Highly specific and sensitive immunoassay method for soluble human recombinant interleukin-6 (hu rlL-6) was established by two different immunization methods. One is conventional method by Freund's adjuvant method and the other is special method which is directly injected to mouse spleen. Among seven established monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), two typical monoclonal antibodies, designated YB3 (IgG1) and NY2 (IgM), were further characterized. These mAbs highly bound to IL-6, however did not show cross reactivity with IL-1B and IL-2. As the results of ELISA inhibition assay and western blotting method, it was further identified that YB3 and NY2 had high binding specificity with IL-6. And the limiting detection amount of rlL-6 for YB3 was 5 ng/ml and for NY2 was 0.5 ng/ml. Furthermore, N-glycosylated human rlL-6 was also bound to YB3 on ELISA. On the other hand YB-3 furtherly recognized N-glycosylated human rlL-6 by sandwich ELISA method. These mAbs may be of use to diagnose the gynecopathy which contains abortion and preterm labor.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal* ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Hand ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoassay ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spleen

The ambulatory electrocardiographic examinations were performed in 31 patients (mean age of 59.4+/-9.3 yrs : male 16 cases, female 15 cases) with ischemic heart disease to evaluate the clinical features of ST segment more than 1 mm persisting for 45 seconds or longer. The incidence of associated disease are angina pectoris 14 cases, acute myocardial infarction 3 cases, old myocardial infarction 7 cases, hypertension 19 cases, diabetes mellitus 5 cases, cerebrovascular disease 4 cases, aortic regurgitation 2 cases, ventricular arrhythmia 1 case and chronic renal faliure 1 case. 93.7% of 252 monitored episodes of transient myocardial ischemia were silent. The incidence and duration of transient myocardial ischemia were 8.1+/-6.7 episodes/day (7.6+/-6.5episodes/day for silent myocardial ischemia, 0.5+/-0.9 episodes/day for silent ischemia, 7.6+/-14.1mins/day for symptomatic ischemia). The heart rate at the onset of ST segment depression is higher in symptomatic episode than silent episode (94.6+/-19.7 vs 82.1+/-17.4/min,. p<0.05). But duration of ST segment depression is longer in silent episode than symptomatic episode(32.4+/-97.7 vs 14.8+/-10.2/min,. p<0.01). Maximal ST segment depression was similar between silent and symptomatic episode (1.61+/-0.65 mm, 1.97+/-0.84 mm, repectively). 55.5% of silent episodes occurred during sleep or resting state and 60% of symptomatic episodes occurred during strenuous effort, exercise or eating (p<0.01). Transient myocardial ischemia developed not more frequently in the morning probably because the 24 hour Holter electrocadiographic examination was performed during hospitalization in the majority of cases.
Angina Pectoris ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Ischemia ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia*

Autophagy is a self-degradation system of cellular components through an autophagosomal-lysosomal pathway. Over the last 15 yr, yeast genetic screens led to the identification of a number of genes involved in the autophagic pathway. Most of these autophagy genes are present in higher eukaryotes and regulate autophagy process for cell survival and homeostasis. Significant progress has recently been made to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the autophagy machinery. Especially, autophagy process, including the regulation of autophagy induction through mTOR and the nucleation and elongation in autophagosome formation through class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex and ubiquitin-like conjugation systems, became evident. While many unanswered questions remain to be answered, here, we summarize the recent process of autophagy with emphasis on molecules and their protein complexes along with advanced molecular mechanisms that regulate the autophagy machinery.
Autophagy/genetics/*physiology ; Carrier Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins/genetics/metabolism

Numerous studies have established a link between autophagy and aging; however, the relationship has not been clearly defined. Aging is a very complex process caused by the accumulation of various factors due to the gradual failure of cellular maintenance. Recent studies have shown that autophagy reduces the stress responses induced by starvation, reactive oxygen species, and the accumulation of intracellular proteins and organelles through cytoprotection, clearance of damaged mitochondria, and lysosomal degradation. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the relationship between autophagy and the aging process.
Aging* ; Autophagy* ; Caloric Restriction ; Cytoprotection ; Mitochondria ; Organelles ; Proteins ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Starvation

Numerous studies have established a link between autophagy and aging; however, the relationship has not been clearly defined. Aging is a very complex process caused by the accumulation of various factors due to the gradual failure of cellular maintenance. Recent studies have shown that autophagy reduces the stress responses induced by starvation, reactive oxygen species, and the accumulation of intracellular proteins and organelles through cytoprotection, clearance of damaged mitochondria, and lysosomal degradation. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the relationship between autophagy and the aging process.
Aging* ; Autophagy* ; Caloric Restriction ; Cytoprotection ; Mitochondria ; Organelles ; Proteins ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Starvation

PURPOSE: Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is a congenital intestinal disorder with absence of ganglion cells in the intestinal muscle and submucosa. Diagnosis is based on histopathological study such as H&E, and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) immunohistochemistry. Calretinin immunohistochemistry was introduced as a new diagnostic method against limitations of other staining. The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of calretinin immunohistochemistry for the diagnosis of HD compared to H&E and AchE. METHODS: Ten patients with HD and 22 non-HD patients were included in the study. H&E staining, AchE and calretinin immunohistochemistry were performed in all 32 patients. All slides were evaluated by same single pathologist and the diagnostic value was calculated for each H&E stain, AchE immunohistochemical staining, and calretinin immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Calretinin method had sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100% for diagnosis of HD. Its diagnostic accuracy was 100%. AchE staining showed 100% of specificity and 80% of sensitivity. Diagnostic accuracy of H&E staining was 56.3%. CONCLUSION: We concluded that calretinin immunohistochemistry is a very useful and valuable method to diagnosis HD patient.
Acetylcholinesterase ; Biopsy* ; Calbindin 2* ; Diagnosis ; Ganglion Cysts ; Hematoxylin ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Suction*

This study was performed to determine the effect of hydrosalpinx on the outcome with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer(IVF-ET). Hydrosalpingeal fluid may leak into theuterine cavity during or after ovarian hyperstimulation and can cause deletorious effect onembryo or implantation. Herein, we reported the effect of hydrosalpinx on the cycle outcomeof IVF in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles and cryopreserved-thawed embryotransfer cycles.In controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles, comparisons were made between 59 IVFcycles of 54 patients having tubal disease without hydrosalpinx(control group) and 36 IVFcycles of 35 patients carrying hydrosalpinx(hydrosalpinx group). Both clinical pregnancyand implantation rates were significantly lower in hydrosalpinx group(25.4 versus 8.3%,and 11.6 versus 2.0% respectively). Four ectopic pregnancies were noted in hydrosalpinxgroup compared to one in the control group.In cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer cycles, comparisons were made between 27IVF cycles of 25 patients having tubal disease without hydrosalpinx(control group) and 13IVF cycles of 13 patients carrying hydrosalpinx(hydrosalpinx group). There was a tendencyof decreased pregnancy and implantation rates in hydrosalpinx group compared to the control(37.0 versus 15.4%, and 9.9% versus 4.0% respectively). One ectopic pregnancy was notedin the hydrosalpinx group compared to none in the control group.These data indicate that the presence of hydrosalpinx may negatively affect IVF outcome.We suggest that patients presenting with hydrosalpinx should consider surgical correctionto optimize their outcome with IVF procedure.
Cryopreservation ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic

Multifetal pregnancy reduction(MFPR) appears to be an efficacious method for impro-ving the perinatal outcome of high order multifetal pregnancies(three or more fetuses). But it is controversial that larger initial fetal number before MFPR affects pregnancy outcomes adversely. The purpose of this study is to determine the affects of the initial fetal numbers on pregnancy outcomes and to compare the obstetrical outcomes according to the initial fe-tal numbers. Eighty four patients who conceived triplet or more by assisted reproductive technology(ART) in our infertility clinics and underwent MFPR to twins between January 1993 and December 1995. Sixteen patients were lost follow-up. Among the remaining 68 patients, four pateints were excluded from this study because of the pregnancy loss before 20 weeks gestation. The patients(n=64) were divided into three groups by the initial fetal number before reduction. 33 patients with triplet gestations(group 1), 18 patients with qua-druplets gestations(group 2), and 13 patients with quintuplet or more gestations(group 3) were retrospectively enrolled. Gestational age at delivery and birthweights were compared according to the initial fetal numbers. The mean maternal age was similar in each three groups. The results were as follows : 1) Although there was a trend of decreasing gestati-onal weeks at delivery and decreased birthweight in each groups(mean+/-SEM : 36.9+/-0.3, 34.7+/-1.3, 32.7+/-1.9 and 2,600+/-58, 2,161+/-215, 1,855+/-249 respectively), there were no stati-stical difference between group 1 and group 2, but there were significantly lower in group 3, compared with group1(p < 0.05). 2) The incidence of birth before 36 weeks gestation in each group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 12.1%, 38.9%, and 53.8% respectively(p < 0.05). 3) The incidence of low birthweight( < 2,500gm) in each group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 30.3%, 55.6%, and 69.2% respectively(p < 0.05). In conclusion, although MFPR reduced the high order multifetal pregnancy into twin pregnancy, the duration of gestation and the birth weight of newborn were still had a tendency of shortening and low respectively in high order multifetal pregnancy. Therefore strict control of the number of dominant follicles during superovulation and the number of transfered embryo in in vitro fertilization(IVF) is required for improving the pregnancy outcomes in ART.
Birth Weight ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infertility ; Maternal Age ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Quintuplets ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Superovulation ; Triplets

PURPOSE: Methionine synthase (MTR) and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are the main regulatory enzymes for homocysteine metabolism. The present case- control study was conducted to determine whether there is an association between the MTR 2756A > G or MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism and plasma homocysteine concentration in Korean subjects with ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA samples of 237 patients who had an ischemic stroke and 223 age and sex-matched controls were studied. MTR 2756A > G and MTHFR 677C > T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Frequencies of mutant alleles for MTR and MTHFR polymorphisms were not significantly different between the controls and cases. The patient group, however, had significantly higher homocysteine concentrations of the MTR 2756AA and MTHFR 677TT genotypes than the control group (p=0.04 for MTR, p=0.01 for MTHFR). The combined MTR 2756AA and MTHFR 677TT genotype (p= 0.04) and the homocysteine concentrations of the patient group were also higher than those of the controls. In addition, the genotype distribution was significant in the MTHFR 677TT genotype (p=0.008) and combined MTR 2756AA and MTHFR 677TT genotype (p=0.03), which divided the groups into the top 20% and bottom 20% based on their homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrate that the MTR 2756A > G and MTHFR 677C > T polymorphisms interact with elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) levels, leading to an increased risk of ischemic stroke.

PURPOSE: To evaluate mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight infants(VLBW infants) born in the Busan area from 1996 to 2005. METHODS: A total of eight neonatal intensive care units (4 university hospitals and 4 general hospitals) in Busan participated in this study. A total of 1,414 VLBW infants were divided into three groups: period I, 1996 to 2000; period II, 1999 to 2002; period III, 2003 to 2005, based on date of birth. We performed a retrospective review of medical records of VLBWinfants and compared the survival rate, morbidity and mortality over the three periods. RESULT: The number of VLBW infants admitted to 8 NICUs in 1996-2005 was a total of 1,414 (1.3% incidence, mean gestational age 29.1+/-2.7 wk, mean birth weight 1158+/-235 g), including 361 (24.7%) extremely low birth weight infants (ELVW infants) who were less than 1,000 g at birth weight. Overall survival rate of VLBW infants was 66.1%. The survival rate of VLBW infants increased significantly over the three periods (period I:57.6%, period II:67.8%, period III:75.7%, P<0.01). Overall survival rate of ELBW infants was 33.8%, and increased from 26.4% in period I to 44.2% in period III (P<0.01). The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 45.1%; patent ductus arteriosus, 16.4%; bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 13.1%; blood culture positive sepsis, 12.7%; necrotizing enterocolitis, 6.6%; severe intracranial hemorrhage, 6.5%; and severe retinopathy of prematurity, 5.9%. The main causes of death were respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. CONCLUSION: Overall survival rate of very low birth weight infant in Busan area during the last 10 years was 66.1%, and increased significantly over the three periods.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Busan* ; Cause of Death ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Survival Rate