High level expression of human epithelial beta-defensins (hBD-1, 2 and 3) in papillomavirus induced lesions.

Background: Epithelial defensins including human beta-defensins (hBDs) and alpha-defensins (HDs) are antimicrobial peptides that play important roles in the mucosal defense system. However, the role of defensins in papillomavirus induced epithelial lesions is unknown.

Results: Papilloma tissues were prospectively collected from 15 patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) and analyzed for defensins and chemokine IL-8 expression by quantitative, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays.

Effects of acupressure on dysmenorrhea and skin temperature changes in college students: a non-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Complementary and alternative therapies may be adopted as nursing interventions to alleviate dysmenorrhea and improve productivity, creativity, work performance, and quality of life.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of San Yin Jiao (SP6) acupressure as a non-pharmacologic nursing intervention for dysmenorrhea and identify its effects on temperature changes in two related acupoints as an explanatory mechanism of chi circulation.

Design: A non-equivalent control group pre and post-test design was employed to verify the effects of SP6 acupressure on skin temperature and dysmenorrhea.

Effect of water-soluble reduced chitosan on Streptococcus mutans, plaque regrowth and biofilm vitality.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a newly developed water-soluble reduced chitosan on Streptococcus mutans, plaque regrowth, and biofilm vitality. A 1.0%, water-soluble reduced chitosan, with pH ranging from 6.

New BODIPY derivatives as OFF-ON fluorescent chemosensor and fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+: cooperative selectivity enhancement toward Cu2+.

New 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) derivatives (1 and 2) were synthesized as an "off-on" fluorescent chemosensor and fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+ and Pb2+. Compound 1 displayed selective and large chelation enhanced fluorescence effects with Pb2+ and Cu2+ among the metal ions examined. On the other hand, compound 2, a fluorescent chemodosimeter, effectively recognized Cu2+ via a selective hydrolysis of the acetyl group.

Quantitative analysis of viral RNA in the murine heart and pancreas with different concentration of coxsackievirus B3.

Objectives: We investigated the clinical features, pathologic changes, and viral RNA kinetics in the course of acute and subacute experimental coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection in a murine model.

Methods: Five-week-old A/J inbred male mice were divided into 5 groups. Four of those groups were inoculated intraperitoneally with 5 x 10(4) (group 1), 1 x 10(5) (group 2), 5 x 10(5) (group 3), or 1 x 10(6) (group 4) PFU of CVB3.

Highly effective fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for pyrophosphate over H2PO4- in 100% aqueous solution.

[Structure: see text]. This study demonstrated that Zinpyr-1*Zn2+ acts as a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for pyrophosphate at pH 7.4.

[Influencing factors of depression in women with endometriosis].

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand depression in women with endometriosis and to identify the factors influencing depression.

Method: The instruments used were the Beck Depression Inventory for depression, Lemaire Scale for endometriosis syndrome, Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Community form (MUIS-C), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Quality of Life (Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire; EHP-5) by Jones et al. The Subjects of Study were 118 outpatients diagnosed with endometriosis from 7 hospitals in Busan City and Kyungsangnam-do.

A small interfering RNA targeting coxsackievirus B3 protects permissive HeLa cells from viral challenge.

We examined the ability of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to disrupt infection by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). The incorporation of siRNAs dramatically decreased cell death in permissive HeLa cells in parallel with a reduction in viral replication. Three of four siRNAs had potent anti-CVB3 activity.

Distribution of viral RNA in mouse tissues during acute phase of coxsackievirus B5 infection.

Objective: To investigate histopathological changes and distribution of coxsackievirus B5 (CVB5) RNA in mouse heart, liver, and pancreas during the acute phase of infection.

Methods: C3H/HeJ male mice, aged 3-4 weeks, were inoculated intraperitoneally with 5 x 10(5) plaque-forming units of CVB5 and sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 days postinfection (p.i.

[Effects of SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, skin temperature of CV2 acupoint and temperature, in the college students].

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of the SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, the skin temperature of the CV2 acupoint and oral temperatures in the college students.

Method: Data was collected from May 1 to August 31, 2002. A total of 58 students from two universities participated in the study.

Efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine and sertraline in Korean veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized open label trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of mirtazapine in Korean veterans diagnosed with PTSD, by comparing it with sertraline, a drug approved for use in PTSD in the USA.

Methods: Efficacy was evaluated by the clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS-2), the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD-17) and the clinical global impression scale (CGI), at baseline and at weeks 1, 2 and 6. A response was defined as a > or = 30 % decrease in CAPS-2 total severity, a > or = 50 % decrease in total HAMD-17 score, and a CGI-I score < 3.

Expression of telomerase extends longevity and enhances differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells.

Human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) are defined as pluripotent progenitor cells with the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrochytes, adipocytes, muscle cells, and neural cells. Recently, it has been shown that telomerase expression not only extends the replicative life-span and maintains their bone-forming capability of hBMSCs. We previously reported that human adipose tissue stromal cells (hATSCs) have similar characteristics with hBMSCs.

[Effects of SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine in the college students].

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of the SP-6 acupressure on dysmenorrhea, and level of cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine in the college students.

Method: Data were collected from May 1 to August 31, 2002. A total of 58 students from two universities participated in the study.

Interactions between human adipose stromal cells and mouse neural stem cells in vitro.

Transplantation of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into adult rat brain has been known to reduce functional deficits associated with stroke and traumatic brain injury. However, in injured brains, there is no evidence that transplanted MSCs replace lost host brain tissue. In this study, we determined in vitro interaction between human adipose tissue stromal cells (hATSCs), a kind of MSC, and neural stem cells (NSCs).

An experimental study of students' self-learning of the San-Yin-Jiao pressure procedure using CD-ROM or printed materials.

A CD-ROM and printed material on San-Yin-Jiao pressure to lessen labor pain for women were developed as formal didactic instruction using the same content. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted to compare self-learning outcomes using the software and the printed materials. Eighty third-year student nurses were randomly allocated to either the CD-ROM group or printed material group.

Immunohistochemical characterization of macrophage and dendritic cell subpopulations of the spleen, thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat.

This study was undertaken to investigate the immunohistochemical characterization of different subpopulations of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) of the spleen, thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed rat. After CY treatment, remarkably, ED1+, ED2+ and ED3+ macrophage subpopulations, in general exhibited signs of cellular activation such as an increase in number and size of cell, and an upregulation of the ED1, ED2 and ED3 reactive surface molecule expression in all the organs studied, except for some macrophage subpopulations including ED1+ macrophages in the non-lymphoid tissues. Subpopulations of DCs showed a differential sensitivity to CY.

Synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivative HS-1200-induced apoptosis of p815 mastocytoma cells is augmented by co-treatment with lactacystin.

The antitumor activity of a synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, HS-1200, on the p815 mastocytoma cell line was investigated. We present several lines of evidence indicating that HS-1200 at 35 microM induced apoptosis of p815 cells. Reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome to cytosol, activation of caspase-3, nuclear condensation, production of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, generation of DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation were demonstrated.

[The clinical significance of quantitation of HBV DNA in serum-comparison of the branched-DNA assay with the second-generation digene hybrid capture assay and long-term observation].

Background/aims: Serum levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA are direct measures of viral replication in hepatocytes. We compared branched-DNA assay (Quantiplex(TM), bDNA) and Hybridization Capture II (HCII), and evaluated the clinical significance of HBV DNA quantitation in the natural course of HBV infection.

Methods: We analyzed results of bDNA in 324 serum samples from 83 untreated male patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Intrinsic double-stranded-RNA processing activity of Escherichia coli ribonuclease III lacking the dsRNA-binding domain.

The ribonuclease III superfamily represents a structurally related group of double-strand (ds) specific endoribonucleases which play key roles in diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA maturation and degradation pathways. A dsRNA-binding domain (dsRBD) is a conserved feature of the superfamily and is important for substrate recognition. RNase III family members also exhibit a "catalytic" domain, in part defined by a set of highly conserved amino acids, of which at least one (a glutamic acid) is important for cleavage but not for substrate binding.

Topical delivery of lidocaine in healthy volunteers by electroporation, electroincorporation, or iontophoresis: an evaluation of skin anesthesia.

Background And Objectives: This study was designed to compare the onset, duration, and depth of local anesthesia after the topical delivery of lidocaine using electroporation (EP), electroincorporation (EI), and iontophoresis (IP) in healthy volunteers. EP and EI were performed with prototype devices and IP with a commercial drug/device product.

Methods: A double-blind, crossover study design was used for 10 randomized volunteers selected for EP treatment with either 4%, 10%, or 20% lidocaine or placebo normal saline.

Changes in expression of ion channels and aquaporins mRNA during differentiation in normal human nasal epithelial cells.

Integrity of the airway epithelium is important for pulmonary defense mechanisms to infection. The lining of the airway contains a diverse population of cell types. Understanding about progenitor-progeny relationships during renewal of airway epithelium is important for elucidating mechanisms of injury repair or oncogenesis.

Detection of human herpesvirus 8 DNA in pemphigus and chronic blistering skin diseases.

Increased incidences of Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphoid malignancies have been observed in patients with pemphigus, and the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is very strongly associated with these tumors. Because the virus may be one of the triggering factors of pemphigus, we undertook this study to screen for the presence of HHV-8 in chronic blistering skin diseases including pemphigus. A total of 45 paraffin-embedded specimens were studied using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers to amplify a 160-base pair HHV-8 fragment.

Detection of mycobacterial DNA in cervical granulomatous lymphadenopathy from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by PCR.

Cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most common form of inflammatory neck mass in Korea. The diagnosis of tuberculosis requires proof of the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by acid-fast staining or bacterial growth in culture. However, these are often difficult in cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis.