The perichondrium has neochondrogenic potential. Many authors have published their study for the cartilage regeneration from perichondrium and the clinical uses of perichondrial graft. How is the difference of thickness of the regenerated cartilage after crushing the free perichondrial graft, compare with uncrushed graft? In this study, the perichondrium was obtained from rabbit, ears, and sectioned 10x10 mm slices. The uncrushed and crushed perichondriums were grafted into subcutaneous layer of back. After the 2,4 and 8 weeks, authors obtained regenerated cartilage from both crushed and uncrushed free perichondrial graft from rabbit back, examined the survival rate and thickness by histologic study.The results are as follows: 1. The survival rate was no difference between the uncrushed perichondrium & crushed perichondrium (p>0.05). 2. The cartilage from the uncrushed perichondrium was thicker than the crushed perichondrium, at only 8 weeks(p<0.01). 3. The thickness of regenerated cartilage was similar to the cartilage of the donor site of free perichondrial graft at 4 weeks(p>0.05).
Cartilage* ; Ear* ; Humans ; Regeneration* ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: Cadmium (Cd), a toxic and non-essential metal, is recognized as a human carcinogen, which has a tendency to accumulate in the human body. The levels of Cd in renal cortex and liver are good indicators as an index of Cd exposure in the general population. In this study, we present an estimation of reference Cd levels in tissue (renal cortex and liver) and total body burden in the general population of Korea. MEDTHODS: Cd and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in renal cortex and liver from 254 autopsies (male : 188 cases, female : 66 cases) aged 0 to 87 years. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentration of Cd was 27.4 and 3.1 ua/g wet weight in renal cortex and liver, respectively. The level of Zn in renal cortex and liver was 35.4 and 42. 6 v/g wet weight, respectively. The result suggests that kidney is the target organ for Cd accumulation. The accumulation of Cd in renal cortex was age-dependent with a biphasic pattern. The level of Cd in renal cortex increased with age up to the fifties, and then leveled off thereafter. Based on the data, the regression model for Cd accumulation in renal cortex by age is predicted by : Log KCd = 0. 2325 + 0. 0553 Age 0. 0005 Age. The highest Cd accumulation in renal cortex of Koreans was estimated at 43. 3 ua/g wet weight at 50. 8 years old. In addition, the total Cd body burden by age was estimated by the following equation: Total Cd Body Burden = -4. 5948 + l. 2278 Age - 0. 0121 Age. The highest body burden of Cd was estimated at 26. 5 mg at age 50. 7 years in the Korean general population. The positive correlation between Zn and Cd was observed in renal cortex and liver. CONCLUSIONS: The level of Cd exposure in Korean was found to be lower than in Japanese, but same as or higher than in American and Europeans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autopsy ; Body Burden ; Cadmium* ; Child ; Female ; Human Body ; Humans ; Kidney Cortex ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Liver* ; Reference Values* ; Zinc

A retrospective, multivariate statistical analysis of 394 patients who underwent cleft palate repair was performed to document the incidence of postoperative oronasal fistula formation, and to assess possible contributing factors. Fistulas of the secondary palate were included, but nasal-alveolar fistulas and intentionally unrepaired anterior palatal fistulas were excluded. Postoperative oronasal fistulas occurred in 25 of the 394 patients(6.35%). The mean age at repair was 16.4 months, and mean follow-up period was 2.5 years. Several variables that are included sex, age, extent of clefting(as estimated by the Veau classification), type of repair, and experience level of the operating surgeon were analyzed by means of the log-rank test to determine their significance in postoperative fistula formation. Sex (p=0.077), age(p=0.538), and experience level of the operating surgeon(p=0.094) did not significantly affect the rate of fistula formation. However, extent of clefting(p=0.005) and type of repair(p=0.001) are the strongest predictor of the occurrence of a cleft palate fistula.
Cleft Palate ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intention ; Palate ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Dexamethasone*

