Conjunctival tuberculosis has become a rare disease in these days along with decreased incidence of systemic tuberculosis. We experienced a 43-year-old patient with large pinguecula-like protruding mass on the medial bulbar surface which was later diagnosed as conjuctival tuberculoma histopathologically. Evidence of systemic tuberculosis could not be found from any other organs of the body. This case raises the possibility that conjunctival tuberculoma may be misdiagnosed as a simple pingueculum unless histopathologic examination is performed. Brief history and clinical findings will be presented with pictures of the pathology findings, and some literatures will be reviewed.
Adult ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pathology ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis*

Despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma has not significantly improved over the past several decades. Gene therapy is currently under investigation and shows us new possibility of cancer curing method. This experiment was undergone to find out the cell growth inhibition effect and evidence of apoptosis by HCCS-1(human cervical cancer suppressor-1), one of the candidates of tumor suppressor gene, transducted to human oral cancer cell line. To determine the efficiency of the adenovirus as a gene delivery vector cell line was transducted with LacZ gene and analysed with X-gal staining. Northern blot was performed to confirm the transfection with HSCC-1 gene and cell viability was assessed by cell cytotoxicity assay using cell count kit(CCK). To show the evidence of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation assay and flow cytometry(FACS) were performed. We had successfully construct the recombinant HSCC-1 adenovirus(Ad5CMV-HCCS-1), and importation efficiency was 20% at 2 MOI(multiplicity of infection), 80% at 20 MOI. Northern blot analysis showed that a single 0.6kb mRNA transcript was expressed in Ad5CMV-HCCS-1 transducted cell lines. As a result of CCK, when comparing to control subjects, transducted group showed 50% growth inhibition. In DNA fragmentation assay, according to increasing of MOI, DNA volume was diminished. In FACS analysis, DNA distribution showed fragmentation.This results imply that HCCS-1gene has growth inhibition effect in human oral cancer cell lines through apoptosis induction.
Adenoviridae* ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Northern ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Count ; Cell Line* ; Cell Survival ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Drug Therapy ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Lac Operon ; Mouth Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Distraction osteogenesis is a well-established clinical treatment for limb length discrepancy and skeletal deformities. Appropriate mechanical tension-stress is believed not to break the callus but rather to stimulate osteogenesis. In contrast to fracture healing, the mode of bone formation in distraction osteogenesis is primarily intramembranous ossification. Although the biomechanical, histological, and ultrastructural changes associated with distraction osteogenesis have been widely described, the basic biology of the process is still not well known. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms in distraction osteogenesis remain largely unclear. Recent studies have implicated the growth factor cascade is likely to play an important role in distraction. And current reserch suggested that mechanical tension-stress modulates cell shape and phenotype, and stimulates the expression of the mRNA for bone matrix proteins. This article presents the hypotheses and current research that have furthered knowledge of the molecular biology that govern distraction osteogenesis. The gene regulation of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins during distraction osteogenesis are discussed in this article. It is believed that understanding the biomolecular mechanisms that mediate distraction osteogenesis may guide the development of targeted strategies designed to improve distraction osteogenesis and accelerate bone healing.
Biology ; Bone Matrix ; Bony Callus ; Cell Shape ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Extremities ; Fracture Healing ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Molecular Biology* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Phenotype ; RNA, Messenger

Adenoviridae ; Blotting, Northern ; Cell Count ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Congenital Abnormalities ; DNA ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, vif ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Lac Operon ; Mouth Neoplasms ; RNA, Messenger ; Survival Rate ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of bone cement-augmented short segment fixation using percutaneous screws for thoracolumbar burst fractures in a background of severe osteoporosis. METHODS: Sixteen patients with a single-level thoracolumbar burst fracture (T11-L2) accompanying severe osteoporosis treated from January 2008 to November 2009 were prospectively analyzed. Surgical procedures included postural reduction for 3 days and bone cement augmented percutaneous screw fixation at the fracture level and at adjacent levels without bone fusion. Due to the possibility of implant failure, patients underwent implant removal 12 months after screw fixation. Imaging and clinical findings, including involved vertebral levels, local kyphosis, canal encroachment, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Prior to surgery, mean pain score (visual analogue scale) was 8.2 and this decreased to a mean of 2.2 at 12 months after screw fixation. None of the patients complained of pain worsening during the 6 months following implant removal. The percentage of canal compromise at the fractured level improved from a mean of 41.0% to 18.4% at 12 months after surgery. Mean kyphotic angle was improved significantly from 19.8degrees before surgery to 7.8 at 12 months after screw fixation. Canal compromise and kyphotic angle improvements were maintained at 6 months after implant removal. No significant neurological deterioration or complications occurred after screw removal in any patient. CONCLUSION: Bone cement augmented short segment fixation using a percutaneous system can be an alternative to the traditional open technique for the management of selected thoracolumbar burst fractures accompanied by severe osteoporosis.
Humans ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen that causes nosocomial infection in NICU. It contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality with variable complications. This study was conducted to identify the risk factors associated with complicated MRSA bacteremia in neonates. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 44 neonates with positive blood culture for MRSA who were admitted to the NICU of Pusan National University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2007. We compared various factors of the complicated and uncomplicated MRSA bacteremia cases. RESULTS: Of the 44 neonates, 31 were male and 13, female. The mean gestational age and birth weight were 33.2+/-4.9 weeks and 1,859.9+/-962.2 g, respectively. Twenty-one of infants were treated with a mechanical ventilator during a mean of 8.8+/-13.8 days. There were 13 cases of complicated and 31 cases of uncomplicated MRSA bacteremia. Between the 2 groups, we compared the following variables: gestational age, birth weight, ventilator use, umbilical catheter use and central catheter insertion, O2 inhalation, first oral feeding day after birth, underlying disease, transfusion, and initial vancomycin use. The underlying disease and transfusion were the risk factors related to complicated MRSA bacteremia. CONCLUSION: Complicated MRSA bacteremia is related to underlying disease and transfusion. Since this was a retrospective study with a small sample size, it offered limited capacity to compare complicated and uncomplicated MRSA bacteremia. A prospective study with a larger population is needed to determine the exact characteristics of MRSA bacteremia in NICU.
Bacteremia ; Birth Weight ; Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Inhalation ; Male ; Medical Records ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size ; Vancomycin ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Mental stress prebably leads to disease by the effect on autonomic nervous system, especially on cardiovascular nervous system it leads deleterious effects ranging from the apperarence or worsenig of ischemia to lethal arrhythmia or sudden death. Especially after myocardial infarction this risks were increased. PURPOSE & METHODS: In order to assess the effect of postural change and arithmetic test on the state of autonomic nervous system in patients with AMI(acute myocardial infarction) autoregressive power spectral analyses were applied to 21 healthy subjects(51.9+/-6.5 years) and 20 AMI patients(55.3+/-7.4 years) during supine, standing and arithmetic test. RESULTS: R-R interval and systolic blood pressure decreased during standing compared with during supine position but there were no remarkable changes during arithmetic test compared with during supine position. In two groups, both during standing and during arithmetic test, compared with during supine position, the remarkable increase of LF(low frequency) spectral parameters(Nu, p<0.001) and decrease of HF(high frequency) spectral parameter(Nu, p<0.001) were observed. And during arithmetic test, compared with during standing, the remarkable increase of LF spectral parameter(Nu, p<0.01) and decrease of HF spectral parameter(Nu, p<0.01) were observed. LF/HF ratio and LFCCV/HFCCV ratio, so an index of sympatho-vagal balance, significantly increased during standing and during arithmetic test compared with during supine position and the increase was more prominent during arithmetic test(p<0.05). There was no significant difference of spectral parameters beteen two groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, sympathetic activity increased during standing and during arithmetic test. Especially, during arithmetic test it induced only sympathetic activity to increase remarkably without significant hemodynamic changes. The state of autonomic nervous system 7-10 days after AMI was not different from that of healthy subjects. Among the spectral parameters, Nu was more useful than either PSD or CCV in assessing autonomic nervous activity.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Autonomic Pathways ; Blood Pressure ; Death, Sudden ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Nervous System ; Supine Position

A clinical review of 34 cases of aortic dissection which were admitted to Yeungnam University hospital between March 1983 and April 1992. The results are as follows: 1. The peak incidence was in 5th, 6th decade and male to female ratio was 1.83:1. 2. The most common cause of aortic dissection was atherosclerosis and hypertension (79%). 3. The most common presenting symptom was pain (73%). but dyspnea, palpable mass, murmur, shock were also observed. 4. Abnormal electrocardiographic finding was myocardial ischemia in 6 cases, arrhythmia in 5 cases, LVH in 5 cases. 5. The X-ray findings showed abnormal aortic contour in 10 cases but normal X-ray finding was observed in 63% of DeBaKey Type III. 6. The most common diagnostic procedure was echocardiogram and abdominal Ultrasonography. 7. The mortality of all cases was 20%, operation mortality was 18% but no death of medically treatment in medical indication.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atherosclerosis ; Dyspnea ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Shock ; Ultrasonography

We studied the effects of bile acids on the induction of apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment with either ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or lithocholic acid (LCA) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability assessed by MTT assay. Both UDCA and LCA also induced genomic DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, indicating that the mechanism by which these bile acids induce cell death was through apoptosis. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, blocked the apoptosis induced by these bile acids, implying that new protein synthesis may be required for the apoptosis. Intracellular Ca2+ release blockers (dantrolene and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid-8-(diethylamino)octyl ester) inhibited decreased cell viability and DNA fragmentation induced by these bile acids. Treatment of HepG2 cells with calcium ionophore A23187 induced DNA fragmentation. These results suggest that UDCA and LCA induce apoptosis in the HepG2 cells and that the activation of intracellular Ca2+ signals may play an important role in the apoptosis induced by these bile acids.
Apoptosis* ; Bile Acids and Salts* ; Bile* ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cycloheximide ; DNA Fragmentation ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans* ; Lithocholic Acid ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease with increased prevalence in the elderly. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosome, which progressively shorten as cells divide. Telomere length is known to be a molecular marker of aging. This study aimed to assess the relationship between telomere length and the risk of COPD, lung function, respiratory symptoms, and emphysema index in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Dusty Areas (CODA) cohort. Methods: We extracted DNA from the peripheral blood samples of 446 participants, including 285 COPD patients and 161 control participants. We measured absolute telomere length using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. All participants underwent spirometry and quantitative computed tomography scan. Questionnaires assessing respiratory symptoms and the COPD Assessment Test was filled by all the participants. Results: The mean age of participants at the baseline visit was 72.5±7.1 years. Males accounted for 72% (321 participants) of the all participants. The mean telomere length was lower in the COPD group compared to the non-COPD group (COPD, 16.81±13.90 kb; non-COPD, 21.97±14.43 kb). In COPD patients, 112 (75.7%) were distributed as tertile 1 (shortest), 91 (61.1%) as tertile 2 and 82 (55%) as tertile 3 (longest). We did not find significant associations between telomere length and lung function, exacerbation, airway wall thickness, and emphysema index after adjusting for sex, age, and smoking status. Conclusion In this study, the relationship between various COPD phenotypes and telomere length was analyzed, but no significant statistical associations were shown.