Heterogeneous spectrum of CFTR gene mutations in Korean patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common hereditary disorders among Caucasians. The most common mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene have been well established among Caucasian populations. In Koreans, however, there are very few cases of genetically confirmed CF thus far, and the spectrum of mutations seems quite different from that observed in Caucasians.

Direct targeting of tumor cell F(1)F(0) ATP-synthase by radioiodine angiostatin in vitro and in vivo.

Unlabelled: Recent discoveries have identified endothelial cell-surface F(1)F(0) adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase as the key target for angiostatin (AST) action. As this enzyme is also present on tumor cells, we investigated whether radiolabeled AST may directly target cancer cell-surface ATP synthase in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Cell-binding characteristics of (125)I-AST was evaluated on human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) and SNU-C5 colon carcinoma cells.

RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB) sequence analysis for the identification of Bacteroides spp.

Partial rpoB sequences (317 bp) of 11 species of Bacteroides, two Porphyromonas spp. and two Prevotella spp. were compared to delineate the genetic relationships among Bacteroides and closely related anaerobic species.

Critical roles for excretory-secretory cysteine proteases during tissue invasion of Paragonimus westermani newly excysted metacercariae.

Paragonimus westermani is a trematode parasite, which causes pulmonary and/or extrapulmonary granulomatous disease in humans. Successful invasion of the host tissue is critical for the survival of this tissue-invasive parasite. The enzymatic hydrolysis of host proteins is clearly a prerequisite of this process.

Proteomic analysis of a 120 kDa protein complex in cyst fluid of Taenia solium metacestode and preliminary evaluation of its value for the serodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

Cyst fluid (CF) of Taenia solium metacestode (TsM) is an important source of serodiagnostic antigens. We have investigated the molecular characteristics of the 120 kDa protein complex in TsM CF purified by fast performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the purified protein was characterized by a variety of proteomic analyses.

Comparison of conscious sedation for oocyte retrieval between low-anxiety and high-anxiety patients.

Study Objective: To investigate the correlation among the level of anxiety, the intravenous propofol requirement for conscious sedation, and recovery profile in in vitro fertilization patients.

Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.

Setting: Operating room of tertiary-care university hospital.

Feasibility of baculovirus-expressed recombinant 10-kDa antigen in the serodiagnosis of Taenia solium neurocysticercosis.

Bacterially expressed recombinant 10-kDa protein of Taenia solium metacestode (TsM) was previously found to be reliable in the diagnosis of active stage neurocysticercosis (NCC) by immunoblotting but not by ELISA. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic feasibility of detecting eukaryote-expressed recombinant 10-kDa protein of TsM by ELISA (rTsM10-ELISA) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from NCC patients. In 45 cases of active NCC, 91.

Ethanol embolization of arteriovenous malformations: interim results.

Purpose: To assess retrospectively the interim results and the complications of ethanol embolization treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval was obtained for a retrospective review of patient medical and imaging records. Informed consent was not required by the institutional review board.

A prospective study of a new immunochemical fecal occult blood test in Korean patients referred for colonoscopy.

Objectives: The exquisite performance characteristics of an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (IFOBT) are well understood. We evaluated the diagnostic validity of a new IFOBT for colorectal neoplasia in patients undergoing colonoscopy and compared its results with two other commercially available IFOBTs.

Design And Methods: Eighty-five consecutive patients referred for colonoscopy were studied.

A 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein gene of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoid induced by chemical and physiological stresses.

To adapt to different environmental conditions between poikilothermic and homeothermic hosts, the plerocercoid of Spirometra erinacei (sparganum) might express a variety of biologically active molecules. We have identified a 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein of the sparganum (SpGrp78) by differential display of mRNA, employing RNAs each from sparganum adjusted at 9 degrees C and 37 degrees C. A full-length cDNA of 2148 bp encodes for a protein of 651 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 71 610 Da and shares molecular characteristics with heat-shock protein 70, including a putative ATP binding site, signal peptide cleavage site and endoplasmic reticulum retention signal.

Arsenic trioxide represses constitutive activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression in human acute myeloid leukemia, HL-60.

It has been proposed that eukaryotic nuclear factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases including cancer. Arsenic has been widely used in medicine in Oriental countries. Recent studies have shown that arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) could induce in vitro growth inhibition and apoptosis of malignant lymphocytes, and myeloma cells.

Activation of Raf1 and the ERK pathway in response to l-ascorbic acid in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

L-ascorbic acid (LAA) shows cytotoxicity and induces apoptosis of malignant cells in vitro, but the mechanisms by which such effects occur have not been elucidated. In the present study, we provide evidence that the ERK MAP kinase pathway is activated in response to LAA (< 1 mM) in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines. LAA treatment of cells induces a dose-dependent phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and results in activation of its catalytic domain.

L-ascorbic acid represses constitutive activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression in human acute myeloid leukemia, HL-60.

There is increasing evidence that L-ascorbic acid (LAA) is selectively toxic to some types of cancer cells at pharmacological concentrations, functioning as a pro-oxidant rather than as an anti-oxidant. However, the molecular mechanisms by which LAA initiates cellular signaling leading to cell death are still unclear. In an effort to gain insight into these mechanisms, the effects of LAA on eukaryotic transcription nuclear factor NF-kappaB and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were investigated.