No abstract available.
Antibodies* ; Borrelia burgdorferi* ; Borrelia* ; Immunoblotting* ; Lyme Disease*

We present the construction of the lab-on-a-chip (LOC) system, a state-of-the-art technology that uses polymer materials (i.e., poly[dimethylsiloxane]) for the miniaturization of conventional laboratory apparatuses, and show the potential use of these microfluidic devices in clinical applications. In particular, we introduce the independent unit components of the LOC system and demonstrate how each component can be functionally integrated into one monolithic system for the realization of a LOC system. In specific, we demonstrate microscale polymerase chain reaction with the use of a single heater, a microscale sample injection device with a disposable plastic syringe and a strategy for device assembly under environmentally mild conditions assisted by surface modification techniques. In this way, we endeavor to construct a totally integrated, disposable microfluidic system operated by a single mode, the pressure, which can be applied on-site with enhanced device portability and disposability and with simple and rapid operation for medical and clinical diagnoses, potentially extending its application to urodynamic studies in molecular level.
Disposable Equipment ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ; Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems ; Microfluidics ; Miniaturization ; Plastics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymers ; Syringes ; Urodynamics

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) has brought an oppotunity for rapid detection of Mycobacterium leprae in clinical pecimens for the diagnosis of leprosy. Th DNA segment specific to M. leprae was detectable in a matteir of hours and DNA from one orgnisa appeared positive by PCR. However, the PCR tool has not been evaluated using elinical specimeriis from leprosy patients and controls. OBJECTIVE & METHODS: The primers amplifying 372bp segment of rebetitive sequence of M. leprae DNA were used in PCR. Skin biopsy specimens from 102 leprosy patient, and controls were examined for the presence of M. leprae by PCR and the results were aomared with microscopic and histopathologic findings. RESULTS: 1. As a result, of PCR after DNA preparation of M. leprae, six other mycobacteria, ten other bacteria, and skin from leprosy with five other skin biopsy tissues, 372bp DNA fragment was specifically amplified from M. leprae. 2. Dot blot, hybridization of PCR products showed that the 372bp DNA from skin biopsy specimens were derived from M. leprae. 3. As a result of PCR after DNA preparation of 10-fold diluted M. legrae from mouse footpad, PCR gave a positive result as low as one organism. 4. Of 87 specimens in which acid-fast bacilli were found under microcopic examinations 97% had positive PCR results. 5. Of 97 specimens which hadihistopathologic evidences of leprosy 95% had positive PCR results. 6. Of 15 specimens in which acid-fast bacilli were not found under n!icroscopic examinations 73% had positive PCR results. In three of five cases which had neither histopathologic nor microscopic evidences of leprosy had positive PCR results. CONCLUSION: PCR method amplifying 372bp fragment of repetitive seqi,ence was highly sensitive and specific in detecting M. leprae DNA in skin biopsy specimens, thus may be a useful tool as an additive diagnostic method, espcially for cases where microscopic antihystopathologic findings are not definite.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Mice ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

OBJECTIVE: The implantation failure after embryo-transfer (ET) is a major continuing problem in in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of individuals experiencing repeated unexplained in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) failure. METHODS: A total of nine consecutive infertile patients who failed to become pregnant after previous IVF-ET replacing at least three or more normal developed embryos each were included in our study. During the subsequent new IVF-ET cycle, each women received intravenous immunoglobulin 500mg/kg before the embryo transfer. RESULTS: Only one implantation occurred. There were no remarkable side effects. A specific effect of intravenous immunoglobulin for patients with repeated IVF-ET failure could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSION: High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin may not be useful for patients with repeated failure of embryo transfer.
Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins*

We measured the anterior chamber depth and chamber angle to understand the biological structure of anterior segment and find a possible relation between cataract and angle closure glaucoma on 235 eyes over 40 years old divided into two groups: 111 cataract eyes and 124 normal control eyes using the Scheimpflug Camera(EAS-1000, Nidek, Japan) and image analysis technique. The values of the anterior chamber depth and angle of the eye of the young person were greater than those of older person, and the values in the male were deeper(p<0.01) and larger(p<0.05) than those in female in both groups. In cata ract eyes, the mean anterior chamber depth was 2.77mm and mean anterior chamber angle was 30.36 degrees. The mean anterior chamber depth and angle of normal control eye were 2.67mm and 29.10 degrees. The anterior chamber depth and angle in cataract group was deeper(p<0.05) and larger(p<0.05) than in normal control group.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber* ; Cataract* ; Female ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure ; Humans ; Male

