• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.135-140
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• 2008

Loss of E-cadherin (E-cad) expression has been found in multiple cancers and is postulated to facilitate tumor cell dissociation and metastais. Promotor methylation may provides an alternative pathway for loss of gene function. This study evaluated the role of hypermethylation in the down-regulation of E-cad in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We examined the E-cad expression by immunohistochemical staining and detected methylation status by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) in 20 OSCC tissues. Overally, 12 (60%) cases of hypermethylation of E-cad were detected and we found there were no correlation between methylation and age, histologic grade, lympn node metastasis, tumor size and clinical stage. However, Eleven (73.3%) of 15 samples which was negative for E-cad staining showed hypermethylation of E-cad promotor region. On the other hand, only one (20%) of 5 E-cad positive sample was observed with methylated status. The underexpression of E-cad was found to be related to promotor hypermethylation (p=0.035). In conclusion, we suggest that hypermethylation play a role in inactivation of E-cad gene and may be a appreciable biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of OSCC.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.391-394
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• 2012

The prevalence of liver and intestinal fluke infections was determined by surveying inhabitants of Hengxuan, Fusui, and Shanglin villages which were known to be endemic for liver flukes in Guangxi, China in May 2010. A total of 718 people were examined for helminth eggs by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique, ultrasonography, immunoaffinity chromatography, and DNA sequencing. The overall egg positive rate was found to be 59.6% (28.0-70.6%) that included mixed infections with liver and intestinal flukes. Cases showing higher than 20,000 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were detected between 1.3% and 16.2%. Ultrasonographic findings exhibited overall 28.2% (72 of 255 cases) dilatation rate of the intrahepatic bile duct. Clonorchis sinensis infection was detected serologically in 88.3% (38 of 43 cases) among C. sinensis egg positive subjects by the immunoaffinity chromatography using a specific antigen for C. sinensis. For differential diagnosis of the liver and intestinal flukes, more precise PCR and nucleotide sequencing for copro-DNA were performed for 46 egg positive cases. Mixed infections with C. sinensis and Metagonimus yokogawai were detected in 8 of 46 egg positive cases, whereas 29 specimens were positive for Haplorchis taichui. Ultrasonographic findings and immunoaffinity chromatography results showed usefulness, even in a limited way, in figuring out of the liver fluke endemicity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.274-279
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate whether the levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to Tanerella forsythia are associated with periodontal status. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis were considered candidates for the study; thus 80 chronic periodontitis patients and 28 healthy persons (control group) were invited to participate in this investigation. The presence of T. forsythia was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using primers designed to target the respective 16S rRNA gene sequences. Peripheral blood was collected from each subject to identify the IgG1 and IgG2 serum antibodies against T. forsythia. All microbiological and immunological laboratory processes were completed blindly, without awareness of the clinical status of the study patients or of the periodontal sites tested. Results: The bivariate analysis showed that lower mean levels of clinical attachment level (CAL) and probing depth were found in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia; however, only the difference in CAL was statistically significant. In the presence of the IgG2 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia, the periodontal parameters evaluated were higher but they did not show statistical differences, except for plaque. The unadjusted linear regression model showed that the IgG1 antibody against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients was associated with a lower mean CAL (${\beta}=-0.654$; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.27 to -0.28; P<0.05). This statistically significant association remained after adjusting for possible confounders (${\beta}=-0.655$; 95% CI, -1.28 to -0.29; P<0.05). On the other hand, smoking was a statistically significant risk factor in the model (${\beta}=0.704$; 95% CI, 0.24 to 1.38; P<0.05). Conclusions: Significantly lower mean levels of CAL were shown in the presence of the IgG1 antibody titers against whole-cell T. forsythia in periodontitis patients. Thus, the results of this study suggest that IgG1 antibody to T. forsythia may have been a protective factor from periodontitis in this sample.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.29-32
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• 2020

As respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) is transmitted either via directly contact with an infected case or via indirectly contaminated fomites or skin, the major preventive measures are strict hand hygiene, early detection of transmitted sources, and rapid isolation of RSV patients. Especially early detection of hidden cases is the most critical control measure when an index case was notified in a postpartum center. The Guideline of Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention defines potential contacts in an epidemiologic survey as admitted newborns, parents of index cases, center's workers, and visitors for 10 days before the first diagnosis day of index case. However, it needs to classify potential contacts in more detail in order to conduct a successful survey. Authors conducted to search related literatures and appraise the evidences. Firstly, potential contacts would be classified into RSV-related symptomatic contacts(SxC) and asymptomatic contacts. And then, mother, caring workers, and visitors of the index cases among asymptomatic contacts would be defined as the asymptomatic close contacts(ASCC). Finally, the rest would be defined as the asymptomatic regular contacts(ASRC). The defined test using reverse transcription-PCR is applied to SxC and ASCC, and decision of isolation or regular activities are made according to the results. The rapid antigen detection test kits are applied to ASRC. These suggestions might be helpful to detect hidden cases earlier and prevent a further infection.

• 사상체질의학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.227-236
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• 2009

1. Objectives As a basic trial for identification of Sasang constitutional gene marker, we genotyped and analysed statistical relationships of STR(short tandem repeat) alleles and its distribution in each constitution. 2. Methods After obtaining basic constitutional data with questionnaire (QSCC II), decision of constitution was made by 3 different constitution specialists' diagnosis, and only the samples of specialists' agreement of each constitution by discussion were taken into this research. Using multiplex PCR kit, total 146 constitutional samples were amplified in 16 autosomal STR marker, genotyped, and analysed statistically. Among 16 markers, 15 were analysed in this study excluding the amelogenin marker is used for in gender identification. 3. Results and Conclusions It is difficult to determine the relationship between constitution and STR marker as the sample size is small, however, Penta D and vWA were shown to be related statistically with constitution. It has been know that STRs has no genetic informations, however there are some recent research results showing STRs as a regulatory element, relationship between microsatellite instability and repeat number and size, and post-transcriptional sigualing. STRs which is not known about its function currently, are proposed to have function and/or regulatory activities anyhow with Sasang constitution. It is believed that the results of this study can halp determine and deatify the markers related to Sasang Constitutional Medicien.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

Endometritis is one of the primary reasons for reproductive failure. In order to investigate endometritis-associated marker proteins, proteomic analysis was performed on bovine endometrium with endometritis. In bovine endometritis, desmin, $\alpha$-actin-2, heat-shock protein (HSP) 27, peroxiredoxin-6, luteinizing hormone receptor isoform 1, collectin-43 precursor, deoxyribonuclease-I (DNase-I), and MHC class I heavy chain (MHC-Ih) were up-regulated. In contrast, transferrin, interleukin-2 precursor, hemoglobin $\beta$ subunit, and potassium channel tetramerisation domaincontaining 11 (KCTD11) were down-regulated in comparison to normal endometrium. The proteomic results were validated by semiquantitative-PCR and immunoblot analysis. The mRNA levels of desmin, transferrin, $\alpha$-actin-2, HSP27, KCTD11, and MHC-Ih were up-regulated by over 1.5-fold, and showed a pattern similar to their proteomic profiles. Desmin and $\alpha$-actin-2 protein showed positive correlations between proteomic analysis and immunoblot analysis. These results suggest that desmin and $\alpha$-actin-2 may play important roles in endometritis-related function, and could be useful markers for the diagnosis of bovine endometritis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권8호
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• pp.597-603
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that induces changes in various inflammatory skin cells. The prevalence of AD is as high as 18% in some regions of the world, and is steadily rising. However, the pathophysiology of AD is poorly understood. To identify the proteins involved in AD pathogenesis, a comparative proteomic analysis of protein expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from AD patients and healthy donors was conducted. Significant changes were observed in the expressions of fourteen proteins, including the vinculin, PITPNB, and Filamin A proteins. Among the proteins, $\alpha$-SNAP and FLNA decreased significantly, and PITPNB increased significantly in AD patients compared with control subjects; these findings were further confirmed by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The comparative proteome data may provide a valuable clue to further understand AD pathogenesis, and several differentially regulated proteins may be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and as target proteins for the development of novel drugs.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.1-15
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• 2010

Swine influenza virus (SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) is endemic in swine, and classified into influenza A and influenza C but not influenza B. Swine influenza A includes H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 and H2N3 subtypes. Infection of SIV occurs in only swine and that of S-OIV is rare in human. What human can be infected with S-OIV is called as zoonotic swine flu. Pandemic 2009 swine influenza H1N1 virus (2009 H1N1) was emerged in Mexico, America and Canada and spread worldwide. The triple-reassortant H1N1 resulting from antigenic drift was contained with HA, NA and PB1 of human or swine influenza virus, PB2 and PA polymerase of avian influenza virus, and M, NP and NS of swine influenza virus, The 2009 H1N1 enables to transmit to human and swine. The symptoms and signs in human infected with 2009 H1N1 virus are fever, cough and sore throat, pneumonia as well as diarrhea and vomiting. Co-infection with other viruses and bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae can occur high mortality in high-risk population. 2009 H1N1 virus was easily differentiated from seasonal flu by real time RT-PCR which contributed rapid and confirmed diagnosis. The 2009 H1N1 virus was treated with NA inhibitors such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) but not with adamantanes such as amantadine and rimantadine. Evolution of influenza virus has continued in various hosts. Development of a more effective vaccine against influenza prototypes is needed to protect new influenza infection such as H5 and H7 subtypes to infect to multi-organ and cause high pathogenicity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Tetanus is a specific infectious disease, which is often associated with catastrophic events such as earthquakes, traumas, and war wounds. The obligate anaerobe Clostridium tetani is the pathogen that causes tetanus. Once the infection of tetanus progresses to an advanced stage within the wounds of limbs, the rates of amputation and mortality increase manifold. Therefore, it is necessary to devise a rapid and sensitive point-of-care detection method for C. tetani so as to ensure an early diagnosis and clinical treatment of tetanus. In this study, we developed a detection method for C. tetani using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, wherein the C. tetani tetanus toxin gene was used as the target gene. The method was highly specific and sensitive, with a detection limit of 10 colony forming units (CFU)/ml, and allowed quantitative analysis. While detecting C. tetani in clinical samples, it was found that the LAMP results completely agreed with those of the traditional API 20A anaerobic bacteria identification test. As compared with the traditional API test and PCR assay, LAMP detection of C. tetani is simple and rapid, and the results can be identified through naked-eye observation. Therefore, it is an ideal and rapid point-of-care testing method for tetanus.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.519-522
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• 2011

Purpose: Breast implant surgery is increasing in Korea. NTM (non tuberculous mycobacteria) infection after breast implant surgery is rare, but it has been there reported in several foreign countries. However, no report has been issued on NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant in Korea. The purpose of this article is to report a case of NTM infection after breast reconstruction surgery with an implant. Methods: A female patient who underwent total mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and an implant exhibited signs of inflammation after the surgery. Fluid cultures taken at the time of wound exploration were initially negative, but NTM was isolated by culture 10 days later. Results: The implant was removed. M. fortuitum was identified by acid-fast culture and NTM-PCR. The patient was treated with combined antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Although it is difficult to diagnose NTM infection after breast surgery, it is important that surgeons include NTM infection in the differential diagnosis of a post mammoplasty infection after breast implant surgery.