Association of interleukin-10 promoter region polymorphisms with risk factors of Atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is considered as an inflammatory disease, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque are generally used as intermediated phenotype of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether carotid IMT and plaque are associated with promoter region polymorphisms of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene. We recruited 135 subjects from a rural area of south-eastern part of South Korea. Three polymorphisms in the promoter region of IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819 T/C and -592 A/C) were genotyped by pyrosequencing. Carotid IMT was measured at common carotid arteries, and carotid bulbs and cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, uric acid and homocysteine were measured using blood samples. Subjects with the minor allele (C) of -819 T/C or the minor allele (C) of -592 A/C showed lower values in carotid IMT than those with major allele homozygote of each polymorphism (P = 0.018 and P = 0.031, respectively). Subjects with carotid plaque were significantly older and showed higher values in carotid IMT, uric acid and homocysteine than those without plaque (P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the promoter region polymorphisms of IL-10 gene associate with carotid IMT and plaque. Further studies with larger samples are needed to provide stronger evidence to justify anti-atheromatous properties of IL-10.

Adenoma malignum of the uterine cervix: ultrasonographic findings in 11 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ultrasonographic features of adenoma malignum, a minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed adenoma malignum were enrolled in this study at two institutions. Preoperative ultrasound examination was performed and the results were available in 11 patients. We analyzed retrospectively the gray-scale ultrasound findings for the following morphologic characteristics: cervical enlargement, as well as size, location and ultrasonographic characteristics of lesions. In five patients we also evaluated Doppler features with regard to intralesional vascularity. RESULTS: The cervix was enlarged in 73% (8/11) of cases. The mean greatest tumor diameter was 4.2 (range, 2.5-6.8) cm. In five (45%) cases, the cervix was completely infiltrated by the tumor. At gray-scale ultrasound examination, three (27%) tumors were multilocular lesions, four (36%) were multilocular lesions with solid components and four (36%) were solid lesions. In the multilocular lesions with or without a solid component, locules tended to be 1 cm or less in average diameter (86%, 6/7 cases) and there tended to be 11-20 in number (57%, 4/7 cases). In most (57%, 4/7) cases the locular fluid was homogeneously hypoechoic. Most (75%, 3/4) solid lesions manifested heterogeneous echogenicity. The five (100%) tumors examined with Doppler manifested moderate or abundant color content on color or power Doppler. CONCLUSIONS: Adenoma malignum can appear sonographically as solid, multilocular and multilocular solid cervical lesions. Awareness of its clinical and ultrasonographic features might improve diagnosis before surgery.

Validity and reliability of shuttle-run test in Korean adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate equations of Leger (E1, 1988) and Brewer (E2, 1988) to predict VO (2max) in Korean adults (158 men and 155 women), and reliability tests were randomly conducted among men ( N=90) and women (n=29) in addition to VO (2max) measurements during a graded exercise treadmill test. Both equations significantly underestimated VO (2max) compared to those from the treadmill test ( P<0.01). A strong intra-class correlation between the treadmill result and 20 m shuttle run test was detected (0.86-0.94, P<0.001). 95 percentile limit of agreement of absolute difference in E1 and E2 in both genders were mostly larger than results from the treadmill test. There was a strong correlation between laboratory test and retest but testing hypothesis of equality of means in men showed significant bias ( P=0.003), except difference between test and retest in women ( P=0.05). The test and retest of the upper and lower of absolute difference ± 95% limit of agreement were -4.86 to -19.05 (men) and 13.61 to 27.91 (women). In conclusion, their equations, based on the results, should not be applied for predicting VO (2max) in Korean adults.

Effects of sprint interval training on elite Judoists.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sprint interval training (SIT) compared to control group (CG). 29 Judoists were assigned to SIT group (n=11, age 20.00±1.10 years) and CG (n=18, age 19.94±1.16 years). There were no significant changes in body fat and aerobic performance (VO2max, HRmax, and HR after Judo match) after 4 and 8 weeks. However, anaerobic peak power and mean power in SIT group was significantly increased by 16% and 17% at 4 weeks and by 17% and 22% at 8 weeks compared to baseline values (p<0.05). At 8 weeks, blood lactate concentration after graded exercise was significantly decreased in SIT group compared to CG after 10 and 15 min of recovery (p< 0.05). After Judo match, triglyceride and epinephrine were significantly increased in CG compared to SIT group (p<0.05) at 4 and 8 weeks. Otherwise, there were no significant changes of total cholesterol, albumin, FFA, and norepinephrine in both groups. We suggested that SIT program for elite Judoists would be effective to increase anaerobic power in a short period during off-season training.

Degradation of organic dye using zero-valent iron prepared from by-product of pickling line.

In this study, zero-valent iron (ZVI) was produced using iron oxide that is a by-product of a pickling line at a steel works. The reaction activity of the produced ZVI was evaluated through a series of decomposition experiments of Orange II aqueous solution. The size of ZVI particles increased with reduction temperature due to coalescence. Correspondingly, the specific surface area of ZVI decreased with increasing reduction temperature. The decomposition efficiency of synthesized ZVI particles was higher at a lower pH. In particular, no significant decomposition reaction was observed at pH of 4 and higher. The rate of the ZVI-assisted decomposition of Orange II was increased by addition of H2O2 at pH of 3, whereas it was reduced by addition of H2O2 at a higher pH of 6. Nevertheless, simultaneous use of ZVI, UV and H2O2 led to a considerable increase in the decomposition rate even at a high pH condition (pH = 6).

A case of right renal infarction and subcapsular hematoma that simultaneously developed after cardiac angiography.

Of the several complications known to develop after cardiac catheterization, simultaneous acute renal infarction and renal subcapsular hematoma is rare. Here, the authors report a case of acute renal infarction with subcapsular hematoma that developed 4 hours after cardiac catheterization.

Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Bacteria in 1998.

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance can provide information needed for empirical therapy of antimicrobial agents and for control of resistance. To determine the trend of antimicrobial resistance in Korea, in vitro susceptibility data in 1998 were collected from 25 hospitals participating to a program of Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (KONSAR). The data were analyzed based upon hospital location and bed capacity. The results showed that cefoxitin-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae and 3rd-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae were prevalent, that 3rd-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. cloacae, S. marcesens and A. baumannii had increased, and ampicillin-resistant S. enterica were not rare. Oxacillin-resistant S. aureus, penicillin-non-susceptible pneumococci and beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae were prevalent even smaller hospitals surveyed, and an increase of imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium is a new obvious threat. In general, resistance rates to some old antimicrobial agents, i.e., E. coli to ampicillin and S. aureus to oxacillin were high and did not vary greatly between the different levels of hospitals, while the rates to some of the newer ones, i.e., P. aeruginosa to imipenem, was quite variable and depended on the hospitals, probably reflecting difference in selective pressure.

Korean Nationwide Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of bacteria in 1997.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are known to be prevalent in tertiary-care hospitals in Korea. Twenty hospitals participated to this surveillance to determine the nationwide prevalence of resistance bacteria in 1997. Seven per cent and 26% of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were resistant to 3rd-generation cephalosporin. Increased resistance rates, 19% of Acinetobacter baumannii to ampicillin/sulbactam, and 17% of Pseudomonas aeruginoa to imipenem, were noted. The resistance rate to fluoroquinolone rose to 24% in E. coli, 56% in A. baumannii and 42% in P. aeruginosa. Mean resistance rates were similar in all hospital groups: about 17% of P. aeruginosa to imipenem, 50% of Haemophilus influenzae to ampicillin, 70% of Staphylococcus aureus to methicillin, and 70% of pneumococci to penicillin. In conclusion, nosocomial pathogens and problem resistant organisms are prevalent in smaller hospitals too, indicating nosocomial spread is a significant cause of the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria in Korea.

The effect of cyclosporin A on the growth of human glioma cell lines.

Cyclosporin A, an potent immunosuppressant, has been known to be one of the modulators of drug resistance as well as a cytostatic drug. Despite many attempts to basic or clinical application of cyclosporin A, there are few reports on the inhibition of brain tumor cells. In the present experiment, the possibility of cyclosporin A as synergic adjuvant was investigated by MTT assay, [(3)H] thymidine uptake and through flowcytometric analysis. Sole treatment of cyclosporin A on the CRT and CH235-MG glioma cell line revealed dose dependent cytotoxicity within a range of tested dose. Combined treatment of cyclosporin A with ACNU, BCNU and hydroxyurea on various glioma cancer cell line led to a significant synergistic cytotoxicity as well as inhibition of DNA synthesis with dose-dependency. In addition, cyclosporin A alone or combined treatment caused discernible changes of cell cycle in the tested cells. These data provide that cyclosporin A could potentiate the effect of nitrosourea compoundsin vitro on human glioma cells.

The growth inhibitiory effect of new pyrrolo[1,2-alpha]benzimidazole derivatives on human gastric cancer cells.

In the course of screening synthetic compounds to inhibit tumor cell growth, pyrrolo[1,2-alpha] benzimidazole (PBI), an intermediate of azamitosene, was found to inhibit a proliferation of gastric cancer cell lines. Despite a potential cytotoxic activity against solid tumor cells as opposed to that against rapidly-doubled leukemic cells, there has been no report on the inhibition of gastric cancer cell line by PBI and its' derivatives. The present experiment was designed to determine if PBI derivatives can effectively inhibit the cellular proliferation of gastric cancer cells by usingin vitro as well asin vivo chemosensitivity system (MTT assay, clonogenic assay and human tumor xenografted assay). Of the tested PBI derivatives, PBI (18) and PBI (20), displayed the effective growth inhibition of cultured gastric cancer cells or even in the xenografted nude mouse model.

Protection of dogs against death from experimental rabies by postexposure administration of rabies vaccine and hyperimmune globulin (human).

Two experiments on simulated postexposure treatment were carried out in dogs using human rabies immunoglobulin (RIGH) and human diploid cell vaccine for human use. In one experiment, when animals were challenged by injecting street virus into the masseter muscle and treated with a combination of RIGH and vaccine, 50% of the animals were protected from rabies. In the other trial, in which animals were challenged by injecting the virus into the femoral muscle, treatment with RIGH and vaccine protected all the animals against rabies. To our knowledge this is the highest rate of postexposure survival in animals reported to date. In addition, five out of eight (62.5%) dogs that received RIGH alone after the virus challenge were protected, while none of the animals receiving vaccine alone were protected from rabies. These trials suggest that animals can be protected from rabies by postexposure treatment. The route of exposure and timing of the administration of vaccine and hyperimmune serum would seem to be important.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase A1298C genotypes are associated with the risks of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and chronic myelogenous leukaemia in the Korean population.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme involved in folate metabolism, DNA methylation and synthesis. We investigated the association between MTHFR polymorphisms and the risks of acute and chronic leukaemias. MTHFR C677T and A1298C were genotyped in 396 Korean individuals using multiplex polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment-length polymorphism. They were acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL, n = 89), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, n = 55), biphenotypic acute leukaemia (n = 12), chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML, n = 40), and normal controls (n = 200). C677T genotypes were not associated with the risk of each disease. A1298C variants, however, significantly decreased the risks of ALL and CML compared with 1298AA. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 1298AC and 1298AC + CC were 0.53 (0.31-0.93) and 0.54 (0.31-0.93) in ALL, and 0.34 (0.14-0.80) and 0.40 (0.18-0.89) in CML, respectively, compared with 1298AA. These findings demonstrate that the development of ALL and CML is more dependent on folate status, and more susceptible to DNA instability than that of AML. In addition, A1298C rather than C677T may be a more important genetic risk modifier in leukaemogenesis at least in the Korean population.

Serologic heterogeneity of HLA-A24 correlates with allelic types in the Korean population.

HLA-A24 is the second most frequently expressed HLA-A type in Koreans (GF 22.8%). Four different serologic reaction patterns were observed in Korean A24 positive samples using a commercial serologic typing kit. To clarify the nature of serologic heterogeneity, thirteen A24 positive DNA samples representing the four different serologic reaction patterns were subjected to DNA sequencing analysis of the amplified HLA-A genes from each sample. Four A*24 alleles (A*2402101, A*2403, A*2408, and A*2421) were associated with the four unique serologic reaction patterns. During this study, a novel allele, A*2421, was characterized. The new sequence is similar to A*2402101, differing at codon 127 (AAA-->AAC; K-->N). By comparing putative amino acid sequences and serologic reaction patterns of A*24 allelic products identified in this study, several crucial sites for A24- and A9-specific antibody binding were predicted: 127K for A24 antibody binding, and 62E-65G and 166D-167G for A9 antibody binding. This information will be helpful for accurately assigning HLA-A24 types by serology and for predicting serologic types of new alleles.

Reverse-SSO hybridization provides an accurate and simple HLA-DR typing--a comparative study with HLA-DR serologic typing.

The HLA-DR molecule is a polymorphic membrane glycoprotein and one of the key molecules causing allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease in organ transplantation. Serologic typing using DR specific alloantisera has long been used, but several problems have limited its application. The purpose of this study was to establish an efficient reverse-SSO typing system that detects DRB1 and DRB3/B4/B5 alleles on a single membrane. A DR typing membrane was prepared by immobilizing 21 dT-tailed sequence specific oligonucleotides (SSOs) on a nylon membrane and was used in a hybridization assay with digoxigenin-labeled PCR-amplified target DNA. The positive signals were detected on X-ray film using chemiluminescence. A comparison study with serology using DNAs from 105 unrelated individuals demonstrated that the reverse-SSO typing system was superior to serologic typing in terms of accuracy (100% vs 90.5%), simplicity, range of application, rapidity, and cost of the test. These data indicate that the reverse-SSO typing system can replace serology as a routine DR test, and will be useful in time-restricted solid organ transplantation and in selection of an unrelated marrow donor prior to bone marrow transplantation.

Radial immunodiffusion of chicken serum proteins. I. Standardization of optimal test procedures.

Optimal conditions were determined for the quantitaion of chicken serum albumin, conalbumin, IgG and IgM by the radial immunodiffusion test. The best diluent was 0.15 M phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.2. The optimal concentration of the rabbit antiserum in the agar plate was inversely related to the molecular weight of the protein under study. The incubation time required for maximum ring formation was directly related to the molecular weight of the proteins under study. The reproducibility of the tests was evaluated using stored and fresh antiserum-agar plates.

Measurement of antibodies to rabies virus by immunoelectron microscopy.

Immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was used to measure rabies antibodies in 47 serum samples from vaccinees with results similar to those obtained by mouse neutralization test (MNT). The use of inactivated rabies virus for IEM eliminated the hazard associated with live virus used in the MNT.

Antibody and immunoglobulin response to antirabies vaccination in man.

Serum neutralization antibody and immunoglobulin responses in 30 individuals were studied in paired serum samples which had been obtained before and 2 to 3 weeks after the administration of a recall dose of rabies tissue culture vaccine. The immune reaction consisted of a predominantly immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response. Also, a significant increase in neutralizing antibody titers was observed, but without a consistently correlated change of the IgG levels in the individual serum samples. The radial immunodiffusion test appears to contain the elements necessary for the development of a routine test to determine rabies antibody in single serum samples.