The truncated E1192-283 and E2384-649 genes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) linked to the gene for glutathione 5-transferase (GST) were constructed and their expressions were analyzed. The GST-E1192-283 fusion gene overexpressed the fusion protein in E. coli as a soluble form, while the GST-E1192-383 plasmid did not express expected fusion protein. The purified GST-E1192-283 fusion protein was efficiently cleaved by thrombin. More than 90% pure, HCV E1192-283 protein was obtained by GST-agarose chromatography. The truncated GST-E2384-649 fusion gene expressed the fusion protein mainly as an insoluble form, whereas the GST-E2384-740 did not express the fusion protein. The truncated GST-E1 182-283 and GST-E2384-649 fusion proteins reacted specifically with an HCV patient serum. In addition, mice immunized with either the purified E1192-283 or GST-E2384-649 proteins generated specific antibodies to each antigen. The results suggested that hydrophobic carboxyl portions of the E1 and E2 proteins might affect expression levels as well as the solubility of each fusion protein in bacteria. Also, the truncated E1 protein with Tyr-192 to Ser-283 contained antigenic epitope(s) which could be specifically recognized by an HCV patient serum.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Bacteria ; Chromatography ; Glutathione ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Solubility ; Thrombin

No abstract available.
Intubation, Intratracheal ; Temporomandibular Joint

We observed three patients who showed widespread macular ashy-colored eruptions. They fit clinically and histopathologically with the typical erythema dyschromicum perstans (ashy dermatosis). Erythoma dyschromicum perstans is a peculiar pigmented condition of unknown etiology characterized by persistent ashy-gray colored macule, refractory to any modality. All of them have similar skin lesions which are multiple, variable sized oval-shaped, ash-colored macular eruption on the trunk and extremities. Histologic findings of 2 patients reveal the characteristic feature of focal hydropic degeneration of the basal cell layer of the epidermis, perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes and histiocytes and melanin-laden macrophages in the corium, however, merely pigmentary incontinence into the corium in 1 patient. Literatures are briefly reviewed.
Dermis ; Epidermis ; Erythema* ; Extremities ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Skin

We report a case of Darier's disease occuring in 49-year-old female patient. She had hyperkeratotic crusted eruptions on her forehead, neck and posterior auricular area. The skin lesions aggravated in summer and improved in winter, but never been healed completely. Histopathologic features from neck lesions revealed hyperkeratosis with corps ronds and grains as well as formation of villi and laeunae. We treated her with oral etretinate, and she was almost completely free of disease after 3 months treatment. We suggested that etretinate is an importnat advance in the treatment of Darier's disease.
Acitretin* ; Edible Grain ; Darier Disease ; Etretinate* ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The main function of melanocyte is known to protect the skin from hazardous sunlight. But, some investigators have claimed lately that melanocytes are also related to the immunologic role in the epidermis because these cells produce IL-1 activity and IL-1beta convertase activity, in vitro. OBJECTIVE: Our purposes were to investigate the effects of rIFN-gammaon the proliferation of melanocytes, melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen on melanocytes after a rIFN-gammaexposure. MEHTODS: The number of melanocytes, the melanin content, and the expression of HLA-DR antigen were evaluated on cultured human melanocytes according to a time sequence and various concentrations of rIFN-gamma. RESULTS: Antiproliferative activity on melanocytes was dependent on the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-gamma. According to the exposure time and the concentration of rIFN-gamma, melanogenic acivity was inhibitd or stimulated. Normal melanocytes didn't express HLA-DR antigen, but when normal melanocytes were exposed to rIFN-gamma, the expression of HLA-DR antigen increased in a time-and concentration-dependent fashion. After the removal of rIFN - gammafrom the culture media, the expression of HLA-DR antigen on melanocytes also disappeared. CONCLUSION: In our study, melanocytes seem to be related to the immunologic role in the epidermis because these cells expressed HLA-DR antigen after rIFN-gammaexposure and we think that study could help to investigate between melanocytes and immunologic mechanisms in various inflammatory skin diseases.
Culture Media ; Epidermis ; HLA-DR Antigens* ; Humans* ; Interleukin-1 ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Sunlight

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Killer Cells, Natural*

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Lymph Nodes* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

The objectives of the study were to provide the basic informations needed in the development of balanced medical services throughout the nation. As the national health care system was expanding rapidly along with the economic growth, quantitative re-evaluation of the system is of great need. For that reason, characteristics of the admitted patients were analyzed for the case-mix and patients' flow within and through regions. Materials were 421,530 cases of inpatients, who were reported through Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC) for insurance claim, during the period of March 1, 1985 through February 28, 1987. Korean Diagnosis Related Groups(K-DRGs) classification system was adopted for the study of case-mix and 189 cities and countries were classified into 5 district groups by factor analysis results of K-DRGs. The major findings of this study were as follows ; 1) Factor analysis of case-mix, employing K-DRG system, revealed 5 distinct functional district groups. Group A(18 district) was prominent for tertiary medical care. In group B(36 districts), rather simple procedures were prevalent. Group C(26 districts) was distinctive for the medical care of well organized internal medicine practices with qualified clinical laboratories. Group D(17 districts) was characterized by relatively high balanced medical care. Group E (92 districts) was with very low level of medical care. 2) Analysis of the case-flow through the districts showed 3 types of flow patterns ; inflow, outflow, and balanced types. Inflow type of case-flow was found in Group A, C and D while Group B and E showed outflow type. Inflow was most prominent in Group A and Group E was of typical outflow type. Group B was consistently the outflow type except for Major Diagnostic Category XX regardless of the disease treaders, but Group C and D were inflow or outflow types according to the disease tracers.
Classification ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Diagnosis ; Economic Development ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Insurance ; Internal Medicine ; Rationalization

Acropustulosis of infancy is an uncommon, but not rare syndrome established as a new disease entity by Kahn and Rywlin(1976), which is characterized by recurrent, intensely pruritic vesicopustules on the distal extremities. We'd like to report a case of acropustulosis of infancy. Our patient was 19 month old girl who had been suffering from her skin disease since the age of 12 months. Intensely pruritic, 1 to 2 mm vesicopustules erupted on the palms, soles and the ventral aspects of the fingers. There were no bacteria, fungus and parasites(Sarcoptes scabiei) on the pustular lesions. Histopathologically, biopsy specimen of the left sole revealed large, well circumscribed intraepidermal pustule which was filled wth polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We confirmed our case as typical case of acropustulosis of infancy by it's characteristic clinical features and histopathologic findings. Severity of the skin lesions seems closely related to the dosage of dapsone. The eruptions were unresponsive to topical steroid, antibiotics and antihistaminics. But we observed that dapsone has dose dependent relationship with acropustulosis of infancy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Dapsone ; Extremities ; Female ; Fingers ; Fungi ; Humans ; Infant ; Neutrophils ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to develop a dietary self-efficacy questionnaire and to determine how dietary self-efficacy is related to selected biochemical markers and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Participants included 172 patients who had been participating in a dialysis program for at least 6 months at two teaching hospitals. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic factors, dialysis-related factors, dietary self-efficacy, and kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL). Serum levels of potassium and phosphorus and interdialytic weight gain were also measured. RESULTS: The internal reliability of dietary self-efficacy was 0.944 (Cronbach's alpha). Principal component analysis resulted in two factors, situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice. The correlation analysis showed a significant association between situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and serum potassium and KIDQOL. The average scores of situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines and self-efficacy of food choice in the participants were 3.52+/-0.72 and 3.61+/-0.71 respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the situational self-efficacy of compliance with dietary guidelines was significantly associated with serum potassium level and KDQOL and self-efficacy of food choice was significantly associated with KDQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the developed dietary self-efficacy questionnaire may be a suitable survey tool for hemodialysis patients, which can play a role in predicting clinical indicators of patient and health-related quality of life. We recommend further research into clarifying whether the positive effects of increased dietary self-efficacy is maintained in long-term dialysis patients.
Biomarkers ; Compliance ; Dialysis ; Diet ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Linear Models ; Phosphorus ; Potassium ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Self Efficacy ; Weight Gain