No abstract available.
Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant, Newborn*

This study was undertaken to develop species-specific forward and universal reverse PCR primers for the detection of Streptococcus sobrinus. These primers target the variable regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA coding gene (rDNA) and their specificity was tested against 10 strains of S. sobrinus strains and 20 different species of oral bacteria using serial dilutions of the purified genomic DNA of S.sobrinus ATCC 33478T . Our data show that species-specific amplicons were obtained from all the S. sobrinus strains tested but not from other species. Both direct and nested PCR could detect as little as 400 pg and 4 fg of genomic DNA from S. sobrinus ATCC 33478T , respectively. This result suggests that these PCR primers are highly specific and sensitive and applicable to the detection of S. sobrinus.
Bacteria ; Clinical Coding ; Collodion ; DNA ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus sobrinus

This study examined the acute effects of ethanol (EtOH) on the firing patterns of Purkinje cells (PCs) using an intracellular recording in slice preparation of rat cerebellum. The experiments were performed in sagittal cerebellar slices (400 microm) of adult Sprague-Dawley rats (80-100g). Ethanol was applied by a bath superfusion with a known concentration expressed as the percentage of solution by volume (v/v) at 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%. The result of the Chi-square test illustrated that the firing patterns were altered significantly after EtOH (p=0.007). However, the firing patterns that were altered by EtOH application were not affected by EtOH concentration (p= 0.1296). Among the 54 PCs tested, 30 PCs did not display any spontaneous firing activity and 24 PCs displayed spontaneous spike activity, either spiking in the simple manner (n=14) or cyclicly oscillating (n=10). In the presence of EtOH, 31 PCs were quiet, 22 PCs exhibited simple spiking activity and 1 PC continued to oscillate. Most PCs that displayed spontaneous activity before EtOH application progressively slowed their spike activity after EtOH superfusion. Especially, it was evident that 9 out of 10 oscillating PCs stopped their regular cyclic activity. In addition, 9 out of 14 PCs that displayed simple spike activity ceased to fire after EtOH application. Eleven out of 30 quiet PCs began to fire irregularly after EtOH application and this phenomenon usually occurred with membrane depolarization. EtOH induced spontaneous activity in 36.7% (11/30) of the quiescent PCs. In conclusion, there was differential EtOH sensitivity in the vitro slice preparation. EtOH depressed the endogenously generated spontaneous activity, especially the oscillatory firing activity. In contrast, the silent PCs were excited after EtOH application. Since this differential sensitivity persists in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), it is suggested that this differential sensitivity is peculiar to the PCs.
Animal ; Ethanol/*toxicity ; In Vitro ; Purkinje Cells/*drug effects/physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tetrodotoxin/pharmacology

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine whether maturatin alters endothelium- dependent responses in pulmonary arteries. METHODS: Vascular rings of pulmonary arteries, with and without endothelium, taken from rabbits of 3 and 30 days of age were suspended in organ chambers filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution, bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2 and maintained at 37degrees C. Immediately after mounting, the rings were stretched progressively until a maximal response to KCl was achieved. The rings were incubated with indomethacin and allowed to equilibrate before contraction and relaxation study. RESULTS: When the endothelium was intact in arterial rings from 3-day-old rabbits, acetylcholine (ACH) (10-6 M) relaxed preconstricted rings with histamine (5x10-6 M) (98.1 4.7% relaxation, mean SD). In rings without endothelium, KCl (10-2 to 9x10-2 M) and histamine (5x10-8 to 10-5 M) caused concentration-dependent contractions. When normalized to maximal contractions achieved to each agonist, the concentration-effect curves to KCl and histamine in rings without endothelium were similar to both ages. Rings with endothelium showed a progressive shift to the right of the concentration- effect curve to histamine. Relaxation to sodium nitroprusside were unaffected by age. In preconstricted ring, ACH (10-8 to 5x10-6 M) caused relaxations in rings with endothelium which were greater at 30-day compared to 3-day-old rabbits. CONCLUSION: These study demonstrates that endothelium-dependent relaxation increase with age, possibly due to changes in the release and/or effect of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF or nitric oxide) from pulmonary arteries during the neonatal period.
Acetylcholine ; Endothelium ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Histamine ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nitroprusside ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Rabbits ; Relaxation*

A case is reported of neurilemmoma of the right masseteric nerve in the masseter muscle. We experienced a 34-years-old male patient who had neurilemmoma in the masseter muscle caused by chronic irritation. Special stain using S-100 immunoperoxidase was useful in establishing the diagnosis in this case. The most important aspect of this case is the anatomical site of the neurilemmoma; this tumor was originated from the masseteric nerve and is the first case reported in the masseter muscle. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor and no recurrence occured.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Masseter Muscle* ; Neurilemmoma* ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: The effect of basal day 3 luteinizing hormone (LH) and pituitary desensitized day 3 LH level on ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were investigated. METHODS: From January 1999 to December 2001, 445 cycles for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were allocated to this study. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was performed using long protocol of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). All patients included in this study had blood samples drawn on cycle day 3 prior to COH and cycle day 3 after pituitary desensitization with GnRHa for measurement of FSH and LH. Infertile women were younger than 43 years old, and had normal menstrual cycle, normal day 3 FSH and LH level (<10 mIU/ml), infertility factor caused by tubal factor, mild endometriosis, unexplained infertility or mild male subfertility. The result of COH and IVF-ET were compared between low LH group and high LH group according to the level of basal LH (3 mIU/ml) and down-regulated LH (1 mIU/ml). RESULTS: The low LH groups were significantly higher FSH:LH ratio, higher dose of exogenous gonadotropin for pituitary desensitization, longer duration of gonadotropin administration. The peak estradiol, number of oocytes retrieved, number of MII oocyte, mean cumulative embryo score (MCES) were significantly lower in the low LH group than the high LH group. There were not significantly differentiation in the duration of pituitary desensitization, fertilization rate and the number of transferred embryos. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was not correlated with the value of basal LH concentration, but correlated with the value of down-regulated LH concentration. CONCLUSION: The lower LH activity (basal LH <3 mIU/ml, down-regulated LH <1 mIU/ml) is significantly associated with reduced ovarian response in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation after desensitization with GnRHa. These results suggest that down-regulated LH level 1 mIU/ml may be a useful predictor of the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.
Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Endometriosis ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Menstrual Cycle ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate

The sacral area is the most frequent site of pressure sore. Because bony prominence is broad and flat along with little soft tissue padding. Between many muscle flaps, the gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap is the most reliable one for surgery of sacral pressure sores. After complete resection of ulcer, the gluteus maximus muscle detached from its original site including posterior iliac crest. After adequate dissection proceeded and bony prominence removed, flap repair is done at the central line. When performing this flap, most surgeon use elliptical design and incision. In the past, we also used elliptical incision and sometimes experienced some drawbacks especially when wound extended close to anus. There are difficulties on repair of perianal skin, central tension of long vertical scar, perianal skin adhesion and natal cleft distortion and resulting asymmetry of gluteal contour and contamination of operation site by defication. After review of the photographs in the references dealing with pressure sores, we had an impression that there are skin adhesion near the anus in some cases and actually experienced such cases in other surgeon's operations. This time, we applicate new design called the "Bomb-shape" design when performing this flap to patients who have a broad wound extent close to anus or perianal skin. The "Bomb-shape" design is a concept of adding bilateral subcutaneous incisions to lower part of classic elliptical incision and we named as such because it resembles the military bomb in shape. We expect the effect of preserving the perianal skin and preventing the skin adhesion or natal cleft distortion and performed this procedure in 15 patients whose defect close to anus. Consequently, benefits of this method are spreading tension of vertical scar, decreased contamination in wound care, earn skin stability without perianal skin adhesion or natal cleft distortion, so maintain the symmetry of gluteal contour and get better cosmetic result. There is no significant increase in operation time in that no need of handling the "dog-ear", and all 15 patients have good results and are satisfied, so we introduce this flap design carefully with concurrent review of literature.
Anal Canal ; Bombs ; Cicatrix ; Concurrent Review ; Humans ; Military Personnel ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

The evolution of surgical approaches to the medial orbit has been driven by the need to achieve safe, versatile, and direct access, while minimizing unwanted structural changes and scarring. Previous approaches such as medial skin incision or inferior transconjuntival incision have limited overview and may leave visible scar or lid retraction. Transcaruncular approach may successfully resolve such problems and maybe the first choice of method in reduction of medial orbit. The anatomy underlying the transcaruncular approach suggests that it offers the same excellent exposure of the medial wall as the Lynch approach. An incision through the caruncle and dense fibrous condensation passes along a natural plane between Horner's muscle and the medial orbital septum. So minimal bleeding occurs and can exposure the fracture site in the shortest time. We used this method in 22 patients for reduction of medial orbital wall fractures and it provides excellent surgical exposure, easy and rapid, and no visible scar remained.
Cicatrix ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Orbit* ; Skin

PURPOSE: Severe neck contracture is a problem that must be resolved by priority. We consider the best contracture treatment to be the full-thickness skin graft. However, clinicians often encounter patients, especially extensive burn patients, who have insufficient donor sites for the full-thickness skin graft. We treated extensive burn patients with neck scar contractures with a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) combined with dermal substitutes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of neck contracture treatment in extensive burn patients performing STSG with dermal substitutes as adjuvant treatment. METHODS: We analyzed the retrospective clinical and photographic records of 28 patients with severe neck contracture who were admitted to Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from January 2012 to December 2012. We performed STSG in combination with dermal substitutes to minimize the degree of contracture. RESULTS: The overall take rate of skin to dermal substitutes was 95.9%, and no grafts failed to affect recontracture except in one patient with a partial loss of artificial dermis who underwent a follow-up skin graft without any problems. Excellent/good outcomes were shown in 27 out of 28 patients. CONCLUSION: In extensive burn patients, skin grafting in combination with dermal substitutes can be an alternative to STSG alone for contracture release.
Burns* ; Cicatrix ; Contracture* ; Dermis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and CD-44 molecules in cervical cancer and compare the results with known clinical prognostic factors, and lastly to define the roles of Bcl-2 and CD-44 molecules in tumorigenesis and metastasis of cervical cancer. METHODS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled in this study and retrospective analysis of prognostic factors were compared with immunohistochemical staining of Bcl-2 and CD-44. RESULTS: The expression of Bcl-2 was relatively even when we compared with stage, cell types, grade and lymph node metastasis. And the CD-44 spliced variant form V6 expression was significantly strong in higher stage and positive lymph node metastasis but cell types and grade of tumor does not correlated with status of CD-44 expression. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 expression in cervical cancer does not correlate with clinical prognostic factors, but CD-44 spliced variant V6 form does correlated with poor prognostic factors. CD-44 may play a role in the process of the tumor metastasis and poor prognosis.
Carcinogenesis ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*