In order to understand the role of mec regulator genes in the evolution of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), the distribution of the mec regulator genes among the 66 clinical isolates of MRSA was analysed. And also the correlation between gene mutation and degree of phenotypic expression of resistance was studied. Fifty strains carried whole mec regulator region, while the mecI gene and nearly half of the 3'-end of the mecR#l gene were deleted in fifteen strains. The mecRl MS gene was detected among all of the mecA carried strains, but the mecRl PB gene was carried by 77% of the MRSA strains. At least a portion of the 5'-end region of the mecRl gene was carried by all MRSA strains tested. Forty-seven strains were finally confirmed to have mecI gene and each mecI gene of above strains was sequenced for identification of the relationship between repressor function of mecI gene on mecA transcription and MIC level of methicillin. Point mutations were detected in 11 strains of 47 strains. In 8 strains, there was one nucleotide substitution (C to T at position 202) that produced a new termination codon at position 201. In 3 strains, one nucleotide substitution from G to T at position 43 caused an amino acid substitution from Val to Phe. The MIC of methicillin of strains carrying mutated mecI genes ranged 256 ug/ ml to 1024 ug/ml. Transcription level of amplified cDNA corresponding to mecA was determined by the method of RT-PCR of extracted RNA. Total RNA was extracted from two strains with mutated mecI gene and a strain with intact mecI gene. Deletional loss or the mutational inactivation of the mecI gene did not affect the level of mecA transcription. Role of mecI gene as a strong repressor function on mecA gene seemed to be skeptical.
Amino Acid Substitution ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA, Complementary ; Genes, Regulator* ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Point Mutation ; RNA

The cytolytic activity of CD4' T cells, both human and murine, has been clearly demonstrated in the immune response to mycobacterial infection and suggested to play a significant role in the protection and immunopathology. However, Uttle is known about the differentiation of CD4' CTL. In order to address this issue, we examined the influences of some factors on the generation of CD4' CTL specific to mycobacterial antigens. After 7 days' stimulation of PBMCs from healthy tuberculin reactors with mycobacterial antigens, the cytolytic activity of purised CD4' T cells toward autologous macrophages infected with mycobacteria was measured by Cr release assay. First, we found that both of live M. tubeiculosis and soluble antigens (ST-CF) induced the cytolytic activity of CD4' T cells, although the inducibility of the former was slightly greater than the latter. Second, the cytolytic activity was maximally induced at the relatively low antigen concentration (0.2:1 bacteria:monocyte ratio or 0.5 mg/ml of ST-CF). Finally, in the presence of increasing amounts of neutralizing anti-IL-12 or anti-IFN-r MoAb, the cytolytic activity of CD4+ T cells was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that low dose of antigen, its particulate type give mycobacteria), IL-12, and IFN-r give some positive signals for the generation of CD4+ CTL.
Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes* ; Tuberculin

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) isolated from Korean patients is different in the antigenic and genomic structure of gB from the laboratory-adapted strain. To dissect the reactivity to HCMV glycoprotein B (gB) domains, each domain gene of gB of HCMV SNUCH1, Korean isolate, was amplified from the extracted DNA of the virus-infected fibroblasts with the specific primers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplified DNA was cloned into pcDNA3. Immunofluorescent staining and western blot analysis revealed that the expressed gB in mammalian cells was immunoreactive and equivalent to the naturally expressed gB in virus-infected fibroblasts. The antigenic component reactive with monoclonal antibodies, MCMVA 57, 88, and 98 appeared at the D3 domain of gB molecule, and that with MCMVA 66 and 135 at the D2b domain. Antibody titer was measured with HCMV-infected fibroblasts and the domains of gB expressed in mammalian cells. There was no correlation between the antibody titer to the whole HCMV and neutralizing antibody titer, and between the antibody titer to whole HCMV and whole gB. It was more reasonable to use whole gB than whole HCMV in the comparison with the neutralizing antibody titer. D3 was representative domain in gB molecule in the anti-gB reactivity. Conclusively it is highly recommendable to use the representing isolates in Korea and its domains for the detection of antibody or the analysis of antigen in the aspect of immunological properties and molecular structures.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Neutralizing* ; Blotting, Western ; Clone Cells ; Cytomegalovirus* ; DNA ; Epitopes* ; Fibroblasts ; Glycoproteins ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Molecular Structure ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes*

