In order to understand the role of mec regulator genes in the evolution of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), the distribution of the mec regulator genes among the 66 clinical isolates of MRSA was analysed. And also the correlation between gene mutation and degree of phenotypic expression of resistance was studied. Fifty strains carried whole mec regulator region, while the mecI gene and nearly half of the 3'-end of the mecR#l gene were deleted in fifteen strains. The mecRl MS gene was detected among all of the mecA carried strains, but the mecRl PB gene was carried by 77% of the MRSA strains. At least a portion of the 5'-end region of the mecRl gene was carried by all MRSA strains tested. Forty-seven strains were finally confirmed to have mecI gene and each mecI gene of above strains was sequenced for identification of the relationship between repressor function of mecI gene on mecA transcription and MIC level of methicillin. Point mutations were detected in 11 strains of 47 strains. In 8 strains, there was one nucleotide substitution (C to T at position 202) that produced a new termination codon at position 201. In 3 strains, one nucleotide substitution from G to T at position 43 caused an amino acid substitution from Val to Phe. The MIC of methicillin of strains carrying mutated mecI genes ranged 256 ug/ ml to 1024 ug/ml. Transcription level of amplified cDNA corresponding to mecA was determined by the method of RT-PCR of extracted RNA. Total RNA was extracted from two strains with mutated mecI gene and a strain with intact mecI gene. Deletional loss or the mutational inactivation of the mecI gene did not affect the level of mecA transcription. Role of mecI gene as a strong repressor function on mecA gene seemed to be skeptical.
Amino Acid Substitution ; Codon, Terminator ; DNA, Complementary ; Genes, Regulator* ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Point Mutation ; RNA

To evaluate the possibility of the newly developed highly porous glass ceramics as a space-filler in the cavitary bone defect, we made the opening sized 1 × 0.5 cm on the medial aspect of the right proximal tibia of nine rabbits. We impacted the highly porous glass ceramics firmly to the medullary cavity of rabbit tibia through the opening. Each three were sacrificed at 4th, 8th, and 12th week and analyze in vivo reaction of the glass ceramics in rabbit tibia with radiological and histological methods. On radiological examination, radiolucent line was seen around impacted glass ceramics at 4th week, but this radiolucent line was obliterated gradually to 12th week. On histological examination, new bone formation with osteoblast was appeared at 4th week without foreign body reactions. At 8th week, newly formed bone infiltrated into the porous space between glass ceramics particles was noticed, and the surface of glass ceramics was tightly bound by newly formed bone with osteoblastic rim and mature bone, At 12th week, the amount of newly formed mature bone increased, though there was on evidence of resorption of glass ceramics particle. So, we suggest that the highly porous glass ceramics is one of the possible artificial bone graft substitutes, especially as a space-filler.
Ceramics ; Foreign Bodies ; Glass ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Tibia ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common disorder of gynecologic department. Organic causes of abnormal uterine bleednig are chronic cervicitis, submucosal myoma, endometrial polyp, endometrial malignancy. To find the exact cause of uterine bleeding, hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy was used. METHODS: 214 patients were included in the study, who received hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy from Feb. 2000 to Dec. 2002 with abnormal uterine bleeding, negative in urine pregnancy test, normal in cervix cytology, and without organic lesion causing uterine bleeding in pelvic examination and ultrasonography. Age, parity, hysteroscopic biopsy result were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean age of study group was 42 and mean parity was 2.75. When final hysteroscopic biopsy histology were analysed, proliferative phase was most common (28.9%). Next followed secretory phase (18.2%), simple hyperplasia (13.5%), endometrial polyp (9.8%), chronic endocervicitis (5.1%). Submucosal myoma (4.2%), endometrial cancer (4.2%). Complex hyperplasia were detected in 3.2%. Of 214 patients, who complained uterine bleeding, only 99 (47.1%) patients were proved true non- organic uterine bleeding on hysteroscopic biopsy. Remainder had organic disorder (39.8%). CONCLUSION: When a patient visits the hospital with abnormal uterine bleeding, doctor should be suspicious of endometrial organic disease and treat the patient under exact diagnosis. In these patients, hysteroscopic examination and biopsy were very useful and safe method to determine exact diagnosis and treatment plan.
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hysteroscopy ; Myoma ; Parity ; Polyps ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Cervicitis ; Uterine Hemorrhage*

In order to examine the neurotoxic mechanism of oxygen radicals on cultured bovine oligodendrocytes, cytoxic effect of oxygen radicals was examined when cultures were treated with various concentrations of xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine (HX) in culture medium. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of iron-chelators against the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell viability was remarkably decreased in a time-dependent manner after exposure of cultured bovine oligodendrocytes to 20mU/ml XO and 0.1mM HX for 4 hours. In the neuroprotective effect of iron-chelators on oxidant-induced neurotoxicity, tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN) blocked the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals, while DFX was not effective in blocking oxidant-induced neurotoxicity in these cultures. These results suggest that oxygen radicals are toxic in cultured bovine oligodendrocytes, and also selective iron-chelators such as TPEN are effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals.
Allopurinol* ; Cell Survival ; Hypoxanthine ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Oligodendroglia ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Xanthine Oxidase

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver cirrhosis is an end-stage liver disease. Ito cell is known to have central role in fibrogenes is of liver cirrhosis. But collagen content and Ito cell activity in liver cirr hosis have received little attention. So Ito cell activity and hepatocyte proliferation activity according to collagen content was investigated. WAF-1 and c- met were studied to evaluate the effect of cell cycle. METHODS: We analyzed 56 cases of liver cirrhosis ( viral:41, biliary:11, alcoholic:2, Wilson' s disease:2). Collagen content was measured by spectrophot ometry. Ito cell activity and prolifer ation index was measured by-SMA and Ki- 67 immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In viral cirrhosis, high collagen group showed increased Ito cell activity compared to low collagen group. There was no difference in hepatocyte prolifer ation activity bet ween high and low collagen group in viral cirrhosis. In biliary cirrhos is, high collagen group showed increased Ito cell activity in septal zones compared to low collagen group. WAF- 1and c- met were negative in most of cases. CONCLUSION: Collagen content of liver cirrhosis is closely related to increment of activated Ito cells . Ito cell activity was prominent in septal zones than in parenchymal areas of viral cirrhosis and that was only significant in septal zones of biliary cirrhosis. There is no correlation bet ween collagen content and hepatocyte proliferation activity.
Cell Cycle ; Collagen* ; Fibrosis ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Hepatocytes* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; Liver Diseases ; Liver*

Children with abnormal sex development may present with ambiguous genitalia in the newborn period or lacking of secondary sexual characteristics in puberty. Clinicians should make a prompt and accurate diagnosis and counsel parents on therapeutic options to minimize or avoid medical and psychological complications. 5alpha-reductase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of sex development caused by a mutation of the 5alpha-reductase type 2 gene. As a result, there is an abnormality in conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and children with 5alpha-reductase deficiency are born with ambiguous genitalia. Here, we report identical twins who presented with ambiguous genitalia with a 46,XY karyotype and were diagnosed as 5alpha-reductase deficiency.
Child ; Dihydrotestosterone ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotype ; Parents ; Puberty ; Sexual Development ; Testosterone ; Twins, Monozygotic

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the incidence, types, chemotherapy regimens, operation methods, pregnancy rate and propiosis of the ov#arian malignancy under the age of twenty years old. METHODS: Retrospective reviews of the medical recordings for 22 patients with ovarian malignancy under the age of twenty years old in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanyang University from 1986 to 1997 were done. RESULTS: Gerin cell tumor accounts for the majority of cases (77%), whereas 5 patients(23%) belong to the common epithelial poup which were all mucinous type. Our experiences with 22 cases are as followings: 5 mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, 8 immature teratoma, 4 endodermal sinus tumor, 3 dysgernma and 2 mixed germ cell tumor. The incidence of this group was 8.2% (22/266) in all ovarian malignancy. Fourteen of them are stage I, each one is, stage II and IV, and six patients are stage III. The average age was 14.9 years old in germ cell tumor and 18.4 yems old in mucinous cystadenoearcinoma. Malignant ovarian cancer under the age of twenty can be treated with conservative surgery, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Commonly used chemotherapeutic regimens were VAC(Vincristine, Actinomycin-D; Cyclophosphamide), VBP(Vinblastine, Bleomycin, Cisplatin) and BEP(Bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin). Second look operations were done in 11 patienth and histologic positive findings were detected in 4 of them. The length of follow-up ranged ftom 3 months to 137 months and median value was 44 rnonths. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that for young women who wish to preserve child-bearing capacity, regardless of the stage of the tumor, fertility preserving surgery with complete surgical staging, if necessary followed by combination chemotherapy is an appropriate treatment.
Bleomycin ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; Etoposide ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Mucins ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Obstetrics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Teratoma

The incidence of Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is 1 in 2000-5000 live births and hiatal hernia is even rarer especially in neonates. We experienced a case of congenital hiatal hernia (mixed type) in a week old female. Upon confirmation of the diagnosis, the surgery was done. Through the right thoracotomy, Belsey-Mark IV fundoplication was performed after the reduction of herniated viscera. The patient was fed 3 days after operation. there has been no complaint for 6 months after discharge. Therefore, we present this case with overall review of the literature.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Fundoplication ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Hernia, Hiatal* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Live Birth ; Thoracotomy ; Viscera

The Kidd (Jk) system is one of the most important blood group systems in transfusion medicine due to immediate or delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions as well as hemolytic disease of newborn (HDN). We experienced a case of jaundice and hemolytic anemia in a newborn due to anti-Jk(b) incompatibility appearing within the first 24 hours of life. The infant's direct and indirect antiglobulin tests were positive. There were no ABO and Rh (D) incompatibilities between the mother and the baby. Direct Coomb's IgG was strongly positive but C3d was negative. We started the exchange transfusion with the whole blood and had a favorable outcome. We report this case with a brief review of relevant literature.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Coombs Test ; Erythroblastosis, Fetal ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Neonatal* ; Mothers ; Transfusion Medicine

Papillary eccrine adenoma is a rare cutaneous tumor which occurs most commonly on the distal portion of extremities as a small solitary nodule. Histopathologically, the tumor consists of multiple dilated or branching tubular structures that are lined by two or more layers of epithelial cells and shows papillary projection into the lumina. Positive staining with S-100 protein, CEA, EMA and keratin in papillary eccrine adenoma is consistent with differentiation toward the secretory epithelium of eccrine sweat gland. Herein we report four cases of papillary eccirine adenoma and review the literature.
Adenoma* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extremities ; S100 Proteins ; Sweat Glands