Several growth factors and polypeptides are not commonly yet used for regenerators of bone tissue or alveolar bone because of the insufficiency of studies on their side effects, genetic engineering for mass production and stability for clinical application. Recently, many herbal medicines, which have advantage of less side effects and possibility of long-term use, have been studied for their capacity and effects of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential of periodontal tissues. Morindae Radix, Cibotium Barometz (L.), Albizziae Cortex, Cistandhis Herba have been traditionally used as medicines for treatment of bone disease in Eastern medicine. The objective of the present study is to examine the ability of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of human fetal osteoblast (hFOB1) when several natural medicines were supplemented. hFOB1 were cultured with Dulbecuo's Modified Eagle's Medium Nutrient Mixture F-12 HAM ( DMEM/F-12 1:1 Mixture, Sigma, USA) and negative control, dexamethasone (positive control), and each natural medicines for 3 days. And then ALP activity was measured by spectrophotometer for enzyme activity and Alizarin red S staining for morphometry. Among the natural medicines of this study, Morindae Radix, Cibotium Barometz (L.) and Cistanchis Herba induced higher activity of ALP synthesis than negative controls in all experimental group. Albizziae Cortex showed mild increases than negative control group. According to measurement of positively stained area, all of the natural medicines of this study increased compared to negative control. Especially, Cibotium Barometz (L.) and Cistanchis Herba showed statistical significance compared to negative control (p<0.05). These results indicate that Morindae Radix, Cibotium Barometz (L.), Albizziae Cortex, Cistandhis Herba have an inducing ability of ALP synthesis on osteoblast.
Albizzia ; Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Diseases ; Dexamethasone ; Genetic Engineering ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Morinda ; Osteoblasts* ; Peptides

Based upon the concept that carcinogenesis is associated with apoptosis, specific therapies designed to enhance the susceptibility of cancer cells to undergo apoptosis could be developed. Thus, in this paper, it was designed to investigate whether, using rat animal model with chemical-induced hepatocellular carcinoma, TGF-1 in vivo could induce apoptosis in cancer. The chemical hepatocarcinogenic procedure of Solt-Farber method was used on Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental groups were divided into group A treated with the standard Solt-Farber regimen of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetaminofluorene (AAF), group B TGF-, group C TGF-1, and group D adriamycin after hepatocellular carcinoma developed. For detection of apoptotic cells, apoptotic indices were examined by the in situ end DNA labelling method. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Apoptosis of rat hepatocellular carcinoma cells increased significantly to 4.92+/-2.32/HPF in the group C compared with the control group (A) (2.54+/-1.13/HPF; P<0.05). Two distinctly different populations of proliferating hepatocellular carcinoma cells were identified. The cells at G1/S boundary (weak granular staining) increased to 15.75+/-6.19/HPF and 6.45+/-2.93/HPF in the groups C and D, respectively, but decreased to 2.42+/-2.06/HPF in the group B compared with the control group (A) (6.38+/-2.18/HPF; p<0.05). The cells at S phase (strong granular staining) increased to 3.37+/-2.69/HPF in the group B but decreased to 0.32+/-0.47/HPF in the group D (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicate that the TGF-1 may be used as an effective anticancer agent.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diethylnitrosamine ; DNA ; Doxorubicin ; Models, Animal ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S Phase ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1* ; Transforming Growth Factors*

Myxoma is the commonest intracardiac tumor and it is well known to present in bizarre ways. Calcification of the tumor is uncommon, though probably more frequent in right than in left heart tumors. Diagnosis can be followed by surgery with satisfactory results. A 36 years old man with partially calcified right ventricular myxoma and a 51 years old man with calcified left atrial myxoma, which were revealed different echogenic densities on 2-dimensional echocardiogram and gross calcification on fluoroscopy, were treated with surgical removal. We report above two cases of calcified myxoma with literature review.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Fluoroscopy ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma*

PURPOSE: Animal and clinical experiments have recently shown that TUEIP resulted in a reduction of the prostate volume and an increase of the lumen of the prostatic urethra. We assessed the clinical efficacy of TUEIP for BPH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2001 and December 2001, 27 patients diagnosed with BPH, and had undergone surgical management, were evaluated. With endoscopic injection set, 99% alcohol was injected into the inferior portion of the bladder neck and around the verumontanum, depending on the individual endoscopic findings. Pre-operatively, immediately after removal of the Foley catheter and at 3 months post-operatively, all the patients were evaluated with uroflowmetry and PVR, with 15 patients receiving transrectal ultrasound at 3 months post-operatively. RESULTS: The pre-operative Qmax was 8.1ml/sec, which increased to 11.8ml/sec (p<0.05) after removal of the Foley catheter, and was further increased to 13.0ml/sec (p<0.05) at 3 months post-operatively. The pre-operative PVR was 14.2ml, which increased to 15.8ml and 16.5ml after removal of the Foley catheter and at 3 months post- operatively, respectively. The pre-operative prostate volume was 39.7cc, which was reduced to 25.9cc (p<0.05) at 3 months post-operatively. There was no systematic adverse effect from alcohol absorption. CONCLUSIONS: TUEIP is considered as an effective alternative treatment of symptomatic bladder outlet obstruction caused by BPH, showing a significant increase in Qmax and reduction of the prostate volume.
Absorption ; Animals ; Catheters ; Ethanol* ; Humans ; Neck ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Ultrasonography ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction

Chronic mitral regurgitation may be well tolerated for decades because of favorable conditions like increased preload and decreased afterload. However, in some patients with underlying overt myocardial dysfunction, opertive correction of mitral regurgitation may result in persistent left ventricular dysfunction. Myocardial dysfunction in mitral regurgitation initially occurs subclinically and may becoma irreversible before symptoms of congestive heart failure develop. In order to identify latent myocardial dysfunction, we evaluated prognostic values of several indices from patient's characteristics, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization data and contrast left ventriculogram in 49 patients with chronic mitral regurgitation who received mitral valve replacement. The patients were defined as Groups I who had improved symptoms with decreased left ventricular end-diastolic dimension after operation and Group II who had persistent symptoms and progressed left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, or not decreased until left ventricular end-diastolic dimension 60mm after operation. The results were as follows: 1) There was no significant difference in age, sex, duration of symptoms, preoperative NYHA functional status, and aortic cross clamping time during operation between Group I and Group II. 2) There was no significant difference in echocardiographic left ventricular end-diastolic dimension between group I and group II. There were significantly more dilated left ventricular end-diastolic dimension of Group II than that of Group I and significantly more depressed fractional shortening of Group II than that of Group I. There was significantly more increased end-diastolic wall stress of Group II than of Group I. 3) There was no significant difference in cardiac index, mean pulmonary artery pressure, mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left ventricular end-diastoic pressure between Group I and Group II. 4) There were significantly more increased end-diastolic volume index and end-diastolic volum index of Group II than those of Group I, but no significant difference in ejection fraction between Group I and Group II. There was significantly more decreased ratio of end-diastolic circumferential midwall stress to end-diastolic volume index of Group II than that of Group I. 5) In Group I, end-systolic dimension, end-systolic dimension and end-systolic wall stress were decreased significantly after operation. In Group II, end-systolic dimension was decreased significantly after operation. 6) Values for combination of end-systolic left ventricular dimension greater than 28mm/m2 and end-systolic wall stress greater than 190mmHg predicted a Group II outcome with a sensitivity of 88.2%, a specificity of 93.8%, positive predictive value of 88.2% and negative predictive value of 93.8%. Values of combination of end-systolic left ventricular dimension greater than 28mm/m2 and fractional shortening less than 32% predicted a Group II outcome with a sensitivity of 88.2% a specificity of 90.6%, positive predictive value of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 93.5%, a specificity of 90.6%, positive predictive valve of 83.3% and negative predictive value of 93.5%. According to the above results, noninvasive hemodynamic variables such as end-systolic left ventricular dimension, fractional shortening and end-systolic wall stress would be useful guideline for follow-up and determining the optimal time for surgical intervention in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation.
Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Constriction ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Acute necrotizing esophagitis (AEN), also called "black esophagus," is a rare disorder with an unknown pathogenesis. Endoscopic findings generally show black pigmentation throughout the esophagus. This case also offered rare views of the gross anatomy of this disorder. Histological examination revealed that the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophagus were involved in the severe necrotizing inflammation. The chief manifestation of this disease is hematemesis from hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract with a typically multifactorial etiology. AEN is also characterized by a clear boundary at the gastroesophageal junction where the necrosis stops. In this study, we report an autopsy case of a 61-year-old man with necrotizing inflammation throughout the esophagus and esophageal necrosis from the laryngopharynx to the gastroesophageal junction. The patient was a disabled person with a history of alcohol abuse who was also diagnosed with mild coronary arteriosclerosis and fatty liver on the basis of the underlying diseases. In this case, the main etiology for poor perfusion from the distal esophageal area was likely underlying illness, history of alcoholism, and malnutrition.
Alcoholism ; Autopsy* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Disabled Persons ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Fatty Liver ; Hematemesis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Inflammation ; Malnutrition ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Perfusion ; Pigmentation ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

The ideal goal of periodontal therapy is the regeneration of periodontal tissue and repair of function. Although it is very difficult to attain this goal, recent advances in periodontal wound healing concepts encourage hope reaching it. Recently many efforts are concentrated on the regeneration potential of material used in traditional Korean medicine. Phlomidis Radix has been used for the treatment of blood stasis, bone fracture and osteoporosis in traditional Korean medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine effects of dichloromethane fraction Phlomidis Radix on Bone Formation in Human Fetal Osteoblasts. Human fetal osteoblastic cell line(hFOB1 1.19 ; American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA) were used and cells were cultured containing DMEM and dichloromethane fraction Phlomidis Radix(100 ng/ml, 1 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml) at 34degrees C with 5% CO2 in 100% humidity. MTT was performed to examine the viability of the cell, and alkaline phosphatase activity was analyzed to examnine the mineralization. Also bone calcification nodules were evaluated. The cellular activity of hFOB1 was increased in 100 ng/ml, 1 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml of dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix and especially significant increation was showed in 100 ng/ml of dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix at 6days (p<0.05). ALP level of hFOB1 was significantly increased in 100 ng/ml, 1 microgram/ml, 10 microgram/ml of dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix and especially more increation was showed in 10 microgram/ml of dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix (p<0.05). Calcification nodules of hFOB1 significantly increased in 10 microgram/ml of dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix at 21days of incubation (p<0.05). These results indicate that dichloromethane fraction of Phlomidis Radix has excellent effects on mineralization of hFOB1.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Fractures, Bone ; Hope ; Humans* ; Humidity ; Methylene Chloride* ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteoporosis ; Regeneration ; Wound Healing

Application of membranes for guided tissue regeneration(GTR) have been confined to the subgingival barrier functions; however, many studies have provided evidence that some drugs, including tetracycline, initially can promote the growth of periodontal ligament or alveolar bone in peridontal therapy. Osseous regeneration in periodontal defects is increased by local administration of tetracycline due to its anti-collagenolytic effect, which enhances bone-forming ability via osteoblast cell chemotaxis and reduced bone resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of tetracycline loaded poly-L-lactide(PLLA) barrier membranes for guided bone regenerative potential. Tetracycline was incorporated into the PLLA membrane with the ratio 10% to PLLA by weight. Ability to guided bone regeneration of the membranes were tested by measuring new bone in the tibial defects(7x10x5 mm3) of the beagle dog for 4, 5, and 6 weeks. In control, drug-unloaded PLLA membranes were used in same size of defect. In histologic finding of the defect area, a few inflammatory cells were observed in both groups. These membrane were not perforated by connective tissue and maintained their mechanical integrity for the barrier function for 4-6 weeks. New bone formation was greater in defects covered by tetracycline-loaded membrane than in defects covered by drug- unloaded membranes. In bone regeneration guiding potential test, tetracycline-loaded membrane was more effective than drug- unloaded membranes(p<0.05). These results suggest that tetracycline-loaded PLLA membranes potentially enhance guided bone regenerative efficacy and might be a useful barrier for GTR in periodontal treatment.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Bone Resorption ; Chemotaxis ; Connective Tissue ; Dogs* ; Membranes* ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Ligament ; Regeneration ; Tetracycline

The aim of periodontal therapy is a removal of a bacterial plaque butthe instrumentation for plaque control has two nature : removal of a bacterial plaque and increase of surface roughness. Complication of instrumentation is enable to damage to the root surface and artificial crown. Therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of repeated instrumentation on the marginal portion of artificial crown. Fifteen proximal surfaces of ten extracted periodontally diseased maxillary first molars were used. The finish line was placed on the root surface, and then the crown was casted and cemented in usual manner. Three kinds of instruments: hand curet, ultrasonic scaler, and ultrasonic curet were used. After instrumentation, final polishing was done with rubber cup and pumice. And surface changes were evaluated by stereomicroscope and scannig probe microscope. Roughness was increased after instrumentation in all groups, and was decreased after polishing except ultrasonic scaler group. Roughness in the ultrasonic scaler group was lower than others, and roughness after polishing in the hand curet group was lower than others. These results indicate that polishing procedure is recommended, because periodontalinstruments increase the surface roughness and induce the irreversible damage to the marginal portion.
Crowns* ; Hand ; Molar ; Rubber ; Ultrasonics

The aim of periodontal therapy is a removal of a bacterial plaque butthe instrumentation for plaque control has two nature : removal of a bacterial plaque and increase of surface roughness. Complication of instrumentation is enable to damage to the root surface and artificial crown. Therefore this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of repeated instrumentation on the marginal portion of artificial crown. Fifteen proximal surfaces of ten extracted periodontally diseased maxillary first molars were used. The finish line was placed on the root surface, and then the crown was casted and cemented in usual manner. Three kinds of instruments: hand curet, ultrasonic scaler, and ultrasonic curet were used. After instrumentation, final polishing was done with rubber cup and pumice. And surface changes were evaluated by stereomicroscope and scannig probe microscope. Roughness was increased after instrumentation in all groups, and was decreased after polishing except ultrasonic scaler group. Roughness in the ultrasonic scaler group was lower than others, and roughness after polishing in the hand curet group was lower than others. These results indicate that polishing procedure is recommended, because periodontalinstruments increase the surface roughness and induce the irreversible damage to the marginal portion.
Crowns* ; Hand ; Molar ; Rubber ; Ultrasonics