PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the cleansing performance of a distilled water, a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite as a household bleaching cleanser and three alkaline peroxide cleansers in vivo plaque deposits by using scanning electron microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five individuals were selected from department of the prosthodontics in Pusan National University Hospital, and each of them was inserted with specimens for plaque accumulation in their temporary dentures for 48 hours. The specimens were removed and cleaned by each cleansing agents for 8 hours. Scanning electron micrographs were made from the specimens at a magnification of x2,000. A panel of ten persons with a dental or paradental background, but not directly involved in the study, was selected to analyze the photomicrographs to determine which denture cleanser was more effective in removing plaque. RESULTS: Diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite was the most effective at removing plaque following Polident(R), Cleadent(R)e, Bonyplus(R) and distilled water in order. But there was no significant difference of cleansing efficacy between diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite and Polident(R), Polident(R) and Cleadent(R)e, Cleadent(R)e and Bonyplus(R), respectively (P > .05). Alkaline peroxide cleansers by themselves cannot adequately remove accumulated plaque deposits, especially if the deposits are heavy. Corrosion could be seen on the surface of non-precious alloy specimens immersed in diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to use of alkaline peroxide type cleansers with brushing whenever possible, since denture cleanliness is often poor due to the relative inefficiency of these cleansers.
Alloys ; Corrosion ; Denture Cleansers ; Dentures ; Detergents ; Electrons ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Prosthodontics ; Sodium ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Water

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the antidepressant effects of capsaicin in chronic depressive rats and elucidate the mechanism underlying its effects. Methods: Male Wistar rats (280~320 g, 8 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stresses. The rats were exposed to 8 kinds of stresses for 8 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, fluoxetine or capsaicin was injected subcutaneously. The dose of fluoxetine was 10 mg/kg (body weight), while the doses of capsaicin consisted of low (1 mg/kg), middle (5 mg/kg), and high (10 mg/kg). The forced swim test (FST) was conducted to evaluate the immobility time of rats. The immobility time indicates despair, one of symptoms of depression. The change of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and 3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression was measured. Results: The immobility time in the FST was significantly lower (p < .05) in the low-dose (M = 32.40 ± 13.41 seconds) and middle-dose (M = 28.48 ± 19.57 seconds) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 90.19 ± 45.34 seconds). The amount of TPH in the dorsal raphe was significantly higher (p < .05) in the middle-dose (M = 249.17 ± 35.02) and high-dose (M = 251.0 ± 56.85) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 159.78 ± 41.16). However, GR expression in the hippocampus CA1 and CA3 did not show significant differences between the non-treated depressive rats and the capsaicin-injected rats. Conclusion This study suggests that capsaicin produces an antidepressant-like effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in rats via the serotonin biosynthesis pathway.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for treating hemothorax caused by chest trauma. Materials and Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 68 patients (56 male; mean age, 58.2 years) were transferred to our interventional unit for selective TAE to treat thoracic bleeding. We retrospectively investigated their demographics, angiographic findings, embolization techniques, technical and clinical success rates, and complications. Results: Bleeding occurred mostly from the intercostal arteries (50%) and the internal mammary arteries (29.5%). Except one patient, TAE achieved technical success, defined as the immediate cessation of bleeding, in all the other patients. Four patients successfully underwent repeated TAE for delayed bleeding or increasing hematoma after the initial TAE. The clinical success rate, defined as no need for thoracotomy for hemostasis after TAE, was 92.6%. Five patients underwent post-embolization thoracotomy for hemostasis. No patient developed major TAE-related complications, such as cerebral infarction or quadriplegia. Conclusion TAE is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method for controlling thoracic wall and intrathoracic systemic arterial hemorrhage after thoracic trauma. TAE may be considered for patients with hemothorax without other concomitant injuries which require emergency sur-gery, or those who undergoing emergency TAE for abdominal or pelvic hemostasis.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for treating hemothorax caused by chest trauma. Materials and Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 68 patients (56 male; mean age, 58.2 years) were transferred to our interventional unit for selective TAE to treat thoracic bleeding. We retrospectively investigated their demographics, angiographic findings, embolization techniques, technical and clinical success rates, and complications. Results: Bleeding occurred mostly from the intercostal arteries (50%) and the internal mammary arteries (29.5%). Except one patient, TAE achieved technical success, defined as the immediate cessation of bleeding, in all the other patients. Four patients successfully underwent repeated TAE for delayed bleeding or increasing hematoma after the initial TAE. The clinical success rate, defined as no need for thoracotomy for hemostasis after TAE, was 92.6%. Five patients underwent post-embolization thoracotomy for hemostasis. No patient developed major TAE-related complications, such as cerebral infarction or quadriplegia. Conclusion TAE is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method for controlling thoracic wall and intrathoracic systemic arterial hemorrhage after thoracic trauma. TAE may be considered for patients with hemothorax without other concomitant injuries which require emergency sur-gery, or those who undergoing emergency TAE for abdominal or pelvic hemostasis.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation of various organs. Nasal involvement of sarcoidosis is rare. Typical symptoms are nonspecific for sinonasal sarcoidosis and include nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, headache and recurrent sinus infection. We experienced a woman who had sarcoidosis involving the inferior turbinate. She was treated with en block resection, systemic steroids and immunosuppressive agents. So, we report this case with the review of literature.
Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Sarcoidosis* ; Steroids ; Turbinates

A bezoar is a mass formed by the accumulation of digested food. A biliary bezoar, namely a bezoar formed in the bile duct, is rare, which occurs mostly in patients who formerly underwent cholecystectomy. It appears that incompetent sphincter produces occasional reverse flow of foreign bodies including undigested food from the alimentary canal into the bile tract. Surgical treatment is used for huge biliary bezoar which is too huge to be removed by nonsurgical treatment. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is mostly used to fragment renal or urinary calculi, but may be sparingly used against biliary calculi. This is to report the rare case of a patient with biliary bezoar who formerly underwent open cholecystectomy and choledocoduodenostomy. The patient's huge biliary bezoar was removed by ESWL and the successive execution of endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). ESWL is expected to be a comparatively safe and convenient solution to huge biliary bezoars.
Bezoars* ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Cholecystectomy ; Foreign Bodies ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Shock ; Urinary Calculi

PURPOSE: The detection of occult micrometastasis in breast cancer patients may allow the establishment of prognosis and development of new therapeutic approaches. This study was performed in order to improve on existing methods of detection by evaluating the potential of specific mRNA markers in reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of peripheral blood and bone marrow taken from patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were obtained from thirty-four breast cancer patients who undergone surgery in the Department of Surgery, Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital between January 2000 and May 2001. In RT-PCR, we tried multiple primers on breast cancer cell lines and patient samples. Using MUC-1 and CK19 mRNA primers, we detected micrometastasis in breast cancer patients. Subsequently, we analysed the correlation with RT- PCR results and other prognostic factors. RESULTS: MUC-1 and CK19 were detected in all breast cancer cell lines. However, CEA was not detected in some cell lines. CK19 showed greater sensitivity than MUC-1 in RT-PCR. Using MUC-1 as primers, the detection rate was 47.1% and 35.3% in bone marrow and peripheral blood, respectively. Seven patients (20.5%) were positive in both sources. In the case of CK19, the detection rate was 50% and 41.2% in bone marrow and peripheral blood, respectively. Twelve patients (35.2%), were noted as being positive for both primers. The concordance rate of both primers mers was 38.2% and 23.5% in bone marrow and peripheral blood, respectively. CK19 positivity in the peripheral blood was correlated with bone marrow positivity and MUC-1 positivity in both sources and inversely correlated with ER. CK19 positivity of bone marrow was correlated with MUC-1 positivity of bone marrow. CONCLUSION: CK19 and MUC-1 may be good candidates for use in RT-PCR for the detection of micrometastasis of breast cancer. CK19 showed greater sensitivity. However, using both primers in RT-PCR, we may detect micrometastasis more sensitively and specifically and more wisely choose a treatment modality.
Bone Marrow* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary antibody deficiency syndrome and has a high prevalence of gastrointestinal complications. We report the case of a 36-year-old male with CVID who presented with chronic intractable diarrhea and malabsorption. A comprehensive evaluation revealed no secondary causes of his symptoms. He was treated symptomatically without improvement. After receiving systemic steroid treatment, his symptoms improved, but returned soon after tapering the steroid. When he was subsequently administered oral budesonide, his symptoms and quality of life improved; this effect lasted for 20 months without unacceptable side effects.
Adult ; Budesonide* ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency* ; Diarrhea* ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; Male ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD)crystal deposition disease is one of the most common causes of arthralgia in elderly.The acute form (pseudogout) may present as acute monoarticular or polyarticular arthritis.It is often accompanied by high fever and sometimes simulates acute infectious condition.The knee is the joint most frequently affected by pseudogout but other sites such as wrist,shoulder,ankle,elbow and hands may be affected.A few cases involving cervical and lumbar spine mistaken for CNS infection have also been described in foreign countries.We report here a case of CPPD crystal deposition disease mimicking meningitis.
Arthralgia ; Calcium Pyrophosphate* ; Calcium* ; Chondrocalcinosis ; Fever ; Hand ; Joints ; Knee ; Meningitis ; Spine

Phagocytosis of serum- and IgG-opsonized zymosan (SOZ and IOZ, respectively) particles into J774A.1 macrophages induced apoptosis of the cells, accompanied by the expression of p21(WAF1), one of cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) inhibitors. Furthermore, phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles into macophages induced superoxide formation. Tat-superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is readily transduced into the cells using Tat-domain, protected the cells from the apoptosis induced by phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles. lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) also caused the apoptosis of the cells. However, Tat-SOD could not protect the cells from LPS/IFN-gamma induced apoptosis, suggesting that apoptosis mechanisms involved are different from each other. In the present study, we determined the amounts of nitric oxide (NO) produced by SOZ, IOZ, and LPS/IFN-gamma, and found that SOZ and IOZ did not induce the generation of NO in macrophages, whereas LPS/ IFN-gamma did. The apoptosis due to phagocytosis was accompanied with the release of cytochrome c from mitochondrial membrane to cytosolic fraction. Furthermore, SOZ and IOZ induced the cleavage of procasapase-3 (35 kDa) to give rise to an active caspase-3 (20 kDa), which was blocked by Tat- SOD but not by 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO), a scavenger of NO. On the other hand, LPS/IFN-gamma caused the activation of procaspase-3, which was blocked by PTIO but not by Tat-SOD. Taken together, phagocytosis of SOZ and IOZ particles induced apoptosis through superoxide but not NO in macrophages, accompanied with the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3.
Apoptosis/*immunology ; Caspases/metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cyclins/biosynthesis ; Cytochromes c/metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Interferon Type II/pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Macrophages/*immunology/metabolism ; Nitric Oxide/*metabolism ; Opsonins/immunology ; Phagocytosis/*physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Superoxides/*metabolism ; Zymosan