No abstract available.

"Mig is a gamma interferon-inducible T cell chemoattractant that is a member of the chemokine family of cytokines. In order to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate expression of the Mig gene, we have characterized the Mig gene and compared its structure and regulatory sequences with that of its ciosest IP10 gene. The genomic organization of the Mig gene reveals three introns that interrupt the transcribed sequence into four functional domains with a single ""CAT""- and ""TATA""-like structure. Primer extension analysis was used to identify the transcriptional initiation site that is located 50 bp upstream to the methionine codon that begins the long open reading frame. Comparison of the intron-exon structure of this gene to the gene for IP10 establishes that both genes are interrupted in precisely the same positions within homologous codons. The similarity of the intron-exon structure of the Mig and IP10 genes further support the hypothesis that Mig and IP10 genes have evolved from a common ancestral gene by gene duplication. The 5'-flanking region of Mig gene shows no overall sequence similarity with that from its closest IP10 gene whose production is also affected by gamma interferon. However, there are regions including a sequence with similarity to the NFxB binding site, AP-1 binding site, and ISRE. The r-RF-1 binding site is well conserved from -204 to -194 from the transcription start site in the Mig gene. Given the importance of IFN-r for effective immunity in tuberculosis and induction of Mig and IP10 genes in macrophages by IFN-r, we demonstrated induction of the genes Mig and IP10 with different message levels in the THP-1 human monocytic cell lines stimulated with whole M. tuberculosis. Despite the very similarity in genomic organization and the overlap in biological activities between MIG and IP10, our data described herein further support the suggestion that these chemokines rnay role nonredundantly in vivo. Moreover, our studies done on the Mig gene should provide the structural framework for future studies and begin to dissect cis-acting DNA sequences that are critical for gene regulation mediated by cell surface receptors."
Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line ; Chemokine CXCL9* ; Chemokines ; Codon ; Cytokines ; Gene Duplication ; Genome ; Humans* ; Interferons ; Introns ; Macrophages ; Methionine ; Open Reading Frames ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Transcription Initiation Site ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to estimate development of secondary sex characters and genitalia including testicular volume, penile length and girth, and prevalence of varicocele. In addition, we evalua ted the relationship between testicular volume and presence of varicocele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted on 893 school boys between the ages of 14 to 15 years, 3rd grade middle school in Chonju city during the period september to October, 1999. The testicular volume was measured in the upright posture using Prader's orchidometer and penile length and girth were estimated with a ruler. Varicocele was evaluated by dubin's method. RESULTS: The testis volume (mean+/-SD) was 10.20+/-2.6ml on right and 9.93+/-2.6 on left and penile length (mean+/-SD) was 10.9+/-1.6cm and penile girth (mean+/-SD) was 8.0+/-0.8cm. The prevalence of varicocele was 38.2% (342/893) in left side, 16%(146/893) in right side. The difference in testicular volume between right and left testis was statistically significant in students with unilateral varicocele than the students without varicocele (0.78+/-1.06ml v/s, 0.54+/-1.01ml, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we obtained mean testicular volume, penile length and girth and higher incidence rate of varicocele on adolescent school age group in Chonju area. The difference in testicular varicocele. The reduction of the testicular volume with varicocele correlated with the severity of grade of varicocele need following up to disclose the effect of the varicocele on the testicular growth and fertility potential.
Adolescent ; Fertility ; Genitalia* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Posture ; Prevalence* ; Testis ; Varicocele*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of aerobics and aquarobics exercise programs on elders' leg muscle strength, balance and walking ability in elders. The participants of the study were 21 elders; 11 of them participated in the aerobics exercise program and 10 of them participated in the aquarobic exercise program. METHODS: Both of the participants practiced for 10 weeks. The data were analyzed with using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows: First, the main effect of exercise programs(aerobics x aquarobics) and the interaction effect between the exercise programs and the leg muscle strength were not significant. Second, the participants' static balance of the aquarobics exercise program increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. Third, the participants' dynamic balance of the aquarobics exercise program increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. Fourth, the main effect of exercise programs and the interaction effect between the exercise programs and the increase in gait speed were not significant. Fifth, the participants' step length of aquarobics exercise group increased more than that of the aerobics exercise program. All of the participants' leg muscle strength, static balance, dynamic balance, gait speed and step length increased after the both of two exercise programs. And, more importantly, the positive effect of the aquarobics exercise program on static balance, dynamic balance and step length was stronger than that of the aerobics exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the aquarobics exercise program be more effective exercise on elders' balance and walking ability than the aerobics exercise program.
Gait ; Leg* ; Muscle Strength* ; Walking*

