BACKGROUND: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film photocatalyst generates strong oxidizing power when illuminated with Ultra Violet (UV) light with wavelengths of less than 385 nm. In this study, we evaluated the bactericidal activity of it against Escherichia coli, Aspergillus fumigatus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS: The TiO2 film were prepared from titanium isopropoxide solution and it was coated on either inner(test) or outer(control) side on Petri dish. annealing at 500 degrees C. The test and control suspension of E. coli, A. fumigatus and M. tuberculosis were grown in the chamber coated inner and outer side. respectively with UV light. For the blank, cell suspensions were grown in TiO2 coated Petri dishes without UV light. The bactericidal activities were estimated by survival ratio calculated from the number of viable cells which form the nutrient agar. RESULTS: In the test, the survival ratio for E. coli and M tuberculosis decreased to a negligible level (i.e., essentially complete sterilization) within 1hr and 2 hr, respectively. and that for 11. fumigatus decreased markedly to about 15% within 6 hr. In the control, the survival ratio for E. coli, A. fumigatus and M. tuberculosis decreased to 40% within 150 min. 6 he and 2 hr, respectively. In the blank, the survival ratio for E. coli and M tuberculosis decreased only about 67% within 150 min and 40% within 2hr. In A. fumigatus, TiO2 only caused little Sterilization within 4 hr. CONCLUSIONS: TiO2 photocatalysts under UV light clearly showed bactericidal activity against E. coli, A. fumigarus and M. tuberculosis. This feature render TiO2 photocatalysts to be applicable to eliminate microorganism from indoor air environment combined with ventilation.
Agar ; Aspergillus fumigatus* ; Aspergillus* ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Sterilization ; Suspensions ; Titanium* ; Tuberculosis* ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Ventilation ; Viola

BACKGROUND: Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is the most common nerve block procedure in pain clinics. To evaluate changes in the hemodynamics and peripheral blood flow on the affected extremity after SGB, SGB was performed unilaterally one at a time on the right and left stellate ganglions by injecting 1% mepivacaine 10 ml without epinephrine in a designated healthy man. METHODS: SGB was repeated 16 times in one subject (right side SGB: 8, left side SGB: 8) by the same clinician. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and peripheral blood flow were measured in the supine position before (control), and 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 minutes after SGB using thoracic electrical bioimpedence (Bioz system A-10043, Cardiodynamics, USA), sphygomanometer, and flow meter. RESULTS: The values after SGB including MAP, HR, CI, and SVRI increased slightly compared to the control value. However, peripheral blood flow increased significantly (p < 0.05). The SGB did not affect systematic hemodynamics and the comparison between left and right SGB in hemodynamic changes were not clinically significant. Following SGB, ptosis (100%), nasal stiffness (100%), skin temperature elevation (100%), hoarseness (100%), numbness (81%), dizziness (25%), and swallowing difficulty (25%) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that SGB showed to be a hemodynamically safe clinical technique.
Arterial Pressure ; Deglutition ; Dizziness ; Epinephrine ; Extremities ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Hoarseness ; Hypesthesia ; Mepivacaine ; Nerve Block ; Pain Clinics ; Skin Temperature ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Supine Position ; Vascular Resistance

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM MSCs) can differentiate into multi-lineage tissues. However, obtaining BM MSCs by aspiration is difficult and can be painful; therefore peripheral blood (PB) MSCs might provide an easier alternative for clinical applications. Here, we show that circulating PB MSCs proliferate as efficiently as BM MSCs in the presence of extracellular matrix (ECM) and that differentiation potential into osteoblast in vitro and in vivo. Both BM MSCs and PB MSCs developed into new bone when subcutaneously transplanted into immune-compromised mice using hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate as a carrier. Furthermore, LY294002 and Wortmannin blocked mesenchymal stem cell attachment in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase in MSC attachment. Our data showed that the growth of PB MSCs could be regulated by interaction with the ECM and that these cells could differentiate into osteoblasts, suggesting their potential for clinical applications.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Extracellular Matrix ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Phosphatidylinositols

Severe hypercalcemia is rarely encountered in children, even though serum calcium concentrations above 15-16 mg/dL could be life-threatening. We present a patient having severe hypercalcemia and azotemia. A 14-year-old boy with no significant past medical history was referred to our hospital with hypercalcemia and azotemia. Laboratory and imaging studies excluded hyperparathyroidism and solid tumor. Other laboratory findings including a peripheral blood profile were unremarkable. His hypercalcemia was not improved with massive hydration, diuretics, or even hemodialysis, but noticeably reversed with administration of calcitonin. A bone marrow biopsy performed to rule out the possibility of hematological malignancy revealed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His hypercalcemia and azotemia resolved shortly after initiation of induction chemotherapy. Results in this patient indicate that a hematological malignancy could present with severe hypercalcemia even though blast cells have not appeared in the peripheral blood. Therefore, extensive evaluation to determine the cause of hypercalcemia is necessary. Additionally, appropriate treatment, viz., hydration or administration of calcitonin is important to prevent complications of severe hypercalcemia, including renal failure and nephrocalcinosis.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adolescent ; Azotemia ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Child ; Diuretics ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia* ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Leukemia ; Male ; Nephrocalcinosis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency

We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs. Efficacy was defined as (1) the rate of castration (serum testosterone ≤50 ng dl^-1) at 4-week visit and (2) breakthrough (serum testosterone >50 ng dl^-1 after castration). Safety assessments included routine examinations for potential adverse events, laboratory tests, blood pressure, body weight, and bone mineral density (BMD, at baseline and at the last follow-up visit). QoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26). The most common initial therapeutic regimen was LHRH agonist with anti-androgen (78.0%), and the most commonly used LHRH agonist for combination and monotherapy was leuprolide (64.0% for combination and 58.0% for monotherapy). The castration and breakthrough rates were 78.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The laboratory results related to dyslipidemia worsened after 4 weeks of hormone treatment. In addition, the mean BMD T-score was significantly lower at the last follow-up (mean: -1.950) compared to baseline (mean: -0.195). The mean total EPIC-26 score decreased from 84.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 12.2) to 78.3 (s.d.: 8.1), with significant deterioration only in the urinary domain (mean: 23.5 at baseline and 21.9 at the 4-week visit). These findings demonstrate the nationwide trend of current practice settings in hormone treatment for PCa in Korea.
Aged ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use* ; Cholesterol/blood* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Leuprolide/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Quality of Life ; Receptors, LHRH/agonists* ; Republic of Korea ; Testosterone/blood* ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides/blood*