The plasmepsins are the aspartic proteases of malaria parasites. Treatment of aspartic protease inhibitor inhibits hemoglobin hydrolysis and blocks the parasite development in vitro suggesting that these proteases might be exploited their potentials as antimalarial drug targets. In this study, we determined the genetic variations of the aspartic proteases of Plasmodium vivax (PvPMs) of wild isolates. Two plasmepsins (PvPM4 and PvPM5) were cloned and sequenced from 20 P. vivax Korean isolates and two imported isolates. The sequences of the enzymes were highly conserved except a small number of amino acid substitutions did not modify key residues for the function or the structure of the enzymes. The high sequence conservations between the plasmepsins from the isolates support the notion that the enzymes could be reliable targets for new antimalarial chemotherapeutics.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspartic Endopeptidases/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Human ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmodium vivax/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Esthetics ; Facial Bones ; Malocclusion ; Mastication ; Orthognathic Surgery

Purpose: This study examined the effects of social distancing in COVID-19 on musculoskeletal problems and the quality of life. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five subjects participated in this study and responded to an online survey on stress from the social distancing in COVID-19, computer and smartphone usages, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life. The stress from social distancing was assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) were provided to assess the musculoskeletal pain, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was provided to assess the quality of life. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and independent t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant, but low positive correlation stress from the social distancing (VAS) and NDI (r=0.19, p<0.05) and ODI (r=0.18, p<0.05), and negative correlation between stress from the social distancing (VAS) and SF-36 (r=-0.17, p<0.05). The NDI score was significantly greater in the group with high stress than in the group with low stress from social distancing (p<0.05). Conclusion This study is meaningful in that it evaluated, through the physical therapy approaches, the potential side-effects on physical and mental health in various social changes caused by COVID-19. The results of this study may be used as basic data in future studies related to COVID-19.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of social distancing in COVID-19 on musculoskeletal problems and the quality of life. Methods: One hundred and thirty-five subjects participated in this study and responded to an online survey on stress from the social distancing in COVID-19, computer and smartphone usages, musculoskeletal pain, and quality of life. The stress from social distancing was assessed by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) were provided to assess the musculoskeletal pain, and Short Form-36 (SF-36) was provided to assess the quality of life. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and independent t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant, but low positive correlation stress from the social distancing (VAS) and NDI (r=0.19, p<0.05) and ODI (r=0.18, p<0.05), and negative correlation between stress from the social distancing (VAS) and SF-36 (r=-0.17, p<0.05). The NDI score was significantly greater in the group with high stress than in the group with low stress from social distancing (p<0.05). Conclusion This study is meaningful in that it evaluated, through the physical therapy approaches, the potential side-effects on physical and mental health in various social changes caused by COVID-19. The results of this study may be used as basic data in future studies related to COVID-19.

No abstract available.
Kidney Transplantation* ; Lymphocele*

Hyperphosphatemia develops when there is impaired renal phosphate excretion or massive extracellular fluid phosphate load. For example, renal insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism, exogenous phosphate administration, and extensive cellular injury induce a hyperphosphatemic state. In patients with multiple myeloma, renal insufficiency occurs as a result of hypercalcemia, light chain tubulopathy, urate nephropathy or infection, and hyperphosphatemia usually results from renal failure. We report here a case of a patient with multiple myeloma who had an elevated serum phosphate level measured by the phosphomolybdate UV method without significant renal insufficiency and was finally diagnosed with pseudohyperphosphatemia.
Extracellular Fluid ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Light ; Molybdenum ; Multiple Myeloma ; Phosphoric Acids ; Renal Insufficiency ; Uric Acid

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the morbidity in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) and low birth weight infants (LBWI) in Korea and compare these data with similar data from Japan and the USA. METHODS: The analysis of morbidity in VLBWI in Korea was based on a 2012 survey of morbidity in LBWI in Korea. These findings were compared with the morbidity of VLBWI and LBWI in Japan and the USA. RESULTS: Morbidities in LBWI included jaundice (58.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS; 37.0%), apnea (22.2%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; 22.0%), and small for gestational age (SGA; 19.2%). The research findings concerning LBWI morbidity found, high prevalence rates for neonatal jaundice, RDS, PDA, SGA, apnea, and sepsis. Compared with VLBWI morbidity of Japan and the USA, intraventricular hemorrhage, RDS, PDA, and sepsis were more prevalent in Korea, whereas bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy of prematurity occurred at similar frequencies in all 3 countries. CONCLUSION: This study provides a recent nationwide summary of disease-specific morbidity in VLBWI and LBWI in Korea. Based on this study, future research and surveys are needed to identify the disease-specific mortality and survival rates in the field of neonatal intensive care.
Apnea ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Epidemiology ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Japan* ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Sepsis ; Survival Rate

