No abstract available.
Classification* ; Ecology* ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae*

No abstract available.
Citrus* ; Hypersensitivity* ; Mites* ; Spiders* ; Tetranychidae*

To study the effect of physiological conditions on spidroins, we analyzed NTR1SR2CT module secondary structure, aggregation and silk-formation influenced by different salts (in different concentration intervals). According to the full-length Araneus ventricosus MiSp sequence, NTR1SR2CT module was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the recombinant proteins were purified by denaturation method mediated by 8 mol/L urea. Random coil and helix are the main secondary structures of NTR1SR2CT and could be induced into beta-sheet by drying natively and lyophilization, where methanol can be used as a promoter. Furthermore, potassium and phosphate cations can cause significant NTR1SR2CT protein aggregation and silk-formation. The results could be a basis for the determination of silk-formation mechanism, and also useful for industrialized generation of high performance spider silk-like fibers.
Animals ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Salts ; chemistry ; Spiders

BACKGROUND: Specified clinical observations regarding skin changes in viral hepatitis have not yet been accomplished in Korea, especially in view of serotypes. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify various cutaneous manifestations of viral hepatitis according to viral serotypes and the stages of the disease. METHODS: We performed a clinical observation of cutaneous manifestations in 450 patients who were diagnosed with viral hepatitis. RESULTS: 1. Cutaneous manifestations were found in 383(85.1%) patients. Patients with a longer duration seemed to have skin lesions more frequently. 2. The frequency of cutaneous manifestations was highest in HAV(94.4%) and HBV(84.9%) serotypes. The most common cutaneous manifestation was pruritus(32.4%) in all studied subjects. In HBV hepatitic patients, the most common cutaneous manifestation was pruritus(35.4%), in HCV hepatitic patients, vasculitic purpura(74.5%), in HAV hepatitic patients, urticaria(88.8%), in the hepatitic patients with the mixed form, spider angioma(30.2%) and vasculitic purpura(30.2%). 3. Urticarial lesions in non-HCV hepatitis were of the lymphocytic vasculitis type but HCV hepatitis was associated with neutrophilic vasculitis. The purpuric lesions with HCV hepatitis were of the neutrophilic vasculitis type while lymphocytic vasculitis was present in non-HCV hepatitis. 4. The most severe pruritus was present in HBV hepatitic patients. CONCLUSION: The cutaneous manifestations in viral hepatitis have different clinical features depending on the viral types.
Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Neutrophils ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Spiders ; Vasculitis

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita, which was first described by Van Lehuizen in 1922, is characterized by the presence at birth of a persistent cut;is marmorata pattern, phlebectasia, spider nevus-like telangiectasia, and areas of ulceration and steady improvernent with time. We reported a case of cutis mar.morata telangiectatica. congenita occuring in a 70 days old female infant showing the reticulated mottling and atrophy of the skin on the both lower extremites, right upper extremity, abdomen and buttock muscle weakening of right upper extremity and left lower extremity compare with the opposite side. Skin lesions were much improved during the observation period of 10 months without any other specific treatment except hermiatrophy of right upper extremity.
Abdomen ; Atrophy ; Buttocks ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lower Extremity ; Parturition ; Skin ; Spiders ; Telangiectasis ; Ulcer ; Upper Extremity

Due to its special sequence structure, spider silk protein has unique physical and chemical properties, mechanical properties and excellent biological properties. With the expansion of the application value of spider silk in many fields as a functional material, progress has been made in the studies on the expression of recombinant spider silk proteins through many host systems by gene recombinant techniques. Recombinant spider silk proteins can be processed into high performance fibers, and a wide range of nonfibrous morphologies. Moreover, for their excellent biocompatibility and low immune response they are ideal for biomedical applications. Here we review the process and mechanism of preparation in vitro, chemistry and genetic engineering modification on recombinant spider silk protein.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; chemistry ; Protein Engineering ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; Silk ; chemistry ; Spiders

A total of 631 species of spiders have been reported in Korea. However, there are no spiders with noxious venom such as Latrodectus sp. Because of this, to date, no serious medical problems due to spider bites have been reported in Korea, and only two cases of spider bite were officially reported. However, as the number of earning spiders from other countries is increased, the number of cases of spider bite has also shown a recent increase. A 17-year-old man presented with numbness of both extremities after being bitten by a spider which he had as a pet. The spider is called an Indian ornamental tree spider (Poecilotheria regalis sp.), one kind of tarantula species. Herein, we report on a case of a spider bite by a tarantula.
Adolescent ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Korea ; Spider Bites* ; Spider Venoms ; Spiders ; Venoms

In Korea, a total of 44 families, 217 genus, and 631 species of spiders are reported. However there are no spiders having noxious venom such as Latrodectus sp. or Loxoscles sp. Because of this, there have been no reported serious medical problems due to spider bites in Korea up to now. Paracoelotes spinivulva is a spider belonging to Family Amaurobiidae and Genus Paracoelotes. It is characteristically distributed in Korea and some regions of Japan, China, and Russia. A 46-year-old man presented with two painful, erythematous papules on the left index finger tip. He was bitten by a spider three days prior to the visit. Punch biopsy was done from the bite site. Although spider bites may be relatively common, there is only one official report of a spider bite in Korea. Herein, we report a case of a spider bite by a indigenous spider, Paracoelotes spinivulva.
Arachnidism ; Biopsy ; Bites and Stings ; China ; Fingers ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Russia ; Spiders ; Venoms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been universally lower in female than in male. The aims of our study are to define whether there are any difference between female and male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of clinical characteristics and results of treatment. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of medical history, physical findings, laboratory results, etiological factors, characteristics of tumor, and therapeutic results were performed in 80 female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared to 160 male patients. RESULTS: Asymptomatic presentation and family history of liver disease were found more frequently in female patients than in male patients. A history of smoking and alcohol drinking were found less frequently in female patients than in male patients. The detection rate of spider angioma was significantly lower in female patients than in male patients. There was no difference in laboratory results, characteristics of tumor, and therapeutic results between female and male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Environmental factors such as smoking and alcohol drinking could contribute the sexual difference of hepatocarcinogenesis. However, clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis and therapeutic results were not significantly different between female and male patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Alcohol Drinking ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spiders

OBJECTIVES: Intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities resulting in right-to-left shunt have been described in patients with severe liver disease, especially advanced hepatic cirrhosis. They result in hypoxemia which is associated with liver cirrhosis without preexisting cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Since Rydell and Hoffbauer first described intrapulmonary shunt in a cirrhotic patient in 1956, it has been reported recently that 13 to 47 percent of the end-stage hepatic disease patients have these intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities. Contrast echocardiography(CE) has been proved useful in detecting intrapulmonary shunt. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of intrapulmonary shunt by CE in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and to compare the clinical characteristics of those with and without evidence of intrapulmonary shunt. METHODS: We performed CE studies in 24 stable cirrhotic patients without the evidence of severe complications such as massive ascites, upper GI bleeding, and hepatic coma. Clinical information including symptom and sign, results of liver and pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas values measured both at the supine and erect position, were analyzed in each group of patients with or without intrapulmonary shunt. RESULTS: Positive CE suggesting intrapulmonary shunt was found in 8 of 24 patients(33.3%). However the degree of relative opacifications were one positive(1+) in all 8 patients, and hypoxemia and its related symptom and sign appeared to be rare. Any of the parameters of liver and pulmonary function test did not show the significant difference between CE-positive and CE-negative group. CONCLUSION: Only the presence of spider angioma was associated with intrapulmonary shunt among the several clinical signs, which suggests common pathogenesis of both vascular abnormalities.
Anoxia ; Ascites ; Echocardiography* ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Lung Diseases ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Spiders