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Background/Aims Kidney transplantations at our center rely mainly on living donors. The purpose of this study was to suggest future donor supply directions by reviewing changing trends in donor type. Methods During the past 40 years, 1,690 kidney transplantations were performed at our center. We divided the follow-up period into four decades and the donor population into three groups: living related, living unrelated, and deceased. We analyzed changing trends in donors from each group for each decade. Patients receiving overseas transplantation were also included. Results The proportion of living related donors decreased from 84% (54/64) in the 1970s to 61% (281/458) in the 2000s. Living unrelated donors showed a sustained proportion of around 20% after 1990. However, among living unrelated donors, the proportion of spouse donors increased from 4.6% (17/369) in the 1980s to 8.5% (39/458) in the 2000s. Transplants from deceased donors were only 3.3% (12/369) in the 1980s. However the proportion of deceased donors increased gradually, reaching 13.2% (105/799) in the 1990s and 19.9% (91/458) after 2000. Overseas transplantations increased after 2000 and reached 20% of all cases treated in our center during the 2000s. Such transplantations peaked in 2006 and decreased markedly thereafter. Conclusions The proportion of each donor type has continuously changed, and the changes were associated with changes in the social structure and system. We expect that this study could be an important reference for other countries to estimate future changes of donor type.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Rhynchosia molubilis saponin on carbon tetrachloride ()-induced hepatotoxicity. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally administered the Rhynchosia molubilis saponin at 100 mg/kg every day for two weeks, then (3.3 ml/kg) was injected into rats. 12 hours later, they were anesthesized with ether and dissected. Rhynchosia molubilis saponin-administered group showed 59.92% and 62.28% of inhibitory effects on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities compared to -treated group (p-treated (RSC) group in liver homogenate and mitochondria were significantly inhibited to 61.83%, 81.11 %, respectively, compared to -treated group (p-treated group (p-treated group (p were dearly eliminated by the administration of Rhynchosia molubilis saponin. These results suggest that Rhynchosia molubilis saponin could have the protective effects against hepatotoxicity.

The gene for a L-aspartate (ADC) from Enterococcus faecalis was cloned and sequenced. The gene comprised an open reading frame of 1,611 base pairs, which encodes a protein of 58,960 Da consisting of 536 amino acid residues. The gene was subcloned into an expression plasmid for overexpression of the ADC. The recombinant ADC was produced using E. coli as the host and purified to homogeneity. Our result showed that the ADC may be obtained from bacteria known nucleotide sequence. Thus, we suggest that high value L-alanine might be produced by low value aspartate.

The aim of this study was to increase production of leucocin A, a kind of bacteriocin, in a transformed variety of S. cerevisiae. We investigated optical density, total secreted protein, protease activity, and antibacterial activity for the transformed S. cerevisiae in different carbon sources. The production of leucocin A growth-associated, and antibacterial activity, according to carbon source, was in the order of sucrose, glucose, glycerol, and fructose. Antibacterial activity was higher in the presence of sucrose than glucose. This is the first report regarding the effect of carbon sources on the production of leucocin A in transformed S. cerevisiae, as far as we ascertain. Our results could prove useful in the industrial production of natural preservatives.

In this study, the effect of Epimedii Herba (EH) on the antioxidative enzymatic activity was investigated. EH (100mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered into rats for 2 weeks. On the last day, carbon tetrachloride dissolved in olive oil was injected before 12 hours. EH-pread-ministered and (EC) group showed higher inhibitory effect in aminotransferase (AST, ALT) activity compared to group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase in EC group were increased compared to those of CT group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly higher than those of CT group compared to EC group. These results suggest that EH has a hepatoprotective effect through scavenging the free radicals induced by .

To figure out conserved genes in 66 microbial species and measuring the degree of conservation, analyses based on COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins) algorithm were applied. Sixty-six microbial genomes, including three eukaryotes, hold 63 conserved orthologs in common. The majority of the conserved genes was related to translation, meaning the importance of protein in living creatures. Ribosomal protein S12 (COG0048) and L14 (COG0093) were more conserved genes than others from the distance value analysis. Phylogenetically related microbes grouped in genome analysis by average and standard deviation of 63 conserved genes. The 63 conserved genes, found in this research, would be useful in basic research and applied ones such as antibiotic development.

The effect of pipe materials on biofilm communities were investigated by CLPP (community level physiology profile) using Biolog GN plates. Heterotrophic bacterial concentrations were and there was no differences between galvanized iron and carbon steel. Average optical density of Biolog plate was similar between two pipe materials. However, CLPP was different according to the type of pipe materials and exposed times to tap water, and CLPP was independent of bacterial concentration. This represents the differences of bacterial communities with pipes and water contact times.

The immunocytochemical method was used to identify the existence of voltage‐dependent Ca2+‐channels in mouse follicular oocytes. Three types of voltage‐dependent Ca2+‐channels were shown to exist in the follicular oocytes for the first time, the P/Q‐type Ca2+‐channel, the N‐type Ca2+‐channel, and the L‐type Ca2+‐channel. Among proven Ca2+ ‐channels, distributions of the P/Q‐type Ca2+‐channel and L‐type Ca2+ ‐channel showed localized staining (clustered pattern) on the oolemma. The distribution of the P/Q‐type Ca2+ ‐channel showed all localized staining, and the range of localized staining was from 1 to 8 in staining intensity. As the staining intensity increased from 1 to 8, the number of localized staining decreased. The L‐type Ca2+‐channel are homogeneously stained (29.4%‐54.2%), while some of them (around 28.7%‐44.1%) showed localized staining on the oolemma. However, the rest of them showed no staining at all (17.1%‐ 26.5%). On the contrary, the N‐type Ca2+‐channel showed mostly homogeneous staining, ...

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. Distant metastasis of gastrotintestinal stromal tumors occurs in ∼50% of the cases and is usually found in the liver and peritoneum. We present a patient with diplopia which was due to a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the clivus. Transsphenoidal resection of the tumor was performed and post-operative treatment with oral imatinib mesylate was done. One month after the surgery, treatment was started with imatinib and the patient's diplopia improved within 15 days. Follow-up computed tomography was taken 2 months after the initiation of oral imatinib, and the size of the main gastric mass has decreased. To our knowledge, this is an extremely rare case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with metastasis to the clivus with diplopia as the presenting symptom. We report our clinical findings along with a review of the relevant literature.

The present study was carried out to identify the existence of voltage-dependent Ca2+- channels (P/Q-, N-, and L-type) and their distributional differences in germinal vesicle (GV) and GV breakdown (GVBD)-arrested mouse oocytes which includes GVBD to telophase I of meiosis I and matured oocytes (MII, metaphase of meiosis II) by using the immunocytochemical method and a confocal laser scanning microscope. (1) Comparison between follicular oocytes (GV) and GV-arrested oocytes after 17 hr of in vitro culture. In follicular oocytes, P/Q-, N-, L (anti-alpha(1C) anti-alpha(1D)) type Ca2+-channels showed both localized and uniform staining. In contrast, GV-arrested oocytes, after in vitro culture for 17 hr, showed no presence of Ca2+-channels in most oocytes. (2) Comparison between GVBD oocytes after culture in vitro for 3 hr and GVBD-arrested oocytes after culture in vitro for 17 hr. In GVBD oocytes, P/Q-, N-, L (anti-(1C), anti-alpha(1D))type Ca2+-channels showed both localized and uniform staining. In contrast, in GVBD-arrested oocytes, none of the three types of Ca2+-channels were identified in 72-86% of oocytes. The present study demonstrates that in most GVBD-arrested oocytes that do not mature to MII, there is no Ca2+-channel identified. Therefore, most of the GVBD-arrested oocytes seem to have defects in Ca2+-channel expression/translation. Also, distributional changes of Ca2+- channels take place depending on the maturation progress in GV oocytes and MII stage oocytes (ovulated and 17 hr cultured MII stage oocytes). In addition, we found evidence that a functional voltage-dependent Ca2+-channel (L-type) exists in mouse oocytes (ovulated and cultured MII staged oocytes by a confocal laser scanning microscope). (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Inverted hyperplastic polyps (IHPs) of the colon are unusual variant of exophytic hyperplastic polyps that are characterized by epithelial displacement or inversion of the epithelium into the submucosa.1 To date, only a few cases of IHPs associated with adenoma or adenocarcinoma have been reported.2-4 However, due to the rarity of these polyps, their malignant potential is poorly understood. A 56-year-old man was referred to Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital due to a positive fecal occult-blood test during a routine health check-up. The patient had a medical history of surgery for intestinal perforation and hypertension. On admission, physical examination revealed no abnormal findings and all laboratory examination were within normal range. We performed colonoscopy for further evaluation. The colonoscopy showed a subpedunculated polyp with a large dimple, 20 mm in diameter, in the sigmoid colon (Fig. 1). An endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) using the inject and cut technique was performed and the polyp was resected en bloc. The pathology examination showed an intramucosal cancer in an IHP (Fig. 2). The intramucosal cancer consisted mainly of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (Fig. 2). Abdominal computed tomography showed no discernible malignant lesion. Follow-up colonoscopy revealed no remarkable findings 1 year after EMR. Fig. 1 Colonoscopy shows a subpeduculated polyp with a large dimple located in the sigmoid colon. Fig. 2 Microscopic image of the resected specimen showing an inverted hyperplastic polyp associated with intramucosal cancer, as indicated by the arrowhead in the low-magnified image (H&E stain, ×100). The intramucosal cancer consisted mainly ... IHPs of the colon were initially described by Sobin5 in 1985. They represent an unusual morphological variant of hyperplastic polyps that shows epithelial displacement into the submucosa.5 IHPs of the colon are most commonly sessile lesions and are predominantly located in the left colon.1 Although the pathogenesis and natural history remain unknown, IHPs are thought to result from local trauma.1 The characteristic endoscopic features of IHPs include sessile or superficial elevated lesions with a pitted surface or central depression.6-8 Because distinctive surface pattern of IHPs is similar to that of invasive carcinoma or depressed type adenoma, IHPs are difficult to diagnose endoscopically.2,6 Observation of the pit pattern using magnifying colonoscope may be useful to precisely diagnose IHPs because it has the same surface and cellular features as ordinary hyperplastic polyps.6 The current case showed atypical endoscopic findings with large depressed portion. In addition, the histology showed the presence of well-differentiated carcinoma in the depressed portion. To date, only a small number of cases associated with adenomas or adenocarcinoma have been described. Among them, three cases with an IHP were associated with adenomas,3 and one case with invasive cancer.4 For several years, hyperplastic polyps have been considered as non-neoplastic lesions without malignant potential. However, some hyperplastic polyps show molecular features similar to those of colorectal carcinomas. Several subtypes of serrated polyps, such as sessile serrated adenoma (traditional serrated adenoma), and mixed polyp, have been proposed to be the precursors of colorectal carcinomas.9 However, due to the rarity of IHPs, their malignant potential is poorly understood. IHPs of the colon are usually asymptomatic and are often detected incidentally on endoscopy.3 In some cases, the main clinical feature of IHPs of the colon is gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal pain.2 Usually, an endoscopic biopsy is not sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis of an IHP of the colon. The final diagnosis of an IHP of the colon depends on the pathological examinations of EMR and endoscopic polypectomy specimens.8 Treatment for IHPs continues to be debated. Since IHPs have benign cellular characteristics of exophytic hyperplastic polyps, overtreatment should be avoided. However, endoscopic treatment is necessary in cases with associated adenomatous findings, due to their malignant potential.4 In the present case, endoscopic treatment was appropriate for the large hyperplastic polyp. In conclusion, we reported a rare case of early colon cancer developing in an IHP of the sigmoid colon treated with EMR. Further studies are needed to clarify the malignant potential of IHPs.

Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration are required for the activation of mammalian oocytes. They are caused mainly by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via InsP 3 receptors (InsP 3R). Several studies have reported that acetylcholine (ACh) is capable of triggering early activation events in mouse oocytes over-expressed with the m1 muscarinic ACh receptor (m1AChR). Here we examined which subtypes of the mAChR (m1 to m4) are involved in the generation of Ca2+ oscillations in native mouse oocytes. ACh (10 μM) elicited regular Ca2+ oscillations similar to those induced by sperm in their temporal characteristics. The Ca2+ oscillations were abolished by application with atropine, the mAChR inhibitor. Within 1 min after treatment of ACh, intracellular Fluo-3 fluorescence intensity increased from 794±119 to 2023±755 (increase to 250% of original value), indicating a strong rise of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. 4-DAMP mustard and Tropicamide, specific antagonists of m3AChR and m4AChR, completely abolished ACh-induced Ca2+ oscillations. In the ovulated oocytes, the expression of m3/m4 AChR was clearly detected by RT-PCR analysis. Furthermore, ACh-induced Ca2+ oscillations were also abolished or decreased by PLC inhibitors (U73122 or D609) and an InsP 3-receptor antagonist (xestospongin C), confirming that ACh generates Ca2+ oscillations via the PLC-InsP 3 (PI) pathway. These results strongly suggest that m3/m4AChR is coupled to the generation of Ca2+ oscillations mainly via the PI pathway in mouse oocytes.

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) on the expression of mRNA for matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in mouse blastocysts and the effect on the production and activation of MMP-2 and MMP- 9 during blastocyst outgrowth.Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured for 96 h in the presence or absence of various concentrations of TGF-alpha. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of mRNA for MMP-2, MMP-9, and EGFR in in vitro cultured blastocysts. To investigate the effect on the production and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 during blastocyst outgrowth, the conditioned medium collected after 3 and 5 days of embryo culture were assayed for MMP activity by gelatin zymography.The relative mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in blastocysts treated with TGF-alpha were higher than that of the control in a concentration-dependent manner. The relative mRNA level of EGFR in blastocysts treated with TGF-alpha was higher than that of the control. In conditioned medium collected after 3 days of embryo culture, TGF-alpha induced the gelatinase activities of proMMP-9 in all groups and activated MMP-2 in the 10 and 100 ng/mL TGF-alpha treated groups. In conditioned medium collected after 5 days, TGF-alpha induced the gelatinase activities of proMMP-9 in all groups and activated MMP-9 in the TGF-alpha treated group. TGF-alpha also induced the gelatinase activities of activated MMP-2 in the 1 and 10 ng/mL TGF-alpha treated groups and the control.These results suggest that the addition of TGF-alpha to in vitro culture medium is proper to create a favorable environment for preimplantation embryo development and implantation.