Serovars of 22 leptospiral field isolates from rats trapped in Korea were identified by cross-agglutinin absorption test (CAAT). Genomic characteristics of 7 selected isolates and 6 antigenically closely related reference serovars of lai, yeonchon, birkini, gem, mwogolo, and canicola were differentiated by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) and southern blot hybridization using 16S rRNA gene probe from Borrelia burgdorferi. Among the 22 isolates, 21 strains were identified as serovar lai by CAAT, while the serological reactivity of NR13 did not accord with that of serovar lai. Results of AP-PCR using primers RSP, KF and PB-1 were in general agreement with those obtained by serological identification, and all 7 isolates including NR13 showed the same profile with serovar lai or yeonchon. In the southern blot hybridization with 16S rRNA gene probe, the isolates were divided into two ribotype groups when HindIII and BamHI digests were employed: isolates NR4, NR13, and serovar lai showed the same profile, and isolates JR34, JR57, KR48, JR77, and JR82 were classified as the another ribotype group. Isolate NR13 and serovar yeonchon, which were isolated in Korea and showed serological differences with serovar lai, were indistinguishable from serovar lai in this DNA study using AP-PCR and ribotyping. These results demonstrate that Korean leptospiral isolates were closely related in DNA level, and ribotyping would be useful for subgrouping of field isolates.
Absorption ; Animals ; Blotting, Southern ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; DNA ; Genes, rRNA ; Korea ; Leptospira* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Rats ; Ribotyping*

The index on myocardial contractility of pure mitral regurgitation(MR) after mitral valve replacement is believed to be useful in determining proper operation time before irreversible myocardial damage by volume overload. Thus the authors examined pre and post-operative echocardiographic results of 20 cases of pure MR patients who had been admitted to Pusan National University hospital and compared the usefulness of each index. Pre and post-operative echocardiographic results were as follows respectively ; 1) Left ventricular internal dimension in diastole(LVIDd) were 6.49+/-0.19cm and 5.51+/-0.17cm. 2) Left ventricular internal dimension in systole(LVIDs) were 4.26+/-0.12 and 3.79+/-0.18cm. 3) Ejection fraction were 71.28+/-1.57% and 59.24+/-3.05%. 4) Fractional shortening(FS) were 34.09+/-1.18% and 27.21+/-1.84%. 5) Mean Vcf were 1.53+/-0.08cm/sec and 1.18+/-0.09cm/sec. 6) Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(EDVI) were 196.35+/-18.33cc/m2 and 98.46+/-9.96cc/m2. 7) Left ventricular end-systolic volume index(ESVI) were 55.28+/-5.12cc/m2 and 41.88+/-6.07cc/m2. 8) Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress/ESVI(ESS/ESVI) were 2.3+/-0.21 and 3.91+/-0.83. ESS/ESVI showed significantly(p<0.05) elevated postoperative change, LVIDd, LVIDs, EF, FS, EDVI, ESVI revealed significantly(p<0.05) reduced postoperative change whereas Mean Vcf had no postoperative change. After examining correlation between preoperative and postoperative results of each index, it is believed that LVIDd, LVIDs, and ESS/ESVI were useful prognostic indices but were unrelated to postoperative ejection phase indices such as EF, FS, and MEan Vcf. Especially in case of LVIDd>6cm, LVIDs>4cm, and ESS/ESVI<2, the prognosis was poor due to myocardial damage by mitral regurgitation.
Busan ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume

No abstract available.
Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

BACKGROUND: The p53 gene mutations have been found in a variety of human skin cancers. To date most studies concerning p53 gene mutations in skin cancers focused on squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) and its precancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis and Bowen's disease, especially related to ultraviolet light, but few on basal cell carcinoma(BCC). OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the aberrant expression rates on p53 mutant gene in BCCs as well as in SCCs and their changes depending upon their clinicopathologic characteristics. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was employed using the mouse monoclonal antibody raised against recombinant human p53 in 30 BCCs and 16 SCCs. Also, clinical and histopathologic analyses for age, sex, site, duration and histopathologic classification were performed. RESULTS: p53 immunoreactivity was observed in 57% of BCCs and 75% of SCCs. In BCCs P53 immnoreacticvity was increased by up to 61% in cases(28/30) developed on the sun-exposed area. In SCCs p53 immunoreactivity(89%) on non-sun-exposed area was unexpectantly higher than that(57%) on sun-exposed area. No significant correlation between p53 imunoreactivity and clinicopathologic characteristics in BCCs and SCCs was noted. CONCLUSION: Mutations of p53 may play an important role of the pathogenetic sequence in a large part of the pathogenetic sequence in a large part of BCCs as well as SCCs.
Animals ; Bowen's Disease ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Classification ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Mice ; Skin Neoplasms ; Ultraviolet Rays

Serial changes of serum IgE, IgG, eosinophils were observed in 25 patients with acute myocaridial infarction and 20 ischemic heart disease without evidence of acute myocardial infarction and evaluated in terms of several parameters and its clinical significance. The results observed were as follows : 1) Serum IgE levels were propgressively elevated from the first hospital day(259+/-3IU/ml) up to peak level of the fifth hospital day(415+/-2IU/ml) and progressively lowered and returned to almost same level as the first hospital day on the twenty first hospital day. On the other hand control group showed significantly lower IgE levels throughout all hospital day and also did not showed serial change. 2) In the patient group with the initial serum IgE level above 200IU/m; showed significantly lower level of serum SGOT, CPK level than the group of below 200IU/ml group. This suggests the initial serum IgE level might have some correlation of the extent of myocardial necrosis. 3) In patients of acute myocardial infarction, ejection fraction was checked at discharge. Initial serum IgE level above 200IU/ml group showed significantly higher ejection fraction than below 200IU/ml group(59.4+/-13.5% vs 38.4+/-13.7%). 4) Serum IgE was checked concomittantly with serum IgE. It showed slightly decreasing tendency at third hospital day but not statistically significant. Eosinophil changed similar pattern as serum IgE but it was also not statistically significant. In conclusion, serial checking of serum IgE level in patient of acute myocardial infarction may give some help in prediction the clinical course and prognosis.
Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Eosinophils ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Necrosis ; Prognosis

The most important prognostic factor of breast cancer is the status of lymph node or distant metastasis, which is resisted by basement membrane and stromal matrix. MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)-2 is a 72-kilodalton type IV collagenase/ gelatinase and degrades the type IV collagen which is a main component of the basement membrane. Therefore, MMP-2 is believed to be one of the key molecule for cancer invasion and metastasis. Enzymatic activity of MMP is inhibited by TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase). TIMP-2 forms a complex with latent pro-MMP-2 and inhibits the active forms of MMP-2. The balance of MMPs and TIMPs is suspected as the important factor of invasion and metastasis of the tumor cells. We studied the association between the expression of MMP-2/TIMP-2 and growth pattern of tumor border, lymph node metastasis, and estrogen receptor expression in the 57 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast using immunohistochemical staining methods. The results revealed increased expression of MMP-2 in the infiltrating tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor with no statistical significance (p>0.05). But the expression of TIMP-2 was increased in expanding tumor border and tumors with positive lymph node metastasis and negative estrogen receptor without statistical significance (p>0.05).
Basement Membrane ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Collagen Type IV ; Estrogens* ; Gelatinases ; Lymph Nodes* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2*

Symphyseal injury is increasing in number together with today's speed of development of car industry in Korea. However, this injury is not common in practice. Some authors reported that symphyseal injury is only 4 to 6% of all pelvic fractures. Symphysis pubis has characteristicsl anatomy to maintain mechanical integrity of the pe1vis with circumferential ligament. The pelvis is a ring structure with strong ligaments. This support include the symphysis pubis, the anterior and posterior sacroiliac ligaments, and the strong sacrotuberous ligaments. According to Peltier(1964), when symphysis is separated more than 1.0cm, pubic instability will be developed. However, Wild(1982) reported that pelvic instability develops when separation of the symphysis exceeds more than 2.5cm. Tile(1984) reported that anterior pubic rami acts as a strut to prevent anterior collapse of the pelvic ring during weight bearing. However, in the presence of intact posterior structures, it gives little effect on pelvic stability. In addition to trauma, pelvic instability develops congenitally or by pregnancy. During pregnancy, pregnancy-related hormones relsx the ligameritous stuctures of the pelvic girdle. In most instances, the major pelvic ring returns to normal when the effect of the relaxin hormones disappear. However, in rare instances, a major symphysis disruption may continuously persist. To evaluste the trauma-induced separation of the symphysis pubis, we analyzed the 19 cases with 15 months follow-up on an average, who were treated at the Orthopaedic Department, Kang-Nam St. Marys Hospital, from June 1981 to June 1986. The results were as follows 1. Among 19 cases, 9 cases(47.4%) were male, 10 cases(52.6%) were female. And average age of the patients was 30.2 years. 2. The main cause of the fracture was traffic accident in 18 out of 19 cases. 3. In cases of symphyseal separation more than 3.4cm, fracture-separation of both sacroiliac joint was certainly occured. However, in cases with separation more than 2.2cm, unilalateral fracture-dislocation of sacroiliac joint occurred. 4. Open reduction and interal fixatiopn including external fixation was performed in 9 og cases. As an indication of surgery, separation of the symphysis, which exceeds more than 2.2cm and which associated (1) with sacroiliac fracture-dislocation, (2) failed conservative treatment, and (3) when simultaneously emergency urological operation is indicated.
Accidents, Traffic ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Ligaments ; Male ; Pelvis ; Pregnancy ; Pubic Bone ; Relaxin ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to establish the purification processes of both 26S and 20S proteasomes, also to investigate the inhibitory properties and patterns of two different proteasome inhibitors on the isolated proteasomes. METHODS: The 26S and 20S proteasomes were purified respectively using liquid chromatographies and glycerol density gradient fractionation. The inhibitory patterns and kinetics of two different proteasome inhibitors were investigated using purified 26S and 20S proteasomes. RESULTS: The purity of the isolated proteasomes were determined by their biochemical properties and electrophoretic patterns. 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-5-indophenylacetyl-leucyl-leucyl-leucyl-vinylsulfone (Nip-L₃-VS) inhibited exclusively the chymotrypsin-like peptidase activities of the 26S and 20S proteasomes. On the other hand, dansyl-phenylyl-leucyl-boronic acid (DFLB) inhibited chymotrpsin-like, trypsin-like, and caspase-like peptidase activities of both proteasomes with different sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The proposed purification method provides efficient separation and isolation of the 26S and 20S proteasomes. Nip-L₃-VS and DFLB were shown to have different inhibitory effects and kinetics on the peptidase activities of the isolated proteasomes. These studies are suggested to be applied to the researches on proteasome inhibitors as therapeutic reagents for many related diseases.
Bortezomib ; Chromatography ; Glycerol ; Hand ; Indicators and Reagents ; Kinetics ; Methods ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Proteasome Inhibitors

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the difference of depressive symptoms and attention between estrogen user and non-user in postmenopausal women. METHODS: 30 Estrogen users and 30 non-users were participated in this study. They were all menopausal for at least 1 year and have 12 or more education years. We used BDI(Beck Depression Inventory), digit span and digit symbol to evaluate depressive symptoms and attention in both groups. We also measured the plasma estradiol level and identified the correlation between estradiol level and BDI, digit span and digit symbol. RESULTS: The demographic data was not different between both groups. Estrogen users scored higher than non-users in digit span(forward) and lower than non-users in BDI. The correlation between estradiol level BDI, digit span and digit symbol was not significant. CONCLUSION: Estrogen replacement therapy was effective in alleviation depressive symptoms but ineffective in improving attention in postmenopausal women.
Depression* ; Education ; Estradiol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma