Although the histologic grade of astrocytic neoplasms of the brain have been used as a prognostic factor, the lack of an objective criteria is possible to create the disagreement of classification. We evaluated 25 cases of astrocytic neoplasms of brain to document the usefulness of prolifera-tive potential of tumor as a prognostic indicator and the correlation with histologic grade by Nils Ringertz. The Ringertz's classification was relatively simple in an application among the variable systems and easy to define the differentiate from grade to grade. The examined cases were com-prised of 7 astrocytomas, 9 anaplastic astrocytomas and 9 glioblastoma multif6rmes. The prolife-rative potential of tumors were measured by Ag-NORs count, PCNA labeling index and flow cytometric analysis. The mean numbers of Ag-NORs per cell and PCNA labeling index were sig-nificantly differ among each histologic grade. In addition, abnormal DNA content and high prolif-erative index were frequently identified in anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. Therefore, the Ag-NORs counts, PCNA labeling index, DNA index and proliferative index were well correlated with the histologic grade.

Spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis is one of the major causes of the low back pain and orthopaedic surgeons frequently encounter this problems with increasing tendency. In 19th century, spondylolisthesis had been studied by the European obstetrician as the main cause of dystocia. Advancement of the radiological techniques enabled us to know more precise degree of slipping. Therefore, many surgical techniques have been used. Spondylolysis has been also studied as the precursor of the spondylolisthesis. This report is based upon the analysis of the records of 26 patients who had operated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of National Medical Center from 1972 to 1981. The results were as follows. 1. Most common age group was 30–50 age group and theres no sexual difference. 2. Most common symptoms were lumbago and radiating pain and the most common sign was Lasegue sign. 3. Most common type was isthmic type and location was 5th lumbar vertebra, and degree of slipping was grade I by Meyerding's method. 4. The fusion of the grafted bone were observed in 24 cases among 26 cases: of which the duration were 3 months in 16 cases and remaining 8 cases had duration between 3 and 6 months. 5. Postoperative analysis under the basis of the functional recovery was satisfactory in 93% of cases by Gill's criteria.
Dystocia ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Pregnancy ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis ; Surgeons ; Transplants

No abstract available in English.
Gangrene

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; DNA* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Tuberculosis*

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a promising tool for dermal tissue regeneration. PRP combined with subcision can synergistically induce dermal tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PRP on the proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts, as well as on the type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-2 expression in these skin cells. The effect of PRP with subcision on the expression of TGF-beta1 was also investigated in an animal model. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of PRP. The proliferation and migration rate of the cells were evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion method and scratch assay, respectively. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were analyzed by western blot or RT-PCR. In addition, the activity levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were studied by zymography. Finally, we treated the animal back with PRP, subcision, or PRP with subcision. The specimens were evaluated by H&E, Masson-trichrome, and TGF-beta1 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Data from this study showed that PRP more effectively promoted the migration and proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were increased in PRP-treated fibroblasts at the protein and mRNA levels. The in vivo study revealed that the expression of TGF-beta1 was prominently increased by co-treatment with PRP and subcision rather than by treatment with either PRP or subcision alone. CONCLUSION: PRP treatment promoted fibroblast migration and proliferation, and increased the expression of type I collagen, MMP-1, MMP-2, and TGF-beta1. Therefore, PRP co-application with subcision is an effective method for dermal remodeling and can be a good treatment option for depressed acne scars.
Acne Vulgaris ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cicatrix ; Collagen Type I* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Trypan Blue

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a promising tool for dermal tissue regeneration. PRP combined with subcision can synergistically induce dermal tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of PRP on the proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts, as well as on the type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-2 expression in these skin cells. The effect of PRP with subcision on the expression of TGF-beta1 was also investigated in an animal model. METHODS: Human skin fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of PRP. The proliferation and migration rate of the cells were evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion method and scratch assay, respectively. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were analyzed by western blot or RT-PCR. In addition, the activity levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were studied by zymography. Finally, we treated the animal back with PRP, subcision, or PRP with subcision. The specimens were evaluated by H&E, Masson-trichrome, and TGF-beta1 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Data from this study showed that PRP more effectively promoted the migration and proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of type I collagen, MMP-1, and MMP-2 were increased in PRP-treated fibroblasts at the protein and mRNA levels. The in vivo study revealed that the expression of TGF-beta1 was prominently increased by co-treatment with PRP and subcision rather than by treatment with either PRP or subcision alone. CONCLUSION: PRP treatment promoted fibroblast migration and proliferation, and increased the expression of type I collagen, MMP-1, MMP-2, and TGF-beta1. Therefore, PRP co-application with subcision is an effective method for dermal remodeling and can be a good treatment option for depressed acne scars.
Acne Vulgaris ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cicatrix ; Collagen Type I* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Trypan Blue

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Drug Therapy, Combination*

PURPOSE: We sought to determine the impact of the factors that affect the mortality of critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted with sepsis or septic shock from April 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007, at a single, urban academic emergency department (ED). The primary outcome was patients' death. Predictor variables were the EDLOS, the time from registration to order for antibiotics administration, number of hospital days, initial systolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure after hydration, heart rate, respiration rate, body temperature, serum white blood cell count, and serum lactic acid level. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to elucidate the relationship of predictor variables to patients' death. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 12.0. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 56.2%. Average length of stay was 204.5+/-90.6 minutes in the survival group and 166.6+/-81.8 minutes in the death group (p=0.041). The mortality was not shown to be significantly different between patients spending less than 4 hours and patients spending over 4 hours. The relative risk (RR) for patients' death was significantly higher in patients with hypotension persisting despite adequate fluid resuscitation. CONCLUSION: EDLOS did not affect mortality for the patients admitted with sepsis or septic shock. The patients' prognoses were mainly related to the systolic blood pressure after hydration.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Cohort Studies ; Critical Illness ; Emergencies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lactic Acid ; Length of Stay ; Leukocyte Count ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A and 448 G/A polymorphisms and to determine the relationship of these single nucleotide polymorphisms with plasma fibrinogen concentration and with the development of ischemic stroke in Korea. METHODS: 123 patients who were diagnosed with ischemic stroke at Kyung Hee University Hospital from March 2003 to February 2004 were compared to 230 control subjects. The genotypes of the beta-fibrinogen gene -455 G/A and 448 G/A polymorphisms were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the allele frequencies of the patient group were compared to those of the control group. The associations of the single nucleotide polymorphisms with development of ischemic stroke and risk factors of ischemic stroke were assessed. RESULTS: The patient group had more heterozygotes (G/A or A/G) in the beta-fibrinogen gene than did the control group, and statistical analysis of the genotype frequencies indicated a significant difference between the patient group and the control group (p<0.05). The odds ratios of the allele frequencies were 1.53(95% CI; 1.03-2.29) for the -455 G/A polymorphism and 1.85(95% CI; 1.25-2.74) for the 448 G/A polymorphism, indicating a statistically significant difference between the patient and control groups. In ischemic stroke patients, the allele frequencies for smoking history and hyperfibrinogenemia yielded odds ratios of 1.96(95% CI; 1.17-3.27) and 2.40(95% CI; 1.31-4.40), respectively, for the -455 G/A polymorphism and 1.96(95% CI; 1.19-3.22) and 2.42(95% CI; 1.34-4.39) for the 448 G/A polymorphism. CONCLUSION: The -455 G/A and 448 G/A single nucleotide polymorphisms of the beta-fibrinogen gene appear to be associated with plasma fibrinogen concentration and the development of ischemic stroke in Korea.
Fibrinogen* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Korea ; Odds Ratio ; Plasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*

Moyamoya disease is characterized by progressive cerebrovascular occlusion at the peripheral internal carotid artery and development of abnormal collateral circulation at the cerebral basal region. Although abnormal thrombogenesis, inflammation and autoimmune process might be involved in the etiology, the genetic pathogenesis of Moyamoya disease is still unknown. To evaluate the association of Moyamoya disease with HLA alleles in the Korean population, we investigated HLA class I and class II alleles in 28 Moyamoya patients and 198 unrelated healthy controls. The frequency of HLA-B35 allele was significantly increased in the patients compared to the controls (32.1% vs. 10.1%, RR=4.2, p<0.008). Further analysis of HLA-B35 on onset age and sex showed that this allele was significantly increased compared to the controls in both late-onset and female group. Especially, HLA-B35 was the most significantly increased in female of late-onset group compared to the controls. These results suggest that HLA-B35 may be an useful genetic marker for Moyamoya disease, and particularly in females of late onset group in the Korean population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; *Genes, MHC Class I ; *Genes, MHC Class II ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; HLA Antigens/*genetics ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moyamoya Disease/*genetics/*immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't