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Psoriasis is a polygenic and multi-factorial disease showing ethnic differences in terms of its severity and frequency. Therapies targeting interleukin (IL)−17A, IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) and Janus kinases (JAKs) are in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis, and their success suggests the essential role of these molecules in psoriasis. To investigate the genetic susceptibility in T helper type 17 (Th17) cell signal transduction pathways for promoting psoriasis, we performed candidate gene and linkage disequilibrium analysis. In 208 patients and 266 normal controls, we analysed 31 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 12 genes ( CAMP, IL17A, IL17F, IL17RA, IL22, JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, STAT3, TLR7, TLR9 and TYK2; abbreviations: CAMP, human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide; STAT-3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; TLR, Toll-like receptor; TYK2, tyrosine kinase 2). Patients with psoriasis showed a strong association for IL17F rs763780 [odds ratio (OR) = 3·27, P = 0·04], which results in a histidine-to-arginine substitution, and JAK2 rs2274471 (OR = 2·66, P = 0·02). In addition, JAK2 rs7849191 showed a protective pattern, met the significance threshold (OR = 0·77, P = 0·05) and showed a tendency for an inverse association with the frequency of early-onset psoriasis under age 40 years ( P = 0·07). In haplotype analysis, JAK1 rs310241A/rs2780889T showed a protective effect (OR = 0·73, P = 0·03) in psoriasis. In conclusion, we report two new psoriasis-susceptibility loci, in IL17F and JAK2, as well as a newly identified late-onset associated protective JAK2 locus and a protective JAK1 haplotype in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SBR process shows high nitrogen and phosphorus removal in countries where separated sewers are used, On the other hand, removal efficiency is low in countries where combined sewers are used though the same SBR is applied, his is because the organic concentration (as BOD), which is used as carbon source for denitrification, of combined sewers is much lower than that of separated sewers, Almost all sewers in Korea are combined, and their BOD is low by about 1/g over the level needed for denitrification. In this study, a SBR process that can optimise organic usage by step feed and recycle is thus developed to increase the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the results show that the removal rates of BOD, T-N and T-P are 95.4, 81.4 and 86.1%, respectively, though influent BOD is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concerns a culture research based on the data gathered from Korean subjects to examine distribution of Malassezia yeast. Malassezia yeast were cultivated out of samples from scalp, forehead, chest, arm and thigh. Malassezia restricta was recovered more frequently in the teens and young adults, while M. globosa was the predominant species in subjects older than 50 years of age. The population density of Malassezia yeast was significantly higher in the age group (AG) of 21–30 years compared with other AGs ( P < 0.05). It was also significantly higher in the chest compared with the forehead, arm and thigh ( P < 0.05). The key is to recognise the existence of a difference in the amount and type of Malassezia species in different AGs as well as body areas, which reflects differing skin lipid levels in various AGs and different body areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a good method for measuring airway resistance. It does not require special breathing skills and it can reflect different aspects of airway obstruction to those revealed by spirometry, which is an effort-dependent maneuver., Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of airway obstruction in young asthmatics after an exercise bronchial provocation test (EBPT) using IOS., Methods: Forty-seven young adults were enrolled in the study. All the participants underwent a methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) and an EBPT for the evaluation of their asthma. IOS and spirometric parameters were collected at baseline and at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-EBPT.The participants were divided into 2 groups according to MBPT positivity: an airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) group and a no-AHR group., Results: There were differences in the percent decrease in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) between the 2 groups at 5, 10, and 20 minutes after exercise. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) increased in the AHR group but not in the no-AHR group at 5 and 10 minutes after exercise. Integration of reactance from 5 Hz to resonance frequency (area of reactance, AX) was also increased in the AHR group at only 5 and 10 minutes post-EBPT. Delta R5 and delta AX at 5 and 10 minutes post-exercise were well correlated with the percent decrease in FEV1., Conclusions: IOS parameters, especially delta R5 and delta AX, may be useful for performing objective evaluations and improving our understanding of exercise-induced airway obstruction in young asthmatics.

Adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) is caused by mutations in the NR0B1 gene on chromosome Xp21.3-p21.2. It manifests as X-linked primary adrenal failure in early infancy or childhood and as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHG) at puberty. Although studies of AHC patients and mutations in the NR0B1 gene have been reported throughout the world, there has previously been only one other case report from Korea. We encountered a 23-year old Korean male with delayed-onset AHC/HHG who had been previously diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency of unknown aetiology at age 13 years. Delayed puberty and incomplete HHG were observed. Direct sequencing of the NR0B1 gene revealed the patient to have a novel insertion mutation (c.959&#95;960insT; Leu321ProfsX68). Although AHC is believed to be rare, it should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients showing late-onset primary adrenal insufficiency.

