STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to study the effects of various surface treatments to a titanium surface on the expression of Runx2 in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human Osteosarcoma TE-85 cells were cultured on machined, sandblasted, or anodic oxidized cpTi discs. At various times of incubation, the cells were collected and then processed for the analysis of mRNA expression of Runx2 using reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: The expression pattern of Runx2 mRNA was differed according to the types of surface treatment. When the cells were cultured on the untreated control culture plates, the gene expression of Runx2 was not increased during the experiments. In the case of that the cells were cultured on the machined cpTI discs, the expression level was intermediate at the first day, but increased constitutively to day 5. In cells on sandblasted cpTi discs, the expression level was highest in the first day sample and the level was maintained to 5 days. In cells on anodized cpTi discs, the expression level increased rapidly to 3 days, but decreased slightly in the 5-th day sample. CONCLUSION: Different surface treatments may contribute to the regulation of osteoblast function by influencing the level of gene expression of key osteogenic factors.
Durapatite ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; RNA, Messenger ; Titanium

BACKGROUND: The popular demand for cosmetic surgery is increasing explosively, but little is known about how perceptions of cosmetic surgery among women are related to demographics or psychological factors. A survey was conducted to compare changes in perception about cosmetic surgery among professional women in 2010 and 2014. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was performed at a general hospital by female nurses in 2010 and 2014. Participants included 350 women in 2010 and 470 women in 2014; 323 individuals in 2010 and 449 individuals in 2014 completed the survey (overall response rates of 92.3% and 95.5%, respectively). Participants identified their demographic data, which included age, educational level, marital status, monthly income, and previous experience with cosmetic surgery. The survey included standardized measures for appearance interest, body image satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceptions toward cosmetic surgery (delineated in terms of actual considerations). RESULTS: Compared to 2010, actual considerations for cosmetic surgery were higher in 2014, specifically for women in their 20s, a monthly income between 2 to 3 million won, and those with high scores of self-esteem, appearance interest, and body image satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, in order for professional women to undergo appropriate cosmetic surgery and be satisfied with the results, it is necessary to obtain a deeper understanding about the factors that influence the perceptions of cosmetic surgery.
Body Image ; Data Collection ; Demography ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Psychology ; Surgery, Plastic*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Early colorectal cancer is defined as carcinoma with invasion to mucosa or submucosa irrespective of involvement of lymph node. Gross morphology is divided into elevated and depressed type according to growth pattern. Until now, carcinomas with elevated type have been found more frequently than depressed type in Korea. It is necessary to classify the macroscopy of morphology and evaluate histo-pathologic findings of early colorectal cancers. METHODS: 33 patients (35 foci) with early colorectal cancers were analyzed, macroscopically and pathologically. Early colorectal carcinoma with mucosal invasion is 25 cases, and with submucosal invasion, 10. RESULTS: Macroscopic classification: Ip 12, Isp 6, Is 9, IIa 1, IIa IIc 4, Isp IIc 1, LST 2. Among them, Ip (34%) is most. Among cancers with mucosal invasion, Ip (36%) is common, and with submucosal invasion, Is (40%) is common. Most of early colorectal cancers with elevated type were accompanied with surrounding adenoma. It's ratio is 100% in early colorectal cancer with mucosal invasion, and 50% with submucosal invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Pedunculated type (Ip) is common in early colorectal cancer with elevated type. Surrounding adenoma was usually (85%) accompanied with those. It is suggested that early colorectal cancer with elevated type would be originated from adenoma.
Adenoma ; Classification* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Mucous Membrane

OBJECTIVE: Pullulan derivatives (PD) can be used to make self-assembled hydrogel nanoparticles which are responsive to ionic strength. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of PD as a retaining carrier of radioisotope inside tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four types of PD were evaluated which included pullulan acetate (PA), succinylated PA (SPA), PA-DTPA and SPA-DTPA conjugates. They were radiolabeled with Tc-99m. Labelling efficiencies were determined at 30 min, 1, 2, 4 and 12 hours after radiolabeling. CT-26 colon cancer cells were subcutaneously injected into Balb/c mice. After 2 weeks of subcutaneous injection, Tc-99m-labelled PD (Tc-99m-PD) were injected into the tumors. Whole body images of mice were obtained at 30 min, 1, 2, and 12 hr after intratumoral injection. All twenty mice were grouped into four groups by largest diameter; control A (largest diameter = 5 mm, n = 5), control B (largest diameter = 10 mm, n = 5), pullulan A (largest diameter = 5 mm, n = 5), pllulan B (largest diameter = 10 mm, n = 5). Dynamic images were obtained for 1 hour after intratumoral injection. Static images were obtained at 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr and 4 hr after intratumoral injection with Tc-99m pertechnetate and Tc-99m-PA. Target-to-background ratios and retention rates were calculated. RESULTS: Labeling efficiencies of PA, SPA, PA-DTPA and SPA-DTPA were 94.5 +/- 5.9%, 97.8 +/- 3.5% 94.2 +/- 3.8%, and 92.5 +/- 6.2%, respectively (p> 0.05). Percent retention rates (%RR) of PA and PA-DTPA were significantly higher than those of control, however, those of SP-DTPA and SPA became similar to control at 4 and 12 hr, respectively. %RR of pullulan A and pullulan B at 1, 4 and 8 hr is significantly higher than that of control (p < 0.05). However, %RR between pullulan A and pullulan B were similar. CONCLUSION: The ionic strength dependent PD-nanoparticles are retained in the tumor. No difference of %RR according to tumor size was noted. Therapeutic application of PD labelled with beta- or alpha- emitting radionuclides can be expected.
Animals ; Body Image ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Hydrogel ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mice* ; Nanoparticles ; Osmolar Concentration ; Radioisotopes ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colchicine is an established drug for microtubule stabilization that may reduce tissue injury. No data were available that its effects may depend on the dosage of colchicine. We investigated the anti-fibrotic and apoptotic effects of various dose of colchicine in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. METHODS: Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Two sham groups were divided into a vehicle-treated or colchicine-treated group (100 μg/kg/day). Four UUO groups were treated with either vehicle or three different doses of colchicine for 7 days (30, 60, and 100 μg/kg/day, intraperitoneally). All of the animals were sacrificed on day 7. RESULTS: Colchicine treatment diminished acetylated α-tubulin and tumor growth factor-β immunoreactivities in the cortical area of the 7-day obstructed kidneys, which was in dose dependent manner. Colchicine attenuated tubulointerstitial damage and apoptosis in both cortical and medullary area, and beneficial effects of colchicine therapy were dramatically shown at the higher dosage of colchicine. The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, ED-1, and fibronectin were decreased in UUO animals. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the proper dosage of colchicine may have anti-fibrotic and anti-apoptotic effects in obstructed kidneys. For clinical applications, an optimal dose of colchicine should be evaluated to maximize the prevention of renal disease progression.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3 ; Colchicine* ; Disease Progression ; Fibronectins ; Fibrosis* ; Kidney* ; Microtubules ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ureteral Obstruction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its major symptoms include pulmonary complications, such as pneumonia. However, it also involves the cardiovascular system and the developed myocarditis can lead to sudden unexpected death. Herein, we present a case in which a patient died four days after release from isolation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed again during postmortem (PM) inspection at the scene of death. Autopsy revealed myocarditis and evidence of pulmonary involvement with SARS-CoV-2. Pathological examination revealed myocardial perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages with multifocally injured cardiomyocytes. The pathological findings of COVID-19–induced myocarditis differ from those of other viral myocarditis, and we assume that different pathophysiological mechanisms could have been responsible for this manifestation. After a comprehensive PM examination, including gross dissection, microscopic examination, PM computed tomography, and PM laboratory tests, the cause and manner of death were determined to be myocarditis caused by COVID-19 and naturally, respectively. This case highlights the significance of autopsy and comprehensive PM examinations in both forensic and public healthcare systems.

A malignancy is a fatal condition that could occur through various mechanisms. Forensic pathologists sometimes find unexpected findings during autopsy and post-mortem (PM) tests. Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The deceased was a 64-year-old man with a medical history of right hemicolectomy due to colon cancer approximately two years earlier. He was found dead at his home. He was admitted to the hospital due to subdural hemorrhage (SDH) two days prior to his demise and was discharged without the permission of the doctor after one day of hospitalization. An autopsy was performed within two days of his death. After gross dissection, the cause and manner of death were assumed to be SDH and unnatural death, respectively. Microscopic examination revealed fresh SDH and dural metastasis of signet-ring cell carcinoma. Furthermore, metastasis was identified in the heart, stomach, and peritoneum. Immunohistochemical examination revealed cancer cells to originate from the colon. After meticulous PM examination, including gross dissection, microscopic examination, PM computed tomography, and PM laboratory tests, the cause and manner of death were determined as SDH and natural death, respectively. This case report highlights the importance of comprehensive PM evaluation for investigating death.

OBJECTIVES: When a patient who attempts suicide visits the emergency room, it is important that the departments of emergency medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry communicate with each other and prioritize treatment. This study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary emergency consultation system (ECS) for drug intoxicated patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from medical records prior to the ECS, from July 2017 to May 2018, and after the ECS, from July 2018 to May 2019, to verify the effectiveness of the system. RESULTS: After the ECS, admission to open wards was significantly higher than to the intensive care units (χ²=8.567, p=0.014). In addition, the proportion of consultations to the department of psychiatry among patients admitted to other departments tended to increase (χ²=4.202, p=0.053), and the time required for consultation response decreased (Z=−2.031, p=0.042). As a result of the consultation, the proportion of the patients who had been transferred to the department of psychiatry was increased (χ²=4.692, p=0.043), and the time spent to transfer tended to decrease (Z=−1.941, p=0.052). CONCLUSIONS After implementing the ECS for drug intoxicated patients, unnecessary intensive care unit admissions, consultation response time, and the time spent to transfer were reduced, and the rate of consultation referrals and transfer rates increased. This means that the multidisciplinary consultation system rapidly provided essential medical services to patients at lower medical costs.

OBJECTIVE: We tried to evaluate the driving ability of stroke patients using Cognitive Behavioral Driver's Inventory (CBDI), Psychological Software Service, U.S.A. to find out whether it is helpful in predicting the outcome of driving rehabilitation. METHOD: Subjects were 18 stroke patients who had driven a car before the stroke. Each patient was evaluated with CBDI and got a driving test. We compared driving test results with CBDI scores. RESULTS: Average CBDI score was 63.0 +/- 19.3. There was no significant difference according to lesion sides or types of stroke. Average score of driving test was 85.3 +/- 10.9. Twelve of 18 subjects passed the driving test and six subjects failed. Average score among right hemiplegics was significantly higher than that of left hemiplegics (p<0.05). Average CBDI score of the subjects who passed the driving test was 52.3 +/- 4.7, while that of the failed subjects was 84.7 +/- 19.6. There was significant difference in CBDI score between 2 groups (p<0.05). Among the 28 items of CBDI, 11 items including brake reaction time, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Picture Completion showed significant correlation with the total score of the driving test (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CBDI can be used as a useful tool for predicting driving ability of stroke patients.
Adult ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Reaction Time ; Rehabilitation ; Stroke*