Tono-Pen was portable, miniaturized digital electronic tonometer. We compared Tono-Pen with Goldmann applanation tonometer through the mass screen studies on 634 eyes of 317 patients to evaluate the reliability of the Tono-Pen in determining intraocular pressure(IOP). We found 60% of the Tono-Pen readings to be within +/-1.5 mmHg of the Goldmann applanation tonometry readings and 85% to be within +/-2.5 mmHg difference. The correlation coefficient between the readings of the two instruments was 0.85. The Tono-Pen tonometry corresponded well to the Goldmann applanation tonometry in the 11 to 20 mmHg interval. We concluded that Tono-Pen tonometry is very useful in screening test to measure the intraocular pressure.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Manometry* ; Mass Screening ; Reading

Using 3D ultrasound, bilateral chylothorax was diagnosed antenatally in the second trimester. Apparently stable, bilateral pleural effusion progressed rapidly to severe hydrops with facial edema during observation, and then we decided bilateral pleural-amniotic shunt operation. Here we present a case where drainage of pleural effusion by a double reverse pig tail stent made by ourself was achieved, although placement of the thoracoamniotic shunt resulted in near complete drainage of bilateral pleural effusion with normalization of intrathoracic anatomic relationships, subsequent resolution of fetal hydrops, but the ultimate outcome was unsuccessful due to the internalization of one catheter and unknown sudden death. We think that ongoing research is required to further evaluation about complications associated with this procedure, specifically failure of function due to obstruction, migration of the catheter,
Catheters ; Chylothorax* ; Death, Sudden ; Drainage ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Stents ; Tail ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To determine the MR and CT imaging findings of inflammatory pseudotumor of the extraorbital head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the MR (n=10) and CT (n=9) imaging studies of 11 patients with this condition (M:F=5:6, age range: 35-75 years), analysing each case in terms of location, occupying space, signal intensity, intracranial involvement, degree of contrast enhancement and adjacent bone change. Follow-up images were obtained in nine cases, and the response of each patient to steroid treatment was reviewed. RESULTS: Lesions involved the masticator space (n=8), the buccal space (n=6), the nasopharynx (n=5), the paranasal sinus (n=4), the parapharyngeal space (n=3), the prevertebral space (n=2), the orbit (n=2), the carotid space (n=2), the paravertebral space (n=1), parotid space (n=1), and the oral cavity (n=1). In ten of eleven cases, there was adjacent bone change. In three cases, the cavernous sinus was involved, and in two, the dura. One case involved both of them. At T2-weighted imaging, the lesions showed hypointensity in nine of ten cases; in four of nine, signal intensity was markedly low, and in no case was it diffusely high. In five of nine cases, the mass decreased in size after steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory pseudotumor showed iso-to hypointensity at T2-weighted imaging. Lymphadenopathy was not apparent.
Cavernous Sinus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Head* ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mouth ; Nasopharynx ; Neck* ; Orbit

The characterization and potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are gender dependent and estrogen influences these properties. This study demonstrated that supplementation with 17β-estradiol (E2) increases the proliferation of bone marrow-MSCs derived from male and female mini-pigs (Mp- and Fp-BMSCs) in a concentration-dependent manner, with 10(-12) M E2 suggested as the optimal dose of E2 that led to the greatest improvement in BMSCs proliferation. Supplementation of 10(-12) M E2 resulted in down-regulation of β-galactosidase activity and pro-apoptotic activity in both BMSCs, while anti-apoptotic activity was up-regulated in only Fp-BMSCs. Further, E2 increased the osteogenic ability of Fp-BMSCs. Based on these findings, optimal utilization of E2 can improve cellular senescence and apoptosis, as well as in vitro osteogenesis of BMSCs, and could therefore be useful in stem cell therapy, particularly in bone regeneration for adult females.
Adult ; Aging* ; Apoptosis ; Bone Regeneration ; Cell Aging ; Down-Regulation ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female* ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Male* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Osteogenesis ; Stem Cells

The coexistence of aspergillosis and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the maxillary sinus was very rare. To our knowledge, this is the second report of coexistent SCC and aspergillosis in the maxillary sinus. A 58-year-old man underwent surgery for unilateral maxillary sinus infection with oroantral fistula. In the surgical specimen, SCC and aspergillosis were co-detected with routine and immunohistochemical stainings. Moreover, human papillomavirus 18 (HPV-18) was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the sinus specimen. The patient was re-operated with subtotal maxillectomy and has been followed up for two years without any evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Although it is not understood how aspergillosis could induce carcinoma formation, the chronic inflammation caused by prolonged fungal infection might be carcinogenic. Moreover, HPV-16 and -18 were another causative pathogens of SCC in the head and neck region. We recommend careful examination, including preoperative cytology, in patients with maxillary sinus fungal infections because of the potential for cancer development.
Aspergillosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Head ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Maxillary Sinus ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oroantral Fistula ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the new polymorphism at position 2964 (G/A) in the 3' untranslated region of the STAT-6 gene is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its clinical features. METHODS: A polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine genotypes of the STAT-6 in 90 SLE patients and 148 healthy controls. Clinical and serological manifestations were analyzed in each patient and correlated with the genotypes. RESUTLS: The genotype distribution of the STAT-6 differed significantly between SLE patients and control subjects (AA, AG, GG genotypes 7, 74, 9 vs. 1, 119, 28 controls respectively, p= 0.003). The frequency of AA genotype (7.8%) is significantly increased in SLE patients compared with controls (0.7%)(OR=12.398, 95% CI 1.50~102.5, Fisher's exact test, p=0.005). Clinically in the lupus patients according to the STAT-6 genotypes, there was no significant difference in age at onset, anti-ds-DNA titer, C3, C4 level, SLEDAI, SLICC/ACR Damage Index, or autoantibodies such as RF, anti-Ro, La, RNP, Sm antibodies, except for renal involvement. The frequency of lupus nephritis was significantly higher in the AA genotype in comparison with GG genotype (Fisher's exact test, p=0.019). CONCLUSION: Our data show that the STAT-6 AA genotype may contribute to susceptibility to SLE and may be associated with development of lupus nephritis.
3' Untranslated Regions ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lupus Nephritis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate whether the differences of PG concentration in follicular and peritoneal fluid during preovulatory phase exist between the women with and without endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with endometriosis, 8 were stage I-II and 15 were stage III-IV, and another 23 patients without endometriosis were undergone laparotomy during late follicular phase. Peritoneal fluid from 46 patients and follicular fluid from 42 patients were obtained, and these samples were analyzed double times for PGF2alpha, PGE2 and estradiol. RESULTS: The mean level of PGF2alphain the peritoneal fluid was significantly higher in the group with endometriosis than in the control(P=0.0293), especially more significant in stage I-II endometriosis. Although there was no significant difference of PGF2alphaconcentration in the follicular fluid between the groups, the stage III-IV endometriosis group showed slightly higher PGF2alphalevel than both the stage I-II group and the control(P=0.0604). And also, there was significant positive correlation with the level of PGF2alphaand estradiol in the follicular fluid only in the endometriosis group(r=0.4988, P=0.0154), not in the control. However, there was no difference in the level of PGE2 and estradiol in the peritoneal or follicular fluid between the groups. CONCLUSION: Some alterations of PGF2alphalevel exist in the women with endometriosis. These are significantly higher PGF2alphalevel in peritoneal fluid with mild endometriosis and slightly higher PGF2alphalevels in follicular fluid with extensive endometriosis during preovulatory phase, which suggest that PGF2alphamay play some roles in subfertility associated with endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Dinoprost* ; Dinoprostone ; Endometriosis* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicular Fluid ; Follicular Phase* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Laparotomy

Evidence indicates that Helicobacter pylori is the causative agent of chronic gastritis and perhaps gastric malignancy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in the evolutional process of malignancy due to their genetic material cargo. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and biological mechanism of H. pylori EVs on the pathogenesis of gastric malignancy. We performed 16S rDNA-based metagenomic analysis of gastric juices either from endoscopic or surgical patients. From each sample of gastric juices, the bacteria and EVs were isolated. We evaluated the role of H. pylori EVs on the development of gastric inflammation in vitro and in vivo. IVIS spectrum and confocal microscopy were used to examine the distribution of EVs. The metagenomic analyses of the bacteria and EVs showed that Helicobacter and Streptococcus are the two major bacterial genera, and they were significantly increased in abundance in gastric cancer (GC) patients. H. pylori EVs are spherical and contain CagA and VacA. They can induce the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β by macrophages, and IL-8 by gastric epithelial cells. Also, EVs induce the expression of interferon gamma, IL-17 and EV-specific immunoglobulin Gs in vivo in mice. EVs were shown to infiltrate and remain in the mouse stomach for an extended time. H. pylori EVs, which are abundant in the gastric juices of GC patients, can induce inflammation and possibly cancer in the stomach, mainly via the production of inflammatory mediators from gastric epithelial cells after selective uptake by the cells.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Animals ; Bacteria ; Epithelial Cells* ; Extracellular Vesicles* ; Gastric Juice* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation* ; Interferons ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Macrophages ; Metagenomics ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Streptococcus

Purpose: Adenosine A2A receptor agonist polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) possesses an anti-inflammatory effect and suppress apoptotic cell death in several disorders. In this current study, the effect of PDRN on inflammation and apoptosis in rats with Achilles tendon injury was investigated. Methods: von Frey filament test and plantar test were conducted for the determination of pain threshold. Analysis of histological alterations was conducted by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemistry for cleaved caspase-3-positive cells and cleaved caspase-9-positive cells was done. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and cyclic adenosine-3’,5’-monophosphate (cAMP). Western blot was conducted to detect the protein levels of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), protein kinase A (PKA), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Results: PDRN treatment relieved mechanical allodynia and alleviated thermal hyperalgesia after Achilles tendon injury. TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were decreased by PDRN application. PDRN injection significantly enhanced cAMP concentration and phosphorylated CREB versus CREB ratio, showing cAMP-PKA-CREB pathway was activated by PDRN application. PDRN treatment inhibited percentages of cleaved caspase-3-positive cells and caspase-9-posiive cells and the suppressed Bax versus Bcl-2 ratio in Achilles tendon injury rats. Conclusions PDRN is probably believed to have a good effect on pain and inflammation in the urogenital organs. PDRN may be used as a new treatment for Achilles tendon injury.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of three different cryoprotectants on basic stem cell characteristics for the possibility of using well defined, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and serum free freezing solutions to cryopreserve human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) following controlled rate freezing protocol. METHODS: The mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human Wharton's jelly were cryopreserved using 10% DMSO, 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a cocktail solution comprising of 0.05 M glucose, 0.05 M sucrose and 1.5 M ethylene glycol following controlled rate freezing protocol. We investigated the post-thaw cell viability, morphology, proliferation capacity, basic stem cell characteristics, in vitro differentiation potential and apoptosis-related gene expression profile before and after cryopreservation. RESULTS: The cryoprotectant 10% DMSO has shown higher post-thaw cell viability of 81.2+/-0.58% whereas 10% PVP and cocktail solution have shown 62.87+/-0.35% and 72.2+/-0.23%, respectively at 0 h immediately thawing. The cell viability was further reduced in all the cryopreserved groups at 24 h later post-thaw culture. Further, the complete elimination of FBS in cryoprotectants has resulted in drastic reduction in cell viability. Cryopreservation did not alter the basic stem cell characteristics, plasticity and multipotency except proliferation rate. The expression of pro-apoptotic BAX and p53 genes were higher whilst p21 was lower in all the cryopreserved groups when compare to the control group of WJMSCs. CONCLUSION: Although 10% DMSO has shown higher post-thaw cell viability compare to 10% PVP and cocktail solution, the present study indicates the feasibility of developing a well-defined DMSO free cryosolution which can improve storage and future broad range applications of WJMSCs in regenerative medicine without losing their basic stem cell characteristics.
Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cryopreservation* ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ethylene Glycol ; Freezing* ; Genes, p53 ; Glucose ; Humans* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Plastics ; Povidone ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells ; Sucrose ; Transcriptome ; Wharton Jelly