With a surge in the population of immunocompromised patients, the incidence of laryngeal fungal infection has also been increased. Infection by aspergillus, which is a kind of mold, or a filamentous fungus, occurs rarely in larynx. Furthermore, most aspergillosis of the upper airway is an extension of the pulmonary or systemic aspergillosis in the immunocompromised host. So, the primary laryngeal aspergillosis that occurrs as an isolated laryngeal infection of aspergillus without other aerodigestive tract extension is very rarely encountered. We present a case of primary laryngeal aspergillosis misconceived as a vocal cord cyst in a 24-year-old female who had no past history of immune deficiency, voice abuse or steroid use.
Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Larynx ; Vocal Cords ; Voice ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether synovial fluid adenosine deaminase activity is useful in the differential diagnosis of joint swelling and in estimating the disease activity. METHOD: Adenosine deaminase activity was determined in the synovial fluid taken from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n=21), osteoarthritis (n=ll), ankylosing spondylitis (n=3), and gouty arthritis (n=2). This enzyme activity was compared with the laboratory indices (ESR, CRP) in the blood and the other parameters in the synovial fluid. RESULT: More increased adenosine deaminase activity was found in the synovial fluid taken from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gouty arthritis, as compared with that of osteoarthritis patients. Synovial fluid ADA activity was significantly corelated with the WBC count in the synovial fluid, but there was no statistical corelation between other synovial parameters and adenosine deaminase activity. CONCLUSION: Adenosine deaminase activity is useful in the differential diagnosis of joint swelling between inflammatory joint disease and osteoarthritis, but not useful in estimating the disease activity.
Adenosine Deaminase ; Adenosine* ; Arthritis, Gouty* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Osteoarthritis* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Synovial Fluid*

Recently studies about bi-allelic markers such as SNP, which is commonly found in about every 1.2 kb, seem to be increasing. Compared to STR marker, much have to be improved if it is to be used for individual identification. Nevertheless many researchers have interests in SNP and it 's scope is unpre-dictable. SNP may be promising as an auxiliary tool in individual identification, especially in Y chromo-somal study, in which the usefulness of conventional STR markers are restricted as the concept of haplo-type is applied. We report allelic distribution pattern in Korean for several previously known bi-allelic markers, that are SY81, M9, SRY1532, SRY2627, YAP. In three loci that are SY81, SRY1532, SRY2627, no polymorphism was noted. In M9, YAP loci, bi-allel-ic polymorphism was noted. In M9, 79.3% was G-type, and C-type was 20.7%. The YAP insertion was positive only in 6%. Remaining 94% was YAP(-). These pattern was compared with that of other popu-lation, and racial difference was evident. Several key points about SNP were discussed.
Y Chromosome*

Sequence analysis of human mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) is being used widely to characterize individual identification, particularly when there is insufficient nuclear DNA in samples for typing. Hair shafts, bones, teeth and other samples that are severely decomposed may be subjected to mtDNA analysis. As sample decomposes, however, the possibility of mtDNA to be degraded becomes high and the possibility of spurious results becomes high. In this case mtDNA sequencing results must be carefully analyzed. We got unusual results while typing two human bone samples, which were not compatible with human mtDNA sequence. Bones were about 50 and 35 years old. We report the results with discussions about ancient DNA sequencing.
Adult ; DNA* ; DNA, Mitochondrial* ; Hair ; Humans ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tooth

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological disorder induced by a dietary vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency which is characterized by encephalopathy, gait ataxia, and variant ocular motor dysfunction. In addition to these classical signs of WE, a loss of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is being reported as the major underdiagnosed symptoms in WE. In this retrospective single center study, we report four cases of WE initially presented with impaired horizontal VOR in addition to the classical clinical presentations, and imaging and neurotological laboratory findings were described.
Ataxia ; Brain Diseases ; Dizziness ; Gait Ataxia ; Nervous System Diseases ; Reflex ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Retrospective Studies ; Thiamine ; Wernicke Encephalopathy

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the skeletal stability after a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) setback of the mandible fixed with a biodegradable internal fixation device or metal internal fixation device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients underwent mandibular setback via BSSO. Fifteen patients were fixed with a biodegradable internal fixation device or metal internal fixation device respectively. Posteroanterior (PA) and lateral cephalograms were taken preoperatively and at two days, 5.5 months and 14.5 months postoperatively. The relevant skeletal points were traced and digitized to evaluate the skeletal changes postoperatively. The relapse rates were analyzed and compared statistically. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant differences in postoperative stability between the two groups.(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: The biodegradable internal fixation device may make an effective device alternative to a metal internal fixation device for setback BSSO.
Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Mandible ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus ; Recurrence ; Sitosterols

Because sublingual region is well-vascularized and sublingual artery is passed throughout this region, it should be careful not to perforate lingual cortex when placing dental implant on mandible. A 83-years-old male complained severe sublingual hematoma, hemorrhage and dyspnea came our outpatient department. He had received dental implant placement in the same day. He needed hemostasis and airway control. If soft tissue of sublingual region and the artery are injured, it may result in life-threatening excessive hemorrhage. In dental implant surgery, especially mandible, we should recognize the accurate shape of mandible and anatomy of sublingual region. It is important to stop anticoagulant agent before surgery. When a patient has airway obstruction, the operator should manage airway quickly.
Airway Management ; Airway Obstruction ; Arteries ; Dental Implants ; Dyspnea ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Mouth Floor ; Outpatients ; Porphyrins ; Tracheotomy

A melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a uncommon osteolytic pigmented neoplasm that primarily affects the jaws of newborn infants. Most patients (> 90%) present with the tumor in the first year of life. Approximately 65% form in the maxilla, 11% in the mandible, 5% in the brain and elsewhere. MNTI is normally benign, but up to 15% may recur and a few have metastasized. Approximately 200 cases of MNTI have been reported but only 2 of them presented as multifocal. A case of MNTI in a 7 month old boy was encountered. The chief complaint was maxillary anterior ridge swelling. The incisional biopsy findings were MNTI. Two months after the first operation, mild swelling of another site was observed. The infant was examined periodically since undergoing two procedures with no recurrence. This case demonstrates the possibility of a multicentric MNTI. We report a multicentric MNTI with a review of the relevant literature.
Biopsy ; Brain ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic ; Polyenes ; Recurrence

Recently forensic scientists have focused on extending the applicability of STR to degraded or tiny amount DNA. Short amplicon may be one of the solutions to these samples and several commercial kits are available for this purpose. Before practical casework, validation is necessary for newly introduced kit. We tried to check how newly introduced STR kit, AmpFLSTR(R) MiniFiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, reacts with some animal DNAs. We tried 27 animal DNA samples and checked whether the above kit amplify animal DNA, and next how the band appears on electropherogram. We compared the results with popular STR kits. With AmpFLSTR(R) MiniFiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, we could get several bands on electropherogram for some species, but we could not designate proper allelic number compared to allelic ladder for most loci except the following loci, D13S317, D2S1338, D21S11, D18S51, FGA. The D18S51 locus was outstanding in that some species showed definite designated alleles, but the allelic number was not different depending on species. This was the same with another popular STR kit, AmpFLSTR(R) Identifiler(TM) PCR Amplification Kit, which was from the same company. The another kit from another company, PowerPlex(R) 16 System showed different phenomenon with more increased number of amplified bands which were usually differ on size when compared to allelic ladder.
Alleles ; Animals ; DNA ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Species Specificity

INTRODUCTION: In today's society, the rapid and appropriate care of the dental emergency patients is much more important. So, a retrospective study on the characteristics of emergency dental injuries and diseases will be very meaningful. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective clinical study was carried by reviewing the radiographic films and emergency chart of 11,493 patients who had visited the emergency room of Hallym Sacred heart Hospital and were treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from January 2006 to December 2010. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.9:1. The highest monthly incidence was observed in May (10.4%) and June (8.9%) and the peak age distribution was the first decade (56.0%), followed by the second decade (16.0%). Trauma was the most common cause in dental emergency patients, followed in order by toothache, odontogenic infection, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and oral hemorrhage. Soft tissue injury was most prevalent in the trauma group, followed by tooth injury and facial bone fractures. In the tooth injury group, tooth fracture (56.7%) showed the highest incidence followed in order by tooth subluxation (18.2%), tooth concussion (16.9%), tooth avulsion (11.5%) and alveolar bone fractures (3.7%). In the facial bone fracture group, mandibular fractures (81.8%) showed the highest incidence followed in order by maxilla fractures (15.7%), nasal bone fractures (9.0%), zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures (5.4%), orbital bone fractures (2.5%). In mandibular bone fractures, the most common location was the symphysis (70.1%), followed in order by the mandibular angle (33.0%), mandibular condyle (22.8%) and mandibular body (13.6%). In the infection group, a submandibular space abscess (46.2%) was most common followed in order by a buccal space abscess (17.4%), canine space abscess (16.9%) and submental space abscess (12.3%). TMJ dislocation (89.3%) showed the highest incidence in the TMJ disorder group, followed by TMJ derangement (10.7%). In the other group, a range of specific symptoms due to post operation complications, trigeminal neuralgia, chemical burns and foreign body aspiration were reported. CONCLUSION: For the rapid and appropriate care of the dental emergency patients, well-organized system should be presented in oral and maxillofacial surgery. And it is possible under analysis of pattern and the variation of the dental emergency patients.
Abscess ; Age Distribution ; Burns, Chemical ; Dislocations ; Emergencies ; Facial Bones ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Fractures, Bone ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Fractures ; Maxilla ; Nasal Bone ; Oral Hemorrhage ; Orbit ; Retrospective Studies ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Surgery, Oral ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Tooth ; Tooth Avulsion ; Tooth Fractures ; Tooth Injuries ; Toothache ; Trigeminal Neuralgia ; X-Ray Film