Search

Sorption experiments for radionuclides such as 14C, 99Tc, 137Cs, 90Sr, 63Ni, and 241Am were conducted using two different groundwaters (GM-1 and SS-5) and solid materials (granodiorite and fracture-filling material) sampled from the Wolsong low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) repository, Gyeongju, Korea. The distribution coefficients of the radionuclides, Kd’s, were obtained and their sorption properties were discussed for each radionuclide. For all sorbing radionuclides, the Kd values for the fracture-filling material were observed to be higher than those for granodiorite regardless of the groundwater. The Kd values were increased in the sequence 99Tc < 14C < 90Sr < 137Cs < 63Ni < 241Am regardless of sorbent types implying that the sorption of radionuclides onto geological media is affected by their chemical behavior in accordance with geochemical environments. Anionic radionuclides such as 14C and 99Tc showed very low Kd values both for the granodiorite and fracture-filling material. The mineralogical composition of the geological media and groundwater conditions was also observed to be important in the sorption of sorbing radionuclides, especially in the case of strongly sorbing radionuclides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have reported that two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RANTES gene promoter region, –403G/A and –28C/G, are associated with a slower rate of decline in CD4+ T-cell number, whereas genetic polymorphisms within the CCR5 promoter are linked to acceleration of AIDS progression. In this study, we investigated the distribution of SNPs in the RANTES and CCR5 promoters and the association between these SNPs and HIV-1 disease progression in HIV-infected Koreans. Twenty-seven long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), 29 AIDS patients and 39 HIV-uninfected persons were enrolled in this study. SNPs for the RANTES and CCR5 promoters were determined by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and a direct sequencing method. In the analysis of RANTES promoter polymorphisms, the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the RANTES –28G mutation were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients than in HIV-uninfected persons ( P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively). The genotypic frequencies of RANTES –28G and –403A mutations did not differ significantly between LTNPs and AIDS patients. The frequencies of three CCR5 promoter polymorphisms, designated 59029 G/A, 59353T/C, and 59402G/A, did not differ significantly between HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected patients. However, the allelic frequency of CCR559353C was significantly higher in AIDS patients than in LTNPs ( P = 0.003). These results suggest that RANTES-28G and CCR5 59353C mutations might be associated with HIV infection or pathogenesis in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent investigations suggest that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is important in the pathogenesis of not only aspirin-intolerant asthma but also asthma unrelated to aspirin intolerance. Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of variations in the gene coding PGE2 receptor subtype EP1–4 ( Ptger1–4) on the risk of asthma in the Korean population. Methods Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected after re-sequencing Ptger1–4 and were genotyped in 480 asthmatics and 140 healthy controls, who were randomly recruited. Results By logistic regression analyses controlling for age and sex, 1388T>C in Ptger3 was found to be significantly associated with asthma [ P=0.002, odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.63 (0.46–0.85) in the allele model], and this remained significant after applying the Bonferroni correction. In terms of haplotype, the frequency of the C–C–A–A haplotype in Ptger3 was significantly lower in asthmatics than in healthy controls ( P=0.004). Moreover, the prevalence of this haplotype was significantly lower in moderate-to-severe asthmatics than in mild asthmatics ( P=0.045; mild vs. moderate and P=0.034; mild vs. severe). However, no association was found between any genetic variation in Ptger1, Ptger2, or Ptger4 and asthma. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that genetic variations in Ptger3 are significantly associated with the risk and severity of asthma in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water samples were collected at seven sites located along the River Nakdong on 30 occasions. Water quality, size and the fractal dimension (dF) of suspended particles were measured. The laser light scattering method was used to obtain the size and dF of suspended particles. The average size of particles in this river ranged from 89 mm and 169 mm, which appears to be relatively coarse compared with other rivers worldwide. The average dF of suspended particles in this study ranged from 1. 8 to 1. 9. Slight variations in fractal dimension values and other particle characteristics results from various measuring methods available. The correlation analysis showed that DO, TN, NO3 and chlorophyll-a had significant positive relationships with particles size, whereas flow rates and temperature had negative relationships. However, the factors which had positive relationships with particles size showed negative relationships with the dF of suspended particles. Generally, as the size of particles increased, the fractal dimension of particles decreased which indicated that the shape of the larger particles became more irregular relative to that of the smaller ones. To obtain and apply the statistical functional relationship between water quality characteristics, multiple linear regression equations of the size and fractal dimension of particles on explanatory variables such as pH, BOD, TSS, DO, T-N and T-P have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa polymorphisms and their association with clinical manifestations in Korean lupus patients. Three hundred SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) patients (48 male, 252 female) meeting 1982 ACR criteria and 197 Korean disease-free controls were enrolled. Genotyping for FcγRIIa 131 R/H and FcγRIIIa 176 F/V was performed by PCR of genomic DNA using allele-specific primers and the FcγRIIIa genotype was confirmed by direct sequencing of PCR product in some cases. There was significant skewing in the distribution of the three FcγRIIa genotypes between the SLE and the controls (P=0.002 for R/R131 vs R/H131 and H/H131, OR 2.5 (95% CI 1.4–4.5), but not in FcγRIIIa genotypes. FcγRIIa-R allele was a significant predictor of lupus nephritis, as compared with SLE patients without nephritis (P=0.034 for R131 vs H131, OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.03–1.9)), but proliferative nephritis (WHO class III and IV) was less common in patients with FcγRIIa-R/R131 and in FcγRIIa-R allele. In 300 SLE patients, high binding allele combination H131/V176 was less common in SLE with nephritis than in SLE without nephritis. Hemolytic anemia was less common in R131/F176 allele combination among four FcγRIIa/FcγRIIIa allelic combinations. Male SLE patients showed a higher frequency of renal involvement, serositis, thrombocytopenia, malar rash and discoid rash than female SLE, and male SLE had a higher frequency of FcγRIIa-R/R131 or R131-allele than male controls, but FcγRIIa or FcγRIIIa genotypes had no association with renal involvement in male SLE patients. FcγRIIa-H/H131 showed a higher frequency of hemolytic anemia and less pulmonary complications in male SLE. Female SLE patients showed higher frequency of any hematologic abnormality, lymphopenia, anti-cardiolipin antibody (+) and anti-Ro antibody (+) than male SLE, and had earlier onset of first symptoms. There was no skewing in FcγRIIa or FcγRIIIa genotypes between female SLE and female controls, but FcγRIIa-R131 allele showed skewing between female SLE with nephritis and female SLE without nephritis. The age at onset of thrombocytopenia was earlier in FcγRIIa-R/R131 among three FcγRIIa genotypes, and serositis in FcγRIIIa-F/F176 among three FcγRIIIa genotypes. FcγRIIa-R131 homozygote was a major predisposing factor to the development of SLE and FcγRIIa-R131 homozygote and R131 allele were a predisposing factor, and H131/V176 was a protective allele combination in lupus nephritis. In contrast to other ethnic patients, in our study cohort, clinical manifestation was different between male and female, and FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa showed somewhat different clinical associations between the genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand a role of the delta32 allele of the CCR5 gene in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression, we determined the CCR5 genotypes within several groups of Koreans. Amplification of DNA from each subject was achieved with polymerase chain reaction, using the CCR5 specific primer pair, which flanks the 32 bp deletion. The 1.2 kb coding sequences of CCR5 were examined to see the possible effects of CCR5 polymorphism. All of the 339 healthy, HIV-uninfected individuals had no mutation in the CCR5 gene. All of the 115 HIV-1-infected patients including 11 long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and 18 discordant spouses were also wild homozygotes. No variation in the 1.2kb CCR5 coding sequence was found in 5 LTNPs and 5 discordant spouses. In conclusion, the 32 bp deletion mutant is rarely present in Koreans. Our data suggest that factors other than the CCR5 coding sequences may also play a role in the resistance to HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17: 1155-1159 Abstract The survival time of HIV/AIDS patients in Korea has increased since HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) was introduced. However, the occurrence of drug-resistant strains requires new anti-retroviral drugs, one of which, an integrase inhibitor (INI), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007. INIs have been used for therapy in many countries and are about to be employed in Korea. Therefore, it is important to identify basic mutant variants prior to the introduction of INIs in order to estimate their efficacy. To monitor potential drug-resistant INI mutations in Korean HIV/AIDS patients, the polymorphism of the int gene was investigated together with the pol gene using a genotypic assay for 75 randomly selected Korean HIV-1 patients newly diagnosed in 2007. The drug-resistant mutation sequences were analysed using the Stanford HIV DB and the International AIDS Society resistance testing-USA panel (IAS-USA). Seventy strains of Korean subtype B were compared with foreign subtype-B strains, and there were no significantly different variants of the int gene region in the study population. Major mutation sites in the integrase (E92Q, F121Y, G140A/S, Y143C/R, Q148H/R/K and N155H) were not detected, and only a few minor mutation sites (L74M, V151I, E157Q, V165I, I203M, S230N and D232N) were identified in 21 strains (28%). Resistance due to mutations in the pol gene was observed in a single strain (1.3%) resistant to protease inhibitors (PIs) and in four strains (5.3%) resistant to reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs). In summary, this demonstrates that INIs will be susceptible to drug naïve HIV/AIDS patients in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 482–487 Using a questionnaire, we assessed the current status of the quality management systems at HIV screening laboratories in Korea. The Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention HIV external quality assurance scheme (EQAS) questionnaire includes 18 items divided into five groups related to HIV testing: personnel, HIV test processes, participation in the Quality Assurance programme and HIV testing equipment. Five hundred and sixty-one HIV screening laboratories participated in this questionnaire investigation; data were collected from 233 public health centres, 309 hospitals or clinics, eight blood centres and 11 commercial laboratories. The total number of HIV screening tests was about 5.5 million in 2005. The average number of HIV tests per institution was highest in blood centres (308 561), followed by commercial laboratories (56 084), hospital or clinic laboratories (6756), and public health centres (1751). Equipment and HIV test methods varied between HIV screening laboratories, and, to manage the quality of their HIV testing, most laboratories participated in several evaluation programmes such as EQAS or a laboratory accreditation programme. This study is the first questionnaire survey of HIV testing laboratories in Korea. The results could be used to evaluate and promote the quality management of HIV testing laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent investigations suggest that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is important in the pathogenesis of not only aspirin-intolerant asthma but also asthma unrelated to aspirin intolerance., Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of variations in the gene coding PGE2 receptor subtype EP1-4 (Ptger1-4) on the risk of asthma in the Korean population., Methods: Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected after re-sequencing Ptger1-4 and were genotyped in 480 asthmatics and 140 healthy controls, who were randomly recruited., Results: By logistic regression analyses controlling for age and sex, 1388T>C in Ptger3 was found to be significantly associated with asthma [P=0.002, odds ratio (95% confidence interval)=0.63 (0.46-0.85) in the allele model], and this remained significant after applying the Bonferroni correction. In terms of haplotype, the frequency of the C-C-A-A haplotype in Ptger3 was significantly lower in asthmatics than in healthy controls (P=0.004). Moreover, the prevalence of this haplotype was significantly lower in moderate-to-severe asthmatics than in mild asthmatics (P=0.045; mild vs. moderate and P=0.034; mild vs. severe). However, no association was found between any genetic variation in Ptger1, Ptger2, or Ptger4 and asthma., Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that genetic variations in Ptger3 are significantly associated with the risk and severity of asthma in the Korean population.

Background: It is well known that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause sexual dysfunction, so it is possible that sibutramine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, could induce sexual dysfunction., Design and Subjects: The effect of sibutramine on sexual function was evaluated in 46 overweight and obese (body mass index (BMI) > or = 23 kg/m2) but otherwise healthy married women (28-44 years). Participants were randomly assigned at baseline to either the sibutramine or control group. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function at baseline and after treatment with behavioral therapy plus sibutramine 10 mg once daily or behavioral therapy alone (control) for 8 weeks., Results: Mean weight loss from baseline to week 8 was -6.03% in sibutramine group and -0.38% in the control group. There was significant improvement of FSFI total score, arousal domain score and lubrication domain score in the sibutramine group (P<0.05), and significant differences in arousal, orgasm, satisfaction domain score and total score (P<0.05) in favor of sibutramine. Decreases in body weight and BMI were correlated with the improvement of arousal (r = -0.44 and r = -0.48, respectively) and orgasm (r = -0.45 and r = -0.46, respectively) domains., Conclusion: Treatment with sibutramine plus behavioral therapy did not induce sexual dysfunction and sibutramine-induced weight reduction appeared to have a positive impact on sexual function in this small group of overweight and moderately obese women. The degree of improvement in sexual function was correlated with the degree of weight reduction.

Although human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) share mode of transmission, their epidemiologic characteristics differ and international spread of HIV-2 has been limited. To investigate the extent of HIV-2 infection in South Korea and to clarify the characteristic of HIV-2 isolates, we describe epidemiological, serological and genetic analyses of five HIV-2 isolates from South Korea. Five of 964 HIV antibody-positive serum specimens showed positive reactivity by HIV1/2 enzyme immunoassay (EIA), HIV-2 Western blot analysis, HIV-2 particle agglutination (PA) test and line immunoassay (LIA) but negative or indeterminate one by HIV-1 PA test and HIV-1 Western blot analysis. To confirm HIV-2 infection by genetic analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on five HIV-2 seropositive samples. PCR products from gag (197 bp) and env gene regions (137 bp) were obtained with three of the five samples with HIV-2 specific gag primers and with all the five samples with env primers. To obtain larger sequences for a more comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, we performed PCR for a 1191 bp env region of HIV-2 but only two such products were obtained. For the phylogenetic analysis, three 197 bp gag and two 1191 bp env PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Based on the gag and env sequences alignments, three isolates (KR4063, KR7051 and KR8091) were clustered phylogenetically within HIV-2 subtype A. In conclusion, HIV-2 virus is present in South Korea and was detected in five subjects. Furthermore, the prevalence of HIV-2 infection should be monitored continuously in South Korea to assess the spread of this virus and to assist in the diagnosis of HIV infection.

A cytogenetic study was performed on 4,117 Korean patients referred for suspected chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome aberrations were identified in 17.5% of the referred cases. The most common autosomal abnormality was Down syndrome and Turner syndrome in abnormalities of sex chromosome. The proportions of different karyotypes in Down syndrome (trisomy 21 92.5%, translocation 5.1%, mosaic 2.4%) were similar to those reported in other countries. However, it was different in Turner syndrome (45, X 28.1%, mosaic 50.8%, 46, X, del (Xq) 4.4%, 46, X, i (Xq) 16.7%), in which proportions of mosaics and isochromosome, 46, X, i(Xq), were higher than those reported in other countries. In structural chromosome aberrations of autosome, translocation was the most common (43.6%), and duplication (21.3%), deletion (14.4%), marker chromosome (7.9%) and ring chromosome (4.0%) followed in order of frequency. Rates of several normal variant karyotypes were also described. Inversion of chromosome 9 was observed in 1.7% of total referred cases.

A nationwide investigation of congenital malformations and genetic diseases in Korea was conducted by analyzing Medical Insurance data for infants aged under 1 year. Medical Insurance data were obtained for 1993 and 1994 and the ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) code was used to classify the diseases. The coverage rate of medical insurance was approximately 95% of the total population. Anomalies of the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal systems, in descending order of frequency, were more frequent than anomalies in other systems. The average prevalence of cardiovascular anomalies for 1993 and 1994 was 15 per 1000 infants, and ventricular septal defect, with an average prevalence of about 3.50 per 1000 for 1993 and 1994, was the most frequent cardiovascular anomaly in infants. Polydactyly was the most frequent musculoskeletal anomaly, with an average prevalence, for 1993 and 1994, of about 1.20 per 1000 infants. Anencephaly had the highest frequency of nervous system anomalies. Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis was the most common of the gastrointestinal anomalies. The prevalence of the congenital malformations and genetic diseases examined was similar to that reported in other countries. Total medical expenses for the care of patients with each disease entity were also estimated. The highest medical expenses were incurred for ventricular septal defect, congenital coagulation factor VIII disorders, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, and spinal anomalies, in descending order of magnitude. This investigation could be helpful in planning social welfare systems, as well as for elucidating the current status of congenital malformations and genetic diseases in Korea, and in other Asian countries.

This study was designed to investigate the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of WPW syndromes in Korea. A total of 400 symptomatic WPW syndrome patients were consecutively recruited. The most common documented symptomatic tachyarrhythmia was orthodromic atrioventricar reentrant tachycardia (75.3%), followed by atrial fibrillation (31.3%), and antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (6.2%). There was a higher incidence of multiple bypass tract in patients with antidromic tachycardia than in those with orthodromic tachycardia (30.4 vs 4.3%, P < 0.001). The inducibility of tachyarrhythmia with electrophysiologic study in this study population was 95.8%. The most frequent location of the accessory pathway was the left free wall (48.0%), followed by the right free wall (29.1%), posterior septum (17.5%) and anterior septum (3.5%). These results indicated that 1) clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of Korean patients with WPW syndrome were similar to those of western countries and 2) the electrophysiologic study was important in the evaluation of patients with WPW syndrome.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine whether there are differences in the operative, histopathologic, angiographic and clinical findings of isolated ostial stenosis between Oriental and western patients., Background: Angiographic, clinical and histologic findings in isolated ostial stenosis have been reported in western but not in Oriental patients., Methods: Six patients, all women (0.88% of a total of 684 patients who underwent coronary angiography between March 1989 and July 1991), were found to have isolated left main coronary ostial stenosis. We performed surgical ostial angioplasty with the autologous pericardial or saphenous venous patch and biopsy at the aortic arteriotomy site in four of the six patients., Results: All six patients presented with severe angina (angina class III or IV) of short duration (mean +/- SD 6.2 +/- 6.2 months) and had a very low incidence of risk factors, although histopathologic examination showed typical atherosclerosis in four of the six patients. They were young to middle-aged women (mean 45 +/- 3 years) except for Patient 6 (62 years). Exercise duration was short and ST segment depression, accompanied by typical angina, was observed in many leads in the warm-up period or stage I. Despite the crucial location of the lesion, most patients had well preserved left ventricular function and normal wall motion. There was no angiographically definable collateral circulation from either ipsilateral or contralateral vessels except for grade I collateral circulation in Patient 5. Operative findings demonstrated mostly yellow atheroma in the aortic wall and left coronary ostium. Coronary angiography showed only ostial stenosis of the left coronary artery in all six patients, but operative findings documented atheromatous change in the left main coronary artery in two of the six., Conclusions: The clinical, angiographic, histopathologic and operative findings of Oriental patients were similar to those reported in western patients, but the incidence of isolated left main coronary ostial stenosis was higher in the Oriental group. Angiographically definable isolated coronary ostial stenosis may often not be true isolated ostial stenosis.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to describe the population of a Medicare/Medicaid home health agency in Galveston, identify their specific needs and assess their satisfaction with the services provided to them. The data obtained will be used to improve home health services in the Galveston agency., Research Questions: 1. What nursing care services are required by home health patients? 2. What needs for other services (e.g. therapy service, homemaker/personal care services, social work services) do home health patients have? 3. What other resources do home health patients currently have to meet their needs? 4. What services do nurses provide during a home health visit? 5. How satisfied are home health patients with services received through the agency?, Methodology: Two types of data were collected for this study. Data relating to patient characteristics, need for services and services provided were obtain by a review of home health records. Data relating to patient satisfaction were obtained by mailing a questionnaire to patients after discharge. Patients still receiving services at the end of the data collection period were sent questionnaires at that time. A convenience sample of all patients receiving care through the agency between January and October of 1991 was used. This was a total of 121 patients. All patients receiving care at this agency meet the Medicare/Medicaid eligibility requirement, i.e. they must be homebound and need skilled nursing services, physical therapy or speech therapy on an intermittent basis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics., Conclusions: This predominantly elderly and low-income sample of patients was drawn from an agency serving Medicaid clients, as opposed to an agency serving the home care needs of clients covered by insurance or clients who are self-pay patients. Although chronically ill (often with more than one chronic health problem), these clients seemed to be generally able to care for themselves with only short-term home health assistance. Their most common complaints were sensory loss, decreased mobility and nutritional problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The employees at the Pohang industrial area, where Clonorchis sinensis has been known to be endemic along the Hyungsan River, were examined parasitologically for clonorchiasis and a part of the infected cases were surveyed with a questionnaire to outline the recent infection status of C. sinensis and epidemiological parameters in the area. Total of 3,180 cases were tested by intradermal inoculation of C. sinensis antigen (Green Cross Co., Korea), and 834 (26.2%) were found positive. Out of the positive cases, 598 were subjected to fecal examination for helminth ova. The examination revealed 129 (21.6%) ova positive cases of C. sinensis, and Trichuris trichiura 1.7%, Ascaris lumbricoides 0.3%, and Metagonimus yokogawai 0.2%. The questionnaire analysis showed some significant differences between the infected and non-infected (control) groups. The infected cases were less educated than the control, and they lived at the closer area to the river, and most of them lived there over 20 years. Also they preferred eating raw fresh water fish. Most of the detected cases were treated with praziquantel and found negative for the eggs in 85.3% of them 1 year after the treatment. The present data reveal markedly decreased endemicity of clonorchiasis compared with previous prevalence rates but still clonorchiasis is endemic in the Hyungsan river basin. A comprehensive measure including case detection, treatment and education for parasite control should be applied to control clonorchiasis in such endemic areas.