Lawsonia intracellularis is not culturable with a standard bacteriologic culture. One step PCR assay as a clinical diagnostic method was developed for the rapid detection of porcine proliferative enteritis (PPE) caused by L. intracellularis. Primers were designed based on the p78 DNA clone of L. intracellularis. The one step PCR resulted in the formation of a specific 210-bp DNA product derived from L. intracellularis. The nonspecific amplification product was not detected with swine genomic DNA or other bacterial strains causing similar symptoms to L. intracellularis infection. The one step PCR was as sensitive as 100 pg of L. intracellularis genomic DNA. We applied this method to field specimens diagnosed as PPE by macroscopic observation. Of 17 mucosal scraping specimens, 16(94%) were identified as positive to PPE and 15(88%) of 17 feces specimens. These results suggest that the one step PCR can be used as a rapid diagnostic method for L. intracellularis infection.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Desulfovibrionaceae Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Ileum/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/pathology ; Lawsonia Bacteria/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/microbiology

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH). Increased left ventricular mass(LVM) carries independent risk for congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, sudden death, reduction of coronary reserve. The importance of treatment in systemic hypertension for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has been estabilished. Regression of LVM occurs with a number of antihypertensive drugs. This study was designed to explore the relation between blood pressure control, LVM and left ventricular filling dynamics. METHODS: Twenty five patients (12 men, 13 women) with estabilished hypertension were studied. No patients had a previous history of antihypertensive therapy. We obtained the basal echocardiography at the diagnosis which were disclosed no definite LVH, and the follow-up echocardiography after 6 months antihypertensive therapy with angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor, fosinopril, in patients with untreated essential hypertension. RESULTS: 1) Baseline blood pressure was 150/125mmHg and fell to 104/85mmHg (p<0.001). There was no siginificant reduction in heart rate. LVM were reduced from 153gr/m2 to 129gr/m2. 2) Peak E velocity and Peak A velocity was 82.9cm/sec, 74.9cm/sec and reduced to 67.2cm/sec, 62.3cm/sec, (p<0.001). 3) Time velocity integral dimension E (Ei) and time velocity integral dimension A (Ai) was 13.0cm, 9.0cm and reduced to 8.6cm, 4.5cm respectively. But there was no significant inteval change in peak E/A velocity. Ei/Ai was increased from 1.7 to 2.1 (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that antihypertensive therapy with ACE inhibitor for 6 months reduced significantly the left ventricular mass in patients with untreated essential hypertension.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death, Sudden ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fosinopril ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Male ; Mortality

Infiltration of circulating monocytes into glomeruli has been implicated in the pathogenesis of glomerular injury in many human and experimental forms of glomerulonephritis. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), a potent chemokine with considerable specificity for monocytes, can be up-regulated by various cytokines and growth factors in mesangial cells. Glomerular infiltration of monocytes has been reported in diabetic nephropathy as well. However, effect of high glucose on MCP-1 expression in human mesangial cells has not been known well. We investigated the effect of high glucose on MCP-1 expression and its signal transduction pathway. Human mesangial cells were conditioned with glucose(5-60 mM) or mannitol chronically for up to 5 days. Expression of MCP-1 mRNA and protein was measured by Northern blot analysis and ELISA respectively. To examine the role of transcription factor AP-1 or NF-KB, electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA) was performed. Glucose induced MCP-1 mRNA expression in a time and dose dependent manner. MCP-1 protein in cell culture supernant was also increased. Equivalent concentrations of mannitol had no significant effect. EMSA revealed that glucose increased the AP-1 binding activity in a time and dose dependent manner but not NF-B. Inhibitor of AP-1, curcumin(7.5- 15 muM) dose dependently suppressed the induction of MCP-1 mRNA by high glucose. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein(12.5-50 muM) and herbimycin A(0.1-1 muM) inhibited the high glucose-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression in a dose dependent manner and also suppressed the high glucose-induced AP-1 binding activity. In summary, high glucose induces mesangial MCP-1 expression partly via tyrosine kinase-AP-1 pathway.
Blotting, Northern ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cytokines ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glucose* ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mannitol ; Mesangial Cells* ; Monocytes ; NF-kappa B ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Tyrosine*

This article was published with an error.

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Cholesterol* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do* ; Triglycerides*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to figure out the correlation of hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of consecutive 380 postmenopausal women (age> or =50, FSH>40IU/L and triglyceride[TG]<400 mg/dl) visiting health promotion center at Samsung Cheil Hospital from March 1997 to July 1998. We measured blood pressure by automatic sphygmomanometer (A & Dco.LTD.TM-2654) and divided them into four groups by blood pressure (Group I:systolic blood pressure[SBP]< 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure[DBP]<80 mmHg, n=87. Group II:SBP 120-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg, n=109. Group III: SBP 140-159 mmHg or DBP 90-99 mmHg, n=127. Group IV: SBP> or =160 mmHg or DBP> or =100 mmHg, n=57). We measured thier body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). We also measured their levels of glucose, total cholesterol and TG by automatic biochemical analyzer (Hitachi 7150) and HDL cholesterol by direct method using AutoDAIICHI reagent. We calculated LDL cholesterol levels by Friedewald formula. RESULTS: MI, WHR and glucose level of group IV were significantly higher than those of group I. But there were no significant differences among the groups in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. HDL cholesterol level of group I was statistically higher than that of group IV. TG level and LDL cholesterol/apo B ratio of group IV were significantly higher and lower than those of other groups respectively. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women who had moderate or severe hypertension show the trend toward abdominal obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia. We might have to pay attention to these metabolic abnormalities in postmenopausal women with hypertension.
Apolipoproteins ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Dyslipidemias* ; Female ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Menopause ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Sphygmomanometers ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study is investigation the influence of intravenous and oral bisphosphonate to bone union and clinical results in patient treated with plate fixation in an osteoporotic distal radius fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 160 patients with an osteoporotic distal radius fracture treated with plate fixation in our hospital between January 2008 and April 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were classified by 3 groups; who did not administrate bisphosphonate after surgery as Group I (n=69), administrated oral bisphosphonate after surgery as Group II (n=44), and administrated intravenous bisphosphonate as Group III (n=47). After surgery, bone union, radiologic parameters, disabilities of the DASH score and range of motion of wrist were assessed. RESULTS: Mean time of bone union was 6.7 weeks in Group I, 6.8 weeks in Group II, and 7.1 weeks in Group III. There was no significant difference between three groups (P=0.571). Bone union rate on 6weeks shows no significant differences between three groups (P=0.16). Three groups also have no significant differences in all radiologic and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: This study shows that early initiation of oral and Intravenous bisphosphonate did not affect bone union and clinical results compared to group who did not administrate bisphosphonate result in patient treated with plate fixation in an osteoporotic distal radius fracture.
Humans ; Medical Records ; Osteoporosis ; Radius Fractures ; Radius ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Wrist

PURPOSE: In the treatment of breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is useful to reduce breast cancer size before surgical intervention. Patients who achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) to NAC have improved overall survival (OS). However, the relationship between prognosis and partial response is yet unclear. In this study, we evaluated prognostic factors and the tumor response ratio (TRR) method among patients who received NAC. METHODS: Clinicopathologic factors were evaluated to predict OS. The TRR was calculated by dividing pathologic tumor size by clinical tumor size. TRRs were then categorized into four groups, and the survival times for the different TRR groups were compared using statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Clinical N stage (p=0.02), overall stage (p=0.04), pathologic N stage (p=0.03), hormone receptor status (p=0.01), and lymphovascular invasion (p=0.02) were significantly associated with OS. Pathologic overall stage and TRR did not correlate with OS. Patients with a pCR exhibited the best survival rates using the current staging system and the TRR method. CONCLUSION: Clinicopathologic factors can be easily applied to predict OS, and clinicians could use these parameters until an accurate, simple, and highly discriminatory methods is developed to assess breast cancer patients with a partial.

Severe portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is often considered a relative contraindication for living donor liver transplantation due to high associated risks and morbidity. Meanwhile, improvement in operative techniques, resulting in higher success rates has removed PVT from the list of contraindications in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). In this report, we describe a surgical technique for DDLT using polytetrafluoroethylene graft from the inferior mesenteric vein for portal inflow in patient with portomesenteric thrombosis.
End Stage Liver Disease/complications/*surgery ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation/*methods ; Male ; Mesenteric Veins/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Portal Vein/*surgery ; Tissue Donors ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; *Vascular Grafting ; Venous Thrombosis/etiology/*surgery/ultrasonography

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vaccinations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are recommended to prevent infectious diseases. However, there are few reports of vaccination in IBD patients in Korea. The frequency of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is high despite its uncertain effectiveness. This study aimed to identify the rates of vaccination and use of CAM in patients with IBD. METHODS: A total of 219 patients attended an education session for IBD patients held at Severance Hospital on March 23, 2013. We conducted a survey on vaccination and CAM use in IBD patients; 120 patients completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The influenza vaccination rate was 44.2% and pneumococcal vaccination rate was 4.2%. Thirty-one (66%) patients were aware of the importance of vaccination. The vaccination rate was higher in patients who were aware of the importance of vaccination compared with that in patients who were unaware of the importance of vaccination (70.1% vs. 41.7%, P=0.004). The rate of CAM use was 30.0%. The most commonly used CAMs were oral products: vitamins (33.3%), red ginseng (25.0%), and probiotics (19.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the importance of vaccination and actual vaccination rates were low in IBD patients. Despite insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of CAMs in IBD patients, many patients used CAMs. We believe that repeated education and promotion of vaccination are important. Further large-scale studies to investigate the efficacy and safety of CAMs are warranted in patients with IBD.
Communicable Diseases ; Complementary Therapies* ; Education ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Panax ; Probiotics ; Vaccination* ; Vitamins ; Surveys and Questionnaires