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

Systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease with multisystem involvement, has been reported to be associated with a number of gastrointestinal complications and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. However, acute pancreatitis only rarely has been reported as a complication of SLE. We report a case of SLE presenting drug unrelated acute pancreatitis as a initial manifestation.
Abdominal Pain ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Nausea ; Pancreatitis* ; Vomiting

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

PURPOSE: This study attempted to analyze problems of informed consent in the clinical setting and appraise ethical aspects inherent in such issues in order to boost awareness of informed consent and its implementation among healthcare professionals. METHODS: Study methods included identifying ethical meanings of informed consent in the clinical setting based on the principal ethics, and exploring the process of informed consent utilizing communicative ethics and feminine care ethics RESULTS: The ethical basis of informed consent encompasses not only respect for autonomy but also prohibiting malice, practicing beneficience, and establishing justice. These principles, however, are limited in illustrating the ethical aspects of communicative ethics and care ethics that are entailed in informed consent within clinical settings. The ethical meaning of informed consent involves a communicative and caring process between healthcare professionals, patients, and family built on mutual respect. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals must fully understand the ethical meanings of informed consent and in turn respect and protect the clients' right to know and making decisions. Nurses especially, must take on the role of mediator and advocate throughout the process of obtaining informed consent, and practice ethical caring by facilitating communication grounded in mutual understanding among the physician, patient, and family members.
Delivery of Health Care ; Ethics ; Humans ; Informed Consent* ; Social Justice

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture in osteoporotic patients with compression fracture of the thoracolumbar (T-L) spine on magnetic resonance image (MRI), and to analyze the correlation of variable clinical factors and the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 160 patients (27 men, 133 women; age range of 50 to 89 years) who underwent spinal MRI and had compression fracture of the T-L spine. Compression fractures due to trauma or tumor were excluded. We evaluated the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture according to the patients' age, sex, number of compression fractures, and the existence of bone marrow edema pattern of compression fracture. During the same period, we evaluated the incidence of spinal compression fracture in the patients of pelvic insufficiency fracture. RESULTS: Out of the 160 patients who had compression fracture in the T-L spine, 17 (10.6%) had insufficiency fracture of the sacrum. Compression fracture occurred almost 5 times more frequently in women (27:133), but the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 2/27 for men (7.4%) and 15/133 for women (11.3%), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.80). According to age, the ratio of insufficiency fracture to compression fracture was 0% (0/23) in the 50's, 10.6% (7/66) in the 60's, 12.5% (7/56) in the 70's, and 20.0% (3/15) in the 80's. In respect of single and multiple compression fracture, the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 8/65 for men (12.3%) and 9/95 for women (9.5%), showing no significant difference (p=0.37). In the patients with and without compression fracture with bone marrow edema, insufficiency fracture occurred in 5/76 (6.6%) and 12/84 (14.3%), respectively. On the other hand, of the 67 patients who had pelvic insufficiency fracture, 27 (40.3%) also had spinal compression fracture. CONCLUSION: About 10% of the patients with osteoporotic compression fracture in the T/L spine also had pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture, which was not uncommon. These findings suggest the need to consider the possibility of pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture in cases of T/L spinal MRI for patients with osteoporotic compression fracture.
Bone Marrow ; Edema ; Female ; Fractures, Compression* ; Fractures, Stress* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spine*

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

A clinical & statistical analysis was made on 325 cases of premature & low birth weight infants, admitted to the department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, during the period. Of September, 1968 to august, 1976. The results obtained were as follows. 1. Sex ratio was 1.1 :1 between male & female. 2. Monthly distribution showed higher incidence in cold season than in warm season. 3. In regard to the place of delivery, there showed increasing tendency of hospital delivery. 4. Important predisposing factors disclosed toxemia of pregnancy, inappropriate pelvic condition, acute infection & twin delivery in order of frequency. Among them toxemia of pregnancy was the most important. 5. Overall incidence of premature delivery was 5.0% in 1968 and 3.1% in 1975 and revealed. Decreasing tendency. 6. Concerning the order of pregnancy, the highest incidence was among the 1st pregnancy. (33.2%). 7. In low birth weight infants, Apgar score was higher weight group. 8. The mortality rate was higher in males and in the group of out side delivery. The highest mortality rate was noted in the birth weight group of 1001-1250 gm. The larger the gestational period the lower the mortality rate was also noted. 9. Most of the deaths occurred during the first 48 hours and sharp decrease after the 3rd day of life. Main causes of death were idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia. 10. Initial weight loss was marked between the 7 th and 11 th day of life and about 10% of birth weight. The lower weight group showed the greater loss. 11. Regain as well as true weight gain during the 1 st month of life was slower in low birth weight group.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mortality ; Pediatrics ; Pneumonia ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

We conducted both the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA RFLP analyses for a genetic characterization of Acanthamoeba isolates from contact lens storage cases of students in Seoul, Korea. Twenty-three strains of Acanthamoeba from the American Type Culture Collection and twelve clinical isolates from Korean patients were used as reference strains. Thirty-nine isolates from contact lens storage cases were classified into seven types (KA/LS1, KA/LS2, KA/LS4, KA/LS5, KA/LS7, KA/LS18, KA/LS31). Four types (KA/LS1, KA/LS2, KA/LS5, KA/LS18) including 33 isolates were regarded as A. castellanii complex by riboprints. KA/LS1 type was the most predominant (51.3%) in the present survey area, followed by KA/LS2 (20.9%), and KA/LS5 (7.7%) types. Amoebae of KA/LS1 type had the same mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns as KA/E2 and KA/E12 strains, clinical isolates from Korean keratitis patients. Amoebae of KA/LS2 type had the identical mtDNA RFLP patterns with A. castellanii Ma strain, a corneal isolate from an American patient as amoebae of KA/LS5 type, with KA/E3 and KA/E8 strains from other Korean keratitis patients. Amoebae of KA/LS18 type had identical patterns with JAC/E1, an ocular isolate from a Japanese patient. Three types, which remain unidentified at species level, were not corresponded with any clinical isolate in their mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns. Out of 39 isolates analyzed in this study, mtDNA RFLP and riboprint patterns of 33 isolates (84.6%) were identical to already known clinical isolates, and therefore, they may be regarded as potentially keratopathogenic. These results suggest that contact lens wearers in Seoul should pay more attention to hygienic maintenance of contact lens storage cases for the prevention of Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Acanthamoeba/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/parasitology/prevention & control ; Animals ; Contact Lenses/*parasitology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Human ; Korea ; Students

ymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) of B-cell lineage can be classified using the French- American-British (FAB) classification as L1, L2 and L3 type. L1 and L2 ALLs express terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and are surface immunoglobulin (sIg)-negative. SIg expression in adults with L1 or L2 ALL is extremely rare. We report a case of L1 ALL with positive sIg. A 39-year-old woman had suffered from fever and abdominal pain for 15 days. Her initial complete blood cell counts were WBC 1.3x109/L, hemoglobin 8.8g/dL and platelet 59.0x109/L. Blast cells on blood were counted up to 24% and showed typical FAB L1 morphology on bone marrow. Immunophenotyping was performed and showed expression of CD5, CD19, CD20, HLA-DR, TdT and sIglamda. Karyotype was 46,XX,der (8;9) (q10;q10),+der (8;9) (q10;q10),t (9;22) (q34;q11.2)[3]/47, idem,+der (22)t (9;22)[5]/46,XX[12]. The case was finally diagnosed as the sIg positive ALL, L1. Chemotherapy consisting of cytoxan, daunorubicin, vincristine, L-asparaginase, prednisolone and intrathecal methotrexate was initiated. The patient had been in complete remission for 12 months. Twelve months later, blasts were detected in cerebrospinal fluid. The patient received intrathecal methotrexate and radiation therapy. Thereafter six months later, blasts were observed on peripheral blood. Bone marrow examination showed diffuse infiltration by blasts with L2 morphology and loss of previously positive sIg. At that time, she had given up the treatment. Although several cases of sIg positive B cell ALL, L1 or L2 have been reported, we could hardly find same case of ours in Korean.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Classification ; Cyclophosphamide ; Daunorubicin ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fever ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotype ; Leukemia ; Methotrexate ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prednisolone ; Vincristine

The identification of marker chromosomes is important for genetic counseling. However, the origin or composition can rarely be defined with conventional cytogenetic technique alone. In this study, we investigated the incidences and types of marker chromosomes in Korean patients and attempted to establish a cost-effective diagnostic approach for marker chromosomes. We reviewed the karyotypes of 2,984 patients that were requested for the cytogenetic analysis between 1997 and 2003 at the Samsung Medical Center. Ten marker chromosomes were found and identified using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Among the ten marker chromosomes, six were supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs) and the rest were marker chromosomes in Turner syndrome (TS). The incidence of SMCs was 2.01/1,000, slightly higher than that previously reported. Five of six SMCs were satellited marker chromosomes. Three bisatellited marker chromosomes originated from chromosome 15 and two from chromosome 22. The origin of one SMC could not be identified. All marker chromosomes in TS originated from X- or Y chromosome. The application of FISH is indispensable to identify marker chromosomes, and the appropriate selection of probes is necessary for cost-effective analysis. For analyzing satellited marker chromosomes, application of probes for chromosome 15 followed by those for chromosome 22 is recommended and in cases of TS, probes for sex chromosomes should take precedence.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Chromosome Aberrations ; *Chromosomes, Human ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Markers ; Human ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotyping ; Korea ; Male ; Turner Syndrome/genetics