Taxol is an active chemotherapeutic agent against a variety of solid tumors and a potentially useful drug for augmenting the cytotoxic action of radiotherapy against certain cancers. Taxol blocks cells in the mitotic phase of cell cycle. The aim of this study was to define the in vivo response of rapidly dividing cells of the small intestinal mucosa to taxol. We studied the numbers of apoptotic and mitotic cells and the expression of bcl-2 and p53 in rat jejunal crypt cells at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours and 3 and 5 days after intraperitoneal injection of taxol. Mitosis peaked at 2 and 4 hours and 12 and 16 hours. Apoptosis peaked at 16 hours and returned to normal after five days. The glands in crypts showed marked distortion with atypical lining cells after three days, which returned to normal at 5 days. bcl-2 expression was markedly decreased at 8 to 24 hours and subnormally recovered after three to five days. p53 showed no significant changes throughout. The histopathological changes in small intestine due to taxol were transient with complete recovery. bcl-2 expression was inversely corresponded to numbers of apoptosis. The changes were p53 independent. Further studies to understand the conditions that maximize the cell-cycle modulating effects of taxol cl-may greatly enhance its anti-tumor effectiveness.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestine, Small* ; Mitosis ; Paclitaxel ; Radiotherapy ; Rats*

BACKGROUND: Cadmium is a toxic element in cigarette smoke associated with ischemic vascular disease. Its association with cerebral aneurysm is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with headache who underwent imaging studies between March 2014 and August 2016. An unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) was confirmed by brain magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomography angiography. A control group included age- and sex-matched patients without an UIA. Whole blood and random urine tests were used for detection of cadmium and arsenic levels, respectively. Student t-test was used to compare subject characteristics, mean cadmium and arsenic levels between groups, and differences between groups with small (<4-mm) and large (≥4-mm) UIAs. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for aneurysm incidence. RESULTS: Of 238 patients, 25 had an UIA. Those with an UIA had more pack-years of smoking (19.5±3.8 vs. 12.5±6.8, P=0.044) and higher mean serum cadmium levels (1.77±0.19 vs. 0.87±0.21 µg/L, P=0.027). Arsenic levels showed no difference between groups. (67.4±23.5 vs. 62.2±18.3 µg/L, P=0.458). There were no significantly different demographic, clinical, or laboratory characteristics between small and large aneurysm groups. According to multivariate analysis, smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–2.33; P=0.047) and serum cadmium >2.0 mcg/L (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15–1.84; P=0.043) were associated with aneurysm incidence. CONCLUSION: UIA incidence was associated with pack-years of smoking and serum cadmium level, but aneurysm size was not associated with serum cadmium level.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Arsenic ; Brain ; Cadmium ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Vascular Diseases

Differences in ability to produce the specific phenolic glycolipid-Tb (PGL-Tb) antigen among Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains have been reported. One of the explanations would be the genotypic variation between the strains. In this study, we compared the DNA fragment patterns after digestion of DNA with various restriction enzymes between the PGL-Tb producing and non-producing strains of M. tuberculosis. Three clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis producing the PGL-Tb antigen detectable by thin-layer chromatography, and M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. bovis BCG not producing the antigen were grown in Sauton medium. The chromosomal DNA was digested with the restriction endonucleases, Eco RI, Sau3A I, BamH I, Xho I, Sma I, Pst I, Hinc II, and Bst EII. Most of the restriction enzymes used gave no clear DNA bands or no DNA fragment common just to the PGL-Tb producing strains. When DNAs were digested with Bst EII, however, there was a 13 kb DNA fragment common to the PGL-Tb producing isolates of M. tuberculosis and not present in the H37Rv strain and M. bovis BCG. This study thus suggests that there might be differences in DNA fragment patterns between the PLG-Tb producing and non-producing strains of M. tuberculosis.
Base Sequence ; Comparative Study ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; DNA, Bacterial/*metabolism ; Glycolipids/*biosynthesis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*genetics/metabolism ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tuberculosis/microbiology