The results of this study which had been investigated for the purpose of analyzing heavy metal concentrations in women's blood and urine, their correlation degree and significance of cadmium as indicator of accumulated heavy metals are as follows. 1) In blood, concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn are respectively 0.0110+/-0.14 ug/ml, 0.208+/-138 ug/ml, 0.899+/-0.153 ug/ml and 5.432+/-1.020 ug/ml. 2) In urine, concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn are respectively 0.003+/-0.12 ug/ml, 0.025+/-0.18 ug/ml, 0.013+/-0.12 ug/ml and 0.277+/-0.192 ug/ml. 3) Correlation coefficients between blood and urine are only significant in Zn (r=0.363, p<0.01). 4) In blood, correlation coefficients of Cd concentration and Pb, Zn are respectively 0.518 (p<0.01). 5) Correlation coefficients between Cd concentration in blood and Pb, Cu and Zn in urine are respectively r=-0.012, r=0.027, r=0.241 (p<0.05), and only Cd concentration and Zn is significant.
Cadmium ; Metals, Heavy

No abstract available.
Peristalsis*

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to understand the differences in masseter muscle (MM) between the shifted and non-shifted sides in facial asymmetry patients, and the changes shown by MM after mandibular surgery. METHODS: Pre- and post-operative CT scans were performed on 12 Class III patients with facial asymmetry who were treated by intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy and 10 subjects with normal occlusion. Using the V-works 4.0 program (Cybermed, Seoul, Korea), 3-dimensional images of the mandible, and MM were reconstructed, and evaluated. RESULTS: In the asymmetry group, the MM angle between the shifted and non-shifted sides was only significantly different (p < 0.05). Compared with normal occlusion, the asymmetry group showed a significantly smaller volume and maximum cross-sectional area in both sides of MM (p < 0.05). After mandibular surgery, the angle of MM (p < 0.01) and differences in angle between the shifted and non-shifted sides of MM (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. The thickness in the maximum cross-sectional area was significantly increased (p < 0.01). After surgery, MM in facial asymmetry patients was similarly changed to those in the normal occlusion group except for widths. CONCLUSIONS: MM in facial asymmetry was definitely different from those in normal occlusion. However, this study suggests that MM changed symmetrically in conjunction with the mandible after proper mandibular surgery.
Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Mandible ; Masseter Muscle ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and the significance of microorganisms as the causative factor of CPPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the frequency of 19 possible causative microorganisms of prostatitis in 849 patients who had prostatitis symptoms from April 2007 to March 2009 by using multiplex PCR. All of the enrolled patients were category III by the definition of the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Workshop. RESULTS: Of the 849 patients, 414 (49%) and 435 (51%) were categories IIIa (inflammatory CPPS) and IIIb (noninflammatory CPPS). On multiplex PCR, using the third voided urine specimen (VB3), 369 (89%) of the 414 category IIIa and 367 (84%) of the 435 category IIIb cases were found to have positive PCR results for causative microorganisms. The common microorganisms were Enterococcus, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Chlamydia trachomatis in 173 (18%), 144 (15%), 129 (13%), 78 (8%), and 69 cases (7%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were too many positive PCR results for causative microorganisms in the CPPS patients despite negative urine culture examination. Therefore, it is necessary to rule out contamination of the specimen to achieve reliable results with multiplex PCR. However, multiplex PCR can detect various unknown microorganisms suggestive of the etiology of CPPS, particularly those that are difficult to cultivate. PCR is expected to play an important role in the diagnosis of CPPS, but further studies will be required to define the usefulness of molecular tests.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Enterococcus ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pelvic Pain ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatitis ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

PURPOSE: Digits injured by punch press machines show peculiar types with segmental loss of middle part of digits. Although the distal parts of finger survived, thr results is frequently unfavorable with respect to function and appearance after inappropriate reconstruction. METHODS: From August 2008 to February 2013, five digits injured by punch press machines in four patients were managed. Pinch strength, two-point discrimination and active range of motion were measured to evaluate finger function. RESULTS: Three digits with a preserved amputated segment underwent replantation. Partial necrosis occurred in one digit in which local flap was performed. Secondary tendon graft was performed in the other digits. Two digits without segment was reconstructed by arthrodesis after shortening the length. The patients were generally satisfied with function and appearance. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of digits injured by punch machines are technically difficult. Replantation is the best method in cases of preserved segment, while arthrodesis with shortening is appropriate in cases without segment.
Amputation ; Arthrodesis ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Humans ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Pinch Strength ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Replantation ; Tendons ; Transplants

Protein Kinase C which is a Ca++ -activated, phospholipid - dependent enzyme phosphorylates numerous protein substrates and participates in intracellular signaling processes. Protein kinase C is associated with a wide range of biological effects including stimulus-secretion coupling, induction of cellular proliferation and differentiation, activation of nuclear transcription factors and cell surface receptors and tumor promotion. Programmed cell death, referred to apoptosis is an active, energy-dependent process in which the cell participates in its own destruction during apoptosis. There is condensation and fragmentation of nuclear chromatin, accompanied by a marked decline in total cell volume, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum and general compacting of cellular organelles. Thereafter, there is fragmentation of both nucleus and cytoplasm to give rise to small membrane-bound vesicles known as apoptotic bodies. Protein kinase C may have the regulatory role in apoptosis. Staurosporine is a potent protein kinase C inhibitor. Staurosporine inhibited the growth of human invasive bladder tumor cells, T24 in MTT test. The survival fractions of human invasive bladder tumor cells T24 were 100.0%, 76.0%, 62.5% and 18.1% with staurosporine concentration 0nM, 10nM, 100nM and 1000nM, respectively. From the results we identified that staurosporine inhibited the growth of T24 cells markedly in a dose dependent manner(P<0.05). 12-hour exposure of T24 cells to staurosporine failed to induce DNA fragmentation at the concentrations of 0nM, 10nM and 100nM but promoted fragmentation at the concentration of 1000nM, showing typical ladder pattern on agarose gel electrophoresis. On the examination of cellular morphology, T24 cells showed the features of apoptosis such as cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation and formation of bleb and apoptotic bodies after exposure to staurosporine of 10nM, 100nM and 1000nM concentrations. These results suggest that staurosporine have remarkable cytotoxic effect against human invasive bladder tumor cells T 24 and the mechanism of cytotoxicity may be apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; Blister ; Cell Death ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Size ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Humans* ; Organelles ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; Staurosporine ; Transcription Factors ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

