Envelope glycoprotein 1 (G1) and glycoprotein 2 (G2) of Hantaan (HTN) virus are believed to be major viral antigens that can induce neutralizing immunity against HTN virus infection. The purpose of this study is to clone and express G1 gene in an E. coli expression system. The truncated G1 gene (amino acid residues 35 to 123) of the HTN virus strain 76-118 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 0.28 kb PCR product was cloned into pCR2.1 vector and named as pCGS1. The truncated G1 gene was excised from the pCGS1 and subcloned into the BamHI and SalI sites of pGEX-4T-2 and named pGGS1. The nucleotide sequence of the 0.28 kb truncated G1 gene was determined. It is revealed four non-silent nucleotide substitutions between the published sequence of strain HTN virus strain 76-118 and our stock of HTN virus strain 76-118 (passaged several times in our laboratory). The first G1 mutation was found to constitute an A to G nucleotide substitution, giving raise to an asparagine to serine mutation at residue 64. The second G1 mutation was found to constitute an A to C nucleotide substitution, giving raise to an lysine to threonine mutation at residue 112. The third G1 mutation was found to constitute an A to C nucleotide substitution, giving raise to an lysine to threonine mutation at residue 112. The fourth G1 mutation was found to constitute an G to A nucleotide substitution, giving raise to an glutamic acid to lysine mutation at residue 117. The truncated G1 gene was expressed as a 37 kDa protein fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The GST fusion protein was purified by Glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and reacted with the sera from patients of hemorrhage fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). One of 12 serum samples from HFRS patients was reactive with the 37 kDa fusion protein strongly. Three sera reacted moderately with the fusion protein. Six sera reacted only weakly with the protein, while remaing two were non-reactive. Control sera from patients with scrub typhus leptospirosis, or negative HFRS did not react with the recombinant fusion protein.
Antigens, Viral ; Asparagine ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Clone Cells ; Fever ; Glutamic Acid ; Glutathione ; Glycoproteins* ; Hantaan virus* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Humans ; Leptospirosis ; Lysine ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scrub Typhus ; Sepharose ; Serine ; Threonine

Anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens is a spiral-shaped, gram-negative anaerobic bacterium. A. succiniciproducens is a rare cause of bacteremia in human, especially immunocompromised patients. This organism may be mistakenly identified when using an automated bacterial identification system, and may be mistaken for Campylobacter spp. when using Gram staining. We report a case of bacteremia caused by A. succiniciproducens, which was negative for catalase, oxidase, and urease and confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing (analysis revealed a 99% similarity), in a 69-year-old patient who was undergoing chemotherapy for treatment of a malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of bacteremia caused by A. succiniciproducens in Korea.
Aged ; Anaerobiospirillum ; Bacteremia ; Campylobacter ; Catalase ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Oxidoreductases ; Urease

