No abstract available.
Mucous Membrane* ; Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Epithelium* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Muscle, Smooth*

Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of use as a traditional medicine in Asian countries. However, the taxonomy of Ganoderma species remains controversial, since they were initially classified on the basis of their morphological characteristics. Recently, it was proposed that G. lucidum from China be renamed as G. sichuanense or G. lingzhi. In the present study, phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region rDNA sequences of the Ganoderma species indicated that all strains of the Korean 'G. lucidum' clustered into one group together with G. sichuanense and G. lingzhi from China. However, strains from Europe and North American, which were regarded as true G. lucidum, were positioned in a clearly different group. In addition, the average size of the basidiospores from the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains was similar to that of G. lingzhi. Based on these results, we propose that the Korean cultivated Yeongji strains of 'G. lucidum' should be renamed as G. lingzhi.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Classification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Europe ; Ganoderma ; Humans ; Korea* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Reishi

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize new Flammulina velutipes laccases from its whole-genome sequence. Of the 15 putative laccase genes detected in the F. velutipes genome, four new laccase genes (fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4) were found to contain four complete copper-binding regions (ten histidine residues and one cysteine residue) and four cysteine residues involved in forming disulfide bridges, fvLac-1, fvLac-2, fvLac3, and fvLac-4, encoding proteins consisting of 516, 518, 515, and 533 amino acid residues, respectively. Potential N-glycosylation sites (Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr) were identified in the cDNA sequence of fvLac-1 (Asn-454), fvLac-2 (Asn-437 and Asn-455), fvLac-3 (Asn-111 and Asn-237), and fvLac4 (Asn-402 and Asn-457). In addition, the first 19~20 amino acid residues of these proteins were predicted to comprise signal peptides. Laccase activity assays and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses clearly reveal that CuSO4 affects the induction and the transcription level of these laccase genes.
Copper Sulfate ; Cysteine ; DNA, Complementary ; Flammulina* ; Fungi* ; Genome ; Histidine ; Laccase* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Reverse Transcription

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) typically causes severe and permanent visual loss in the affected eye and vision does not recover in 90% of the patients. It is believed that it occurs by occlusion of the central retinal artery with small emboli from atherosclerotic plaque of internal cerebral artery. Various methods have been introduced to recanalize the occluded artery and remove emboli but considered to fail except thrombolytic therapy. Retina is a part of the brain so basically CRAO is corresponding to acute occlusion of intracerebral artery and retinal ischemia is to cerebral stroke. Accordingly rapid procedure within therapeutic time window, choosing appropriate drugs and doses, reducing hemorrhagic and ischemic complications associated with neurovascular intervention is very important. However, clinical significance of CRAO is much different from that of acute cerebral arterial occlusion, therefore, neurointerventionists should perform this procedure within appropriate range of safety.
Arteries ; Brain ; Cerebral Arteries ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Retina ; Retinal Artery Occlusion* ; Retinal Artery* ; Retinaldehyde ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy

Pseudomembranous colitis, although uncommon, is an important complication of antibiotics that is related to a variety of deleterious effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Rifampicin is one of the 1st line agents in the treatment of tuberculosis and a large number of patients are exposed to its potential adverse effects. We report upon a patient that had diarrhea due to pseudomembranous colitis after receiving antitubeculous medication, and which was probably caused by rifampicin. A 77-year-old man was admitted with diarrhea of three weeks duration. One month previously, he suffered from left pleuritic chest pain and left pleural effusion was noticed at chest X-ray. One week prior to the onset of diarrhea, he was started on empirically isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazynamide as antituberculous medication. On admission, he complained of diarrhea, left pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea and sputum. On physical examination, breathing sound was decreased in the left lower lung field and bowel sound increased. Pleural biopsy revealed chronic granulomatous infalmmation, which was compatible with tuberculosis. Sigmoidoscopy showed whitish to yellowish pseudomembrane with intervening normal mucosa, and his stool was positive for C.difficle toxin. He was diagnosed as pseudomembranous colitis and treated with oral metronidazole and vancomycin. The diarrhea did not recur after reinstitution of the anti-tuberculous medication without rifampicin. In patients with severe diarrhea receining anti-tuberculous medication, rifampicin induced pseudomembranous colitis should be excluded.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Clostridium difficile ; Diarrhea ; Dyspnea ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Ethambutol ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Lung ; Metronidazole ; Mucous Membrane ; Physical Examination ; Pleural Effusion ; Respiratory Sounds ; Rifampin* ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Vancomycin

A case study and review of nephrotic syndrome associated with a total Hydatidiform mole in 54- year-old female is presented. She has generalized edema, nephrotic range proteinuria(8.05gm/day), hypoalbuminemia(2.5g/dl) and high serum level of beta- hCG(200,000IU/L). Radiological investigations showed a 16-cm sized heterogenous enhanced mass in the uterus. A renal biopsy performed before evacuation of H-mole showed a focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The complete remission of symptoms and signs of the nephrotic syndrom after evacuation of a molar tissue was achieved. A review of the literature revealed that this patient appears to be the first case of the FSGS with nephrotic syndrome associated with a total mole that remitted completely after the mole evacuation.
Biopsy ; Edema ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Molar ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Pregnancy ; Uterus

Cloacal anomaly is an extremely rare congenital malformation results from a failure in the development of the urorectal fold that separates the rectum from uterovaginal tract. It is characterized by the presence of a single duct where the gastrointestinal, genital and urinary tracts join. It presents with highly variable forms, which make it difficult to be diagnosed antenatally. We report a case of cloacal anomaly confirmed with autopsy, which was initially detected by the presence of a huge cystic fetal abdominal mass by ultrasound at a 22 weeks of gestation.
Autopsy ; Pregnancy ; Rectum ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract

No abstract available.
Animals ; Epithelium* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the recanalization of acute cerebral stroke that were not effectively resolved by conventional intraarterial thrombolysis (IAT), we designed a double device technique to allow for rapid and effective reopening. In this article, we describe the feasibility and efficacy of this technique. METHODS: From January 2008 to September 2009, twenty patients with acute cerebral arterial occlusion (middle cerebral artery : n=12; internal carotid artery terminus : n=5; basilar artery : n=3) were treated by the double device technique. This technique was applied when conventional thrombolytic methods using drug, microwires, microcatheters and balloons did not result in recanalization. In the double device technique, two devices are simultaneously placed at the lesion (for example, one microcatheter and one balloon or two microcatheters). Chemicomechanical or mechanicomechanical thrombolysis was performed simultaneously using various combinations of two devices. Recanalization rates, procedural time, complications, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The initial median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 16 (range 5-26). The double device technique was applied after conventional IAT methods failed. Recanalization was achieved in 18 patients (90%). Among them, 55% (11 cases) were complete (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2B, 3). The median thrombolytic procedural time including the conventional technique was 135+/-83.7 minutes (range 75-427). Major symptomatic hemorrhages (neurological deterioration > or =4 points in NIHSS) developed in two patients (10%). Good long term outcomes (modified Rankin Scale < or =2 at 90 days) occurred in 25% (n=5) of the cases. Mortality within 90 days developed in two cases (10%). CONCLUSION: The double device technique is a feasible and effective technical option for large vessel occlusion refractory to conventional thrombolysis.
Basilar Artery ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Stroke