Osteoporosis care after distal radius fracture reduces subsequent hip or spine fractures: a 4-year longitudinal study.

We evaluated whether active osteoporosis care in patients experiencing their first distal radius fracture (DRF) reduces subsequent hip or spine fractures by comparing two cohorts. The incidence of subsequent fractures was significantly lower in the active care cohort than the other cohort in 4-year follow-up. PURPOSE: Studies show that osteoporosis care in patients with osteoporotic fracture reduces subsequent fractures, but the impact of such active care in patients with distal radius fracture (DRF) has not been well studied. We evaluated how much osteoporosis care in patients experiencing their first DRF can reduce subsequent hip or spine fractures at 4-year follow-up. METHODS: Active osteoporosis care by orthopedic surgeons for patients with DRF started from September 2009 at our institution, thus we had a unique opportunity to compare the two cohorts: pre-involvement (PreI) group (DRF before September 2009) and post-involvement (PostI) group (DRF from September 2009). We compared the two cohorts for subsequent hip or spine fracture incidence in the 4 years following DRF. RESULTS: Overall, 1057 patients with a DRF (85% women; mean age, 70 years) were studied, of whom 205 patients were in PreI group and 852 in PostI group. Subsequent fractures occurred in 27 patients (2.6%), with a mean interval of 29 months after DRF. The incidence was significantly lower in the PostI group than in the PreI group (1.9% vs. 5.4%, p = 0.004), especially in hip fractures (0.4% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.002). The relative risk reduction was 65% for all subsequent fractures and 86% for hip fractures. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that active osteoporosis care in patients with DRF significantly reduces subsequent fracture incidence even for the 4-year follow-up period. These findings add an evidence for the current proactive osteoporosis care programs such as fracture liaison services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic level III.

Novel inactivating mutations of the DCAF17 gene in American and Turkish families cause male infertility and female subfertility in the mouse model.

Loss-of-function DCAF17 variants cause hypogonadism, partial alopecia, diabetes mellitus, mental retardation, and deafness with variable clinical presentation. DCAF17 pathogenic variants have been largely reported in the Middle Eastern populations, but the incidence in American families is rare and animal models are lacking. Exome sequencing in 5 women with syndromic hypergonadotropic hypogonadism from 2 unrelated families revealed novel pathogenic variants in the DCAF17 gene. DCAF17 exon 2 (c.127-1G > C) novel homozygous variants were discovered in 4 Turkish siblings, while 1 American was compound heterozygous for 1-stop gain variant in exon 5 (c.C535T; p.Gln179*) and previously described stop gain variant in exon 9 (c.G906A; p.Trp302*). A mouse model mimicking loss of function in exon 2 of Dcaf17 was generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and showed female subfertility and male infertility. Our results identify 2 novel variants, and show that Dcaf17 plays a significant role in mammalian gonadal development and infertility.

Evaluation of trabecular bone score in patients with a distal radius fracture.

We compared bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in postmenopausal women with a distal radius fracture older than 50 years with controls. Total hip BMD was significantly different, but TBS was not different between two groups, suggesting TBS does not reflect microarchitectural changes of the distal radius. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine whether trabecular bone score (TBS) has additive value for discriminating distal radius fracture (DRF) independent of BMD. METHODS: We compared BMD and TBS in 258 postmenopausal women with a DRF older than 50 years of age with age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls who had no history of osteoporotic fracture. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and hip using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans (GE Lunar Prodigy). TBS was calculated on the same spine image. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of DRF using age, BMI, lumbar spine BMD, total hip BMD, and TBS. RESULTS: Patients with a DRF had significantly lower BMDs at hip (neck, trochanter and total) than those of controls: 0.752 ± 0.097, 0.622 ± 0.089, and 0.801 ± 0.099 in patients and 0.779 ± 0.092, 0.648 ± 0.089, 0.826 ± 0.101 in controls. However, lumbar spine BMD and TBS were not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.400 and 0.864, respectively). The multivariate analysis indicated that only total hip BMD was significantly associated with the occurrence of DRF (OR, 10.231; 95 % confidence interval, 1.724-60.702; p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: TBS was not different between women with a DRF and those without a history of osteoporotic fracture, suggesting that TBS measured at the lumbar spine does not reflect early microarchitectural changes of the distal radius. Only total hip BMD is associated with the risk of DRF in Korean women.

Anomalous diamagnetic shifts in InP-GaP lateral quantum-wires.

Linearly polarized photoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out on InP-GaP lateral nanowires grown using a lateral composition modulation method in pulsed magnetic fields up to ∼ 50 T. In these structures, the energy band alignment becomes type-I and type-II in In-rich wire and Ga-rich barrier regions, respectively. It is revealed that the polarization of the type-I PL is oriented along the [11̄0] crystal direction, whereas that of the type-II PL is along the [110] direction in the absence of magnetic field. These two different PL peaks exhibit anomalous energy shifts with respect to the direction of the magnetic field due to the variation of the confined energy in the exciton center of mass potential.

A comparison of the BURP and conventional and modified jaw thrust manoeuvres for orotracheal intubation using the Clarus Video System.

We evaluated the effects of three airway manipulation manoeuvres: (a) conventional (single-handed chin lift); (b) backward, upward and right-sided pressure (BURP) manoeuvre; and (c) modified jaw thrust manoeuvre (two-handed aided by an assistant) on laryngeal view and intubation time using the Clarus Video System in 215 patients undergoing general anaesthesia with orotracheal intubation. In the first part of this study, the laryngeal view was recorded as a modified Cormack-Lehane grade with each manoeuvre. In the second part, intubation was performed using the assigned airway manipulation. The primary outcome was the time to intubation, and the secondary outcomes were the modified Cormack-Lehane grade, the number of attempts and the overall success rate. There were significant differences in modified Cormack-Lehane grade between the three airway manipulations (p < 0.0001). Post-hoc analysis indicated that the modified jaw thrust improved the laryngeal view compared with the conventional (p < 0.0001) and the BURP manoeuvres (p < 0.0001). The BURP worsened the laryngeal view compared with the conventional manoeuvre (p = 0.0132). The time to intubation in the modified jaw thrust group was shorter than with the conventional manoeuvre (p = 0.0004) and the BURP group (p < 0.0001). We conclude that the modified jaw thrust is the most effective manoeuvre at improving the laryngeal view and shortening intubation time with the Clarus Video System.

Beneficial effects of judo training on bone mineral density of high-school boys in Korea.

Bone mineralization is strongly stimulated by weight-bearing exercise during growth and development. Judo, an Olympic combat sport, is a well-known form of strenuous and weight-bearing physical activity. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to determine the effects of Judo practice on the bone health of male high school students in Korea. The secondary goal of this study was to measure and compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of the hands of Judo players and sedentary control subjects. Thirty Judo players (JDP) and 30 sedentary high school boys (CON) voluntarily participated in the present study, and all of the sedentary control subjects were individually matched to the Judo players by body weight. BMD was determined by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic, Bedford, MA, USA). The lumbar spine, femur and forearm BMD in the JDP group were significantly greater by 22.7%, 24.5%, and 18.3%, respectively, than those in the CON group. In addition, a significant difference in the CON group was observed between the dominant hand (DH) radius (0.710 ± 0.074 g/cm(2)) and the non-dominant hand (NDH) radius (0.683 ± 0.072 g/cm(2)), but this was not observed in the JDP group (DH = 0.819 ± 0.055 g/cm(2); NDH = 810 ± 0.066 g/cm(2)) (P < 0.05). Therefore, the results of this study suggest that Judo practice during the growth period significantly improves bone health in high school male students. In addition, it seems that Judo practice could eliminate the effect of increased BMD in the dominant hand.

Urine phthalate levels were associated with skin barrier dysfunction and atopic sensitization in children.

OBJECTIVE: Phthalates can cause immunological disorders and aggravate allergic diseases. Thus, we investigated the relationship between urinary phthalate, skin barrier function, and atopic sensitization in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 448 school children [334 with severe allergic disease; and 123 with severe atopic dermatitis (AD)] aged 10-12 years were enrolled in this study between June and July 2017. Four high-molecular-weight phthalates (HMWP) [Σ4HMWP] and three low-molecular-weight phthalates (LMWP) [Σ3LMWP] metabolites in urine samples, specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), and total eosinophil count were measured. Four-part trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) (cheek, leg, and upper/lower arm; Σ4TEWL) was measured to evaluate the skin barrier function. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding variables, Σ4TEWL was significantly associated with the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP [adjusted ß=7.897, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.636-15.158, p=0.033] and Σ3LMWP (adjusted ß=9.670, 95% CI: 2.422-16.919, p=0.009). The adjusted analyses revealed that the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP were not significantly associated with total eosinophil count, atopic sensitization, and severe AD (p>0.05). According to the quartiles of urinary Σ4HMWP and Σ3LMWP, there were significant differences in the TEWL of the lower arm and leg (p<0.05) but not in cheek and upper arm. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to HMWPs and LMWPs was significantly associated with skin barrier dysfunction but not with atopic sensitization. These results suggest that children exposed to phthalates may be more susceptible to fragile skin barrier function.

National trends in suicide-related behaviors among youths between 2005-2020, including COVID-19: a Korean representative survey of one million adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: It is difficult to conclude that COVID-19 is associated with a decrease in the suicide attempts rate by comparing only a short-term period. Therefore, it is necessary to examine attempted suicide rates through a trend analysis over a longer period. This study aimed to investigate an estimated long-term trend regarding the prevalence of suicide-related behaviors among adolescents in South Korea from 2005 to 2020, including COVID-19. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We sourced data from a national representative survey (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey) and analyzed one million Korean adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (n=1,057,885) from 2005 to 2020. The 16-year trends regarding the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicidal ideation and attempt and the trend changes before and during COVID-19. RESULTS: Data of 1,057,885 Korean adolescents was analyzed (weighted mean age, 15.03 years; males, 52.5%; females, 47.5%). Although the 16-year trend in the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicide ideation and attempt consistently decreased (prevalence of sadness or despair between 2005-2008, 38.0% with 95% confidence interval [CI], 37.7 to 38.4 vs. prevalence in 2020, 25.0% [24.5 to 25.6]; suicide ideation between 2005-2008, 21.9% [21.6 to 22.1] vs. prevalence in 2020, 10.7% [10.3 to 11.1]; and suicide attempt between 2005-2008, 5.0% [4.9 to 5.2] vs. prevalence in 2020, 1.9% [1.8 to 2.0]), the downward slope decreased during COVID-19 (ßdiff in sadness, 0.215 with 95% CI 0.206 to 0.224; ßdiff in suicidal ideation, 0.245 [0.234 to 0.256]; and ßdiff in suicide attempt, 0.219 [0.201 to 0.237]) compared with pre-pandemic period. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the observed risk of suicide-related behaviors during the pandemic was higher than expected through long-term trend analysis of the prevalence of sadness/despair and suicidal ideation and attempts among South Korean adolescents. We need a profound epidemiologic study of the change in mental health due to the pandemic's impact and the establishment of prevention strategies for suicide ideation and attempt.

17-year trends of body mass index, overweight, and obesity among adolescents from 2005 to 2021, including the COVID-19 pandemic: a Korean national representative study.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of pediatric studies that have analyzed trends in mean body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of obesity and overweight over a period that includes the mid-stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, we aimed to investigate trends in BMI, overweight, and obesity among Korean adolescents from 2005 to 2021, including the COVID-19 pandemic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), which is nationally representative of South Korea. The study included middle- and high-school students between the ages of 12 and 18. We examined trends in mean BMI and prevalence of obesity and/or overweight during the COVID-19 pandemic and compared these to those of pre-pandemic trends in each subgroup by gender, grade, and residential region. RESULTS: Data from 1,111,300 adolescents (mean age: 15.04 years) were analyzed. The estimated weighted mean BMI was 20.48 kg/m2 (95% CI, 20.46-20.51) between 2005 and 2007, and this was 21.61 kg/m2 (95% CI, 21.54-21.68) in 2021. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13.1% (95% CI, 12.9-13.3%) between 2005 and 2007 and 23.4% (95% CI, 22.8-24.0%) in 2021. The mean BMI and prevalence of obesity and overweight have gradually increased over the past 17 years; however, the extent of change in mean BMI and in the prevalence of obesity and overweight during the pandemic was distinctly less than before. The 17-year trends in the mean BMI, obesity, and overweight exhibited a considerable rise from 2005 to 2021; however, the slope during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) was significantly less prominent than in the pre-pandemic (2005-2019). CONCLUSIONS: These findings enable us to comprehend long-term trends in the mean BMI of Korean adolescents and further emphasize the need for practical prevention measures against youth obesity and overweight.

Blood donors on teratogenic drugs and donor deferral periods in a clinical situation.

Deferral of blood donors taking teratogenic drugs is critical. From March 2008 to January 2009, we analysed stored blood specimens from donors who had taken teratogenic drugs and whose blood was transfused to women of childbearing age to determine the plasma concentration at the time of donation using high-performance liquid chromatography. In total, 167 specimens were examined. The numbers of specimens exceeding the quantification limit were 7, 39, 4, 2 and 1 for finasteride, isotretinoin, acitretin, etretinate and dutasteride, respectively. Finasteride was beyond the recommended drug deferral period in one specimen. These results may help create practical deferral policies.

Serum vitamin D level mitigates fractional exhaled nitric oxide linked to bisphenol-A in school-aged children.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies on the relationship of bisphenol-A (BPA) with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) had conflicting results, suggesting that other factors may modulate this relationship. Thus, we investigated the modulating effect of vitamin D on the relationship of BPA with FeNO in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study recruited 432 children (10 to 12 years old) from the general pediatric population of Korea between June and July 2017. We conducted measurements of urinary BPA, serum vitamin D, specific serum IgE, FeNO, and data from impulse oscillometry (reactance area [AX], airway resistance at 5 Hz [Rrs5] and 20 Hz [Rrs10], and the difference of Rrs5 and Rrs20 [Rrs5-20]). RESULTS: Serum vitamin D (adjusted ß =- 0.014, p=0.002) and urinary BPA (ß = 0.006, p<0.001) level was significantly associated with FeNO. Urinary BPA level was significantly associated with FeNO in children with low vitamin D levels (≤23 ng/mL; αß = 0.006, p < 0.001), but not in children with high vitamin D levels (>23 ng/mL). The interaction of vitamin D and BPA had a significant effect on FeNO (pint = 0.005). There was no relationship with the airway lung function (Rrs5, AX, and Rrs5-20) to serum vitamin D and urinary BPA level. Vitamin D ameliorated the BPA-mediated increase of FeNO in children. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that children with low vitamin D levels may be more susceptible to airway inflammation due to BPA.

Trends in body mass index changes among Korean adolescents between 2005-2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic period: a national representative survey of one million adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on weight gain in children and adolescents remains unknown. We aimed to identify an estimated 15-year trend in mean body mass index (BMI) changes and prevalence of obesity and overweight among Korean adolescents from 2005 to 2020, including the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data taken from a nationwide survey (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey), between 2005 and 2020. Representative samples of one million Korean adolescents aged 13-18 years (n=1,057,885) were examined. The 15-year trends in mean BMI and proportion of obesity or overweight, and the changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed. RESULTS: The data of 1,057,885 Korean adolescents were analyzed (mean age: 14.98 years; females, 48.4%). The estimated weighted mean BMI was 20.5 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 20.4-20.5] from 2005 to 2008 and 21.5 kg/m2 (95% CI, 21.4-21.6) in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). Although the 15-year trend of mean BMI gradually increased, the change in mean BMI before and during the pandemic significantly lessened (ßdiff, -0.027; 95% CI, -0.028 to -0.026). The 15-year (2005-2020) trend changes in the prevalence of obesity and overweight were similar (obesity prevalence from 2005-2008, 3.2%; 95% CI, 3.1-3.3 vs. obesity prevalence in 2020, 8.6%; 95% CI, 8.2-9.0; ßdiff, -0.309; 95% CI, -0.330 to -0.288). CONCLUSIONS: The 15-year trend of overall mean BMI and obesity and overweight prevalence demonstrated a significant increase; however, its slope decreased during the pandemic. These landmark results suggest the need for the development of precise strategies to prevent pediatric obesity and overweight during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 susceptibility and clinical outcomes in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to assess the susceptibility to and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIRD) and following AIRD drug use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included observational and case-controlled studies assessing susceptibility and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with AIRD as well as the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 with or without use of steroids and conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). RESULTS: Meta-analysis including three studies showed that patients with AIRD are not more susceptible to COVID-19 compared to patients without AIRD or the general population (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.58 to 2.14). Incidence of severe outcomes of COVID-19 (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.76 to 2.35) and COVID-19 related death (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.68 to 2.16) also did not show significant difference. The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 among AIRD patients with and without csDMARD or steroid showed that both use of steroid (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 0.96 to 2.98) or csDMARD (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 0.63 to 3.08) had no effect on clinical outcomes of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: AIRD does not increase susceptibility to COVID-19, not affecting the clinical outcome of COVID-19. Similarly, the use of steroids or csDMARDs for AIRD does not worsen the clinical outcome.

Kelvin probe force microscopy for conducting nanobits of NiO thin films.

We demonstrated the writing and reading of conducting nanobits on a NiO thin film deposited on Pt/TiO(2)/SiO(2)/Si substrates for a resistive random access memory (RRAM) application using conducting atomic force microscopy (CAFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KFM). A Pt/NiO/Pt RRAM capacitor showed a typical unipolar switching behavior with bistable resistances. Conducting nanobits with diameters of 22 nm written with a bias of 3.0 V on the NiO thin film were observed with CAFM. The conducting nanobits observed by KFM exhibited negative potentials relative to the insulating regions when there was no bias at the Pt bottom electrode because image charges were induced by charges formed at the end of the KFM tip by the reference AC bias. Enhancement of the KFM signals for conducting nanobits was achieved using specific biases at the Pt bottom electrode, which provided clear KFM images for conducting nanobits.

Metabolic syndrome and its association with white blood cell count in children and adolescents in Korea: the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and determine its association with white blood cell (WBC) count as a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation in children and adolescents in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigated the prevalence of MS and its association with WBC count in 928 children and adolescents. MS was defined as having 3 or more conditions based on the modified criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). The odds ratios (ORs) for MS were also calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis across WBC count quartiles (Q1, <5200; Q2, 5200-6100; Q3, 6200-7200; and Q4, >or=7300 cells/microL for boys; Q1, <5200; Q2, 5200-6000; Q3, 6100-7000; and Q4, >or=7100 cells/microL for girls). The prevalence of MS in children and adolescents in Korea was 6.7% (8.5% in boys, 4.5% in girls, P<0.001). MS was more prevalent in overweight and obese children and adolescents in both boys and girls. The mean WBC counts continuously increased with each additional component of MS in both boys and girls. The ORs (95% CIs) for MS in each WBC quartile were 1.00, 1.56 (0.43-5.67), 4.47 (1.42-14.07), and 5.25 (1.71-16.07) in boys and 1.00, 1.05 (0.15-7.61), 2.89 (0.55-15.17), and 7.47 (1.61-36.67) in girls after adjusting for age, household income, and residential area. CONCLUSION: In summary, this study shows that a substantial number of children and adolescents in Korea have MS, and elevated WBC count may be a surrogate marker for MS.

The development of a national surveillance system for monitoring blood use and inventory levels at sentinel hospitals in South Korea.

We developed a web-based program for a national surveillance system to determine baseline data regarding the supply and demand of blood products at sentinel hospitals in South Korea. Sentinel hospitals were invited to participate in a 1-month pilot-test. The data for receipts and exports of blood from each hospital information system were converted into comma-separated value files according to a specific conversion rule. The daily data from the sites could be transferred to the web-based program server using a semi-automated submission procedure: pressing a key allowed the program to automatically compute the blood inventory level as well as other indices including the minimal inventory ratio (MIR), ideal inventory ratio (IIR), supply index (SI) and utilisation index (UI). The national surveillance system was referred to as the Korean Blood Inventory Monitoring System (KBIMS) and the web-based program for KBIMS was referred to as the Blood Inventory Monitoring System (BMS). A total of 30 256 red blood cell (RBC) units were submitted as receipt data, however, only 83% of the receipt data were submitted to the BMS server as export data (25 093 RBC units). Median values were 2.67 for MIR, 1.08 for IIR, 1.00 for SI, 0.88 for UI and 5.33 for the ideal inventory day. The BMS program was easy to use and is expected to provide a useful tool for monitoring hospital inventory levels. This information will provide baseline data regarding the supply and demand of blood products in South Korea.

Glutamine preferentially inhibits T-helper type 2 cell-mediated airway inflammation and late airway hyperresponsiveness through the inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) activity in a murine asthma model.

BACKGROUND: The non-essential amino acid, l-glutamine (Gln), is abundant in the human body. Gln exhibits beneficial effects on endotoxic shock through the inhibition of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) activity. cPLA(2) has been reported to be implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma, but the effects of Gln on asthma have not yet been defined. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Gln on allergic bronchial inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and to determine the possible action mechanisms of Gln in a murine model of asthma. METHODS: cPLA(2) phosphorylation was assessed by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Smears of bronchoalveolar lavage cells were stained with Diff-Quik solution for differential cell counting. Airway levels of the proteins [T-helper type-1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines, and mucin] were measured by ELISA. mRNA expression of cytokines was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. AHR was assessed as a change in airway resistance (RL). Histological studies were performed to assess the levels of mucin and pulmonary inflammation. RESULTS: Systemic Gln administration inhibited cPLA(2) phosphorylation and its enzymatic activity in the lungs. Additionally, Gln effectively suppressed the key features of Th2-dependent asthmatic features, such as airway eosinophilia, mucus formation, and airway type 2 cytokine production, as well as late AHR. CONCLUSION: Gln was found to be effective in the suppression of Th2-dependent phenotypes and late AHR, and this effect of Gln appeared to be at least partially attributable to its ability to suppress cLPA(2) activity in the airway. Our results suggest that clinical use of Gln for patients with asthma may be beneficial.

Characterization and regulation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene encoding thioredoxin.

A cDNA coding thioredoxin (TRX) was isolated from a cDNA library of Schizosaccharomyces pombe by colony hybridization. The 438 bp EcoRI fragment, which was detected by Southern hybridization, reveals an open reading frame which encodes a protein of 103 amino acids. The genomic DNA encoding TRX was also isolated from S. pombe chromosomal DNA using PCR. The cloned sequence contains 1795 bp and encodes a protein of 103 amino acids. However, the C-terminal region obtained from the cDNA clone is -Val-Arg-Leu-Asn-Arg-Ser-Leu, whereas the C-terminal region deduced from the genomic DNA appears to contain -Ala-Ser-Ile-Lys-Ala-Asn-Leu. This indicates that S. pombe cells contain two kinds of TRX genes which have dissimilar amino acid sequences only at the C-terminal regions. The heterologous TRX 1C produced from the cDNA clone could be used as a subunit of T7 DNA polymerase, while the TRX 1G from the genomic DNA could not. The upstream sequence and the region encoding the N-terminal 18 amino acids of the genomic DNA were fused into the promoterless beta-galactosidase gene of the shuttle vector YEp357 to generate the fusion plasmid pYKT24. Synthesis of beta-galactosidase from the fusion plasmid was found to be enhanced by hydrogen peroxide, menadione and aluminum chloride. It indicates that the expression of the cloned TRX gene is induced by oxidative stress.

Role of mesangial fibrinogen deposition in the pathogenesis of crescentic Henoch-Schonlein nephritis in children.

AIMS: To clarify the role of mesangial fibrinogen deposition in crescentic Henoch-Schönlein nephritis (HSN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 21 children with HSN treated with immunosuppressants. Serial renal biopsies were performed before and after treatment. They were divided into two groups according to the immunofluorescent course of fibrinogen deposition: group I (n = 9), no or decreased deposition; group II (n = 12), persistent or increased deposition. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in renal manifestations or laboratory and histological findings at presentation. However, the activity index after immunosuppressive treatment was significantly decreased in group I (mean, 7.9 (SEM, 0.7) v 2.9 (0.4); p = 0.008) and unchanged in group II (mean, 6.8 (SEM, 0.3) v 6.0 (2.1)). The chronicity index was unchanged in group I, but increased in group II (mean, 0.8 (SEM, 0.3) v 1.8 (0.3); p = 0.02). Univariate analysis revealed that the only factor significantly related to persistent or increased fibrinogen deposition was age more than 9 years (p = 0.03). Furthermore, the intensity of fibrinogen deposition at the second biopsy correlated positively with the age at onset (R2= 0.306; p = 0.009) and changes in the percentage of crescents (post-treatment crescents (%) minus pretreatment crescents (%)) correlated positively with the intensity of fibrinogen deposition at the second biopsy (R2= 0.193; p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that fibrinogen deposition has an important role to play in renal injury of crescentic HSN and reflects persistent severe histological activity.

Differences in p53 gene polymorphisms between Korean schizophrenia and lung cancer patients.

The reduced incidence of cancer observed in schizophrenia patients may be related to differences in genetic background. It has been suggested that genetic predisposition towards schizophrenia is associated with reduced vulnerability to lung cancer, and p53 gene is one of the candidate genes. We tested the genetic association between schizophrenia and lung cancer by analyzing polymorphic sites in the p53 gene. Genotype and allele frequencies at two polymorphic sites in the p53 gene (BstUI and MspI restriction sites in exon 4 and intron 6, respectively) were studied in Korean schizophrenia (n=179) and lung cancer patients (n=104). Comparisons of the genotype and allele frequencies of the MspI polymorphism revealed significant differences between schizophrenia and lung cancer patients. The results suggest that the p53 polymorphism specifically found in schizophrenia patients may be associated with reduced vulnerability to lung cancer.