Conjunctivo-dacryocystorhinostomy with the Jones tube has been commonly performed for the management of common canaliculi obstruction. However this procedure necessitates a long-term follow-up because of numerous potential complications. So the authors attempted common canaliculo-dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone tube intubation and the surgical outcomes were evaluated. Common canaliculo- dacryocystorhinostomy with silicone tube intubation was performed in 15 patients, 18 eyes. The patients presented with lacrimal sac mucocele, previous dacryocystectomy or unknown etiology. In 9 eyes 0.04% mitomycin C drops were applied for 1 week postoperatively. After a follow-up period of 6 months to 29 months, 16 eyes (88.9%) of 18 eyes were patent on lacrimal irrigation and 15 eyes (83.3%) showed relief of epiphora. In all of the 9 eyes who had applied mitomycin C showed patency and 7 of the remaining 9 eyes who had not applied mitomycin C showed patency on lacrimal irrigation. As the above results show common canaliculo- dacryocystorhinostomy is an effective method in the management of common canaliculi obstruction and the application of mitomycin C can improve surgical success.
Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Mitomycin ; Mucocele ; Silicones

OBJECTIVES: No evidence has been found on various types of dental erosion, except for occupational dental erosion. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of four types of dental erosion (occupational, dietary, systemic, and gastric) and its associated factors among workers in factories that use acids. METHODS: Of 89,034 workers from 4,625 factories that use acids, 716 workers from 38 factories were selected for this cross-sectional epidemiological study by using three-stage stratified cluster sampling. Evaluation for dental erosion was performed by a trained dentist by using Kim's criteria, and a saliva sample was collected directly from each participant. Data on acid sources and associated factors were collected by using questionnaires. By using a complex sample analysis, the T test and Rao-Scott chi-square test were applied to analyze the distribution of four acid factors and to evaluate the associated factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of overall dental erosion was 37.7% for occupational dental erosion, 23.1% for dietary dental erosion, 3.1% for systemic dental erosion, and 3.2% for gastric dental erosion. The prevalence of severe dental erosion was 10.5% for occupational dental erosion, 7.1% for dietary dental erosion, 1.8% for systemic dental erosion, and 1.7% for gastric dental erosion. The factors associated with dental erosion were age, sex, acid exposure, dental cervical abrasion, and dental attrition. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the prevalence of dental erosion was high, moderate, and low in occupational, dietary, and gastric and systemic dental erosions, respectively, among workers exposed to acids. The related factors differed according to the types of dental erosion. Our data suggested that different types of promotion programs for dental erosion should be considered according to acid source.
Dentists ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Saliva ; Tooth Attrition

Metallothionein (MT) is a cadmium binding protein that played major' roles in protective mechanism for cadmium toxicity. In the present study, competitive ELISA was established to assay the MT expression utilizing monospecific antibody which was generated against MT-L A total of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats was injected with CdCl2 for two weeks to induce MT. The cytosolic fraction of rat liver was obtained by differential centrifugation. Two major MT isozymes (MT-I & MT-II) at ca. 10 kDa were purified by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration followed by DEAE-Trisacryl-M anion exchange column chromatogra-phy, respectively. Two rabbits were immunized 4 times consecutively with the conjugate of purified MT-L The sera were collected by heart puncture. When immunoblot was carried out, the immunized rabbit sera (anti-MT-I) exhibited specific immunoreactive band at MT-I while showed any cross reactions neither with MT-II nor with other cytosolic proteins.. By chequerboard titration using the monospecific antibody, the competitive ELISA was established. The dose-dependent relationship was observed between anti-MT-I antibody and the amount of MT in biological samples (r(2)=O.9980). These results suggested strongly that competitive ELISA is a simple, rapid and reproducible method for screening cadmium exposure.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Carrier Proteins ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Gel ; Cross Reactions ; Cytosol ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Heart ; Isoenzymes ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Metallothionein* ; Punctures ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Metallothionein (MT) is a cadmium binding protein that played major' roles in protective mechanism for cadmium toxicity. In the present study, competitive ELISA was established to assay the MT expression utilizing monospecific antibody which was generated against MT-L A total of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats was injected with CdCl2 for two weeks to induce MT. The cytosolic fraction of rat liver was obtained by differential centrifugation. Two major MT isozymes (MT-I & MT-II) at ca. 10 kDa were purified by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration followed by DEAE-Trisacryl-M anion exchange column chromatogra-phy, respectively. Two rabbits were immunized 4 times consecutively with the conjugate of purified MT-L The sera were collected by heart puncture. When immunoblot was carried out, the immunized rabbit sera (anti-MT-I) exhibited specific immunoreactive band at MT-I while showed any cross reactions neither with MT-II nor with other cytosolic proteins.. By chequerboard titration using the monospecific antibody, the competitive ELISA was established. The dose-dependent relationship was observed between anti-MT-I antibody and the amount of MT in biological samples (r(2)=O.9980). These results suggested strongly that competitive ELISA is a simple, rapid and reproducible method for screening cadmium exposure.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Carrier Proteins ; Centrifugation ; Chromatography, Gel ; Cross Reactions ; Cytosol ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Heart ; Isoenzymes ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Metallothionein* ; Punctures ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Serine protease promotes desquamatation of the stratum corneum and this is controlled by serine protease inhibitors (SPI). After disruption of the skin barrier, signals for barrier recovery are started with the activation of cytokines and a migration of calcium ions. On the other hand, the protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) pathway is initiated as a negative signal. As the pH of the stratum corneum become neutral, activated serine protease and PAR-2 inhibit the secretion of lamellar bodies and the formation of the lamellar structure. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to screen noble synthetic peptides and identify the efficacy of a selected peptide, Palmitic acid-Lysine Threonine Threonine Lysine Serine (Pal-KTTKS), on PAR-2 in vitro and in vivo, and a clinical study was performed. METHODS: in vitro:Changes of the intracellular calcium ion concentration were measured in cultured HaCaT cells by fluorescence imaging according to treatment with sample peptides and trypsin. in vivo animal study:The efficacy of 2% Pal-KTTKS cream as a selected noble peptide was evaluated in an oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis animal model. Clinical study:A total of twenty three atopic dermatitis patients applied 2.5% Pal-KTTKS peptide-containing cream on the one side of their extremities and pseudo-ceramide containing moisturizer on the other side of the extremities as a control twice a day for 4 weeks. Clinical improvement was evaluated by the Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI) score, a subject questionnaire and comparison of photographs. RESULTS: Suppression of the intracellular calcium concentration via PAR-2 inhibition was noted in the Pal-KTTKS peptide treated cultured HaCaT cells. In the oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis hairless mice model, 2% Pal-KTTKS peptide containing lotion was more effective than vehicle lotion only. In the atopic dermatitis patients, the sites treated with 2.5% Pal-KTTKS peptide-containing cream showed better improvement for the EASI score, the subject questionnaire and the clinical photographs as compared to that of the control sites. There were no remarkable side effects related to the treatment. CONCLUSION: A PAR-2 inhibitor-containing topical agent would be an effective and safe modality for treating atopic dermatitis.
Animals ; Calcium ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Extremities ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ions ; Lysine ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless ; Models, Animal ; Oligopeptides ; Optical Imaging ; Peptides ; Serine ; Serine Proteases ; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors ; Skin ; Threonine ; Trypsin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: Not so many reports about the association between head and neck cancer (HNC) and oral health status related to periodontitis (OHS-P) has been published in different countries with different methods. So, there is a need for an extensive meta-analysis with the total articles published until 2020. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the association between HNC and OHS-P through a meta-analysis. Methods: Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines, 22 studies were selected through PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. Metaanalysis using them was performed to evaluate the association. The risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to evaluate the quality of nonrandomized studies. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Results: Since heterogeneity was significant (I2 = 88%, P < 0.001), we adopted the random effect model for 22 studies. Those with bad OHS-P, compared to those with good OHS-P, were more likely to have the risk of HNC by 2.4 times (odds ratio [OR], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.88–3.13) for random effect model. The association included publication bias (Egger's regression, P value < 0.001). The association among five studies (I2 = 39%, P = 0.16) using alveolar bone loss (ABL) or clinical attachment level (CAL) for assessing periodontitis increased to OR of 3.85 (CI, 3.04–4.88) in the fixed effect model without publication bias (Egger's regression, P = 0.66). Moreover, the association was higher in 10 fair or good NOS studies (OR, 3.08) and in 7 Asian studies (OR, 2.68), which were from the fixed model without publication bias. Conclusion Our meta-analysis showed that bad OHS-P was associated with the risk of HNC.The association was stronger in studies using ABL or CAL for assessing periodontitis.

Background: Not so many reports about the association between head and neck cancer (HNC) and oral health status related to periodontitis (OHS-P) has been published in different countries with different methods. So, there is a need for an extensive meta-analysis with the total articles published until 2020. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the association between HNC and OHS-P through a meta-analysis. Methods: Based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines, 22 studies were selected through PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. Metaanalysis using them was performed to evaluate the association. The risk of bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to evaluate the quality of nonrandomized studies. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plot and Egger's regression test. Results: Since heterogeneity was significant (I2 = 88%, P < 0.001), we adopted the random effect model for 22 studies. Those with bad OHS-P, compared to those with good OHS-P, were more likely to have the risk of HNC by 2.4 times (odds ratio [OR], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.88–3.13) for random effect model. The association included publication bias (Egger's regression, P value < 0.001). The association among five studies (I2 = 39%, P = 0.16) using alveolar bone loss (ABL) or clinical attachment level (CAL) for assessing periodontitis increased to OR of 3.85 (CI, 3.04–4.88) in the fixed effect model without publication bias (Egger's regression, P = 0.66). Moreover, the association was higher in 10 fair or good NOS studies (OR, 3.08) and in 7 Asian studies (OR, 2.68), which were from the fixed model without publication bias. Conclusion Our meta-analysis showed that bad OHS-P was associated with the risk of HNC.The association was stronger in studies using ABL or CAL for assessing periodontitis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum in a newborn male. CASE SUMMARY: A 4-day-old male was referred for fused right eyelids with unremarkable other pediatric examinations. Ocular examination under general anesthesia revealed partial fusion of his right upper and lower eyelids by a 4 mm-wide band of tissue which arose from the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. The adhesion was separated by sharp scissors and no other ocular abnormalities were revealed. CONCLUSIONS: Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum is a rare congenital malformation. In this case, the band of tissue connecting the upper and lower eyelids arose not from the eyelid margin but from the eyelid skin, which is even rarer, thus supporting the theory that this condition is due to the fusion of eyelids at abnormal positions, and not due to problems during the separation of eyelids.
Anesthesia, General ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Eye Abnormalities ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Skin

BACKGROUND: The concern about growth hormone, used for treatment of growth hormone deficiency, wasting diseases, is increasing recently. There is much to be desired about the study for the reference range of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) of Korean healthy adults, because there was a lack of studies of IGF-1 level. The authors investigated the concentration of IGF-1 according to age groups, and its correlation factors in healthy adults in Korea. METHODS: The subjects were 10,681 Korean healthy adults (5,263 females, 5,418 males) aged over 20 years, who visited the Department of Family Practice and Community Health in a university hospital from March 1998 to December 2003. We excluded the subjects with DM, liver diseases, renal diseases, thyroid diseases, and cancer. We measured the serum IGF-1, fasting glucose, lipid profile, serum albumin, protein, waist circumference, hip circumference, and body mass index. RESULTS: IGF-1 level showed gender difference (184.6 +/- 86.3 ng/mL for men, 178.6 +/- 91.8 ng/mL for women) and decreased significantly with age. Age was the most reliable correlation factor with IGF-1 (R: -0.325 for men, R: -0.463 for women). After adjusting fot age and weight, IGF-1 showed correlations with total protein, albumin, creatinine, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol for men and height, waist circumference, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, total protein, albumin, creatinine, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol for women. CONCLUSION: IGF-1 concentration decreased with age over 20 years old. It showed the highest correlation with age in both gender.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Creatinine ; Family Practice ; Fasting ; Female ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Hip ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Reference Values ; Serum Albumin ; Thyroid Diseases ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Wasting Syndrome

PURPOSE: In the present study the effects of amiloride on the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, AGS cells were examined with or without the addition of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The growth of AGS cells was examined by counting number of cells on two and four days post-treatment with 50 micrometer, 100 micrometer, 200 micrometer, 400 micrometer, 800 micrometer, amiloride, and 0.1 microgram/ml, 0.3 microgram/ml 5-FU, after plating AGS cells into 6 well plates at a density of 10 x 10(4) cells/well. The reversibility of the effects of amiloride was examined on two to eight days post-treatment with 400 micrometer amiloride after seeding 2 x 10(4) cells/dish. Cell cycle analysis was performed after four day-treatment with 400 micrometer amiloride. RESULTS: Amiloride (50~800 micrometer) significantly inhibited the growth of AGS in a dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). The inhibitory effect of amiloride on growth of AGS was reversible since removal of amiloride after 24 hours treatment led to resumption of rapid growth up to control levels. Amiloride combined with 5-FU markedly inhibited the growth of AGS in a dose-dependent fashion compared to that of amiloride or 5-FU alone (p<0.05). The fraction of S phase, G0-G1 phase and G2-M phase was 19.3%, 55.7%, 18.8%, in the amioride group (400 micrometer) and 43.9%, 37.4%, 25.1% in the control group, respectively, showing significantly higher G1 fraction in amiloride group compared to control. CONCLUSION: This is the first paper which reported that amiloride inhibited in vitro growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and that its effect of growth inhibition may be synergistic with 5-FU. Amiloride given with or without 5-FU may be useful agent in the treatment of gastric carcinomas. The inhibitory effects of amiloride on the growth of AGS may be mediated in part by blocking G1-S transition of cell cycle.
Adenocarcinoma ; Amiloride* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Fluorouracil ; Humans* ; S Phase