Surface ultrastructure of Parvatrema timondavidi developmental stages was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The metacercariae were collected from the marine clam, Tapes philippinarum, and juvenile and worms adult were recovered at 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after experimental infection of mice. The metacercariae had a large oral sucker and characteristic lateral projections. Around the lip of the oral sucker many type I and type II sensory papillae were observed, and type III papillae were located symmetrically on the medial side of the lateral projection. Numerous type I papillae were grouped around the genital pore. The tegumental spines were distributed over the worm surface except the lip of the sucker and genital pore. The 1-day old worm had a well-developed ventral sucker, with 6 type II sensory papillae on its outer surface and another 6 type I papillae on the inner side, Two small type I papillae were seen on the anterior side of the ventral sucker. The genital pore was and 15 type I papillae were grouped around it. The 2-, 3-, and 7-day worms revealed that as they grew to be adults, the spine tips became multipointed, the genital pore formed a genital atrium, and the cytoplasmic process became well differentiated. In 2- and 3-day worms 10 type II papillae encircling the lip of the oral sucker, and additional 4 papilled at the dorsal side of 4 dorsal type II papillae were a characteristic feature. The distribution pattern of sensory papillae around the oral sucker and genital pore, and 2 type I papillae on the anterior side of the ventra sucker, was so peculiar in P. timondavidi, that they seem to be useful keys for taxonomic differentiation from other gymnophallids.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Parvatrema timondavidi ; surface ultrastructure ; scanning EM, sensory papilla ; spine ; cytoplasmic process

We investigated the optimal culture conditions for Cryptosporidium muris in a human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line by determining the effects of medium pH and of selected supplements on the development of C. muris. The optimum pH of the culture medium required for the development of C. muris was determined to be 6.6. The number of parasites significantly increased during cultivation for 72 hr (p < 0.05) at this level. On the other hand, numbers decreased linearly after 24 hr of incubation at pH 7.5. When cultured in different concentrations of serum, C. muris in media containing 5% FBS induced 4-7 times more parasites than in 1% or 10% serum. Of the six medium supplements examined, only 1 mM pyruvate enhanced the number of C. muris in vitro. Transmission electron microscopic observation showed the developmental stages of C. muris in the cytoplasm of the cells, not in an extracytoplasmic location. The growth of C. muris in AGS cells provides a means of investigating its biological characteristics and of testing its response to therapeutic agents. However, a more optimized culture system is needed for the recovery of oocysts on a large scale in vitro.
Adenocarcinoma ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cryptosporidium/*growth & development ; Culture Media ; Human ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Stomach/*parasitology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

The reservoir hosts of Thelazia callipaeda were examined. The eyes of the 76 dogs raised at farm, 78 military dogs (shepherds), 96 cattle, and 105 pigs were investigated for the presence of eyeworm. Among them, six worms of T. callipaeda were collected from two dogs raised at farm (2.7%), and 188 worms from 26 shepherds (33.5%). No worms were recovered from the cattle or pigs. These results suggest that the dogs, especially the military dogs are serving as a reservoir host of T. callipaeda. in Korea.
Animals ; Cattle ; Disease Reservoirs/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Eye/parasitology ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Spirurida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Swine ; Thelazioidea/*isolation & purification

PURPOSE: Troglitazone (TRO) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist. TRO has antiproliferative activity on many kinds of cancer cells via G1 arrest. TRO also increases Cu2+/Zn2+-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and catalase. Cell cycle, and SOD and catalase may affect on radiation sensitivity. We investigated the effect of TRO on radiation sensitivity in cancer cells in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three human cervix cancer cell lines (HeLa, Me180, and SiHa) were used. The protein expressions of SOD and catalase, and catalase activities were measured at 2-10 microM of TRO for 24 hours. Cell cycle was evaluated with flow cytometry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Cell survival by radiation was measured with clonogenic assay. RESULTS: By 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, the mRNA, protein expression and activity of catalase were increased in all three cell lines. G0-G1 phase cells were increased in HeLa and Me180 by 5 microM TRO for 24 hours, but those were not increased in SiHa. By pretreatment with 5 microM TRO radiation sensitivity was increased in HeLa and Me180, but it was decreased in SiHa. In Me180, with 2 microM TRO which increased catalase but not increased G0-G1 cells, radiosensitization was not observed. ROS produced by radiation was decreased with TRO. CONCLUSION: TRO increases radiation sensitivity through G0-G1 arrest or decreases radiation sensitivity through catalase-mediated ROS scavenging according to TRO dose or cell types. The change of radiation sensitivity by combined with TRO is not dependent on the PPARgamma expression level.
Catalase ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Cervix Uteri ; Chromans ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluoresceins ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Thiazolidinediones ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present our thoughts on the medical student evaluation of the courses via online at Konkuk University School of Medicine (KUSM) and to prompt us to improve the course evaluation system. METHODS: Electronic questionnaire for computer-aided course evaluation via online was completed by 93 medical students who attended 32 block lectures at KUSM in 2007. The questionnaire consisted of 21 evaluation items. Frequency analysis of response on the evaluation items was conducted to find out the key features. RESULTS: Evaluation forms for 32 lectures were received from the attendees via online. An average response rate was 63.8%. Among 17 Likert-scaled items, more negative response was observed in class quantity, studying method guidance, lecture note, teaching methods, and relevance of final examination. CONCLUSION: The current course evaluation at KUSM includes more questions that request students to state the overall quality of course modules than the detailed quality or skill of each lecturer. As the objective of the course evaluation is to promote students' learning and to give a feedback to the lecturer, the current consideration on the course evaluation prompted us to reorganize the design of the questionnaire according to the objective.
Educational Measurement ; Electronic Mail ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Learning ; Lectures ; Program Evaluation ; Students, Medical ; Teaching ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Vitamin K Deficiency* ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has antiproliferative effects against brain tumor cells. Recently, ATRA has been reported to induce catalase. We investigated whether catalase induction by ATRA is associated with its antiproliferative effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36B10 cells were exposed to 0~50microM ATRA for 24 or 48 hours and mRNA, protein, and activity of catalase were measured. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. A clonogenic assay was used to confirm the cytotoxic effect. RESULTS: The mRNA, protein, and activity of catalase were found to increase in a concentration- and incubation-time-dependent manner. The increase in catalase activity induced by ATRA was decreased by the addition of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (ATZ). ROS was also increased with ATRA and decreased by the addition of ATZ. The decrease in cell survival induced by ATRA was partly rescued by ATZ. CONCLUSION: Catalase induction by ATRA is involved in ROS overproduction and thus inhibits the proliferation of 36B10 cells.
Amitrole ; Brain Neoplasms ; Catalase ; Cell Survival ; Fluoresceins ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Tretinoin

No abstract available.
Sarcoma*

PURPOSE: The fibrates are ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and used clinically as hypolipidemic drugs. The fibrates are known to cause peroxisome proliferation, enhance superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression and catalase activity. The antioxidant actions of the fibrates may modify radiation sensitivity. Here, we investigated the change of the radiation sensitivity in two cervix cancer cell lines in combination with fenofibrate (FF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activity and protein expression of SOD were measured according to the concentration of FF. The mRNA expressions were measured by using real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Combined cytotoxic effect of FF and radiation was measured by using clonogenic assay. RESULTS: In HeLa cells total SOD activity was increased with increasing FF doses up to 30 microM. In the other hand, the catalase activity was increased a little. As with activity the protein expression of SOD1 and SOD2 was increased with increasing doses of FF. The mRNAs of SOD1, SOD2, PPARalpha and PPARgamma were increased with increasing doses of FF. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by radiation was decreased by preincubation with FF. The surviving fractions (SF) by combining FF and radiation was higher than those of radiation alone. In Me180 cells SOD and catalase activity were not increased with FF. Also, the mRNAs of SOD1, SOD2, and PPARalpha were not increased with FF. However, the mRNA of PPARgamma was increased with FF. CONCLUSION: FF can reduce radiation sensitivity by ROS scavenging via SOD induction in HeLa. SOD induction by FF is related with PPARalpha.
Catalase ; Cell Line ; Fenofibrate ; Fibric Acids ; Hand ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Ligands ; Peroxisomes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; PPAR alpha ; PPAR gamma ; Radiation Tolerance ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Accessory renal artery (ARA) is a kind of developmental anomaly in renal artery. It is important in respect to clinical medicine, for example primary hypertension, renovascular disease, inferior vena caval obstruction, ureteral obstruction, occurrence of other vascular anomalies such as accessory renal veins, surgical importance and renal transplantation. However, up to few research of ARA was reported in dissection of cadavers. In our dissecting theater, 12 accessory renal arteries for 10 cadavers were found during dissection the 22 cadavers from 1995 to 1996. 1. Two cases were bilateral and 8 cases were unilateral accessory renal arteries. 2. Seven cases were left and 5 cases were right accessory renal arteries. 3. Two cases originated at the abdominal aorta between celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery, 7 cases originated between superior mesenteric artery and inferior mesenteric artery, and 3 cases originated below inferior mesenteric artery. 4. Seven cases have no branches during their courses, 4 cases have 3 branches, and a case has 2 branches. 5. Seven cases entered into renal parenchyma through renal hilum, 5 cases entered into apical and arterosuperior segments, and 6 cases entered into inferior segment.
Aorta, Abdominal ; Cadaver ; Clinical Medicine ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Renal Artery* ; Renal Veins ; Ureteral Obstruction