Hantaan virus Howang strain which isolated from the blood of severe case of Korean hemorrhagic fever is more virulent than HTN 76/118 and showed different RFLP from partial PCR amplified M genome segment to established Hantaan serotype viruses. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the M and S genome segments and compared to HTN 76/118. The M and S segment of Howang strain has 3615 and 1696 nucleotides long, respectively. The M segment sequence of Howang strain is one mucleotide shorter than HTN 76/118. The sequence data of Howang strain shows 93.5% homology to HTN 76/118. One long open reading frame, which stoats from 41nt. to 3448nt. of the M segment and from 37nt. to 1326nt. of the S segment, exist to on complementary sense of the virus genome. There are no significant difference between HTN 76/118 and Howang strain on hydrophobicity of deduced polypeptides, but has slight difference on secondary structure.
Base Sequence ; Genome ; Hantaan virus* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Nucleotides ; Open Reading Frames ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

We developed a sensitive, nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses in animal tissues. Total RNA was extracted from blood, lung or kidney samples of experimentally-infected hamsters by using the guanidine isothiocyanate buffer-acid phenol-chloroform method. Genus-reactive outer primers were derived from the consensus region of the G1 gene sequences of several hantaviruses. Serotype-specific primers were selected within the region amplified by the outer primers. To examine the sensitivity and specificity of the test, we diluted known quantities of Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses in human or hamster immune sera before performing the nested RT-PCR. We could detect as little as 1 pfu of virus, even in the presence of high-titer neutralizing antibodies, and the serotype-specific primers amplified only homologous serotype viruses. RT-PCR with these primers demonstrated virus in the blood of experimentally-infected hamsters as early as four days to as late as 30 days after infection.4 comparison of a standard immunofluorescent antibody screening test (IFAT) to nested RT-PCR with RNA extracted from lung or kidney tissues of the hamsters, demonstrated that RT-PCR to be more sensitive for identifying viruses in these tissues.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Consensus ; Cricetinae* ; Discrimination (Psychology)* ; Guanidine ; Hantavirus* ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Kidney ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; RNA ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Sin Nombre virus

No abstract available.
Anxiety* ; Arachnoid*

The maximal stress exercise test was studied in 49 normal korean and 231 cases of various diseases. Bicycle ergometer was used in 122 cases and treadmill was used in 109 cases by modified Bruce protocol which was designed by author. The maximal heart rate, maximal work capacity, End point of maximal exercise and ST changes especially in coronary artery disease were investigated. Total 231 cases in cluded 8 cases of myocardial infarction, 46 cases of anginal pectoris, 91 cases of atypical anginal pain, 68 cases of hypertension and 18 and of diabetes mellitus. The results are as follows; 1. The maximal heart rate was markedly reduced in myocardial infarction(115/min. comparing 162/min. in normal) and slightly less reduction in angina pectoris. Also mild reductions were observed in atypical anginal pain, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. 2. The maximal work capacity was markedly reduced in myocardial infarction(93 wt comparing 180 wt in normal). It was only slightly reduced in anginal pectoris, atypical anginal pain, hypertension and diabetes mellitus which were not significantly reduced from that of normal, especially in anginal pectoris, the reduction on maximal work capacity was unremarkale comparing that of maximal heart rate. 3. The End point of maximal exercise test were exhaution in 34%, leg pain in 30%, maximal heart rate in 22%, ST depression more than 1 mm in 21%, dyspnea in 19%, anginal pain in 15% by bicycle ergometer, while by treadmill test, the End point were exhaution in 47%, dyspnea in 35%, Maximal heart rate in 22%, ST depression more than 1 mm in 19%, leg pain in 15% and anginal pain in 10%. 4. In coronary artery disease, the positive maximal exercise test(sensitivity) was 76% in treadmill test and 68% in bicycle ergometer test. 5. The ST changes among 231 patients druing the maximal exercise test occured in 47 cases(20%). In 43 cases the ST segment depressed more than 1 mm and the degree of depression ranged 1-3.5mm. The upward sloping type and horizontal depression type were equally common. There were 4 cases(1.7%) of ST elevation during exercise which returned to normal after exercise. There were 3 cases among 54 cases of coronary artery disease(5.5%) and 2 cases among 46 cases of anginal pectoris(4.3%). In one case of anginal pectoris with elevated ST segment, myocardial infarction occured in few days later. Therefore it appears that the variant angina in this study is very few.
Angina Pectoris ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyspnea ; Exercise Test* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leg ; Myocardial Infarction

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.

Many authers insisted that the fracture-dislocation of the vertebral column with locked facet, bilateral dislocation of articular facets which resistant to closed reduction, were necessary to posterior stabilization with anterior decompression. But using Harrington-Distraction rod, we experienced that the acceptable reduction of locked facet and posterior impinged bony fragments without anterior decompression, were obtained.
Decompression ; Dislocations ; Spine

Two major factors, delayed hypoperfusion and membrane failure influence the sequelae of cerebral ischemic injury. Calcium ions play a major role in both pathophysiological mechanisms. Calcium channel blockers are a logical choice for investigation as possible therapeutic agents for the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine derivative, is one of the most potent calcium channel blocking agent with a selective action on the intracranial vessels. The present study was designed to test the effects of nimodipine on focal cerebral ischemia in rats. At 1,2 or 6 hours after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCA), rats were treated with either nimodipine or saline. Neurological and pathological evaluation was performed at 24 hours after occlusion. Neurological outcome was better in nimodipine-treated rats and the size of the infarcted area was statistically smaller in rats treated with nimodipine 1,2 or 6 hours after occlusion(P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) when compared with control rats(MCA occlusion only) or saline-treated rats. The results show that nimodipine improves neurological outcome and decreases the size of infarction after ischemic insult. The mechanism of action of nimodipine is not fully understood but nimodipine could influence cerebral postischemic changes by improving blood flow and/or by a direct action on neurons.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia* ; Calcium ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels ; Infarction ; Ions ; Logic ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Nimodipine* ; Rats

The most important spinal disorders in childhood are malformations and mass lesions. High-resolution, real-time ultrasonography of the spine enables the differentation of intraand paraspinal structures in a significant way. This examination does not require sedation, does not use radiation, can be performed in the nursery or an incubator and is less expensive than computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The sonographic appearence of the various kinds of spinal dysraphism is demonstrated and illustrated. Based on our preliminary experience spinal sonography appears to be useful in neonates and infants as the first imaging device for differentiation of cmplex malformation and as a screeing method for occult spinal dysraphism.
Humans ; Incubators ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neural Tube Defects ; Nurseries ; Spinal Dysraphism* ; Spine ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by high serum glucose levels and by disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. There are many cutaneous signs of this common endocrinopathy, such as nercobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, diabetic bullosis, shin spot, diabetic pruritus, etc. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated whether extracellular matrix gene expression in cultured skin fibroblast is influenced by insulin and Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I). METHOD: Total RNA was isolated from insulin or IGF-I treated human skin fibroblasts. The Northern blot and slot-blot hybridization were then conducted. RESULTS: The mRNA levels of pro α1(I) collagen, pro α1(I11) collagen, fibronectin in insulin and IGF-I treated normal skin fibroblasts increased compared with untreated normal skin fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Our results show that insulin and IGF-I stimulate collagen formation in normal skin fibroblast at physiological concentrations. Therefore, these demonstrate that insulin can modulate the expression of extracellular matrix gene.
Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Collagen ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Fibroblasts* ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Lipid Metabolism ; Methods ; Pruritus ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin*