No abstract available.
Cholelithiasis* ; Korea*

In this study, the trypsin gene (bgtryp-1) from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was cloned via the immunoscreening of patients with allergies to cockroaches. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted an 863 bp open reading frame which encodes for 257 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 42-57% homology with the serine protease from dust mites, and consisted of a conserved catalytic domain (GDSGGPLV). bgtryp-1 was determined by both Northern and Southern analysis to be a 0.9 kb, single-copy gene. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses of the recombinant protein (Bgtryp-1) over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 35 kDa, and the expressed protein was capable of reacting with the sera of cockroach allergy patients. We also discussed the possibility that trypsin excreted by the digestive system of the German cockroach not only functions as an allergen, but also may perform a vital role in the activation of PAR-2.
Allergens/analysis/chemistry/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Female ; *Genes, Insect ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Receptor, PAR-2/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/analysis/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Trypsin/analysis/chemistry/*genetics

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to examine the level of social support, health promoting behaviors and depression among unmarried pregnant women and to identify the relationship between social support, health promoting behaviors and depression. METHOD: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. The participants were 102 unmarried pregnant women receiving shelter services from four facilities in two metropolitan cities. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The level of social support and health promoting behaviors were relatively lower and the level of depression was relatively higher than those of married pregnant women. The participants received especially low social support from their unmarried partner. There was a positive relationship between social support and health promoting behaviors. Moreover, there were negative relationships between social support and depression and between health promoting behaviors and depression. CONCLUSIONS: To promote physical and emotional health of unmarried pregnant women, more attention is necessary to increase their social support. A nursing intervention program to increase social support among unmarried pregnant women in needed.
Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Nursing ; Pregnant Women* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Single Person* ; Statistics as Topic

Four hundred and sixty five randomly selected clones from a cDNA library of Blattella germanica were partially sequenced and searched using BLAST as a means of analyzing the transcribed sequences of its genome. A total of 363 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were generated from 465 clones after editing and trimming the vector and ambiguous sequences. About 42% (154/363) of these clones showed significant homology with other data base registered genes. These new B. germanica genes constituted a broad range of transcripts distributed among ribosomal proteins, energy metabolism, allergens, proteases, protease inhibitors, enzymes, translation, cell signaling pathways, and proteins of unknown function. Eighty clones were not well-matched by database searches, and these represent new B. germanica-specific ESTs. Some genes which drew our attention are discussed. The information obtained increases our understanding of the B. germanica genome.
Sequence Alignment ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Male ; Female ; *Expressed Sequence Tags ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Animals

The status of Dirofilaria immitis infection was assessed in pet dogs of Busan, Korea, and chemoprophylactic effects of microfilaricidal medication were evaluated. A total of 294 pet dogs older than 6 mo were examined, 217 of which had been maintained indoors, and 77 had been kept outdoors. The Snap(R) kit and direct microscopic examinations of the peripheral blood were used. The mean overall parasite positive rates were 10.2% and 6.5%, respectively. Outdoor dogs evidenced adult worm infection rate of 31.2% and microfilaria infection rate of 18.2%. The indoor dogs, however, evidenced adult worm infection rate of 2.8% and microfilaria infection rate of 2.3%. The prevalence in males was more than 2 times that of females. The changing pattern of infection rates by age evidenced a gradual increase, from 2- to 6-year-old dogs, after which, a decrease in infection rates was noted. With regard to chemoprophylaxis, the infection rates of complete and incomplete chemoprophylaxis groups were found to be 2-3 times lower than that of the non-chemoprophylaxis group. The results of the present study indicate that the risk of exposure to D. immitis in pet dogs is quite high, particularly in male outdoor dogs, and chemoprophylactic measures were quite effective.
Animals ; Chemoprevention ; Dirofilaria immitis/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Dirofilariasis/blood/*epidemiology/parasitology/prevention & control ; Dog Diseases/blood/*epidemiology/parasitology/prevention & control ; Dogs ; Female ; Heart/parasitology ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Mosquito Control ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality involving the use of a photosensitizer, oxygen and a light source to induce selective targeted cell death. It is used for various skin conditions, including actinic keratosis (AK). Both 5-aminolevulinic acid and methyl aminolevulinic acid (MAL) are currently available as photosensitizers. Although there are several studies on the treatment of AK using 5-aminolevulinic acid-PDT in Korea, there are few studies on using MAL-PDT for the treatment of AK. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MAL-PDT for the treatment of AK. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study and reviewed 64 AK lesions from 28 patients who were treated by MAL-PDT between January 2008 and April 2010. The data was collected through the medical records, the clinical photographs and the biopsy specimens. RESULTS: The patients were treated with either a single treatment or double treatments 1 week apart. The treatment results were assessed after 12 weeks. Overall, complete remission was achieved in 42/64 lesions (65.6%). Although a single treatment was effective for thin lesions, the complete response rates were significantly lower for the moderately thick and severely thick lesions (100% vs 71.3% vs 22.2%, respectively). Repeated treatment tended to improve the complete response rate of the severely thick lesions. A favorable cosmetic outcome was achieved and only tolerable local side effects were reported after MAL-PDT. The patients were followed up for an average period of 6 months and 4 lesions recurred. CONCLUSION: MAL-PDT is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for thin and moderately thick AK. However, further study is required for determining the optimal regimen for thicker lesions and the long-term treatment results of MAL-PDT.
Actins ; Aminolevulinic Acid ; Biopsy ; Cell Death ; Cosmetics ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Korea ; Light ; Medical Records ; Oxygen ; Photochemotherapy ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the current status of diabetes management and the predictors for poor glycemic control in an urban area. METHODS: This study included 1,138 community-dwelling adults (> or =50 years) with diabetes, of which 584 participated in the diabetes care survey. Logistic regression was used to identify the factors predicting poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c[HbA1c]> or =7%) in the total sample and to evaluate the relationship between the history of diabetes management checkup and poor glycemic control in the diabetes care survey sample. RESULTS: Of the 1,138 patients, 53.2% had blood pressure less than 130/80 mmHg, 41.7% had fasting glucose between 70 and 130 mg/dL, 48.6% had HbA1c below 7.0%, 60.1% had triglycerides below 150 mg/dL, 41.4% had low density lipoprotein cholesterol below 100 mg/dL, and 59.1% had normoalbuminuria (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio <30 mg/g creatinine). Of the 584 patients completing the diabetes care survey, 63.9% had one or more lipid tests, 32.0% had one or more HbA1c tests, 43.8% had one or more microalbuminuria tests, and 42.5% had one or more fundoscopic examinations annually. Female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.36), duration of diabetes (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09), and alcohol use (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06-1.85) were associated with an increased risk for poor glycemic control while age (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99) and antihypertensive medication (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.83) were associated with a decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glycemic control is likely to be poor in urban areas. We need to develop appropriate community-based strategies to achieve optimal glycemic control and prevent diabetes complications.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Triglycerides

Small cell carcinoma does originate from APUD cells of any parts of the body. Usually the cases discovered in the lung and have poor prognosis. In esophagus only about 100 cases are reported world widely after McKneown reports in 1952 and only 2 cases were reported in Korea. There was a cese of small cell carcinoma developed multiple lesions in esophagus but no reports said that small cell carcinoma developed syncronously in esophagus and other organs. We are to report a case that showed a multiple lesions in esophagus and cardia. The patient 60 yeata old man, has suffered from the substernal discomfort and significant weight loss for one month.
APUD Cells ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Cardia* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Prognosis ; Stomach ; Weight Loss

Successful treatment of the non-growing patient with an open bite of either dental skeletal pattern often presents a difficult challenge. The morphologic pattern in anterior open bite is characterized by longer vertical dimensions, an increase in development of the maxillary posterior dento-alveolar structure and a steep mandibular plane. In such cases, molar intrusion would be a good remedy for treatment. This article reports the successful treatment and retention of two anterior open-bite cases. We used orthodontic mini-implants for treatment and a circumferential retainer with posterior bite block or skeletal fixed retainer for retention. The diagnostic criteria and mechanics for appropriate treatment are discussed. Our results suggest that open bite can be reduced successfully with intrusion of molars using orthodontic mini-implants (OMI) without orthognathic surgery, and that circumferential retainer with posterior bite block and skeletal fixed retainer are effective for retention.
Adult ; Bites and Stings ; Humans ; Mechanics ; Molar ; Open Bite ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Retention (Psychology) ; Vertical Dimension