Background/purpose: Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation affects the function and complexion of the skin by inducing changes in physical properties through formation of erythema, proliferation of epithelial cells, DNA damage, activation or inactivation of various enzymes and proteins, and free radical formation. In this study, the authors intended to observe the overall course of changes in barrier function and reflectance of the skin induced by photodamage, and healing reaction in the course of time, and alteration of the skin complexion., Methods: The subjects were chosen from 15 healthy Korean men 20-35 in age, that fall into the category of Fitzpatrick's skin types II, III, and IV without history of recent exposure to sunlight, photosensitivity, or having taken any drugs that induce phototoxicity or photoallergic reactions. The subjects were artificially exposed to suberythemogenic dose [0.5 minimal erythemal dose (MED), 0.75 MED], 1 MED and high dose (2.5 MED) by solar simulator, and changes in skin barrier function and skin reflectance were assessed with a Tewameter, a Corneometer, and a Colorimeter for 4 weeks., Results: Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increased abruptly at Day 1 of single solar UV (SSUV) exposure, and slowly returned to the original level from Day 2/Day 3. In the case of exposure with 0.75 MED, it returned to the original level at Day 4 of exposure, and at Days 7 and 28 in the cases of 1 MED and 2.5 MED exposure, respectively. Water-holding capacity sharply declined at Day 1 of exposure, hitting the lowest point at Day 2, and then slowly recovered starting on Day 3. In the case of exposure with 0.75 MED and 1 MED, it returned to the original level at Days 7 and 28 in the case of 2.5 MED exposure. The a(*) values abruptly increased and reached the peak at Day 1 and slowly returned to the original level at Day 2, while the b(*) values slowly increased at Day 3, peaking at Day 7 and slowly returning to the original level thereafter. The L(*) values abruptly declined at Day 1, maintaining plateau through Day 7 and slowly returning to the baseline level thereafter. The individual typology angle (ITA degrees ) were compatible with L(*) values change. The erythema index increased abruptly at Day 1 of SSUV exposure, peaking at Day 2 and slowly returned to the original level starting at Day 3. Melanin index slowly started to increase on Day 3 of SSUV exposure, peaking at Day 7 and gradually returned to the original level thereafter. However, L(*), a(*), b(*), erythema index, and melanin index did not return to the original level during the 28-day course of this study., Conclusion: This study shows that in the skin of Korean subjects, changes in skin barrier function and delayed melanization do occur even in exposure to a suberythemogenic dose of SSUV. Also, given the fact that restoration of barrier function occurs as the process of melanization begins, melanization is considered to be a useful predictive indicator of the restoration of the skin barrier function after sunburn.

Objective: Recently we have proposed a modified set of criteria to settle the questions raised regarding the International Study Group (ISG) criteria for Behçet's disease (BD). The aim of the present study was to validate the two pre-existing criteria sets commonly used in Korea, the ISG criteria and the criteria of the Behçet's Disease Research Committee of Japan (Japanese criteria), as well as the proposed modified criteria., Methods: The study population included 155 consecutive patients with BD and 170 controls with non-Behçet's rheumatic diseases. Detailed data for all of the subjects were recorded prospectively by the participating physicians on a standard form that listed the clinical features of BD. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each set of the criteria were measured., Results: Of the three criteria sets employed, the modified criteria were the most accurate, with an accuracy of 96.3%. The ISG criteria often failed to classify the following patients with BD: patients with only oral and genital ulcerations, certain patients with intestinal ulcerations, patients who did not manifest oral ulcerations, and patients with acute disease but fewer than three recurrent oral ulceration relapses in a 1-year period. The Japanese criteria also failed to categorize the following patients with BD: patients with oral and genital ulcerations, and patients with oral ulcerations, skin lesions, and a positive pathergy reaction. In addition, the Japanese criteria misclassified some of the control subjects with non-Behçet's uveitis as having BD., Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that there are some points that need to be reconsidered in the clinical application of the two pre-existing sets of criteria. Although the modified criteria were the most accurate, further validation studies will be required in other ethnic populations.

The prevalence of Behcet's disease is the highest in the East Asian and the Mediterranean countries. Behcet's disease is also distributed in the Asian countries, but the nationwide survey has not been performed in Korea yet. The Korean Study Group for Behcet's Disease, founded in 1999, conducted a multicenter, retrospective survey on epidemiologic and clinical features of the patients with Behcet's disease from 20 hospitals around the nation from 1997 to 1999. Of 3,497 patients, 1,527 were classified into complete or incomplete type of Behcet's disease according to the revised Shimizu's classification. The sex ratio was 1:1.75 with the female predominance. Geographical distribution showed the highest frequency in Seoul (38.5%). Clinically, 98.8% had oral ulcers, 83.2% had genital ulcers, 84.3% had skin lesions and 50.9% had ocular lesions. As for the minor clinical manifestations, articular symptoms were the most frequent. The pathergy test showed positive in 15.4% of patients and revealed a higher positive rate in males (20.2%) than in females (12.7%). In conclusion, we performed the first multicenter study on Behcet's disease in Korea and revealed the female predominance, higher frequency of ocular lesions, and lower positivity of pathergy test in the patients.

The inhibitory effect of methanol extract of Korean soybean paste on the mold growth and aflatoxin production of a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517 was studied using different concentrations of the extract in yeast-extract sucrose broth. While inhibition in mold growth due to increasing the concentration of the extract was observed, the more remarkable effect was the inhibition of aflatoxin production. Reduction of mycelial weight as a result of addition of the extract was observed to range between 1.5 to 12.9% while reduction of aflatoxin production quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography ranged from 14.3 to 41.7%. Five percent of the extract significantly reduced aflatoxin production at the end of the incubation period (P < 0.05), although the effect on mycelial growth was less pronounced. This study indicates that soybean paste could also be an effective inhibitor of aflatoxin production even though mycelial growth may be permitted. The main active component identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was linoleic acid.

DNA typing was performed on 379 randomly selected unrelated Koreans using the nine short tandem repeat loci FGA, VWA, D3S1358, D18S51, D21S11, D8S1179, D7S820, D13S317 and D5S818 present in the AmpF/STR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit. Allele frequencies, heterozygosity, power of discrimination, mean exclusion chance, and polymorphism information content of each locus were calculated by statistical analysis. All nine loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The combined discrimination index and the combined mean exclusion chance in Koreans was 2.31 x 10(-12) and 0.99983, respectively. By evaluation of 297 children from 128 families, 2 mutations were found at the FGA locus and 1 each at the D18S51 and D13S317 loci. This study demonstrates that this multiplex system is a useful and convenient tool for forensic identification and parentage testing in Korea.

The hypervariable short tandem repeat (STR) locus D12S391 was investigated in a Korean population and 34 fragments were sequenced to confirm the structure of alleles. From these sequenced fragments an allelic ladder containing 13 sequenced alleles was constructed. From 595 unrelated Koreans, 14 alleles were detected and one variant allele 19.3 was observed. The observed heterozygosity was 0.795 and no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in the Korean population (p = 0.606). The allele frequency distribution in the Korean population was not similar to other racial or ethnic groups except for Egyptians, Yemenis, Japanese and Caucasoids from the Rhine area. No mutations were observed in the 702 meioses from 144 Korean families. This study demonstrates that the STR locus D12S391 is a useful tool for forensic identification and parentage testing.

A total of 71 samples consisting of 36 mouldy and 35 visibly healthy corn were collected from Kangwon province of Korea and analysed for 8-ketotrichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEA), and fumonisins, including fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2), and fumonisin B3 (FB3). Five 8-ketotrichothecenes, namely deoxynivalenol (DON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and 4-acetylnivalenol (4-ANIV), ZEA, FB1, FB2, and FB3 were detected in corn samples. DON, 15-ADON, 3-ADON, NIV, 4-ANIV, ZEA, FB1, FB2, and FB3 were detected in mouldy corn with mean values of 4.0, 0.9, 0.2, 1.7, 0.4, 0.6, 23.2, 7.5, and 6.3 micrograms/g, respectively. Visibly healthy corn samples were contaminated with lower levels of 8-ketotrichothecenes, ZEA, and fumonisins than mouldy corn samples. However, 5 of 35 healthy corn samples analysed were contaminated with fumonisins at high levels up to 12.5 micrograms/g for FB1, 5.4 micrograms/g for FB2, and 0.5 microgram/g for FB3. This is the first report on the simultaneous occurrence of trichothecenes, ZEA, and fumonisins in corn from Korea.

Ninety-nine isolates of Fusarium species were obtained from rotted potato tubers from various parts of Korea. Of these isolates, 80 were identified as Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, or F. sambucinum. The isolates of these species were grown on autoclaved wheat grains and examined for toxicity in a rat-feeding test. A total of 8 of 57 F. oxysporum isolates, 3 of 14 F. solani isolates, and 5 of 9 F. sambucinum isolates caused the death of the rats. Of the 16 toxic isolates, 1 isolate of F. oxysporum produced a substantial amount of moniliformin, which could account for its toxicity. None of the other 15 isolates produced trichothecenes, moniliformin, fusarochromanone, fumonisin B1, or wortmannin. F. sambucinum PZF-4 produced an unknown toxin in wheat culture. This new toxin, given the trivial name sambutoxin, caused toxic effects in rats, including body weight loss, feed refusal, hemorrhage in the stomach and intestines, and, finally, death when rats were fed diets supplemented with 0.05 and 0.1% sambutoxin. The toxin was also toxic to chicken embryos, and the 50% lethal concentration was 29.6 micrograms per egg. Sambutoxin formed as white crystals that turned purple when combined with reagents such as sulfuric acid and p-anisaldehyde. It exhibited a green color immediately after treatment with potassium ferricyanide-ferric chloride. Its UV spectrum had absorption maxima at 213, 233, and 254 nm, and its infrared spectrum showed an amide group at 1,650 and 1,560 cm-1 and a hydroxy group at 3,185 cm-1. Mass spectrometry showed that the molecular weight of the toxin was 453 and the molecular formula was C28H39NO4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Barley is produced in four provinces, Chonbuk, Chonnam, Kyungbuk, and Kyungnam, and corn is mainly produced in the Kangwon province in Korea. The natural occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins was surveyed in 39 barley and 46 corn samples from different areas. Five 8-ketotrichothecenes, namely deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), 4-acetylnivalenol (4-ANIV), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), and 4,15-diacetylnivalenol (4,15-DANIV), and zearalenone (ZEA) were detected in barley. DON, NIV, and ZEA were the major contaminants in barley, with mean levels of 170, 1,011, and 287 ng/g, respectively. On the other hand, DON, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), NIV, 4-ANIV, 4,15-DANIV, and ZEA were detected in corn samples. DON and 15-ADON were the major contaminants in corn, with mean levels of 310 and 297 ng/g, respectively. The survey indicated that the natural occurrence of monoacetyl-DON and the ratios of NIV to DON in two cereals were different. In addition, this is the first report of the natural occurrence of 4,15-DANIV in cereals.

In order to isolate aflatoxin-producing strains from agricultural products in the Youngnam district of Korea, rice, barley, unhulled barley, corn, soybean, Meju (soybean paste), peanut, and soil samples were collected from markets or homes. From the 347 samples, 280 strains of Aspergillus spp. were isolated. As a result of screening by thin layer chromatography (TLC), 29 strains showed fluorescent spot and four strains had the same Rf values as those of standard aflatoxins. The percentage of contamination of aflatoxin-producing strains was 1.4%. The four strains were classified as the Aspergillus flavus group by the examination of characteristics and morphology.

Thirty three cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP) were reviewed to estimate the relative frequencies of the subtypes of HCMP and to clarify whether there is any racial difference in clinical and morphological features of HCMP. The diagnosis was made by echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography. Twenty four patients underwent coronary angiogram. Numbers of cases by the types of HCMP were 20 (61%) with asymmetrical septal hypertrophy (ASH), 11 (33%) with apical hypertrophy (APH) and 2 (6%) with midventricular hypertrophy (MVH). Mean ages of the patients with APH, ASH and MVH were 54, 46 and 31 years respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The giant negative T wave on electrocardiogram was seen in 4 patients (20%) of ASH and 5 patients (45%) of APH. On echocardiogram mean ratio of interventricular septal to left ventricular posterior wall thickness was 1.9 in ASH, 1.2 in APH and 1.6 in MVH, and the differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). All patients with APH showed "spade of ace" deformity in left ventriculography. Coronary angiograms were normal in all patients who had the procedure. Our study showed high frequency of APH of which characteristics were similar to those of the Japanese type APH.