The titanium miniplate osteosynthesis system has been used for fixation of bone fragments in the maxillofacial areas due to easy manipulation and even has been proposed for unnecessity of miniplate removal because of the biocompatibility and the corrosion resistance. But recently, there have been some suggestions for its removal, on the basis of findings that there have been pigmentations around the adjacent tissues during miniplate removal procedure and they are the depositions of metal particles. Purposes of this study are to ascertain the presence and nature of pigmentation observed within tissues adjacent to titanium miniplate, and to suggest possible causes of it. We could observe the black pigmentation during miniplate removal procedure for recent about 1.5 year. Pigmented tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(H-E) for light microscophic(LM) examination to investigate the black pigmentations and the histomorphology around them. The scanning electron microscopy(SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray(EDX) analysis was used to examine the ultrastructural nature of pigmentations. Many metal particles with variable sizes and shapes were seen in the connective tissue by SEM and were identified as titanium by EDX.
Connective Tissue ; Corrosion ; Pigmentation* ; Titanium*

We have conducted a retrospective study of 224 patients with the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial infection who had been treated between 1988 and 1999 at Gyeong-Sang National University Hospital. This study was aimed to furnish the data of oral and maxillofacial infection and to aid diagnosis and treatment. The most common fascial space involved, as determined by clinical, radiologic, and operative findings, were the submandibular space(39.4%). The most frequent cause of oral and maxillofacial infection was odontogenic 68.8%. In the odontogenic cause, dental caries was the most common cause. Two-hundred three patients required surgical drainage of the abscess. Seventeen patients needed tracheostomy for airway control. The overall mortality was 0.9% despite aggressive anti-microbial therapy and early surgical intervention. All other patients had an uneventful recovery without major complication except osteomyelitis case(6.0%). The combination of early radiologic diagnosis, effective antimicrobial therapy, and intensive surgical management contributed to the good prognosis.
Abscess ; Airway Management ; Dental Caries ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Osteomyelitis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tracheostomy

Accidents, Traffic ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures ; Tooth Injuries ; Violence

Cartilage is commonly used autogenous material for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and major donor sites of cartilage are ear, nasal septum, and rib. As the cartilage correlates with ossification and can be used for joint reconstruction. Many growth factors influencing growth and differentiation of chondrocytes have been reported, and matrix composition produced by chondrocytes may vary in types and quantity according to culture duration. Initially the chondrocytes in culture aggregate, then secrete type I collagen. Type II collagen is produced during differentiation process, and synthesis of type X collagen is the last step. In this study, chondrocytes were isolated from ear cartilage of the New Zealand white rabbit weighing 400 gm. We performed high density culture using penicylinder and pellet method. The cells were polygonal in morphology and viable under the inverted microscope. This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of IGF-I, TGF- p, and b- FGF on the synthesis of collagen in chondrocyte culture. Optimal concentration of growth factors was determined using H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. After the addition of optimal concentration of each growth factors in experimental groups, the uptake of H-proline was measured. Only IGF-I showed a statistically significant increase of collagen synthesis. We observed how subtypes of collagen were influenced by growth factors in two culture methods and by differing the addition timing of growth factors. SDS-PAGE was adopted for subtyping of collagen. All subtypes of collagen were found in both culture methods and all growth factors facilitated the production of type II and type X collagen and may be devoted to the differentiation of chondrocytes. Immunohistochemical staining for type I, and type II collagen was examined to confirm the above result. In pellet culture, type II collagen was stained densely in response to the addition of three kinds of growth factors. The results of penicylinder culture showed similar outcome to those from pellet cultured group. From the above results, we concluded as follows; First, IGF-I generally influence the synthesis of type I and II collagen. Second, TGF beta increased the synthesis of collagen. Third, b-FGF increased the synthesis of type II and type X collagen. We concluded that IFG-I is the only growth factor which is effective regardless of culture duration and method. TGF- beta and b-FGF, which are potent mitogen, facilitate the secretion of collagen.
Cartilage ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II ; Collagen Type X ; Collagen* ; DNA ; Ear ; Ear Cartilage ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* ; Joints ; Nasal Septum ; New Zealand ; Ribs ; Tissue Donors

Osteoma is defined as a benign neoplasm of bony tissue. Osteomas are divided into two groups: central and peripheral by origin, compact and cancellous by histopathologic findings. Solitary osteoma of jaw bone, not related with Gardner syndrom, is relatively uncommon. We present two cases of huge solitary peripheral osteomas: compact type exophyting osteoma on the inferolingual side of mandibular angle and cancellous type on the residual ridge of posterior maxilla, which is extremely rare.
Jaw ; Maxilla ; Osteoma*