In this study, we describe our diagnosis and treatment of two patients who presented with femoral vessel compression caused by a cystic lesion in the groin. One case was diagnosed as adventitial cystic disease (ACD) of the common femoral artery resulting in leg claudication and the other was diagnosed as a ganglion cyst (GC) causing femoral vein compression and unilateral leg swelling. The operative findings differed between these two cases with respect to the dissection of the cyst and femoral vessel, but the postoperative histological examination results were similar. The pathogenesis of ACD and GC is not fully understood, and further investigation is needed to delineate the exact pathology of these uncommon conditions.
Adventitia ; Diagnosis ; Femoral Artery ; Femoral Vein ; Ganglion Cysts ; Groin* ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Pathology

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue damage of cryopreserved fat after autologous fat transfer is inevitable in several processes of re-transplantation. This study aims to compare and analyze the survivability of adipocytes after thawing fat cryopreserved at -20degrees C by using thawing methods used in clinics. METHODS: The survival rates of adipocytes in the following thawing groups were measured: natural thawing at 25degrees C for 15 minutes; natural thawing at 25degrees C for 5 minutes, followed by rapid thawing at 37degrees C in a water bath for 5 minutes; and rapid thawing at 37degrees C for 10 minutes in a water bath. The survival rates of adipocytes were assessed by measuring the volume of the fat layer in the top layers separated after centrifugation, counting the number of live adipocytes after staining with trypan blue, and measuring the activity of mitochondria in the adipocytes. RESULTS: In the group with rapid thawing for 10 minutes in a water bath, it was observed that the cell count of live adipocytes and the activity of the adipocyte mitochondria were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The volume of the fat layer separated by centrifugation was also measured to be higher, which was, however, not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that the survival rate of adipocytes was higher when the frozen fat tissue was thawed rapidly at 37degrees C. It can thus be concluded that if fats thawed with this method are re-transplanted, the survival rate of cryopreserved fats in transplantation will be improved, and thus, the effect of autologous fat transfer will increase.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Autografts ; Baths ; Cell Count ; Centrifugation ; Cryopreservation ; Fats ; Mitochondria ; Survival Rate ; Trypan Blue ; Water

In order to provide some clues for differential diagnosis of trematode infections in fecal examination, the comparative morphology of eggs of 5 kinds of heterophyid flukes (Metagonimus yokogawai, Heterophyes heterophyes nocens, Heterophyopsis continua, Stellantchasmus falcatus and Pygidiopsis summa) and Clonorchis sinensis was studied. The eggs were obtained from distal portion of uteri of worms which were recovered from men after treatment. The characteristic shape and apperance of each kind of eggs were observed in detail under light microscope, and their length and width measured and compared one another. The results are as follows: Eggs of C. sinensis are elongated ovoidal in shape with attenuated anterior end, 25.3-33.2 (28.3 in average) micrometer long and 14.2-17.4(15.9) micrometer wide with length /width ratio of 1.60-2.00 (1.78). They differ from all heterophyid eggs in that they have prominent wrinkling (muskmelon pattern) at their shell surface. P. summa eggs are ovoid to pyriform in shape and characterized by the smallest size of all kinds examined, 19.8-22.9(21.6) micrometer long and 11.1-13.4 (12.1) micrometer wide and the ratio 1.63-1.99 (1.78). Eggs of S. falcatus are elongated ovoidal and most slender form, 25.3-29.2 (27.2) micrometer long and 11.1-13.4 (12.5) micrometer wide with the ratio of 2.00-2.57 (2.17). Eggs of M. yokogawai are ellipsoid to elliptical in shape with round both ends, 26.9-31.6 (28.5) micrometer long and 14.2-18.2 (16.8) micrometer wide with the ratio of 1.48-2.11(1.70). H. continua eggs are oval in shape, sometimes similar to M. yokogawai or H. h. nocens eggs, however, the relative breadth is broadest among all kinds, with maximum width at posterior half portion. They are 23.7-27.7 (25.0) micrometer long, 15.8-18.9 (16.4) micrometer wide with the ratio of 1.33-1.75 (1.53). Eggs of H. h. nocens are ellipsoid to ovoid in shape but sometimes more slender than M. yokogawai and have slightly pointed both ends. They are 23.7-29.2 (25.7) micrometer long, 14.2-15.8 (15.4) micrometer wide, and the ratio 1.50-2.06 (1.67). From the results, it is concluded that eggs of 5 kinds of heterophyids and C. sinensis can be morphologically differentiated one another, however, careful observation and measurement on sufficient number of eggs are needed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; morphology ; egg ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Heterophyes heterophyes nocens ; Heterophyopsis continua ; Stellantchasmus falcatus ; Pygidiopsis summa