No abstract available.
Candidiasis*

Intraoral fixed type of orthodontic appliance can cause reversible or irreversible damages such as gingivitis, periodontitis, enamel decalcification, dental caries, root resorption, and pulpal changes. Such an increase causes gingival inflammation and enamel decalcification. The purpose of this study is to get knowledge on initial changes in dental plaque, gingvitis, and enamel decalcification after bonding fixed orthodontic appliances according to time flow, gender, and sides(right/left) of premolar region. For control group, 48 students of dental college, Yonsei university(26 males, 22 females) were chosen: for experimental group, 73 orthodontic patients(36 males, 37 females) who will be treated with fixed appliances were chosen, All the subjects had no systemic disease, juvenile periodontitis and all the females had passed their menarche. Tooth brushing instruction was given to all the subjects prior to the experiment, For control group, plaque index, gingival index, and decalcification index were measured twice at 3 weeks interval : for experimental group, the same was done prior to, 3, 6, 9 weeks after bonding fixed appliances. The following results were obtained : 1. In plaque index 3 weeks after placement of appliances, and it showed gradual increase afterwards. 2. In gingival index 3 weeks after placement of appliances, and afterwards it showed increase at a faster rate than plaque index. 3. Enamel decalcification began to show between 3 and 6 weeks after bonding fixed appliances. Decalcification index began to increase 6 weeks after appliance placement, but there was no statistical significance. 4. When the comparison was made between two sides of premolar region, the right side showed greater index in plaque and gingival index of experimental group.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Bicuspid ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Plaque* ; Female ; Gingivitis* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Menarche ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis ; Root Resorption ; Tooth

PURPOSE: To demonstrate and evaluate the value of MRI findings of the TSH(Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, TSH, Thyrotropin)-secreting pituitary adenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed retrospectively the MR images of 4 patients with TSH-secreting pituiatary adenoma. Evaluation of the anatomical location, signal characteristics, enhancement patterns, size, shape and circunferential changes were made. RESULTS: No characteristic common MR findings in size, shape, signal intensity, and circumferential changes of TSH-secreting pituiatary adenoma waere observed among 4 cases(size; 5x7 mm to 10x11 mm, shape;ovoid to round, signal intensity;high in 1 case on T1 and T2WI, isosignal intensity in the other 3 cases, circumferential change; stalk deviation in 1 case, no stalk deviation in 3 cases). But, the tumors were centrally located at the anterior pituitary gland and showed relatively homogeneous signal intensity on MR images of all 4 patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that centrally-located mass at the anterior pituitary gland with homogeneous signal intensity on MR image may be suggestive of the TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma, although the MR findings are not specific for the disease.
Adenoma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Since umbilical cord blood (UCB), which used to be discarded, was found to be a source of enriched hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, basic research to elucidate characteristics of UCB hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and its clinical application to bedside transplantation have been attempted. Moreover, stem cell transplantation (SCT) has expanded its role, not only in hematopoietic reconstitution, but in cancer therapy, stem cell expansion and gene therapy. This study was aimed to clarify the characteristics of UCB HSC comparing differences between term and preterm babies in term of 1) hematologic parameters, 2) immunophenotypic characteristics studied by flow cytometer utilizing CD34 and several other monoclonal antibodies (MoAb), and 3) hematopoietic capacity by clonogenic assays. METHODS: UCB was obtained from 18 term babies and 13 preterms after informed consents. Samples were initially tested for complete blood counts. Immunophenotypic characteristics were studied in 11 cases (preterm, 4; term, 7) by two laser FACscan plus (Becton Dickinson) with FITC-conjugated MoAb to CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD10, CD16+ 56, CD19, CD33, CD34, CD38, CD71, Thy-1, and HLA-DR. Clonogenic assays were performed by methylcellulose method. RESULTS: The mean hematologic parameters for all groups were : white blood cell, 12.7x103/microliter; hemoglobin 14.8g/dL; platelets, 230x103/microliter. The parameters for preterms and terms were as follows : white blood cell, 10.6x103/microliter vs 13.9x103/microliter; hemoglobin 13.5g/dL vs. 15.4g/dL; platelets, 188x103/microliter vs 254x103/microliter; mononuclear cells 5.1x103/microliter vs 6.4x103/microliter, respectively. Parameters other than hemoglobin and platelet counts were not significantly different between the two groups. The colony-forming units granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) count and count for all colonies identified on day 14 were 10,888+/-11,257.3/mL and 16,504+/-16,531.6/mL, respectively. However, there was no significant differences in clonogenic assays between the term and preterm groups. The percentage of CD34+ cells in mononuclear cells was 1.5+/-1.5%, with 1.0+/-0.2% for preterms and 1.8+/-1.9% for terms. The number of CD34+ cells was 5.5+/-4.1x104/mL, with 3.8+/-2.0x104/mL for preterms and 6.5+/-4.7x104/mL, respectively. These findings suggested that the percentage and number for CD34 cells and the number of CFUs be higher in term babies than in preterms, but the differences failed to meet statistical significances. As T cell markers, CD3 (pan-T cell) and CD5 (early developmental T cell) were positive in 28.5% and 32.8%, respectively. The CD4 : CD8 ratio for all was 2.2+/-0.5, with 2.3+/-0.3 for preterms and 2.1+/-0.6 for terms, respectively, tending to decrease with gestational age with transient increase when approaching to the term. CD10 and CD19 expression as markers for B cell-associated antigens were 1.8+/-1.6% and 6.5+/-4.6%, respectively. Myeloid marker CD33 was positive in 2.24%, while CD71 (transferrin receptor) in 43.7%. Thy-1 was 30.0% with peak of 63.4% at 32th gestational week. As a subpopulation study among HSCs, CD34+CD38- cells were 2.1+/-1.5%, CD34+ HLA-DR+ was present in 85.3+/-3.1%, while CD34+CD19+ cells were 1.7+/-1.6%. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that T cells in UCB were immature, that the number of CD8+ cells which are known to be implicated in graft-versus-host disease, was relatively low, that B cell expression was low, and that UCB were enriched with primitive HSCs. As UCB for preterms were not significantly different from that of terms, the UCB from preterm babies might be used as a source of HSCs. Moreover, the cell number for adequate engraftment might be inferred from calculating mononuclear cells in UCB as the mononuclear cell count had a good correlation with CFUs.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Blood Cell Count ; Cell Count ; Fetal Blood* ; Genetic Therapy ; Gestational Age ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Leukocytes ; Methylcellulose ; Platelet Count ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; T-Lymphocytes ; Umbilical Cord*

Lower esophageal ring are uncommon. We experienced a case of lower esophageal ring in a 51-year-old man who had intermittent swallowing difficulty for 2 years. Endoscopy revealed a circumferential narrowing at 34 cm from the incisors and congested and eroded mucosa was noted proximal to the ring. Esophagography revealed an elevation of G-E junction above the diaphragm and a reflux of dye from the stomach into the esophagus with thickened and irregular esophageal wall.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diaphragm ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Incisor ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Stomach