Acidosis ; Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Cyanosis ; Dantrolene ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Malignant Hyperthermia ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Pentobarbital ; Succinylcholine ; Tachycardia

PURPOSE: To determine the viability of human chondrocytes within refrigerated articular cartilage stored under conditions currently used clinically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteochondral sections of human ankle taluses were stored at 4 degrees C in DMEM media for 1 to 42 days. Articular cartilage was harvested and evaluated for histologic changes and proteoglycan synthesis. RESULTS: By day 7, markedly decreased proteoglycan synthesis was observed. After 21 days, synthetic activity was virtually undetectable. Histologic specimens demonstrated chondrocyte death of a half of the cells from the superficial layer at day 7. Within 21 days, significant chondrocyte death was seen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that proteoglycan synthetic activity and chondrocyte viability are markedly decreased in articular cartilage after cold storage for longer than 7 days.
Ankle ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Chondrocytes ; Humans* ; Proteoglycans ; Refrigeration ; Talus

PURPOSE: To characterize the chondrogenic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in porous polymeric scaffolds by poly (glycolic acid) (PGA) as three-dimensional constructs to facilitate chondrogenic differentiation. METHODS: Human MSCs were isolated by percoll gradient method and adherent cell cultures were obtained. Isolated MSCs were characterized with CD 34 and Sca-1 antibodies using flow cytometry. MSCs were seeded in the PGA polymeric scaffolds for 28 days in a specialized defined medium. The control group was examined without the specialized defined medium. The chondrogenesis of MSCs-seeded polymer scaffolds culture was assessed by histology, RT-PCR and 35S-sulfate incorporation. RESULTS: Flow cytometry result showed that CD 34 was negative and Sca-1 was 93+/-10% positive. By the histological analysis from Safranin-O staining, it was confirmed that the chondrogenic differentiated human MSCs expressed chondrocyte-like morphologies. We also observed that type II collagen was expressed by RT-PCR. The degree of proteoglycan synthesis was higher in the experimental group than the control group. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that the biodegradable porous polymeric scaffolds and the specialized defined medium is able to provide three-dimensional constructs for inducing chondrogenic differentiation of human MSCs.
Antibodies ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Chondrogenesis ; Collagen Type II ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Polymers* ; Proteoglycans

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and macrophage cells in the pathogenesis of diabetic frozen shoulders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five diabetic frozen shoulders which were resistant to conservative treatment were involved in this study. Synovial tissue was obtained during arthroscopic adhesiolysis. The synovial tissue of the shoulders from cadava dominators who had no history of shoulder joint disease was used for the control study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with polyclonal antibodies against VEGF and CD68 macrophage/synovial antigen. RESULTS: Injection and hypertrophy of the synovium and thickening of the capsule were noted in all diabetic frozen shoulders. Strong immunostaining to VEGF and CD68 was observed in all diabetic frozen shoulders, whereas the control specimens showed little staining. CONCLUSION: From these results it would be postulated that the VEGF, synthesized and secreted by macrophage/synovial cells of the diabetic frozen shoulders stimulate regional angiogenesis which leads to synovitis and fibrosis could be one of the leading factors in the pathogenesis of frozen shoulders in diabetic patients.
Antibodies ; Bursitis* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Macrophages ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

This study attempted to calculate and investigate the incidence of hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in Korea. Using the National Health Insurance claim data, we investigated patients whose main diagnostic codes included AMI or stroke during 2006 to 2010. As a result, we found out that the number of AMI hospitalized patients had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 15,893 in 2010; and that the number of those with stroke had decreased since 2006 and amounted to 73,501 in 2010. The age-standardized incidence rate of hospitalized AMI, after adjustment for readmission, was 41.6 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 29.4 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In the case of stroke was estimated at 172.8 cases per 100,000-population in 2006, and had decreased to 135.1 cases in 2010 (for trend P < 0.001). In conclusion, the age-standardized incidence rates of both hospitalized AMI and stroke in Korea had decreased continuously during 2006 to 2010. We consider this decreasing trend due to the active use of pharmaceuticals, early vascular intervention, and the national cardio-cerebrovascular disease care project as the primary and secondary prevention efforts.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hospitalization/*trends ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*epidemiology ; Patient Readmission ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sex Factors ; Stroke/*epidemiology ; Young Adult