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*

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

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*

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human consist of dysplasia of various developmental stages and squamous cell carcinoma in situ of various types. These lesions can be diagnosed cytologically on cervico-vaginal smears, although the diagnostic reproducibility is limited. To obtain the objects morphologic distinction between normal squamous epithelial cell in different maturation, different stages of dysplastic cells and varieties of in situ carcinoma cells, Kontron IBAS-1 imaging analyzer was applied for the measurement of nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of each categorised cells. The followings are results obtained: 1) Nuclear and cytoplasmic areas of superfical (36.9 micrometer2, 2319.9 micrometer2) intermedicate (45.7 micrometer2, 2989.7 micrometer2) and parabasal cells (50.8 micrometer2, 432.7 micrometer2) of normal squamous epithelium origin are mostly distinctive between cell types. However, cytoplasmic areas of both superficial and intermediate cells and nuclear areas of both intermediate and parabasal cells are not significantly different. 2) Normal squamous cells and various dysplastic cells show obvious difference in their nuclear and cytoplasmic areas, while difference between cytoplasmic areas of both parabasal (432.7 micrometer2) and severe dysplastic cells (409.7 micrometer2) are not statistically significant. 3) No statistical difference is observed in between nuclear areas of both moderate dysplastic (112.3 micrometer2) and severe dysplastic cell (117.6 micrometer2). 4) Varieties of carcinoma in situ cells and severe dysplastic cells are in difference in their nuclear and cytoplastic areas, whereas nuclear areas from both in situ carcinoma cells (95.3 micrometer2) of large cell type and severe dysplasia (117.6 micrometer2) are not distinctive. The results lead the author to consider that the morphometric analysis for various parameters of cell constituents are of value in making objective distinction between cells from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human.
Humans

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

Chylothorax is the most common cause of pleural effusion in the neonatal period and is defined as an effusion of lymph in the pleural cavity. We report a case of chylothorax in a 13-day-old male who was admitted due to respiratory difficulty. Chest AP showed pleural effusion of the left lung and milky yellow fluid was aspirated via thoracentesis upon which laboratory and lipoprotein electrophoresis of pleural fluid revealed findings compatible with that of chylothorax. Due to reaccumulation of chyle after daily thoracentesis, chest tube was inserted at the 4th hospital day, and MCT containing diet was given. He was discharged on the 21st hospital day in good health, and revealed no recurrence for 3 months during outpatient follow up visits.
Chest Tubes ; Chyle ; Chylothorax* ; Diet* ; Electrophoresis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lipoproteins ; Lung ; Male ; Outpatients ; Pleural Cavity ; Pleural Effusion ; Recurrence ; Thoracostomy* ; Thorax ; Triglycerides*

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*

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