The crystalline surface layer protein (SLP) and a 28-32 kDa antigen of Rickettsia typhi were known as strong immunogens. We previously reported a cloning and sequence analysis of the SLP gene of R. typhi (slpT) and showed that the open reading frame of this gene encodes both the SLP and a 32-kDa protein. Our study also showed that a 48-kDa protein reacted strongly with polyclonal antiserum of a patient with murine typhus. In this study, we produced three recombinant proteins (SLP, 32-kDa, and 48-kDa protein) in E. coli as fusion proteins with maltose binding proteins. The reactivity of these proteins with patients' sera was investigated.
Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Crystallins ; Humans ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; Open Reading Frames ; Recombinant Proteins ; Rickettsia typhi* ; Rickettsia* ; Sequence Analysis ; Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne

Isovolumic phase indices of right ventricular(RV) systolic function were evaluated in 9 normal control cases(Group I) and 9 patients with mitral stenosis(Group IIa) and 8 patients with mitral stenosis and aortic regurgitation(Group IIb). RV systolic pressures of all patients in Group II(n=17) were over 40mmHg RV dp/dt max, Vmax and Vpm were measured by digitizing method and V(CE10) were measured by manual tangent method. RV isovolumic contractile functional indices were greater in Group II(n=17) compared with those in Group I(n=9) : RV dp/dt max(mmHg. Sec(-1)) 347.8+/-104.4(mean+/-SD) VS 230.5+/-65.5(p<0.05), Vmax(Sec(-1)) 30.9+/-10 VS 20.1+/-5.18(p<0.05), Vpm(Sec(-1)) 22.96+/-9.63 VS 14.8+/-4.04(p<0.05) and V(CE10)(Sec(-1)) 20.4+/-7.11 VS 12.5+/-5.31(p<0.05). But no significant differences were noted between Group IIa(n=9) and Group IIb(n=8) in these indices. In all cases(n=26), significant correlations were noted between V(CE10) and Vmax(r=0.90), V(CE10) and Vpm(r=0.85). We summurized that RV contractile function is preserved in many cases with mitral stenosis and V(CE10) may be used as an convenient index for RV contractile function.
Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis*

The organization of the ribosomal genes is unique in Borrelia burgdorferi in that the rrl (23S) and rrf (SS) genes are duplicated in tandem. Twelve Korean Borrelia isolates were classified by the method of rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and Southern hybridization. One of the isolates, KW-3, as well as the representative of ribotype group IV Ip89 appeared to have evolved within B. garinii. The size of the restriction bands of the 11 isolates showed different patterns from the USA and European isolates. The result by RFLP of rrf-rrl intergenic spacer region amplified by PCR showed a good correlation with that of Southern hybridization of rRNA gene. Therefore, the eleven Korean isolates could be classified as members of a new Borrelia group.
Borrelia burgdorferi Group* ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Classification* ; Genes, rRNA ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Ribotyping

Three cases of hydatidiform mole with a coexisting fetus are described. In two cases, flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content from paraffin-embedded, molar tissues and normal-appearing placental tissues showed diploid pattern. One case had karyotypes of 46, XX both in fetal skin fibroblasts and in molar tissues. Microscopically, the villi showed diffuse hydropic swelling with circumferential trophoblastic proliferations and consistent with the diagnosis of complete mole. Two patient had persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia on the follow-up. Therefore, in cases of hydatidiform mole with a coexisting fetus, dizygotic twin pregnancies composed of a normal pregnancy from one ovum and a complete mole pregnancy from the other ovum must be considered and the patients should be followed with serum beta-hCG measurements.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Humans* ; Upper Extremity*

lmpedance audiometry requires physical modifications during the test, which might influence retest data. Therefore, in Order to interprete retest data meaningfully, the range of variation should be identified in each measure of impedence audiometry. The present study obtained data on the retest variation of peak pressure, acoustic reflex threshold, static compliance and earcanal volume in impedance audiometry. ln addition, the authors wanted to know whether or not impedance data would assist otolaryngologists in the detection of conductive hearing impairment. The variation of the retest data was not clinically nor statistically significant in the measurement except for those of ear canal volume. The data on ear canal volume also suggested that the ear canal increases in size during the teenage period and that male ear canals are larger than those of females in ears over 20 years of age. The impedance data assisted the otolaryngologist in the detection of conductive hearing impairment
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Auditory Threshold/*physiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comparative Study ; Diagnostic Errors ; Hearing Loss/*diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Conductive/*diagnosis/physiopathology ; Human ; Middle Age ; *Reflex, Acoustic ; Sex Factors ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tympanic Membrane/*physiopathology

The term "entropion" is defined as a turning inward of the eyelid. Depending on the mechanism of its causation, it may be classified into four types; mechanical, spastic, senile, and cicatricial. Cicatricial entropion follows scarring of the palpebral conjunctiva, which may be caused by trauma, chemical injuries, infections such as trachoma, benign ocular pemphigus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and eyelid surgery. Distichiasis is a rare congenital anomaly in which aberrant separate row of lashes usually composed of hairs smaller than normal, appears along the posterior lid margin. Numerous surgical procedures have been described for surgical correction of cicatricial entropion and distichiasis in accordance with the severity of the condition. We have treated cicatricial entropion in 6 eyes(8 lids) and distichiasis in 3 eyes (3 lids) with sliding tarsoconjunctival grafting, and the results were satisfactory.
Cicatrix ; Conjunctiva ; Entropion* ; Eyelids ; Hair ; Muscle Spasticity ; Pemphigus ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Trachoma ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To verify the pattern of p53 and TGF-beta protein expression in benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. METHODS: An immunohistochemical technique was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of 22 benign and 9 malignant epithelial ovarian tumors using p53 monoclonal antibody and TGF-beta polyclonal antibody. Expressions of p53 and TGF-beta protein in two histological types were compared, and correlated with clinico-pathologic findings of the respective cases. RESULTS: p53 immunoreactivity of high or intermediate degree was detected in 2 out of 22 benign (9%) and 5 out of 9 malignant (55%) cases. On the other hand, intermediate to high TGF-beta expression was found in 17 out of 22 benign (77%), and 3 out of 9 malignant (33%) cases. The prevalence differences of p53 and TGF-beta expression between benign and malignant groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, the prevalence of immunoreactivities of p53 and TGF-beta in malignant tumor didn't show any association with age, tumor size, histologic types and stage. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that p53 expression and loss of TGF-beta expression may play an important role in the malignant transformation of ovarian epithelial cells. However further studies seem to be necessary to know the exact relationship between their roles.
Epithelial Cells ; Hand ; Prevalence ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

This survey was conducted to evaluate with 457 health professionals from July, 1999 to September, 1999 the awareness of and satisfaction with the nutrition labeling system in Korea and to determine a desirable labeling system. Professors of food and nutrition and nutrition researchers in the food industry had the hightest scores on awareness of the nutrition labeling system(75.6% and 73.4%, respectively), which was significantly different from each other by occupation(p<0.01). Frequently checked labeling information were expiration date, production date, price, and company respectively. Special nutrient food producers(56.9%), dietitians(49.3%), nurses(48.1%), researchers(42.3%) answered moderately on satisfaction with nutrition information for products, which was statistically significant(p<0.01). This suggests that health professionals were unsatisfied with the present nutrition labeling system. In nutrition focusing statements, nutrient content claims, health claims, and working periods were significantly related with nutrition focusing statements and health claims, but not with nutrient content claims : the subject who had been working for more than 10 years and less than 5 years had positive thoughts or those matters while the subjects whose working periods were between 10 and 5 years had the lowest score. The most desirable labeling units were serving size(65.1%). Ninety two percent of the subjects wanted absolute nutrient contents in food and their percentage of the KRDA. Eight nine percent of health professionals agreed that the health claims should be used only with scientific approval by the government or food research institutions. Only 4.4% of subjects were satisfied with current regulations of health claims(p<0.001). More studies regarding labeling units, their range and nutrient reference values are needed. The opinions of health professionals in nutrition labeling system should discussed to establish a desirable nutrition labeling system.
Food Industry ; Food Labeling* ; Health Occupations* ; Korea ; Reference Values ; Social Control, Formal

No abstract available.
Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; Child ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis