In the present study, we examined to determine the development of various lymphoid tissue including mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), thymus, lymph node and liver. In order to investigate the relationship between the morphological events and the expression pattern of MIC2 antigen (CD99) during the development of lymphoid system, we performed the immunohistochemical study using DN16, a monoclonal antibody against MIC2 (CD99), on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded lymphoid sections in 68 human embryos and fetuses, between 5 and 39 gestational week (GW). Four neonates, an infant, and 5 adults are also included. CD99 has been expressed along the membrane of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells for 10-28 GW, in when the liver the major site of hematopoiesis. In the thymus, CD99 was firstly detected in the presumptive epitheial cells at 10 GW. When the thymus matured and corticomedullary differentiation appeared, CD99 was exclusively expressed in cortical thymocytes. The CD99 expression in epithelial cells of MALT has initiated at 6 GW and 10 GW earlier than that at the onset of MALT development and its expression has been persisted during MALT formation especially 16-25 GW. The finnding that CD99 antigen was expressed in epithelial cells during the development of MALT rnight provide a means to identify a novel epithelial differentiated substance. In addition, endothelial cells that are present in various organs such as liver and small intestine concurrently expressed CD99 antigen and its expression persisted to late fetal period. This point rnight suggest that CD99 antigen regulate the irnigration of lymphocytes from liver, major hematopoietic organ, to thymus or peripheral lyrnphoid organ via the interaction between endothelial cells and lymphocytes.
Adult ; Embryonic Structures* ; Endothelial Cells ; Epithelial Cells ; Fetus* ; Hematopoiesis ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Membranes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment of metallic biliary stent placement and radiotherapy in malignant biliary obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1992 and February 1994, 22 patients with malignant biliary obstruction were treated with metallic biliary stent placement and radiotherapy. The causes of the obstruction included cholangiocarcinoma(n=14), gallbladder carcinoma(n=4), colon cancer(n=2), pancreatic head cancer (n=1), and stomach cancer(n=1). According to the sites of obstruction level, patient were divided into 2 groups; hilar obstruction(n=18) and common bile duct obstruction(n=4). The patients received dose of 45 Gray/18 fraction by external radiotherapy and 20Gy/8f by high dose rate brachytherapy with iridium--192 source through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD) catheter. The duration of stent patency after placement, survival period and survival rate by Kaplan Meier method were calculated in dead and alive patients, respectively. RESULTS: In all 22 patients, the duration of stent patency was 5.5(1.3--18.5)months. Survival periods after stent placement and PTBD were 5.3(2.0--8.5 )months and 7.9(4.0--14.7)months respectively in 9 dead patients and 7.7(1.3--21.0)months and 9.5(2.3--23.0)months in 13 alive patients. In all 22 patients, the survival rates in 6, 12 and 18 months were 78.9%, 47.5 % and 35.6 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results with combined metallic biliary stent placement and radiotherapy for the palliative treatment of malignant biliary obstruction in this study was more favorable, as compared with those of the other authors with only metallic biliary stent placement.
Brachytherapy ; Catheters ; Colon ; Common Bile Duct ; Gallbladder ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Radiotherapy* ; Stents* ; Stomach ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of fentanyl and midazolam on in vitro fertilization rate and early embryo development in a mouse IVF model. METHODS: Mouse oocytes were exposed in vitro to fentanyl at a concentration of 0(control), 50, 250, 500, 1000, 5000 pg/ml, and midazolam, 0(control), 2.5, 12.5, 25, 50, 250 ng/ml for 30 minutes, washed and inseminated. Thereafter fertilization was assessed. And subsequent in vitro development to the blastocyst stage was monitored daily. RESULTS: Where fertilization occurred, subsequent embryo cleavage and development up to the blastocyst stage was affected significantly by the presence of fentanyl and midazolam solution in the medium(i.e., 14% to 31%, 10% to 35%), in comparison with control group( 60%, 62%). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from these experiments that even a brief exposure of cumulus enclosed oocytes to a low concentration of fentanyl, midazolam is deleterious to subsequent cleavage.
Anesthetics ; Animals ; Blastocyst ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fentanyl* ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Mice* ; Midazolam* ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Sepsis*

No abstract available.

Incipient changes of the periodontal tissue in the pressure zones of rat molar subjected to the experimental force were studied by the transmission electron microscope. Experimental animals were consisted in 3 control and 21 experimental rats, of which one maxillary first molar was moved buccally with a fixed appliance which were exerting the force of 15 gm. After experimental period of 1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days and 7 days, the animal were sacrificed with cardiac perfusion of 2.5% glutaraldehyde in the sodium cacodylate buffer and the experimental teeth with surrounding periodontal structures were processed for electron microscope. At the beginning of the tooth movement, periodontal ligaments of the pressure were compressed and collagenous fibers were arranged parallel to the root of the teeth and cell free zones in company with cell necrosis were followed. Cell free zones at the periodontal ligaments appreared in the 3 hour survival group, and getting severe with time lapse it became widespread in 2-3 day survival group and undermining bone resorption as a healing process was observed in 7 day survival group. Dilatation of mitochondria and swelling of the rER in the fibroblast and other connective tissue cells in the periodontal ligament were observed in the 3 hour survival group, which were characteristics of the incipient changes in the compressed periodontal ligament. Dilatation of nuclear membrane and pyknosis were followed by the destruction of the nucleus and cell membrane. There were no evidence in cell damage or necrosis of the alveolar bone adjacent to the hyalinized area of periodontal ligaments.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Cacodylic Acid ; Cell Membrane ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue Cells ; Dilatation ; Fibroblasts ; Glutaral ; Hyalin ; Mitochondria ; Molar* ; Necrosis ; Nuclear Envelope ; Perfusion ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontium* ; Rats* ; Sodium ; Tooth Movement* ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: It is necessary to develop a proper payment system for more health care facilities to provide hospice and palliative cares. In deciding the proper level of payment for hospice per diem fee, willingness to pay (WTP) may provide one of the critical information. This study was conducted to determine WTP for hospice care and to analyze those factors affecting WTP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A contingent valuation method with a double-bounded dichotomous-choice model was used. Interview survey was organized and conducted by a survey company from April 4 to 18, 2008. The mean WTP was calculated through an infinite integration of survival functions. RESULTS: The average willingness to pay was found to be 42,240 Korean won (KRW) (USD 35), with the amount becoming higher as hospice services were deemed more necessary or where average monthly household income was higher. The amount was also higher among male respondents than females. CONCLUSION: To compare this WTP with actual cost (32,500 KRW) (USD 27) for hospice care. To facilitate hospice service, hospice specific payment system should be developed. This study provides information regarding the general public's preference of hospice service and their WTP for hospice care, and it may be useful in the decision-making process.
Fees and Charges ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Hospice Care/*economics/psychology ; Humans ; Male ; *Public Opinion ; Socioeconomic Factors

BACKGROUND: Fucoidan is a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan, which has a molecular structure similar to that of heparin. The antithrombotic effects of fucoidan in vitro have been widely reported, but its antithrombotic effects in vivo as well as its other biological properties in vitro have not been well investigated. METHODS: This study investigated the effects and mechanism of fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus on thrombosis both in vitro and in vivo. A ferric chloride-induced mouse carotid artery thrombosis model was used to determine the antithrombotic effects of fucoidan in vivo. Additionally, changes in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were examined in vascular cells treated with fucoidan. RESULTS: In vivo studies employing a ferric chloride-induced mouse carotid artery thrombosis model indicated that fucoidan had a stronger antithrombotic activity than heparin. Further, vascular cells treated with fucoidan demonstrated a decrease in proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production as well as inhibition of proliferation. CONCLUSION: The major findings of this study showed that fucoidan has a stronger antithrombotic effect than heparin in vivo and that fucoidan has an inhibitory effect on proinflammatory cytokine production and proliferation of vascular cells.
Animals ; Carotid Artery Thrombosis ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Fucus ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Heparin ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Polysaccharides ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Oxalobacter formigenes is an intestinal flora degrading oxalate in the gut. However, microbiological detection of this organism is quite difficult. We tried to develop a simple, rapid and cost-effective PCR method for detecting Oxalobacter formigenes from fecal specimens and to determine whether O. formigenes could be detected from frozen fecal specimens as well as fresh stool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole bacterial DNA was isolated directly from fresh and frozen stool samples obtained from 30 healthy volunteers known to be free from urolithiasis and from fresh stool samples obtained from 38 patients with urolithiasis. Genus specific oligonucleotide sequences corresponding to homologous regions residing in the oxc gene that encodes for oxalyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase were designed. A PCR-based assay was done in both fresh and frozen stool samples and the nucleotide sequences were analyzed to determine the details of oxc. RESULTS: PCR product of 416-bp molecular size encoding oxc gene was detected in 23 (77%) of 30 healthy volunteers and in 14 (37%) of 38 patients with urolithiasis. In healthy volunteers, the results of PCR for the fresh and the frozen stool proved identical in each subject. The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the sequence of the amplified product was compatible with that of oxc gene. CONCLUSIONS: O. formigenes could be identified easily and efficiently by this PCR-based detection system. Furthermore, as the PCR-based assay results in the frozen fecal samples were identical as that of fresh stool, immediate processing of the fecal samples may not be necessary to detect O. formigenes in the clinical setting.
Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Oxalobacter formigenes* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Urolithiasis

It has been suggested that diseased and anomalous kidneys are more susceptible to injury. While horseshoe kidney is the most common congenital anomaly of renal fusion, occurring in about one in every 400-500 births, reports of the horseshoe kidneys associated with renal trauma are rare. Herewe now report our experiences with two cases of renal trauma on horseshoe kidney.
Kidney* ; Parturition