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ABSTRACT: Identification of the genes responsible for the recovery of virulence in brain-passaged Acanthamoeba culbertsoni was attempted via mRNA differential display-polymerase chain reaction (mRNA DD-PCR) analysis. In order to identify the regulatory changes in transcription of the virulence related genes by the brain passages, mRNA DD-PCR was performed which enabled the display of differentially transcribed mRNAs after the brain passages. Through mRNA DD-PCR analysis. 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons were observed and were screened to identify the amplicons that failed to amplify in the non-brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs. Out of the 96 brain-passaged amoeba specific amplicons, 12 turned out to be amplified only from the brain-passaged amoeba mRNAs by DNA slot blot hybridization. The clone, A289C, amplified with an arbitrary primer of UBC #289 and the oligo dT11-C primer, revealed the highest homology (49.8%) to the amino acid sequences of UPD-galactose lipid transferase of Erwinia amylovora, which is known to act as an important virulence factor. The deduced amino acid sequences of an insert DNA in clone A289C were also revealed to be similar to cpsD, which is the essential gene for the expression of type III capsule in group B streptococcus. Upregulated expression of clone A289C was verified by RNA slot blot hybridization. Similar hydrophobicity values were also observed between A289C (at residues 47-66) and the AmsG gene of E. amylovora (at residues 286-305: transmembrane domains). This result suggested that the insert of clone A289C might play the same function as galactosyl transferase controlled by the AmsG gene in E. amylovora.
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 01/2000; 37(4):257-63. · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To estimate the prevalence of urinary stone disease in Koreans, and to determine the inter-relationships between urinary stone disease and various epidemiological factors, 1,521 controls and 1,177 cases with urinary stones were evaluated. Of special interest in this study were: 1) proportion of past urinary stone history among controls; 1.9% 2) the point prevalence rate of urinary stones among controls; 0.2% 3) the recurrence rate of urinary stones (the proportion of past history of urinary stone) among cases; 56.8% 4) high incidences (76.3%) in the thirties to the fifties among cases 5) the risk factors for urolithogenesis; obesity [higher than 25 of BMI (body mass index, weight/height2)], more than 10 year-experience as a production worker, past stone history, familial stone history, low physical activity (< 2,000 Kcal/day), and low intake of fruit. However, the well-known risk factors for urinary stones; over intake of meat or fish and milk or dairy products, perspiration, amount and kind of drinking water, and stress unexpectedly were not significantly different between the controls and the cases.
Journal of Korean Medical Science 05/1998; 13(2):138-46. · 0.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The differential display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) analysis was performed to identify the pathogenic strain specific amplicons. mRNAs were purified from the trophozoites of the pathogenic strain YS-27 and the non-pathogenic strain S 16, respectively. Three kinds of first stranded cDNAs were reverse transcribed from the mRNAs by one base anchored oligo-dT11M (M: A, C, or G) primers. Each cDNA template was used for DDRT-PCR analysis. A total of 144 pathogenic strain specific amplicons was observed in DDRT-PCR analysis using primer combinations of the 11 arbitrary primers and the 3 one base anchored oligo-dT11M primers. Of these, 31 amplicons were verified as the amplicons amplified only from the mRNAs of the pathogenic strain by DNA slot blot hybridization. Further characterization of the 31 pathogenic strain specific amplicons by DNA slot blot hybridization analysis using biotin labeled probes of the PCR amplified DNA of cysteine proteinase genes revealed that 21 of them were amplified from the mRNAs of the cysteine proteinase genes. Four randomly selected amplicons out of the rest 10 amplicons were used for screening of cDNA library followed by immunoscreening and all of them were turned out to be amplified from the mRNA.
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 10/1997; 35(3):203-10. · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This observational study was performed in order to determine the hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates for the country of Korea.
Rates were determined in conjunction with a national blood pressure survey in Korea in 1990. Through cluster sampling, individuals aged > 30 in 190/146,944 districts were selected for study. Among 25,567 eligible individuals, 21,242 had measurement of blood pressure (BP) and answered a standard questionnaire. BP was recorded as the mean of two measurements with a standard mercury manometer. Hypertension was defined either as BP > or = 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 2628), or as BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 4219). Treatment was defined as any method of BP treatment, including dietary, traditional, or medication.
Rates for BP > or = 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1057 (40%), treated 696 (27%), controlled 367 (14%). Rates for BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1069 (25%), treated 696 (16%), controlled 221 (5%).
Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates are relatively low in Korea. Blood-pressure control programs, including detection strategies, are needed here and worldwide.
Ethnicity and Health 10/1996; 1(3):269-73. · 1.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Genetic status of Acanthamoeba spp. were tested on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker analysis. Four previously established Acanthamoeba species, 4 Korean isolates of Acanthamoeba sp., and one American isolate of Acanthamoeba sp. were analyzed by RAPD-PCR using an arbitrary decamer primers. Amplification products were fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis and stained by ethidium bromide. Eighteen primers produced DNA amplification profiles revealing clear differences among 4 species. Nine of them also produced DNA amplification profiles which included some isolate-specific amplification products. On the basis of amplified fragments by 18 primers, the pairwise similarity indices between A. culbertsoni and other species (i.e., A. hatchetti, A. triangularis, A. polyphaga) were 0.300, 0.308, and 0.313, respectively. Similarity index between A. hatchetti and A. triangularis was 0.833. The mean similarity index among the 3 Korean isolates (YM-2, -3, -4) was 0.959 and 0.832 among them and 2 other species (A. hatchetti and A. triangularis). The mean similarity index among YM-5 and other Korean isolates (YM-2, -3, -4) was 0.237. However, the similarity index between YM-5 and A. culbertsoni was 0.857, which suggests that YM-5 is genetically more similar to A. culbertsoni than other Korean isolates. Phenogram reconstructed by UPGMA method revealed that there are two groups: one group consists of A. hatchetti, A. triangularis, and 3 Korean isolates (YM-2, -3, -4), and the other group consists of A. culbertsoni, A. polyphaga, HOV, and YM-5.
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 01/1996; 33(4):341-8. · 1.04 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure is well known in relatively obese populations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between BMI and blood pressure in a lean population. Through cluster sampling, individuals aged > 30 years in 190 out of 154,082 districts were selected for study. Among 25,567 eligible individuals, measurements of blood pressure and BMI were made in 22,354.
The BMI for males was 22.8 +/- 2.7 kg/m2 and for females was 23.4 +/- 3.2 kg/m2 (means +/- SD). Over a BMI range from 16 to 31 kg/m2 the relationships between BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were almost linear. Over the BMI range 25-31 kg/m2 (overweight-to-obese) each BMI unit was associated with a difference of 1.0 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. Over the BMI range 16-25 kg/m2 (normal-to-lean) each BMI unit was associated with a difference of 0.89 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure.
We conclude that a strong association between BMI and blood pressure exists for lean as well as for obese subjects.
Journal of Hypertension 01/1995; 12(12):1433-7. · 4.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To determine the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and its risk factors, we performed a population-based national cross-sectional blood pressure (BP) survey in Korea in 1990. Through cluster sampling, we selected for study individuals older than 30 years of age in 190 of 154,082 districts. Among 25,567 eligible individuals, 21,242 subjects had measurements of BP and body mass index (BMI) and underwent a standard interview. BP was recorded as the mean of two measurements on a standard mercury manometer. The prevalence of HTN varied widely by area of residence. Overall prevalence was 19.8% for HTN defined as BP > or = 140/90 mm Hg or subject on medication, and 12.4% for BP > or = 160/95 mm Hg or subject on medication. Correlates for HTN identified by logistic regression analysis included positive family history of HTN (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2,), age (10 years); OR = 1.9), alcohol intake (500 cc; OR = 1.4), urban location (versus rural; OR = 1.3), and BMI (1 BMI unit; OR = 1.2). [Am J Prev Med 1994;10:200-4]
American Journal of Preventive Medicine 10(4):200-4. · 4.04 Impact Factor
