No abstract available.
Korea* ; Rotavirus*

The nonstructural protein NSP4, encoded by gene 10 of rotavirus, has been shown to play a role in viral assembly and known to be an enterotoxin, causing diarrhea in mouse pups. NSP4 gene was cloned from CBNU-2 (virulent bovine rotavirus/diarrheic fecal sample) and CBNU-1 (cell-culture adapted bovine rotavirus/isolated from CBNU-2 and 75 times passaged on MA104 cells), respectively, by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequenced and compared. The sequence data indicated that the NSP4 genes of bovine rotavirus (BRV) were 751 bases in length and encoded one open reading frame of 175 amino acids beginning at base 42 and terminating at base 570. Differences in nucleotide sequence between CBNU-2 and CBNU-1 were observed at 6 positions (base 274, 296, 391, 394, 396 and 579). NSP4 gene of BRV exhibited a high degree of nucleotide (90% and 94%) and amino acid sequence (91% and 94%) and amino acid sequence (91% and 97%) homology with those of SA11 and UK but a low degree of nucleotide (77% and 79%) and amino acids sequence (81% and 85%) homology with those of Wa and OSU.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Diarrhea ; Enterotoxins ; Korea* ; Mice ; Open Reading Frames ; Rotavirus* ; Virus Assembly

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of coronary heart disease risk factors in healthy men and women. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 346 people (173 men and women aged 20 years and over) who received health screenings. Data was collected from December 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006. The FANTASTIC Lifestyle Assessment Inventory except smoking and the Framingham risk score of subjects were investigated. Data was analyzed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 10.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of the lifestyle of the women (64.24) was higher than that of the men (59.12). The mean score of the risk of coronary heart disease of the men (5.28%) was higher than that of the women (0.28%). The framingham risk for men was significantly related to lifestyle such as dietary habit, use of caffeine and drugs, anxiety and depression, job satisfaction, and closeness with family. The main predictors of framingham risk for men and women were 'use of caffeine and drugs', and 'menopause' which explained 16.5%, and 30.7% respectively. CONCLUSION: Since lifestyles can be changed with effort, coronary heart disease can be prevented while people are healthy.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Disease/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine lifestyle, BMI, BP, and lipids profiles in male subjects and to explore the relationships among variables. METHODS: A total of 148 male subjects were recruited from one life insurance company from December 1, 2005 to February 28, 2006. Data collection methods were structured questionnaire, anthropometry and serum analysis. The relationships among lifestyle, BMI, BP, and serum lipid profiles were assessed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, and partial Pearson's correlation coefficient of variables after controlling for age, educational level, and economic status. RESULTS: The mean BMI of the participants was relatively high as 25.38(range: 18.38 - 32.83). The differences of serum lipid profiles according to age, educational level, and economic status were significant. 'Use of caffeine and drugs'(r = -.187, p < .05) and 'consciousness of safety'( r= -.200, p < .05) was negatively related to BMI. Higher score of 'type of personality' domain was correlated with lower systolic BP(r = -.221, p < .01) and lower diastolic BP(r = -.195, p < .05) and was positively correlated with HDL(r = .191, p < .05). CONCLUSION: 'Use of caffeine and drugs', 'consciousness of safety' and 'type of personality' of lifestyle as well as 'dietary habit' and 'exercise' played a key role in circulatory disease.
Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; Caffeine ; Data Collection ; Humans ; Insurance, Life ; Life Style ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Circardian variation in the onset of cardiovascular events includig sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmias has been discribed. The frequency of ventricular premature complexes has also been reported to demonstrate a pattern consisting of a daytime peak and nightime nadir. We tried to see if the same circardian pattern is found in dilated cardiomyopathy patients. We have also studed how various modifying factors such as left ventricular ejection fration and ACE inhibitor use may affect the circardian pattern. METHOD: 24-hour ambulatory electrocaridiographic monitorings were performed in 50 dilated cardiomyopathy patients and 20 control subjects. Patients were prospectively divided in 2 groups based on LVEF and ACE inhibitor use. RESULTS: In dilated cardiomyopathy patients, the expected morning increase in VPC frequency is absent and show a peak in evening. This pattern is not correlated with heart rate. Evening peak is more prominent in low LVEF group and ACE inhibitor non-user group. CONCLUSION: In dilated cardiomyopathy patients, VPC frequency show a peak in the evening.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prospective Studies ; Ventricular Premature Complexes*

No abstract available.

The brachial plexus injury causes a catastrophic loss of functions of the corresponding upper extremity. However, for a long time, it must have been treated by conservative methods. Recently, with the development of the microsurgery, the brachial plexus lesions were begun to be treated by surgical means, such as neuroiysis, interfascicuiar nerve graft, or neurotization. We experienced seven cases, managed by interfaseicular nerve graft under the operating microscope, and here we presented four cases with the over-one-year results after operations.
Brachial Plexus ; Microsurgery ; Nerve Transfer ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Prune Belly Syndrome*

No abstract available.
Prune Belly Syndrome*

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen and angiogenic protein that may function as an autocrine growth regulator in a variety of malignancies. However, the prognostic value of bFGF expression in bladder cancer has not been adequately studied. We examined tumor tissues of 22 superficial and 25 invasive bladder cancers to define the prognostic value of bFGF expression. We performed immunohistochemical staining of bFGF in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded bladder tissue sections using rabbit polyclonal antibody. Microvessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to endothelial marker, factor VIII-related antigen. The staining of bFGF were significantly correlated with grade and T stage (p<0.05). The elevated expression of bFGF in patients with invasive bladder cancer was significant correlated with recurrence and 2 year survival (p<0.05). However, no significantly correlation was observed between level of bFGF and vascular counts in frozen sections derived from bladder cancers. These results suggest that the bFGF expression has an important prognostic value in patients with bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical study for bFGF may become a valuable method to predict long-term survival and necessity for adjuvant therapy in patients with bladder cancer.
Antibodies ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2* ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microvessels ; Recurrence ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; von Willebrand Factor