We have cloned a alpha-COP homolog, ancop, from Aspergillus nidulans by colony hybridization of chromosome specific library using alpha-COP homologous fragment as a probe. The probe DNA was amplified with degenerated primers designed by comparison of conserved region of the amino acid sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-COP, Homo sapiens HEP-COP, and Drosophila melanogaster alpha-COP. Full length cDNA clone was also amplified by RT-PCR. Comparison of genomic DNA sequence with cDNA sequence obtained by RT-PCR revealed 7 introns. Amino acid sequence similarity search of the anCop with other alpha-COPs gave an overall identity of 52% with S. cerevisiae, 47% with human and bovine, 45% with Drosophila and Arabidopsis . In upstream region from the transcription start site, a putative TATA and CAAT motif were also identified.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis ; Aspergillus nidulans* ; Aspergillus* ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells ; Coatomer Protein* ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Drosophila ; Drosophila melanogaster ; Humans ; Introns ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; Sequence Homology ; Transcription Initiation Site

The effects of embryo number and incubation volume on the development of mouse embryos were evaluated. The growth rate of two-cell mouse embryos to attached blastocyst stage and the growth rate of blastocysts to early somite stage were assessed after culture in different incubation volumes and embryo densities. Embryos were collected from ICR female mice superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin and mated by ICR males. In experiment 1, groups of one, five, ten, twenty 2-cell embryos were cultured in 10-, 50-, 500-, 1000-microliter drops of BWW media under mineral oil at 37 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air. As the incubation volume decreased, significantly (p<0.05) higher rates of embryos reached morular and blastocyst stage on day 3 and 4 culture, respectively In experiment 2, groups of one, five, ten, twenty blastocysts were cultured in 1- and 2-ml volumes of CMRL 1066 media under same condition as in experiment 1. However the reverse was the result. Decreasing the number of embryos incubated per volume from 1 to 20 significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of blastocysts reaching the late egg cylinde. (LEC) and early somite (ES) stage on day 6 and 8 culture, respectively, regardless of incubation volume. Blastocysts cultured in 2ml had higher (p<0.05) development rates to LEC and ES stage on day 6 and 8 culture, respectively, than embryos cultured in 1ml. Our results suggest that the effects of embryo number and incubation volume on the development of mouse embryos are stage specific and the shifting point was between hatching and EEC stage.
Animals ; Atmosphere ; Blastocyst ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Embryonic Structures* ; European Union ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Mineral Oil ; Ovum ; Somites

It was reported that the etiologies of recurrent spontaneous abortion are immunologic factors, endocrinologic problems, anatomical abnormalities, genetic abnormalities, infection, and unexplained factors. Among those etiologic factors, genetic abnormalities occur in about 5% of the couples who experience recurrent spontaneous abortions, and most common parental chromosomal abnormality contributing to recurrent abortion is balanced translocation. The advent of in vitro fertilization (IVF), the development of skills associated with the handling of human embryo, and an explosion of knowledge in molecular biology have opened the possibility of early diagnosis of genetic disease in preimplantation embryos. Therefore preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is indicated for couples, infertile or not, at risk of transmitting a genetic disease. A case of successful pregnancy and term delivery by PGD using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique in patient with recurrent spontaneous abortion due to balanced translocation is presented with brief review of literatures.
Abortion, Habitual ; Abortion, Spontaneous* ; Blastocyst ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryonic Structures ; Explosions ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; In Situ Hybridization ; Molecular Biology ; Parents ; Pregnancy* ; Preimplantation Diagnosis* ; Prostaglandins D

Homeodomain transcription factors functioning downstream of BMP ventral pathway have been reported to share similar domain of roles in mesoderm patterning along the dorsal-ventral axis. To elucidate the differential role of PV.1 in the aspect of relationship between dorsal and ventral region, we tried to screen PV.1- interacting proteins. Twenty-four PV.1-interacting proteins were identified by yeast two-hybrid screening. Xvent-2 and Xclaudin-6 among these, went under domain study. The C-terminus of PV.1, more specifically 197-241 region was found to interact with Xclaudin-6. Meanwhile Xvent-2 has mild affinity to overall C-terminal region of PV.1. At the same time it was found that Xvent-2 homodimerizes and also binds to Xclaudin-6.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Mass Screening* ; Mesoderm ; Transcription Factors ; Xenopus laevis ; Yeasts

Anisakiasis of the gastrointestinal tract is caused by the ingestion of raw fish or uncooked foods infested with Anisakis larvae belonging to the subfamily Anisakidae. With the increasing popularity of Japanese cuisine such as sashimi in Korea, the incidence of anisakiasis is expected to increase. The entire gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum can be involved. Colonic anisakiasis is rare in comparison with gastric involvement. We report the anisakiasis concurrently invading the stomach, ileocecal valve and transverse colon treated by endoscopy with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Anisakiasis* ; Anisakis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Colon ; Colon, Transverse* ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve* ; Incidence ; Korea ; Larva ; Rectum ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The combination of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and a low dose thrombolytic agent may produce early Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow and a high rate of ST elevation resolution in an ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). The clinical effect of tirofiban combined with low dose alteplase, prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in STEMI, were evaluated on the ST elevation resolution, TIMI flow and 30-day clinical outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Following aspirin, clopidogrel and standard heparin, 45 patients with STEMI were randomized into 2 groups; tirofiban administration (Group I; n=23, 64+/-10 years; 15 male) or combined administration of tirofiban with 40 mg alteplase prior to primary PCI (Group II; n=22, 59+/-11 years; 19 male). The pre- and post-interventional TIMI flow grades, ST elevation resolution and bleeding complications were compared between the two groups. The major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were compared between the two groups during 30-days of clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Group II had a higher pre-interventional TIMI flow (TIMI flow> or =2: 34.8% vs. 90.9%, p<0.0001) and rate of ST elevation resolution (49.0+/-27.8% vs. 66.6+/-27.2%, p=0.045) than Group I. A major bleeding complication developed in 1 (5.0%) Group II patient, and minor bleeding complications developed 1 patient from each group (Group I; 9.5% vs. Group II; 10%, p=0.959). CONCLUSION: Combined administration of tirofiban with alteplase prior to primary PCI leads to a higher TIMI flow and more frequent ST elevation resolution, without bleeding complications, compared to a single administration of tirofiban.
Angioplasty ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycoproteins ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator*

It has been reported that myocardial bridging may be associated with myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, vasospasm, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. However, the mechanism whereby ischemia occur as a consequence of myocardial bridging remains unclear. Recently we experienced a case of myocardial infarction in a patient with myocardial bridging and atrial fibrillation. A 66-year-old man presented with severe chest pain. His ECG showed ST elevation in V3-V5 and atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. He underwent coronary angiography, which revealed a thrombus in the distal portion of the myocardial LAD bridge. He was treated with antiplatelet agents, heparin, tirofiban and amiodarone and beta-blocker without percutaneous coronary intervention. Five days later, his clinical condition was recovered and follow-up coronary angiography revealed markedly improved blood flow of the left anterior descending artery. The previous thrombus had disappeared.
Aged ; Amiodarone ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arteries ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heparin ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Bridging ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Thrombosis

We have previously shown that the inhibition of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling induced endodermal gene expression in the animal cap and caused the expansion of the endodermal mass in Xenopus embryos. However, we still do not know whether or not the alteration of FGF signaling controls embryonic cell fate, or when FGF signal blocking is required for endoderm formation in Xenopus. Here, we show that FGF signal blocking in embryonic cells causes their descendants to move into the endodermal region and to express endodermal genes. It is also interesting that blocking FGF signaling between fertilization and embryonic stage 10.5 promotes endoderm formation, but persistent FGF signaling blocking after stage 10.5 restricts endoderm formation and differentiation.
Animals ; Endoderm/drug effects/embryology/*metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects ; In Situ Hybridization ; Pyrroles/administration & dosage/pharmacology ; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor/genetics/physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Xenopus Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*physiology ; Xenopus laevis/embryology/genetics/*physiology

Background: The use of acellular dermal matrix in implant-based breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy has attracted attention in recent years because it yields good outcomes. Herein, we analyzed the usefulness of meshed SurgiMend in direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction. Methods: In this retrospective single-center analysis, 44 one-stage breast reconstructions using SurgiMend were performed in 42 patients from May 2016 to December 2017. The implant was inserted into the subpectoral plane and SurgiMend was applied to the inferolateral part that lacked tissues to wrap the silicone implant. In 19 patients (20 breasts), fenestration was performed with SurgiMend, while in the remaining 23 patients (24 breasts), SurgiMend that was meshed at a ratio of 1:1.5 was used. We analyzed the frequency of complications. Patient satisfaction was compared and analyzed using a five-item questionnaire (shape, texture, symmetry, pain, and overall outcome). Results: The average age of the patients was 43.2 years, and their mean body mass index was 21.1 kg/m2. The average follow-up period was 24.0 months. In the control (fenestrated SurgiMend) and experimental (meshed SurgiMend) groups, major seroma occurred in five of the 20 breasts (25.0%) and two of the 24 breasts (8.3%), respectively. Minor complications were resolved with conservative treatment. The patient satisfaction score for shape, texture, symmetry, pain, and overall satisfaction was 4.3, 4.1, 4.7, 4.5, and 4.4, respectively. Conclusions Applying meshed SurgiMend in DTI breast reconstruction is a useful surgical technique.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a device used to determine whether traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has occurred and is primarily used for screening in emergency situations. In this study we examined the applicability of this equipment in postmortem inspection. This study included 124 autopsy cases and 59 postmortem inspection cases performed in the National Forensic Service from July 2017 to October 2018. We carried out the test using Infrascanner Model 2000 (Infrascan Inc.). Autopsy cases were divided into four groups (epidural hemorrhage or subdural hemorrhage group, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral contusion group, nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage group, and control group) and analyzed. There was no difference in the test results according to the presence and type of intracranial hemorrhage. The possibility that variables related to postmortem change affected the test results was considered. In conclusion, this study confirmed that near-infrared spectroscopy is not suitable for the detection of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in postmortem inspection.