Background and Objectives: The 10-item Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) is a recently developed questionnaire for assessing both nasal obstruction and nasal cosmetic satisfaction. It is widely used in rhinoplasty clinics based on its high level of reliability and efficacy in Western countries. In this study we evaluated the validity of the Korean version of the SCHNOS (K-SCHNOS).Subjects and Method The SCHNOS was translated into easily-understandable Korean following the guideline of the developers. Twenty-seven patients undergoing rhinoplasty and a control group of 29 non-rhinoplasty patients completed K-SCHNOS twice at intervals of 2 weeks regardless of pre- or postoperative state. The K-SCHNOS was evaluated for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity. Results: Of the 56 study participants, 39 (69.6%) were male and 17 (30.4%) were female, with the mean (standard deviation) age of 33.5 (12.9) years. Both obstructive domain and cosmetic domains showed high internal consistency with their respective Cronbach’α values being 0.92 and 0.91. The correlations in the test-retest analysis for each item were acceptable, ranging from 0.6-0.82. The association between the obstructive domain and cosmetic domain was 0.48 (95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.61), indicating a very weak correlation. Conclusion The K-SCHNOS has proven to be a reliable and valid questionnaire to be used by Korean-speaking patients undergoing functional or cosmetic rhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: DICAM, a dual Ig domain containing adhesion molecule, is involved in cell-cell adhesion through direct interaction with alphavbeta3 integrin. In our previous study showing the inhibitory role of DICAM in osteoclast differentiation, we found that DICAM also has a suppressive role in macrophage, the precursor cell of osteoclast. The role of DICAM in macrophage activation at the inflammatory milieu, however, remains obscure. METHODS: Expression pattern of DICAM by inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied with RAW264.7, a murine macrophage cell line. To study the role of DICAM on macrophage activation, we stably transduced DICAM, or empty vector, into RAW264.7, and then compared the LPS-mediated activation such as spreading and TNF-alpha production. RESULTS: DICAM was abundantly expressed in the synovial tissue of collagen-induced arthritis. When we assessed the expression of DICAM in RAW264.7 cells by mediators of inflammation, inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma, and M-CSF increased the expression of DICAM; however, LPS decreased. Functionally, DICAM that stably transduced-RAW264.7 cells showed attenuation of LPS-mediated macrophage activation including spreading and TNF-alpha production. DICAM decreased the phosphorylation of JNK MAP kinase by M-CSF and LPS stimulation, which was corroborated by a decrease in the expression of ITAM-associated receptors including Trem2, Pira1, and Oscar. Finally, a recombinant ectodomain of DICAM suppressed LPS-induced activation of RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DICAM acts as a negative regulator of LPS-mediated macrophage activation.
Arthritis, Experimental ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; Inflammation Mediators ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Osteoclasts ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Background: Although the consumption of vitamin beverages has increased because of the recent interest in health and beauty, guidelines addressing appropriate consumption habits are lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the erosive potential of several vitamin beverages and to propose guidelines for the appropriate intake of these drinks. Methods: Five vitamin beverages were selected after a pre-investigation of the current beverage market. Coca-Cola and mineral water were selected as the control beverages. The pH of the beverages was measured with a calibrated pH meter, and the titratable acidity (TA) was determined by using 1 M sodium hydroxide to reach pH 5.5 (TA5.5) and 7.0 (TA7.0). The screening method suggested by the International Organization for Standardization was used to measure pH variation (pH) by using an under-saturated hydroxyapatite solution to determine the difference between the initial and final pH of the screening solution. All measurements were performed in triplicate. Results: All vitamin beverages tested in this study exhibited a low pH (2.53∼2.99), similar to Coca-Cola, which is known to be a highly acidic beverage. The highest TA5.5 and TA7.0 values of the vitamin beverages were 7.03 ml and 8.81 ml, respectively. The largest change in pH determined by using the screening solution was found in Bacchus D (pH 1.44±0.05). The mean pH of the vitamin beverages was 1.12±0.29, which was higher than that of Coca-Cola (positive control, pH 0.58±0.05). Conclusion Vitamin beverages exhibited an erosive potential capable of damaging enamel surfaces. Therefore, the frequency of vitamin beverage intake should be limited, and individuals consuming these drinks should try to restore normal oral pH as quickly as possible.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the significance of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in children with allergic diseases and non-allergic inflammatory diseases, and to assess the relationships between serum ECP levels and inflammatory parameters. METHODS: In this study, we included 146 children with allergic diseases, 76 children with non-allergic inflammatory diseases, and 25 control subjects. Serum concentrations of ECP, hs-CRP, total IgE, and allergen-specific IgE were measured. RESULTS: Serum ECP levels (77.5+/-88.2 microg/L) of patients with allergic diseases were significantly higher than those of the patients with non-allergic inflammatory diseases (42.2+/-58.8 microg/L) and control subjects (12.7+/-4.2 microg/L) (P<0.001, respectively). The serum ECP levels in patients with non-allergic inflammatory diseases were also significantly higher than those in the controls (42.2+/-58.8 vs. 12.7+/-4.2 microg/L; P<0.001). The hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in patients with allergic diseases than in the controls (0.4+/-0.9 vs. 0.1+/-0.2 mg/dL; P<0.05). No significant relationship was observed between serum ECP and hs-CRP levels in the allergic patients (r=0.09, P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of serum ECP and hs-CRP concentrations can be helpful in the clinical evaluation and monitoring of patients with allergic diseases. No significant correlation was observed between serum ECP and hs-CRP levels in allergic patients, thereby suggesting that elevated levels of ECP do not necessarily reflect the degree of systemic inflammation in allergic diseases.
C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation

BACKGROUND: The in vivo skin prick test (SPT) or in vitro detection of allergen specific IgE in serum is commonly used for the diagnosis of allergic disease. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of a new multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST) immunoblot assay, Polycheck Allergy (Biocheck GmbH, Germany). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with clinical findings of allergic diseases were tested by SPT and three different MAST assays: Polycheck Allergy (Biocheck GmbH, Germany), MAST CLA allergy system (Hitachi Chemical Diagnostics, USA) and Allergy Screen (R-biopharm, Germany). The results of MAST assays were compared with those of SPT. RESULTS: Concordance rates of MAST assays with SPT were 79-100% for Polycheck Allergy, 88.9-100% for MAST CLA and 72.7-98.3% for Allergy Screen. In ROC curve analysis, significant differences were observed in four of 25 allergens analysed: Alternaria, Birch, Hazelnut and D. farinae. For Alternaria and Birch, Polycheck Allergy (P<0.001) and Allergy Screen (P=0.0075) showed significantly larger AUC (area under the curve) than MAST CLA. For Hazelnut, Polycheck Allergy (P=0.0021), and for D. farinae, MAST CLA (P=0.015) showed significantly larger AUCs than the other two tests. The ROC analysis for overall 16 food allergens showed better results in Polycheck Allergy (P<0.001), and that for overall 21 inhalants did not show significant differences among three MAST assays (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Since Polycheck Allergy showed similar or superior result to the others, it can be used for the detection of allergen specific IgE antibodies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens/*immunology ; Area Under Curve ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*diagnosis ; Immunoblotting/*methods ; Immunoglobulin E/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests/methods

OBJECTIVE: Experiencing traumatic events in childhood is related to various psychiatric problems in adulthood, and a comprehensive tool for measuring childhood trauma is necessary in this field. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties, and factor structure of the Korean version of the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF). ETISR-SF measures the childhood trauma, including physical, and emotional sexual abuse, as well as general traumas. METHODS: A clinical and nonclinical samples comprising of 97 subjects from a local community, and 207 patients with the ETISR-SF, were assessed. Other tools, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to assess clinical symptoms. Additional data from 69 college students was used to examine the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The original four-factor model was supported by the confirmatory factor analysis scale [chi2 (351, n=304)=3374.025, p<0.001, TLI=0.969, CFI=0.972, RMSEA=0.030]. The ETISR-SF was found to be a reliable instrument (Cronbach's alpha=0.869). Comparison of the ETISR-SF scores discriminated the clinical group from that of the control group. The measure showed good convergent and divergent validity, in that the scores were correlated higher with the scores on the CTQ-SF (0.691) than with the scores on the BDI or BAI (0.424, 0.397 respectively). The ETISR-SF was found to be temporally stable, showing the moderate to high correlation (0.844). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the Korean version of the ETISR-SF appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of reported childhood trauma.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Psychometrics ; Sex Offenses

BACKGROUND: Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels are known markers of growth hormone (GH) secretion. The clinical utility of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 testing, however, remains controversial. The aims of this study were to evaluate the usefulness of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 as indicators of GH secretion through the GH stimulation test and to investigate whether a decrease in serum IGF-I levels in children with short stature, regardless of the cause, can be used as a screening test for short stature. METHODS: A total of 262 children presented with short stature, precocious puberty, or premature thelarche and were grouped into 7 tiers based on the 2007 growth chart. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels and GH stimulation were analyzed using an immunoradiometric assay, and the data from 68 children who were below the 3rd percentile for height were used to evaluate the usefulness of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 as markers of GH status. RESULTS: GH deficiency was confirmed by the GH stimulation test in 25 of the 68 children, and 15 (15/25, 60%) and 4 (4/25, 16%) of them showed a decrease in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting GH secretion were 60% and 16%, respectively, for IGF-1 and 41.9% and 97.7%, respectively, for IGFBP-3. Decreased serum IGF-I levels were more frequently observed in children below the 25th percentile than in those in the 25th to 95th percentiles. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels have been used as a screening tool for GH secretion in children with short stature, but based on the results of the GH stimulation test in the current study, the levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 might not be useful as markers of GH secretion. Evaluating serum IGF-I levels alone is not a sufficient screening test for children with a short stature.
Child* ; Growth Charts ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Immunoradiometric Assay ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Mass Screening ; Puberty, Precocious ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: The simple renal cyst is the most prevalent cystic deformation in adults and is most of them are incidentally found during medical examination. In this study, the clinical differences were compared between simple renal cyst and control groups diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography during periodic medical examination. METHODS: We randomly selected 2,277 persons who took medical examination in one general hospital health promotion center. Among them, analysis was conducted for 188 subjects with simple renal cyst and 188 subjects without renal cyst whose sex, age, and body mass index were matched. Renal cyst subjects were compared with control group to search for their relationship with hypertension, renal function and microscopic hematuria, past medical history, social history, results of other abdominal ultrasonography findings, urine test, and blood test. RESULTS: Among 2,213 subjects, simple renal cyst was found in 188 subjects (8.5%). The subjects who had more than three simple renal cysts were significant older (P = 0.05) and the oldest age was 70's. Also, higher hypertension prevalence (P = 0.05), more microscopic hematuria, higher serum creatinine (P = 0.02), and lower glomerular filtration rate (P < 0.01) were observed in simple renal cyst group. CONCLUSION: It is needed to survey size, shape and change of simple renal cyst using abdominal ultrasonography as well as how its progression may be related to developing hypertension, decreased renal function and microscopic hematuria.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Promotion ; Hematuria ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Renal ; Prevalence