A retrospective study was undertaken to define the factors that cause the neurogenic symptoms in 18 cases of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis who were operated for leg pain and neurologic deficits of motor functions documented by neurologic examination or electromyographic findings in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fatima Hospital, Daegu for three years since June, 1986. The cases having other combined pathology to cause neurogenic symptoms were excluded. The causes were predetermined by preoperative x-rays, myelograms, electromyograms, and computerized tomograms and the causes were explored at surgery regarding the preoperative findings. The findings were compared with the avilable findings of 13 cases who were operated for low back pain only without any neurogenic pain in the leg during the same period. The cases were quite older and had narrower disc spaces than the back pain group but there were no significant differences in the degree of slipping and stability of slipped level between the two groups. The foraminal stenosis was found in all of the cases and a central stenosis was combined in a case. The intervertebral foramens were narrowed up-down in most of the cases between the bony prominence of proximal pars interarticularis above and the disc and vertebral body below but three cases had soft tissue mass only at the isthmic defect encroaching the foramen. There were hypertrophy of bone and/or soft tissue at the pars interarticularis in all cases. The nerve roots were mainly compressed up-down below pars interarticularis in the foramen in 8 cases and impinged at the anterior foramen in front of the pars interarticularis in 10 cases. The central stenosis was due to marked bony hypertrophy of pars interarticularis and osteophyte of vertebral body. The causes of neurogenic symptoms in spondylolytic spondylolisthesis were foraminal stenosis due to hypertrophy of bone and/or soft tissue at the pars interarticularis combined with narrowing of disc and seemed to be a process of degenerative changes occurring at the motion segment of slipped level.
Back Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Daegu ; Hypertrophy ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Osteophyte ; Pathology ; Pheniramine ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The human vestibule is known to be able to induce cervical muscle potential secondary to strong acoustic stimulations. This reflex is assumed to originate in the saccule, and is called "vestibular evoked myogenic potentials" (VEMP). The responses consist of alternatively positive and negative successive waves (p13-n23). This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of VEMP. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We studied the difference among the latencies of p13, n23 and the amplitudes among the 10 normal volunteers, 5 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 10 patients with vestibulopathy. And we compared the result of the caloric test and VEMP in patients with vestibulopathy. RESULTS: In the normal group, VEMP was detected in all and all of the sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients showed VEMP both in the affected and unaffected side. In unilateral vestibulopathy patients, VEMP were present in the unaffected side but not in the affected side. The difference between the amplitudes and latencies were not found in those cases where VEMP was detected. In vestibulopathy patients, VEMP were well correlated with the result of the caloric tests. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that VEMP is originated from the vestibule, not from cochlea. VEMP could provide itself as an addition method for testing the vestibule.
Acoustics ; Caloric Tests ; Cochlea ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Reflex ; Saccule and Utricle

PURPOSE: Sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus is a chronic inflammatory disease that mostly affects young people, which warrants surgical intervention. Although many surgical methods have been suggested, an optimal surgical method remains controversial because of high recurrence rates and postoperative complications. The objective of this study is to evaluate the results of wide excision and coverage with fasciocutaneous advancement flap for the treatment of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus, and to assess the usefulness of this method METHODS: From May 1995 to October 2006, the authors treated 19 patients with the use of coverage with fasciocutaneous flap after wide excision. The results were evaluated regarding recurrence rates, complications, and the change in sensitivity of the gluteal region after surgery. The follow-up period was 7 to 142 months (mean, 76 months). All patients were male. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were wound infection at the suction drain insertion site and skin necrosis around the suture margin in one case, respectively. During the follow up period, only one recurrence (5.3%) was seen in fifth postoperative month, which was successfully treated by the same operative procedure. There was no other complications such as seroma, hematoma, wound dehiscence and flap loss. Extensive scarring and anatomic distortion did not occur in the reconstructed area. In addition, sensitivity of the gluteal region did not diminish. The aesthetic results were satisfactory for all patients as well. CONCLUSION: The authors advocate that fasciocutaneous flap closure be a good alternative method to cover defects after the excision of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus.
Buttocks ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pilonidal Sinus ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Seroma ; Skin ; Suction ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Sutures ; Wound Infection

Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains telomeres and prevents telomere shortening, and may be linked with cellular proliferation or the aging process. The purpose was to examine telomerase activity in human chorionic villi from early and term normal pregnancies, and to analyze the correlation of telomerase activity (TA) with MIB-1 & bcl-2. A total of 37 placentae were obtained from 16 early and 21 term pregnancies. TA was assayed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol, and immunohistochemical staining was performed for MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression. TA & MIB-1 expression were strong in early placenta, but bcl-2 was highly expressed in term placentae. Thirteen (81.25%) of 16 early placentae showed TA, but only 2 (9.52%) of 21 term placentae expressed TA (p<0.01). MIB-1 was observed in nuclei of cytotrophoblast, and the expression rate was 16.09% in early placentae and 2.87% in term placentae (p<0.01). bcl-2 was observed only in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblast. Term placenta demonstrated stronger expression of bcl-2 compared to early placentae (p<0.05). These findings suggest that TA, MIB-1 & bcl-2 expression are critically regulated over the course of gestation: cytotrophoblast, main cells of early chorionic villi, may be a common source of telomerase and proliferative activity. The TA showed good correlation with cellular proliferative activity. Syncytiotrophoblast, may be a main source of bcl-2 expression which is stronger in the term placentae.
Aging ; Cell Proliferation ; Chorion* ; Chorionic Villi* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy* ; Telomerase* ; Telomere ; Telomere Shortening ; Trophoblasts

Although the medical applications of He-Ne lasers remain controversial, the clinical use of these devices for a variety of analgesic and wound healing applications is steadily increasing. Research studies of the effects of He-Ne laser irradiation on biologic function are growing in number and scope. Many investigators have described successful treatment of a wide variety of painful musculoskeletal, rheumatologic, and neurologic conditions with He-Ne lasers. Since we have recently initiated studies examing the effects of He-Ne lasers on wound healing and pain relief, we investigated the effect of He-Ne laser irradiation on the healing of skin defect, abrasion, burn and on the pain relief of temporomandibular joint dysfunction in admitted patients. The total number of patients was 96. The He-Ne laser power was 1 mW, dose was 1 J/cm2 and the wavelength was 632.8 nm. Each patient underwent 2 to 8 trials of irradiation on point around the wound area and painful joint at a frequency of 2 times a week. After every 1 trial up to 8 trials, we evaluated the efficacy of He-Ne laser irradiation by checking the wound size and by questioning the patients about degree of pain. Following the estimation by patients, excellent, good, and fair were accounted as effective, and poor as noneffective. The efficacy of the laser at the end of 2 to 8 trials was noticed on 78.1%, and the degree of pain relief was 73.9%. These results suggested that the irradiation of He-Ne laser is an effective and safe treatment for wound healing and pain relief. In this overview, we are summarizing some of our results which suggest a potential usefulness of He-Ne lasers for stimulation of wound healing and pain relief. Although its clinical use can be anticipated in the future, further research is required to clarify the basic mechanisms and the preferred optical parameters, such as treatment time and intensity, for increased wound healing and pain relief.
Burns ; Humans ; Joints ; Research Personnel ; Skin ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Fanconi's anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by aplastic anemia, pre-malignancy, congenital malformations and chromosome breakage syndromes. As up to 30% of patients have no detectable congenital anomalies, the modern diagnosis of FA rests on chromosomal breakage of patient's cells induced by chemical clastogens such as diepoxybutane (DEB) or mitomycin-C (MMC). METHODS: We have done chromosome breakage test to differentiate FA from 11 aplastic anemia, three Diamond-Blackfan syndrome, three myelodysplastic syndrome, one acute leukemia with congenital anomaly and three siblings of FA. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from each individual were co-cultured in phytohemagglutinin-containing medium by the three methods, i.e., DEB treated, MMC treated and un-treated. RESULTS: Five cases were found to have increased chromosomal breakages to DEB and MMC, confirming diagnosis of FA. Other 21 cases showed no increased chromosomal breakages. No overlap was found between FA group and others (P<0.01). In one FA, there was no increased spontaneous breakage, but increased breakage to DEB and MMC. Of five FA, one case showed no congenital anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Chromosme breakage test was shown to be simple, reliable and useful in ascertaining the diagnosis of FA.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Chromosome Breakage* ; Diagnosis* ; Fanconi Anemia* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lymphocytes ; Mitomycin ; Mutagens ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Siblings