Hantavirus is a genus of the Bunyaviridae family causing two serious diseases, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Puumala virus is a member of hantavirus originally found in Europe, and its natural reservoir is Clethrionomys glareolus. It is also associated with the hurnan disease nephropathia epidemica, a milder form of HFRS. To identify the hantaviruses in bats, bats were collected from Jeong-Sun, Won-Joo, Chung-Ju and Hwa-Cheon area in Korea, and nested RT-PCR was performed with serotype specific primer from M segment. Interestingly, Puumala virus was detected in bats (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum) only from Won-Joo. The 327 bp nested RT-PCR product, was sequenced. The sequence database search indicates that the sequence is homologous to the published sequence of Puumala viruses. The sequence similarities were ranged from 71% to 97%. The highest sequence similarity was 97% with Puumala virus Vranicam strain, and the lowest was 71% with Puumala virus K27 isolate. Puumala virus Vranicam strain was isolated from a bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Puumala virus K27 was isolated from human in Russia. This analysis confirms that bats (Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum) in Korea are natural reservoir of Puumala virus.
Arvicolinae ; Base Sequence ; Bunyaviridae ; Chiroptera* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Europe ; Hantavirus ; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Korea* ; Puumala virus* ; Russia ; Sequence Analysis*

Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal dominant dominant disorder of mid-life onset, is characterized by progressive involuntary choreiform movement, psychological change and dementia. We present here one case of Huntington's disease, who was admitted at Seoul National University Hospital from 2nd Oct. to 16 Oct. 1985.
Chorea ; Dementia ; Huntington Disease ; Seoul

Human wart diseases are benign skin tumors caused by viruses of the papova group which usually affect children and almost always regress until adulthood. Various therapeutic modalities have been tried for the treatment of warts, however there is no single satisfactory method and the clinical course as well as the prognosis is always variable. The spontaneous regression of warts may represent an increase in the activity of host immune responses. Recent studies have tended to confirm that serum antiviral antihodies and cellular immune responses occur in relation to regression of warts, but there is no convincing evidence of a correlation between the appmrance of immune responses and resolution of the warts. BCG and some of similar extra,cts have becn known to be capable of initiating a wide range of non-specific immune reactions to cancerous diseases. The aim of the present investigation has been to study no-specific irnmune response of Tubercin-3 in patients with svarts, based on the findings that RCG and some of similar extracts were found to be a potent reticuloendothelial stimulant. Taventy casee attending a, dermatolo-ical out-ptient department consists of eight verrua plana juvenilis, seven verruca vulgaris, one verruca plxntaris and four molluscurn contagiosum were trezted with Tubercin-R. The results revealed complete cure in six(37. 5.) and clinical improvemeat in nine. (56. %) of sixteen cases of various warts, and one of four czses of molluscum contagiosurn showed a slight decrea,se in size and nu!nber of the lesions. There is no eviclence of a correlation among the age of patient, type of verruca and therapeutic effect. On the basis of our findings, we can state that non-specific immune response of BCG .and some of similar extracts may be facilitate the involution of warts. The relationship of thes immune respons to the involution of warts clezrly require further study.
Child ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Warts*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Entecavir is a synthetic nucleoside analogue, cyclopentyl guanine nucleoside, which has a potent antiviral effect and the least viral breakthrough in hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. Entecavir has been available in Korea since 2007 but there are few reports on its effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virological response (VR) and biochemical response (BR) to entecavir in HBV patients at 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment with entecavir. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who took entecavir for at least 9 months were enrolled. We investigated VR and BR by retrospectively reviewing medical records. Patients who satisfied the following criteria were chosen: 1) initial alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels = 1.5upper limit of normal (ULN) and 2) initial HBV DNA levels = 5 log10 copies/ml. We measured ALT levels every 3 months until month 9. HBV DNA was measured every 2 or 3 months by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Most patients taking entecavir showed good BR (ALT < 40 IU/L). The BR rates were 61%, 73% and 67% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. VR (HBV DNA < 5 log(10) copies/ml or 2 log lower than initial HBV DNA) rates were 82%, 91% and 91% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Undetectable HBV DNA (HBV DNA < 4 log(10) copies/ml) rates were 49%, 73% and 85% at months 3, 6 and 9, respectively. Two patients presented with virological breakthrough without adverse effects until month 9. CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir showed good BR and VR from month 3 and these effects continued through the 9-month observation period. This suggests that entecavir is also a good choice for the first line treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Further studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy and drug resistance of entecavir in Korean CHB patients.
Alanine Transaminase ; DNA ; Drug Resistance ; Guanine ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies

In order to elucidate mechanisms of Ca++ antagonistic action of kanamycin in the biological system, the effects of kanamycin on Ca++ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle and liver mitochondria were studied. At the same time, the effect of the agent on Bowditch and Woodworth phenomena of rabbit heart as well as the superprecipitation of actomyosin isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle were studied. Since kanamycin inhibits the Bowditch staircase phenomena in rabbit cardiac muscle, it is speculated that kanamycin inhibits Ca++ influx across the cell membrane which is required for the muscular contraction. Kanamycin also inhibits the Woodworth staircase phenomena, indicating a decrease in size of the Ca++ pool in cardiac muscle which may be brought about by an inhibition of Ca++ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Actually, kanamycin was found to inhibit both the activities of Ca++ activated adenosine triphosphatases (ATPase) and Ca++ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Kanamycin also inhibits both the development of superprecipitation and the activity of Ca++activated ATPase of skeletal actomyosin in rabbits. From the results obtained above, it may be concluded that kanamycin possesses a Ca++ antagonistic action in the biological system.
Animal ; Calcium/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Kanamycin/pharmacology* ; Mitochondria, Liver/metabolism ; Muscles/metabolism ; Myocardium/metabolism ; Rabbits

The cystic mesothelioma is a very rare tumor which has a clinically and histologically benign nature. Here in reported is the case of a cystic mesothelioma presented as a palpable mass of the inguinal area in a 28-year-old male. Ultrasound showed a cystic tumor at the inguinal canal, and the other physical and laboratory examinations were within normal limits. Grossly, the tumor consisted of cysts containing clear serous fluid and focally solid areas. Microscopically, the tumor was encapsulated with fibrocollagenous wall, and the tumor cells were cuboidal or polygonal epithelial cells with single or multiple layers and had clear cytoplasm. Some areas showed thyroid follicle-like structures. The content of follicle-like structures showed eosinophilia in the H&E section, but positive in mucin stain. Neither cytologic atypia nor mitoses were present. Immunohistochemical staining revealed positive reaction for keratins of low molecular weight, while negative for the thyroglobulin and CEA. These findings suggested mesothelial in origin. We concluded that this tumor was primary rather than metastatic, because he had no evidence of a tumor in gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts and scrotum.
Adult ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophilia ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; Male ; Mesothelioma, Cystic* ; Mitosis ; Molecular Weight ; Mucins ; Scrotum ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: V. parahaemolyticus, an important seafood-borne pathogen, is the causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of the thermostable hemolysin (tdh) gene and the tdh-related hemolysin (trh) gene were investigated, and as many as 72 different O:K serovar combinations were determined from diarrheal patients and environmental sources in Gyeongbuk provinceas during the 2000-2001. METHODS: A total of 50 strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from diarrheal patients and environmental sources were analyzed for the tdh gene and trh gene. The strains were analyzed for kanagawa phenomenon (KP) with the wagatsuma blood agar medium test. Furthermore, the strains belonging to O and K serotypes were determined. DNA sequence determination of the tdh gene were verified using GenBank and analyzed. RESULTS: In the KP experiments of V. parahaemolyticus, 80% of the strains isolated from diarrheal patients showed positive, but all of the strains isolated from environment sources were negative The distribution of O and K serotypes were O3:K29, O3:K6, and O3:K31, atc. isolated from diarrheal patients, and O2:K28, O3:K29, and 04:K34 atc. isolated from environmental sources. As for the tdh and trh gene of V. parahaemolyticus, the tdh gene was detected from 88.0% of diarrheal patients and 16.0% of environmental sources. The trh gene was not detected from diarrheal patients and 8.0 % of environmental sources, whereas all urease positive strains possessed the trh gene. The DNA sequence of tdh gene were verified using GenBank and analyzed the difference, tdh nucleotide sequence was found among the V. parahaemolyticus. CONCLUSION: V. parahaemolyticus is distributed with high frequency in the environmental sources such as sea water, fishes and shellfishes sampled at the Gyeongbuk coastal area, and the O3:K6 strains producing TDH were confirmed, which is prevalent throughout the world, from diarrheal patients. Thus, it is very important to establish a measure to prevent food poisoning by V. parahaemolyticus.
Agar ; Base Sequence ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Fishes ; Foodborne Diseases ; Gastroenteritis ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Seawater ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Shellfish ; Urease ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio* ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*

BACKGROUND: V. parahaemolyticus, an important seafood-borne pathogen, is the causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of the thermostable hemolysin (tdh) gene and the tdh-related hemolysin (trh) gene were investigated, and as many as 72 different O:K serovar combinations were determined from diarrheal patients and environmental sources in Gyeongbuk provinceas during the 2000-2001. METHODS: A total of 50 strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from diarrheal patients and environmental sources were analyzed for the tdh gene and trh gene. The strains were analyzed for kanagawa phenomenon (KP) with the wagatsuma blood agar medium test. Furthermore, the strains belonging to O and K serotypes were determined. DNA sequence determination of the tdh gene were verified using GenBank and analyzed. RESULTS: In the KP experiments of V. parahaemolyticus, 80% of the strains isolated from diarrheal patients showed positive, but all of the strains isolated from environment sources were negative The distribution of O and K serotypes were O3:K29, O3:K6, and O3:K31, atc. isolated from diarrheal patients, and O2:K28, O3:K29, and 04:K34 atc. isolated from environmental sources. As for the tdh and trh gene of V. parahaemolyticus, the tdh gene was detected from 88.0% of diarrheal patients and 16.0% of environmental sources. The trh gene was not detected from diarrheal patients and 8.0 % of environmental sources, whereas all urease positive strains possessed the trh gene. The DNA sequence of tdh gene were verified using GenBank and analyzed the difference, tdh nucleotide sequence was found among the V. parahaemolyticus. CONCLUSION: V. parahaemolyticus is distributed with high frequency in the environmental sources such as sea water, fishes and shellfishes sampled at the Gyeongbuk coastal area, and the O3:K6 strains producing TDH were confirmed, which is prevalent throughout the world, from diarrheal patients. Thus, it is very important to establish a measure to prevent food poisoning by V. parahaemolyticus.
Agar ; Base Sequence ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Fishes ; Foodborne Diseases ; Gastroenteritis ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Seawater ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Shellfish ; Urease ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio* ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*

It Is known that free radical is produced by many environmental factors and leads to a variety of pathophysiological lesions often resulting in metabolic Impairment and cell death. Many researches have been performed to limit production of the tree radical. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been known to cure of disease relevant to oxygen poisoning. The bis-carboxylethylgemanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) has been suggested to show scavenging activity to precent oxygen damage from lesions. In this study, bioeffects of SOD and Ge-132 for dismutation and scavenging ol the harmful free radical were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats exposed to the hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 100% oxygen) and hyperbaric ambient air (HAA) under 3.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 180 minutes. When rats were treated with SOD alone anti SOD plus Ge-132 after exposed to HBO, concentrations of potassium and sodium tended to significantly decrease to those in control at levels of p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively. In contrast, when rats were treated with the SOD only and the SOD only Ge-132 after HBO exposure, creatine phosphokinase significantly increased to the normal level in control. To see whether the SOD anti SOD plus Ge-132 could heal lesions due 4o the tree radicals, rats were exposed to the HBO environment and treated with the SOD alone and SOD plus Ge-132 and then those lung tissues were histopathologically observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Lung In exposure to the HAA environment was congested and its alveolar sac was filled with several erythrocytes. Lung to the HBO environment was filled with more erythrocytes than in the HAA. In addition, there were severe lesions of cellular necrosis, hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory leucocytes. When rats in exposure to HBO were treated with SOD alone or SOD plus Ge-132, no pathological changes in the lung were observed in comparison with control group. These data indicated that the Ge-132 may synergistically Influence the SOD to remove the tree radicals harmful to tissue.
Animals ; Atmosphere ; Cell Death ; Creatine Kinase ; Erythrocytes ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Hemorrhage ; Lung ; Necrosis ; Oxygen* ; Poisoning ; Potassium ; Rats* ; Sodium ; Superoxide Dismutase

BACKGROUND: Pamidronate is a potent inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Recently, the drug has been known to relieve bone pain. We hypothesized that direct epidural administration of pamidronate could have various advantages over oral administration with respect to dosage, side effects, and efficacy. Therefore, we evaluated the neuronal safety of epidurally-administered pamidronate. METHODS: Twenty-seven rats weighing 250-350 g were equally divided into 3 groups. Each group received an epidural administration with either 0.3 ml (3.75 mg) of pamidronate (group P), 0.3 ml of 40% alcohol (group A), or 0.3 ml of normal saline (group N). A Pinch-toe test, motor function evaluation, and histopathologic examination of the spinal cord to detect conditions such as chromatolysis, meningeal inflammation, and neuritis, were performed on the 2nd, 7th, and 21st day following administration of each drug. RESULTS: All rats in group A showed an abnormal response to the pinch-toe test and decreased motor function during the entire evaluation period. Abnormal histopathologic findings, including neuritis and meningeal inflammation were observed only in group A rats. Rats in group P, with the exception of 1, and group N showed no significant sensory/motor dysfunction over a 3-week observation period. No histopathologic changes were observed in groups P and N. CONCLUSIONS: Direct epidural injection of pamidronate (about 12.5 mg/kg) showed no neurotoxic evidence in terms of sensory/motor function evaluation and histopathologic examination.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Diphosphonates ; Inflammation ; Injections, Epidural ; Neuritis ; Neurons ; Rats ; Spinal Cord