No abstract available.
Korea*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In order to determine the relationship between the HBV precore mutant and the severity of liver disease in Korea, we performed liver biopsies in patients with HBV related chronic liver disease and compared the types of mutations and histologic findings in the same liver tissue simultaneously. METHODS: HBV DNA in liver tissues was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The precore mutants were detected by PCR-SSCP(single strand conformation polymorphism), cloning the amplified PCR products and direct sequencing for them. RESULTS: 1. HBV DNA was detected in liver tissues of 28 cases among 30 patients with PCR. And with SSCP, the most cases were mixed type infections. 2. The HBV precore mutants were found in 12 cases among the total number of 28 cases(42.9%) and all mutations were G to A change at nucleotide 1896, creating a stop codon at codon 28. However, 10 cases among 12 mutants were associated with simultaneous another mutation at different positions or regions;9 cases at core gene region, 2 cases at nucleotide 1856(C to T change at codon 15), one case at core promoter, and one case with double mutations at nucleotide 1837 and 1846 respectively. Also, all HBV precore mutants were combined with wild type HBV sequence. 3. The relationship between HBV precore mutants and HBeAg status revealed that 4 cases from 13 HBeAg positive(30.8%) and 8 from 15 HBeAg negative or Anti-Hbe positive(53.3 %) were mutants. 4. In analysis of the types of mutants and histopathological findings of liver diseases, 6 among 15 chronic active hepatitis(40.0%), all 3 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma(100,0 %), 2 among 4 asymptomatic carriers with minimal histopathologic changes(50.0%) and a case with chronic lobular heaptitis(100.0%) showed precore region mutation. CONCLUSION: The patterns of HBV precore mutants in Korea could be summarized as followings. Firstly, most of the mutations are composed of G to A change at nucleotide 1896. Secondly, the most of the mutants at nuclmtide 1896 have been associated with simultaneous mutations at core promoter, core gene, and rarely at other positions, and manifested usua'ly mixed type viremic conditions. Thirdly, although precore mutation could be occurred in asymptomatic carrier, this type of mutation might be closely related with chronic or severe liver disease. However, it needs further investigations hereafter.
Biopsy ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Codon ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

PURPOSE: Prader-Willi Syndrome(PWS) is caused by absence of paternal contributions of the chromosome region 15q11-q13. To detact this region, high resolutional cytogenetic analysis, FISH with probe at PWS critical region or microsatellite polymorphism can be used. The gene for the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N(SNRPN) is not expressed in patients with PWS. We conducted molecular analysis with RT-PCR with SNRPN primers to find out more useful diagnostic tool in PWS. METHODS: Four patients with obesity and other characteristics of PWS were studied. The exprssion of SNRPN and control gene were studed by RT-PCR from peripheral lymphocytes. RESULTS :The SNRPN expression in reverse transcribed RNA from blood were easily detected in normal control but not in patients with suspected Parder-Willi Syndrome. CONCLUSION: We conclude that SNRPN expression study is a useful diagnostic method for detection of Prader-Willi Syndrome.
Cytogenetic Analysis ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Obesity ; Pathology, Molecular* ; Prader-Willi Syndrome* ; Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear ; RNA ; snRNP Core Proteins*

The glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli encountered about 10% of all gram-negative bacilli isolated from clinical material. Therefore, a rapid and correct identification of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli is impotent for a better management of infectious disease. There are many conventional systems for the identification of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli but most of them have problems and difficulties. Commercial Kit Systems exist and they are too expensive for daily use in Korea because of high cost. Based on 12 selected tests we propose a new code system, MCRCODE-N for rapid and inexpensive identification of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli. The selective 12 tests are oxidase, glucose oxidation motihty, urease, DNase arginine dehydrolase, nitrate reduction, gelatin Liquefaction, esculin hydrolysis, mannitol oxidation, maltose oxidation, Lactose oxidation. The 12 tests are divided 4 group and then each group has 3 tests. The result of each group is expressed by the number as below. The positive test is given by specific number (1st test=1, 2nd test=2, 3rd test=4), while any negative result is 0. Each 3 numbers of one group are added and make number of 1 digit. Four digit number is referred to the code book of MCRCODE-N system or MCRCODE system using computer (Apple-II model) created by authors. This MCRCODE-N system is suitable ones for out use in Korea. We propose the MCRCODE-N system for clinical use.
Arginine ; Clinical Coding* ; Communicable Diseases ; Deoxyribonucleases ; Esculin ; Gelatin ; Glucose Oxidase ; Glucose* ; Hydrolysis ; Korea ; Lactose ; Maltose ; Mannitol ; Urease

PURPOSE: Growth hormone(GH) receptors have been detected in Sertoli cells and clinical observations suggested the involvement of GH action(either indirectly via IGF-I or directly) on testicular function. This study is aimed at assessing the effect of GH on cell death during Sertoli cell culture. METHODS: Sertoli cells(TM4, mouse, male, ATCC, USA) were cultured by using DMEM(Dulbecco' Modified Eagle' Medium, Biowhitteker, USA) and Fetal Bovine Serum(10%, GIBCO BRL, USA) with or without human recombinant growth hormone(Eutropin, LGCI, Korea) of different concentrations(10, 50, 100, 500 microgram/mL of media), in 34degress C, 5% CO2 incubator. After cultivation during 5 days, Sertoli cells were examined under light microscope(x400). RESULTS: Number of survival Sertoli cell was remarkably increased in the GH treated(50 microgram/mL in media) group(62.6+/-12.4) compare to control(22.4+/-4.8)(P<0.05). Degree of survival Sertoli cell was increased proportionaly until 50 microgram/mL in concentration of GH in media, but decreased in higher than it. CONCLUSION: GH has the protective effect on death of Sertoli cell and it depends on GH concentration.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Death ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Incubators ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells

No abstract available.
Epidemiologic Studies* ; Female* ; Humans ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* ; Young Adult*

BACKGROUND: It has been known that arteries of hypertensive animals and patients are generally thicker and more rigid than those of normal subjects, resulting from the morphological changes induced by an increased stress on the vessel wall. Factors proposed to be responsible for these changes are smooth muscle hypertrophy, increased amount of collagen, hyperplasia of smooth muscle cell and changes in cross-linkages of the fibrous proteins. The present study was conducted to define whether enalapril, a converting enzyme inhibitor of angiotensin II generation from angiotensin I, can restore the structural alterations of aortic media in spontaneously hypertensive rat(SHR). METHODS: For this purpose, SHR were treated for 22 weeks with 2mg/kg/day enalapril and morphologic changes were compared between enalapril-treated SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. RESULTS: The increased thickness of the aortic media in SHR was reduced and intervening elastic laminae were narrowed by enalapril treatment. Subcellular analysis of cytoplasmic composition and nucleus in the aorta of hypertensive rats revealed some modification with enalapril. Some irregularly arranged collagen fibrils in aortic media of SHR were regularly distributed and the periodic bands of the fibrils which were the fragmented were clearly apparent by enalapril treatmed SHR group. CONCLUSIONS: From the above experimental results, it is concluded that subcellular changes of smooth muscle cells and collage fibrils of aortic media in SHR could be repaired by long-term treatment with enalapril.
Angiotensin I ; Angiotensin II ; Animals ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Collagen ; Cytoplasm ; Enalapril* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrophy ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR* ; Scleroproteins

BACKGROUND: Many mammals normally have a population of dermal melanocytes but these are not found in man, In humans, persistent dermal melanocytes can occur in the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus. Mongolian spot develops in the fetal or neonatal time and disapperars almost invariably during childhood. In contrast, nevus of Ota and blue nevus are not usually present at birth and persists in adult life. Recently, it was established that apoptosis can be involved in the development of melanocytes. The integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and apoptosis can be induced by disruption of cell-matrix interactions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of integrins (a2, a3, ar) and in situ detection of fragmented DNA in Mongolian spot, nevus of Ota, and blue nevus. METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 8 cases of Monglian spot, 5 cases of nevus of Ota, and 4 cases of blue nevus were immunolabelled with monoclonal antibodies TM directed against az, ay, and av integrin, and stained with ApopTag in situ using an Apoptosis Detection kit. The cases of Mongolian spot were divided into two groups in which group A represented the the cases of more than 45 melanocytes and group B represented the cases of less than 10 melanocytes in a tissue section of 4-mm taken from punch biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Blue nevi showed az and e integrin expressions in dermal melanocytes and weak to negative staining of g v integrin in comparison with all positive expressions of a z, a s, and g y integrin in A group-Mongolian spots and nevi of Ota. The B group-Mongo]ian spots showed the continuous expressions of a z and a y integrin with negative expressions of a v integrin. The ApopTag kit staining was all negative in the Mongolian spots, nevi of Ota, and blue nevi. CONCLUSION: Our results support the view that dermal melanocytic tumors, such as the Mongolian spot, the nevus of Ota, and the blue nevus, might be induced by the disturbance or inhibition of the apoptotic process of the melanocytes, and that the spontaneous disappearance of the Mongolian spot may not be related to the apoptosis.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis ; Biopsy ; DNA ; Humans ; Integrins ; Mammals ; Melanocytes ; Mongolian Spot ; Negative Staining ; Nevus ; Nevus of Ota ; Nevus, Blue ; Parturition

No abstract available.
Salivary Glands*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship of unbalanced diet habits and eating behaviors between school age children and their mothers. METHODS: From the Wonju area of Gangwon-do, 232 children and their mothers were recruited for this study. General characteristics, degree of unbalanced diet, eating behaviors, factors associated with food preferences, food preferences, and food intake frequencies were obtained through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The degree of unbalanced diet habits were significantly correlated between school age children and their mothers. Children's eating behaviors were also highly affected by their mother's eating behaviors. Especially, the frequency of eating breakfast showed a significant correlation between children and mothers. Among the factors associated with food preferences, family eating habits, appetite, and emotions showed significant associations between girls and mothers. As for food preferences, preference for meat in children was not significantly associated with that in their mothers, whereas preference for perilla oil and butter was significantly associated with preference in their mothers. The relationship of food preferences between children and mothers differed according to the sex of the children. Further, the intake frequencies for most foods were highly correlated between children and mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the unbalanced diet habits and eating behaviors of mothers can affect those in their children. Moreover, the correlations of food preferences between children and their mothers were different depending on the sex of the children. Our data suggest that educating mothers about their diet and eating behaviors could improve the eating practices of their children.
Appetite ; Breakfast ; Butter ; Child* ; Diet* ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Food Preferences ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Meat ; Mothers* ; Perilla ; Surveys and Questionnaires