The present study has been performed to evaluate Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis) heat shock protein(HSP)60 as a candidate vaccine to inhibit multiple bacteria-induced alveolar bone loss. Rats were immunized with P.gingivalis HSP60 and experimental alveolar bone loss was induced by infection with multiple periodonto -pathogenic bacteria. Post-immune rat anti-P.gingivalis HSP IgG levels were significantly elevated and have demonstrated highly significant inverse relationship with the amount of alveolar bone loss induced by multiple bacteria. Results from PCR detection of subgingival bacterial plaque indicated that the vaccine successfully eradicated the multiple pathogenic species. We concluded that P.gingivalis HSP60 could potentially be developed as a vaccine to inhibit periodontal disease induced by multiple pathogenic bacteria.
Alveolar Bone Loss* ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Periodontal Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis* ; Porphyromonas* ; Rats* ; Shock

PURPOSE: The transobturator adjustable tape (TOA) sling operation is a new procedure that allows for the adjustment of tension after surgical intervention, thus permitting correction of postoperative incontinence or obstruction. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of TOA with that of the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2008 and 2009, women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) underwent TOT (n=63) or TOA (n=40). The preoperative evaluation included history taking, physical examination, voiding diary, stress and 1-hour pad tests, and a comprehensive urodynamic examination. Postoperative evaluation was performed at the 1-week and 3-month postoperative follow-up visits. RESULTS: The overall cure rate was 90.0% for the TOA group and 85.7% for the TOT group. The rate of satisfaction was higher in the TOA group than in the TOT group (95.0% vs. 85.6%). Four patients in the TOA group needed reduced tension as the result of urinary obstruction. The tension of the mesh was tightened in 1 patient because of a certain degree of continuing incontinence. The residual urine volume was significantly lower in the TOA group than in the TOT group (7.8 ml vs. 43 ml, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TOA allowed postoperative readjustment for a number of days after surgical intervention, which allowed for good short-term treatment outcomes. These data suggest that better subjective and objective results and residual urine volume can be obtained in the TOA group than those achieved with the traditional non-adjustable mesh and without significant postoperative complications.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Physical Examination ; Postoperative Complications ; Suburethral Slings ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urodynamics

BACKGROUND: The cell-mediated immune reaction to tuberculosis infection involves a complex network of cytokines. The extent of inflammation, tissue damage and severity of the disease suggested to be determined by the balance between extent and duration of the proinflammatory cytokine response versus those of the suppressive cytokines. The systemic cytokine response in pathogenesis of tuberculosis can be assessed by measuring serum cytokine levels. METHOD: Serum interleukin-1 beta(IL-1 ), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) levels were measured in 83 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis before treatment and 20 healthy subjects by using a sandwich ELISA. In patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, they were divided into mild, moderate and far advanced group according to the severity by ATS guidelines. To compare with those of pretreatment levels, we measured serum IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40), TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta levels in 45 of 83 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: 1) In sera of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(n=83), IL-1beta, IL-6(p<0.05), TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma were elevated and TGF-beta was decreased comparing to control. IL-2, IL-12(p40), IL-4 and IL-10 were similar between the patients with tuberculosis and control. 2) In endobronchial tuberculosis, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were elevated and TGF-beta was decreased comparing to control. IL-12(p40) seemed to be elevated comparing to pulmonary tuberculosis. 3) Far advanced tuberculosis showed markedly elevated IL-6 and IFN-gamma level(p<0.05). 4) The significant correlations were noted between IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha and between IL-12, IL-2 and IL-4(p<0.01). 5) After 2 and 6 months of standard treatment, the level of IL-6 and IFN-gamma was significantly decreased(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results showed that an altered balance between cytokines is likely to be involved in the extent of inflammation, tissue damage and severity of the disease tuberculosis. But, it should be considered diversities of cytokine response according to type of tuberculosis and immunity in clinical application and interpreting future studies.
Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Korea* ; Necrosis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This study was performed to evaluate the validity of the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which is being used at the Samsung Medical Center. In total, 305 (190 males and 115 females) participants consented and completed the 3-day diet records and FFQ. Age, gender and energy-adjusted and de-attenuated correlations ranged from 0.317 (polyunsaturated fatty acid) to 0.748 (carbohydrate) with a median value of 0.550. The weighted kappa value ranged from 0.18 (vitamin A) to 0.57 (carbohydrate) with a median value of 0.36. More than 75% of the subjects were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles. The FFQ had reasonably good validity compared with that of another study. Therefore, our FFQ is considered a proper method to assess nutrient intake in healthy Korean adults.
Adult ; Diet Records ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the dental field. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. In a previous study, we confirmed that the essential oil of Chrysanthemum boreale has antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Alpha-pinene is one of the major chemical components of Chrysanthemum boreale essential oil. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of α-pinene on cariogenic properties such as growth, acid production, biofilm formation, and bactericidal activity on S. mutans. Alpha-pinene at a concentration range of 0.25-0.5 mg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and acid production of S. mutans. Biofilm formation was significantly inhibited at < 0.0625 mg/mL α-pinene, similar to the data from scanning electronic microscopy. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, the bacterial viability was decreased by α-pinene in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that α-pinene may be a useful agent for inhibiting the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Chronic Disease ; Chrysanthemum ; Dental Caries ; Dental Plaque ; Microbial Viability ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Plants* ; Streptococcus mutans

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to analyze visitors' food needs and identify the Push-Pull factor in Jeonju Hanok Village. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed based on previous research to survey Korean adults who visited Jeonju city. A total of 580 questionnaires were used for the analysis. RESULTS: Most of the subjects who visited Jeonju Hanok Village had food purchase experiences in Jeonju Hanok Village (96.4%). ‘Traditional Korean food (26.5%)’ was the most purchased food, followed by ‘foreign food (25.8%)’ and ‘Korean food combined with foreign food (16.8%)’. Satisfaction of food purchases (3.35 points) was higher than average. The primary reason for satisfaction was ‘the food is delicious (23.0%)’, and the reason for dissatisfaction was ‘the food is expensive (48.1%)’. In the push and pull factor analysis for identifying visit motivation, ‘local food seeking’, ‘experience seeking’, ‘relaxation seeking’, and ‘friendship seeking’ were push factors while ‘traditional culture’, ‘facility convenience’, ‘experience activity’, and ‘food experience’ were pull factors. There was a significant correlation between the push and pull factors. Regression analysis showed that all push factors influenced satisfaction. However, among pull factors, only ‘food experience’ and ‘traditional culture’ influenced satisfaction. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study indicates that food-related factors are destination characteristics (Pull factor) influencing intrinsic visit motivation (Push factor) and satisfaction. It is necessary to develop various food tourism products to satisfy visitors' needs and continuous visits in Jeonju Hanok Village. This study suggests the importance of research on food factors and provides useful basic data to establish positioning strategies for food cultural development in Jeonju Hanok Village.
Adult ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Motivation

Heat shock protein (HSP) is one of cellular protein commonly present in major periodontopathogenic bacteria as well as mammalian cells. The protein may play a role in the immunopathogenesis by modulating autoimmune reaction due to its high level of sequence homology between bacteria and human counterpart. Hence, identifying immunodomiant epitope of bacteria HSP that is cross-reactive to periodontopathogenic bacteria with a specificity to human HSP may comprise a critical strategy for development of a periodontal vaccine. The present study was performed to establish clones producing monoclonal antibody reactive to Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) HSP with a specificity to human HSP. 4 different hybridomas were cloned producing monoclonal IgG antibodies to P. gingivalis HSP and evaluated for their reactivity and specificity to other periodontopathogenic bacteria as well as to human HSP. These four monoclonal antibodies reacted with P. gingivalis HSP only with specificities to other bacteria tested and human HSP as well. The antigenic epitopes producing the 4 monoclonal antibody may be potentially developed as vaccine candidates. Further investigations are under way to identify more clones producing monoclonal antibodies reactive to P. gingivalis HSP and to other periodontopathogenic bacteria as well, while maintaining specificities to human counterpart.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bacteria ; Clone Cells ; Epitopes ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Hybridomas ; Immunoglobulin G ; Porphyromonas gingivalis* ; Porphyromonas* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Homology

The original version of this article contained an error in Methods section under Developing Survey Instruments. The publisher would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Jeollabuk-do* ; Methods*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate clinicopathologic findings and gallbladder (GB) function in patients with endoscopic bile reflux at outpatients clinic. METHODS: We classified endoscopic bile reflux into two groups by bile reflux index (BRI). Those who scored above 14 were the BRI (+) group, and those below 14 were the BRI (-) group. We analyzed clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings including Helicobacter pylori, GB function by DISIDA scan, and electron microscope (EM) findings of endoscopic bile reflux. And we compared clinicopathologic characteristics and GB function between two groups. RESULTS: Endoscopic bile reflux identified in 9.7% of all cases with gastrointestinal symptoms. There are cholecystectomy in 6.7%, gastrectomy in 2.7%, and GB dysfunction in 20.0%. They had prominent gastrointestinal symptoms with variable endoscopic findings. Foveolar hyperplasia is the most common pathologic finding and H. pylori colonization of the stomach was inhibited in cases of bile reflux gastritis. Bile reflux also had distinguishable ultra-structural changes identifiable by EM. BRI (+) group had more old age, GB dysfunction than BRI (-) group. Clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings did not differ between the two groups of endoscopic bile reflux. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic bile reflux was common findings with young adults (30's) at outpatients clinic. Foveolar hyperplasia is common pathologic finding. GB dysfunction were identified as significant risk factors for BRI (+) group.
Bile ; Bile Reflux ; Cholecystectomy ; Colon ; Electrons ; Gallbladder ; Gastrectomy ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Microscopy, Electron ; Outpatients ; Risk Factors ; Stomach ; Young Adult

Breast metastases from extra-mammary malignancies are unusual. In particular, the characteristics of breast metastasis from gastric cancer are rarely reported and there is no common specific finding among the reported cases. Breast metastases from extra-mammary malignancies are often misdiagnosed as benign lesions due to the absence of characteristic finding in imaging studies; however, they also resemble inflammatory breast cancer clinically sometimes. Therefore, differential diagnosis between the primary breast cancer and the metastatic disease is considered difficult. In order to hasten the diagnosis, to avoid unnecessary mastectomy, and to determine appropriate options of treatment, it is important that physicians understand the clinicopathological and radiologic features of breast metastases and consider its possibility in patients with a history of extra-mammary malignancies. Herein, we report a case of breast metastases from gastric cancer.