The cyclophilins (Cyps) are family members of proteins that exhibit peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase, EC 5.2.1.8) activity and bind the immunosuppressive agent cyclosprin A (CsA) in varying degrees. During the process of random sequencing of a cDNA library made from Giardia intestinalis WB strain, the cyclophilin gene (gicyp 1) was isolated. An open reading frame of gicyp 1 gene was 576 nucleotides, which corresponded to a translation product of 176 amino acids (Gicyp 1). The identity with other Cyps was about 58-71%. The 13 residues that constituted the CsA binding site of human cyclophilin were also detected in the amino acid sequence of Gicyp 1, including tryptophan residue essential for the drug binding. The single copy of the gicyp 1 gene was detected in the G. intestinalis chromosome by southern hybridization analysis. Recombinant Gicyp 1 protein clearly accelerated the rate of cis-- Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cyclophilins/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics/*isolation&purification ; Cyclosporine/metabolism/pharmacology ; Giardia lamblia/*chemistry/genetics ; Human ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Binding ; Protozoan Proteins ; Recombinant Proteins

No abstract available.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Bevacizumab

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient. The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of 55 degrees C. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4- (2- Aminoethyl) -benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.
Acanthamoeba/*enzymology/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*parasitology ; Animals ; Cornea/parasitology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Serine Endopeptidases/chemistry/*isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Temperature ; Virulence Factors

Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus is frequently found during endoscopic examination. Although most patients with heterotopic gastric mucosa of the upper esophagus, referred as inlet patch, are asymptomatic, symptomatic patients with complications resulting from this ectopic mucosa have also been reported. Acid secretion by the inlet patch has been suggested in some reports. We report a case of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus, with secretion of acid, demonstrated by continuous ambulatory pH monitoring, and the improvement of pharyngeal symptoms after the use of a proton pump inhibitor.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care ; Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage ; Case Report ; Choristoma/diagnosis* ; Esophageal Diseases/drug therapy ; Esophageal Diseases/diagnosis* ; Esophagoscopy ; Gastric Acid/secretion* ; Gastric Mucosa/secretion* ; Human ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic/methods ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Carcinoid tumors are often indolent asymptomatic tumors, however significant proportions are malignant. The patients with these tumors have usually been treated by radical excision. Recently, small gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors can be easily be detected with increasing use of endoscopy and surgical treatment has been questioned. We evaluate clinical characteristics of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors and clinical usefulness of endoscopic resection in treatment of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 37 cases of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors over the past three years in our instituide. RESULTS: The peak incidence was in the 5th decade and slight male predominance. The most comgastrointestinal carcinoid tumors were diagnosed by endoscopy with biopsy. Twenty-six cases of carcinoid tumors of size less than 15 mm have been safely treated with endoscopic resection. All of the patients are alive and clinically free of disease during 23 months after endoscopic resection. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, the detection of small carcinoid tumors in gastrointestinal tract, especially in rectum, is increasing with frequent use of endoscopy. Endoscopic resection was found to be useful and safe for treatment of small gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Biopsy ; Carcinoid Tumor* ; Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medical Records ; Rectum

Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei(LMDF) is a erythematous to yellowish asymptomatic papular eruption affecting the cental of the face, which runs a chronic course and terminating spontaneously with scarring. Histopathologically, epithelioid cell granuloma with caseation necrosis is seen in the dermis. Although the disease is self limited, the etiology and pathogenesis are unknown, so there is no effective treatment for LMDF. We report 3 cases of LMDF patients treated with Dapsone with effective results compared to natural history of this disease.
Cicatrix ; Dapsone* ; Dermis ; Epithelioid Cells ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Natural History ; Necrosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and visual acuity in patients who underwent vitrectomy for macular hemorrhage related to the rupture of a retinal artery macroaneurysm. METHODS: A retrospective case review was conducted for patients who underwent vitrectomy for macular hemorrhage caused by a retinal arterial macroaneurysm. The relationship between postoperative OCT findings and visual acuity was analyzed. RESULTS: This study included 12 patients whose preoperative mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (logMAR) was 1.7+/-0.8 and whose mean final BCVA was 0.6+/-0.5. These values were statistically different (p=0.004). Mean foveal thickness by OCT was 437.5+/-161.5 micrometer at the preoperative period and 252.8+/-84.9 micrometer three months postoperative, and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.017). As the foveal thickness decreased after removal of the remnant organized retinal hemorrhage in the postoperative period, BCVA improved at the final follow-up (p=0.048). According to the postoperative OCT, the photoreceptor disruption group presented a lower BCVA than that of the photoreceptor preservation group at the final follow-up (logMAR: 1.4+/-0.4 vs. 0.3+/-0.2, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Photoreceptor preservation as observed by OCT was significantly associated with better visual outcome after vitrectomy in patients with macular hemorrhage caused by rupture of a retinal arterial macroaneurysm.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Preoperative Period ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

The taxonomy of Acanthamoeba spp., an amphizoic amoeba which causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and chronic amoebic keratitis, has been revised many times. The taxonomic validity of some species has yet to be assessed. In this paper, we analyzed the morphological characteristics, nuclear 18s rDNA and mitochondrial 16s rDNA sequences and the Mt DNA RFLP of the type strains of four Acanthamoeba species, which had been previously designated as A. divionensis, A. parasidionensis, A. mauritaniensis, and A. rhysodes. The four isolates revealed characteristic group II morphology. They exhibited 18S rDNA sequence differences of 0.2-1.1% with each other, but more than 2% difference from the other compared reference strains. Four isolates formed a different clade from that of A. castellanii Castellani and the other strains in morphological group II on the phylogenetic tree. In light of these results, A. paradivionensis, A. divionensis, and A. mauritaniensis should be regarded as synonyms for A. rhysodes.
Acanthamoeba/*classification/*genetics ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics

Extramammary Paget's disease is a rare cutaneous neoplasm mostly observed on the genital and perineal areas. In Korea, there has only been one report of extramammary Paget's disease occurring in the axilla. We herein report a case of extramammary Paget's disease of the axilla, confirmed by biopsy and immunohistochemical studies.
Axilla* ; Biopsy ; Korea ; Paget Disease, Extramammary*

Surgical remedy of nasal ala present a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. As ala have anatomic complexity and a paired structure, reconstruction must be precise and aesthetically acceptable. The reconstruction of full-thickness ala defects often require staged surgical procedures, and they can introduce operational risks and consume extraordinary time and cost. However, a hinged turnover flap can offer a one-stage repair of full-thickness ala defects. With this procedure, satisfactory ala reconstruction was achieved in one step, and good aesthetic and functional results were obtained.