Prospect Hill virus (PHV) is related antigenically but distinct to Hantaan virus. As a member of genus Hantavirus, PHV has three segmented RNA genome. Among these segments, Small segment(S) encodes nucleocapsid protein (NP) as structural protein and also may do functional nonstructural protein(NSs). We performed in vitro transcription to produce vRNA of PHV S genome. For the first step of in vitro transcription of S genome of PHV, the S RNA segrnent which is 1,675 nucleotides long was amplified by RT-PCR using PCR primers built according to cDNA sequence of PHV S genome. Next, a new PCR primer appended above downstream primer to T7 phage promoter sequence was reconstructed to obtain PCR product containing T7 promoter. Then another PCR was performed. Using this PCR product as the template, in vitro run-off transcription without cloning by transcriptional vector was performed to obtain viral- sense RNA transcript. Thereafter, the size of transcript was assessed by running on formaldehyde agarose gels. Since the transcription reactants contain a-S UTP, the transcript is detectable by autoradiography. The transcript was also detectable by northern hybridization with a-P dCTP- labelled PHV amplicon probe (319 bp) and the initiation start point of run-off transcription was also determined by primer extention analysis. Our data indicate that the in vitro transcript could be produced from the PCR product amplified by PCR primer containing T7 phage promoter without cloning into a phage transcription vector.
Autoradiography ; Bacteriophage T7 ; Bacteriophages ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary ; Formaldehyde ; Gels ; Genome* ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Nucleotides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Running ; Sepharose ; Uridine Triphosphate ; Viruses*

Hantaviruses are negative-strand RNA viruses that contain three segmented genome and belong to the family Bunyaviridae. Due to such an unique structure of segmented RNA genome, these viruses have a possibility to produce reassortant that have genomic sets mixed with different segments originated from both parental virus during the genetic interaction. To investigate whether this phenomenon occurs actually, Hantaan virus (HTN) could be coinfected with Seoul virus (SEO) to Vero-E6 cell. And also, HTN could be coinfected with Prospect hill virus (PH) to investigate the rate of genetic reassortment according to the genetic distance among the HTN, SEO and PH viruses. As a available method to differentiate the reassortant, we used the multiplex RT-PCR that detect and differentiate the serotype of hantaviruses in mixed infection. Each progeny clone could be screened by multiplex RT-PCR. So, we have constructed the multiplex RT-PCR system that separated amplifications for each segment of Hantaviruses. Our multiplex RT-PCR system provide sensitive, specific and simplified tools for the rapid differentiation of hantaviruses serotypes and also the diagnosis of Hantavirus infections.
Bunyaviridae ; Clone Cells ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis ; Genome ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus Infections ; Hantavirus* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Parents ; RNA ; RNA Viruses ; Seoul virus ; Serotyping*

No abstract available.
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Pneumothorax, Artificial*

Two cases of exercise-induced atrial fibrillation were diagnosed in 68 years old female and 47 years old male. They complained palpitation during exercise, and emotional upset for the last 5 years. There was no evidence of organic heart disease except mild hypertension in female patient. The atrial fibrillation was induced repeatedly by treadmill exercise test and intravenous infusion of isoproterenol. The beta blocker(atenolol 50mg po dialy) prevented the induction of atrial fibrillation during treadmill exercise. We report two cases of exercise-induced atrial fibrillation which is very rare and might be related to catecholamine.
Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Isoproterenol ; Male ; Middle Aged

To assess the likelihood of procedural success in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, 46 consecutive patients (male 34, female 12, mean age 60+/-9 years) umderwent single or multiple site angioplasty. The clinical diagnosis of unstable angina was in 20(44%), stable angina in 10 and acute or old myocardial infarction in 16. Coronary angiographic findings of 2 vessel disease was in 38(83%), triple vessel disease in 8. Left ventricular function was generally well preserved (mean ejection fraction 65+/-12%, range 30-82%) and mean 2.0 stenosis per patient angic, lasty had attempted. Single vessel angioplasty (SVA) was performed in 13 and multivessel angioplasty (MVA) in 33. Procedural success was achieved in 79(86%) out of total 92 stenoses. Sixty-six(88%) out of 75 stenoses in MVA and 13(76%) out of 17 stenoses in SVA had procedural success respectively. According to angiographic morphology of lesions, procedural success of type A stenoses was 17/17(100%), type B stenoses 57/66(86%) and type C stenoses was 5/9(33%). In 13 failures included inability to pass the guide wire cross the lesion in 7, inability to guide the griding catheter in 2 and inability to dilate lesions in 4. Before and after angioplasty, treadmill test (modified Bruce protocol)could be performed in 29 patients. Total duration of exercise and maximal double product improved significantly from 8.5+/-2.3 minute 5188+/-2403 to 12.2+1.3 min., 23,062+/-4111 respectively (p<0.001). 17 out of 24 patients who had positive treadmill test before angioplasty showed negative conversion after procedure. Complications included dissection in 29, prolongd chest pain in 5, acute closure in 3, cardiac tamponade in 1 and ventricular fibrillation due to side branch oclusion in 1. Thus, coronary angioplasty in selected paients with multivessel coronary artery disease might be useful and have relatively good immediate results, but the long-term efficacies with other forms of treatment must be evaluated prospectively.
Angina, Stable ; Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty* ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Ventricular Function, Left

Some structures should be noted in the modified Stoppa approach for the treatment of acetabular fractures. Among them, the external iliac vessels should be protected with special care during surgery. If there is any history of previous abdominal surgery or a delay in surgery, it is predicted that the intra-abdominal adhesion will be severe. In this case, thorough preparation and caution are required before surgery because a dangerous situation may arise due to blood vessel damage during surgery. On the other hand, there are no specific reports on these cases. The authors report a case of severe adhesion of the external iliac vessels with a history of previous abdominal surgery.

The principle of surgery of the parotid gland is adequate removal of the tumor with functional and anatomical preservation of all blanches of the facial nerve. There are two main surgical approaches to superficial or total conservative parotidectomy. Anterior approach and posterior approach. Preliminary identification of the main trunk of the facial nerve is probably the most favoured techniques, but identification of the peripheral blanches of the facial nerve, with subsequent Proximal dissection to the main trunk, is long established but less popular technique. We have prospectively experienced the low incidence of facial nerve damage in series of 55 conservative parotidectomies performed using the anterior approach. The techniques employed is described with a deport of results obtained in the belief that this approach warrants greater popularity and saute technique.
Facial Nerve ; Incidence ; Parotid Gland ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The present study was carried out in association with neutrophilic respiratory burst in the lung in order to clarify the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) following acute severe hemorrhage. Because oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the principal factors causing tissue injury, the role of free radicals from neutrophils was assessed in acute hemorrhage-induced lung injury. METHOD: In Sprague-Dawley rats, hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood(20 ml/kg of B.W) for 5 min and the hypotensive state was sustained for 60 min. To determine the mechanism and role of oxidative stress associated with phospholipase A2(PLA2) by neutrophils, the level of lung leakage, pulmonary myeloperoxidase(MPO), and the pulmonary PLA2 were measured. In addition, the production of free radicals was assessed in isolated neutrophils by cytochemical electron microscopy in the lung. RESULTS: In hypotensive shock-induced acute lung injury, the pulmonary MPO, the level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals were higher. The inhibition of PLA2 with mepacrine decreased the pulmonary MPO, level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals from neutrophils. CONCLUSION: A. neutrophilic respiratory burst is responsible for the oxidative stress causing acute lung injury followed by acute, severe hemorrhage. PLA2 activation is the principal cause of this oxidative stress.
Acute Lung Injury* ; Free Radicals ; Hemorrhage ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Microscopy, Electron ; Neutrophils* ; Oxidative Stress ; Phospholipases A2* ; Phospholipases* ; Quinacrine ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Burst* ; Shock, Hemorrhagic

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of posterior thoraco-lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of thoraco-lumbar kyphotic deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A posterior thoraco-lumbar interbody fusion was performed in 10 patients with thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity from April 1996 to April 1999. The mean age was 39.5 years (range 16 ~59 years), and five were male and five were female. The cause of deformity was tuberculous spondylitis in 7 cases, post-traumatic kyphosis in 2 cases, and ankylosing spondylitis in 1 case. Three cases involved thoracic spine alone, 3 cases involved thoracolumbar junction, and 4 cases involved lumbar spine alone. The chief complaint was lower back pain in 6 cases, progression of deformity in 2 cases, and both type in 2 cases. There was no patients with neurologic symptoms or signs. The average postoperative follow-up period was 19.5 months (range 12~33 months) RESULTS: By standard Cobb measurement, the mean preoperative kyphosis of 43.7 degrees was reduced to 19.3 degrees in the immediate postoperation and to 22.5 degrees in the last follow-up. Mean correction rate was 51.4% and average loss of correction was 3.2 degrees. Interbody fusion was achieved in 9 cases out of 10 by criteria of Lee et al. Clinical results such as back pain, fatigue pain, and tingling sensation were improved in 8 cases out of 10 by criteria of Lin et al. Nine patients were satisfied with the correction of the deformity. Mean operation time was 255 minutes and average amount of transfusion was 1400 ml(3.5 pints) of packed red cell. There was no serious complications like paraplegia or death. CONCLUSION: A posterior thoraco-lumbar interbody fusion is a relatively easy, safe and good-outcome technique for treatment of moderate thoraco-lumbar kyphotic deformity
Back Pain ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Fatigue ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraplegia ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensation ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Pigmented vitreal cyst is a benign and uncommon entity with uncertain etiology. A floating intravitreal material was incidentally noticed in a 44-year-old man. Visual acuity was 1.2 and intraocular pressure 16 millimeters of mercury in both eyes. All other ophthalmic examination were normal. On posterior segment examination, a free-floating, brownish, round cyst of about two disc diameter in size was demonstrated in the inferior vitreous cavity of the left eye without any other abnormalities. During the follow-up examination for thirty months, the shape, size, color, and location of the cyst was not changed with the same visual acuity and IOP. Pigmented vitreal cyst is benign with no change for a long time, and then generally need no special treatment unless it blocks visual axis
Adult ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Visual Acuity