Coronaviruses (CoVs) are single-stranded RNA viruses which contain the largest RNA genomes, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a newly found group 2 CoV, emerged as infectious disease with high mortality rate. In this study, we compared the synonymous codon usage patterns between the nucleocapsid and spike genes of CoVs, and C-type lectin domain (CTLD) genes of human and mouse on the codon basis. Findings indicate that the nucleocapsid genes of CoVs were affected from the synonymous codon usage bias than spike genes, and the CTLDs of human and mouse partially overlapped with the nucleocapsid genes of CoVs. In addition, we observed that CTLDs which showed the similar relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) patterns with CoVs were commonly derived from the human chromosome 12, and mouse chromosome 6 and 12, suggesting that there might be a specific genomic region or chromosomes which show a more similar synonymous codon usage pattern with viral genes. Our findings contribute to developing the codon-optimization method in DNA vaccines, and further study is needed to determine a specific correlation between the codon usage patterns and the chromosomal locations in higher organisms.
Animals ; Codon/*genetics ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type/*genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics ; Mice ; Nucleocapsid/*genetics ; Phylogeny ; SARS Virus/*genetics/pathogenicity ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/prevention & control ; Species Specificity ; Vaccines, DNA ; Viral Envelope Proteins/*genetics ; Virus Attachment

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a rare malignant tumor of probably histiocytic origin. It is more common in soft tissue than bone. Usually it involves metaphysis or diaphysis of long bone. Primary spinal malignant fibrous histiocytoma is exceedingly rare. Authors report a case of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma which showed rapid spinal cord compression in thoracic spine with review of literatures.
Diaphyses ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spine*

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumors that can originate at any anatomic sites. These tumors are usually soitary, benign, and slow-growing masses attached to large nerve trunks. These tumors have been described as arising in the pelvic retroperitoneum. We present two cases of pelvic retroperitoneal Schwannomas with a brief review of literatures.
Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma*

PURPOSE: This study was attempted to estimate the effects of diabetic education fortified with individual practice on plasma glucose, self-care, and self reported physical symptoms in type 2 diabetes patients METHOD: The subjects consisted of 46 patients with type 2 diabetes patients, who took the hospitalization diabetes education program from July 2003 until February 2004 at Seoul C university hospital. The experimental group was assessed at pre- and post intervention. The diabetes education was provided for one week. The education consisted of diabetes education videos for the diabetic introduction, group education for medication therapy, dietetic treatment and diabetes complication education. Also individual education for nurses examination of glycemia and insulin injection practice. RESULTS: The HbA1c values significantly decreased from 9.6% on the time of hospitalization to 7.4% 3 months after discharge. In respect to the number of days of self-care, medication, diet, exercise, cleansing feet, and carrying sweets to prepare for hypoglycemia all significantly increased 3 months after discharge compared to the values at the time of hospitalization. Self reported physical symptoms were also significantly increased 3 months after discharge compared to the time of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The diabetic education fortified with individual practice can be practically used as a plan for managing glycemia, self-care, and self reported physical symptom of diabetes patients.
Blood Glucose* ; Diabetes Complications ; Diet ; Education* ; Foot ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Plasma* ; Self Care* ; Self Report* ; Seoul

For an accurate diagnosis and treatment planning of facial asymmetry, the use of 3-dimensional (3-D) image is indispensable. The purpose of this study was to get standard data for the 3-D analysis of facial asymmetry. Computerized tomography (CT) was taken in the 60 normal occlusion individuals (30 male, 30 female) who did not have any apparent facial asymmetry. The acquired 2D CT DICOM data were input on a computer, and the reformatted 3-D images were created using a 3-D image software. Twenty three measurements were established in order to evaluate asymmetry; 15 linear measurements (6 for ramus length, 1 for condylar neck length, and 8 for mandibular body length) and 8 angular measurements (4 for gonial angle, 2 for frontal ramal inclination, and 2 for lateral ramal inclination). The right and left difference of each measurement was calculated and analyzed. It is suggested that the right and left differences of the measurements obtained from the study could be used as references for the diagnosis of facial asymmetric patients.
Diagnosis* ; Facial Asymmetry* ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Mandible* ; Neck

This study was aimed at how posteroanterior cephalometric measurements affect the perception of the patient about his/her facial asymmetry. One hundred orthodontic patients, over the age of 12, who required a posteroanterior cephalogram in the Department of Orthodontics of Chonnam National University Hospital were used as the subjects. They were asked if they thought their faces were asymmetrical. Their responses were classified into 5 groups based on the level of asymmetry as follows : Definitely No, Probably No, Don't Know, Probably Yes, and Definitely Yes. Nine linear and four angular measurements from each posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs were analysed on the standard of the line between crista galli and anterior nasal spine to show the extent of asymmetry. Through this comparative study, the following results were obtained. 1. As the deviation of menton and the midline discrepancy of the upper and lower jaws were greater, the perception of patients about their facial asymmetry was higher. 2. All the measurements from the group "Don't Know" showed no statistical difference from those of the groups "Definitely No" or "Probably No." 3. All the measurements from the group "Probably Yes" showed no statistical difference from those of the group "Definitely Yes."
Facial Asymmetry* ; Humans ; Jaw ; Jeollanam-do ; Orthodontics ; Spine

Bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) is a rare congenital abnormality of the lower airway, generally characterized by blood supply received from the systemic circulation. We present a rare case of a 19-year-old man with incidentally detected BPS supplied by a branch of a pulmonary artery, rather than a systemic artery. Computed tomography showed a sequestered segment supplied by a branch of the left pulmonary artery and containing an ectopic bronchus. As chest computed tomography revealed necrosis in the sequestered tissue, infection was presumed, and the tissue was surgically removed. This may represent a very unusual occurrence, as such cases have yet to be reported in the literature.

Aneurysms of sinus of Valsalva often remain undiagnosed until they rupture. A huge, heavily calcified unruptured aneurysm originating from the right sinus of Valsalva was detected incidentally in a 61-year-old man. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and 10 cm sized huge calcified mass lesion around the cardiac shadow. Two-dimensional echocardiogrm revealed pericardial effusion with huge calcified mass compressing right ventricular outflow and color-flow Doppler echocardiogram visualized blood flow from aortic root into aneurysm. Chest CT scan and MRI revealed a large thrombosed aneurysm arising from aortic root measuring 1010cm. After pericardiocentesis cardiac catheterization was performed, which showed elevated right ventricular systolic pressure up to 80 mmHg. Aortic root angiogram revealed huge unruptured calcified aneurysm in the sinus of Valsalva arising from the right coronary sinus. The patient underwent surgical correction for the prevention of aneurysmal rupture and the relief of right ventricular outflow obstruction.
Aneurysm* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomegaly ; Coronary Sinus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Rupture ; Sinus of Valsalva* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

BACKGROUND: Increasing degrees of medullary hyperemia induced by ischemia reperfusion injury were associated with renal dysfunction. A possible mechanism may be that ischemia causes alterations in the structure and function of vascular membranes which leads to an aggregation of red blood cells in the medullary vessel. It has been shown that heparin prevents postischemic endothelial cell dysfunction. Aim of this study was to evaluate heparin effects on renal hyperemia induced by ischemia reperfusion injury. METHOD: In this study, fifteen rabbits were randomized to either heparin treatment group(500 IU/kg IV bolus 10 minutes before renal artery occlusion, n=8) or control group(n=7). One side kidney underwent 60 minutes ischemia only by clamping renal pedicle and after that kidney tissue sample was obtained for histologic evaluation. The other side of kidney were permitted 60 minutes ischemia following 60 minutes reperfusion and after that kidney tissue sample was obtained for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the degree of congestion(2.6+/-0.2 vs 1.1+/-0.3, P<0.05) between outer medulla of control and heparin treatment group. CONCLUSION: Heparin significantly attenuated outer medullary congestion induced ischemic injury.
Constriction ; Endothelial Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Heparin* ; Hyperemia ; Ischemia* ; Kidney ; Membranes ; Rabbits ; Renal Artery ; Reperfusion Injury ; Reperfusion*

Asthma is a chronic disease associated with airway constriction due to inflammation caused by eosinophils, mast cells, and T lymphocytes, leading to serious chronic illness in children. The eotaxin gene family has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. We hypothesized that the distinctive variations among the four seasons in Korea may affect the expression of eotaxin polymorphisms, especially in children. We examined the possible effects of birth season (spring, March-May; summer, June-August; fall, September-November; and winter, December-February) on the phenotype of asthma in children. All SNP data sets of the eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 genes were collected from 78 asthma patients and 101 controls. Here, we investigated the effects of birth season on the expression of eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 in Korean children. Using the HAPLOTYPE procedure with the HTR method in SAS/Genetics, we showed that children born in spring and summer show significant haplotypes in both the eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 genes. Thus, the expression of polymorphisms in eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 may vary by season.
Asthma ; Chemokine CCL24 ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Constriction ; Eosinophils ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mast Cells ; Parturition ; Phenotype ; Seasons ; T-Lymphocytes