.5% diversity at the amino acid level. 4 few amino acid residues (amino acid positions: 384, 388, 389 405, 406) within HVR1 were highly conserved in most cases. Sequences of HVR2, situated at the nucleotide positions from 1736 to 1774 (amino acid positions from 469 to 481). Two groups of highly conserved amino acid sequences were observed in the HVR2 of twelve Korean cases, indicating that there are type specific conservation in the HVR2 region. 4 large part of the eave lope region located at the nucleotide positions from 1832 to 1892 (amino acid positions : from 501 to 521) was highly conserved, to show 100% Identity of amino acid sequences. The positions of six putative N-glycosylation sites were highly conserved. The percent diversities of nucleotide of E2/NSl was from 60.4% to 92.7% and the percent diversities of amino acid of E2/NSl was from 57.6% to 95.5% among twelve Korean HCV clones. CONCLUSION: Extensive genetic variations including two hypervariable regions were clustered and interspersed with highly conserved nucleotides sequences in E2/NSl region of HCV isolated from Koreans.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Clone Cells ; DNA, Complementary ; Genetic Variation ; Glycoproteins ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Nucleotides ; United Nations

To investigate the inflammatory cytokine production of human epithelial cell lines stimulated with uropathogenic E. coli strains showing 3 different adherence patterns, differential expression of inflammatory cytokine (IL-1a, IL-lB, IL-8, TNFa, and TGFB) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. IL-1a, IL-1B, IL-8, and TGFB mRNAs constitutively expressed in epithelial cell lines, but not TNFa. The expression of IL-1a and IL-1B mRNA was increased in J-82 cells stimulated with E. coli strains showing DA, LA, or AggA pattern. The expression of IL-8 mRNA was increased, whereas TGFj3 mRNA was decreased in J-82 cells stimulated with E. coli strain showing AggA.pattern. Treatment with crude bacterial adhesins (CBA) isolated from E. coli strains showing DA or LA pattern increased IL-la, IL-lB, IL-S, and TGFj3 mRNA expressions in J-82 cells and HeLa cells. IL-la, IL-lB, and TGFB mRNA expressions were decreased in epitheUal cells stimulated with CBA from E. coli strain showing AggA pattern, whereas IL-8 mRNA expression was significantly increased. The expressions of cytokine mRNAs showed little differences between epithelial ceRs used, but great differences between CBA from DA or LA and AggA strain. LPS stimulation was little changed cytokine mRNA expressions in epithelial cells. This study suggests that cytokine gene expression of epithelial cells by the bacterial stimulation mainly depends on the bacterial adhesins recognized by the respective receptors of epithelial cells.
Adhesins, Bacterial ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; RNA, Messenger ; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli*

Reconstruction of soft tissue defect with exposure of the tendons and bone in the lower third of the leg and the heel represents a challenge to plastic surgeons. The sural artery flap is a fasciocutaneous flap supplied by the sural artery that accompanies the sural nerve and connects with a septocutaneous perforator of the peroneal artery via a suprafascial network of vessels. For the coverage of soft tissue defects, we operated on 10 patients using a distally-based sural artery flap. The sites of the soft tissue defect were the lower third of the leg in 7 cases and the heel in 3 cases. The size of flap varied from 3.5x4cm to 12x18cm. Nine of 10 flaps survived completely. One flap in which the sural nerve was preserved showed partial necrosis but healed spontaneously. Two flaps showed slightly venous congestion which disappeared after a few days. The advantages of the sural flap are a reliable blood supply, easy and quick elevation of the flap, preservation of the major artery and minimal donor site morbidity. The disadvantage of the flap is hypoesthesia at the lateral part of the foot. In conclusion, the distally-based sural artery flap can be used safely for soft tissues coverage in the lower third of the leg and the heel.
Arteries* ; Foot ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Hypesthesia ; Leg ; Necrosis ; Sural Nerve ; Tendons ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Hyperplasia* ; Islets of Langerhans* ; Nesidioblastosis*

Pityriasis rotunda is an uncommon chronic dermatosis characterized by multiple, round or oval, hyperpigmented or hypopigmented patches that have a fine scale on the trunk and extremities. Most of the cases reported predominantly occurred in Oriental and black patients in association with internal disease. However, in Caucasians it has been documented in healthy persons usually as a familial tendency. We report a case of pityriasis rotunda which showed familial occurrence and had no underlying disease.
Extremities ; Humans ; Pityriasis* ; Skin Diseases

The incidence of skin diseases in the hospital practice cannot give a true picture of their prevalence in the population served. Nevertheless the hospital incidence figures usually offer the only available means of assessing prevalence, and therefore provide us with a potentially valuable source of information on the ecology of many skin disorders. (countinued..)
Ecology ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Statistics as Topic*

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Risk Factors*

Distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a biochemical syndrome as a deficiency of hydrogen in secretion by the distal tubule and collecting duct. Owing to the nature of the defect, hyperchloremic non-anion gap metabolic acidosis and high urine pH despite severe systemic acidosis is characterized. Typical manifestations of distal RTA are growth retardation, rickets, polyuria and nephrocalcinosis. We experienced a case of distal renal tubular acidosis in a 4 years old female child who complained of growth retardation and gait disturbance. She showed typical hyperchloremic non-anion gap metabolic acidosis and persistent high urine pH. In radiographic examination. we found delayed bone age and severe rachitic changes of wrist, elbow, and knee as well as nephrocalcinosis. In ammonium chloride loading test, high urine pH persisted despite the lowering blood HCO3- concentration. After alkali therapy, she is in well condition with excellent growth velocity and absence of rachitic changes.
Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Alkalies ; Ammonium Chloride ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Elbow ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Knee ; Nephrocalcinosis ; Polyuria ; Rickets ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the usefulness of cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin assay for the prediction of rupture of membrane and preterm labor. METHODS: A group of 39 pregnant women was involved in this prospective study. Out of 139 pregnant women, 96 were clinically diagnosed as ruptured membranes (group A). The remaining 43 of 139 pregnant women were clinically diagnosed as preterm labor(group B). The assay was performed by using the ROMCheckTM kit (Adeza Biomedical Corp., Sunnyvale, CA). RESULTS: In group 4, fetal fibronectin (fFN) positive rate is 55% (53 patients) and negative rate is 45% (43 patients). In group B, fFN positive rate is 56% (24 patients) and negative rate is 44% (19 patients). Both group of fFN positive patients show a significantly shorter interval from sampling to delivery than fFN negative patients. Also in group A, the percentage of fFN positive patients who delivered at less than 48 hours after sampling is greater than those with fFN negative patients and in group B, the preterm delivery rate is 79% with positive fFN and 37% with negative fFN. As a predictor for preterm delivery, the presence of fFN has the sensitivity 79%, the specificity 84%, the positive Predictive value 76% and the negative predictive value 86%. CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that a positive fFN in pregnant women who have uterine contractions and ruptured membrane indicates a significant risk for preterm delivery and labor onset, and a negative fFN is a reassuring sign.
Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Labor Onset ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women* ; Prospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Contraction