Achalasia is believed to be a predisposing factor for the development of esophageal cancer. The prevalence rate of esophageal cancer is 1~7% among all patient with achalasia. The presumed mechanism responsible for the development of cancer are food stasis and gastroesophageal reflux. We experienced a case of esophageal carcinoma in a 47-year-old man,who had diagnosed as achalasia ten years ago. Esophagogram, esophagoscopy with biopsy and chest CT scanning can reveal esophageal carcinoma arising in patients with achalasia.
Biopsy ; Causality ; Esophageal Achalasia* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagoscopy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of cultured epidermal tissue graft and the administration of transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta3 on maxillary growth in surgically created palatal defects. A total of 155 rats were divided into 2 groups according to surgical timing : postnatal 2 weeks(n=95), 4 weeks(n=40) and control(unoperated) group(n=20). The postnatal 2-week surgical group was subdivided into 3 groups according to repair methods: conventional surgery(Von Langenbeck technique)group(n=23); cultured tissue graft group(n=25); and full thickness skin graft group(n=25). Additionally, recombinant human TGF-beta3 was administered(30ng or 150ng) on collagen matrix in surgically created palatal defects during surgery(9 conventional surgeries, 9 cultured tissue grafts) in 2-week-old rats. The results showed that all types of surgical treatment decreased maxillary growth compared with the control(unoperated) group(p<0.0001). On the other hand, the tissue graft group, whether cultured tissue or grafted skin, contributed to increased maxillary growth(p<0.0001).And exogenous TGF-beta3 might play a role in connective tissue proliferation and new bone generation during wound healing on palatal defects. Our results suggest that grafting cultured epidermis with collagen matrix decreases the scar tension on maxillary growth more than conventional palatal surgery does. Therefore, exogenous TGF-beta3 may contribute to accelerate wound healing on palatal defects.
Animals ; Cicatrix ; Cleft Palate ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue ; Epidermis ; Hand ; Humans ; Rats* ; Skin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3* ; Transplants* ; Wound Healing

Facial injury by firework is not rare, but there are few reports on oral firework explosion injury. The authors of this article present a case of an 18-year-old male with intraoral injury from a firework explosion with literature review.
Adolescent ; Burns* ; Explosions* ; Facial Injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth*

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterized by chronic airway inflammation resulting in airflow limitation. They include various phenotypes and endotypes in their disease entities. For that reason, they lack proper biomarkers and epoch-making progresses in treatment nowadays. Healthy airway has been believed to be sterile traditionally. However, with the help of nonculture sequencing techniques, researchers discovered that it is full of the commensal and symbiotic microbial flora. Therefore, microbiome has emerged as a possible biomarker and a clue to understand the pathogenesis of airway disease. Microbiome research in asthma has focused on the association between characteristics of microbiome, such as composition and diversity. However, now it refers to the role of microbiome, including Proteobacteria, in the development and pathogenesis of asthma and allergic diseases. Microbiome research in COPD has revealed its different composition according to the existence and severity of the disease. Also, differences in microbiome composition according to exacerbation state or specific treatment of COPD are reported. Therefore, many researchers pay attention to the possible role of microbiome as a biomarker or a treatment target in asthma and COPD. Herein, we review recent studies on microbiome research in asthma and COPD.
Asthma* ; Biomarkers ; Inflammation ; Microbiota* ; Phenotype ; Proteobacteria ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Research Design

OBJECTIVE: For Posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) various cages or iliac bone dowels are used with or without pedicle screw fixation(PSF). To evaluate and compare the clinical and radiological results of different fusion methods, we intend to verify the effect of added PSF on PLIF, the effect of bone cages and several factors which are thought to be related with the postoperative prognosis. METHODS: One hundred and ninety seven patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and instability or spondylolisthesis underwent various fusion operations from May 1993 to May 2003. The patients were divided into five groups, group A (PLIF with autologous bone dowels, N=24), group B (PLIF with bone cages, N=13), group C (PLIF with bone dowels and PSF, N=37), group D (PLIF with bone cages and PSF, N=30) and group E (PSF with intertransverse bone graft, N=93) for comparison and analyzed for the outcome and fusion rate. RESULTS: Outcome was not significantly different among the five groups. In intervertebral height (IVH) changes between pre- and post-operation, Group B (2.42+/-2.20mm) was better than Group A (-1.33+/-2.05mm). But in the Group C, D and E, the IVH changes were not different statistically. Fusion rate of group C, D was higher than that of Group A and B. But the intervertebral height(IVH) increased significantly in group B(2.42+/-2.20mm). Fusion rate of group C and D were higher than that of group A and D. CONCLUSION: Intervertebral cages are superior to autologous iliac bone dowels for maintaining intervertebral height in PLIF. The additional pedicle screw fixation seems to stabilize the graft and improve fusion rates.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Transplants