Hemin blocked lipid peroxidations induced by either ascorbate/FeSO4, a metal-catalyzed oxidation system, or 2,2'-azobis-2-amidino-propane hydrochloride (ABAP) which produces peroxy radicals at constant rates. Hemin at very low micromolar concentrations strongly inhibited the ascorbate/FeSO4-induced peroxidation of rat liver phopholipids, soybean phosphatidylcholine and arachidonic acid, and this inhibition was also evident with the use of ABAP, although much higher concentrations of hemin were required than those for the inhibition of ascorbate/FeSO4-induced lipid peroxidation. However, hemoproteins such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochrome C did not show any significant effect on this lipid peroxidation. Hemopexin and albumin abolished the inhibitory action of hemin. During incubation with ascorbate/FeSO4 or ABAP, hemin underwent a change in its absorption spectrum, resulting in a progressive decrease in the peak height of the characteristic absorption band at 385 nm. The above results suggest that hemin may act as an important antioxidant in vivo, protecting lipids from the peroxidative damage.
Absorption ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Cytochromes c ; Hemin* ; Hemopexin ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Liver ; Myoglobin ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Rats ; Soybeans

Despite global efforts to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection, the virus continues to cause economic problems in the swine industry worldwide. In this study, we attempted to generate and characterize a panel of stable BHK cell lines that constitutively express the nucleocapsid (N) protein of type 1 or type 2 PRRSV. The established BHK cell lines were found to react well with N-specific antibodies as well as the hyperimmune serum of pigs raised against each genotype of PRRSV. Taken together, the data implicate a potential usefulness for the newly generated stable cell lines as a diagnostic reagent for PRRSV serology.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/analysis/immunology ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Genotype ; Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/diagnosis/*immunology ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/genetics/*immunology ; Swine ; Transfection/veterinary

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to analyze cardiovascular risk factors in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects for this study comprised 135 patients, aged 18 years and above, who visited the ACHD clinic at the Samsung Medical Center and 135 adults with a structurally normal heart who were randomly selected from the Center for Health Promotion during the same period. For the analysis, the ACHD group was further divided into an ACHD group that underwent correction by cardiac surgery and a cyanotic group. RESULTS: The mean (standard diviation) age (years) of patients in the surgically corrected group was 48.4 (10.9) years, while that of patients in the cyanotic group was 43.1 (9.0) years and that of patients in the control group was 47.1 (10.3) years (p=0.042). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for past smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the surgically corrected patients than in the controls. However, the ORs for all variables excluding past smoking were significantly lower in the cyanotic group compared with the control group. After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, alcohol use, and exercise, the ORs for metabolic syndrome were 0.46 (0.35-0.57, p<0.001) and 1.48 (1.14-1.92, p=0.003) in the cyanotic and surgically corrected groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risk factors need to be considered in surgically corrected ACHD patients as well as in adults with a structurally normal heart. A further study with a long-term follow-up is needed for developing guidelines for prevention.
Adult* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Metabolic Syndrome X ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thoracic Surgery

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strains responsible for recent outbreaks in the United States have been occurring in Mainland Korea since late 2013. Over the past 10 years, PEDV outbreaks have not been reported on Jeju Island. However, in late March of 2014, PEDV re-emerged on Jeju Island and was found to be genetically identical to PEDV strains currently circulating in Mainland Korea. The present study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of PEDV and more effective preventive measures against PED.
Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Korea ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; United States

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strains responsible for recent outbreaks in the United States have been occurring in Mainland Korea since late 2013. Over the past 10 years, PEDV outbreaks have not been reported on Jeju Island. However, in late March of 2014, PEDV re-emerged on Jeju Island and was found to be genetically identical to PEDV strains currently circulating in Mainland Korea. The present study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of PEDV and more effective preventive measures against PED.
Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Korea ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; United States

Of the various endocrine tumors affecting the pancreas, insulinomas and gastrinomas are the most common. In order to facilitate surgery, the localization of tumor is important. However, at the first time of presentation, the localization of tumor was often difficult by CT or ultrasonography because the tumor was relatively too small. The introduction of endoscopic ultrasonography has allowed high-resolution imaging of the pancreas that distinguishes structures as small as 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Thus, it has became easier to detect the lesion site of pancreatic endocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasonography. We report the 5 patients who had pancreatic insulinoma which were detected and localized by endoscopic ultrasonography.
Endosonography* ; Gastrinoma ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography

Of the various endocrine tumors affecting the pancreas, insulinomas and gastrinomas are the most common. In order to facilitate surgery, the localization of tumor is important. However, at the first time of presentation, the localization of tumor was often difficult by CT or ultrasonography because the tumor was relatively too small. The introduction of endoscopic ultrasonography has allowed high-resolution imaging of the pancreas that distinguishes structures as small as 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Thus, it has became easier to detect the lesion site of pancreatic endocrine tumor by endoscopic ultrasonography. We report the 5 patients who had pancreatic insulinoma which were detected and localized by endoscopic ultrasonography.
Endosonography* ; Gastrinoma ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Pancreas ; Ultrasonography

Ethylene glycol is commonly found in automobile antifreeze and a variety of other commercial products. Ingestion of ethylene glycol, either accidentally or in a making an attempt at suicide, is characterized by severe metabolic acidosis, calcium oxalate crystal formation and deposition, and various end organ damages that may be fatal with about 80% mortality rate. We present here a case of a patient who ingested about 300cc of ethylene glycol to siucide, and developed acute renal failure, acute pancreatitis and bone marrow suppression, but successfully be treated with minimal sequelae.
Acidosis ; Acute Kidney Injury* ; Automobiles ; Bone Marrow* ; Calcium Oxalate ; Eating ; Ethylene Glycol* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreatitis* ; Suicide

PURPOSE: The endoscopic surgery has been widely used and developed in operations of the thyroid and parathyroid gland because of the cosmetic advantage and the development of laparoscopic instrument. Since the first endoscopic thyroid surgery in late 1990's, many endoscopic operations for thyroid tumors have been performed in Korea. The authors analyzed the current status of endoscopic thyroid surgery performed in Korea. METHODS: We have collected and analyzed the data of endoscopic thyroid operations using survey. RESULTS: The surgeons working in 16 hospitals answered the questions in survey. The total endoscopic thyroid operations were performed over 1,200 cases until the end of 2004. In the pathologic diagnosis, nodular hyperplasia was most frequent in 64.5%. The axillary approach was most frequently applied in 9 hospitals (56.2%). Most of endoscopic thyroid operations were performed in 2~3 hours. The operation time was decreased according to the experience. The endoscopic surgery for malignant tumors were also performed in 11 hospitals, The hospital stay was usually 3~4 days. The most common complications in endoscopic thyroid surgery were temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and anteior chest wall discomfort or paresthesia. The most common reason for conversion to conventional surgery was the intraoperative diagnosis as for a malignancy. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroid surgery has been perfomed in many hospitals not only special thyroid clinic in Korea. The operation cases are increasing rapidly in these days. According to the development of technique and instrument, the endoscopic surgery are applied to various neck disease involving malignancy. The safety and efficacy of endoscopic surgery for malignancy should be further evaluated with accumulation of experience of endoscopic operation and long term follow-up of thyroid cancer patients.
Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Parathyroid Glands ; Paresthesia ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Surgeons ; Thoracic Wall ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy*

The incidence of appendiceal metastatic cancer is quite low. In particular, in small cell lung cancer, there is a very low incidence of a metastasis to the appendix. A 75-years old man with right lower quadrant pain, cough and sputum was transferred to our hospital. Abdominal CT revealed acute appendicitis with a perforation. The patient underwent surgery. The frozen sections of the tissue obtained during surgery, indicated a malignancy, but a right hemicolectomy was not performed due to the patient's poor general condition. The histology findings of the appendix were identified as a small cell carcinoma. The abdominal CT scan and chest x-ray at admission day showed a mass in the right lower lobe, and a further evaluation of the lesion was performed including positron emission tomography and flexible bronchoscopy with a biopsy. The pathology findings of the lung mass were also small cell lung cancer. The specimens from both sites stained positive for cytokeratin, cluster designation 56, synaptophysin, chromogranin-A and thyroid transcription factor 1. It was concluded that the appendiceal small cell cancer originated from the lung.
Appendicitis ; Appendix ; Biopsy ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Cough ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratins ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nuclear Proteins ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Sputum ; Synaptophysin ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland ; Transcription Factors