It is known that radiation can induce various kind of mutations, cancers and congenital malformations. Day 9 rats embryos were cultured by whole embryo culture method and irradiated 0.1, 0.5, 2 and 5 Gy at day 10 to study the effect of radiation on the development of rat embryos. Haversting after 48 hours culture, the morphological changes and apoptosis were investigated. In addition, we assessed the expression patterns of p53, WAF1, Bcl -2, Bcl -x and Bax. Compared to the control group, no remarkable morphological changes were observed in the low dosage group (0.1 and 0.5 Gy). But at high dosage group (2 and 5 Gy), growth was retarded and the heart beats were weak. The crown rump length, the number of somites, and branchial arch were decreased and the rotation of embryo and development of otic pit and lens pit, and upper limb bud was delayed significantly. Especially in the 5 Gy group the most of external morphology were difficult to discriminate. In histological observations, high dosage group showed marked increase in the number of apoptotic bodies in the optic cup, trigeminal ganglion, pharyngeal arches, heart and small intestine. In western blot analysis, Bcl -x and Bax were not expressed in all groups. Expression level of Bcl -2 was constant regardless of the amount of radiation. Expression level of p53 and WAF1 increased significantly in accordance with the increasing amount of radiation. Especially, WAF1 was expressed 7.2, 6.3, 9.9 and 11.3 folds more than the control groups when embryos were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 2 and 5 Gy, respectively. Considering WAF1 arrests cell cycle, we concluded that cell cycle was affected most sensitively to radiation injury. From these results, radiation showed growth retardation, decrease in protein synthesis, increase in apoptosis and expression of related genetic materials. These results may be used as a standard to test the effect of drugs for reducing and protecting agents against deterious effect of radiation in developing embryo and fetus.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Branchial Region ; Cell Cycle ; Crown-Rump Length ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fetus ; Heart ; Intestine, Small ; Radiation Injuries ; Rats ; Somites ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; Upper Extremity

PURPOSE: Surgeons serve one of the most challenging and stressful professions. Ineffective control of occupational stress leads to burnout of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to obtain preliminary data on the sources and the degree of stress of surgeons and to determine the feasibility of the survey. METHODS: A total of 63 surgeons in our three affiliated hospitals were enrolled in this study. Fifty-five questions were used to assess the demographics, characteristics and Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS), which were prepared and validated by the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress. RESULTS: Forty-seven of the 63 surgeons participated in this study (74.6%). The mean KOSS score of the survey was 50.9 +/- 8.55, which was significantly higher than that of other professions (P < 0.01). Drinking and smoking habits were not related to the KOSS score. Doing exercise was related to a low KOSS score in terms of low KOSS total score (P < 0.01). Average duty hours (P < 0.01) and night duty days per week (P = 0.01) were strongly related to higher KOSS in the linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate job stress of surgeons in Korea. This study showed that Korean Surgeons had higher occupational stress than other Korean professions. A larger study based on this pilot study will help generate objective data for occupational stress of Korean Surgeons by performing a survey of the members of the Korean Surgical Society.
Demography ; Drinking ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Pilot Projects ; Smoke ; Smoking

Cognitive impairment and depression are the most common symptoms affecting the elderly on physical and mental states. Studies have shown that these symptoms in mild cases are improved by psychosocial intervention, emphasizing the importance of therapeutic intervention provided in the community. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the psychosocial program at a geriatric day care service has any therapeutic effect on the cognitive function and depressive symptoms in the elderly and whether such effect can be maintained. The experimental group was composed of 37 elderly patients attending the day care service at the mental health center located in Kwangju county, Kyonggi province. The control group was composed of 22 elderly patients who either refused intervention or who dropped out of the program. Cognitive function was assessed with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam(MMSE-K) and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Short-form Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS) The experimental group and the control group were compared on the score of on each test, which was administered before and after the program and 10 weeks after discontinuation of program. In the experimental group, the scores acquired immediately after the program and at 10 weeks of follow-up were also compared. The results showed that psychosocial intervention at a geriatric day care service was significantly associated with the change in SGDS scores dependent on time but not significantly associated with the change in MMSE-K scores. In the experimental group whose follow-up assessment was possible, it was further shown that 43% of patients had increased SGDS scores 10 weeks after the program ended, indicating that depressive symptoms had worsened. This study suggests that psychosocial therapeutic intervention in the geriatric day care service improve depressive symptoms but not cognitive functions in the elderly. In addition, for a considerable percentage of subjects in the experimental group, the improvements in depressive symptoms were not sustained after the intervention was withdrawn. These findings proposes a need of strengthening therapeutic intervention to maintain such effect.
Aged* ; Day Care, Medical* ; Depression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gwangju ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Mental Health

Inflammation is the immune system's response to infection and injury-related disorders, and is related to pro-inflammatory factors (NO, PGE2, cytokines, etc.) produced by inflammatory cells. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a representative inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by increasing serum levels of inflammatory chemokines, including macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). Carpinus tschonoskii is a member of the genus Carpinus. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of C. tschonoskii by studying the effects of various solvent fractions prepared from its leaves on inflammatory mediators in HaCaT and RAW264.7 cells. We found that the chloroform fraction of C. tschonoskii inhibited MDC at both the protein and mRNA levels in HaCaT cells, acting via the inhibition of STAT1 in the IFN-gamma signaling pathway. In addition, the chloroform fraction significantly suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors induced by lipopolysaccharide stimulation, except COX-2 and TNF-alpha. These results suggest that the chloroform fraction of C. tschonoskii leaves may include a component with potential anti-inflammatory activity.
Betulaceae ; Chemokine CCL22 ; Chemokines ; Chloroform ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dinoprostone ; Inflammation ; Inflammation Mediators ; Keratinocytes ; Macrophages ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin Diseases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The plunging ranula is a relatively uncommon phenomenon which represents a mucus escaping reaction due to the disruption of the sublingual gland. We recommend that plunging ranula be treated by surgery via an intraoral approach rather than cervical approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present the cases of 15 patients managed at Ghil hospital over the period of a year. A retrospective review of 15 patients with this condition was undertaken. All patients underwent removal of the sublingual gland combined with the evacuation of the ranula via an intraoral approach. Information was collected on age, sex, origin, history of onset, predisposing factors, treatment, and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: Pain and temporary submaxillary swelling were observed during postoperative 3 days. But, neither complication nor recurrence was observed in any patient. Histological observation revealed no epithelial lining in any of the examined specimens. CONCLUSION: Removal of the sublingual gland combined with the evacuation of the ranula via an intraoral approach was the reliable method.
Causality ; Humans ; Mucus ; Ranula* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sublingual Gland ; United Nations

The submandibular displacement of a mandibular third molar residual root presents major challenges to oral and maxillofacial surgeons due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures such as the lingual nerve and sublingual artery. Preoperative imaging can approximate the location of the residual tooth root; however, accurately determining its exact position is difficult because of the dynamic nature of the mandible and the difficulty of realtime synchronization of imaging. This study presents the successful extraction of a residual mandibular third molar root in a 67-year-old female patient achieved using a magnetic field-based navigation system. The sublingually-displaced residual root was localized using the navigation system, marked using a virtual implant placement, and positioned by a hand piece using synchronized real-time sensor data. The root was successfully removed with a minimally-invasive approach. No complications occurred postoperatively, and follow-up showed no major issues. Due to the small size of the marker, ease of calibration, and independence from visual obstacles, magnetic field-based navigation systems are a promising tool for the removal of residual roots displaced into adjacent soft tissue.

The submandibular displacement of a mandibular third molar residual root presents major challenges to oral and maxillofacial surgeons due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures such as the lingual nerve and sublingual artery. Preoperative imaging can approximate the location of the residual tooth root; however, accurately determining its exact position is difficult because of the dynamic nature of the mandible and the difficulty of realtime synchronization of imaging. This study presents the successful extraction of a residual mandibular third molar root in a 67-year-old female patient achieved using a magnetic field-based navigation system. The sublingually-displaced residual root was localized using the navigation system, marked using a virtual implant placement, and positioned by a hand piece using synchronized real-time sensor data. The root was successfully removed with a minimally-invasive approach. No complications occurred postoperatively, and follow-up showed no major issues. Due to the small size of the marker, ease of calibration, and independence from visual obstacles, magnetic field-based navigation systems are a promising tool for the removal of residual roots displaced into adjacent soft tissue.

The submandibular displacement of a mandibular third molar residual root presents major challenges to oral and maxillofacial surgeons due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures such as the lingual nerve and sublingual artery. Preoperative imaging can approximate the location of the residual tooth root; however, accurately determining its exact position is difficult because of the dynamic nature of the mandible and the difficulty of realtime synchronization of imaging. This study presents the successful extraction of a residual mandibular third molar root in a 67-year-old female patient achieved using a magnetic field-based navigation system. The sublingually-displaced residual root was localized using the navigation system, marked using a virtual implant placement, and positioned by a hand piece using synchronized real-time sensor data. The root was successfully removed with a minimally-invasive approach. No complications occurred postoperatively, and follow-up showed no major issues. Due to the small size of the marker, ease of calibration, and independence from visual obstacles, magnetic field-based navigation systems are a promising tool for the removal of residual roots displaced into adjacent soft tissue.

Only a few studies have evaluated the population-adjusted prevalence of gallbladder polyps (GBP). This study aimed to evaluate the changes in GBP prevalence and risk factors at a single health screening center in Korea from 2002 to 2012. Of 48,591 adults who underwent health screening between 2002 and 2012, 14,250 age- and gender-matched subjects were randomly selected to evaluate prevalence. Risk factors were analyzed between the GBP-positive and GBP-negative groups during 2002-2004 (Period A) and 2010-2012 (Period B). The annual prevalence of GBP over the 11-yr period was 5.4%. Annual prevalence increased from 3.8% in Period A to 7.1% in Period B. Male gender and obesity were independent risk factors for GBP in both periods. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was a risk factor for GBP in Period A but not in Period B. The risk factors for GBP changed from HBsAg positivity to lipid profile abnormalities. Other variables including age, hypertension, diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and liver function tests did not correlate with GBP. In conclusion, GBP prevalence is increasing and risk factors for GBP have changed in Korea. More attention should be paid to this issue in the future.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gallbladder Diseases/complications/*epidemiology ; Hepatitis B/complications ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/complications ; Polyps/*epidemiology/pathology ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

We report a case in whom there was right ventricular outflow tract obstruction by extended metastasis from esophageal cancer. A 65-year-old man was admitted to hospital for evaluation of recent onset of weight loss of recent onset and a heart murmur. Physical examination revealed a regular heart rate of 62 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. On cardiac auscultation, a grade 4/6 systolic murmur was heard over the area of pulmonic valve. Electrocardiography showed low voltage. Chest radiography showed a normal cardiac configuration and no pulmonary abnormality was seen. Esophagogram and endoscopy showed a 10cm sized ulcerative and infiltrative esophageal cancer. This esophageal cancer was histologically proven to be a squamous cell carcinoma. To assess the cardiac metastasis, echocardiography, MRI, coronary angiography, and endomyocardial biopsy were performed. The MRI, echocardiography and right ventriculography revealed a 7 cm sized lobulated mass extending to the right ventricular outflow tract, right ventricle, septum, and anterior wall of the left ventricle. Interestingly, the feeding vessels of the tumor were identified by echocardiography and coronary angiography. Histologically, the cardiac tumor was proven to be have the same pathologic findings as the an esophageal cancer, compatible with carcinomatous metastasis.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Coronary Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Heart Auscultation ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Neoplasms ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Physical Examination ; Radiography ; Systolic Murmurs ; Thorax ; Ulcer ; Weight Loss