In this study, the feasibility of identification and genotypic differentiation of enteroviruses was investigated by using nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR), single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. Two hundred seventy-four clinical samples were assayed by both nested RT-PCR and tube culture method using MRC-5 and MK cells; 58 (86.6%) out of 67 enterovirus culture-positive samples contained enteroviral RNA. In addition, 114 (55.1%) of 207 samples from patients with suspected enteroviral CNS disease with negative viral cultures were positive by the nested RT-PCR. The nested RT-PCR products were genotyped by the SSCP method and the results were compared with serotypes. We could differentiate 6 subtypes, 3 of which are similar to coxsackievirus B3, B5, echovirus 11, plus 3 other subtypes. RFLP cleaved with Sty I, Bgl I, and Xmn I yielded characteristic patterns for each laboratory strains. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the RT-PCR for the rapid diagnosis of enterovirus infection and the potentials of the SSCP method for differentiation of enterovirus strains.
Central Nervous System Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; RNA

No abstract available.
Gangwon-do* ; Humans

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)has proved to be a valuable method for evaluation of the head and neck. Unfortunately, metallic devices associated with certain dental fillings and applicances often cause variable artifacts that can obscure normal or pathologic conditions on MR and computed tomography. In this work, we assessed the MR appearance of dental prosthetic materials in vitro and in vivo including precious alloys. Nonprecions alloys, resin, amalgam and titanium alloy, For in vivo studies, these materials were placed in healthy volunteer's mouths and then images were assesed. Analyis of the appearance of shape and extent of artifact,and observed influence of these artifacts on the image interpretation at 0.2 Tesla permanent type MR scanner were valuated. Material used as temporary or permanent filling of crowns such as amalgam. precious alloy and, microfilled resin did not cause artifact on the image. The size of the artifact produced by the nonprecious alloys was influenced by the ferromagnetism of the object and the volume prosthesis, and was related to the scanning sequence. Nonprecious alloys produced minimal local signal distortions, where precious alloys, and dental resin had no effect on the MR image in vivo. These results were mainly from a low field strength MR scanner used in this study.
Alloys ; Artifacts* ; Crowns ; Dental Materials* ; Equidae ; Head ; In Vitro Techniques ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Magnets ; Methods ; Mouth ; Neck ; Prostheses and Implants ; Resins, Synthetic ; Silicone Elastomers ; Titanium

No abstract available.
Disasters*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the location of cystic lesions in the greater tuberosity of the humerus and the relationship to rotator cuff tears and age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 78 patients (age range, 19-82 years; mean age, 51 years) who underwent arthroscopy or open surgery after MR arthrography (MRA) for a painful shoulder were enrolled in the study. The location of the cystic lesions were classified as 'A' for a supraspinatus insertion site, as 'C' for an infraspinatus insertion site, as 'B' for both a supraspinatus and infraspinatus insertion site, as 'BG' for a site posterior to the bicipital groove and as 'P' for a site at the bare area of the humeral head. The location of cystic lesions and supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears were evaluated on MRA. Statistical analyses used the chi-squared test and logistic regression. RESULTS: 'BG' and 'A' cystic lesions were related to the presence of a supraspinatus tear, 'C' cystic lesions were related to the presence of an infraspinatus tear and 'B' cystic lesions were related to the presence of both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears (p < 0.05). 'P' cystic lesions were not related to the presence of rotator cuff tears. The incidence of cystic lesions increased with age, but with no statistical correlation. CONCLUSION: Cystic lesions at the supraspinatus and infraspinatus insertion sites are useful to predict the presence of a rotator cuff tear, but cystic lesions were not age related.
Age Factors ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) has brought an oppotunity for rapid detection of Mycobacterium leprae in clinical pecimens for the diagnosis of leprosy. Th DNA segment specific to M. leprae was detectable in a matteir of hours and DNA from one orgnisa appeared positive by PCR. However, the PCR tool has not been evaluated using elinical specimeriis from leprosy patients and controls. OBJECTIVE & METHODS: The primers amplifying 372bp segment of rebetitive sequence of M. leprae DNA were used in PCR. Skin biopsy specimens from 102 leprosy patient, and controls were examined for the presence of M. leprae by PCR and the results were aomared with microscopic and histopathologic findings. RESULTS: 1. As a result, of PCR after DNA preparation of M. leprae, six other mycobacteria, ten other bacteria, and skin from leprosy with five other skin biopsy tissues, 372bp DNA fragment was specifically amplified from M. leprae. 2. Dot blot, hybridization of PCR products showed that the 372bp DNA from skin biopsy specimens were derived from M. leprae. 3. As a result of PCR after DNA preparation of 10-fold diluted M. legrae from mouse footpad, PCR gave a positive result as low as one organism. 4. Of 87 specimens in which acid-fast bacilli were found under microcopic examinations 97% had positive PCR results. 5. Of 97 specimens which hadihistopathologic evidences of leprosy 95% had positive PCR results. 6. Of 15 specimens in which acid-fast bacilli were not found under n!icroscopic examinations 73% had positive PCR results. In three of five cases which had neither histopathologic nor microscopic evidences of leprosy had positive PCR results. CONCLUSION: PCR method amplifying 372bp fragment of repetitive seqi,ence was highly sensitive and specific in detecting M. leprae DNA in skin biopsy specimens, thus may be a useful tool as an additive diagnostic method, espcially for cases where microscopic antihystopathologic findings are not definite.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Mice ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Skin*

The authors studied paranoid ideation and obsession, using Derogatis' SCL-90, in the subjects of 2,564 male and 1,252 female college freshmen of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of Self-Rating Paranoid ideation and Obsession Scale during the periods from January to February, 1987, and applied ANOVA and t-test on paranoid ideation and obsession scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results are as follows: 1. There was not significant difference in the mean averages of total paranoid ideation scores between male and female students: male students scored 4.16±3.09, female students scored 4.16±2.91. 2. High scored items were delusion and suspiciousness. 3. Fifty-nine male students (2.3%) showed high paranoid ideation scores of 12 or higher, while twenty-six female students (2.1%) showed the same scores. 4. There was strong tendency toward higher paranoid ideation scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their home atmosphere, college, department and familiarity of parents and those who had pessimistic view of self in the past, present or future in both group (respectively P<0.001). The male students who believed protestantism showed higher level of paranoid ideation scores (P<0.01). The male students who attended the department of fine art showed higher level of paranoid ideation scores (P<0.05). 5. There was significant difference in the mean averages of total obsession scores between male and female students (P<0.05): male students scored 10.40±5.43, female students scored 10.75±5.02 6. High scored items were perfectionism, indecisiveness, inattention & obsessive thoughts. 7. Thirty-eight male students (1.6%) showed high obsession scores of 25 or higher, while fifteen female students (1.2%) showed the same scores. 8. There was strong tendency toward higher obsession scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their home atmosphere, college, department and familiarity of parents and those who had pessimistic view of self in the past, present, or future in both group (respectively P<0.001). The female students who attended the department of home economic & whose educational fees were paid by her brothers & sister, showed higher level of obsession scores (respectively P<0.01).
Atmosphere ; Delusions ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obsessive Behavior* ; Parents ; Protestantism ; Psychology ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Siblings

No abstract available.
Autoantibodies* ; Humans ; Nervous System* ; Trauma, Nervous System*

OBJECTIVE: 6-Gingerol, one component of ginger (Zingiber officinale) compound, has been known to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-emetic, and anti-cancer effects. In this study, the apoptotic ability of 6-gingerol was investigated in human prostate cancer cells. METHODS: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis were done in LNCaP human prostate cancer cell lines treated with the various doses of 6-gingerol for the different durations of drug exposure. RESULTS: 6-Gingerol in doses ranging from 100 to 300 microM induced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell viability in prostate cancer cells by using MTT assay. Maximal inhibition of cell viability was observed at 300 microM of 6-gingerol for 48 hours treatment in LNCaP cells. 6-Gingerol at the dose of 100 microM did not produce any significant change in apoptotic cells in flow cytometry analysis. However, significant increase in sub-G0/G1 phase was observed in cells treated with 200 and 300 microM of 6-gingerol. Any significant cell cycle arrest was not induced by 6-gingerol. In western blotting analysis, expression of caspase-3 was not evident in cells treated with 6-gingerol for 24 hours. However, 48 hours treatment with 6-gingerol altered the expression of caspase-3 in LNCaP cells. Expression of cleaved poly showed the dose-dependent fashion in both 24 hours and 48 hours treatment of 6-gingerol. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that 6-gingerol may induce apoptosis in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Catechols ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Fatty Alcohols ; Flow Cytometry ; Ginger ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms

As a adjuvant, 99m Tc-IDA complex cholescintigraphy has been used to differentiate the causes of jaundice,hepatocellular jaundice from the obstructive jaundice. So we conducted the retrospective study from the 41 casesof cholescintigraphy from the Mar, 83 to Sept. 84 at the Dept. of radiology in the Sonnchyunhyang university todetermine the etiology and differential points in the diagnosing the Jaundice. The following results wereobtainend; 1. As a 1st-ordered parameter, the leading edge hepatic parenchymal transit time was very significant in differentiating the causes of jaundice, among the hepatocellular jaundice, obstructive jaundice due to tumor,and obstructive jaundice due to cholelithiasis. (P<0.01 by X2-test) 2. As a 2nd-ordered parameter, hepaticclearance was very significant in differentiating the hepatocellular jaundice from the jaundice due to partialbiliary obstruction. (P>0.01 by t-test) 3. The difference in hepatic clearance between the biliary obstruction dueto tumor and that of the cholelithiasis, was not significant. (P>0.05 by X2-test) 4. The difference in bile ductdilatation among the hepatocellular jaundice obstructive jaundice due to tumor, and obstructive jaundice due tocholelithiasis, was singnificant in differentiating the causes of jaundice. (P<0.05 by X2-test) 5. Intrahepaticstone showed scintigraphic pooling with partial stasis. 6. Cholescintigraphy was useful to differentiated the Rotor's syndrome from the Dubin-Johnson syndrome, supplying the additional criteria.
Bile ; Cholelithiasis ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Retrospective Studies