It has been reported that keratocytes endocytose foreign particles both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the active participation of keratocytes in corneal wound healing and host defense mechanism. This study was conducted to investigate the phagocytosis of keratocytes against Candida albicans[C.albicans]and the intracellular response after phagocytosis. C.albicans were fixed with glutaraldehyde and then coated with fibronectin. After exposing these C.albicans to the cultured rabbit keratocytes, the phagocytosis of keratocytes against C.albicans was evaluated by light microscope[LM]and transmission electron microscope[TEM], while the intracellular response was evaluated by changes of acid phosphatase activity. Also the study about latex beads was performed at the same time to know even if keratocytes can phagocytose foreign particles, regardless of wheather or not the particles are biodegradable. After Wright staining, phagocytosed latex beads and C.albicans were observed on LM and these were recognized to be surrounded by limiting membranes inside the cytoplasm of keratocytes on TEM. The phagocytic rates of fibronectin-coated were increased to 1.5 times , as compared with that of non-coated group. Acid phosphatase activities were higher in C.albicans-exposed groups than in control[keratocytes cultured without C.albicans or latex beads]during the culture period of 24 hours and they also increased according to culture duration and reached to the plateau after 12 hours. In comparison with non-coated group, fibronectin-coated groups showed a increasing tendency of acid phosphatase activity. These results suggest that keratocytes can phagocytose not only foreign particles but also C.albicans and that fibronectin may act as effective opsonin on phagocytosis, and that keratocytes phagocytosing C.albicans increase acid phosphatase activity to digest engulfed C.albicans when corneal stroma was wounded or inflammed.
Acid Phosphatase* ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Corneal Stroma ; Cytoplasm ; Fibronectins ; Glutaral ; Latex ; Membranes ; Microspheres ; Phagocytosis* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: Abdominal actinomycosis is a rare chronic suppurative infectious disease, caused by a gram-positive bands Actinomyces israelii organism. The pathogens produces a characteristic granulomatous inflammatory fibrosis and mass lesion. Actinomycosis is usually divided into three clinical types; cervicofascial, thoracic and abdominopelvic. This study was designed to investigate the clinical or radiologic variability and the meanings of the diagnostic differentiality of abdominopelvic actinomycosis when patients present with an unusual abdominal mass or abscess. METHODS: The medical records of 19 patients treated at the Departments of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dong-A University Hospital were reviewed. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic evaluation and surgical treatment results were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 19 patients, 7 cases involved the colon and 11 the uterus and ovary with one case also involving the retroperoneum and ureter. Most cases (84.2%) had predisposing factors of disease progression, including intrauterine device (IUD), abortion, previous surgery, appendicitis and diverticulitis. The common presentations of the patients were abdominal pain (57.8%) and a palpable mass (15.7%). Preoperatively, no case was diagnosed as actinomycosis, but misconceived as a pelvic abscess, ovarian or colon cancers, a mesenteric origin mass, a lymphoma, periappendiceal abscess, acute appendicitis, uterine myoma, dysfunctional uterine bleeding or endometriosis. Explorations were performed in all patients. Eighteen cases were cured following surgery with subsequent antibiotics. However, one case recurred due to incompletion of antibiotics following surgical drainage. CONCLUSION: Abdominopelvic actinomycosis should be included as a differential diagnosis when an unusual abdominal mass presents on abdominal CT or ultrasound. Appropriate antibiotics, as well as surgery, are important in the treatment of abdominopelvic actinomycosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Abortion, Induced ; Abscess ; Actinomyces ; Actinomycosis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendicitis ; Causality ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Diverticulitis ; Drainage ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Leiomyoma ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Metrorrhagia ; Obstetrics ; Ovary ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Brain Diseases* ; Brain Stem* ; Humans ; Hypertensive Encephalopathy ; Stroke, Lacunar*

PURPOSE: This study was to observe whether the apoptotic function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) is induced in human gastric epithelial dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma according to the role of FasL expression. MATENRIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 gastric epithelial dysplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled in this study: 9 cases of gastric epithelial dysplasia, 18 cases of early gastric carcinomas (EGC) and 29 cases of advanced gastric carcinomas (AGC). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for FasL and CD45, and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) method was used to detect cell death in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. RESULTS: 1) Positive reactions of FasL to neoplastic cells were 88.9% (8/9) in gastric epithelial dysplasia, 83.3% (15/18) in EGC, and 75.9% (22/29) in AGC. 2) Expression of TIL was decreased in the FasL positive region and was increased in the FasL negative region, and significant expression of TIL was observed in the AGC group (P=0.001). 3) Expression of apoptotic TIL was very similar to the FasL expression, and 100% expression was observed in gastric epithelial dysplasia group. 4) Expression of apoptotic TIL was increased in the FasL positive region and decreased in the FasL negative region, and significant apoptotic expression was observed in the gastric epithelial dysplasia and EGC groups (P=0.0420, P=0.0263, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FasL is a prevalent mediator of immune privilege in epithelial dysplasia and cancer of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase ; Humans ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Stomach Neoplasms

Endobronchial tuberculosis is defined as a specific inflammation of the trachea or major bronchi caused by the tubercle bacillus. It is recognized as one of the most common and serious complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. A diagnosis of endobronchial tuberculosis is difficult due to the diversity of radiological patterns. But, it is still relatively common disease in korea. Endobronchial tuberculosis as a cause of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is quite rare. The mortality rate of ARDS is still high in korea. The detection and early elimination of the causes for ARDS at the initial stage can result in a more favorable prognosis. So, patients with ARDS, especially due to endobronchial tuberculosis or other form of tuberculosis, should be treated with antituberculous drugs as soon as possible. We experienced a young female with complaints of sudden onset dyspnea, mild fever. In this case the clinical features, laboratory data and radiologic findings allowed an initial presentation of ARDS. The ARDS was defined by the American-Europian Consensus Conference 19921-3). The cause of ARDS was revealed endobronchial tuberculosis. We started antituberculosis medication and steroid injection quickly, which resulted in good prognosis. We emphasize the prognosis depends mainly on the early recognition and treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis.
Bacillus ; Bronchi ; Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Trachea ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Dengue fever/dengue shock syndrome is an acute febrile illness caused by a Flaviviridae virus. Dengue virus infection can cause a wide spectrum of illness, and disease is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, chill, severe headache, skin rash, general malaise and thrombocytopenia with hemoconcentration. Dengue fever is endemic in most tropical areas of world, including the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Tourists to these areas are liable to infection. We experienced a Korean female who returned to Korea from Myanmar in severely ill state. She was confirmed serologically to be inblieted with Dengue shock syndrome. In spite of intensive medical care, she died of Dengue shock syndrome. We emphasize that favorable prognosis depends mainly on the early recognition and treatment of shock.
Africa ; Asia, Southeastern ; Caribbean Region ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Flaviviridae ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Myanmar* ; Prognosis ; Severe Dengue* ; Shock ; South America ; Thrombocytopenia

Dengue fever/dengue shock syndrome is an acute febrile illness caused by a Flaviviridae virus. Dengue virus infection can cause a wide spectrum of illness, and disease is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, chill, severe headache, skin rash, general malaise and thrombocytopenia with hemoconcentration. Dengue fever is endemic in most tropical areas of world, including the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Tourists to these areas are liable to infection. We experienced a Korean female who returned to Korea from Myanmar in severely ill state. She was confirmed serologically to be inblieted with Dengue shock syndrome. In spite of intensive medical care, she died of Dengue shock syndrome. We emphasize that favorable prognosis depends mainly on the early recognition and treatment of shock.
Africa ; Asia, Southeastern ; Caribbean Region ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue* ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Flaviviridae ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Myanmar* ; Prognosis ; Severe Dengue* ; Shock ; South America ; Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the pregnancy outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) class A1 to those of GDM A2. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 99 women who were diagnosed as GDM during prenatal care and managed until delivery from March 1996 to September 2007. Subjects were grouped into GDM class A1 and class A2. The obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 57 cases of GDM class A1 and 42 cases of GDM class A2. Hemoglobin A1c level of GDM A2 group was significantly higher than GDM A1 group. We could not find any significant difference in obstetric (body mass index, hypertensive disorder, preterm delivery, preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membrane) and neonatal outcomes (gestational age at delivery, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of neonate, sepsis, Apgar score, congenital anomaly) between the two groups other than increased frequency of cesarean delivery and admission to neonatal intensive care unit in GDM A2 group. CONCLUSION: After proper management, overall pregnancy outcomes of women with GDM class A2 are comparable to those with GDM class A1.
Apgar Score ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Dystocia ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Prenatal Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sepsis ; Shoulder ; Tachypnea

Apicoectomy ; Busan ; Classification ; Dentigerous Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Jaw ; Male ; Methods ; Observational Study ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Prevalence ; Radicular Cyst ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Oral ; Tooth

No abstract available.
Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy