No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Gene Expression* ; Virulence*

No abstract available.
Gene Expression* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning* ; Virulence*

A one step reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) combined nested PCR was set up to increase efficiency in the diagnosis of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection after developement of nested PCR. Two PCR primer sets were designed based on the sequence of nucleocapsid gene of CDV Onderstepoort strain. One-step RT-PCR with the outer primer pair was revealed to detect 10(2) PFU/ml. The sensitivity was increased hundredfold using the one-step RT-PCR combined with the nested PCR. Specificity of the PCR was also confirmed using other related canine virus and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and body secretes of healthy dogs. Of the 51 blood samples from dogs clinically suspected of CD, 45 samples were revealed as positive by one-step RT-PCR combined with nested PCR. However, only 15 samples were identified as positive with a single one step RT-PCR. Therefore approximately 60% increase in the efficiency of the diagnosis was observed by the combined method. These results suggested that one step RT-PCR combined with nested PCR could be a sensitive, specific, and practical method for diagnosis of CDV infection.
Animals ; Distemper Virus, Canine/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Dogs ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods/*veterinary ; RNA, Viral/genetics/isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Viral Vaccines

Three cases of giant pituitray adenoma are reported. Two cases were operated by transsphenoidal approach and a case by transcranial approach. Transsphenoidal approach showed satisfactory results despite of marked suprasellar extension of tumors. We report rare giant pituitary adenomas with review of relevant literatures.
Adenoma ; Pituitary Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research were to develop and evaluate a cell phone application based on the standard protocol for personal health devices and the standard information model for personal health records to support effective blood glucose management and standardized service for patients with diabetes. METHODS: An application was developed for Android 4.0.3. In addition, an IEEE 11073 Manager, Medical Device Encoding Rule, and Bluetooth Health Device Profile Connector were developed for standardized health communication with a glucometer, and a Continuity of Care Document (CCD) Composer and CCD Parser were developed for CCD document exchange. The developed application was evaluated by five healthcare professionals and 87 users through a questionnaire comprising the following variables: usage intention, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition, perceived risk, and voluntariness. RESULTS: As a result of the evaluation of usability, it was confirmed that the developed application is useful for blood glucose self-monitoring by diabetic patients. In particular, the healthcare professionals stated their own views that the application is useful to observe the trends in blood glucose change through the automatic function which records a blood glucose level measured using Bluetooth function, and the function which checks accumulated records of blood glucose levels. Also, a result of the evaluation of usage intention was 3.52 +/- 0.42 out of 5 points. CONCLUSIONS: The application developed by our research team was confirmed by the verification of healthcare professionals that accurate feedback can be provided to healthcare professionals during the management of diabetic patients or education for glucose management.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring* ; Cellular Phone* ; Continuity of Patient Care ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Glucose ; Health Communication ; Health Records, Personal ; Humans ; Intention ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma(CTCL) is a rare cutaneous malignant disease and is typically a disease of older adults. There is no optimal treatment for CTCL, which ranges from topical steroid to systemic chemotherapy. Hence until curative therapy is found, therapies that keep CTCL in check and prevent progression to more advanced lymphoma may be desirable alternatives and may presetve quality of life. Herein we report our experience in treating a stage 11B CTCL patient with triple combination of interferon alfa, oral retinoid, and psoralen plus WA(PWA) therapy.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Ficusin ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Interferons* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Quality of Life ; T-Lymphocytes

No abstract available.
Humans ; Seoul*

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce lipid peroxidation and tissue damage in the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of the propofol and midazolam against ROS in the isolated rabbit thoracic aortic endothelium. METHODS: Eighteen white male rabbits (weighing 2.0-2.5 kg) were used. The thoracic aorta was dissected free and cut into rings (3-4 mm) and then suspended in a organ bath filled with 10 ml Krebs solution bubbled with 5% CO2 95% O2 at 37 degrees C. Aortic rings were then equilibrated for 90 min, and a resting tension of 1.5 g was applied. The Krebs solution was changed every 15 min. Isometric tension was recorded with transducer coupled to a data acqusition system (Biopac Inc. USA) on a PC. After precontraction with norepinephrine (NE, 10(-6)M), changes in tension were measured following the cumulative administration of acetylcholine (ACh 3x10(-7), 10(-6) and 3x10(-6)M) and nitroglycerin (NTG, 10(-5)M). Data are expressed as percentage of the 10 5 M NTG-induced relaxation (ACh/NTG). The ACh/NTG, before and after electrolysis were defined as the control and the experimental groups. The aortic rings were pretreated with propofol (3x10(-5), 10(-4), 3x10(-4) and 5.7x10(-4) M, n = 8, 10, 15, 13), midazolam (10(-4)M, n = 7), catalase (1,000 U/ml, n = 12), mannitol (3x10(-4)M, n = 5) or not pretreated group (Free, n = 6). After 30 minutes, the aortic rings were exposed to ROS generated by electrolysis (DC 9 V, 20 mA, aortic rings 1 cm away from electrode) in Krebs solution for 2 minutes, which was then changed for physiologic buffered salt solution. The aortic rings were precontracted with NE and vasorelaxation was induced with ACh and NTG at the above mentioned concentrations. RESULTS: Propofol produced vasorelaxation of NE-precontracted thoracic aorta in a dose-dependent fashion in all groups of propofol (3x10(-5), 10(-4), 3x10(-4) and 5.7x10(-4)M) even after ROS attack (P < 0.05 vs control value). Catalase produced vasorelaxation after ROS attack (P < 0.05 vs control value).On the other hand, ACh-induced significant endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation were not observed in the midazolam or mannitol pretreated group or the non-pretreated group (P <0.05 vs control group). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that propofol and catalase preserve ACh induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and that propofol has a concentration dependent ROS scavenging effect like catalase.
Acetylcholine ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Baths ; Catalase ; Electrolysis ; Endothelium ; Hand ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Mannitol ; Midazolam ; Nitroglycerin ; Norepinephrine ; Propofol* ; Rabbits ; Reactive Oxygen Species* ; Relaxation ; Transducers ; Vasodilation