No abstract available.
Rabbits*

The recent advances in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) enable to precisely edit the desired bases in hPSCs to be used for the establishment of isogenic disease models and autologous ex vivo cell therapy. The knock-in approach based on the homologous directed repair with Cas9 endonuclease, causing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), produces not only insertion and deletion (indel) mutations but also deleterious large deletions. On the contrary, due to the lack of Cas9 endonuclease activity, base editors (BEs) such as adenine base editor (ABE) and cytosine base editor (CBE) allow precise base substitution by conjugated deaminase activity, free from DSB formation. Despite the limitation of BEs in transition substitution, precise base editing by BEs with no massive off-targets is suggested to be a prospective alternative in hPSCs for clinical applications. Considering the unique cellular characteristics of hPSCs, a few points should be considered. Herein, we describe an updated and optimized protocol for base editing in hPSCs. We also describe an improved methodology for CBE-based C to T substitutions, which are generally lower than A to G substitutions in hPSCs.

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

While anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary system are not uncommon, drainage of the common bile duct into the bulb of the duodenum has rarely been reported. The awareness of ectopic drainage of the CBD is stressed to prevent surgical damage and improve medical management in this area. We reported one case of anomalous drainage of the CBD and pancreatic duct associated with nonvisible gallbladder or agenesis of gallbladder and cystic duct diagnosed by ERCP, ultrasonography and upper abdominal CT.
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct* ; Cystic Duct ; Drainage* ; Duodenum ; Gallbladder ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Exercise testing is a standard noninvasive method used in the evaluation and management of patients with suspected coronary artery disease. However, patients with lower limb impairment are unable to undergo a standard bicycle or treadmill test. Alternative methods of exercise testing are needed for patients with vascular, orthopedic or neurologic conditions who cannot perform leg exercise. This study was aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of arm exercise thallium-201 SPECT for evaluating chest pain in patients unable to perform leg exercise. METHOD: Twenty-five anginal patients performed arm ergometry testing in conjunction with thallium-201 SPECT. Thereafter all underwent coronary angiography. RESULT: Significant coronary artery disease (> or =50% stenosis) in at least one vessel was present in 22 (88%) of the 25 patients. The sensitivity of thallium-201 SPECT for detecting coronary artery disease was 91%, which was significantly higher than the 32% sensitivity found with the electrocardiographic response alone (p <0.001). Thallium-201 SPECT yielded a sensitivity of 88, 86 and 100% for one, two, and three vessel diseases, respectively, and an 84% sensitivity and 81% specificity for detecting individual vessel stenosis. CONCLUSION: Arm exercise thallium-201 SPECT is useful for detecting coronary artery disease in patients unable to perform leg exercise. In addition, it provides an information regarding exercise tolerance. Therefore, this test appears to be reliable and useful and should be considered in the detection of coronary artery disease in nonambulatory patients.
Angina Pectoris ; Arm* ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Orthopedics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes of AO type C pelvic ring injury and identify the prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 53 patients who were treated for AO type C pelvic ring injury from January 2002 to February 2010. Mean age and mean follow-up duration were 42.4 years and 14 months, respectively. We had 8 cases of AO type C1-1, 19 cases of C1-2, 11 cases of C1-3, 6 cases of C2 and 9 cases of C3 injury. We analyzed type of fracture, displacement, method of fixation and associated injuries. Radiologic outcome was evaluated with Matta and Saucedo criteria and clinical outcome was evaluated using Majeed score. RESULTS: The average Majeed score was 86.2 distributing as 36 excellent cases, 15 good cases and 2 fair cases. Using radiologic Matta and Saucedo criteria, patients were divided as 31 excellent cases, 17 good cases and 5 fair cases. There was no significant difference between the outcomes of anterior, posterior and antero-posterior fixation. Neurologic injury was the reason for an unsatisfactory functional outcome. We identified two cases with complication, one with postoperative infection and the other with nonunion following anterior-posterior fixation. CONCLUSION: Satisfactory radiologic and clinical outcomes were obtained with open reduction and internal fixation in the management of AO type C pelvic ring injuries. Neurologic injuries affected the clinical outcome.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pelvis

BACKGROUND: Clinically apparent thyroid nodule is a very common disease in adults. Patients are often treated with thyroxine in order to reduce the size of the nodule, but the efficacy of thyroxine-suppressive therapy with thyroxine remains uncertain. We investigated the efficacy of thyroxine-suppressive therapy and the hormonal characteristics during thyroxine therapy to find out whether such measurement could be used to determine the effectiveness of this therapy in patients with benign solitary thyroid nodule proved by aspiration biopsy. METHODS: In this study, 54 patients were randomly assigned to receive L-thyroxine (Group I, n=24) or placebo (GroupII, n=30) for 1 year. High resolution ultrasonography (10MHz) was used to measure the size of the nodules at six month intervals. Thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin assay and FNA (fine needle aspiration) was done at the same time. The dose of thyroxine was 200ug/day. Patients were followed at 6 month intervals. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) 13 (54.1%) out of 24 Group I patients after adequate TSH suppression had a statistically significant reduction of nodule size and before-to-after nodule volume ratios were significantly different between the Group I and Group II patients. 2) In the responders among Group I patients, the before-to-after therapy ratio of the nodule volume was not related to the pretreatment nodule size, thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin levels. CONCLUSION: Thus we concluded that an adequate suppressive dose of L-thyroxine significantly altered the volume of the benign solitary thyroid nodules 12 months later.
Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Humans ; Needles ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroxine* ; Ultrasonography

In this study of the physical anthropological characteristics of the Akha and Lahu in northern Thailand, whose customs are similar to the Koreans, the authors examined the finger and palm prints of the Akha (male 107, female 114) and Lahu (male 92, female 101) using qualitative methods, and compared them with those of various ethnic groups including Koreans. The results were as follows : The whorl types (Akha 57.7%, Lahu 58.1%) were the most common finger prints, followed by ulnar loop types (Akha 39.7%, Lahu 38.7%), arch types (Akha 2.6%, Lahu 2.8%), and radial loop types (Akha 1.7%, Lahu 1.2%). Of the palm print types, 9-7-5 (Akha 32.7%, Lahu 21.3%) and 7-5-5(Akha 25.4%, Lahu 21.3%) were most common, followed by 11-O-7 (Akha 2.0%, Lahu 11.3%), 9-O-5 (Akha 1.5%, Lahu 10.0%), 11-9-7 (Akha 6.0%, Lahu 5.7%), 7-5-4 (Akha 7.0%, Lahu 2.2%). The finger and palm print patterns of the Akha and Lahu did not correspond closely to the patterns of those classified as White, Negro, or Oriental, although they were closest to the patterns of the latter, particularly Chinese (rather than Korean or Japanese).
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Anthropology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatoglyphics ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Thailand*

PURPOSE: In early 1980s, vasectomy was performed in more than 10 thousand men of reproductive age annually without cost as a South Korean government policy of birth control, but because the policy has been converted to encouraging childbirth since July 2004, vasovasostomy is now covered by national health insurance. We investigated the effect of national health insurance coverage of vasovasostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 1997 to June 2009, a total of 117 patients who underwent vasovasostomy were enrolled in this study. We divided the patients into two groups. The 63 patients undergoing the procedure before national health insurance coverage were included in group A, and the other 54 patients, who underwent the procedure after insurance coverage began, were classified into group B. The two groups were compared according to age, spouse's age, time since vasectomy, number of children at the time of vasectomy, occupation, educational attainment, religion, and the reason for vasovasostomy. RESULTS: The average number of cases of vasovasostomy was almost 3 times higher after insurance coverage was introduced, at 2.3 cases per month. The average spouse's age was significantly higher in group B than group A (35.2+/-4.8 vs. 32.2+/-3.5, p=0.012). Time since vasectomy was shorter in group B than group A (5.7+/-4.7 years vs. 8.9+/-5.0 years, p=0.001). Number of children at the time of vasectomy showed no significant difference between group A and group B, at 1.7+/-0.7 and 1.6+/-0.8 respectively. Cross tabulation analysis of occupation, educational status, religion, and the reason for vasovasostomy showed no significant difference. The patency rate was significantly higher in group A than group B (87.3% vs. 90.7%, p=0.012), but there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase was seen in patency rate, but not in pregnancy rate, after insurance coverage. However, further follow up will show us that a rise in the patency rate promises positive effects on the rise of pregnancy rate. We suggest that insurance coverage for vasovasostomy has encouraged an increase in births.
Child ; Contraception ; Educational Status ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Insurance, Health ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Occupations ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Vasectomy ; Vasovasostomy

PURPOSE: Accurate evaluation of side branch (SB) ostium could be critical to the treatment of bifurcation lesions. We compared measured and calculated values of side branch ostial length (SBOL) in coronary bifurcation lesions with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-intervention and post-intervention IVUS was performed in 113 patients who underwent stent implantation of bifurcation lesions. For the IVUS longitudinal reconstruction of the bifurcation lesions, SBOL, SB diameter, and the angle between the distal portion of the main vessel (MV) and SB were directly measured. In addition, SBOL was calculated as: SB diameter/sin (angle between distal MV and SB). The relationship between measured and calculated SBOL was then evaluated. RESULTS: The angled between the distal MV and SB were 57.3+/-12.4degrees at pre-intervention and 59.4+/-12.6degrees at post-intervention. The mean measured and calculated SBOL values were 2.91+/-0.86 mm and 3.06+/-0.77 mm at pre-intervention and 2.79+/-0.82 mm and 2.92+/-0.69 mm at post-intervention, respectively. Differences between measured and calculated SBOL were 0.15+/-0.44 mm at pre-intervention and 0.13+/-0.41 mm at post-intervention. We found that calculated SBOL was correlated with measured SBOL (pre-intervention r=0.863, p<0.001; post-intervention r=0.868, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a good correlation between measured and calculated SBOLs of the bifurcation lesions in IVUS longitudinal reconstruction. SBOL in the bifurcation lesions can therefore be estimated using the SB diameter and the angle between distal MV and SB.
Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Coronary Vessels/*ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional