OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasouond-guided salivary gland injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for posterior drooling. METHOD: 11 patients with brain lesion (9 cerebral palsy, 1 hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and 1 mental retardation) with posterior drooling (an initial PDAS score greater than 2) and related pulmonary problems were recruited. Drooling severity was measured at baseline, 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after botulinum toxin A injection, by using Teacher Drooling Scale (TDS), Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), Drooling Score System (DSS)-severity, frequency and Posterior Drooling/Aspiration System (PDAS). RESULTS: The TDS, DSS-severity, DSS-frequency, VAS, PDAS were significantly reduced at 4 weeks and 3 months after BTX-A injection into salivary glands compared to pre-injection (p<0.05). However, there were no significant changes at 6 months compared to pre-injection level. CONCLUSION: BTX-A injection into salivary glands may improve anterior drooling in patients with brain lesions. Furthermore BTX-A injection into salivary glands may also decrease the posterior drooling which might related to respiratory symptoms in aspiration pneumonia.
Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Brain ; Cerebral Palsy ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Salivary Glands ; Sialorrhea ; Sorbitol ; Stress, Psychological ; Tyramine ; Weights and Measures

Schwannomas are the most common type of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. They typically present as a solitary lesion, but multiple schwannomas rarely occur in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), or patients without the other hallmarks of NF2. The latter is termed schwannomatosis. They most commonly occur in the head and neck involving the brachial plexus and spinal nerves. Although rarely found in the extremities, when these masses occur peripherally, they most commonly affect the sciatic, ulnar, and tibial nerve. It is reported that 2.4% to 5% of all patients undergoing schwannoma excision present as schwannomatosis. One-third of patients with schwannomatosis show tumors limited to a single extremity or segment of the spine and it is referred to as segmental schwannomatosis. We report a case of recurred segmental schwannomatosis of the posterior tibial nerve without features of NF2 after schwannoma excision.
Brachial Plexus ; Extremities ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 2* ; Spinal Nerves ; Spine ; Tibial Nerve

The purpose of this study was to estimate the possibilities of an acellular matrix using a modified acellularization protocol, which circumvents immunological, microbiological, and physiological barriers. We treated porcine subclavian arteries with various reagents to construct acellular grafts. Afterwards, these grafts were interposed in a mongrel dogs' abdominal aorta. Six dogs underwent interposition with fresh porcine grafts (control group), and seven had interposed acellular grafts (acellular group). The control and acellular group dogs were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 (n=2 in each group) and 12 months (n=1 in acellular group) after the operation. Histopathological examinations were then performed, to assess the degree to which re-endothelialization, inflammation, thrombus formation, and calcification occurred. The entire acellular group, but none of the control group, exhibited re-endothelialization. The degrees to which inflammation, thrombosis, and calcification occurred were found to be lower in the acellular group. We also discovered many smooth muscle cells in the medial layer of the xenograft that had been implanted in the dog sacrificed 12 months after the operation. These results suggest that the construction of xenografts using our modified acellularization protocol may offer acceptable outcomes as a vascular xenograft.
Transplantation, Heterologous/*methods ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Swine ; Subclavian Artery/*cytology/*transplantation ; Graft Survival/*physiology ; Dogs ; Cell-Free System/*transplantation ; Animals

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Movement of mitral valve during diastole and blood flow velocity through the valve can be accurately measured using M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler technique, respectively. However, the relationship between mechanical excursion and flow phenomenon at the same cardiac cycle has not been seriously investigated. METHOD: The subjects of this study included twenty cases with normal mitral flow pattern in Doppler echocardiography (Group I, mean age:44+/-20.8years, mean ejection fraction (EF):52+/-20.9%), twenty three cases with relaxation abnormality (Group II, mean age:59+/-11.4years, mean EF:43+/-18.2%) and seventeen cases with restrictive physiology (Group III, mean age: 47+/-15.9years, mean EF: 24+/-11.0%). We measured excursion of mitral leaflets at early (DE) and late (DA) diastole, area of mitral valvular opening using two dimensional calibration on M mode images, and transmitral inflow velocity (E (early ventricular filling)-, A (atrial contraction)-velocity), TVI (time velocity integral) on Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: DE-excursions (mm) in group I, II, III were 16.8+/-4.7, 14.2+/-3.5, 15.3+/-4.1, DA-excursions (mm) were 9.8+/-3.2, 10.7+/-3.0, 8.3+/-2.7, E-areas (cm2) were 2.8+/-1.3, 2.6+/-0.8, 2.5+/-1.0, A-areas (cm2) were 1.7+/-0.8, 1.7+/-0.7, 2.0+/-0.6, respectively. In E-, A-velocity, deceleration time, E-TVI and A-TVI, there were significant differences among three groups. However, in DE-, DA-excursion, E-, A-area, there were no significant differences among three groups. Between DE excursion and E velocity, DA excursion and A velocity, and total opening area and total TVI in total subjects, significant correlations were absent. CONCLUSION: The mitral excursions and mitral opening areas on M mode images did not show any significant correlations with the mitral inflow velocities and TVI by pulsed Doppler, which suggests that the excursion of mitral leaflets is independent of transmitral inflow.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Calibration ; Deceleration ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Mitral Valve* ; Physiology ; Relaxation

This study was carried out to determine the possibility of bottle cultivation utilizing recycled oyster mushroom culture waste as a cultivating substrate for P. ostreatus. Total nitrogen percentage was 0.76%, 1.13%, 1.16%, 1.36%, and 1.38% in the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-time mixed substrate, respectively; 0.95%, 1.04%, 1.34%, 1.36%, and 1.25% in the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-time postharvest substrate, respectively; and 0.72% and 0.68% in the 2- and 3-time nonadditive substrate, respectively. Weight of the fresh fruiting body harvest was 115 g, 120 g, 117 g, 118 g, and 114 g on 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-time mixed substrate, respectively; and 105 g and 45 g on 2- and 3-time nonadditive substrate, respectively. The first mixed substrate (fresh) and recycled substrates generated no significant difference in the weight of fresh fruiting bodies harvested.
Fruit ; Nitrogen ; Pleurotus

A concern about drug therapy for obesity has been increased with launching of new anti-obesity drug in Korea. Subcutaneous injection of aminophylline was used for regional lipolysis, but its effectiveness and safety are controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of aminophylline on lipolytic activity and cytotoxic effect in adipocytes. Preadipocytes obtained from human breast fat tissue were cultured in monolayer culture system. Cells were treated with media added 1, 5, 10, 15, 25 mM aminophylline concentrations, respectively. Cytotoxicity was measured by XTT colorimetric assay and cell count. The lipolytic activity was measured by enzymatic autoanalyzed system. At above 15mM of aminophylline concentration, preadipocyte and adipocyte markedly presented cytotoxic effects. In proportion to concentration, lipolytic activity was increased and maximal lipolytic activity without marked cytotoxicity was measured at 10mM of aminophylline concentration.
Adipocytes* ; Aminophylline* ; Breast ; Cell Count ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Korea ; Lipolysis ; Obesity

Sialolithiasis, the most common salivary gland pathology, is caused by calculi in the gland itself and its duct. While patients with small sialoliths can undergo conservative treatment, those with standard-size or larger sialoliths require sialolithotomy. In the present case study, we removed two sialoliths located beneath the mucosa in the posterior and anterior regions of Wharton's duct, respectively. For the posterior calculus, we performed sialolithotomy via an intra-oral approach; thereafter, the small anterior calculus near the duct orifice was removed by hydraulic power. This method has not previously been reported. There were no complications either during the operation or postoperatively, and the salivary function of the gland remained normal.
Calculi* ; Humans ; Methods* ; Mucous Membrane ; Needles* ; Pathology ; Salivary Ducts ; Salivary Gland Calculi ; Salivary Glands ; Submandibular Gland

BACKGROUND: The function of the bcl-2 oncogene was known to prolong cell life by inhibiting apoptosis. PCNA have been used as a cellular proliferation marker. Because there are much similarities between Keratoacanthoma(KA) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma(SCC), it is often hard to differentiate KA and SCC, clinically and histopathologically. Although a number of recent studies have been attempted to separate these two entities by immunohistochemical stains, the distinction between KA and SCC may be still debatable and a matter of speculation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefullness of the method by analyzing immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 and PCNA in a matter of differentiating KA and SCC. METHOD: 11 cases of Keratoacanthoma and 22 cases of Squamous Cell Carcinoma which are conformed by histopathologic examination were stained with bcl-2 and PCNA immunohistochemically. RESULTS: 1. In KA, The bcl-2 was negative in 100% and the PCNA was positive in 100%. 2. In SCC, The bcl-2 was negative in 95% and the PCNA was positive in 100%. 3. In the pattern of staining of PCNA, KA have more peripheral pattern(73%) than diffuse pattern(27%), otherwise SCC have more diffuse pattern(59%) than peripheral(27%) and focal pattern(14%). CONCLUSION: bcl-2, PCNA, Keratoacanthoma(KA), Squamous Cell Carcinoma(SCC)Our research showed that KA is almost similar to SCC except that there are difference in the pattern of staining of PCNA. According to the result of our study, we think that it is hard to differentiate between KA and SCC only by immunohistochemical staining of PCNA. Althogh immunohistochemical staining of PCNA would not be a confirmative method, it will help us to distinguish KA from SCC as a supplementary measure. By the fact, more researches are necessary to differentiate KA and SCC by immunohistochemical staining.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Proliferation ; Coloring Agents ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Oncogenes ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

Acute phlegmonous infection of the gastrointestinal tract is characterized by purulent inflammation of the submucosa and muscular layer with sparing of the mucosa. The authors report a rare case of acute diffuse phlegmonous esophagogastritis, which was well diagnosed based on the typical chest computed tomographic (CT) findings and was successfully treated. A 48-yr-old man presented with left chest pain and dyspnea for three days. Chest radiograph on admission showed mediastinal widening and bilateral pleural effusion. The patient became febrile and the amount of left pleural effusion is increased on follow-up chest radiograph. Left closed thoracostomy was performed with pus drainage. A CT diagnosis of acute phlegmonous esophagogastritis was suggested and a surgery was decided due to worsening of clinical condition of the patient and radiologic findings. Esophageal myotomies were performed and the submucosal layer was filled with thick, cheesy materials. The patient was successfully discharged with no postoperative complication.
Acute Disease ; Cellulitis/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Drainage ; Esophagitis/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Gastritis/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections/diagnosis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion/etiology/radiography ; Thoracostomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ganoderma applanatum is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms due to the various biologically active components it produces. This study was conducted to obtain basic information regarding the mycelial culture conditions of Ganoderma applanatum. Based on the colony diameter and mycelial density, PDA, YMA and MCM media were suitable for the mycelial growth of the mushroom. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth was found to be 25~30degrees C. The optimum carbon and nitrogen sources were mannose and dextrin, respectively, and the optimum C/N ratio was 2 to 10 when 2% glucose was used. Other minor components required for the optimal growth included thiamine-HCl and biotin as vitamins, succinic acid and lactic acid as organic acids, and MgSO4.7H2O, KH2PO4 and NaCl as mineral salts.
Agaricales ; Biotin ; Carbon ; Ganoderma ; Glucose ; Lactic Acid ; Mannose ; Nitrogen ; Salts ; Succinic Acid ; Vitamins