Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is introduced as a marker of disease. At present, a variety of method may be used to quantify expression of this protein. Antigen capture-ELISA is a sensitive and accurate quantification method previously used with ovine, rat, and human IL-6 proteins. However, it has never been reported to quantify porcine IL-6 protein using capture ELISA. In this study, we generated and characterized a set of IgY and mono-specific polyclonal antibodies to recombinant porcine IL-6 (rpIL-6), and combining these with a sensitive and specific capture-ELISA for a diagnostic purpose. cDNA encoding the mature protein coding region of porcine IL-6 was cloned and expressed with pQE-30UA expression vector. rpIL-6 was then expressed and purified by using Ni-NTA resin. Protein mass of 24 kDa was found with SDS-PAGE and the identity of the protein was confirmed by Western-blot. Production of polyclonal antibodies against rpIL-6 was performed using the purified rpIL-6 in mice and hens. An antigen capture-ELISA was developed with the antibodies after their extraction. To compare the IL-6 level in the different sanitary state of farms, pig sera were randomly collected and concentration of IL-6 in the sera was measured with the antigen capture-ELISA. The capture-ELISA with the optimal concentration of antibodies, in this study, was able to detect about 10 ng/ml of rpIL-6. IL-6 levels determined with the capture-ELISA in pig sera showed positive correlation with the sanitary states of the farms. These results suggested that the developed antigen capture-ELISA could be a good tool for the screening of microbial infection in pig farms.
Animals ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Chickens ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary/genetics/isolation&purification ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/veterinary ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods/*veterinary ; Female ; Immunoglobulins/*blood ; Interleukin-6/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Recombinant Proteins/immunology ; Swine/*immunology

No abstract available.
Ligamentum Flavum* ; Spinal Cord Diseases*

No abstract available.
Diskectomy* ; Dust* ; Transplants*

It is been known that the deltoid ligament of the ankle joint plays an important role in the stabiliy of the ankle joint. In cases of deltoid ligament rupture, associated with lateral malleolar fractures, cannot be maintained the integrity of the mortise and the stability of the talus. Controversy remains about the treatment of deltoid ligament injuries. Many authors advocate an operative repair for deltoid ligament ruptures for optimal reduction of lateral malleolar fracture. However, according to recent cadaveric studies and many satisfactory results of clinical studies, excellent results have been reported regarding the ankle joint stability by anatomical reduction of the lateral structure, but only without surgical repair of the medial structure. Fourteen patients with lateral malleolar fractures with associated deltoid ligament injuries treated at Sun General Hospital between January 1990 and June 1995. There were examined clinically and radiologically. We concluded that deltoid ligament repairs should be considered unnecessary as long as fibular fracture are stabilized anatomically with normal medial joint space. However, in cases with higher fracture levels of lateral malleolus, associated with syndesmotic injury, we recommend syndesmotic screw fixation or deltoid ligament repair.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Ankle Joint ; Cadaver ; Fibula* ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Joints ; Ligaments* ; Rupture ; Solar System ; Talus

PURPOSE: In most cases, myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) transforms into a more aggressive state or acute myelogenous leukemia; it's prognosis is very poor. It is believed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) is the only curative treatment of MDS, but available data in children are very sparse. In this report, the short term outcome of HSCT in childhood MDS was analyzed. METHODS: Ten children with MDS(CMMoL 5, RAEB 3, RAEBt 2) underwent HSCT(HLA- matched sibling transplantation 4, HLA-matched unrelated transplantation 4, cord blood transplantation 1, HLA-mismatched familial transplantation 1) between November 1995 and January 2001 at St. Mary's Hospital. Median follow-up duration was 11 months. RESULTS: Engraftment was successful in all cases and 8 patients are alive without disease. Three cases of VOD were observed and improved without complication. Four cases of grade II and 1 case of grade III acute GVHD were observed and well controlled with treatment. Three patients relapsed after transplantation. One patient is alive without disease after cytoreduction with allogenic stem cell rescue and 2 patients died of relapse. CONCLUSION: HSCT is a curative strategy of MDS and the survival rate is relatively higher than that of adults. But there is an obvious need for more studies because of the small number of patients and the short duration of the follow-up.
Adult ; Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ; Child ; Fetal Blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: After the introduction of concept of osteointegration, dental implantology have been successful procedure in the dental field. Recently, it has shown successful results when used to restore single tooth missing. Considering the difference in bone quality of the mandible and maxilla, and the increased occlusal force in the posterior region, the success rates in each region may be different. In this study, success rates of single implants placed in the mandibular first and second molar areas were analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were patients (284 patients, 308 implants) who had been operated with single implant installation from 2002 to 2009 in seven dental clinics in Daegu city. One hundred sixty eight implants were placed in the mandibular 1st molar and 140 implants were placed in the mandibular 2nd molar. They were analyzed according to implant site, age, sex, length and diameter. RESULTS: The survival rates of single implant of this study were 97.6% in the mandibular 1st molar and 92.9% in the mandibular 2nd molar. In the mandibular 1st molar, 4 implants were failed. In the mandibular, 2nd molar, 10 implants were failed. CONCLUSION: The restoration of the mandibular 1st molar using single implant was found to be clinically acceptable treatment and showed higher survival rate than mandibular 2nd molar single implant. Single implant in mandibular 2nd molar needs careful consideration of poor bone quality, risk of overloading and anatomical structure of the mandible.
Bite Force ; Dental Clinics ; Dental implants* ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar* ; Survival Rate* ; Tooth

PURPOSE: The Roux en Y method has rarely been performed due to longer operation time and high risk of complication, despite several merits including prevention of bile reflux. We conducted a retrospective review of the result of Roux en Y reconstruction using two circular staplers after subtotal gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2008 to May 2009, a total of 26 patients underwent Roux en Y reconstruction using two circular staplers after subtotal gastrectomy, and seventy-two patients underwent Billroth-I reconstruction. Roux en Y anastomosis was performed using two circular staplers without hand sewing anastomosis. We compared clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes between the two groups. All patients underwent gastrofiberscopy between six and twelve months after surgery to compare the bile reflux. RESULTS: No significant differences in clinicopathologic findings were observed between the two groups, except for the rate of minimal invasive surgery (P=0.004) and cancer stage (P=0.002). No differences in the rate of morbidity (P=0.353) and admission duration (P=0.391) were observed between the two groups. Gastrofiberscopic findings showed a significant reduction of bile reflux in the remnant stomach in the Roux en Y group (P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: When compared with Billroth-I reconstruction, Roux en Y reconstruction using the double stapler technique was found to reduce bile reflux in the remnant stomach without increasing postoperative morbidity. Based on these results, we planned to begin a randomized controlled clinical trial for comparison of Roux en Y reconstruction using this method with Billroth-I anastomosis.
Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Bile ; Bile Reflux ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Stump ; Hand ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barre syndrome is defined as a recognizable clinical entity that is characterized by rapidly evolving symmetric limb weakness, the loss of tendon reflexes, absent or mild sensory signs, and variable autonomic dysfunctions. This study evaluated the clinical and electrophysiological findings retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, who were admitted to the Yeungnam University Hospital for six years from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1999 were investigated. The correlation between the clinical manifestation and the electrophysiological study was evaluated. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.8: 1 and there was a peak seasonal incidence in the winter. A preceding illness was noted in 66.7% of cases, and an upper respiratory tract infection was the most common one. The most common clinical manifestations were a loss of tendon reflex and ascending muscle weakness and paralysis. The cerebrospinal fluid examinations revealed, albuminocytologic dissociation in 33 cases (73.3%). Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was performed in 29 cases (64.4%). The sequential electrophysiological abnormalities were most marked at 2 to 4 weeks after onset. At that time the most significant change was a decrease in the compound muscle action potential amplitude. These 45 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome were subclassified using the clinical and electrophysiological data. CONCLUSION: The result in this study, concured with other research on the clinical and electrophysiological data of Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, an extensive and dynamic investigation is necessary to determine the reason for the peak seasonal incidence in winter.
Action Potentials ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Extremities ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Humans ; Immunization, Passive ; Incidence ; Male ; Muscle Weakness ; Paralysis ; Reflex, Stretch ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Myasthenia gravis has been associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases, but the association of myasthenia gravis with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura has been rarely reported. A previously healthy 33-year-old female presented with a 10-month history of easy fatigability, motor weakness, diplopia and menorrhage. Clinical and labora-tory findings supported the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. After a thymecto-my, there were surprising improvements not only in muscle strength, but also of thrombocytopenia. Though this associ ?ation may be incidental, the patient's progress suggests that idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura may be closely relat-ed to myasthenia gravis immunologically because both diseases developed simultaneously and showed good therapeu-tic responses after a thymectomy.
Adult ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Diplopia ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thymectomy

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is the commonest arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. However, there have been no epidemiologic data on its prevalence in general population of Korea. We performed this study to investigate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in Korea. METHODS: From March 1, 1999 to July 31, 2000, Kangwon Branch, Korea Association of Health (KAH) parformed electrocardiograms to investigate the health status in the general public in Kangwon Province. We analyzed these data by of chi square(2) test. RESULTS: A total of 45,133 persons participated in the health screening performed by KAH. The number of persons above 40 years old were 13,768, with men and women 6,367 (46.2%) and 7,401 (53.8%)respectively. Prevalence among those above 40 years old was 0.72% and the prevalence among men, 0.96% (61 persons) was significantly higher than that of women, 0.51% (38 persons)(p<0.01). In the group above 60 years old with the prevalence of 1.24%, a similar phenomenon was observed with 1.57% (40 persons) in men and 0.97% (29 persons) in women (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of atrial fibrillation became higher as age increased, specifically in persons older than 40 years.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence*