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

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

In order to find a highly efficient compound against Clonorchis infection, the anthelmintic activity of disophenol, Tremerad (SYD-230), dithiazanine iodide, dehydroemetine-late-release tablets(RO 1-9334/20), niridazole (Ambilhar), hexachlorophene (G-11), Hetol(1, 4-bis-trichloromethylbenzol) and Bilevon (niclofolan) was tested against Clonorchis sinensis experimentally infected rabbits. All drugs showed a progressive increase in efficacy as the dose rate. They were highly efficient against Clonorchis infection if sufficiently high, potentially toxic doses were given. The efficacy was evaluated by the number of detected worms with vital condition at autopsy after the treatment with above drugs. The high efficacy was observed at the following dose rates of each drugs, i.e. disophenol at a single dose of 30 mg/kg, Tremerad at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days, dithiazanine iodide at the daily dose of 50 mg/kg for 6 consecutive days, dehydroemetine at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg for 10 consecutive days, hexachlorophene at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg for 10 to 15 consecutive days, Hetol at the daily doses from 50 to 100 mg/kg for 5 to 10 consecutive days, and Bilevon at a single dose of 8 mg/kg. Moderate effectiveness was shown in niridazole at the dose of 25 mg/kg for 10 days medication. The use of these anthelmintics for the clinical treatment of Clonorchis sinensis infection is discussed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; chemotherapy-Clonorchis sinensis ; clonorchiasis-rabbit ; disophenol ; Tremerad (SYD-230) ; dithiazanine iodide ; dehydroemetine-late-release tablets(RO 1-9334/20) ; niridazole (Ambilhar) ; hexachlorophene (G-11) ; Hetol(1, 4-bis-trichloromethylbenxol) ; Bilevon (niclofolan)

BACKGROUND: Conventional echocardiography provides fundamental information about mitral valve morphology and function but is often subjective and has a relatively low specificity in evaluating valve calcific deposit, which is critical information for the preoperative decision. We hypothesized that mitral valvular calcification could be detected in standard two-dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis so that we could overcome the subjectivity and low specificity of conventional echocardiography. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis by performing standard 2.5MHz two-dimensional echoes on mitral valve and myocardium in 30 patients with mitral stenosis, scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement. We compared gray level of each region of interest in mitral valve and myocardium in stop-frame images with the degree of calcifications identified by pathologic and radiographic examinations. RESULTS: Ratio of mean gray level of mitral valve to mean gray level of myocardium was the most reliable value in evaluating degree of calcification. Quantitatively, region of calcification displayed the ratio of significantly higher value than that of no calcification. In case of anterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.11, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.42 and that of microcalcification was betwwn 2.42 and 3.11. For posterior mitral valve, the ratio of the evident calcified region was greater than 3.50, that of the region without calcification was less than 2.19 and that of microcalcification was between 2.19 and 3.50. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for assessment of degree of calcification was 75% and 100% for anterior mitral valve and 9% and 87.5% for posterior mitral valve. CONCLUSION: Mitral valvular calcification could be detected quantitatively in standard two dimensional echocardiograms of mitral valve in vivo by evaluating regional gray level(echo amplitude) using computerized image analysis.
Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Myocardium ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Neuroblastoma*

A complex syndrome, later called as Prader-Willi syndrome, was first described in 1956 by Prader et al, and Zellweger and Schneider characterized this syndrome as hypogonadism, hypotonia, hypomentia and boesty. It is not rare in western countries and more than 400 cases have been reported until 1983. But our interest arose because of our recent experience of diffuse noncirrhotic fibrosis of the liver in a 6 year-old boy who had the clinical features of Prader-Willi syndrome. The core of liver showed destruction of most of the hepatic lobules, particularly of the acinar zone 3, and replacement bt diffuse fibrosis. The remaining liver cells underwent fatty change, and the overall changes resembled chronic sclerosing hyaline disease of the alcoholic type. Inflammation was negligible. This particular case suggests that the severe fatty change of liver could result in irreversible damage to the hepatocytes and progressive fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: This paper proposes an ontology plan for oriental-medical service in ubiquitous computing environment. With popularization of ubiquitous computing technology, recently oriental medicine field becomes interested in oriental medicine knowledge management system and needs more systematic-scientific knowledge management and information communication. But oriental medical scientists have various standards which classify a pulse, so the information about pulse is massive. METHOD: In this paper, for more systematic-scientific knowledge management and information communication, we designed and implemented ontology using the pulse which is used as diagnosis basis in oriental medicine. by using the pulse which is classified into twenty eight division we implemented ontology based on characteristic of each pulse. We represented the pulse with OWL language and used Racer as inference engine to check errors of implemented ontology. RESULT / CONCLUSION: Given the information of the pulse-diagnosis ontology, systematic-scientific knowledge management and information communication become possible so that oriental doctors are able to provide faster and effective medical service. Furthermore, self-diagnosis and medical service will be possible at anytime and anywhere regardless of time and place. In the future research, we will implement an integrated ontology with the whole of diagnosis basis in oriental medicine based on pulse ontology implemented in this paper.
Hypogonadism ; Knowledge Management ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Strigiformes

The purpose of educational effort for career planning in medical school is to help students develop identity as a competent physician and to assist them in selecting their future career properly. To achieve the above, the specific education programs for career plan together with an individual counselling and problem solving approach are required. We proposed an education model for career planning in Gachon Medical School which would be directed by cooperative system consisted of medical school, faculty mentor and student counselling office. Career education should not be limited to several lectures or short-term counselling, but it requires a continuous and consistent program implemented throughout 6 years of medical school life. At the same time, an opportunity to explore future career and to consult their problems in accord with needs and characteristics of individual students must be provided. Further study should be directed to examine the usefulness and problems of this education model. In addition, a persistent attention to the problems in career planning of medical students and efforts to solve them is needed.
Education* ; Humans ; Lectures ; Mentors ; Problem Solving ; Schools, Medical* ; Students, Medical

No abstract available.

No abstract available.