Most studies on the pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis by imaging and outcomes after operative or nonoperative treatment of rotator cuff tear have focused on those of full-thickness tears, resulting in limited knowledge of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. However, a partial-thickness tear of the rotator cuff is a common disorder and can be the cause of persistent pain and dysfunction of the shoulder joint in the affected patients. Recent updates in the literatures shows that the partial-thickness tears are not merely mild form of full-thickness tears. Over the last decades, an improved knowledge of pathophysiology and surgical techniques of partial-thickness tears has led to more understanding of the significance of this tear and better outcomes. In this review, we discuss the current concept of management for partial-thickness tears in terms of the pathogenesis, natural history, nonoperative treatment, and surgical outcomes associated with the commonly used repair techniques.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Natural History ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder Joint

OBJECTIVE: Although cor pulmonale due to chronic lung disease was not uncommon, there was uncertainty in its diagnosis due to the difficulty in measuring functional and anatomical changes of right heart and pulmonary vascular system. Among various non-invasive diagnostic methods presented so far, no ideal standard diagnostic criterion has been established. The authors attempted to know positive diagnostic ratio of cor pulmonale and to study the presence of the relationship between these diagnostic criteria when electrocardiographic and echocardiographic diagnostic criteria for cor pulmonale were applied to the patients with chronic lung disease. And we investigated the usefulness of echocardiogaphic diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis. METHODS: One electrocardiographic and two echocardiographic diagnostic criteria were applied to 38 patients with chronic lung disease(21 pulmonary emphysema and 17 chronic advanced pulmonary tuberculosis) for the diagnosis of cor pulmonale. Comparison was also made in their relationship. Then pulmonary artery diameter, measurement of pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination and radio-nuclear right ventricular ejection faction were compared between the groups to ensure each criterion was satisfied. RESULTS: 1) When the three diagnostic criteria for confirming the cor pulmonale, electrocardiographic rriterion(right ventricular hypertrophy), right ventricular dimension criterion(right ventricular end-diastolic dimension>25mm, RVDd>25mm), and right ventricular wall thickness criterion (right ventricular wall thickness>6mm, RVWT>6mm) were applied to the patients, the positive rate were 32%(12/37), 30%(10/33) and 17%(6/36) respectively. A statistically significant correlation between electrocardiographic criterion and right ventricular wall thickness criterion was found to exist. 2) Various parameters of pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination were compared in the patient groups with and without cor pulmonale when each non-invasive diagnostic criterion was applied to all patients. Followings are the results. (1) In the positive group on electrocardiographic criteria, vital capacity, forced vital capacity, and arterial oxygen tension were significantly smaller than in the negative group on electrocardiographic criterion(p<0.05), and the echocardiographic parameters of right ventricle, ie. end-diastolic area, end-systolic area, end-diastolic dimension, end-systolic dimension, mid-ventricular short axis and maximal short axis in positive group were significantly larger than in the negative group. (2) In the positive group on right ventricular diastolic dimension criterion(RVDd>25mm), percentage forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced expiratory flow 25-75% were significantly smaller than in the negative group on right ventricular diastolic dimension criterion. (3) In the positive group on right ventricular wall thickness criterion(RVWT>6mm), vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow 25-75% and arterial oxygen tension were significantly smaller than in the negative group on right ventricular wall thickness criterion. CONCLUSION: When several non-invasive diagnostic criteria for cor pulmonale were applied to the patients with chronic lung disease, there were some differences in its positive diagnostic ratio depending on the applied diagnostic criteria. There was also a statistically significant correlation between electrocardiographic criterion and right ventricular wall thickness criterion. When each diagnostic criterion was applied to the patients, significant differences were found in several parameters resulted from pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination based on presence or nonpresence of cor pulmonale. But no difference in the ejection fraction measured by radio-nuclear method was shown between cor pulmonale group and non cor pulmonale group. Consequently it was suggested that applying echocardiographic criteria in addition to electrocardiographic criterion for the diagnosis of cor pulmonale in the patients with chronic lung disease is clinically useful.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Pulmonary Heart Disease* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Uncertainty ; Vital Capacity

BACKGROUND: To provide basic data to help construct regional EMSS. METHOD: Using preformed questionnaire, authors investigated prospectively data of 214 patients transferred directly to emergency medical center from other hospitals from May 11 to june 10,1998. RESULTS: 1. Total 214 patients were transferred directly to the emergency medical center of KNUH (14.4% of total), and 63.5% of patients excluding children were non-traumatic patients. 2. The peak age group was 5th decade (19.6%) with mean age of49.6 years old. The male to female ratio was 1.8 : 1. 3. The period between 08 : 00 to 16 : 00 was the most frequent arrival time of transfer patients (42.5%), and the proportion of patients for surgical departments were more common than those for other departments (53.7%). 4. the majority of patients were transferred from secondary hospitals (91.6%), but among them the proportion of mild non-traumatic and mild traumatic patients was 52.3%, and 72.0%. 5. The decision-maker for transfer was a patient himself or family members in 32.3% of severe and 26.8(/) of mild non-traumatic patients, compared with 37.5% of severe and 26.8% of mild traumatic patients. 6. The physician-to-physician communication prior to the patient's transfer was not carried out in 90.8% of severe and 85.9% of mild non-traumatic patients, compared with 75.0%of severe and 67.0%of mild traumatic patients. 7. The hospital ambulance was the most common mode of transfer (64.5%), but non-emergency vehicles such as a taxi or a private car was used for transfer in 21.5% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 12.5% in severe traumatic patients. 8. Transfer accompanied by medical personnel took place in 15.4% of severe non-traumatic patients, 25.0% in severe traumatic patients, and in 27.0% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 44.4% in severe traumatic patients transferred 4 by hospital ambulance. 9. Transfer took less than 1 hour in 66.9% of non-traumatic patients, and 45.2% of traumatic patients, but it took 1 hour or more in 27.7% of severe non-traumatic patients, and 43.7% of severe traumatic patients. 10. Transfer record accompanied the patient in 90.2% of total, but radiologic film and results of laboratory tests did not in 36.9% and 56.9% of severe non-traumatic patients, and in 12.5% and 43.7% of severe traumatic patients. CONCLUSION: It is considered that an appropriate triage system, interhospital transfer guidelines, good transfer records, cooperative interhospital communication, emergency medical information center, public information with education about regional EMSS, improvement of equipment in ambulance, and training of emergency personnel are necessary for effective and well-organized EMSS.
Ambulances ; Child ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Humans ; Information Centers ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triage

The purposes of this descriptive study were to identify the prevalence rate of urinary incontinence(UI) and the differences in frequency of incontinent and normal women by general characteristics, obstetrical history, and the conditional events for urinary incontinence of the elderly women in a community. By the results of this study, it is intended to provide nursing practice guidelines for incontinent women. The research design of this study was a preliminary descriptive study. The 173 subjects were 55 years old and over, and resided in a small city area. Data were collected from June 20 to July 20, 2001, by an interview or a self-report with questionaire. The questionaire was composed of items of general characteristics, obstetrical characteristics, and conditions of UI by the modified Henderickon's Stress Incontinence Scale(1981). The results were summariezed as follows: 1. The UI prevalence rate of the sample was 64.2%. Of the incontinent women, 31.5% had experienced UI for a period of three to five years, and 84.7% had never treated or managed their UI. Frequency of UI was once or twice times per month(46.8%). 2. The total mean of UI on the scale in the incontinent women was 25.50 of 85, ranging from 18 to 41. 3. The most frequent condition of UI was coughing, followed by laughing, sneezing, heavy exercise, and preparation of urination in descending order. 4. There were significant differences in age, education, social activity, and urinary difficulty between the incontinent women and the normal women. 5. There were significant differences in frequency of spontaneous abortion, age of menopause between the incontinent women and the normal women. 6. There were no significant differences in number of delivery, frequency of artificial abortion, age of the last delivery, and postal health management between the incontinent women and the normal women. In conclusion, the incidence of UI in this study was high, but there were no effective treatments or management. It is suggested to provide the adult women with knowledge about UI, and to educate preventive behavior and control skill of urinary incontinence. Also episodes of urinary incontinence were high in the situation of sudden increase of abdominal pressure. This data can be used for the prevention strategy of urinary incontinence, In future research it is recommended to identify comprehensive factors related to urinary incontinence including psychosocial factors, and effective strategies of urinary incontinence.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adult ; Aged* ; Cough ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Nursing ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Research Design ; Sneezing ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urination

Three cases of human embryo of Carnegie stage 13 were described. The CR length of these embryos were 3.0-5.3mm. The authors made a reconstruction model using photograph, photocopy and computer. These embryos were characterized externally by 4 limb buds and 4 pairs of branchial arches, and internally closed otic pits, appearance of venous valves, septum primum and foramen primum in the heart, beginning of the right and left lung buds, appearance of lens disk.
Branchial Region ; Embryonic Structures* ; Heart ; Humans* ; Limb Buds ; Lung ; Venous Valves

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Humans