BACKGROUND: The characteristic t(15; 17) of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) fuses the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene on chromosome 17 to the PML gene on chromosome 15. The test of PML-RARA rearrangement is essential for diagnosis and therapy of APL. We analyzed breakpoints of the PML gene as a basic study for PML-RARA rearrangement test. METHODS: PML-RARA rearrangements, breakpoints of the PML gene and junction sequences were analyzed in 41 patients with APL using RT-PCR and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Forty out of 41 cases revealed PML-RARA rearrangement, of which results coincided with cytogenetic data. Breakpoint distribution was 26 cases in burl (65%), one in bcr2 (2.5%), and 13 in bcr3 (32.5%). Sequencing data showed invariable joining of exon 3 of the RARA gene and exon 6 (bcrl type) or exon 3 (bcr3 type) of the PML gene. One case with bcr2 type had breakpoint in exon 6 of the PML gene with 57 bp deletion. CONCLUSIONS: Bcrl Is the most common breakpoint site of APL in Koreans, and bcy1+2/bcr3 ratio is approximately 2.1. PML-RARA junctions were continuous and joined by a correct splicing event. Breakpoint analysis would be useful in quality control of PML-RARA rearrangement test and the fused protein analysis.
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Exons ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute* ; Quality Control ; Receptors, Retinoic Acid

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Paragonimiasis*

BACKGROUND: Genus of Aspergilli are ubiquitous saprophytic molds in nature, but its change from a saprophytic fungus to a pathogenic organism has occurred since the use of various antibiotics. The fungus affects the chronically ill and debilitated population. Recently frequency of the fungal infection is increasing in Korea with abuse of antibiotics and glucocorticoids. METHOD: We analyzed medical records of 52 patients with pulmonary aspergillosis seen at Hanyang University Hospital from 1980 to 1994. The results were as follows; RESULTS: 1) Ages ranged between second to eighth decades with majority(50%) in the fourth to fifth decades. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1. 2) Hemoptysis and productive cough, the leading symptoms, occurred in 42.3% and 25% respectively. 3) On chest X-ray fingings, the characteristic 'fungus ball' pattern were observed in 53.8% of the 52 cases. 4) Sputum culture for aspergilli were positive in 21.6% of the cases. We performed foe needle aspiration in 22 patients and the diagnostic yield was 100%. 5) Thirty-six patients had history of treatment with antituberculous drugs under diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for an average of 27.3 months. But sputum analysis for acid-fast bacilli were positive in 5.6%(2cases of 36cases), and postoperative pathologic findings showed that 38.9% (12 cases of 28cases) were combined with tuberculosis. 6) Right upper and left upper lobes were predominantly involved(34.6% and 19.2% respectively) and lobectomies were performed in 21 cases. 7) Underlying diseases were present in 47 cases and 48.9% of them were pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: These results showed that pulmonary aspergillosis usually develops in patients with open cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. And we must consider the possibility of pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient with hemoptysis and cavitary lung lesion.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aspergillus ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fungi ; Glucocorticoids ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Medical Records ; Needles ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

We experienced a case of congenital goiter with congenital hypothyroidism in 45 day-old male, who complained of respiratory difficulty and anterior neck mass. After admission, he was diagnosed congenital hypothyroidism by the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests including biochemistry, radioimmunoassay, radioisotope study, perchlorate discharge test, and bone radiography. We obtained positive finding at the perchlorate discharge test and found that his congenital goiter with congenital hypothyroidism was manifested by organification defect. We started treatment with L-thyroxine orally at 6th hospital day. The case was presented with brief review of literatures.
Biochemistry ; Congenital Hypothyroidism* ; Goiter* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Radiography ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyroxine

No abstract available.
Humans ; Siblings*

A 44-year-old man had Sweet's syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis), accompanied by erythematous tender subcutaneous nodules resembling erythema nodosum(EN). The EN-like lesions histologically showed a septal panniculitis with predominantly neutrophilic in-filtrates. The association of Sweet's syndrome with EN seems to be uncommon and only a few cases have been reported until the present. We describe a patient with Sweet's syndrome associated with acute EN.
Adult ; Erythema Nodosum* ; Erythema* ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; Panniculitis ; Sweet Syndrome*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma arc curing (PAC) unit for composite and compomer curing. To compare its effectiveness with conventional quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) light curing unit, the polymerization shrinkage rates and amounts of three composites (Z100, Z250, Synergy Duo Shade) and one compomer, that had been light cured by PAC unit or QTH unit, was compared using a custome made linometer. The measurement of polymerization shrinkage was performed after polymerization with either QTH unit or PAC unit. In case of curing with the PAC unit, the composite was light cured with Apollo 95E for 6s, the power density of which was recorded as 1350 mW/cm2 by Coltolux Light Meter. For light curing with QTH unit, the composite was light cured for 30s with the XL2500, the power density of which was recorded as 800 mW/cm2 by Coltolux Light Meter. The amount of linear polymerization shrinkage was recorded in the computer every 0.5s for 60s. Ten measurements were made for each material. The amount of linear polymerization shrinkage for each material in 10s and 60s which were cured with PAC or QTH unit were compared with t test. The amount of polymerization shrinkage in the tested materials were compared with 1way ANOVA with Duncan's multiple range test. As for the amounts of polymerization shrinkage in 60s, there was no difference between PAC unit and QTH unit in Z250 and Synergy Duo Shade. In Z100 and Dyract AP, it was lower when it was cured with PAC unit than when it was cured with QTH unit (p<0.05). As for the amounts of polymerization shrinkage in 10s, there was no difference between PAC unit and QTH unit in Z100 and Dyract AP. The amounts of polymerization shrinkage was significantly higher when it was cured with PAC unit in Z250 and Synergy Duo Shade (p<0.05). The amounts of polymerization shrinkage in the tested materials when they were cured with QTH unit were Z250 (6.6um) < Z100 (9.3um), Dyract AP (9.7um) < Synergy Duo Shade (11.2um) (p<0.05). The amount of polymerization shrinkage when the materials were cured with PAC unit were Dyract AP (5.6um) < Z100 (8.1um), Z250(7.0um) < Synergy Duo Shade (11.2um) (p<0.05).
Compomers ; Light ; Plasma ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Quartz ; Tungsten

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Hemoglobinuria*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Diverticulitis*