The gene ftsH encodes a membrane-bound and ATP-dependent protease that is involved in a variety of cellular functions including heat-shock and stress response. Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA encompassing most part of the ftsH gene was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. Due to the unsuccessful cloning as seen in other pneumococcal promoters, the 5'-end of the gene including the upstream promoter region was amplified by inverse polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced by cyclic sequencing. The amino acid sequence that is deduced from the 1,959 bp-long ftsH gene is very similar to FtsH of several gram-positive bacteria and E. coli within the region responsible for the AAA (ATPase associated with diverse cellular activities) function. Except for the N-terminal domain that contains a short extracellular region between two mernbrane-spanning segments, pneumococcal FtsH shows striking sequence similarity to that of a closely related species Lactococcus lactis within the conserved cytoplasmic domain where two ATP-binding motifs, the AAA Signature motif, and a zinc-binding motif are found.
Amino Acid Sequence ; ATP-Dependent Proteases ; Base Sequence* ; Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Cytoplasm ; DNA ; Escherichia coli ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Lactococcus lactis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus* ; Strikes, Employee

Over the past 30 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of multifetal pregna-ncies, primarily because of the introduction of ovarian stimulants for ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology ( ART ) in infertile patients. It is well established that multifetal pregnancies are associated with an increased frequency of the maternal complications and gre-ater perinatal morbidity and mortyality. The adverse outcome of multifetal pregnancies is dire-ctly proportional to the number of fetuses, primarily as an consequence of prterm delivery. Re-duction in the number of fetuses in multifetal pregnancies has been proposed as a way to impr-ove the perinatal outcome in this situation. Therefore, selective fetal reduction ( SFR ) is sugges-ted as a therapeutic option for continuation of pregnancy with fetuses mature enough to survi-ve. In this paper, we report our infertility clinic experiences with 6 patients who carried mult- ifetal pregnancies including 1 quintuplet, 1 quadruplet, and 4 triplets. from January, 1991 to May, 1996, transabdominal SFR was accomplished by fetal intrathoracic KCl injection at 9~10 weeks of gestation. After the prcedure, 4 patients remained as twin pregnancies, and 2 patients as single pregnancy. There have been 3 sets of twin deliveries and the 2 sets of single delivery. One case was aborted. Two patients were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 2 patients were at 35 weeks, and 1 patient at 24 weeks. All babies have been healthy after birth in patients after 35 weeks gestation. There was no fetal anomaly related to the procedure in the 6 cases. We concluded that transabdominal SFR is a rather safe and useful procedure that may improve the outcome of multifetal pregnancies.
Fetus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infertility ; Ovulation Induction ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Twin ; Quadruplets ; Quintuplets ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Triplets ; Twins

No abstract available.
Interleukin-6* ; Rabbits*

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of indocyanine green (ICG) and triamcinolone (TA) assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during idiopathic macular hole surgery. METHODS: Fifty-four eyes of 54 patients with idiopathic macular hole underwent pars plana vitrectomy including peeling of the posterior cortical hyaloid and peeling of the internal limiting membrane. For enhanced visualization of ILM, ICG was used in 25 eyes and TA in the remaining 29 eyes. Postoperative visual acuity was measured and OCT was performed. RESULTS: Anatomical closure was achieved in 25 eyes (100%) in ICG group and 28 eyes (97%) in TA group, Best corrected visual acuity improvement by > or =2 lines was in 15 eyes (60%) in ICG group and 18 eyes (62%) in TA group. Postoperative visual improvement rates by > or =20/50 were 10 eyes (40%) in ICG group and 9 eyes (31%) in TA group. CONCLUSIONS: Peeling of the internal limiting membrane using triamcinolone and indocyanine green was safe and effective for anatomic and functional success in idiopathic macular hole surgery. Further studies of the toxicity of TA, ICG and the result of internal limiting membrane peeling is needed.
Humans ; Indocyanine Green* ; Membranes ; Retinal Perforations* ; Triamcinolone* ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

Invasive infection of the Streptococcus bovis group in a neonate is rare. In cases reported to date, the pathogen of neonatal S. bovis infections is usually Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus (S. bovis biotype II/2). Streptococcus lutetiensis (S. bovis biotype II/1) was identified using 16S rRNA and tuf gene sequence analysis of the isolates from blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a fever-presenting 28-day-old male. Blood culture analysis was performed using automatic equipment (VITEK 2) and identified Streptococcus infantarius supsp. infantarius, yet we were unable to get accurate results from the CSF culture. The fever subsided on the second day of hospitalization, and the patient was discharged without neurologic complication after 14 days of antibiotic therapy. In this case, we were able to accurately identify the pathogen using molecular genetic methods. To our knowledge, this is the first case of late onset neonatal bacteremia and meningitis caused by S. lutetiensis.
Bacteremia* ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis* ; Molecular Biology ; Sequence Analysis ; Streptococcus bovis ; Streptococcus*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is difference in the effects of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea by research design. METHODS: Findings from the two different research designs (Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest [NCG] design vs. two-group crossover design) were compared in regard to the effect of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea. The subjects of the NCG design and the crossover design were a total of 58 female nursing students. The treatments (aroma essential oil inhalation and carrier oil inhalation) were given using a necklace. The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, and Shapiro-Wilk test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. The effect size for the two research designs was calculated. RESULTS: In both research designs, the level of dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain after the aroma treatment were not significantly different from those after the placebo treatment. The effect size of the NCG design was higher than that of the crossover design. CONCLUSION: Aroma inhalation may not be effective in managing dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain. In order to further clarify the efficiency of research design and the effect of aromatherapy on discomfort during menstruation, replication studies are necessary. Future studies need to examine the effects of different research design on non-interval variables.
Aromatherapy ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Menstruation ; Research Design ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine core nursing intervention in nursing records and to compare perceived nursing intervention priority and nursing intervention frequency of general surgery department. METHODS: Subjects were 70 nurses who work in the general surgery department. Data was collected using a nursing intervention classification and analyzed by frequency and mean. RESULTS: The most frequent nursing interventions of nursing records were orderly risk management, coping assistance, tissue perfusion management, skin/wound management and nutrition support. Important nursing interventions were tissue perfusion management, respiratory management, electrolyte acid-base management, elimination, peri-operative care. The most frequent nursing interventions were drug management, peri-operative care, risk management, tissue perfusion management, patient education. CONCLUSION: This study found that nursing records were different from intervention priority and nursing frequency. So further study is needed for finding focused intervention of specific subjects and differences with priority of nursing and frequency of nursing.
Nursing Records ; Patient Education as Topic ; Perfusion ; Risk Management

Pulmonary sequestration is a relatively rare anomaly. Arterial supply is usually derived from the aorta or its major branches, or very rarely from the left gastric artery. We present a case of intralobar sequestration in which blood was supplied by the left gastric artery.
Angiography ; Aorta ; Arteries* ; Bronchopulmonary Sequestration*

No abstract available.
Glomerular Basement Membrane*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma-inhalation on depression, sleep, mood, and smell in stroke patients and their caregivers. METHOD: This study employed one group pretest-posttest repeated design. Data were collected at three time points: baseline(pre-test), 10 days and 20 days after the intervention(post-test1 and post-test2, respectively). The sample included a total of 23 subjects. Data were analyzed by SPSS 12.0 program using repeated measure ANOVA. RESULTS: Depression was not statistically significant difference among pre-test, post-test1 and post-test2. Sleep was improved after intervention: 37.61+/-7.41(pre-test), 41.22+/-8.26 (post-test1), 44.33+/-7.67(post-test2)(F=8.182, p=.001). Mood was significantly improved after intervention: 16.95+/-4.89(pre-test), 14.89+/-6.31 (post-test1), 12.11+/-5.04(post-test2). Smell including smell perception, discomfort due to smell and relation between age and smell was significantly improved after intervention: 2.63+/-1.20(pre-test). 2.00+/-1.16(post-test1), 1.63+/-.96(post-test2)(F=6.176, p=.006) in smell perception, 2.50+/-1.10 (pre-test). 1.81+/-.91(post-test1), 1.19+/-.40(post-test2) (F=12.26, p=.000) in discomfort due to smell and 3.53+/-1.18(pre-test). 2.59+/-1.46(post-test1), 2.53+/-1.33(post-test2)(F=4.148, p=.025) in relation between age and smell. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that aroma-inhalation may have an effect on sleep, mood and smell and can be effective nursing intervention to increase the relaxation in stroke patients and their caregivers.
Aromatherapy* ; Caregivers* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Nursing ; Relaxation ; Smell* ; Stroke*