To investigate whether the change of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the DRG is an underlying mechanism of sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain (SMP), in situ hybridization for alpha 2A -adrenergic receptor (AR) mRNA with digoxigenin -labeled RNA probe in the rat DRG was conducted after tight ligation of the 5th lumbar (L5) spinal nerve up to 12 weeks. Majority of the DRG neurons expressed alpha 2A -AR mRNA and a few satellite cells expressed alpha 2A -AR mRNA in the DRG of the contralateral side. The number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive DRG neurons dropped significantly at 7 day post -operation (7D PO). On the other hand, there was great increase in the number of the alpha 2A -AR positive satellite cells at 7D PO. Then, the number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive DRG neurons was increased and the number of the alpha 2A -AR mRNA positive satellite cells was decreased from 7D PO to 12 weeks PO. Surgical sympathectomy reduced neuropathic pain behaviors in animal models of neuropathic pain suggest that downregulation of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the injured DRG neurons following the ligation itself might be not related to SMP, but the role of upregulation of alpha 2A -AR mRNA expression in the satellite cells remain to be explored.
Animals ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Digoxigenin ; Down-Regulation ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Hand ; In Situ Hybridization ; Ligation ; Models, Animal ; Neuralgia* ; Neurons ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Spinal Nerves ; Sympathectomy ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: We identified the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and other enterovirus-related diseases to understand the epidemiological patterns and prevailing strains of enterovirus infections each year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1999-2003, we examined 3,260 specimens from 2,939 patients with aseptic meningitis or other clinical manifestations for the presence of enteroviruses by using both cell culture/ neutralisation test and reverse transcription-polymerse chain reaction-sequencing. To investigate the etiological agents which caused an epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, conjunctival swab samples from acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients showing cytopathic effects in HEp2 cells were tested by enteroviral specific PCR. RESULTS: We identified 603 isolates of enteroviruses (20.5%) among 2,939 cases and 22 serotypes of human enteroviruses were isolated during this 5 year period. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 in 2002 and coxsackievirus A9 in 2003 were the first enterovirus to be indentified in Korea since we began the enterovirus surveillance in 1993. While an epidemic of echovirus 13 infection in Korea began in Gwangju and Jeolla province in 2002 and spread to Seoul, Gyunggi, Busan, Ulsan and other regions, echovirus 6 isolates in 2002 were mainly detected in Busan specimens and some Gwangju samples. From the nucleotide sequencing of enteroviral PCR products of conjunctival swab specimens, we found 85% nucleotide homology to coxsackievirus A24 (D90457). CONCLUSIONS: We isolated 603 enteroviral isolates among 2939 cases during 1999-2003. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 were the first enterovirus to be identified in Korea and caused nationwide epidemics in 2002.
Busan ; Conjunctivitis ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul ; Ulsan

PURPOSE: We identified the causative viruses from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis and other enterovirus-related diseases to understand the epidemiological patterns and prevailing strains of enterovirus infections each year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 1999-2003, we examined 3,260 specimens from 2,939 patients with aseptic meningitis or other clinical manifestations for the presence of enteroviruses by using both cell culture/ neutralisation test and reverse transcription-polymerse chain reaction-sequencing. To investigate the etiological agents which caused an epidemic of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis, conjunctival swab samples from acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis patients showing cytopathic effects in HEp2 cells were tested by enteroviral specific PCR. RESULTS: We identified 603 isolates of enteroviruses (20.5%) among 2,939 cases and 22 serotypes of human enteroviruses were isolated during this 5 year period. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 in 2002 and coxsackievirus A9 in 2003 were the first enterovirus to be indentified in Korea since we began the enterovirus surveillance in 1993. While an epidemic of echovirus 13 infection in Korea began in Gwangju and Jeolla province in 2002 and spread to Seoul, Gyunggi, Busan, Ulsan and other regions, echovirus 6 isolates in 2002 were mainly detected in Busan specimens and some Gwangju samples. From the nucleotide sequencing of enteroviral PCR products of conjunctival swab specimens, we found 85% nucleotide homology to coxsackievirus A24 (D90457). CONCLUSIONS: We isolated 603 enteroviral isolates among 2939 cases during 1999-2003. Echovirus 13 and coxsackievirus A24 were the first enterovirus to be identified in Korea and caused nationwide epidemics in 2002.
Busan ; Conjunctivitis ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul ; Ulsan