No abstract available.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta* ; Osteogenesis*

PURPOSE: Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that synthesizes telomeric DNA onto the ends of chromosomes, thereby preventing the replication-dependent shortening of those ends. This enzyme is essential for stability of eukaryotic chromosomes and may be necessary for cell immortalization. Telomerase activity is detected in a wide range of cancers of various tissues, and its expression may be a critical step in tumor progression. METHODS: The telomerase activity was measured using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay in 65 cases of breast cancers, 9 cases of fibroadenomas, and 7 cases of normal breast tissues. To compare the telomerase activity with cell cycle regulators, we measured the expression of the cyclin D1 and the p53 proteins by using immunohistochemical analysis. To compare the telomerase activity with traditional prognostic indicators, we measured the ER, PR, c-erbB-2 and ki-67 expression by using immunohistochemical analysis. Disease-free survival and overall survival in relation to telomerase activity were studied by using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 42 (64.6%) of the 65 breast cancers, 4 (44.4%) of the 9 fibroadenomas, and in none of the 7 normal breast tissues. There was no significant relationship between telomerase activity and cell cycle regulators such as cyclin D1 or p53. There was no statistical correlation between telomerase activity and tumor size, lymph nodal status, or histopathological prognostic parameters, such as ER, PR, p53, c-erbB-2 and ki-67, but a significant correlation was found (p=0.006) between telomerase activity and histologic grade. The telomerase activity was not significantly correlated with either the overall survival or the disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that telomerasemay play a role in the malignant transformation of breast tissue and that this enzyme was more activated in cancers of a poor histologic grade. However, the telomerase activity was not related to cell cycle regulators and traditional prognostic parameters. The possible significance of telomerase activity in breast cancer remains open to further investigation.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cell Cycle* ; Cyclin D1 ; Disease-Free Survival ; DNA ; Fibroadenoma ; Ribonucleoproteins ; Telomerase*

The aims of this study were to clarify the topography and variations stylopharyngeus (STP) and superior constrictor (SC) muscles, and to examine what role they play in the pharyngeal movement. Forty-four specimens (22 right and 22 left sides) from embalmed Korean adult cadavers (13 males, 9 females; age range, 46–89 years; mean age, 69.2 years) were used in this study. The accessory bundle of STP and petropharyngeus was found in 18.2% (8/44) and 25.0% (11/44) of cases, respectively. A variation of the STP, in which it ran transversely and merged with the SC muscle, was found in 2.3% (1/44) of cases while a variation of the SC muscle, in which it ran longitudinally and merged with the contralateral constrictors, was found in 11.4% (5/44). The variant muscle bundles play their own role in pharyngeal movement according to their morphology. These results provide information that will help a comprehensive understanding of the effects of pharyngeal muscles on movement.

The dog frontal sinus may represent an alternative model dental implant research; its topographical resemblance to the maxillary sinus renders it a potentially favorable experimental environment. The aim of this study was thus to elucidate the anatomical configuration of the canine frontal sinus and histological characteristics, and to determine whether it could be a new canine experimental model for dental implant research. Twenty-four sides of canine frontal bones were harvested. The distance from the nasion to the emerging point of the lateral aspect of the canine frontal sinus was measured with the aid of Lucion software. The thicknesses of the canine frontal sinus wall were measured, and the two specimens stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The mean distance from the nasion to the emerging point of the lateral aspect of the canine frontal sinus was 16.0 mm. The mean thicknesses of the canine frontal bone at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 mm lateral to the midsagittal plane were 2.3, 2.7, 3.2, 3.8, and 3.7 mm, respectively. The canine frontal sinus was lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. These data suggest that the canine frontal sinus is a suitable alternative to the canine maxillary sinus as a model for studying various sinus augmentation protocols.
Animals ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epithelium ; Frontal Bone ; Frontal Sinus* ; Hematoxylin ; Maxillary Sinus ; Models, Theoretical*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct a histologic evaluation of irradiated calvarial defects in rats 4 weeks after applying fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) with hyaluronan or biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) block in the presence or absence of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. METHODS: Twenty rats were divided into HBO and non-HBO (NHBO) groups, each of which was divided into FGF-2 and BCP-block subgroups according to the grafted material. Localized radiation with a single 12-Gy dose was applied to the calvaria of rats to simulate radiotherapy. Four weeks after applying this radiation, 2 symmetrical circular defects with a diameter of 6 mm were created in the parietal bones of each animal. The right-side defect was filled with the materials mentioned above and the left-side defect was not filled (as a control). All defects were covered with a resorbable barrier membrane. During 4 weeks of healing, 1 hour of HBO therapy was applied to the rats in the HBO groups 5 times a week. The rats were then killed, and the calvarial specimens were harvested for radiographic and histologic analyses. RESULTS: New bone formation was greatest in the FGF-2 subgroup, and improvement was not found in the BCP subgroup. HBO seemed to have a minimal effect on new bone formation. There was tendency for more angiogenesis in the HBO groups than the NHBO groups, but the group with HBO and FGF-2 did not show significantly better outcomes than the HBO-only group or the NHBO group with FGF-2. CONCLUSIONS: HBO exerted beneficial effects on angiogenesis in calvarial defects of irradiated rats over a 4-week healing period, but it appeared to have minimal effects on bone regeneration. FGF-2 seemed to enhance new bone formation and angiogenesis, but its efficacy appeared to be reduced when HBO was applied.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Membranes ; Osteogenesis ; Oxygen ; Parietal Bone ; Radiotherapy ; Rats ; Skull ; Transplants

Primary lymphoma of the small intestine is commonly diagnosed after serious complications, such as bowel perforation and bleeding. It results from vague symptoms and the lack of routine screening programs due to low prevalence. Ileal intubation can be used for screening and diagnosis of various small intestinal diseases. However, the value of routine terminal ileum intubation during colonoscopy remains controversial because of its low diagnostic yield. In Korea, there has been no report of asymptomatic primary lymphoma of the small intestine discovered through ileal intubation during colonoscopy. Thus, we report a case of asymptomatic primary lymphoma of the small intestine diagnosed incidentally through terminal ileum intubation during screening colonoscopy, and we review the literature on small intestinal lymphoma and the value of routine ileal intubation.
Colonoscopy* ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Ileum ; Intestinal Diseases ; Intestine, Small ; Intubation* ; Korea ; Lymphoma* ; Mass Screening* ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: An anatomical study concerning the location of the perforators to the posteromedial thigh perforator flap was done for the purpose of clinical application, and reconstruction using this flap was undergone for 3 patients with ischial sores. METHODS: The authors dissected 6 cadavers, measuring the distance between the perforator of the posteromedial thigh perforator flap and the extended line of the inguinal crease. The location of the perforator was studied using this data. In the 3 cases mentioned above, perforators were traced using Doppler ultrasonography and the sores were reconstructed with posteromedial thigh perforator flaps. Anatomical study results showed that posteromedial thigh perforators were found 77+/-18.9mm below the extended line of the inguinal crease. Application of the flap in the 3 patients was successful. CONCLUSION: The perforator to the posteromedial thigh perforator flap was found to be located in a relatively consistent position. Since this flap is also comparatively easy to elevate and mobilize, and shows low donor site morbidity, it is considered to be very useful in the treatment of ischial sores.
Cadaver ; Humans ; Perforator Flap ; Thigh ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

No abstract available.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*adverse effects ; Appendicitis/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy ; Bacteremia/*etiology/therapy ; Consolidation Chemotherapy/adverse effects ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*drug therapy/immunology/therapy

Antemortem diagnosis of inferior vena cava (IVC) and cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult but important to decide on treatment strategy. There are only a few cases of cardiac metastasis of HCC which have been diagnosed antemortem by echocardiography. We experienced 3 cases of IVC and Right atrial metastasis and 1 case of Left atrial metastasis of HCC. The tumor was discovered during computed tomography scanning. The patients had exhibited no signs of cardiac involvement. In this case, transesophageal echocardiography was valuable in providing information regarding the exact location of the tumor and its relation to surrounding anatomical structures. Left atrial metastasis of HCC is unusual patterns and probably related to tumor growth from the pulmonary veins following massive metastasis to the lung.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pulmonary Veins ; Vena Cava, Inferior

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the surface characteristics and bond strength produced using a novel technique for coating hydroxyapatite (HA) onto titanium implants. METHODS: HA was coated on the titanium implant surface using a super-high-speed (SHS) blasting method with highly purified HA. The coating was performed at a low temperature, unlike conventional HA coating methods. Coating thickness was measured. The novel HA-coated disc was fabricated. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed directly on the disc to evaluate crystallinity. Four novel HA-coated discs and four resorbable blast medium (RBM) discs were prepared. Their surface roughnesses and areas were measured. Five puretitanium, RBM-treated, and novel HA-coated discs were prepared. Contact angle was measured. Two-way analysis of variance and the post-hoc Scheffe's test were used to analyze differences between the groups, with those with a probability of P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. To evaluate exfoliation of the coating layer, 7 sites on the mandibles from 7 mongrel dogs were used. Other sites were used for another research project. In total, seven novel HA-coated implants were placed 2 months after extraction of premolars according to the manufacturer's instructions. The dogs were sacrificed 8 weeks after implant surgery. Implants were removed using a ratchet driver. The surface of the retrieved implants was evaluated microscopically. RESULTS: A uniform HA coating layer was formed on the titanium implants with no deformation of the RBM titanium surface microtexture when an SHS blasting method was used. CONCLUSIONS: These HA-coated implants exhibited increased roughness, crystallinity, and wettability when compared with RBM implants.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Crystallins ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Durapatite ; Hydroxyapatites ; Mandible ; Titanium ; Wettability ; X-Ray Diffraction