No abstract available.
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel* ; Immunoblotting* ; Korea* ; Rickettsia typhi* ; Rickettsia*

In view of the potential of replicase protein as a diagnostic reagent for human caliciviruses (HuCVs), we have cloned and over-expressed this gene from the Snow Mountain-like Korean strains in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST, and described the preliminary antigenic characterization of the recombinant products. Each 470bp fragment corresponding to highly conserved region of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase was generated by RT-PCR from stools of two diarrheal children, cloned in pMOSBlue T-vector, and subcloned between the EcoRI and SalI restriction sites of pGEX-47-3, a GST gene fusion vector, yielding pGCVpol. This construct expressed a Snow Mountain-like HuCV replicate under the control of the IPTG-inducible pac promoter. An extract prepared by sonication of the E. coli cell inclusion bodies bearing pGCVpol products was purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. After Coomassie blue staining, it was shown that the recombinant replicase migrated on the gels with an approximate molecular mass of 46.5 kDa, that was subsequently cleaved into a 26 kDa GST fragment and a 20.5 kDa replicase protein upon digestion with thrombin protease. The replicase was recognized on immunoblotting with the sera from symptomatic children with the HuCV-associated diarrhea but not by asymptomatic sera from adults. The results presented the first biological activity of individually expressed HuCV replicase subunit and provided important reagents for diagnosis of HuCV infection.
Adult ; Child ; Clone Cells ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Digestion ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; Gels ; Gene Fusion ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Inclusion Bodies ; Indicators and Reagents ; RNA Replicase ; Snow* ; Sonication ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Thrombin

The authors studied EBV genome expression in 40 conventionally processed samples of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC), using in situ hybridization for EBERs and immunohistochemistry for LMP, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. The NPCs consisted of 6 keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (KSCs), 13 nonkeratinizing carcinomas (NKCs) and 21 undifferentiated carcinomas (UCs). The results were summarized as follows: 1) EBERs were expressed in 80.0% of all the NPCs (32/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 16.7% of the KSCs (1/6). In positive cases, the nuclei of tumor cells displayed uniformly strong staining. 2) LMP was expressed in 10.0% of all the NPCs (4/40), all of which were UC. The LMP expression in the UCs was not correlated to the expression of EBERs, Bcl-2 and p53 proteins. 3) Bcl-2 protein was detected in 85.0% of all the NPCs (34/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 92.3% of the NKCs (12/13), in 90.5% of the UCs (19/21), and in 50.0% of the KSCs (3/6). 4) p53 protein was detected in 75.0% of all the NPCs (30/40). As for the subtypes, they were detected in 81.0% of the UCs (17/21), in 69.2% of the NKCs (9/13), and in 66.7% of the KSCs (4/6). 5) In the NPCs the expression of EBER showed a significantly positive correlation with that of p53 or Bcl-2 protein. The above results indicate that the association of EBV with NPC is chiefly with poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas. Additionally, carcinomas commonly display widespread, strong immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 and p53 proteins over tumor cells. In conclusion, these observations indicate that the EBV-association in NPC appears to contribute to the overexpression of tumor-related genes during carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Genome ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the presence, severity and pattern of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta delivered after preterm labor with intact membranes. METHODS: The relationship between placental histologic finding and amniotic fluid interleukin-8 was examined in 46 consecutive patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of preterm labor with intact membranes and who delivered singleton gestations within 5 days. RESULTS: The prevalence of acute histologic chorioamnionitis was 63.0%(29/46) and that of positive amniotic fluid culture was 17.4%(8/46). The most frequent site of histologic inflammation was chorion-decidua(56.5%, 26/46). The median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 increased significantly according to the presence and higher severity of inflammation in each type of placental section (p<0.05 for each). Three patterns of inflammation were identified in chorion-decidua: non-marginating, marginating, and mixed. Median amniotic fluid interleukin-8 and the rate of severe histologic chorioamnionitis (grade> or = 4) increased significantly in the order of non-marginating, marginating, and mixed (p<0.05 for each). CONCLUSION: Both the presence and greater severity of acute histologic chorioamnionitis are associated with an elevated amniotic fluid interleukin-8. A marginating and mixed pattern of inflammation are associated with a higher amniotic fluid interleukin-8. Amniotic fluid interleukin-8 is a reliable prenatal marker of histologic chorioamnionitis.
Amniotic Fluid* ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukin-8* ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a IRIS(innovative replacement of incontinence surgery) procedure for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women during the follow-up of 2 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to March 2004, 48 women with stress urinary incontinence underwent a IRIS procedure under local, spinal or general anesthesia. Post-operative evaluation was carried out after 1 month, 12 months and 24 months. The mean age was 51.1+/-11.0 years and mean follow-up period was 32.1+/-3.8 months. Operation time, success rate and patient's satisfaction, perioperative and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 24.46+/-1.95 minutes and mean hospital stay was 1.77+/-0.75 days. The success rates were 95.8%(cured 79.2%, improved 16.7%) and 93.8%(cured 75.0%, improved 18.8%), at the 1 and 2-year follow-up, respectively. The satisfaction rates were 91.7% at 1-year follow-up and persisted at 2-year follow-up. There were no serious or long-term complications related to the procedure, and no significant changes in the postoperative outcome over time. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the IRIS procedure is as safe and effective as TVT procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, although longer follow-up is necessary to determine long-term effect.
Anesthesia, General ; Female* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Iris* ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Urinary Incontinence*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence over a 6-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively our experience with 63 patients who underwent a TVT procedure for stress urinary incontinence, between March 1999 and March 2000. The preoperative evaluations included a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, urinalysis, urine culture, one hour pad test, urodynamic study including valsalva leak point pressure(VLPP) and maximal urethral closing pressure(MUCP). Long-term evaluations were performed by questionnaires on the durability of surgical outcome and the patients' satisfaction of the procedure. RESULTS: The TVT procedure remained successful in 95.2%(cured 81.0%, improved 14.3%) and 93.7%(cured 77.8%, improved 15.9%) at the 1 and 6-year follow-up, respectively. The satisfaction rates were 93.7% and 92.1%, at the 1 and 6-year follow-up, respectively. There were no serious or long-term complications related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The TVT procedure seems to be a minimally invasive, safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, with long-term durability of continence and minimal complications related to the surgery.
Female* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Suburethral Slings* ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Incontinence* ; Urodynamics

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of intrauterine insemination (IUI) according to the catheter used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: From March 1998 to September 1998, total 95 infertile patients were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to TomCat group (n = 39) and Mackler group (n = 56) according to the catheter for insemination. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) was used in all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and x2 test as appropriate. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The total dose and duration of exogeneous gonadotropin required were similar between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness and texture on the day of hCG administration between the two groups. However, the percentage of uterine souding due to failure of initial approach was significantly higher in TomCat group compared to Mackler group (23.1% vs. 0%, p < 0.01). The percentage of bleeding after IUI in TomCat group seemed to be higher than that in Mackler group (15.4% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06), although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per patient between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that using Mackler catheter might be effective for IUI, especially for the patients with cervical factor infertility.
Catheters* ; Estradiol ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Pregnancy Rate

No abstract available.
Hemangioma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

It is well known that the medullary carcinoma of the breast is one of the special types of breast carcinoma with a good prognosis. At present, the medullary carcinoma of the breast is subclassified into 3 types: typical medullary, atypical medullary and nonmedullary carcinoma. Among them, the former has the best prognosis. We reviewed the film mammographic and ultrasonomammographic findings of 13 patients according to the reevaluated histopathologic diagnosis. Typical medullary carcinoma shows a well circumscribed mass with surrounding halo on film mammogram, and well defined mass with central intermediate echogenicity and peripheral low echogenicity and posterior acoustic enhancement on ultrasonomammogram. Atypical medullary carcinoma shows relatively well circumscribed mass with partial marginal obliteration on film mammogram, and irregular bordered mass with inhomogeneous echogenicity due to focal necrosis in the mass and associated findings of thick boundary, asymetrical lateral shadowing on ultrasonomammogram. Nonmedullary carcinoma shows lobulated mass with surrounding parenchymal distortion and skin thickening on film mammogram, and relatively well defined lobulating mass with surrounding parenchymal distortion and marked heterogeneous internal echogenicity on ultrasonomammogram. Therefore, differentiation between typical medullary carcinoma with good prognosis and atypical medulary or nonmedullary carcinoma with poor prognosis, may be possible by various diagnostic imaging modalities preoperatively. But further collective study shall be needed in near future.
Acoustics ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Medullary* ; Classification* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Prognosis ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Skin

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is an uncommon disorder characterized by firm b-cutaneous plaques and nodules usually appearing shortly after birth. It runs a relatively be, n course and may completely resolve in a few months without any recurrence. We report a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis in a 15 day-old male suffering from severe p inatal asphyxia and hypoxic cardiomyopathy, who presented with indurated subcutane s nodules and plaques on the both shoulders and the back. Histologically the subcutaneous fat showed focal necrosis with needle-shaped clefts, lymphohistiocytic infiltration and foreign body reactions consistent with subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn. In our patient, compromised cardiac output due to cardiomyopathy might have aggravated hypoxic condition and it could be speculated that cardiomyopathy-induced systemic hypoxia gave rise to hypothermia of the skin as a result of peripheral vasoconstriction. This report presents a causal relationship of cardiomyopathy and subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn.
Anoxia ; Asphyxia ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiomyopathies* ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Parturition ; Recurrence ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat* ; Vasoconstriction