No abstract available.
Hypoparathyroidism*

No abstract available.
Molecular Biology* ; Transcription Factors*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Hydrocortisone* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Insulin* ; Molecular Medicine*

An A to G mutation at nucleotide 3243 or 8344 of the mitochondrial genome has been associated with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(IDDM) and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) in some patients whose family members are frequently affected in maternally inherited fashion. The hypothesis is entertained that defective oxidative phosphorylation system(OXPHOS) caused by mitochondrial DNA mutations would hamper the insulin secretion from pancreas beta islet cells, which requires large amount of ATP energy. Recently, a number of study have been reported to examine the frequecy of these mutations in diabetic populations. In this study, efforts have been directed to investigate the frequency of MELAS tRNALeu(3243) and MERRF tRNALys(8344) mutations in 53 Korean IDDM patients. Total genomic DNA extracted from patients' lymphocytes have been amplified using two sets of mitochondrial specific primers to cover the regions of nt 3243 or 8344. PCR-RFLP anlaysis using Apa I for MELAS(3243) or Ban II for MERRF(8344) were utilized to screen the presence of these mutations in 53 IDDM patients. Two positive controls have been directly sequenced to confirm the presence of these mutations. The results showed that none of IDDM patients(0/53) screened carried these mutations. In conclusion, mitochondrial DNA mutations of MELAS(3243) or MERRF(8344) may be very rare causative factor in developing IDDM, though a large number of IDDM patients are needed to be screened.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Humans ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Lymphocytes ; Mass Screening* ; MELAS Syndrome* ; MERRF Syndrome* ; Oxidative Phosphorylation ; Pancreas ; RNA, Transfer*

After the synthesis of IL-15 cDNA from the total RNA of mouse spleen, it was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector, pRseta, and eukaryotic expression vector, pcDNA3.0, respectively. Subsequently, the insertion of gene and open reading frame were confirmed by sequencing of each plasmid, respectively. Using pRseta- IL-15 plasmid, the recombinant IL-15 protein was induced by IPTG under BL21 (DE 3) host cells and recombinant IL-15 was expressed at 14.5 KDa with time. Then, IL- 15 was separated by His-tag affinity chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE to yield soluble IL-15 at 14.5 KDa as monomer and 29.0 KDa as dimer. In order to inspect the function and contribution of IL-15, the in vitro experiment was established using mononuclear cells separated from the mouse spleen. After 48h exposure of PHA to mouse splenocyte and 24h treatment with recombinant IL-15, the effects of cytokine inductions inspected against IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-r, and GM-CSF. The results showed that comparing with the control, IL-6 increased, IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-r increased and similar, and GM-CSF decreased. In addition, the direct injection of pcDNA3.0-IL-15 plasmid into mice gave the similar results to in vitro studies. Namely, IL-6 and IL-12 increased, and IL-2, IFN-r and GM-CSF were similar or decreased. IL-10 was not induced in in vitro and in vivo experiments. These results suggested that the IL-15 induce the splenocyte activation and can be an important factor in proliferation and fuction recovery of weakened T-cell.
Animals ; Chromatography, Affinity ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-15* ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; Mice* ; Open Reading Frames ; Plasmids ; RNA ; Spleen ; T-Lymphocytes

Pigmented Bowen's disease (PBD) is a rare variant of Bowen's disease(BD). Most of the reported cases showed pigmented patches or thin plaques. Thus its clinical manifestations may simulated other various pigmented skin lesions. We experienced 2 cases of PBD in patients with multiple BD developed after taking Korean proprietary pills (KPP, "Hwan-Yak"), which were suspected to contain certain amount of arsenics. Both patients also showed arsenical keratosis on their palms and soles. The darker pigmentation of the PBL led us to differentiated them from melanoma.
Bowen's Disease* ; Humans ; Keratosis ; Melanoma ; Pigmentation ; Skin

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A*

PURPOSE:Although Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of goiter in children and adolescents, it is not clear what proportion of patients become hypothyroid and which tests are the best predictors of this state. To determine whether these kinds of variations occur in the course of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and whether the size of the thyroid gland or immunologic markers correlate with the course or outcome of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are main objects of our study. METHODS:A total number of 48 patients who were diagnosed as having Hashimoto's thyroiditis at the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center during the period of January, 1992 to December, 1997 were included in this study. Retrospectively, we reviewed medical records as to their clinical and labaratory data. RESULTS:Thyroid function status at initial diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were euthyroidism(33.3%), compensatory hypothyroidism(33.3%), overt hypothyroidism (27.1%), hyperthyroidism(8.3%) in order. Positivity of antithyroglobulin antibodies and antimicrosomal antibodies were 77.1% and 66.7% respectively. In 33 patients, 12(36.4 %) were on remission status after 3 years from initial diagnosis. Antithyroglobulin antibody titer was significantly decreased after 2-year follow up in remission group. Initial antithyroglobulin antibody titer and thyroid function status were not related to remission status after 3-year from diagnosis. CONCLUSION: About 36% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be in remission after 3-year from diagnosis. Decrease of antithyroglobulin antibody titer is related to remission status. Further study is necessary to know what can be the predicting factors for early remission, for example, initial thyroid function status, initial antithyroid antibody titier, circulating immune complex, age, sex and size of thyroid.
Adolescent ; Antibodies ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biomarkers ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*