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is a rare, benign disease usually found in full-term infants. It occurs usually in a few weeks after birth, as one or multiple indurated nodules or plaques on the fat pads-rich fraction of the body and disappeared after few weeks to months. Complications such as hypercalcemia, pain, lipid abnormalities (dyslipidemia), renal failure, and subcutaneous atrophy may occur. We report a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis associated with hypoglycemia and meconium aspiration syndrome in the term infant and review the associated literatures.
Atrophy ; Fat Necrosis ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hypoglycemia* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Necrosis* ; Parturition ; Renal Insufficiency ; Subcutaneous Fat*

BACKGROUND: The patients with mitral stenosis are generally accompanied with impaired pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of pulmonary function after percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMV) in that patients. METHODS: PMV was performed in 36 patients with mitral stenosis in Pusan National University Hospital and hemodynamic, echocardiographic and pulmonary function test data before and after PMV were analyzed. RESULT: After PMV, NYHA functional class was improved from 2.2+/-0.6 to 1.2+/-0.4 (p<0.001). The mean left atrial pressure and mean pulmonary arterial pressure significantly decreased from 14.5+/-6.2 mmHg to 5.7+/-4.4 mmHg(p<0.001) and from 25.3+/-10.9 mmHg to 15.5+/-7.4 mmHg (p<0.001), respectively. Cardiac output was slightly decreased from 5.34+/-1.31 L/min to 5.28+/-1.25 L/min (p=0.50). Mean mitral pressure gradient decreased from 13.5+/-5.8 mmHg to 4.4+/-2.1 mmHg (p<0.001) and mitral valvular area significantly increased from 0.86+/-0.19 cm2 to 1.71+/-0.28 cm2 (p<0.001). In pulmonary function test, only MVV and PEF was significantly improved from 77.2+/-23.8% to 88.4+/-27.9% (p<0.01) and 87.1+/-26.8% to 97.5+/-26.4% (p<0.01), respectively. But, VC, FEV1, FEF25-75% and FVC were not changed significantly. In exercise treadmil test, exercise duration was significantly improved from 482.0+/-266.2 sec to 718.0+/-287.5 sec (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We observed the results of better hemodynamic changes and exercise capacity after PMV. But, there was no significant improvement in pulmonary function after PMV. In our opinion, irreversible pulmonary changes and hemodynamic effect on pulmonary function should be considered.
Arterial Pressure ; Atrial Pressure ; Balloon Valvuloplasty* ; Busan ; Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Respiratory Function Tests

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to assess the etiologies, survival and prognositic factors of patients with chronic cor pulmonale visited Pusan National University Hospital. METHODS: This study included 103 patients with chronic cor pulmonale. There were 67 men and 36 women. The diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale was primarily based on the presence of underlying lung disorder and echocardiographic finding of enlarged or hypertrophied right ventricle. Other clinical data including patients' symptoms and signs, findings of arterial blood gas analysis, hematologic and biochemical laboratory and pulmonary function test were assessed. RESULTS: The most common underlying lung disorder was pulmonary tuberculosis (59.2%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the next (28.2%). The survival rate was 57% in one year, 45% in two years, and 34% in three years. The prognostic factors were maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV), forced vital capacity(FVC), FEV1, serum Na, vital capacity(VC), serum albumin and peak expiratory flow(PEF) in univariate analysis. And in multivariate analysis, serum albumin(p=0.0144) and VC(p=0.0078) were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most important underlying lung disorder in chronic cor pulmonale. The survival rate was 57% in one year, 45% in two years, and 34% in three years. Serum albumin(p=0.0144) and VC(p=0.0078) were statistically significant prognostic factors.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Busan ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Pulmonary Heart Disease* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Serum Albumin ; Survival Rate ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary