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*

Acute mobile thrombus of the abdominal aorta after chemotherapy is a very unusual finding, which can be a potential source of arterial embolism. We report here on a case of an acute mobile aortic thrombus with renal infarction. We successfully treated the patient with hybrid operation-open surgical and endovascular approach. Our case shows that hybrid treatment using wire-directed balloon catheter thrombectomy is a feasible, minimally-invasive treatment for a mobile aortic thrombus.
Angioplasty ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Catheters ; Chimera ; Embolism ; Humans ; Infarction ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis

Ketotifen, a benzocycloheptathiophene, has an orally effective antiallergic as well as antihistaminic properties. In pervious studies, Ketotifen has shown encouraging results on patient with allergic rhinitis, either perennial or seasonal. 39 patients with allergic rhinitis had been treated with Ketotifen 1 mg twice daily for 8 weeks. And we obtained following results. 1) The efficacy rate in sneezing attack was 73.5%, in nasal discharge 71%, in nasal obstruction 58%. 2) Some improvements in at least one of three-major symptoms were noted within 1 week in 30.7%, within 2 weeks in 55.8%, within 3 weeks in 66.7%, within 8 weeks in 87.2%. 3) Physical findings such as colour, swelling of turbinate, character of rhinorrhea were not improved significantly. 4) Side effect was observed only in one patient with abdominal pain and diarrhea, which was subsided after interruption of administration. These results suggested that Ketotifen was effective in treatment of allergic rhinitis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Ketotifen* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis, Allergic* ; Seasons ; Sneezing ; Turbinates

No abstract available.
Animals ; Blastocyst* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Glucose* ; Mice*

BACKGROUNDS: The biliary diseases were one of the most common diseases of intraabdominal diseases, and cholecystectomy was performed first in 1882 by Langenbuch, and since laparoscopic cholecystectomy( L.C) that was new noninvasive method of being avoid the laparotomies was performed first in France, in 1987 by Philippe Mouret, it has become the standard method of treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the mafority of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis as an improved treatment option, resulting in significantly less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, better cosmetic result, and more rapid return to normal activity than standard open cholecystectomy. METHODS: We compared the 82 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Chung-nam National University Hospital from Jan. 1993 to Jun. 1998 to the 67 patients undergoing standard open cholectystectomy(O.C) during the same periods. RESULTS: 1) The mean age of L.C group was 53.9 years and that of O.C group was 58.0 years. The male to female ratio of L.C group was 1:1.47 and that of O.C group was 1:1.0. 2) Associated diseases were observed in 31 patients(37.8%) of the L.C group and 36 patients(53.7%) of the O.C group. 3) 6 patients(7.3%) had a previous abdominal operation, with appendectomy, the most frequent among them. 4) The shorter operative time and postoperative hospitalization stay were required to performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy than standad open cholecystectomy(p=0.03, p=0.02). 5) Postoperative compoications were occurred in 6 patients(7.3%) of L.C group. 1 patient was explorated, the remainders were recovered by conservative treatment. 6) On pathologic findings, chronic cholecystitis as seen in 70 pateints(85.4%) were the most frequent in the L.C group. In the O.C group, chronic cholecystitis as seen in 40 pateints(59.7%) were also the most frequent diseases. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has the merits of short operation and admission time, lesser postoperative pain, smaller wound, rapid return to normal life than open cholecystectomy.
Appendectomy ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholelithiasis ; Female ; France ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pain, Postoperative ; Wounds and Injuries

AIM: To construct recombinant adenovirus vector containing brain derived neurotrophic factor, (BDNF) gene using bacterial homogenous recombination, and investigate the expression in expanded rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSC) in vitro. METHODS: BDNF gene and proBDNF gene were subcloned into adenovirus shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV containing enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (EGFP) expression cassette, forming shuttle vector of pAdTrack-BDNF, and pAdTrack-proBDNF, and co-transformed into BJ5183 bacterial cells with adenovirus backbone vector pAdEasy-1 using chemical transformation. After the recombinant adenovirus vector was obtained, the identified recombinant adenovirus plasmid DNA was digested with Pac I and transfected to 293 cells to package recombinant adenovirus particles. rMSC were infected by recombinant adenovirus and EGFP expression was detected using fluorescent microscope. Infection efficiency was assessed by flow cytometrics. Western blotting identified expression of Ad -proBDNF and Ad-BDNF in rMSC. rMSC infected with Ad -proBDNF and Ad-BDNF were induced to differentiate into neuron-like cells. rMSC infected with Ad -proBDNF and Ad-BDNF were injected into nude mice and assessd in vivo. RESULTS: We successfully constructed the recombinant adenovirus Ad -proBDNF and Ad-BDNF that expressed in expanded rMSC in vitro.CONCLUSION: Recombinant adenovirus high-effectively mediates Ad -proBDNF and Ad-BDNF expression in expanded rMSC in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: As life span is increasing, so is interest about adult disease. Especially the number of postmenopausal women has increased, and postmenopausal symptoms have become a important problem causing low quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy was introduced to overcome these problems. Authors investigated to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on the quality of life of postmenopausal women. METHODS: From April to June 1997, we surveyed 188 postmenopausal women (91 women were on hormone replacement therapy, and 97 women were in the controlled group in Sungnam Central Hospital) with COOP/WONCA chart Korean version. RESULTS: COOP/WONCA chart (Korean version) is composed of seven dimensions, among these four dimensions (change in health, overall health, daily activity and pain) were shown statistically significant difference between two groups. But three dimensions (social activity, physical fitness and feelings) were not shown to be statistically different. Total mean score of COOP/WONCA chart showed statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the quality of life of postmenopausal women, primary care physician should consider hormone replacement therapy along with proper patient selection and periodic follow up.
Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Menopause* ; Motor Activity ; Patient Selection ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-beta family and play an important role in cellular growth. Recent reports suggest that exogenous bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) acts as an antiproliferative agent in a variety of cell lines. We will study whether BMP-2 is altered in human colorectal cancer. METHODS: We analyzed 40 colorectal cancer cases and 6 colorectal cancer cell lines by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the expression of BMP-2. RESULTS: Thirteen of 40 colorectal cancers (33%) and 3 of 6 colorectal cancer cell lines (50%) revealed decreased expression of BMP-2. The rates of decreased expression were 0% (0/7), 42.1% (8/19), 28.6% (2/7), 33.3% (2/6), and 100% (1/1) in stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Histologically, the rates were 33.3% (2/6), 32.2% (10/21), 50% (1/2), and 0% (0/1) in well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated, poorly-differentiated and mucinous cancers, respectively. As for location, the rates for colon and rectal cancers were 27.8% (5/18) and 36.4% (8/22), respectively. We identified methylation in the CpG island of the BMP-2 gene in 60% of colorectal cancer cells and in 50% of colorectal cancer cell lines. The 13 cases without BMP-2 gene expression showed no significant correlation with clinicopathological factors. Epigenetic silencing through DNA methylation is one of the key steps during carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION: We found, through an analysis using the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction technique, CpG island methylation of the BMP-2 promoter region in colorectal cancer. Thus, aberrant BMP-2 methylation and the resultant loss of BMP-2 expression may be related to colorectal carcinogenesis.
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Methylation ; Mucins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rectal Neoplasms

In recent years, the interest in minimally invasive surgery has grown, and the same trend is observed in vascular surgery and interventional radiology, leading to what is called endovascular surgery. Since the first use of a stent-graft for the endovascular exclusion of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has greatly expanded, and more than 50,000 devices have been implanted until now. The endovascular graft can be implanted from a remote access site in the groin with a less anesthetic requirement. The endovascular graft is advanced over guidewires up the femoral and iliac arteries. Once in position, the graft is deployed immediately distal from the renal arteries. The aorta is not clamped and the blood loss is less than with open surgery. EVAR for AAA offers an important new alternative to open surgical procedure. The mortality rates after EVAR are reported between 0~5%. Long-term follow-up reports are not available, but mid-term follow-up of EVAR reveals an incidence of re-intervention between 10~20% and a rate of late rupture of between 0.5~1.5% per year. The problems of endoleaks and graft failure continue to be the challenges that require technological innovations. Based on the currently available evidence, EVAR is an appropriate treatment for selected patients, especially those at high risk for open surgical repair.
Aneurysm* ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Endoleak ; Groin ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Incidence ; Inventions ; Mortality ; Radiology, Interventional ; Renal Artery ; Rupture ; Stents ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Transplants

Biliary endoprosthesis could provide permanent internal biliary drainage inpatient with obstructive jaundicewith advantages of absence of troublesome external catheter and no loss of fluid, bile and electrolytes overexternal drainage. Incidence of sepsis and cholangitis may be lowered. Endoprosthesis was performed in 18 patientsof obstructive jaundice from January, 1985 to december, 1985 at Department of Radilogy, Kyungpook NationalUniversity Hospital. The results are as follows: 1. The cases of obstructive jaundice included bile duct cancer in11, stomach ca. metastasis in 3, ca. of ampulla of Vater in 1, ca. of head of pancresas in 1, CBD cancer withpostop. recurrenced in 1, and impacted CBD stone in 1 case. 2. The levels of obstruction were at the trifurcationin 8, CHD in 5, proximal CBD in 3, and distal CBD in 2 cases. 3. Decline of serum bilirubin level was noted in 15cases with the most rapid decline wihtin 1 week after the procedure. 4. The complication occurred in 5 cases. Thethree cases were recovered spontaneously, but one died of bile peritonitis, another experienced obstrution ofendoprosthesis. 5. The endoprosthesis is benificial intreatment of obstructive jaundice for which surgery is notindicated, and saving expensive abdominal surgery and less advantageous percutaneous external drainage, henceenhancing life quality.
Ampulla of Vater ; Bile ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bilirubin ; Catheters ; Cholangitis ; Drainage ; Electrolytes ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritonitis ; Quality of Life ; Sepsis ; Stomach