The gag encoded p24 protein of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is a major constitutent of the viral core, and is also known as one of the most immunodominant antigens in the host immune response against the HIV-1. Based on the neutralizing ability of anti-p24 antibodies as well as their rapid appearance in human serum after viral infection, the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools targeting the p24 protein and anti-p24 antibodies is of great interest. For the characterization of the immunological properties of the HIV-1 p24 protein, in a previous study, putative B-cell epitopes were identified by screening the reactivity of a goat anti-p24 antiserum to a large array of overlapping synthetic peptides covering the whole p24 sequence. Four peptides were identified for their abilities to elicit a strong B-cell response, which sequences comprises the regions p24 (164-182), (202-221), (217-236) and (232-256), respectively. In the present study, the immunogenicity and differential properties of each of these individual epitopes were further characterized. To evaluate the time course of the antibody response, BALB/c mice were immunized with the HIV-1 p24 protein and their serum titers against each of these peptides were determined. The earliest immune response was observed against the p24 (202-221) peptide, which also showed the highest antibody titer against the immunized antigen. Furthermore,. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with HIV-1 p24 protein coated microtiter plates revealed that anti-p24 (202-221) antiserum has the most pronounced reactivity against the native p24 protein. Since the p24 (202-221) epitope has also been reported to include a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope, it is suggested that this region might represent a powerful antigenic site responsible for eliciting both T- and B-cell immune response. The possible application of this specific epitope in vaccine development or AIDS diagnosis is discussed.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Antibody Formation ; B-Lymphocytes ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes* ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Goats ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Immunodominant Epitopes ; Mass Screening ; Mice ; Peptides* ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; Vaccines

No abstract available.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Animals ; Hemorrhage* ; Rats*

For quality assurance purposes, the authors correlated aspiration cytology and subsequent tissue findings and examined the reasons for discrepancies. In three months from Jan. to Mar. 1996, 1,383 aspirations were performed, of which 285 (20.6%) had subsequent tissue diagnoses within two months. The aspiration sites were thyroid (483), lymph node (LN) (290), breast (250), soft tissue (154), liver (89), lung (49), salivary gland (26), pancreas (22), gallbladder (3), bone (3), joint (2), adrenal gland (2), scrotum (2), mediastinum (2), omentum (2), oral cavity (1), chest wall (1), and intraabdominal (1) and pelvic cavities (1). A total of 68 discrepancies were identified, and biopsies and smears from these cases were reviewed monthly. In 27 cases (40%), the discrepancy was attributed to sampling error. In five cases (9%), aspiration gave superior results with better sampling and preservation than biopsy. Thirty six cases (53% of discrepant cases) were errors in cytologic diagnosis. We categorized these discrepancies into "A", "B", and "C" ("A": minor disagreement with no affect on patient care, "B": minimal affect on patient care, "C": major affect on patient care), which were 9 (13%), 14 (21%) and 13 (19%) cases, respectively. In thirteen cases of category "C", there were eleven false negative and two false positive diagnoses. Eleven false negative cases included thyroid (3), lymph node (2), breast (2), bone (1), salivary gland (1), lung (1), and liver (1). Three cases of thyroid were papillary carcinomas diagnosed as nodular hyperplasia (1), occasional pleomorphic cells (1), and cystic change (1). Two breast cases of invasive ductal carcinomas were diagnosed as ductal hyperplasia. A malignant lymphoma was diagnosed as reactive hyperplasia and a metastatic carcinoma of LN was diagnosed as tuberculosis. Other cases were malignant tumors of bone, salivary gland, lung, and liver those were misinterpreted as benign lesion or normal. Of two false positive cases, one was nodular hyperplasia of thyroid diagnosed as papillary carcinoma and the other was normal islet cell of pancreas diagnosed as islet cell tumor. A continuous monitoring of laboratory performance is an essential component of the quality control and assurance, and the review of discrepant cases provides useful information for improvement of diagnosis.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; Adrenal Glands ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Biopsy ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Islets of Langerhans ; Joints ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Mediastinum ; Mouth ; Omentum ; Pancreas ; Patient Care ; Quality Control ; Salivary Glands ; Scrotum ; Selection Bias ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Gland ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: In our previous study, the prevalence of the known causes of thyroid tumorigenesis was relatively rare in Korean population, suggesting genetic and environmental differences exist. Screening of genetic alteration in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) and follicular adenoma(FA) in whole genomic scale was needed prior to search on individual genes of possible causes. METHODS: Ten cases of PTC without ret/PTC-I, -2, -3 rearrangement and 5 cases of follicular adenoma were included in the study of microsatellite marker allelotyping. Sixty two microsatellite markers available, were chosen to cover the known sites of loss of heterozygosity(LOH) involved in thyroid tumors, tumor suppressor genes and terminal portion of each chromosomes. PCR was performed on tumor DNA and leukocytes DNA from each patient with MDE gel electrophoresis to detect LOH. Same specitnens as above, 3 case of normal thyroid tissues and NPA, ARO cell lines were included in the study of comparative genomic hybridization(CGH). Tumor and control DNAs were hybridized to metaphase chromosome with differential stainings with fluorescein and rhoda-mine-dUTP. Obtained results were analyzed by multicolor fluorescence computer assisted image analyzer. RESULTS: In allelotyping, LOH were detected in 5 cases of PTC, 2 cases on D10S1435, 1 case each on D2S1780, DSS1099, D11S1986, D16S539, 1 case of PTC revealed LOH on DSS1099, D11S1986. In FA, LOH were detected in 3 cases on D1S534, D1S226, Dl 1S907, D22S683, DXS9807. In CGH, Xp addition was noticed in 1 case of PTC, 12q and 10p addition was noticed in 1 case each, 16q deletion and 17q addition in 1 case of FA. CONCLUSION: No hot spot of LOH was noticed in microsatellite marker allelotyping, neither of common chromosomal change in CGH study suggesting unbalanced translocation or gene amplification more than 5-10 Mb may be involved in the genetic alteration of PTC and FA.
Adenoma* ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Line ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Fluorescein ; Fluorescence ; Gene Amplification ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Mass Screening ; Metaphase ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The proportion of interventional catheterization in congenital heart disease is being increased in Korea, especially in Sejong Heart Institute, so we performed statistical analysis on the cardiac catheterization cases. METHODS: Total 233 cases of congenital heart disease confirmed by cardiac catheterization at the Sejong Heart Institute between Jaunary 1995 and June 1995 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) The distribution of age has become more younger than that of previous reports that is, the proportion of the infant less than 1 year old was 34.8%. 2) The proportion of male sex was equal to that of female. TOF and TGA were observed predominantly in male patients, and PDA and UVH revealed female preponderance. 3) The relative frequencies of each individual congenital heart disease in order of frequency were as follows; TOF 37.3%, PDA 13.3%, VSD 8.2% and UVH 7.7%. 4) Among the 145 (62%) cases of hemodynamic study pre-operation and post-operation cases were 85 and 60 cases, respectively. The cases of interventional catheterization were 84 (36%), and those of endomyocardial biopsy were 4 (2%). 5) The frequencies of each interventional catheterization of 84 cases in order of frequency were as follows: defect closure 28 cases, balloon valvuloplasty 20 cases, balloon angioplasty 17 cases, coil embolization 15 cases, and balloon atrial septostomy 4 cases. 6) There were 2 cases of mortality associated with cardiac catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of interventional catheterization in congenital heart disease is being increased in the Sejong Heart Institute, and this trend will spread to the other cardiac center in Korea.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Balloon Valvuloplasty ; Biopsy ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies

Dystrophic calcifications themselves in the breast are classified as typically benign according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. However, we experienced a patient with invasive ductal carcinoma surrounding large dystrophic calcifications that could be regarded as long-standing benign conditions such as fat necrosis or hematoma. A 61-year-old woman presented with two large dystrophic calcifications within an irregular mass in the right upper outer breast on mammography. Ultrasonography revealed an irregular mass with dense calcifications showing strong posterior acoustic shadowing. On contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, an irregular mass showed a persistent enhancement pattern and high signal intensity on a diffusion weighted image with non-enhancing areas corresponding to the calcifications. No abnormal uptake was observed on Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scan. Invasive ductal carcinoma was observed on ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy. In this case, we conclude that typical dystrophic calcifications within a breast mass cannot guarantee a benign diagnosis if the imaging characteristics of the mass are suspicious.
Acoustics ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Diagnosis ; Diffusion ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: There were several reports that thyroid autoimrnune disease commonly found in myasthenia gravis patients. We performed this study to determine the prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disease as well as analyze correlation between acetylcholine receptor antibody and various thyroid autoantibadies among the myasthenia gravis patients in Korea. METHOD: The patient group, 48 patients, diagnosed as myasthenia gravis from January 1985 to December 1995 at the department of Neurology, Internal medicine at Dongsan Medical Center was compaired to the control group, 40 patients, with no age and sex difference from the patient group. The samples were collected from both group for the measure of the values of acetylcholine receptor antibody, thyroid autoantibody and thyroid hormones. RESULT: 1) The values of acetylcholine receptor antibody in myasthenia gravis group and control group were 5.78+-0.7nM and 0.05+-0.06nM respectively. Of 48 patients with myasthenia gravis, 38 patients have been measured acetylcholine receptor antibody value > 0.5nM, Their mean average value was 7.24+-0.66nM. 2) The severe myasthenia gravis group with value of acetylcholine receptor antibody 0.5nM and severe myasthenia gravis group with value of acetylcholine receptor antibody 0.5nM showed thyroglobulin antibody value of 159.6+-79.91IU/mL versus 56.86+-32.99IU/mL. also thyroid microsomal antibody value showed 159.0+-79.9IU/mL and 23.633+-0.19IU/mL respectively. 3) Of 48 myasthenia gravis patients, 12 patients (24%) had high value of antithyroglobulin antibody or anti-microsomal antibody and 5 patients (10%) had both antibodies at the same times. In contrast, only 3 patients (8%) were observed with high value of either one of antibodies. Patient with both antibodies was not observed in normal control group. CONCLUSION: According to the datas we have obtained, appearence of the thyroid autoantibody is significantly greater in severe myasthenia gravis group than normal control group. Therefore it is suggested that the prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disease is higher in severe myasthenia gravis group than mild myasthenia gravis group or normal control group.
Acetylcholine* ; Antibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Korea ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Neurology ; Prevalence* ; Sex Characteristics ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3, and TIMP-4 in the gingival tissues of periodontal patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Depending on the patient's systemic condition and clinical criteria of the gingiva, each gingival sample was classified into one of three groups. Sixteen clinically, systemically healthy patients (group 1), 16 periodontal patients (group 2), and 16 periodontal patients with DM (group 3) were included. Tissue samples in each group were collected, prepared, and analyzed by western blotting. Quantification of the relative amount of TIMP-3, TIMP-4, and iNOS was performed. RESULTS: The expression levels of iNOS and TIMP-3 both increased in group 1, group 2, and group 3 in increasing order, and were significantly higher in both group 2 and group 3 as compared to group 1 (P<0.05). The expression levels of TIMP-4 increased in the same order, but significantly increased in group 2 as compared to group 1, in group 3 as compared to group 1, and group 3 as compared to group 2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that iNOS, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 might be involved in the progression of periodontal inflammation associated with type 2 DM. It is thought that further study of these factors can be applied practically for the diagnosis and control of periodontitis in diabetics.
Blotting, Western ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Periodontitis ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases

PURPOSE: To report the clinical results from using absorbable suture materials instead of nonabsorbable materials which have been used more commonly to repair Achilles tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases of acute Achilles tendon rupture, treated surgically from 2004 to 2011. Mean follow-up period is 6 months. We repaired Achilles tendon using size 1 Vicryl (Polyglactin 910, Ethicon) for core suture and size 3-0 Vicryl for epitendinous suture. At three months after surgery, we evaluated clinical results with single heel raise height by centimeters, differences of calf circumference and passive range of motion of ankle joint, compared to contralateral side. Also we recorded clinical results with subjective satisfaction grades. RESULTS: At three months after surgery, 20 of 21 patients were able to perform single heel raise over 5 cm in height. Calf circumference differences were less than 1 cm in 12 cases, between 1 cm to 3 cm in 5 cases, more than 3 cm in 4 cases. There was no difference in range of passive motion in 19 cases. All patients satisfied with daily activity except 2 cases with mild discomfort. There was no complication such as rerupture, elongation or infection. CONCLUSION: We experienced excellent clinical results from repairing Achilles tendon with using absorbable suture materials in terms of functional outcomes and patient's satisfaction without any complication. So we may consider using absorbable suture materials instead of nonabsorbable materials to repair Achilles tendon.
Achilles Tendon ; Ankle Joint ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heel ; Humans ; Polyglactin 910 ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sutures

Thoracopagus is very rare congenital anomaly with an incidence estimated at 1 in 50,000 deliveries or 1 in 600 twin deliveries. If twining is initiated after the embryonic disc and the rudimentary amnionic sac have been formed, and if division of the embryonic disc is incomplete, conjoined twins result. We experienced a case of thoracopagus in 28 years old woman. We present this case with a brief review of literatures.
Adult ; Amnion ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Twins, Conjoined