No abstract available.
Animals ; Brain* ; Pineal Gland* ; Rats*

HIV-1 p24 was cloned into multiple cloning site of pMV261, extrachromosomal expression vectors carrying BCG replication origin and BCG-specific heat-shock promoter, and then introduced into BCG and E. coli. Western blot experiments showed that the p24 efficiently expressed in recombinant BCG (rBCG), but not in E. coli. Recombinant p24 expression induced by a single heat-shock of rBCG was maintained longer than 3 weeks. Immunoblot experiments with intact rBCG did not show any distinctive positive signal, suggesting that the recombinant protein was not secreted or exposed at the surface of BCG. The guinea pigs immunized with live rBCG showed delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) by the systemic area as well as an effective humoral immunity, suggesting that tbis rBCG is believed to elicit eKcient immune responses against p24, even though the expression is restricted only in the cytoplasm as reported previously with other antigen. These results demonstrate that BCG can be developed as a live recombinant vaccine vector against a broad spectrum of infectious disease.
Animals* ; Blotting, Western ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Communicable Diseases ; Cytoplasm ; Guinea Pigs ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Humoral ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Replication Origin

BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogenic cytokine. C-met protein, which is known to be the HGF receptor has transmembrane tyrosine kinase activity and is encoded by the c-met oncogene. The HGF/c-met signaling pathway may play various roles in the carcinogenesis of various organs. METHODS: We examined HGF and c-met mRNA expression by utilizing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on 40 surgically resected intracranial meningiomas (25 benign, 10 atypical, and 5 anaplastic cases). RESULTS: An HGF overexpression was detected in 28%, 50%, and 80% of the benign, atypical and anaplastic meningiomas, respectively; a high expression of HGF or the coexpression of HGF/c-met was detected in the high grade meningiomas (the atypical and anaplastic cases, p=0.046, p=0.014). An HGF expression was statistically significant in the recurrent meningiomas (p=0.003), and HGF expression was significantly lower than c-met mRNA expression in benign meningiomas (p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: There was no correlation between histologic subtypes and HGF/c-met expression. Determination of HGF expression can be used as a molecular predictor for recurrence of meningioimas. These results suggest that HGF and c-met expression in meningiomas may be associated with anaplastic progression.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; Meningioma ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Oncogenes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

PURPOSE: Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy under the imaging guidance in the diagnosis of intrathoracic diseases has become a standard practice. Core tissue obtained by automated gun biopsy(AGB) is believed to be more diagnostic than materials from fine needle aspiration(FNA) by many cytopathologists. The authors evauated the role of automated gun biopsy in localized pulmonary lesions with respect to the its accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 107 percutaneous biopsies in localized pulmonary lesions under fluoroscopic guidance among 107 patients:AGB using 18G or 20G was done in 81 patients, and both AGB and FNA was done in 26 patients. RESULTS: Biopsy samples sufficient for histologic diagnosis were obtained in 94(87.9%) of 107 patients, AG8 in 73(90.1%) of 81 patients and AGB and FNA in 21(80.8%) of 26 patients. 11 of 13 negative results were due to inadeguate specimen size for the histologic diagnosis or were composed of necrotic areas, and 2 of 13 negative results were obtained through nontarget tissue. 10 patients developed pneumothorax and 4 of them required chest tube insertion. Minimal hemoptysis was found in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous automated gun biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance was easy and simple method of obtaining specimens of good quality and quantity. It may be an useful procedure in the diagnosis of localized pulmonary lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Needles ; Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy under the imaging guidance in the diagnosis of intrathoracic diseases has become a standard practice. Core tissue obtained by automated gun biopsy(AGB) is believed to be more diagnostic than materials from fine needle aspiration(FNA) by many cytopathologists. The authors evauated the role of automated gun biopsy in localized pulmonary lesions with respect to the its accuracy and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 107 percutaneous biopsies in localized pulmonary lesions under fluoroscopic guidance among 107 patients:AGB using 18G or 20G was done in 81 patients, and both AGB and FNA was done in 26 patients. RESULTS: Biopsy samples sufficient for histologic diagnosis were obtained in 94(87.9%) of 107 patients, AG8 in 73(90.1%) of 81 patients and AGB and FNA in 21(80.8%) of 26 patients. 11 of 13 negative results were due to inadeguate specimen size for the histologic diagnosis or were composed of necrotic areas, and 2 of 13 negative results were obtained through nontarget tissue. 10 patients developed pneumothorax and 4 of them required chest tube insertion. Minimal hemoptysis was found in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous automated gun biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance was easy and simple method of obtaining specimens of good quality and quantity. It may be an useful procedure in the diagnosis of localized pulmonary lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Needles ; Pneumothorax

We report herein an unusual case of tick bite. A 56 year old woman complained of erythematous nodular skin lesion on the left upper chest. An excision biopsy specimen of the lesion showed darkish-red nodule, in which there was a tick. It was identified as an adult female of Ixodes nipponensis by the scanning electron microscopic examination.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Ixodes* ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax* ; Tick Bites ; Tick Infestations* ; Ticks*

No abstract available.
Carney Complex* ; Hyperplasia* ; Myxoma* ; Nevus, Blue* ; Testis*

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors of suicide ideation in general population. A total of 1,116 adults were sampled with randomization in an urban area. After excluding 116 participants due to incomplete answer, 1,000 participants (500 males; mean age 39.6 +/- 11.6) completed self-report questionnaire including the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale (CES-D), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI), the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and questions on weekday sleep duration. Results showed higher scores on the BSI were related with higher scores on the STAXI, CES-D, a family history of psychiatric illness, and short or long sleep duration (< or = 5 or > or = 10 hr) (adjusted R2 = 0.151, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.008, respectively). The predictive power of the STAXI scores, the presence of psychiatric family history and short or long sleep duration was stronger in the high CES-D group with scores of 16 or higher (adjusted R2 = 0.275, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). These findings suggest that suicide idea in general population may be related with the presence of family history for psychiatric illness, depressive mood, high anger and short or long sleep duration.
Adult ; Anger ; Depression/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders/diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Sleep ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide/*statistics & numerical data

The frequency and extent of the existence of a familial suicide prevention plan may differ across cultures. The aim of this work was, therefore, to determine how common it was for families to develop a suicide prevention plan and to compare the main measures used by families with and without such a plan, after an attempt to commit suicide was made by a member of a family living in a rural area of Korea. On the basis of the presence or absence of a familial suicide prevention plan, we compared 50 recruited families that were divided into 2 groups, with Group A (31 families) employing a familial suicide prevention plan after a suicide attempt by a family member, and Group B (19 families) not doing so. The strategy that was employed most frequently to prevent a reoccurrence among both populations was promoting communication among family members, followed by seeking psychological counseling and/or psychiatric treatment. Contrary to our expectation, the economic burden from medical treatment after a suicide attempt did not influence the establishment of a familial suicide prevention plan. It is a pressing social issue that 38% (19 of 50) of families in this study did not employ a familial suicide prevention plan, even after a family member had attempted suicide. Regional suicide prevention centers and/or health authorities should pay particular attention to these patients and their families.
Family ; Female ; Hospitalization/*economics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Care Planning/*statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Suicide, Attempted/*prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is not well understood whether the left ventricular geometry is associated with such diastolic parameters as the left atrial volume and the left ventricular filling pressure, as assessed by the Doppler indices. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the left ventricular geometry on the left atrial volume and the left ventricular filling pressure, as assessed by the Doppler indices. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 181 patients (mean age: 63+/-9 years old, 62 males) with hypertension were included for echocardiographic analysis. The hypertensive patients were classified into four groups according to the left ventricular mass index and the relative wall thickness: normal geometry, concentric remodeling, eccentric hypertrophy and concentric hypertrophy. We excluded all the individuals with established cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, significant aortic and/or mitral valve disease, or an ejection fraction <50%. RESULTS: By definition, the left ventricular mass was increased in the patients with eccentric and concentric hypertrophy. Both the left ventricular end-systolic diameter and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were reduced in the concentric remodeling group, whereas the left ventricular end-systolic diameter and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were increased in the eccentric and concentric hypertrophy groups. Compared with the patients with normal geometry, the patients with eccentric and concentric hypertrophy demonstrated a significant higher value for the left atrial volume index. The ratio of the transmitral inflow velocity to the mitral annular velocity (E/E') showed a stepwise increase from the patients with normal geometry to the patients with concentric remodeling, and then to the patients with eccentric and concentric hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that in a patient population with hypertension and who are without systolic dysfunction, the left atrial volume index and the E/E' demonstrated a progressive worsening of the left ventricular diastolic function from patients with normal geometry to the patients with concentric remodeling, and then to the patients with eccentric and concentric hypertrophy.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Mitral Valve ; Ventricular Remodeling