PURPOSE: The effect of sagittal plane angle of the tibial tunnel on the severity of tibial intra-articular aperture expansion caused by iatrogenic re-reaming in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a modified transtibial technique is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the severity of intra-articular aperture widening at different angles (40°, 45°, and 50°) of the tibial guide (TG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven patients who underwent modified transtibial ACL reconstruction were randomly allocated to TG 40°, 45°, and 50° groups. Intra-articular tibial aperture width (TW) and tibial tunnel length (TTL) were measured intraoperatively using an arthroscopic ruler and a depth gauge. RESULTS: The TG 50° group had significantly greater tibial aperture widening than the TG 40° group. There was a significant difference among TG 40°, 45°, and 50° groups and the percentage of knees with TTL <35 mm was 8%, 9% and 3%, respectively. There were 2 females with TTL <35 mm in TG 40° and 45° groups each. The average mediolateral length of the tibial plateau was 75 mm. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the TG angle of 40° would reduce the severity of intra-articular aperture widening of the tibial tunnel compared to 45° or 50° in modified transtibial ACL reconstruction.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Female ; Humans ; Knee

BACKGROUND: Asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis(EB) are eosinophilic inflammatory diseases of the airway. However, EB differs from asthma in that there is no variable airway obstruction or airway hyper-responsiveness. Pathologically, asthma is characterized by the accumulation of eosinophils and CD4+ T lymphocytes in the submucosa. A recent study showed that there was no significant difference between asthma and EB in terms of the submucosal eosinophil and T lymphocyte count. However, it is not known whether or not an infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes occurs in the airways of EB patients. The aim of this study was to identify the difference between the two conditions by measuring the submucosal CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte count. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of bronchial-biopsy specimens was performed in 17 subjects with asthma and 24 subjects with EB. RESULTS: The CD4+ T lymphocytes count in the asthma subjects and the EB subjects was similar (median, 58.6 vs 50.0 cells/mm2, respectively; P=0.341). In contrast, the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the EB subjects was higher than that in the asthma subjects (median, 46.7 vs 11.8 cells/mm2, respectively; P=0.003). CONCLUSION: The infiltration of submucosal CD8+ T lymphocytes may be associated with the pathophysiology of EB.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma* ; Bronchitis* ; Eosinophils* ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: The leukocyte common antigen (CD45) is a transmembrane-type protein tyrosine phosphatase that has five isoforms. METHODS: We generated seven murine mAbs against human CD45 by injecting cells from different origins, such as human thymocytes, PBMCs, and leukemic cell lines. By using various immunological methods including flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and immunoprecipitation, we evaluated the reactivity of those mAbs to CD45 of thymus as well as tonsil lysates. Furthermore, we transiently transfected COS-7 cells with each of gene constructs that express five human CD45 isoforms respectively, and examined the specificities of the mAbs against the transfected isoforms. RESULTS: In case of thymocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes, all the seven mAbs demonstrated positive reactivities whereas none was reactive to erythrocytes and platelets. The majority of immune cells in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thymus and tonsil tissues displayed strong membranous immunoreactivity, and the main antigen was detected near 220 kDa in all cases. Among the mAbs, four mAbs (AP4, DN11, SHL-1, and P6) recognized a region commonly present in all the five isoforms. One mAb, YG27, recognized four isoforms (ABC, AB, BC, and O). Two mAbs, P1 and P14, recognized the isoforms that contain exon A encoded regions (ABC and AB). CONCLUSION: In this study, we confirmed that AP4, DN11, SHL-1, YG27 and P6, are mAbs reactive with the CD45 antigen whereas P1 and P14 are reactive with the CD45RA antigen.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, CD45 ; Blood Platelets ; Cell Line ; COS Cells ; Erythrocytes ; Exons ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunoprecipitation ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Palatine Tonsil ; Protein Isoforms ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland

In the present study, we identified a Spirometra species of Myanmar origin (plerocercoid) by molecular analysis using mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes, as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. Spargana specimens were collected from a paddy-field in Taik Kyi Township Tarkwa Village, Yangon, Myanmar in December 2017. A total of 5 spargana were obtained from 20 frogs Hoplobatrachus rugulosus; syn: Rana rugulosa (Wiegmann, 1834) or R. tigrina (Steindachner, 1867). The plerocercoids were used for experimental infection of a dog. After 4 weeks of infection, an adult tapeworm was recovered from the intestine of the dog. Morphologically, the distinct features of Spirometra sp. (Myanmar origin) relative to S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens include a uterine morphology comprising posterior uterine coils that larger than the terminal uterine ball and coiling of the uteri diagonally (swirling) rather than spirally. The cox1 sequences (1,566 bp) of the Myanmar-origin Spirometra species showed 97.9% similarity to a reference sequence of S. decipiens (GenBank no. KJ599679) and 90.5% similarity to a reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei (GenBank no. KJ599680). Phylogenetic tree topologies were identical and presented high confidence level of values for the 3 major branches of the 3 Spirometra species in cox1 and nad1 genes. These results indicated that Myanmar-origin Spirometra species coincided with those of S. ranarum and may be considered as a valid species.
Adult ; Animals ; Cestoda ; Dogs ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Intestines ; Myanmar ; Ranidae ; Spirometra ; Trees ; Uterus

PURPOSE: We determine the Korean antibody titer and positive rate of tetanus by using a with qualitative test (ELISA) and a quantitative test (TQS(R)). METHODS: This study was prospective collecting study with uncontolled patients who were admitted in 21 Emergency Departments during 3 months in South Korea. We measured TQS(R) and collected the serum with a centrifuge for 5 groups, which was classified with age: 2~10 years (I), 11~20 years (II), 21~30 years (III), 31~40 years (IV), 41~60 years (V), in each hospital. The freezed serum and the protocol with TQS(R) results were taken at the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon hospital to be analyzed. RESULTS: The number of enrolled patients was 1816 (male 58%). The positive rate of TQS(R) was 835 patients (46%), and there was no relation with region or sex. In sex and age, there was a definitive decline in the group III fort males and females. The results of ELISA was showed that 62.8% (> 0.15 IU/ml) and 52.2% (> 0.2 IU/ml) had protective levels of tetanus antibody. The proportion decreased to approximately 43% and 18% among persons 40~60 years of age at each level of antibody titers. By region and population, there was no statistical relationship with TQS(R) and ELISA, but previous military service was associated with a higher prevalence of protective antibodies to tetanus (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial portion of adults in South Korea do not have antibody levels that are protective against tetanus. Also, the mean level of tetanus antibody titers was definitively lower than those of other developed conturies and consistently decreased with aging. Therefore, an adult formulation diphteria and tetanus toxoid every 5 or 10 years is recommended for all adults between 20 and 60 years of age after being tested with TQS(R) in South Korea.
Adult ; Aging ; Antibodies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Tetanus ; Tetanus Toxoid