No abstract available.

Recent investigations have demonstrated extensive reciprocal interactions between the immune and skeletal systems, resulting in the establishment of osteoimmunology as a cross-disciplinary field. Here we highlight core concepts and recent advances in this emerging area of study.
Cytokines ; Osteoblasts ; T-Lymphocytes

Human caspase-2, Ich-1 (Ice and Ced-3 homolog), has two different forms of mRNA species derived from alternative splicing, which encodes Ich-1 and Ich-1s. Ich-1v which induces apoptosis is antagonist of Ich-1s which suppresses Rat-1 cell death by serum deprivation. To investigate functions of Ich-1 and Ich-1s in T celi apoptosis, the fusion DNA constructs were made with the ecto and transmembrane of CDB and Ich-lv or Ich-1s and CDS-Ich-1 or CD8-Ich-1s chimeric protein was transiently expressed on Jurkat T cells. Tyrosine phosphorylation of intracellular proteins was induced in these transfectans when activated shortly by anti-CDB Ab. CDB-Ich-li transfectant in serum-rich condition and CDB-Ich-ls transfectant in serum-deprived condition underwent apoptosis when treated with anti-CDS Ab or incubated with NIH3T3 cells expressing stably Fas-L on their surface. We also made six antisense DNA constructs which could specifically inhibit the expression of Ich-1v, Ich- 1s, and then they were transiently transfected into Jurkat T cell. The overexpression of both of the antisese- Ich-1 against N-terminal 42 bp and against C-terminal 366 bp inhibited apoptosis through Fas signalling. But, when three different forms of antisense-Ich-1s were overexpressed in their transfectants, antisense-DNA against N-terminal 197 bp increased knd the one against C-terminal 66 bp inhibited apoptosis, instead the full size of antisense-DNA did not give any effects on apoptosis through Fas pathway.
Humans

Intracranial lipoma usually occurs at or near the midline, predominantly in the callosal cistern and very rarely in the sylvian fissure. We report a case of lipoma of the sylvian fissure without association with other congenital anomaly or vascular abnormality.
Brain ; Lipoma*

OBJECTIVE: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is known to have a significant recurrence rate. There are different criteria defining the recurrence of CSDH. We evaluated the postoperative course of CSDH and tried to propose the reasonable criteria of recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the medical records and pre- and postoperative CT scans of 149 consecutive patients who underwent surgery from January 2005 to December 2009. Diagnosis was confirmed by CT scanning or MRI. The postoperative courses were either resolved or recurrent. The resolved CSDH was one of the three types; early resolution, delayed resolution, or late resolution. The recurrent CSDH was one of the four types; recurrence without resolution, early recurrence after resolution, late recurrence after resolution, or recurrent-and-resolved type. RESULTS: The CSDH was resolved within 30 days after surgery in 58 (39%) patients, between 1 to 3 months in 62 (42%), and after 3 months in 11 (7%) patients. The CSDH was recurred in 18 (12%) patients. Late resolution or recurrence was more common in the aged. The recurrent hematoma was seen on the same side in 11 patients, on the different side in 7 patients. Recurrence was significantly more common in the thick hematomas. CONCLUSION: For a working criteria of the recurrence of CSDH, we propose the early recurrence as return of symptoms or reaccumulation of the hematoma after a surgery within 3 months regardless of the location, amount or repeated operations. The late recurrence can be defined as reappearance or enlargement of a liquefied hematoma within the cranial cavity surrounded by the membranes or persistent CSDH beyond 3 months after surgery.
Aged ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: When choosing dressing method to treat skin defect by second degree or higher burn, we have to consider method of rapid epithelization and minimization of pain during the treatment. In this study, we used biologic dressing with cultured allogenic keratinocytes for skin defect due to burn. We followed up the degree of epithelization, the degree of pain, and patient satisfaction. METHODS: From June 2003 to June 2006, among the patients with skin defect due to burn, 31 cases with second degree burn(moderate to severe) were selected and biological dressing with cultured allogenic keratinocytes were done. 21 cases did not use cultured allogenic keratinocytes. Most of the patients had second degree burn. We applied cultured allogenic keratinocyte by Kaloderm. For wounds that were not deep enough to effect the dermis, escharectomy was done before applying Kaloderm. After the operation, moist wound site was maintained by dressing with saline gauze for 5-7 days. We compared the condition of the wound site before and after applying Keloderm by grading epithelization by standardized percentage scoring scale(1-5), and degree of pain and patient satisfaction by visual analogue scale(0-10). RESULTS: When cultured allogenic keratinocytes were applied for the same period of time, the mean score of epithelization were 3.29+/-0.529(mean+/-S.D.). Without the application, the mean score of epithelization were 2.86+/-0.655(mean+/-S.D.). The degree of pain was 7.71+/-1.419(mean+/-S.D.) and 2.35+/-0.950(mean+/-S.D.) before and after the application, respectively. The patients' satisfaction score was 6.45+/-0.850(mean+/-S.D.) and 8.45+/-0.961(mean+/-S.D.) before and after the application, respectively. CONCLUSION: Applying biological dressing with cultured allogenic keratinocyte to skin defect due to second degree burn showed satisfactory results in the degree of the epithelization, degree of pain and patients' satisfaction.
Bandages ; Biological Dressings ; Burns ; Dermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Patient Satisfaction ; Skin

PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional and cosmetic results of trichiasis treatment between the argon laser epilation(Group A) and tarsotomy(Group B). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with diffuse lower lid trichiasis, whose post-treatment follow-up periods were longer than 3 months, were reviewed retrospectively. Functionally, 14 of 16 patients(89.6%) in group A were satisfied, whereas 9 of 11 patients(84.0%) were in group B. And cosmetically, 10 of 16 patients(62.9%) in group A were satisfied, whereas 8 of 11 patients(79.0%) were in group B. The functional results were similar between the two groups(p>0.05), but the cosmetic results were better in group B than in group A(p<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: The inferior tarsotomy appears to be an effective surgical procedure in patients with diffuse lower lid trichiasis.
Argon ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Trichiasis*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between type, extent, and associated decreased attenuation areas ofbronchiectasis, as seen on high-resolution CT (HRCT), and abnormalities on pulmonary function tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 34 patients with bronchiectasis, in whom inspiratory and expiratory HRCTscans and pulmonary function tests were performed. HRCT scans were reviewed for the type (cylindrical vs. cystic)and extent of bronchiectasis (number of segments), and the extent of decreased attenuation areas seen oninspiratory (number of segments and CT scores) and expiratory scans (CT scores). With regard to the type andextent of bronchiectasis and the extent of decreased attenuation areas, as seen on HRCT, three radiologistsreached a consensus. We evaluated the relationship between pulmonary function tests (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, MMEF)and HRCT findings using Pearson correlation coefficients and linear regression (PC-SAS). RESULTS: In all patientswith bronchiectasis there were areas of decreased attenuation, as seen on inspiratory and expiratory HRCT. Theextent of bronchiectasis showed strong positive correlation with the extent of decreased attenuation seen oninspiratory and expiratory HRCT (p < 0.001). On pulmonary function tests, the extent of bronchiectasis anddecreased attenuation correlated negatively with FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and MMEF. Cystic bronchiectasis tended to bemore extensive than the cylindrical variety (12.2 vs 7.6 ; CT score:34.7 vs 15.6) and expiratory scans (CT score :38.1 vs 19.1) CONCLUSION: There is significant correlation between the extent of morphologic abnormality, as seenon HRCT, and the physiologic impairment of pulmonary function tests in patients with bronchiectasis and associateddecreased attenuation areas.
Bronchiectasis* ; Bronchiolitis Obliterans ; Consensus ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Respiratory Function Tests* ; Retrospective Studies

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) are evolutionarily ancient signal transducers of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that have long been linked to the regulation of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Here, we review the physiological functions, biochemistry, upstream activators, and downstream substrates of the ERK pathway. ERK is activated in skeletal progenitors and regulates osteoblast differentiation and skeletal mineralization, with ERK serving as a key regulator of Runt-related transcription factor 2, a critical transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, new evidence highlights context-dependent changes in ERK MAPK pathway wiring and function, indicating a broader set of physiological roles associated with changes in ERK pathway components or substrates. Consistent with this importance, several human skeletal dysplasias are associated with dysregulation of the ERK MAPK pathway, including neurofibromatosis type 1 and Noonan syndrome. The continually broadening array of drugs targeting the ERK pathway for the treatment of cancer and other disorders makes it increasingly important to understand how interference with this pathway impacts bone metabolism, highlighting the importance of mouse studies to model the role of the ERK MAPK pathway in bone formation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To optimize efficacy of National Liver Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) for subjects with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), it is needed to know the incidence of liver cancer and its predisposing factors in the program. METHODS: From January 2010 to December 2014, all the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive participants who received at least two or more abdominal ultrasonography under NLCSP were retrospectively enrolled in a single tertiary hospital. Annual incidence of primary liver cancer was calculated and related clinical factors were investigated. RESULTS: During 5 years, 541 subjects were enrolled. Mean age was 53 years old and 292 subjects (54%) were receiving antiviral agents. Liver cirrhosis (LC) was diagnosed in 212 (39.2%). Mean follow-up time was 2.36 years and 15 hepatocellular carcinoma and 1 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were diagnosed. Annual incidence of primary liver cancer was 9.8 per 1,000 patient year. Cumulative incidence at 1, 3, and 5 year was 0.6%, 2.6%, and 6.4%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, LC (hazard ratio [HR] 8.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.97–38.71, P=0.024), age (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15, P=0.024) were significantly associated with cancer development. CONCLUSIONS: Despite of high rate of oral antiviral therapy, incidence of primary liver cancer is not low in CHB patients in Korea. Old age and presence of LC are independently associated with higher risk of cancer development during surveillance. This study could be used as baseline data for quality control of NLCSP.
Antiviral Agents ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Causality ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver* ; Mass Screening* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Quality Control ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ultrasonography