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of malaria has been usually made using microscopic examination of Wright stained thin blood films in Korean army. This method is labor-intensive, time consuming and requires the microscopic expertise. Therefore, the alternative techniques, rapid diagnostic test, have been sought for use in Korean army. We performed a comparison of the OptiMAL test with GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid I, II to assess its sensitivity and specificity of Plasmodium vivax malaria. METHODS: Blood specimen were collected from 51 patients who were presented and initially diagnosed for P. vivax by the microscopy of blood smears and from 30 control patients without malaria infection at the Capital Armed Forces General Hospital (CAFGH) between October 2000 and February 2001. Among the 51 patients, we also collected 24 samples from 24 patients at 2 or 3 days after therapy. The OptiMAL test and GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid I, II were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions on all samples respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the blood film, sensitivities and specificities of the OptiMAL test, GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid I and GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid II were 94.1~100% (29/29), 80.4~83.3%, 96.1~96.7% respectively. One case was interpreted as 'undetermined' by OptiMAL test. In 24 patients during therapy, the sensitivities of the OptiMAL test, GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid I and GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid II on 8 specimens with mean 120/microliter parasitemia and 16 specimens with negative parasitemia were 75~43.8%, 87.5~81.3%, 100~100% respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that the sensitivity and specificity of the GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid I were not satisfactory, but the sensitivity and specificity of the OptiMAL test and GENEDIA Malaria (P. vivax) Ab Rapid II were relatively high and useful diagnostic tests for diagnosis of P. vivax in areas like the militaries where laboratory facilities are poor or non-existent.
Arm ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Malaria* ; Malaria, Vivax ; Microscopy ; Military Personnel* ; Parasitemia ; Plasmodium vivax* ; Plasmodium* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific monoclonal antibody, SCMVM 34, recognizes early antigen confined to the nucleus of HCMV-infected cells. This study was performed to identify the antigen reactive to SCMVM 34 with purification and amino acid sequencing. The nuclear and cytoskeletal fraction of HCMV-infected cells was subjected to 0.4 M NaCl extraction, DEAE-Sephacel ion exchange chromatography, DNA-cellulose chromatography and SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of the reactive proteins was 52 kD, 40 kD and 34 kD. The modified or blocked amino termini of 52 kD and 40 kD showed resistance to Edman degradation. The internal peptide fragments were isolated by tryptic digeytion and reverse-phase HPLC. The internal amino acid sequence analysis of the peptides from HPLC profile revealed that the antigens recognized by SCMVM 34 was ppUIA4.
Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans* ; Molecular Weight ; Peptide Fragments ; Peptides ; Sequence Analysis, Protein

Long-term indwelling catheters constitute a risk factor for the development of bladder malignancy. Our study was designed to compare the incidence of bladder cancer and histological changes in the urinary bladder of spinal cord injury patients who had been catheterized for more than 11 years (group 1) and less than 10 years (group 2). Mean duration of catheterization was 17.7 years (range 11-38 years) and 6.5 years (range 2-10 years), respectively in both groups. Our study was performed by cystoscopic evaluation and random bladder biopsy in 23 patients in group 1 and 25 patients in group 2 followed at the Korea Veterans Hospital. The follow-up interval, mechanism, level and degree of injury for both groups were similar. The suprapubic cystostomy was the most common voiding method in both groups (73.9% and 60.0%, respectively). Transitional cell carcinoma in one patient and adenocarcinoma in two patients were found in group 1 and transitional cell carcinoma in one patient was found in group 2. Two patients in group 1 showed squamous metaplasia. 18 patients in group 1 and 24 patients in group 2 showed chronic cystitis. Microscopic hematuria (greater than 2-4 RBC/HPF) was present in all patients. IVPs demonstrated no filling defect of upper tracts in all patients. Overall, the incidences of bladder cancer were 13.0% (3/23) in group 1 and 4.0% (1/25) in group 2. But there was no significant difference in the incidence of bladder cancer between both groups (p=0.279). We suggest that any spinal cord injury patient with hematuria needs a complete bladder evaluation and should undergo cystoscopy and random bladder biopsy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Catheters, Indwelling ; Cystitis ; Cystoscopy ; Cystostomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematuria ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Metaplasia ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

We report a case of prostatic abscess in a 46-year old man with chronic myelocytic leukemia. Preoperative transrectal ultrasonography and computerized tomography confirmed the diagnosis of prostatic abscess, which was treated with pus drainage via transurethral resection of prostate and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Abscess* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Middle Aged ; Suppuration ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Hybridomas*

No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Humans* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; T-Lymphocytes*