BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the early time course of expression of the major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin-6 and the histopathological changes in the coronary arteries of cardiac allografts exchanged between inbred mice strains that differ in one loci of class I major histocompatibility antigen (B10.BR to B10.A). MATERIAL AND METHOD: No immunosuppressive therapy was used. Both allografts and the hearts of the recipients were harvested at 7 (group 1, n=6), 15 (group 2, n=6), 21 (group 3, n=6), and 30 (group 4, n=6) days after transplantation. They were examined by immunohistochemistry, microscopy and morphometry. All allografts had contractions at the time of harvest. RESULT: A strong MHC class I antigen expression was present on the endothelial and medial cells of the coronary arteries in group 1 and remained unchanged in the rest of the groups. However, MHC class II reactivity was none or very little at any time. Mild to moderate ICAM-1 expression was observed on the endothelial cells, but not on the medial cells at any time by 30 days. VCAM-1 expression was strong both on the endothelial and medial cells at any time. Moderate degree expression of interleukin-6 was observed from 7 to 30 day specimens. Histopathologically, percentage of affected vessels (vessels with intimal thickening) was less than 10 % in 7 day group and increased up to 50 % at 30 days. Mean percent narrowing of the lumen of the affected vessels revealed less than 20 % at 7 days and 40 % at 30 days. The area occupied by tropomyosin positive cells in the intimal lesion, graded from 0 to 3, showed gradual increase but remained between grade 0 to 1 by 30 days. Medial integrity was also well preserved at any time. Moderate perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration was observed at 7 days and it was progressively increased upto 30 days. Recipients' heart revealed no positive immunopathologic findings. CONCLUSION: In this study, the early time course of progression of the transplantation vasculopathy was demonstrated in the murine heterotopic heart transplant model.
Allergy and Immunology ; Allografts ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelial Cells ; Heart* ; Histocompatibility ; Histocompatibility Antigens ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice* ; Microscopy ; Transplantation ; Tropomyosin ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

PURPOSE: Ginseng has been reported to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic animals and patients, and it is also reported to slow the aging process by acting as an anti-atherosclerotic agent or as an anti-oxidant. This study was designed to investigate whether ginseng and irbesartan can prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in 7 week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by intravenous injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. Ginseng(1 g/kg/day) or irbesartan (20 mg/kg/day) was given to diabetic rats for 25 weeks. Blood glucose and body weight were checked weekly and urinary albumin excretion was evaluated every 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the kidneys were weighed and sliced for microscopic examination. Glomerular size and hyaline deposition were measured on light microscopy(on Masson' trichrome stain and PAS stain) and thickness of glomerular basement membrane(GBM) on electron microscopy. Renal histologic findings of ginseng or irbesartan treated rats were compared with those of normal control and diabetic control groups. RESULTS: The weight gain in diabetic rats was significantly reduced, and the final body weight of diabetic rats was lower than that of normal control rats. There was no significant difference in body weights between the diabetic control, ginseng, and irbesartan treated groups. Mean levels of blood glucose were significantly increased in diabetic rats compared to normal rats, but there was no significant difference in blood glucose among the three groups of diabetic rats. Urinary albumin excretion was increased in the diabetic groups compared to the normal control group, and it was significantly decreased in the irbesartan treated group compared to the diabetic control group at 13th week of treatment. At the end of the experiment, the kindeys of the diabetic rats were examined and showed significantly enlarged than those of the normal rats, and the ratio of kidney weight to body weight was decreased in the ginseng treated group compared to the diabetic control and irbesartan treated group. There was no significant difference in the size of glomerulus, the thickness of GBM, and glomerular hyaline deposition among the three diabetic groups. CONCLUSION: There was no significant hypoglycemic effect of ginseng in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Renal hypertrophy was relatively milder in the ginseng-treated group, but there was no difference in findings of renal histology between the treatment groups.
Aging ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Body Weight ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hypertrophy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Injections, Intravenous ; Kidney ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Panax* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Weight Gain

No abstract available.
Erythrocytes* ; Extracorporeal Circulation*

PURPOSE: A colorectal adenoma (CRA) is a well-defined precursor to colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, smoking is a potent risk factor for developing a CRA, as well as CRC. However, the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and the risk for developing a CRA has not yet been fully evaluated in epidemiologic studies. We performed a cross-sectional analysis on the association between exposure to ETS at the workplace and the risk for developing a CRA. METHODS: The study was conducted on subjects who had undergone a colonoscopy at a health promotion center from January 2012 to December 2012. After descriptive analyses, overall and subgroup analyses by smoking status were performed by using a multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 1,129 participants, 300 (26.6%) were diagnosed as having CRAs. Exposure to ETS was found to be associated with CRAs in all subjects (fully adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.44; P = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, exposure to ETS in former smokers increased the risk for developing a CRA (fully adjusted OR, 4.44; 95% CI, 2.07-9.51; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Exposure to occupational ETS at the workplace, independent of the other factors, was associated with increased risk for developing a CRA in all subjects and in former smokers. Further retrospective studies with large sample sizes may be necessary to clarify the causal effect of this relationship.
Adenoma* ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Health Promotion ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size ; Smoke* ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tobacco*

Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Abducens Nerve ; Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; Cavernous Sinus ; Diagnosis ; Diplopia ; Fistula ; Headache ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Orbit ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Skull ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Colonoscopy* ; Humans ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis*

Xanthogranulnmatous pyelonephritis is an unusual chronic renal infection associated with renal calculi, urinary tract infection or obstruction in many cases. It is characterized by orange-yellow nodules of inflamed parenchymal tissue macroscopically and foamy lipid-laden histiocyte microscopically. We report a case of Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a 74 years old male.
Aged ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; Male ; Pyelonephritis ; Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous* ; Urinary Tract Infections

We report a rare case of a foreign body occurring in a completely isolated, accessory maxillary sinus in a 29-year-old man. A dental Nu gauze accidently left in the accessory sinus after 3rd molar extraction resulted in an oroantral fistula with continuous pus drainage leading to his initial consultation. A complete healing of the oroantral fistula occurred after removal of the dental Nu gauze and the septum of the isolated accessory sinus with proper intranasal drainage by transantral approach.
Adult ; Drainage ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Molar ; Oroantral Fistula ; Suppuration

Abscess ; Drainage ; Exophthalmos ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molar ; Orbit ; Periodontal Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Toothache ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To determine follow-up results for elderly patients with osteoporosis that received standard cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty with double loop and tension band wiring for treatment of unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2000 and May 2006, 86 cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasties were done in elderly patients who had unstable intertrochanteric fractures. The mean age at the time of surgery was 82 years. The average follow-up period was 5.3 years. We evaluated post-operative results by clinical and radiographic methods. RESULTS: At the final follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 79.2. The mean time needed for full weight bearing following surgery was 4.2 weeks and 82.5 % of patients regained their preoperative level of ambulation. All patients achieved union in the lesser trochanter fracture, but substantial trochanter displacement was observed in 4 cases. There was one case of acetabular erosion. Superficial infections were found Post-operatively in 2 cases. One case with stem subsidence (<5 mm) showed satisfactory results without subsidence in further follow-ups. CONCLUSION: If cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty is properly applied in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in the elderly, systematic postoperative rehabilitation, and pain control can be achieved.
Aged ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Walking ; Weight-Bearing