A 40-yr-old buddhist monk was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, fever, and confusion. He had a history of drinking untreated mountain spring water in his temple, and experienced the above symptoms for several days before admission. In past medical history, he had suffered from hepatic cirrhosis. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was isolated from his blood and ascitic fluid. The mountain spring water that he had ingested was cultivated and Y. pseudotuberculosis was also isolated. For identification of pathogenic Y. pseudotuberculosis, each isolate from the three sources (blood, ascitic fluid, and drinking water) was also analysed for the inv gene for Y. pseudotuberculosis and the virF gene for virulent plasmid by PCR. All strains were positive for both the virF and the inv genes and also positive for autoagglutination test. For relationship study, each isolate from the three sources was also analysed with serotyping and restriction endonuclease analysis of virulence plasmid DNA (REAP) using BamHI. All belonged to the serotype 4b and REAP pattern D. Thus, all these findings supported that the mountain spring water was the source of the Y. pseudotuberculosis infection in this case.
Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics ; Adult ; Agglutination Tests ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; Feces/microbiology ; Food ; Human ; Male ; Plasmids ; Restriction Mapping ; Septicemia/diagnosis/microbiology ; Serotyping ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; *Water Supply ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections/*diagnosis/*transmission

The use of PCs can cause health problems, including musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper limbs. This study was performed to investigate whether using PCs in PC game rooms may induce MSDs of the upper limbs. 284 young male Koreans were included. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to gather information about game room use, perceived subjective stress, and the symptoms related to MSDs. Urinary concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine were measured in spot urine. The symptom prevalence of MSDs of the upper limbs increased according to the increase of the duration of game room use. The intensity of perceived subjective stress showed a significant dose-response relationship with the frequency of MSDs symptoms in neck and shoulder areas. However, the urinary level of catecholamines was not significantly correlated with the symptom prevalence of MSDs in the upper limbs. These findings suggest that using PCs in game rooms produce physical stress on the upper limbs, strong enough to induce MSDs.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arm ; Catecholamines/*urine ; Dopamine/urine ; Epinephrine/urine ; Human ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/*epidemiology/etiology/urine ; Norepinephrine/urine ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Stress, Psychological/complications/*epidemiology/urine ; Video Games/*adverse effects

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is expressed on vascular endothelial cells and its expression increases during the inflammatory response in patients with active Behcet's disease (BD). The ICAM1 gene mutations are associated with BD in Caucasians, but clinical features of the mutation phenotype are unknown. We analyzed ICAM1 polymorphisms in Korean BD patients to determine if there was an association between particular mutations and clinical symptoms. The prevalence of ICAM1R241G and ICAM1K469E polymorphisms was determined among 197 patients with BD and 248 healthy controls using BsrG1 and BstU1 PCR-RFLP. The frequency of both genotypes ICAM1469 * K/ * E and ICAM-1469 * E/ * E was significantly higher in BD patients compared with controls (66.0% vs 52.4%, p=0.004, OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.08-1.50) and the allele frequency of ICAM1469 * E was higher in patients with skin lesions (0.41), genital ulcers (0.41), vasculitis (0.43), ocular lesions (0.41) and arthritis (0.39) than in controls (0.31). Only one heterozygote, ICAM1241G/R, was detected in BD patients but the ICAM1241 * R mutation was not found in any of the 248 healthy controls. These results show that the ICAM1 mutation is associated with BD susceptibility, and is another genetic risk factor for BD among the Korean population.
Adult ; Behcet Syndrome/ethnology/*genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology ; Human ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/*genetics ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

Current and primary treatment modality in overactive bladder includes the administration of anticholinergics. The demand for new agents has been rising since anticholinergics have proven to come with many side effects. This study was designed to investigate the effects of ylang-ylang essential oil (YYEO) on the relaxation of urinary bladder muscle in vitro and in vivo. Effects of YYEO were assessed on resting tension, and electrical field stimulation- and various drug-induced contraction in vitro by checking the isometric tension changes of muscle strips and same procedures were repeated in the presence of methylene blue, Nw-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), or N-ethylmaleimide, and in vivo. YYEO decreased significantly the contractility of strips. There was no statistically significant difference between the treated group only with YYEO and the pretreated group with YYEO and methylene blue or L-NAME. When N-ethylmaleimide was employed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of contraction. In vivo studies showed the same results compared with in vitro study. The results of this study indicate that YYEO has a relaxing effect on the bladder, and such mechanism is thought to be brought about by a pathway mediated by c-AMP.
Animals ; *Annonaceae ; Bladder/*drug effects/physiology ; Bladder, Neurogenic/drug therapy ; Blood Pressure/drug effects ; In Vitro ; Male ; Muscle Contraction/drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth/drug effects/physiology ; Oils, Volatile/*pharmacology ; Plant Preparations/*pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Placental development requires extensive angiogenesis and the invasion of the maternal decidua by the trophoblasts. Adequate and organized interaction of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), placenta growth factors (PlGF), and their receptors are essential for a normal development and function of the placenta. In this study, we evaluated the expressions of PlGFs and their receptors, mRNAs by Northern blotting, in situ hybridization and RT-PCR in the normal and pregnancy-induced hypertensive (PIH) placentas. The expression level of PlGF-2 mRNA was lower in the PIH placentas compared to control as assessed by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. PlGF mRNA was mainly localized to the vasculosyncytial membrane of placental villi and villous stroma. The expression of PlGF receptor-1 (PlGFR-1) was significantly increased in the PIH placentas compared to the normal ones. These results suggest that the alteration of PlGF-2 and PlGFR-1 mRNA expressions in the placenta are related to the pathogenesis of PIH.
Female ; Gene Expression ; Human ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Placenta/*physiology ; Pre-Eclampsia/*physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Proteins/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1/genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/genetics

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and clinical outcome of de novo chromosomal aberrations retrospectively and provide useful data for genetic counseling in the prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis. We found 17 cases of de novo chromosomal aberrations in 5,501 cases of prenatal cytogenetic analysis and reviewed the karyotype, further study, medical records, fetal ultrasound findings and clinical outcomes. Out of the 17 de novo chromosomal aberrations, 5 had balanced reciprocal translocations and 12 had unbalanced translocations characterized as deletion, addition, or marker. In the case of the five balanced reciprocal translocations, 3 cases without abnormal ultrasound findings were carried to term after comprehensive genetic counseling. Neonates were phenotypically normal and clinical examinations were normal. Two cases with abnormal ultrasound findings were terminated therapeutically. Twelve cases of unbalanced translocations were terminated except one case with a mosaic marker chromosome. High resolution fetal ultrasound and detailed cytogenetic and molecular study will be adjunctive tools for predicting the karyotype/phenotype correlations of fetuses with de novo chromosomal aberrations, although they have limitation to find all phenotypic effects.
*Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Fetal Diseases/epidemiology/*genetics/ultrasonography ; *Genetic Counseling ; Human ; Incidence ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Translocation (Genetics) ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Biliary atresia is a progressive obliterative cholangiopathy, but the etiology of this disorder remains uncertain. Identifying genes specifically expressed in biliary atresia and analyzing the pattern of expression may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis. Liver tissues were taken from a recipient with biliary atresia and a normal donor during liver transplantation. Total RNA was extracted from each sample and reversely transcribed to cDNA. Then radiolabeled cDNA probe pools were made by random primed DNA labeling method and used for screening of differentially expressed genes by hybridizing with expressed sequence tags (EST) dot blot panel. Northern blot hybridization was done to confirm that these genes are also differentially expressed in other liver tissues. Among 1,730 EST clones, 26 cDNA clones were significantly overexpressed in biliary cirrhosis, while 2 clones were significantly decreased in biliary atresia. By Northern blot hybridization, the results of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and IGFBP-2 were well correlated with differential EST screening (DES). This study identified the pattern of differentially expressed genes in the biliary cirrhosis due to biliary atresia using DES technique.
Biliary Atresia/*genetics ; Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression Profiling/*methods ; Gene Library ; Human ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 2/genetics ; Tissue-Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/genetics

The high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) phenotype, frequently identified in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also accounts for approximately 15% of sporadic colorectal cancers. Microsatellite instability (MSI) occurs from the mutational inactivation of the DNA mismatch repair genes, i.e. hMSH2 and hMLH1 in HNPCC, as well as from epigenetic inactivation of hMLH1 in sporadic colorectal tumors. The mutator pathway including microsatellite instability, hMLH1 promoter methylation, and hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutation patterns were identified in 21 sporadic colorectal adenocarcinoma patients younger than 30 yr excluding HNPCC. More than half of tumors showed MSI, with five MSI-H and six MSI-L (low-frequency microsatellite instability). Three of six MSI-H tumors showed the hMLH1 promoter methylation and did not express the hMLH1 protein. On the other hand, all MSI-L and all MSS (microsatellite stable) tumors expressed both hMSH2 and hMLH1 proteins. Two novel mutations, i.e. a missense mutation in hMLH1 and a splice-site alteration in hMSH2, were identified in two patients respectively. Although mutator pathway was implicated in younger-age-onset colorectal carcinogenesis, many tumors appeared to evolve from different genetic events other than hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutations frequently identified in HNPCC.
Adenocarcinoma/*genetics ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Repair/genetics ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Mutation, Missense ; Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; Prospective Studies ; Proteins/*genetics ; Registries

We investigated whether the production and gene expression of Gro-alpha and RANTES in Kawasaki disease differ in measles. Forty-two samples from 14 patients in different clinical stages of Kawasaki disease, eight samples from 8 patients in the acute stage of measles and seven samples from 7 healthy children were collected. The present study was performed using ELISA and RT-PCR for the productions and gene expression of the chemokines. The production of Gro-alpha was markedly elevated during the acute stage of measles compared with Kawasaki disease. Moreover, the expression of Gro-alpha was increased in every case of measles, but not in Kawasaki disease. The production of RANTES was elevated in the acute stage of both diseases when compared to the healthy control. However, the plasma RANTES level did not change significantly according to the clinical stages of Kawasaki disease. A correlation between the production and gene expression of RANTES and Gro-alpha was not found in Kawasaki disease. These results suggest that Kawasaki disease differs from measles with regard to Gro-alpha production and expression, but not RANTES. Gro-alpha might play an important role in the acute stage of measles, however not in Kawasaki disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of Gro-alpha as a marker in measles.
Biological Markers ; Chemokines/blood/*genetics ; Chemotactic Factors/blood/*genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Gene Expression/immunology ; Human ; Infant ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/blood/*genetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*physiology ; Male ; Measles/*immunology/physiopathology ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/*immunology/physiopathology ; RANTES/blood/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/analysis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells for the induction and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We tested whether bone marrow derived DCs are capable of inducing protective immunity against a murine lymphoma (A20). DCs were grown from tumor-bearing BALB/c mice by culturing bone marrow cells. BALB/c mice were injected (sc) with A20 cells on day 0. Intraperitoneal immunization with DCs mixed with lethally irradiated A20 cells were started when the tumor reached ca. 4-5 mm in diameter (Group A) or on day -7 (Group B). Booster immunizations were given every 3-4 days for four weeks. By 31 days in group A, there was a significant reduction in tumor growth in the mice immunized with DCs mixed with irradiated A20 cells as compared with the control groups (p=0.016). In group B, tumor growth was completely inhibited and there was no tumor growth following extended observations after completion of immunization. Thus, DCs mixed with irradiated tumor cells can induce an antitumor effect. This provides a rationale for the use of DCs mixed with irradiated tumor cells in immunotherapy for minimal residual disease of lymphomas.
Animals ; Apoptosis/immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells/immunology ; Cell Division/immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells/*immunology/transplantation ; Female ; Immunization/*methods ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma/*immunology/pathology/*therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology