OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of coculture with human oviductal cells regarding the development of 1-cell stage ICR mouse embryos and to investigate the effects of duration and start time of coculture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ICR mice were superovulated with PMSG/hCG and 1-cell stage mouse embryos were recruited. 1-cell mouse embryos were cocultured on human oviductal cells in a CO2 incubator(coculture group) and were cultured on 0.4 % BSA+HTF media(control group)(Experiment 1). 1-cell mouse embryos were cocultured on human oviductal cells for 36, 44, 52, 60 hours after hCG IP respectively, and then were transferred to 0.4 % BSA+HTF media(Experiment 2). In comparison, 1-cell mouse embryos were cultured by using 0.4 % BSA+HTF media, and then were transferred to human oviductal cell coculture system using the same schedule(Experiment 3). Afterward, they were examined regarding the development to 2-cell, 4~8 cell stage mouse embryos, morulas and blastocysts. RESULTS: In experiment 1, the developmental rates to 2-cell embryos of coculture group and control group were 97.3 % and 98.7 %, respectively. After 2-cell embryos, coculture group showed significantly higher developmental rate than control group (p<0.05). In experiment 2, the developmental rates after 2-cell embryos showed the significant differences. The groups with coculture effects removed before post-hCG 60 hours showed significantly lower developmental rates (p<0.05). In experiment 3, the developmental rates after 2-cell embryos were higher when the coculture started at an earlier stage. Furthermore, the groups which were cocultured from post-hCG 52 hours exhibited significant lower developmental rate than the groups which were cocultured continuously (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The coculture with human oviductal cell could improve the development of the embryos in vitro and might mimic the natural physiological condition better than media environment. The degree of improvement was more pronounced when the coculture started at an earlier stage and the duration of coculture was longer. More importantly, the changes of culture condition at post-hCG 52 hours in which secondary mitosis occurs, have significant detrimental effects on growth and development of mouse embryos.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Growth and Development ; Humans* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Mitosis ; Morula ; Oviducts*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the affecting factors of adjacent level ossification development (ALOD) after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 75 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and were followed-up for more than two years. Twenty-five patients were related with trauma and 47 patients were diagnosed as degenerative cervical disorder. We assessed the incidence, location and timing of ALOD, and compared the incidence of ossification between trauma and degenerative disease groups to know the effect of soft tissue damage. We also reviewed the correlation between the development of ossification at adjacent level and the factors, such as fusion level, age, operation time, duration of follow-up, and the presence of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), as well as ossification of yellow ligament (OYL). RESULTS: Ossification developed in 33 patients (44%). Five cases (15%) were detected during the first year after surgery, 10 (30%) cases detected during the second year after surgery, 13 (40%) between second and third year, and 5 (15%) cases of more than three years after surgery. Only the fusion level was related with the development of ossification statistically (p<0.001). Age, operation time, duration of follow-up, sex ratio, presence of OPLL, and OYL were not related with the incidence of ossification significantly. There was no significant difference in the incidence of ALOD between the trauma group and degenerative disease group (p=0.3625). CONCLUSION: To detect ALOD, it needs a long time for follow-up after surgery. We thought that ALOD is affected by excessive loading at the adjacent level after fusion rather than severity of the soft tissue damage.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ligaments ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; Sex Ratio

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective clinical study. OBJECTIVES: To know how the associated foot or ankle fracture influences the fracture pattern in the thoracolumbar burst fractures caused by falls from height. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There were few studies on how the foot or ankle fracture influences the thoracolumbar fracture caused by falls from height. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 46 subjects, who underwent surgery due to burst fracture of the thoracic or lumbar region, caused by fall accidents, from May 2004 to October 2008. Among them, we defined 19 cases that had associated foot or ankle fractures as group A, and the other 27 cases as group B. We analyzed the differences of radiological and clinical findings, and functional outcomes between the two groups. RESULTS: The falling heights were higher in group A than in group B (P<0.01). Thoracolumbar junction (T11-L2) was the most common location involved in both groups, but group A had more fractures on the lower lumbar region (L3-5), relatively (p=0.03). Kyphotic deformity was more severe in group B (p=0.01) but there were no significant differences in the wedge angle, amount of canal compromise, compression rate of anterior column between both groups (p=0.08, 0.46, 0.76). More segments were fused in group B (P=0.04). Neurologic deficit was more common in group B (p=0.03), but there were many complications related with foot or ankle fractures in group A (38%).There was no significant difference in the final clinical outcome between both groups (Pain scale p= 0.48, Work scale p=1.00). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who had burst fractures in the thoracic or lumbar region associated with foot or ankle fractures, there was a tendency to increase the incidence of lower lumbar fracture, relatively. The neurologic deficits were less common in this group of patients, but there was no difference in the functional outcome.
