The truncated E1192-283 and E2384-649 genes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) linked to the gene for glutathione 5-transferase (GST) were constructed and their expressions were analyzed. The GST-E1192-283 fusion gene overexpressed the fusion protein in E. coli as a soluble form, while the GST-E1192-383 plasmid did not express expected fusion protein. The purified GST-E1192-283 fusion protein was efficiently cleaved by thrombin. More than 90% pure, HCV E1192-283 protein was obtained by GST-agarose chromatography. The truncated GST-E2384-649 fusion gene expressed the fusion protein mainly as an insoluble form, whereas the GST-E2384-740 did not express the fusion protein. The truncated GST-E1 182-283 and GST-E2384-649 fusion proteins reacted specifically with an HCV patient serum. In addition, mice immunized with either the purified E1192-283 or GST-E2384-649 proteins generated specific antibodies to each antigen. The results suggested that hydrophobic carboxyl portions of the E1 and E2 proteins might affect expression levels as well as the solubility of each fusion protein in bacteria. Also, the truncated E1 protein with Tyr-192 to Ser-283 contained antigenic epitope(s) which could be specifically recognized by an HCV patient serum.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Bacteria ; Chromatography ; Glutathione ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Solubility ; Thrombin

Differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia(VaD) has an important bearing on the diagnosis and management of patients with dementia. This article provides a guideline for the differential diagnosis through 1) history taking, 2) neurological examination, 3) neuropsychological tests, and 4) neuroimaging studies. VaD consists of etiologically and clinically heterogeneous subtypes that include multi-infarct dementia (MID), single strategic infarct dementia, and subcortical vascular dementia. Patients with MID and single infarct dementia con be easily differentiated from patients with AD. However, clinical manifestations of subcortical vascular dementia can mimic those of AD, which may lead primary physicians to misdiagnose subcortical vascular dementia as AD. The issue of differential diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that many patients may have AD with concomitant VaD (mixed dementia).
Alzheimer Disease* ; Dementia ; Dementia, Multi-Infarct ; Dementia, Vascular* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Neuroimaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Neuropsychological Tests

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: Periungual warts are a therapeutic challenge. Many studies have revealed that intralesional interferon α-2b therapy and pulsed dye laser therapy have numerous advantages over other modalities of theratment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if combination therapy with intralesional interferon α-2b and pulsed dye laser might offer an effective treatment for periungual warts. METHODS: Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to one of three study groups. In group A, the patients received both intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser(PDL) therapy (n=13). Group B patients were treated wit intralesional interferon α-2b alone (n=10) and group C was done with PDL therapy only (n=10). RESULTS: The clearance rate was 92.3% for the patients treated with the combination therapy of intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy. It was 50% for the patients with the intralesional interferon α-2b treatment alone, and 0% for the group with the PDL therpy only. No significant side effects were observed. At 6 months after cessation of the therapy, total 2 cases (one from group A and the other from group B) were recurred. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy with intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser therapy was highly effective for the treatment of recalcitrant periungual warts.
Humans ; Interferons* ; Lasers, Dye* ; Warts*

Recently, the proportion of cardiovascular disease as a cause of death in diabetics is in ever increasing tendency. Present study is designed to evaluate the change of myocardial performance by the effect of microangiopathy of diabetics. The measurements of systolic time intervals were obtained from simultaneous high speed recordings(100mm/sec) of electrocardiography, phonocardiography, and carotid pulse tracing in diabetics(male 26, female 31). 1. As the diabetic retinopathy got severe, shortening of LVET and prologation of PEP were noted, but QS2 showed no significant change. 2. PEP/LVET ratio fo diabetics without diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher than that of normal control(p<0.01). 3. PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure under 95mmHg was significantly higher than that of normal control group(p<0.01), and PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure over 96mmHg was significantly higher than that of normal control and that of diabetics with diastolic blood pressure under 95mmHg(p<0.01). 4. PEP/LVET ratio of diabetics with proliperative retinopathy was significantly higher than that of normal control and that of diabetics with mild diabetic retinopathy(p<0.01), but this result was not conclusive because of the small case number.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Phonocardiography ; Systole*

OBJECTIVE: Uterine cervical cancer is the most common malignant tumor in Korean women. Human papillomaviruses are associated in 85-90% of the cases. However, other cofactors are considered to be important in carcinogenesis. There is an evidence that the uterine cervix is the site of shedding of the Epstein-Barr viruses(EBV). Furthermore the virus has been detected in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. We studied to evaluate the role of EBV in cervical carcinogenesis. METHODS: Non-neoplastic cervices(12), carcinoma in situ(32), microinvasive squamous cell carcinomas(9), invasive squamous cell carcinomas(37) and adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas(14) were studied for EBV infection. PCR and in situ PCR for EBNA-1 were done and subtyping was done using PCR for EBNA 3C. RESULTS: In non-neoplastic cervix, EBV was detected in 16.7% by PCR and found in normal epithelial cells and lymphocytes in in situ PCR. By PCR technique, EBV was detected in 65.6% of CIS, 66.3% and 51.4% of microinvasive and invasive squamous cell carcinomas, 57.1% of adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas. EBV subtyping was done in EBV positive cases by PCR and all showed type 1. CONCLUSION: EBV was detected in higher frequency in cervical cancer than in non-neoplastic cervix. However the frequency was not correlated to the invasion depth and histologic types of cervical carcinomas. EBV was detected in tumor cells as well as normal epithelial cells and lymphocytes also. It was suggested that EBV may play a role in cervical cancers but the mechanism in carcinogenesis remains to be solved.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Epithelial Cells ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prevalence* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

The sign of Leser-Trelat refers to the sudden appearance and rapid increase in size and number of freckles and seborrheic keratoses, It is considered to be a sign of internal malignant tumors, most probable of the gastrointestinal tract. We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the stomach associated with the sign of Leser-Trelat and the literatures were reviewed. This 62-year-old man, over a period of 5 months, developed multiple seborrheic keratoses over his trunk and extremities. He came to our department in August 1981, because of sudden increse in their number and size during the several preceding months. He had never complained of the symptoms of gastrointestinal tract such as gastric pain, vomiting, indigestion, and weight loss. On examination of the skin, hundreds of brown or brown-black, more or less greasy verrucous papules were found almoat exclusively on the extensor aspects of forearms and lower legs. These lesions were variable in size and were consistent clinically with seborrheic keratoses. The findings of both fiberoptic biopsy and upper gastrointestinal tract series of roentgenographic studies were compatible with ulcer and adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Based on our experience, it is again suggested that though seborrheic keratoses are very common in the elderly, the rapid increase in size and number should arouse suspicion of an internal malignancy.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Dyspepsia ; Extremities ; Forearm ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Leg ; Melanosis ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Stomach ; Ulcer ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ; Vomiting ; Weight Loss

Diiodohydroxyquin introduced by Dillaha et al in 1953, had been the mainstay for the treatment of acrodermatitis enteropathica (A.E.). However, following the report by Moynahan and Barnes in 1973 of successful treatment with the oral administration of zinc sulfate, the clinical response to this treatment has been confirmed by different investigators in many countries. In Korean literature, Rhim et al reported two cases of A,E. in siblings successfully treated with oral zinc sulfate in 1980. In our case of cow's milk-fed, 7 month-old male infant, typical claasical features of total alopecia, diarrhea and periorificial dermatitis developed at about 3 months. of age and the zinc level in serum was 101 ug/dl at the first visit. Treatment first with diiodohydroxyquin was initiated at a dose of 315 mg/day by mouth for the first week and 630 mg/day for the second week, but this therapeutic regimen brought about little or no effect. Because of no definite improvement even with increasing dose of 1260 mg/day for another week, treatment was. changed to oral zinc sulfate. The patient began to receive zinc sulfate 50mg at first day by mouth and the dosage was immediately increased to l00mg daily from the next day. Within 72 hrs there found dramatic improvement in the skin lesions and diharrhea stopped. Twenty days after the start of zinc therapy, nearly all the skin lesions disappeared and the patient was discharged in satisfactory condition with only mild residual erythema. (countinued..)
Acrodermatitis* ; Administration, Oral ; Alopecia ; Dermatitis ; Diarrhea ; Erythema ; Humans ; Infant ; Iodoquinol ; Male ; Mouth ; Research Personnel ; Siblings ; Skin ; Zinc ; Zinc Sulfate

Anthrax toxin consists of three separate proteins, protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to the receptor on mammalian cells and facilitates translocation of EF or LF into its cytosol. PA is the primary component of anthrax vaccines. In this study we purified PA from culture filtrates of Bacillus anthracis. The purification involved sequential chromatography through hydroxylapatite, DEAE-Sepharose CL-4B, followed by Mono-Q. The purified PA was judged to be homogeneous on SDS-PAGE, and consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a relative molecular weight of 85,000.
Anthrax ; Anthrax Vaccines ; Bacillus anthracis* ; Bacillus* ; Chromatography ; Cytosol ; Durapatite ; Edema ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Molecular Weight