Human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein is synthesized as a 160KDa precursor, gp160, that is cleaved by a cellular protease to form the gp120 and gp41 subunits. Mammalian expression vectors were designed that are capabae of efficient expression of various mutant envelope glycoproteins derived from a molecular clone of HIV-1. To construct these vectors, one type of mutation was made at the gp120-gp41 cleavage site by oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis. And another mutation was made to change amino acids in the membrane spanning region of HIV-1 gp41 important for membrane anchorage. Next, these two mutations were combined to generate a vector to have double mutations in cleavage site and membrane spanning region. These mutants were transiently expressed in mammalian cells. The effect of these mutations on envelope glycoprotein synthesis, proteolytic processing and secretion was determined. In addition, cell surface expression and ability of the glycoprotein to induce syncytium formation were examined. This study provides a mammalian expression system that is capable of efficient expression and secretion of soluble gp160.
Amino Acids ; Clone Cells ; Giant Cells ; Glycoproteins* ; HIV* ; HIV-1* ; Humans* ; Membranes ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed

No Abstract Available.
Anti-HIV Agents* ; Complement System Proteins* ; HIV-1*

In the recently published paper, there was a typo in the affiliation of the author. The word Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea was incorrectly spelled as Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We hereby publish the correct affiliation as follows: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

In the recently published paper, there was a typo in the affiliation of the author. The word Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea was incorrectly spelled as Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. We hereby publish the correct affiliation as follows: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

ntradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET), which is a minimally invasive treatment, was performed to treat cervical HNP. Although IDET has a relatively short recovery time and lower cost compared to surgical treatment, it can still cause complications, such as nerve injury due to improper insertion of the catheter and temperature of the heating coil. This paper reports a rare case of dysphagia following IDET in Korea. A 71-year-old male complained of hoarseness and dysphagia after IDET on the C6-7 level. A Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study revealed vallecula and a pyriform sinus remnant, as well as incomplete vocal cord adduction. Subglottic aspiration was observed in the entire examination. The main cause of the dysphagia was attributed to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury during IDET through the right anterior approach at the C6-7 level. In conclusion, even in the case of minimally invasive procedures, the anterior approach may cause neurological damage, such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve. A fter the procedure, it is necessary to observe the patient’s symptoms, consider further evaluations, and perform rehabilitation treatment.

Purpose: : This study identified the factors affecting the clinical competence of emergency unit nurses caring for foreign patients.
Methods: : This study utilized a descriptive correlation design. Participants were 112 emergency unit nurses working in different hospitals designated as the government’s emergency medical centers and agencies in 2018. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: : Subjects’ clinical competence showed positive relationships with cultural competency (r=.45, p<.001) and intercultural communication (r=.53, p<.001). Factors that affect the clinical competence of subjects showed intercultural communication (β=0.38, p=.001).
Conclusion : It is necessary to develop programs to improve intercultural communication, factors that influence clinical competence of emergency unit nurses, and apply them to practical fields.

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical efficacy of Therasonic LTS (piezoelectric type) with that of SDS-5000 (spark gap type) for the management of urinary stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 516 patients treated with Therasonic LTS, between June 1996 and April 2001, and 314 treated with SDS-5000 between September 2001 and January 2003. We compared the average success rates and shock wave sessions according to the stone sizes and locations, and also verified the complications related to the therapies. RESULTS: The total success rates of Therasonic LTS and SDS-5000 were similar (92.6 and 94.6%, respectively), with no difference according to stone location and size. However, the average shock wave sessions were significantly lower in the group treated with SDS-5000 (2.5 1.8 sessions) compared to the group treated with Therasonic LTS (3.1 1.9 sessions) (p<0.05). The cumulative success rates were 64.3 and 77.1%, respectively, at the completion of session 3, and 82.2 and 88.2%, respectively, at the completion of session 5. The complication rates associated with the therapies were 8.9 and 6.9%, respectively, consisting of pain, gross hematuria, steinstrasse and acute pyelonephritis, most of which were successfully controlled by conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SDS-5000 lithotripsy is more efficient than Therasonic LTS in terms of shock wave sessions.
Calculi ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Pyelonephritis ; Shock ; Urinary Calculi* ; Urinary Tract

Most mammalian embryos implant on the uterine endometrium after hatching fromzona pellucida of the expanded blastocyst and pregnancy takes place. The blastocysts produceand control a variety of prostaglandins which activate a few proteolytic enzymes thatdissolve the zona pellucida of the embryos. In the present study, the goal was to investigatethe indomethacin and aspirin(inhibitors of cyclooxygenase pathway which regulates thepathway from arachidonic acid to prostaglandins), which can affect the hatching and implantationof the mouse embryos by the treatment of the different dose level of indomethacinand aspirin in the culture of mouse embryos.The female and male ICR mice, 6~8 weeks and were used for superovulation andmating and M16 was used as a basic culture medium.The above results can be summarized as following:1. Indomethacin seemed to inhibit the development of the mouse embryos and hatchingprocess because of inhibiting or blocking the activation of hatching related enzymes andhigh dose of indomethacin inhibited implantation.2. Aspirin had no effect on the hatching of the embryos at the dose of 0.16 mg/ml.3. FBS seemed to contain a factor which induced outgrowth of the embryo whereasBSA did not and outgrowth did not take place in the BSA contained medium.4. Blastocysts produced enough prostaglandins F2alpha which was needed for thehatching whereas they needed a factor for implantation which might be produced in theendometrium or exuded from the blood.In conclusion the concentration of indomethacin used in the present study inhibithatching of the blastocysts. This seems to be caused by inhibiting the synthesis of theproteins need for hatching. The factor that induce the outgrowth of the blastocysts doesnot seem to be produced in the blastocysts themselves but seem to be present in the FBS.
Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Aspirin ; Blastocyst ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Embryonic Structures ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Pregnancy ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Prostaglandins ; Superovulation ; Zona Pellucida

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare clinical disease in Korea. The authors experienced three cases of the superior mesenteric artery syndrome. All of patients complained of continuos bilious vomiting, epigastric discomfort, epigastric fullness, and weight loss. The superior mesenteric artery syndrome was diagnosed preoperative, by using physical examination, gastrofiberscopy, upper gastrointestinal series, abdominal computerized tomography (CT), and spiral CT angiogram. We performed a Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy. We measured the angle between the aorta and that superior mesenteric artery by using a spiral CT angiogram. The angles were 10o, 11o, and 11o. Postoperatively they were improved. A spiral CT angiogram was a noninvasive method of diagnosing the superior mesenteric artery syndrome compared with a femoral angiography. The Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy was the proper method of treatment for the superior mesenteric artery syndrome.
Angiography ; Aorta ; Humans ; Korea ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Physical Examination ; Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to address the working conditions of home health nurses through a nationwide home health agency survey conducted at hospitals. METHOD: The mail surveys were sent to 303 home health nurses nation wide and returned with a response rate of 71.8%. RESULT: (a) Seventy-five percent of home health agencies were established within the past5 years and half of home health nurses are over 40 years old. (b) Working conditions were considered as follows: Seventy-one percent of respondents were full-time employees, sixty-sixpercent of home health nurses had unscheduled visits on a regular day of duty and forty-eight percent were on vacation. Fifty-one percent of home health nurses have experienced traffic accidents and paid penalties (65.9%). Self-reported monthly income level per year was an average of 28,364,000 won. (c) Rates were significantly higher for shoulder pain (61.5%), lower back pain (54.1%), knee pain (39.4%), and gastrointestinal problems (33.0%). CONCLUSION: These baseline results show the importance of improving home health nursing working conditions, a comprehensive prevention system and safeguards from physical discomfort.
Middle Aged ; Korea ; Humans ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; *Home Care Services ; Home Care Agencies ; Female ; Data Collection ; *Community Health Nursing ; Adult