Animals ; Ankle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Foot ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lumbosacral Region ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine characteristics of host, causative organisms, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria in pediatric patients with UTI living in metropolitan area of Korea. METHODS: Retrospective investigation was done for the causative organisms of UTI in 683 pediatric cases treated at Ajou University Hospital from 2012 to 2017. Patients were classified into Escherichia coli and non-E.coli group, where E.coli group was subdivided into ESBL(+) and ESBL(−) groups based on whether the bacteria could produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). Antibiotic susceptibility of the causative organism was also determined. RESULTS: A total of 683 UTIs occurred in 550 patients, of which 463 (67.8%) were first-time infection and 87 (32.2%) were recurrent ones (2–7 recurrences, 2.52 average), and 64.9% were male and 35.1% were female. The most common causative organism was E.coli (77.2%) and ESBL(+) E.coli was found in 126 cases. The susceptibility of E.coli to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin was relatively higher than that to ampicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. ESBL(+) E.coli showed higher resistance rate to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin than ESBL(−) E.coli . CONCLUSION: New treatment guideline should be considered due to the incidence of ESBL(+) E.coli increased up to one quarter of UTI cases.
Ampicillin ; Bacteria ; beta-Lactamases ; Child ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urinary Tract

Streptococcus salivarius meningitis is very uncommon, and most cases are iatrogenic, occurring after invasive procedures such as spinal anesthesia or lumbar puncture etc.. Post-traumatic occurrence of this infection is especially rare. A 20-year-old man with a previous history of skull base fracture was seen at the emergency department with signs of acute bacterial meningitis. The CSF had a few gram positive cocci with neutrophilic pleocytosis, which were identified as S. salivarius by the Vitek system (bioMerioux, Inc., Hazelwood, MO, USA), rapid ID 32 Strep (bioMerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) and 16S rRNA sequencing. The microorganism showed intermediate resistance to penicillin (MIC=0.25 microg/mL) but was susceptible to cefotaxime (MIC=0.25 microg/mL) and vancomycin (MIC= 0.75 microg/mL). The patient was treated with ceftriaxone and vancomycin. He also had his CSF leakage repaired by an endoscopic approach. To our knowledge, this is the first case of S. salivarius meningitis reported in Korea.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftriaxone ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; Emergencies ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocytosis ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Neutrophils ; Penicillins ; Skull ; Skull Base ; Skull Fractures ; Spinal Puncture ; Streptococcus ; Vancomycin ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To compare the CT findings of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) immediately after radiofrequency (RF) ablation with those obtained at six months' follow-up, to analyse the relationship between degree of shrinkage of a necrotic lesion and marginal recurrence, and to evaluate the factors influencing shrinkage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 54 patients with 62 HCCs who underwent only RF ablation between May 1999 and July 2000. For six months after ablation, all had been free from marginal recurrence ad new-growth tumors. The findings of six-month follow-up CT were compared with those obtained immediately after RF ablation, and the volume of each necrotic lesion was calculated and compared. In terms of degree of shrinkage, tumors were classified as belonging to either group I (below 50%), group II (50-80%) or group III (above 80%). Each tumor was analysed in terms of its Child-Pugh classification, vascularity at CT, size, treatment details, the post-ablation appearance of its margins, and the presence, during necrosis, of peritumoral vessles and air bubbles. For statistical evaluation, Fisher's exact test was used. Shrinkage after ablationwas correlated to marginal recurrence during a period of more than one year. RESULTS: The Follow-up CT at six months showed that since immediately after ablation, necrotic lesions had shrunk by an average of 72%. Peritumoral vessels were seen in 12 of 14 cases in group I (86%), three of 13 in cases of group II (23%), and 11 of 35 in group III (31%)(p=0.001). Immediate CT revealed the presence of air bubbles in two cases in group I (14%), five in group II (38%), and 24 in group III (69%)(p<0.05). At follow-up CT performed during a period of more than one year, marginal recurrence was noted in four cases in group I, two in group II and two in group III (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: When a necrotic lesion contains no peritumoral vessels but does contain air bubbles, the degree of post-RFablation shrinkage increases. The greater the shrinkage, the less the marginal recurrence rate.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies

Recently, it has been reported that curcumin, which is known as a potent antioxidant, acts as a non-stressful and non-cytotoxic inducer of the cytoprotective heme oxygenase (HO)-1. In this study, naturally occurring curcuminoids, such as pure curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bis-demethoxycurcumin (BDMC), were compared for their potential ability to modulate HO-1 expression and cytoprotective activity in human endothelial cells. All three curcuminoids could induce HO-1 expression and HO activity with differential levels. The rank order of HO activity was curcumin, DMC and BDMC. In comparison with endothelial protection against H2O2-induced cellular injury, cytoprotective capacity was found to be highest with curcumin, followed by DMC and BDMC. Interestingly, cytoprotective effects afforded by curcuminoids were considerably associated with their abilities to enhance HO activity. Considering that the main difference among the three curcuminoids is the number of methoxy groups (none for BDMC, one for DMC, and two for curcumin), the presence of methoxy groups in the ortho position on the aromatic ring was suggested to be essential to enhance HO-1 expression and cytoprotection in human endothelial cells. Our results may be useful in designing more efficacious HO-1 inducers which could be considered as promising pharmacological agents in the development of therapeutic approaches for the prevention or treatment of endothelial diseases caused by oxidative damages.
Signal Transduction ; Models, Biological ; Hydrogen Peroxide/adverse effects ; Humans ; Heme Oxygenase-1/*metabolism/physiology ; Endothelial Cells/*drug effects/*metabolism ; DNA Damage/drug effects ; Cytoprotection/*drug effects ; Curcumin/*analogs & derivatives/*pharmacology

STUDY DESIGN: A noninterventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the quality of life (QoL) and functional disability in Korean adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Among patients with CLBP, 20%–55% had NP. METHODS: Patients older than 20 years with CLBP lasting for longer than three months, with a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score higher than four, and with pain medications being used for at least four weeks before enrollment were recruited from 27 general hospitals between December 2014 and May 2015. Medical chart reviews were performed to collect demographic/clinical features and diagnosis of NP (douleur neuropathique 4, DN4). The QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension, EQ-5D; EQ-VAS) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, QBPDS) were determined through patient surveys. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare PROs between the NP (DN4≥4) and non-NP (DN4 < 4) groups. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 patients (females: 65.7%; mean age: 63.4±13.0 years) were enrolled. The mean scores of EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and QBPDS were 0.5±0.3, 55.7±19.4, and 40.4±21.1, respectively. Among all patients, 492 (41.0%; 95% confidence interval, 38.2%–43.8%) suffered from NP. The prevalence of NP was higher in male patients (46.8%; p < 0.01), in patients who had pain based on radiological and neurological findings (59.0%; p < 0.01), and in patients who had severe pain (49.0%; p < 0.01). There were significant mean differences in EQ-5D (NP group vs. non-NP group: 0.4±0.3 vs. 0.5±0.3; p < 0.01) and QBPDS (NP group vs. non-NP group: 45.8±21.2 vs. 36.3±20.2; p < 0.01) scores. In the multiple linear regression, patients with NP showed lower EQ-5D (β=−0.1; p < 0.01) and higher QBPDS (β=7.0; p < 0.01) scores than those without NP. CONCLUSIONS: NP was highly prevalent in Korean patients with CLBP. Patients with CLBP having NP had a lower QoL and more severe dysfunction than those without NP. To enhance the QoL and functional status of patients with CLBP, this study highlights the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating NP.
Adult* ; Back Pain ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Low Back Pain* ; Male ; Neuralgia* ; Prevalence* ; Quality of Life ; Visual Analog Scale