The Study of Glutathione S-Trasferase M1 and T1 Genetic Polymorphism in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress possiby contributes to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) can work as one of endogenous antioxidants to protect cells from oxidative stress. The activity of GSTM1 or GSTT1 are determined genetically. The homologous deletion of the gene (null genotype) which reduced the GSTM1/T1 activity, may be associated with diabetic nephropathy development in diabetic patients. METHODS: We examined 94 patients with diabetic nephropathy and 102 patients without diabetic nephropathy in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. We used multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze polymorphisms of two endogenous antioxidant genes, GSTM1 and GSTT1. RESULTS: The two patients groups were well matched with regard to age, body mass index, duration of diabetes and HbA1c. GSTM1 null genotype was observed in 50% of patients with nephropathy versus 51% of patients without nephropathy. GSTT1 null genotype was observed in 48.9% of patients with nephropathy versus 51% of patients without nephropathy. No association between homozygous deletion of GSTM1 or GSTT1 and development of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to investigate the association of GSTM1/TT1 gene polymorphism which development of diabetic nephropathy in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. The present result suggest that GSTM1/TT1 null genotype does not contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy in Korean type 2 diabetic patients.

Two cases of isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis complicating ventricular septal defect / 대한내과학회지

Isolated infective endocarditis in the native pulmonary valve is an unusual clinical entity in non-intravenous drug users. Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, catheter related infections and congenital heart diseases account for the majority of predisposing factors. We report two cases of isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis complicating ventricular septal defect (VSD). A 43 year-old male was admitted because of mild fever, pansystolic murmur on the left lower sternal border. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large perimembranous ventricular septal defect and vegetations at the pulmonary valve. After the intravenous use of penicillin and gentamicin, patch closure of VSD with resection of vegetations, resection of anomalous muscle bundles on the right ventricle outlet tract and pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed. A 43 year-old female was admitted with spiking fever, dyspnea. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a small perimenbranous ventricular septal defect with pulmonary valve vegetations. Intravenous penicillin and gentamicin were continued for 4 weeks and she is doing well.