Porphyromonas gingivalis is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of adult periodontitis, the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Use of an antibacterial agent controlling P. gingivalis as a periodontal therapeutic agent has been rationalized. The present study was performed to observe the antibacterial effect of inorganic polyphosphates (polyP) on P. gingivalis. P. gingivalis 2561 was grown in half-strength brain-heart infusion broth containing hemin and vitamin K with or without polyP. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of polyP with various chain lengths was determined by measuring the absorbance of the grown cells at 540 nm. MIC of polyP for the bacterium was determined to be 0.05%. The effect of polyP with a chain length of 75 (polyP 75) was further examined. PolyP 75 added to the growing culture of P. gingivalis at its exponential phase was as effective in inhibiting the growth of P. gingivalis as polyP 75 added at the very beginning of the culture. More than 99% of the cells lost their viability determined by viable cell count when polyP 75 was added to the culture of growing P. gingivalis at the concentration of 0.06%, suggesting that polyP 75 has a bactericidal effect on the bacterium. Intracellular nucleotide release from the cells was increased by approx. 20% in the presence of polyP 75 but was not reversed by the addition of divalent cations like Ca++ and Mg++. Under the transmission electron microscope, only a small number of the growing P. gingivalis cells were actually lysed. However, the majority of the cells appeared to be atypical in their shape, demonstrating accumulation of highly electron-dense granules and bodies of condensed nucleic acid-like material in the cytoplasm. In the presence of polyP 75, the protein profile of P. gingivalis was changed as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot, and the proteolytic activity of the bacterium demostrated on the zymograms was decreased. The overall results suggest that polyP have a strong bactericidal activity against P. gingivalis in which lysis in relation to chelation may not play the major role but unknown mechanism that possibly affects the viability of the bacterium may be involved. PolyP may be used as an agent for prevention and treatment of periodontitis.
Adult ; Cations, Divalent ; Cell Count ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Cytoplasm ; Electrophoresis ; Hemin ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; Polyphosphates* ; Polyps ; Porphyromonas gingivalis* ; Porphyromonas* ; Tooth Loss ; Vitamin K

No abstract available.
Animals ; Hypothermia* ; Rats*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gout is a common inf lammatory arthritis triggered by the crystallization of uric acid in the joints. Serum uric acid levels are highly heritable, suggesting a strong genetic component. Independent studies to confirm the genetic associations with gout in various ethnic populations are warranted. We investigated the association of polymorphisms in the ABCG2 and SLC2A9 genes with gout in Korean patients and healthy individuals. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 109 patients with gout and 102 healthy controls. The diagnosis of gout was based on the preliminary criteria of the America College of Rheumatology. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. We identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) changes in the ABCG2 and SLC2A9 genes using a direct sequencing technique. rs2231142 in ABCG2 and rs6449213 and rs16890979 in SLC2A9 and nearby regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Patients with gout had significantly higher A/A genotype (29.3% vs. 4.9%, respectively) and A allele (52.8% vs. 26.5%, respectively) frequencies of rs2231142 in ABCG2 than did controls (chi2 = 29.42, p < 0.001; odds ratio, 3.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.11 to 5.20). We found novel polymorphisms (c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A) in the SLC2A9 gene. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A SNPs were significantly higher in patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a significant association between rs2231142 in the ABCG2 gene and gout and identified novel SNPs, c.881A>G and c.1002+78G>A, in the SLC2A9 gene that may be associated with gout in a Korean population.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/*genetics ; Arthritis, Gouty/blood/diagnosis/ethnology/*genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Biomarkers/blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative/*genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics ; Odds Ratio ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Uric Acid/blood

Clinical analysis and review were made on the 65 aneurysmal patients who had intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) confirmed on preoperative brain CT among a total of 268 patients operated on intracranial aneurysms. The study was made on aneurismal sites, the severity of IVH, postoperative ventricular dilatation and the result of treatment. The frequency of IVH among the 268 aneurysmal patients with direct clipping was 24.3%. Aneurysms originated from anterior communicating artery had the highest frequency(49.2%), followed by from posterior communicating artery(15.4%). On the severity of IVH, the frequency of severe IVH was 49.2%, the highest. The second was mild IVH, 32.3%. Forty five percent accounted for ventricular dilatation. By ventricular size index, mild dilatation was 7.7%;moderate, 13.8%;and severe dilatation, 20%. 11 patients(16.9%) undersent CSF shunting procedure. The treatment for the 65 aneurysmal patients with IVH ended in:survivor, 58 patients(98.3%), good recovery, 32.3% and 7 deaths, the rate of mortality was 10.7%.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Brain ; Dilatation* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Mortality

The authors reviewed retrospectively the records of 27 cases of posterior fossa tumor in patients below the age of 60 among the 387 brain tumor cases admitted to Kyungpook University Hospital during the last 10 years. The posterior fossa tumors were 34.2% of the total 79 cases of pediatric brain tumors. The most frequently involved age group was 6~8 years. Headache(40.7%) and vomiting(37.0%) were the most common initial presenting symptoms. Cerebellar signs, Cranial nerve palsy and motor weakness were found in 66.7%, 9.6% and 11.1% of the cases respectively. Cerebellar midline was the most frequently involved site(63.0%). In order of frequency, the pathological diagnoses were medulloblastoma, ependymoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor(PNET), and astrocytoma. Hydrocephalus was noted in 70.4%, and shunt surgery was done in 28.6%. Surgery followed by radiation therapy was used in most of the cases.
Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms ; Child* ; Cranial Nerve Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Ependymoma ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infratentorial Neoplasms* ; Medulloblastoma ; Neural Plate ; Retrospective Studies

Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) involving ankle joint needs complete mass excision and total synovectomy to reduce recurrence rate, while surrounding ligaments can be easily damaged. So the concurrent ligament reconstruction should be considered for post-excisional instability in subtalar joint as well as lateral ankle joint. We describe our experience in the management of a diffuse type PVNS, invades lateral talocrural joint extended to subtalar joint and introduce a new technique of all-in-one reconstruction for anterior talofibular,calcaneofibular and cervical ligament. Our new reconstruction technique applying modified Chrisman and Snook technique is useful in stabilization for deficiencies of the ligament complexafter PVNS excisionat lateral ankle and subtalar joint.
Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Joints ; Ligaments* ; Recurrence ; Subtalar Joint* ; Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*

From March 1990 to February 1992, 40 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent transpedicle fixation and fusion using VSP system and PWB system. The diagnosis were isthmic types in 17 cases(male;9, female;8) and degenerative types in 23 cases(male;5, female;18), ranging in ages from 34 to 68 years with a mean age of 52 years. The preoperative slip measured less than 20% in 11 cases, between 20 and 40% in 27 cases and more than 40% in 2 cases. At an average 19 months follow up(range;9~33months), the degree of slip correction averaged 43% in isthmic group, 51% in degenerative group, a solic fusion based on radiologic evaluation was achieved in 85%. Overall results showed 77% good, 18% fair and 5% poor. Complications included superficial infection in 2 cases, screw breakage in 1 case and screw loosening in 2 cases.
Diagnosis ; Spondylolisthesis*

Cell-mediated immunity frequently becomes impaired after major trauma. To investigate the immune response of the head injury, the authors measured the level of the serum neopterin, which represents the index of macrophage activation, in 53 head-injured patients. In the injured group the serum neopterin level was 5.4+/-3.1 nmol/l and slightly higher than that of the normal control group, 4.4+/-1.0 nmol/1. In the group of the patients with the Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) 3-9, the level was significantly higher than the group GCS 10-15. The differences were not significantly related to the age or the presence of intracranial hematoma. It is conceivable that head injury will change the patient's immune response and it may be influenced by neural control.
Coma ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Macrophage Activation ; Neopterin*

Several different methods of posterior wiring and fusion have been advocated for treatment of the odontoid process fractures, regardless of direction of displacement. Between 1983 and 190, 8 cases of type II odontoid process fracture underwent posterior wiring and fusion at Kyungpook National University Hospital. Among them, three cases were posteriorly displaced fractures. For these three cases, the authors modified wiring method and applied acrylic resin. The authors thought this procedure is not complex and a good method for posteriorly displaced type II fractures in which conventional posterior wiring may actually create a tration effect that further displaces the fractured odontoid into the spinal canal.
Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Odontoid Process* ; Spinal Canal

Of the 68 cervical spondyltic patients showing symptoms of radiculomyelopathy, assessments were made on 29 patients who underwent neural decompressive surgery with cervical laminectomy through posterior approach for the results of surgery. Analyses were also made on the anterior-posterior diameters of cervical canal on the plain film of cervical spine. The mean values of anterior-posterior diameters measured on the levels of cervical C3-7 were 16.5+/-1.83 mm in the normal adult and 7.3+/-1.08 mm in the cervical spondylotic patients with radiculomyelopathy, which is far narrower than that of the normal. In cervical spondylotic patients, the anterior-posterior diameters of directly upper and lower parts of the lesions were 11.9+/-1.20 mm and 12.1+/-1.61 mm respectively, also much narrower mean values than those of the normal control group. The results of the 29 patients who received cervical laminectomy by posterior approach were much improved for 51.7% and improved for 44.8%.
Adult ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Spine ; Spondylosis*