Plasmid vectors with either RSV or CMV promoter are frequently used for DNA- mediated immunization due to the availability in commercial. Consequently, influence of the vector constituents, such as promoter, enhancer and transcription termination signal etc. on vaccination efficiency is not studied extensively. As an initial attempt to develop an efficient vector system for DNA-rnediated immunization, influence of promoter for antigen gene expression on vaccination efficiency has been analyzed. Initially, plasmids with either B-actin or muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter were constructed from the plasmid with prototype CMV promoter. In addition, ovalbumin (OVA) antigen gene has been cloned into each vectors to generate the plasmid vectors with different promoters for induction of the anti-OVA immune responses. Antigen protein expression in antigen gene transfected mouse muscle myoblast cells showed that the level from MCK promoter containing plasmid was slightly higher than those from either CMV or B-actin promoter containing plasmids. Also, the same plasmid turned out to be slightly more efficient than other plasmids in antibody imrnune response induction in vivo, when they were applied both through intramuscularly and intradermally. These results suggest that the commonly used CMV promoter containing plasmid vector could be further modified to develop an efficient vector for DNA-mediated immunization.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Creatine Kinase, MM Form ; Gene Expression ; Immunization ; Mice ; Myoblasts ; Ovalbumin ; Plasmids* ; Vaccination*

Spinal epidural abscesses were evaluated using Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 19 surgically and clinically confirmed cases, including 13 with tuberculous spondylitis and 6 with pyogenic spondylitis. We observed rim enhancement patterns in 10 patients and diffuse enhancement patterns in 9 patients. The spread patterns were localized to ventral or dorsal epidural space and encircled entire epidural space. We conclude that rim enhancement indicates abscess and diffuse enhancement indicates granulation tissue and fibrosis. Tuberculous epidural abscess spreads to ventral epidural space and pyogenic epidural abscess encircles entire epidural space.
Abscess ; Epidural Abscess* ; Epidural Space ; Fibrosis ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Spondylitis

Chondroid syringoma is a rare primary skin tumor arising from eccrine sweat gland. In 1982, Nasse had found a primary skin tumor having similar morphology as in the mixed tumor of the salivary glands. In 1961, Hirsch and Helwig proposed more descriptive diagnostic term, "Choindroid syringma". The authors experienced two cases of chondroid syringma. The first case was a 47 year old male patient who had had a subcutaneous nodule in the right forehead for two months. It was a well circumscribed mass, that showed tan gray myxoid cut surface with firm consistency. Microscopically, it was a wel diagnosed as chondroid syringoma with tubular, branching lumina. The second case was a 51 year old female patient who had had a subcutaneous nodule in the left forehead for 3 months. It was well circumscribed, ad easily shelled out. It had a typical microscopic features of chondroid syringoma with small, tubular lumina.
Female ; Male ; Humans

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are well known as photoreactive nanoparticles (NPs). Various phototoxicities of ZnO NPs and TiO₂ NPs were reported on several organisms. It was still necessary to evaluate the toxicity of photoreactive ZnO NPs and TiO₂ NPs due to species-specific effects under various irradiation conditions. We compared the acute toxicity of Moina macrocopa under visible, ultraviolet (UV) A, and B irradiations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for the testing of chemicals (Test No. 202). The sensitivity of ZnO NPs for M. macrocopa was UVB>UVA>visible light irradiation. There were no significant lethal and immobile effects of TiO₂ NPs on juveniles under all irradiations and in the tested concentrations of TiO₂ NPs. Photoreactive NPs have a potential and accelerated toxicity on organisms in the ambient environments.
Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; Nanoparticles* ; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ; Titanium ; Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are well known as photoreactive nanoparticles (NPs). Various phototoxicities of ZnO NPs and TiO₂ NPs were reported on several organisms. It was still necessary to evaluate the toxicity of photoreactive ZnO NPs and TiO₂ NPs due to species-specific effects under various irradiation conditions. We compared the acute toxicity of Moina macrocopa under visible, ultraviolet (UV) A, and B irradiations, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for the testing of chemicals (Test No. 202). The sensitivity of ZnO NPs for M. macrocopa was UVB>UVA>visible light irradiation. There were no significant lethal and immobile effects of TiO₂ NPs on juveniles under all irradiations and in the tested concentrations of TiO₂ NPs. Photoreactive NPs have a potential and accelerated toxicity on organisms in the ambient environments.
Dermatitis, Phototoxic ; Nanoparticles ; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development ; Titanium ; Zinc Oxide

Prurigo pigmentosa(PP) is a rare dermatosis with an unknown cause characterized by intensely pruritic papules that resolve with reticulate pigmentation. It is a disease entitity commonly reported in Japan but seemingly rare in other parts of the world. We report 5 cases that clinically and histopathologically fulfilled the characterisitics of PP and were treated with dapsone resulting in significant clinical improvement.
Dapsone ; Japan ; Pigmentation ; Prurigo* ; Skin Diseases

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) for deriving ecological protective concentration (EPC) was previously suggested in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherland. This study suggested the EPC of cadmium (Cd) based on the PERA to be suitable to Korean aquatic ecosystem. First, we collected reliable ecotoxicity data from reliable data without restriction and reliable data with restrictions. Next, we sorted the ecotoxicity data based on the site-specific locations, exposure duration, and water hardness. To correct toxicity by the water hardness, EU's hardness corrected algorithm was used with slope factor 0.89 and a benchmark of water hardness 100. EPC was calculated according to statistical extrapolation method (SEM), statistical extrapolation methodAcute to chronic ratio (SEMACR), and assessment factor method (AFM). As a result, aquatic toxicity data of Cd were collected from 43 acute toxicity data (4 Actinopterygill, 29 Branchiopoda, 1 Polychaeta, 2 Bryozoa, 6 Chlorophyceae, 1 Chanophyceae) and 40 chronic toxicity data (2 Actinopterygill, 23 Branchiopoda, 9 Chlorophyceae, 6 Macrophytes). Because toxicity data of Cd belongs to 4 classes in taxonomical classification, acute and chronic EPC (11.07 microg/l and 0.034 microg/l, respectively) was calculated according to SEM technique. These values were included in the range of international EPCs. This study would be useful to establish the ecological standard for the protection of aquatic ecosystem in Korea.
Australia ; Bryozoa ; Cadmium ; Canada ; Ecosystem ; Hardness ; Korea ; New Zealand ; Phosphorylcholine ; Polychaeta ; Risk Assessment ; Water

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture in osteoporotic patients with compression fracture of the thoracolumbar (T-L) spine on magnetic resonance image (MRI), and to analyze the correlation of variable clinical factors and the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 160 patients (27 men, 133 women; age range of 50 to 89 years) who underwent spinal MRI and had compression fracture of the T-L spine. Compression fractures due to trauma or tumor were excluded. We evaluated the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture according to the patients' age, sex, number of compression fractures, and the existence of bone marrow edema pattern of compression fracture. During the same period, we evaluated the incidence of spinal compression fracture in the patients of pelvic insufficiency fracture. RESULTS: Out of the 160 patients who had compression fracture in the T-L spine, 17 (10.6%) had insufficiency fracture of the sacrum. Compression fracture occurred almost 5 times more frequently in women (27:133), but the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 2/27 for men (7.4%) and 15/133 for women (11.3%), with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.80). According to age, the ratio of insufficiency fracture to compression fracture was 0% (0/23) in the 50's, 10.6% (7/66) in the 60's, 12.5% (7/56) in the 70's, and 20.0% (3/15) in the 80's. In respect of single and multiple compression fracture, the incidence of sacral insufficiency fracture was 8/65 for men (12.3%) and 9/95 for women (9.5%), showing no significant difference (p=0.37). In the patients with and without compression fracture with bone marrow edema, insufficiency fracture occurred in 5/76 (6.6%) and 12/84 (14.3%), respectively. On the other hand, of the 67 patients who had pelvic insufficiency fracture, 27 (40.3%) also had spinal compression fracture. CONCLUSION: About 10% of the patients with osteoporotic compression fracture in the T/L spine also had pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture, which was not uncommon. These findings suggest the need to consider the possibility of pelvic sacral insufficiency fracture in cases of T/L spinal MRI for patients with osteoporotic compression fracture.
Bone Marrow ; Edema ; Female ; Fractures, Compression* ; Fractures, Stress* ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spine*

In Behcet's disease(BD), there is a marked increase in vascular complication. Venous thrombosis is a major feature of the disease, although arterial thrombosis is rarely described. In Behcet's disease, thrombosis occurs in 20 to 30% of patients. We present two cases of Behcet's disease admitted to our hospital whose chief complaint was progressive increases in swelling and pain in their legs. In the first case, routine coagulation tests and sero-immunological tests were within normal limits, however, protein C and S activity were significantly decreased in the patient. So these findings suggest that auto-immune acquired protein S deficiency may be involved in the pathogenesis of thrombotic events in BD.
Humans ; Leg ; Protein C ; Protein S Deficiency ; Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis*

Iodinated contrast-induced acute renal failure is estimated to occur in 0.15 to 2% of all patients undergoing contrast imaging studies. Incidence is higher in patients with renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, dehydration, multiple myeloma, congestive heart failure, advanced age. We here report successful vascular interventional procedure by using gadopentetate dimeglumine(Gd-DTPA) as a contrast agent in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency and right superficial femoral artery stenosis. The patient had a history of iodinated contrast-induced acute renal failure. Gd-DTPA(0.17mmoVkg) diluted 1: 1 with 0.9% norrnal saline was used as contrast agent for the interventional procedure. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was successfully performed and there was no evidence of contrast material- induced acute renal failure after the procedure. Gd- DTPA is an alternative contrast agent for patients with chronic renal insufficiency.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Angioplasty* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dehydration ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Femoral Artery ; Gadolinium DTPA* ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pentetic Acid ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic*