Analysis of DNA fingerprints of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Isolates from Patients Registered at Health Center in Gyeonggi Province in 2004 / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: IS6110 DNA fingerprint is a very useful tool for investigating the transmission of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological situations within a given area (one province). METHODS: The 681 Mycbobacterium tuberculosis isolates from patients, who were registered at health centers in Gyeonggi Province from May to December in 2004, were subjected to IS6110 DNA fingerprinting. Patients belonging to clusters were interviewed by health-workers to determine their previous contacts or household TB history. RESULTS: The number of IS6110 copies of the 681 isolates showed diverse fingerprint patterns from 0 to 21 of which the most prevalent copy number was 10 from 120 isolates (17.6%). Thirty-three isolates (4.8%) belonged to the K strain, and 128 isolates (18.8%) belonged to the K family. There were 180 (26.4%) isolates belonged belonging to fifty clusters, of which two clusters were within household transmission. Forty-three (23.9%) out of 180 patients resided in an area under the same health center control. The rate of clusters in those aged 60-70 was higher than in any other age group ( 95% CI of RR : 1.072 ~ 1.988). CONCLUSION: This is the first report of an epidemiological survey based on a whole province using a DNA fingerprinting technique for M. tuberculosis. These results will be helpful in developing a program or policies to prevent the transmission of TB.

The Effect of SS-cream on the Isolated Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum / 대한비뇨기과학회지

SS-cream is a complex mixture containing 9 oriental herbs for treating the premature ejaculation, which is based on the traditional chinese royal herb remedy. Clinically SS-cream has been effective in the treatment of premature ejaculation and in some patients, potentiating effect of their erectile capacity was noted probably due to its combined activity of several vasoactive principles. Therefore, we investigated the pharmacological action of SS-cream in the isolated rabbit corporal smooth muscle. Strips of rabbit corpus cavernosum were isolated and mounted in 10ml organ chambers to measure isometric tension. Muscle strips treated with increasing concentrations of SS-cream(0.05mg/ml to 0.3mg/ml) showed initial rapid contraction followed by slow gradual relaxation. Muscle strips submaximally precontracted with phenylephrine(PHE:5x0.000001M) and treated with increasing concentrations of SS-cream(from 0.05mg/ml to 0.2mg/mI) showed also initial rapid contraction above the precontracted level and thereafter, relaxed to the basal level at the dose larger than 2mg/ml of SS-cream. Relaxations of muscle strips to SS-cream were not inhibited even partially by endothelial disruption or by pretreatment with pyrogallol or methylene blue. Pretreatment of muscle strips with SS-cream caused concentration dependent inhibition of PHE(5x0.000001M) induced contraction With these results we can conclude that SS-cream has dual action, initial rapid contractile effect which is mediated by adrenergic alpha receptor stimulation, and delayed nonspecific relaxing effect which is not mediated by EDRF or nitric oxide.

The Action Mechanism of Relaxation Effect of Atropine on the Isolated Rabbit Corpus Cavernosum / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Atropine is the classic antimuscarinic anticholinergic drug that bas been used to block cholinergic neurotransmission in basic research and received recent interest clinically in the intracavernous pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction. It has been suggested that at low dose(0.00000001M), atropine blocks muscarinic receptors, thereby reducing both cholinergic of the adrenergic and cholinergic excitation of the NANC neuroeffector systems, on the other hand, at large pharmacological dose(0.001M),induces the release of EDRF which recently has been identified as nitric oxide(NO) or NO like substance. Therefore, we tried to confirm the action of atropine in the cavernosal tissue and define its mechanism. Strip of rabbit corpus cavernosum were isolated and mounted in 10 ml organ chambers to measure isometric tension. Muscle strips submaximally precontracted with phenylephrine(5x0.000001M) and treated with increasing concentrations of atropine(0.00000000001M to 0.00lM) showed tension increase upto 0.00000001M of atropine, and thereafter, relaxed concentration dependently(0.0000001M: 43.7%, 0. 000001M: 63.0%,0.00001M:86.2%,0.0001M:93.6%,0.001M:100%). Relaxations to atropine(5x0.000001M) were not inhibited even partially by endothelial disruption or by pretreatment with methylene blue or pyrogallol. Pretreatment of muscle strips with atropine(5x0.00000lM) caused concentration- related inhibition of a phenylephrine induced contraction, and in calcium-free high potassium depolarizing solution, decreased basal tension as well as inhibited contraction induced by CaC12. However, atropine did not produce reduction of responses to depolarizing medium(20, 40, 80mM KCl). With these results we can confirm the relaxation effect of atropine at a larger dose(>0.0000001M)on the cavernosal smooth muscle and suggest that its action is mediated by increasing intracellular calcium sequestration,not by hyperpolarization or EDRF.