Genetic diversity of 21 Korean Phytophthora capsici isolates was analyzed by using several molecular markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD), M-13, microsatellite and random amplified microsatellite sequences(RAMS). The overall average similarity coefficient among the isolates was 86% based on the combined data obtained by the molecular markers. No molecular markers were found to be associated with hosts or geographic regions. In addition to RAPD, analysis based on repeated sequences such as (GTG)5, M-13 and RAMS could be used to assess population structure of P. capsici.
Genetic Variation* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phytophthora*

BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that adolescent smokers are increasing in Korea, an effective smoking cessation program is not widely available. The purpose of the present study was to develop and evaluate a short term smoking cessation program. METHODS: The subjects involved in the smoking cessation program were 89 students from 9 different middle and high schools located in Seoul. They were referred to our program by their school teacher as a penalty for smoking in school. The duration of the program was a total of 270 minutes and the program was carried out in 3 sessions during a period of one week. The program included cigarette related experiments and life skills enhancement training, such as self-assertiveness, cigarette refusal skills and self esteem enhancement. The students considered to be smoke free at the end of the program were those who declared themselves to be smoke free and achieved an expiratory CO level of less than 8 ppm. The stage of smoking cessation was also assessed at the beginning to later evaluate if any progress in stage had occurred. Certification was given to those who succeeded in meeting the smoke free criteria. The students who were not able to meet the smoke free criteria were given the certification only under the condition that they achieve a level of expiratory CO measurement close th that of a nonsmoker's. RESULTS: Eighty seven students out of the 89 received the certification and 90.7% had attempted smoking cessation during the program. 39.1% Among, met the smoke free criteria used in this study. There was a significant difference between those who declared to be smoke free (54.1%) on the questionnaire and those who actually met the smoke free criteria. There was an average of a 0.75 stage advancement in terms of the stage of smoking cessation (P<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The program yielded high smoking cessation attempt and cessation rate in spite of the short duration of the program.
Adolescent* ; Certification ; Disulfiram ; Humans ; Korea ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation* ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use Cessation

No abstract available.
Interleukin-4* ; Interleukins* ; Receptors, Interleukin-4* ; Rheumatic Diseases*

We encountered a case of Sweet's syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome in a 60-year-old woman. The clinical presentation strongly suggested Sweet's syndrome. A skin biopsy specimen taken from her skin lesion on the leg showed an infiltration of numerous neutrophils in the subcutis instead of the dermis which is the main area of neutrophilic infiltration in Sweet's syndrome. Among infiltrating cells, many neutrophils(8%) showed nuclear segmentation anomalies, that is, hyposegmentation(pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly) or hypersegmentation. Peripheral blood neutrophils had similar anomalies. This subcutaneous variant of Sweet's syndrome, Sweet's panniculitis, is rare and nuclear segmentation anomalies of neutrophils are probably a good clue to underlying myelodysplastic syndrome.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Neutrophils* ; Panniculitis ; Skin ; Sweet Syndrome*

PURPOSE:We investigated the production of oxygen hydroxyl radicals in the striatum of neonatal rat brain after intrastriatal injection of dopamine (DA) and the effect of growth hormone (GH) on the apoptosis of striatal neurons injured by hypoxia-ischemia. METHODS:The extracellular striatal levels of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA as indicators of hydroxyl radical(OH-) production were measured by in vivo microdialysis in the striatums of 7 day-old newborn rats (n=10) after direct intrastriatal infusion of dopamine hydrochloride (1.0 micromol/microL). The samples of perfused artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected every 10 minutes interval. The levels of DA, 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA of CSF were analysed by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Also, the brains were removed at 24 hour after hypoxic-ischemic injury by Rice-Vannucci method. The coronal sections (12 micrometer) of paraffin-fixed brains were stained by TUNEL (terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labelling) technique, and the neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis in the striatum were observed by fluorescent microscopy and compared between GH-treated (50 mg/kg, Dong-Ah Pharmacy Co.) and saline-treated rats. RESULTS:The extracellualr striatal levels of 2,3-DHBA and 2,5-DHBA increased abruptly in the first 10 minutes samples after intrastriatal injection of DA. After then, the levels declined slowely. The levels of striatal extracelluar 2.3-DHBA increased up to 621.8+/-508.7% of basal levels (P<0.05), and the levels of 2.5-DHBA increased up to 262.8+/-198.1% of basal levels (P<0.05). GH reduced markedly the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in the striatum after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. CONCLUSION: The level of hydroxyl radicals increased abruptly after intrastriatal injection of DA and GH reduced markedly the number of apoptotic neuronal cells in the striatum after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Brain Injuries ; Brain* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Hydroxyl Radical* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infant, Newborn* ; Microdialysis ; Microscopy ; Neurons* ; Oxygen ; Pharmacy ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: To determine the molecular structure of type II collagen-specific T-cell receptors associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We generated CII-specific T-cell lines of 8 RA patient s by prolonged in vitro culture with bovine CII (bCII) and the immunogenic peptide (256-270) of human CII. The proliferation response towards CII stimulation was measured from the uptake of 3 H-thymidine. Changes in the secretion of Th 1 and Th2 cytokines in the culture supernatent were measured by ELISA. The TCR clonotypes of these T-cells were examined by RT-PCR/ SSCP analyses of all 22 V beta chains. RESULTS: T-cells from patients' tissue exhibited strong proliferation index upon CII stimulation, which was maintained up to 6 months in the culture. The secretion of INF-gamma from these T-cells increased along with the duration of culture time, while the amount of IL-4 production did not show significant changes. The SSCP band patterns of patients' T-cells appear as discrete bands unlike the smeary streak produced from normal samples. Some SSCP bands, each representing selected expansion of a TCR containing certain subtype of V beta peptides, appeared to be identical in more than one patients. Among these, the expansion of SSCP band representing the V beta 14 CDR3 region persisted after switching the antigen to the immunogenic human peptide (256-270). CONCLUSION: CII-reactive T-cells expressing distinct CDR3 motifs are selectively expanded in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients, and their persistent proliferation upon CII stimulation, as well as the production Th 1-type cytokines, may play pivotal roles in RA pathogenesis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Molecular Structure ; Peptides ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Synovial Fluid ; T-Lymphocytes*

We first report a case that demonstrates superi-mposed acute renal failure associated with rhabdo-myolysis in a patient with tsutsugamushi disease. The clinical presentation was that of insidious onset of fever, abdominal pain, back pain, renal failure and respiratory failure over about 20 days period. The renal function was progressively deteriorated and the serum creatinine concentration increased from 1.4 to 8.4mg/dL, while the patient was in a state of septic shock caused by tsutsugamushi disease. The laboratory data including increased muscle enzymes such as CK, LDH, SGOT, myoglobin, positive test for urine myoglobin, and increased uptake of bone scan were consistent with rhabdomyolysis. On consideration of the cause of rhabdomyolysis in this patient, endotoxin made in the state of septic shock had triggered a muscle necrosis and acute renal failure aggravated by dehydration and metabolic acidosis. She was recovered by the proper use of a IV doxycycline as the therapy of tsutsugamushi disease with a maintenance of renal blood flow by hydration, mannitol, bicarbonate and protection of hypotension. We suggest that rickettsial disease, especially tsutsugamushi disease can result in the acute renal failure by rhabdomyolysis.
Abdominal Pain ; Acidosis ; Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Back Pain ; Creatinine ; Dehydration ; Doxycycline ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Mannitol ; Myoglobin ; Necrosis ; Renal Circulation ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Scrub Typhus ; Shock, Septic

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the influence of perinatal factors on intra-arterial mean blood pressures of very low birth weight infants during the first seven days of life and the association of intra-arterial mean blood pressures on the common morbidities and neonatal death of very low birth weight infants. METHODS: The retrospective study on intra-arterial mean blood pressures over the first seven days of life in 103 very low birth weight infants who admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Dankook University Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 2000 was done. Trend data for each infants were assessed in 9 time periods until seven days of age. Perinatal factors that might influence intra-arterial mean blood pressures and the association of intra-arterial mean blood pressures on neonatal death and common morbidities were assessed. RESULTS: Intra-arterial mean blood pressures of very low birth weight infants increased with birth weight and gestational age (P<0.05), and significantly increased with postnatal age over the seven day periods from 35.0+/-4.9 mmHg (period 1) to 44.2+/-6.5 mmHg (period 9). Intra-arterial mean blood pressures of infants weighing less than 1,000 g were significantly lower than infants weighing 1,000 to 1,499 g at all each time periods (P< 0.05). Intra-arterial mean blood pressures were found to correlate significantly with antenatal steroid (P<0.005), and correlate inversely with PDA (P<0.001), pulmonary hemorrhage (P<0.005) and ROP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intra-arterial mean blood pressures in very low birth weight infants during the first seven days were found to correlate significantly with postnatal age, gestational age, birth weight and antenatal steroid and probably correlate with some common morbidities of very low birth weight infants. It is therefore important to maintain adequate blood pressure ranges during the first seven days of life that are the most critical periods of illness for the majority of very low birth weight infants.
Birth Weight ; Blood Pressure* ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Recently, we reported the antiapoptotic effect of ghrelin in spinal cord injury-induced apoptotic cell death of oligodendrocytes. However, how ghrelin inhibits oligodendrocytes apoptosis, is still unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we examined whether ghrelin inhibits microglia activation and thereby inhibits oligodendrocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Using total cell extracts prepared from BV-2 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without ghrelin, the levels of p-p38 phosphor-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK), phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (pJNK), p-c-Jun, and pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) were examined by Western blot analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was investigated by using dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. To examine the effect of ghrelin on oligodendrocyte cell death, oligodendrocytes were cocultured in transwell chambers of 24-well plates with LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. After 48 hours incubation, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2'-deoxyuridine, 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling staining were assessed. RESULTS: Ghrelin treatment significantly decreased levels of p-p38MAPK, p-JNK, p-c-Jun, and proNGF in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. ROS production increased in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells was also significantly inhibited by ghrelin treatment. In addition, ghrelin significantly inhibited oligodendrocyte cell death when cocultured with LPS-stimulated BV-2 cells. CONCLUSION: Ghrelin inhibits oligodendrocyte cell death by decreasing proNGF and ROS production as well as p38MAPK and JNK activation in activated microglia as an anti-inflammatory hormone.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Death* ; Cell Extracts ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Ghrelin* ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Microglia ; Oligodendroglia* ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spinal Cord

PURPOSE: The increased prevalence of childhood asthma in Korea from 3.4% in 1964 to 15% in 1995 might be very important for morbidity and mortality in children. Recognition of this led to consider the necessity of new management strategies emphasizing patient education. We developed the educational program including asthma-specific play game called 'Malgunsum asthma game' to improve the child's interest and evaluated its educational effect. METHOD: Twenty asthmatic children between the age seven to fifteen were attended Malgunsum Asthma Camp. The Children were randomly assigned to 5 groups, and each player had to move the horse by answering the questions on the card. The first one who reaches the goal wins the game. RESULTS: All the children well followed the play rule and were interested to the game. CONCLUSION: This educational game model will achieve better control of asthma by leading the patients to understand the nature of asthma, how to identify and control the aggravating factors, how to recognize symptoms and appropriate steps for asthma, and the importance of daily maintenance therapy with anti-inflammatory medications.
Asthma* ; Child ; Horses ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Patient Education as Topic ; Prevalence