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

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Molecular Biology* ; Transcription Factors*

No abstract available.
Hypoparathyroidism*

No abstract available.
Hydrocortisone* ; Plasma*

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:Craniopharyngioma is one of the most important intracranial tumors in pediatric age which causes multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. We have studied clinical characteristics in patients with craniopharyngioma, focusing on changes of endocrine function, change of growth pattern, and change of body mass index before and after surgery. In addition, we wanted to know the effect of growth hormone therapy on growth velocity and body mass index, and to identify contributing factors for spontaneous growth in spite of growth hormone deficiency. METHODS:A total number of 17 patients who were diagnosed as having craniopharyngioma at the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center during the period of January, 1991 to December, 1997 were included in this study. Retrospectively, we reviwed medical records as to their endocrine function tests and auxoloogical data before, after surgery. RESULTS: 1)The number of patients of male and female were 9 and 8 respectively. Mean age was 7.3+/-4.3 years. 2)Preoperatively, 3 patients were thyroid hormone deficient, 3 patients were corticosteroid deficient, and 3 patients suffered from diabetes inspidus. 3)Postoperatively, GH and TSH deficiency were found in 100%, ACTH in 88.2%, ADH in 82.3%, and LH/FSH in 60%, 53% respectively. 4) Mean growth velocity in 14 GH deficient patients without growth hormone treatment for 2 years were 3.5+/-2.4cm/year during the 1st year and 3.1+/-1.7cm/year during the 2nd year. Although height standard deviation score(Ht. SDS) was decreasing trend as -0.24+/-2.19 at diagnosis, -0.94+/-1.73 at 1 year later, and -0.76+/-1.76 at 2 years later, it was not statistically significant. To our suprise, 4 out of 14 patients achieved greater growth velocity than nomal in spite of growth hormone deficiency during the 1st year after operation. 5) Although the mean body mass index of 14 GH deficient patients without GH treatment was increasing trend as 17.9+/-3.5 at diagnosis, 19.0+/-4.5 at 1 year later, and 19.9+/-4.8 at 2 year later, it was not statistically significant. 6) The mean Ht. SDS increased significantly in 7 patients treated with growth hormone(P<0.05) for 2 years, but change of body mass index was not significant. 7) Comparision of postoperative serum prolactin levels and changes of body mass index between spontaneous growth and stunted growth group did not reveal significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since most patients with craniopharyngioma become multiple pituitary hormone deficient after operation, it is important to predict and detect pituitary dysfunction to manage it effectively. Although patients with postoperative GH deficiency responded well to GH treatment, further study is needed to clarify what are the main contributing or prognostic factors for spontaneous growth without growth hormone treatment.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Body Mass Index ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Obesity ; Pediatrics ; Prolactin ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland