No abstract available.

Plasmid vectors with either RSV or CMV promoter are frequently used for DNA- mediated immunization due to the availability in commercial. Consequently, influence of the vector constituents, such as promoter, enhancer and transcription termination signal etc. on vaccination efficiency is not studied extensively. As an initial attempt to develop an efficient vector system for DNA-rnediated immunization, influence of promoter for antigen gene expression on vaccination efficiency has been analyzed. Initially, plasmids with either B-actin or muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter were constructed from the plasmid with prototype CMV promoter. In addition, ovalbumin (OVA) antigen gene has been cloned into each vectors to generate the plasmid vectors with different promoters for induction of the anti-OVA immune responses. Antigen protein expression in antigen gene transfected mouse muscle myoblast cells showed that the level from MCK promoter containing plasmid was slightly higher than those from either CMV or B-actin promoter containing plasmids. Also, the same plasmid turned out to be slightly more efficient than other plasmids in antibody imrnune response induction in vivo, when they were applied both through intramuscularly and intradermally. These results suggest that the commonly used CMV promoter containing plasmid vector could be further modified to develop an efficient vector for DNA-mediated immunization.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Creatine Kinase, MM Form ; Gene Expression ; Immunization ; Mice ; Myoblasts ; Ovalbumin ; Plasmids* ; Vaccination*

Dermatologist should be aware of the practical importance of proper selection of ski.n lesions for histologic examination, the correct methods for performing biopsy, and steps involved in tissue preparation. They should be acquainted with factors producing various artifacts and ways to prevent these changes. This study was undertaken to investigate the artifacts of 300 dermatopathologic tissue sections which prepared by 3 general hospitals in Seoul in 1983. The results were summarized as follows. [.The percentage of artifacts produced by selection of inapropriate lesion was 4. 0% artifacts during biopsy procedure was 18. 3% inadequate size and depth of specimen was 7. 3%, faulty embedding was 12. 0%, tissue tearing or loss was 49. 3% artifactal dermoepidermal separation was 3.0%, linear knife marking was 17.0% thick or thin section was 8. 3% tissue overlapping was 12. 0% uneven stiining or precipitation was 3. 7%, and foreign body contamination was 3, 7% The percentage of good specimen was 21, 7% diagnostic was 56. 3% not diagnostic but suggestive was 8.7% and reading impossible was 13. 3% 3. The major causes of reading impossible specimen which attributed to the procedures of dermatologist were 40.0% to the proccss of technician were 47.5% and to both were 12. 5%
Artifacts* ; Biopsy* ; Foreign Bodies ; Hospitals, General ; Seoul ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Ectopia Cordis* ; Ultrasonography*

The four tetrameric STRs loci(HUMvWA31, HUMTHO1, HUMF13A1, HUMFES/FPS) were studied to confirm the allele frequency distribution and to see whether these results can be used for identity and paternity testing in a population o Koreans using multiplex PCR and laser-fluorescence detection method. In the Korean population (n=227), 8 alleles with their relative frequency range of 0.002-0.249 are detected in the HUMvWA31 locus, 6 alleles with those of 0.007-0.500 in 6 alleles with those of 0.004-0.434 in the HUMFES/FPS locus. The highest observed heterozygosity is found at the locus HUMvWA31(0.8077), with those of the lociively. All loci meet Hardy-Weinberg expectations ; there are good agreements between observed and expected heterozygosity, number of observed genotypes. Pairwise comparisons between loci show allelic independence for all the 4 loci. The power of discrimination (PD) determined for the locus HUMvWA31 is 0.933, that for the HUMTHO1 is 0.836, 0.798 for HUMF13A1, and 0.844 for the HUMFES/FPS ; the combined power of discrimination for the quadruplex is 0.9997. Thus, these allelic frequency distribution can be used to construct the database of the multiplex PCR-based DNA profile in the Korean population. The calculated parameter, "combined power of discrimination(PD)" show the informativeness of these loci for the determination of identity and relatedness of individuals.
Alleles ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Microsatellite Repeats* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Paternity

The HUMACTBP2 locus was investigated to collect population genetic data in the Korean population and to evaluate the applicability for the forensic field. An Automatic fluorescent-based sequencer (377 automatic DNA sequencer, ABI) was used to detect amplified fragments of the HUMACTBP2 locus electrophoresed on 4% denaturing polyacrylamide sequencing gels. ACTBP2 allelic ladder consisting of different sizes of 18 alleles was constructed and employed as an internal size standard in combination with a GS-350 size standard for precision of allele-band sizing. By utilizing different fluorescent dyes, both the allelic ladders and samples were able to be analyzed in the same lane by 99% orecision of allele-band sizing. Among the Korean population (n=224), 26 alleles in the range of 239-313 bp are determined. allele No. 6 is found 45 times (0.100) which is mostly frequent, and the rest of allele is distributed with their relative frequency of 0.002-0.100. The comparison between observed and expected numbers of homozygous and heterozygous individuals confirms that ACTBP2 locus is in the state of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium among the Korean population. The heterozygosity is 0.9389+/-0.0034(93.89%), and the power of discrimination(PD) and power of exclusion(PEX) are calculated to be 0.991(99.1%)and 0.890(89.0%), respectively, showing the high informativeness for individual identification. Thus, these results mean that the HUMACTBP2 locus can effectively be used for the forensic application.
Alleles ; DNA ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Gels ; Genetic Variation*

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed in obese and nonobese patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. OBJECTIVES: To report perioperative complications and surgical outcomes in obese patients who underwent lumbar surgery compared with a similar consecutive control group to determine whether obesity is a predictor of poor outcome as well as a factor associated with perioperative complications in lumbar spine surgery. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Perioperatiye challenges in managing the obese patient include anesthesia considerations related to impaired preoperative cardiac and respiratory function, technical difficulties associated with incubation, positioning, and gaining venous and arterial access for monitoring and administering medications. Obesity has also been implicated in delayed wound healing and thrombophlebitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty seven patients with spondylolisthesis treated with decompression and fusion were retrospectively evaluated. Forty four patients were obese and remaing eighty three patients were nonobese. The operation time, amount of transfusion, duration of hospital stay and clinical outcomes were studied. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the obese and control groups in terms of duration of surgery (224 versus 200 min), amount of transfusion (2.6 versus 2.2 pint), duration of hospital stay (21.3 versus 19.7 days), and symptom improvement (74fo versus 73fo). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is not a predictor of poor outcome as well as a factor associated with high perioperative complication rate in lumbar spine surgery.
Anesthesia ; Decompression ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Obesity* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Thrombophlebitis ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: As co-factors of metalloenzymes, zinc(Zn) and copper(Cu) have a considerable effect on nearly all the metabolism that takes place in organs of the body, including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate zinc and copper status in alopecia areata patients. METHODS: We measured serum levels of zinc and copper in 30 cases of alopecia areata patients and 10 normal individuals by atomic absorption spectrometry. Furthermore, we studied the significance of the ratio between serum levels of the two metals. RESULTS: The serum levels of zinc were significantly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. The serum levels of copper were slightly lower in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. Ratios of Cu/Zn were slightly higher in alopecia areata patients than in healthy controls. But their differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We suggest that a serum Zn assay should be included in the chemical assessment of patients with alopecia areata.
Absorption ; Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Copper* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Metals ; Skin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zinc*

BACKGROUND: Management of massive rotator cuff tears can be challenging because of the less satisfactory results and a higher retear rate regardless of the use of open or arthroscopic repair technique. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 102 cases of massive rotator cuff tear treated with either open or arthroscopic repair. Open repair was performed in 38 patients; and arthroscopic repair, in 64 patients. The mean age at the time of surgery was 59.7 years in the open group and 57.6 years in the arthroscopic group. RESULTS: The Constant score increased from the preoperative mean of 55.9 to 73.2 at the last follow-up in the open repair group and from 53.8 to 67.6 in the arthroscopic repair group (p<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score increased from a preoperative mean of 17.7 to 30.8 at the last follow-up in the open group and from 17.5 to 28.7 in the arthroscopic group (p<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). No statistically significant difference in the Constant and UCLA scores was observed between the two groups at the last follow-up (p=0.128 and 0.087, respectively). Retear was found in 14 patients (36.8%) in the open group and 39 patients (60.9%) in the arthroscopic group (p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Open and arthroscopic repairs of massive rotator cuff tears may provide satisfactory clinical results with no significant difference. However, a significantly lower retear rate was observed for the open repair group compared with the arthroscopic repair group.
Arthroscopy ; California ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Tears* ; Tendon Injuries

Os subfibulare is a accessory bone arround the lateral maleolus, but it is different from many other accessory bones in foot and ankle in its development related to trauma and frequent symptoms of ankle instability. Accessory bone is a developmental anomaly which fails to unite to main secondary ossification center and usually asymptomatic. But os subfibulare is developed by recurrent ankle sprains in younger age or non-union of avulsion fracture of anterior talofibular ligament and causes instability of ankle. We experienced two cases of symptomatic os subfibulare in adolecents and report them with review of literatures.
Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Foot ; Ligaments