Search

Aims: To investigate any association between Type 2 diabetes mellitus and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene, T45G and G276T, in the Korean population., Methods: We genotyped 427 non-diabetic controls and 493 Type 2 diabetic patients for SNPs T45G and G276T of adiponectin gene, measured plasma adiponectin concentrations, and examined clinical parameters in Koreans., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in allele frequencies of SNPs 45 and 276 comparing control with Type 2 diabetic subjects (T frequency 68.3% vs. 71.6%, P=0.13 for SNP45, G frequency 72.2% vs. 68.9%, P=0.12 for SNP276). The genotype distributions of these SNPs had no association with the risk of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic parameters of insulin resistance. Plasma levels of adiponectin were not statistically different according to T45G and G276T either, in both control and Type 2 diabetic subjects., Conclusion: The T45G and G276T of the adiponectin gene may not be an important determinant of Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance in Korean subjects.

A total of 492 cattle sera was screened by IgG-ELISA against Neospora caninum (Nc-1 strain and a Korean isolate, KBA-2) and Toxoplasma gondii. Out of 492, 113 sera (23.0%) reacted positively to either Nc-1 or KBA-2 strains of N. caninum. Among the 113 positive sera, 92 sera (81.4%) reacted with antigens of both strains, but 6 sera (5.3%) with Nc-1 and 15 sera (13.3%) with KBA-2 strain only. And with T. gondii antigen, 6 sera (1.2%) were positive but all reacted with N. caninum antigen also. Western blot revealed typical binding pattern according to ELISA values, such that high OD group reacted specifically to the major surface proteins including 43 kDa protein. Seroprevalence of 23.0% indicates that neosporosis seemed to be one of major causes of abortion in cattle. It is suggested here to establish more epidemiological researches nationwide systematically.

This study was performed to evaluate the epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis among the residents of Cheju island. The sera of local students from 18 high schools (boys 2110, girls 2460) and those of adults (474 admitted to Cheju Chungang General Hospital) were collected and checked for the IgG antibody titers against Toxoplasma gondii. Serum samples collected from both the students and adults showed sero-positive rate of 5.5% and 12.9%, respectively. Although the rates were not significantly different between the sexes (5.4% for the boys and 5.5% for the girls attending school), the geographical difference showed a significant difference between the urban (4.6-6.9%) and rural areas (5.6-8.8%) (p < 0.05). Based on the high positive rates, it should be necessary to control toxoplasmosis in Cheju island.

On July and August 1997, two 15-year-old mates of a football team of Tongjin Middle School in northern Kyonggi-do, Korea were consecutively diagnosed as vivax malaria by peripheral blood smear. They had no histories of travelling abroad or drug abuse. They witnessed that other mates in the team were ill of fever in the same period. A small survey was therefore undertaken to determine whether vivax malaria was outbroken locally. A total of 57 students of the team living together in a dormitory was examined for history of fever, presence of splenomegaly, blood smear and anti-P. vivax antibody test by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Except for the above two patients, only one case revealed a marginal titer of IFAT. No other positive findings of vivax malaria were found. In the results of this local survey, no more cases of vivax malaria were revealed except the two sporadic cases.