To develop the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of type D simian retrovirus (SRV) infection, an oligonucleotide primer pair was designed to hybridize to the sequences within euv gene of SRV subtype 1 (SRV-1). The 3'proximal env sequences annealing to the primers had been rather conserved among three different subtypes of SRV, SRV-1, SRV-2, and SRV-3 (Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus: MPMV). The PCR using the primer pair targetingan an env region the successfully detected and amplified all three subtypes of SRV with excellent specificity after single round of reaction. The tests with peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected either with simian immunodeficiency virus or simian T-lymphotropic virus type 1, maior immunosuppressive viral agents together with SRV in simian, verified the specificity of the PCR by excluding any cross reactivity. Semiquantitative titration PCR, amplifying serially diluted plasmid DNA of each subtype, was performed to evaluate sensitivity limits of the reaction. Based on molecular weight of each cloned SRV genome, the PCR should be able to detect one SRV-infected cell per more than 5-7x104 uninfected cells after simple ethidium bromide staining of resulting products. The PCR must be very efficient screening sisters with its quickness, certainty, and sensitivity for SRV-infected animals used in human AIDS research model. Second round amplification of the reaction products from the first PCR, or Southern hybridization by radiolabeled probes shall render to compete its efficacy to ELISA which has been the most sensitive technique to screen SRV infection but with frequent ambiguity problem.
Animals ; Betaretrovirus* ; Clone Cells ; DNA* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethidium ; Genome ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Mason-Pfizer monkey virus ; Mass Screening ; Molecular Weight ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Retroviruses, Simian ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Siblings ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

Chronic intestional pseudoobstruction syndrome is a rare clinical condition in which impaired intestinal peristalsis. Causes recurrent symptoms of bowel obstruction in the absence of a mechanical occlusion. This syndrome may involve variable segments of small or large bowel. And may be associated with urinary bladder retention. This study included 6 children(3 boys and 3 girls) of chronic intestinal obstruction. Four were symptomatic at birth and two were of the ages of one month and one year. All had abdominal distention and defication difficulty. Five had urinary bladder distention. Despite parenteral nutrition and surgical intervention(ileostomy or colostomy), bowel obstruction persisted and four patients expired from sepsis within one year. All had gaseous distention of small and large bowel on abdominal films. In small bowel series. Consistent findings were variable degree of dilatation. Decreased peristalsis(prolonged transit time) and microcolon or microrectum. This disease entity must be differentiated from congenital megacolon, ileal atresia and megacystis syndrome.
Dilatation ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Parturition ; Peristalsis ; Sepsis ; Urinary Bladder

No abstract available.
Hematoma*

A 33 year old woman with tuberous sclerosis and pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis was undertaken bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Due to the progressive dyspnea and recurrent pneumothorax, she could not handle her normal daily life without oxygen supplements. The natural history of a patient with tuberous sclerosis and symptomatic lung involvement says the mean expected survival is 4 years. Such guidelines as severe obstructive lung disease, unavailable medical therapy, substantial limitation in activities of daily living, and limited life expectancy made her be a recipient of lung transplantation expecting both prolongation of life and the better quality of life. In this transplantation case, we have experienced such delicate problems as gross ventilation-perfusion mismatch, reperfusion pulmonary edema, much decreased renal function, etc.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Life Support Care ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lung* ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Natural History ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Quality of Life ; Reperfusion ; Tuberous Sclerosis

PURPOSE: The survival of bone marrow derived stem cell was reported several times. But the survival of adipose tissue derived stem cells(hASCs) was not mentioned on. We studied the adipose tissue derived stem cell's survival and effect on articular cartilage in rabbits. METHODS: Osteoarthritis was induced in twenty New Zealand white rabbits by intraarticular injection of monosodium iodoacetate(MIA). After four weeks, hASCs were also injected into the knee joints space without any vehicle, but the control group received phosphate buffered saline only. The histologic grade of articular cartilage was measured in 4 and 8 weeks after the transplantation of hASC and the viability of injected stem cells measured by Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH) examination. RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks from hASCs transplantation, histologic grade was not significantly difference between two groups(p>0.05), and the Y chromosome of the transplanted hASCs was not detected in articular cartilage. CONCLUSION: We found that direct injection of hASC in joint space didn't work on damaged articular cartilage repair.
Adipose Tissue ; Bone Marrow ; Cartilage, Articular ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells ; Transplants ; Y Chromosome

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid cancer patients may experience emotional distress during cancer treatment including surgical operation and radioactive iodine treatment. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate changes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) under preoperative, postoperative and short-term hypothyroidism state. METHODS: Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale(HAD) and the Distress Thermometer, we sequentially assessed the levels of anxiety, depression and distress in 41 DTC patients at 3 time points such as preoperative state, postoperative state and short-term hypothyroidism state. RESULTS: The HAD-anxiety score was significantly higher in preoperative state(6.93+/-3.97) than postoperative state(4.22+/-2.92) and short-term hypothyroidism state(4.93+/-3.64). Any other significant change in depression or distress thermometer score was not observed. Especially, difference of HADS score between the distress and none-distress groups was significant in preoperative state and post-operative state, but the difference become not significant in the short-term hypothyroidism state. CONCLUSIONS: Induced thyroid hormone deficiency during cancer treatment does not significantly affect emotional distress in patient with DTC. Anxiety and depression in these patients may be associated with distress of the patient before active cancer treatment.
Anxiety ; Dapsone ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Prospective Studies ; Thermometers ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Radial artery cannulation is a well established clinical technique for continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure and serial sampling of arterial blood in critically ill patients. This method is regarded generally as safe, but complications are reported uncommonly. We report a case of false aneurysm of the radial artery following repeated puncture and catheter indweling for 8 days, and discuss briefly about the complication of arterial cannulation. It should be remembered that in arterial cannulation, we must use aseptic techniques, and the catheter must not be indwelt at one point for a long time.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Arterial Pressure ; Catheterization ; Catheters* ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Punctures ; Radial Artery*

This study was undertaken to investigate mineral changes in weathered scalp hair after burial. EDX (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analysis was performed to measure the presence of minerals on the hair surface. Twelve scalp hairs, buried for 5-40 years, were chosen from deceased individuals buried in tombs in Soha-Ri, Kyonggi-Do, and other regions in Korea. Three normal hairs were used as the control group. EDX data showed that carbon, oxygen, and sulfur were detected in hair collected from all three burial grounds. In contrast, calcium was only detected in hair collected from tombs in Soha-ri. The amounts of calcium and sulfur were found to decrease with time for hair collected from tombs in Soha-ri. Similar results were observed with sodium for hair collected from other regions. These results show region specific mineral detection and a decrease in the concentration of minerals with time. Consequently, it is suggested that changes in minerals concentration in weathered hair could be used as basic data in the field of forensic medicine.
Burial ; Calcium ; Carbon ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea ; Minerals ; Oxygen ; Scalp ; Sodium ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Sulfur ; Weather

BACKGREOUND: Cerebral damage caused by hemorrhagic shock presents an important challenge for critical care medicine. The type of fluid to resuscitate hemorrhagic shock is important for the outcome of such patients. Pentastarch is low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch, which increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) by plasma volume expansion and compensatory vasodilation, and improves the microcirculation in the ischemic brain area by reducing the blood viscosity. METHODS: The authors continuously determined CBF and CMRO2 in 10 mongrel dogs weighing 20.1 +/- 0.8 kg with posterior sagittal sinus outflow method. Dogs were subjected to the 20 minute-period of hemorrhagic shock to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg. The shock phase was followed by resuscitation with the same volume of 10% pentastarch as blood loss. The authors assessed the changes of CBF, CMRO2, and CBF/CMRO2 ratio immediately and 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes after pentastarch infusion. Brain water content was assessed by the wet-dry weight method. RESULTS: CBF was increased above the control level, immediately and 30 minutes after 10% pentastarch infusion (p<0.05), and approximated to the control level for the remaining time. CMRO2 was increased, immediately and 30, 60, 90 minutes after 10% pentastarch infusion (p<0.05), and approximated to the control level at 120 minutes. CBF/CMRO2 ratio was recovered to the control level after 10% pentastarch infusion. Brain water content was not significantly different from the normal value of dogs. CONCLUSION: 10% pentastarch may be used with safety to resuscitate hemorrhagic shock because it recovers the balance between the cerebral oxygen supply and demand, and does not cause cerebral edema.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Viscosity ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Critical Care ; Dogs ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives* ; Microcirculation ; Oxygen* ; Plasma Volume ; Reference Values ; Resuscitation ; Shock ; Shock, Hemorrhagic* ; Starch ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The endoscopic mucosal resection has now been adopted for a useful modality in both curative therapy and accurate diagnosis of early gastric cancer. A retrospective study was done to evaluate the indication and the limitation of endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 20 cases of early gastric cancer treated by endoscopic mucosal resection in Chungnam National University Hospital from November, 1995 to July, 1997. RESULTS: 1) The size affected the curability: 83. 3% of lesions less than 2 cm and 50. 0% of those larger than 2 cm were resected completely. 2) The depth of cancer invasion affected the curability: 87. 5% of lesion confined to mucosa were resected completely, while all of submucosal cancers were resected incompletely. 3) Among fourteen cases resected completely, three cases of lesions larger than 2 cm were residual cancer and two of those less than 2 cm were recurred locally. CONCLUSIONS: To be a curative therapy by endoscopic mucosal resection of early gastric cancer, we think that careful selection of the lesion, that is lesion less than 2cm and confined to mucosa, is necessary
Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*