We describe a riboprinting scheme for identification of unknown Acanthamoeba isolates at the species level. It involves use of the PCR-RFLP of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (riboprint) of 24 reference strains by 4 kinds of restriction enzymes. Seven strains in morphological group I and III were identified at species level with their unique sizes of PCR product and riboprint type by Rsa I. Unique restriction fragment length patterns of 17 strains in group II by Dde I, Taq I and Hae III were classified into: (1) four taxa that were identifiable to the species level, (2) a subgroup of 4 taxa and a pair of 2 taxa that were identical to each other, and (3) a species complex of 7 taxa assigned to A. castellanii complex that were closely related. These results were consistent with that of 18s rDNA sequence analysis. This approach provides an alternative to the rDNA sequencing for rapid identification of a new clinical isolate or large number of environmental isolates of Acanthamoeba.
Acanthamoeba/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Protozoan ; RNA, Ribosomal ; Ribotyping/*methods

No abstract available.

We analysed 26 cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine who were treaed at Younsei University Hospital during 25 years from January 1952 to August 1977 by operative or conaervative treatment. The diagnosis of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine is not easy and very confused. The cause and entry of the offending organism is mainly by venous drainage from the genitourinary and lower extremity circulation and the next is direct spreading from the adjacent focus. The typical clinical symptom is severe pain and tenderness over the lesion accompanied by febril history and the clinical course is relatively rapid than tuberculosis of the spine. In blood examination leukocytosis is uncommon but it showed relative increase of neutrophils in 62%, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 89%. Radiological findings are narrowing of joint space, erosion and/or destuctive change of vertebral body, vertebral marginal sclerotic change, and new bone formation and less frequently abscess shadow. The results obtained from this study were as follows, 1) The incidence of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine among total cases of the pyogenic osteomyelitis was 2.5% and the ratio of the pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine to the spine tuberculosis was 2.8%. 2) The sexual incidence was in 11 and 15 each male and female. and the avrage, prevalent age was 34 years of age. 3) The pathogenic organism was isolated in 20 cases from the diseased focus during surgical procedure; stapyhloccus in 16 cases, pseudomonas in two and in a case of E.coli and proteus each. 4) The lumber vertebrae was mostly involved, i.e.lumbar in 11 cases, cervical in four, thoracic in nine, lumbosacral and sacrum in one each. 5) The operative treatment was performed in 23 cases and conservative in 3 cases with the satisfatory result in all cases. 6) We conclude that the focal curettage with anterior interbody fusion through anterior approach was better than the conservative treatment.
Abscess ; Blood Sedimentation ; Curettage ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Leukocytosis ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neutrophils ; Osteogenesis ; Osteomyelitis ; Proteus ; Pseudomonas ; Sacrum ; Spine ; Tuberculosis

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PTSD on memory funtion and hippocampal volume, and to identify major variables correlated to hippocampal volume and memory function. Thirty four Vietnam veterans were collected for this study, among whom eighteen were PTSD patients and sixteen were combat control subjects. The author used Impact of Event Scale(IES), Combat Exposure Scale(CES), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Korea Memory Assessment Scale(K-MAS) was assessed for memory function. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was used to measure hippocampal volume. There were significant differences between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans in IES, HDRS and BDI. Significant difference was found in verbal memory and total memory of K-MAS between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. There was significant difference in hippocampal volume between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. Short term memory, verbal memory and total memory were positively correlated to hippocampal volume. Hippocampal volume was negatively correlated to IES, HDRS, and BDI. These results suggest that PTSD severity be associated with hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction. Reduced or smaller hippocampal volume may be preexisting risk factor for stress exposure or the development of PTSD on combat exposure.
Atrophy ; Depression ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Korea ; Memory* ; Risk Factors ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Veterans ; Vietnam

No abstract available.
Mass Screening* ; Prospective Studies*

We report a case of morphea profunda in a 21-year-old male who had diffuse brown sclerotic plaques on his extremities. Laboratory findings showed peripheral eosinophilia and an increased titers for anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies. Histopathologic findings showed diffuse fibrosis and a thickening of the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue. He has been treated with hydroxychloroquine 400mg per day and the sclerosis of the skin improved.
Antibodies ; Dermis ; Eosinophilia ; Extremities ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Male ; Scleroderma, Localized* ; Sclerosis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis itself causes not only lung parenchymal destruction but also pulmonary vascular damage. Secondary emphysema also causes pulmonary vascular damage, which can develop as a late sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis. Therefore, pulmonary circulatory impairment tends to be more severe in post-tuberculosis emphysema than in primary emphysema. In post-tuberculosis emphysema, the right ventricular function may play an important role. However, little information regarding the right ventricular function is available. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the right ventricular function between post-tuberculosis emphysema and primary emphysema. METHOD: Post-tuberculosis emphysema(PTE) or primary emphysema(PE) was diagnosed by history, HRCT finding and pulmonary function. Twenty patients with post-tuberculosis emphysema were matched with 20 patients with primary emphysema according to both FEV1 and FVC. Arterial blood gas analysis and echocardiography were done at rest and immediately after symptom-limited exercise. The right ventricular function was evaluated with the right ventricular ejection fraction using a modification of Simpson's method. RESULTS: There was no significant difference inthe demographics and pulmonary function between the two groups. In post-tuberculosis emphysema, the PaCO2 was higher (42.9±4.7 vs 38.8±3.1 mmHg at rest ; 47.9±7.0 vs 41.1±5.9 mmHg after exercise ; p<0.01) and the right ventricular ejection fraction was lower (57.6±6.5 vs 61.4±4.7 % at rest ; 51.1±10.8 vs 59.8±6.6 % after exercise ; p<0.01) both at rest and after exercise. The PaO2 after exercise was also lower (65.7±12.6 vs 80.2%±14.4 mmHg, p<0.01), while the PaO2 at rest tended to be lower(82.9±12.0 vs 87.8±7.5, p>0.05). In both groups, right ventricular ejection fraction correlated with the PaO2 after exercise(PTE r=0.536, PE r=0.557), and the PaCO2 at rest(PTE r=-0.576, PE r=-0.588) and after exercise(PTE r=-0.764, PE r=-0.619). CONCLUSION: Impairment of the right heart function and gas exchange were more serious in post-tuberculosis emphysema than in primary emphysema, and gas exchange may be influenced by the right ventricular function in post-tuberculosis emphysema.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Demography ; Echocardiography ; Emphysema* ; Heart ; Humans ; Lung ; Stroke Volume ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ventricular Function, Right*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR*

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.
Airway Obstruction* ; Electrocoagulation* ; Tuberculosis*