Chicken calvarial bone is known to contain various cell types, but their exact composition is unknown. By characterizing the chicken calvarial bone biochemically, it can be used to study biochemical, histochemical actions of bone cells in general. Calvaria of I8-day-old white leg horn embryo was aseptically dissected and bone cell populations were isolated by sequential enzymatic digestion. Histochemical study for osteoclast-like bone cell population was performed with tartrate resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP) stain and for osteoblast-like bone cell population, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) stain was performed. Biochemical study for osteoblast-like bone cell population was performed using alkaline phosphatasetal.P) assay. Following conclusions were obtained from this study. 1. TRAP positive multi and mononuclear cells were mostly observed in group I and II, indicating that osteoclast-like bone cell population is mostly found in these groups. 2. All the cultured groups showed almost equal ALP activities and were positive for ALP stain, indicating that osteoblast-like bone cell population is evenly dispersed in all culture groups. 3. Experimental group treated with I,25(OH)2D3 showed increase in ALP activity in contrast to the control group, confirming previous studies that I,25(OH)2D3 increases ALP activities in vitro bone cultures. 4. Results from von Kassa's stain indicated that in vitro bone formation had occured after 3 weeks of culture with beta glycero phosphate.
Animals ; Chickens ; Digestion ; Embryonic Structures ; Horns ; Leg ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Skull

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of combined transvaginal ultrasound and beta-hCG discriminatory zone for diagnosing intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy in early abnormal pregnancy. METHODS: Initial ultrasound findings and beta-hCG level were compared with final pregnancy outcome in 164 early pregnant women who visit our hospital with vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value by the combination of two diagnostic tools were calculated. Statistic analysis of collected data used x2 of SPSS(9.0). RESULTS: Of 90 women with normal outcome, 64(71.1%) had a gestational sac 5mm, and in 47 cases, the hCG level was above 1,800 mIU/ml. Transvaginal ultrasound was non-diagnostic in 47(28.6%) of 164 women, and especially, 43(53.1%) of 81 cases with beta-hCG levels below 1,800 mIU/ml. The portion of accurate ultrasound diagnosis was significantly higher in women above 1,800 mIU/ml (85.5%, 71 of 83 cases) compard with levels below 1,800 mIU/ml (37.0%, 30 of 81 cases) : P < 0.001; Relative Risk(RR) 2.31; CI 95%. Sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy was 90.2%, 79.3%, and 66.7% in women who presented with beta-hCG levels above 1,800 mIU/ml, and 41.0%, 23.5%, and 75% below 1,800 mIU/ml, respectively. And, negative predictive value was 83.9%, 89.7%, and 98.8% in each of intrauterine pregnancy, abortion, and ectopic pregnancy above 1,800 mIU/ml, and 64.6%, 60%, and 97.3% below 1,800 mIU/ml, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of transvaginal ultrasound for diagnosing abnormal early pregnancy were poor except cases of ectopic pregnancy when beta-hCG levels were low than discriminatory zone. Ultrasound impressions were well related with beta-hCG levels.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Humans ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnant Women ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Due to an increasing interest in esthetics and concerns about toxic and allergic reactions to certain alloys, patients and dentists have been looking for metal-free tooth-colored restorations. Recent improvement in technology of new all-ceramic materials and composite materials has broadened the options for esthetic single crown restorations. The aim of this investigation was to study the fracture strength of the metal-free posterior single crowns fabricated using two recently introduced systems, Empress 2 ceramic and Targis-Vectris. Forty premolar-shaped stainless steel dies with the 1mm-wide circumferential shoulder were prepared. Ten cylindrical crowns having a diameter of 8.0mm and total height of 7.5mm were fabricated for each crown system respectively (PFM, Empress staining technique, Empress 2 layering technique, and Targis-Vectris). The crowns were filled with cement and placed on the stainless steel dies with firm finger pressure. The crowns were then stored in distilled water at room temperature for 24 hours before testing. The crowns were tested for fracture strength in an Instron universal testing machine (Instron 6022). With a crosshead speed of 1mm/min the center of the occlusal surface of the crown was loaded using a 4mm-diameter stainless steel ball until fracture occurred. The fracture surfaces of the crowns were gold coated and examined using scanning electron microscopy (Jeol JSM-840 Joel Ltd., Akishima, Tokyo, Japan). Within the parameters of this study the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The mean fracture strength for PFM crowns was 5829(+/-906)N; for Empress staining technique the fracture strength was 1697(+/-604)N; for Empress 2 Layering technique the fracture strength was 1781N(+/-400)N, and the fracture strength for Targis-Vectris was 3093(+/-475)N. 2. The fracture strength of the PFM crowns was significantly higher than that of the Empress 2 and the Targis-Vectris crowns (P<0.05). 3. The fracture strength of the Targis-Vectris crowns was significantly higher than that of the Empress 2 crowns (P<0.05). 4. No statistical difference was found when Empress staining technique was compared with Empress 2 layering technique. 5. The SEM image of fracture surface of Empress 2 crown showed a very dense microstructure of the lithium disilicate crystals and the SEM image of fracture surface of Targis-Vectris crown showed indentations of Vectris and some fibers torn off from Vectris.
Alloys ; Ceramics* ; Crowns* ; Dentists ; Esthetics ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Lithium ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Shoulder ; Stainless Steel ; Water

Expression of the cDNA of the VP1 gene on the genome RNA B segment of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) DRT strain in E. coli and a recombinant baculovirus were carried out. The VP1 gene in the peal-pol clone (Lee et al 1995) was cleaved with XbaI and transferred into baculovirus transfer vector, pBacPAK9 and it was named pBacVP1 clone. The VP1 gene in the pBacVP1 clone was double-digested with SacI and PstI and then inserted just behind 75 phage promoter and the 6x His region of the pQE-30 expression vector, and it was called pQEVP1. Again, the 6xHis-tagged VP1 DNA fragment in the pOEVPl was cleaved with EcoRl and transferred into the VP1 site of the pBacVPl, resulting pBacHis-VPl recombinant. The pBacHis-VP1 DNA was cotransfected with LacZ-Hyphantria cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Lacz-HcNPV) DNA digested with Bsu361 onto S. frugiperda cells to make a recombinant virus. One VP1-gene inserted recombinant virus was selected by plaque assay, The recombinant virus was named VP1-HcNPV-1. The 6xHis-tagged VP1 protein produced by the pQEVPl was purified with Ni-NTA resin chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The molecular weight of the VP1 protein was 94 kDa. The recombinant virus, VP1-HcNPV-1 did not form polyhedral inclusion bodies and expressed VP1 protein with 95 kDa in the infected S. frugiperda cells, which was detected by Western blot. The titer of the VP1-HcNPV-1 in the first infected cells was 2.0x10(5) pfu/ml at 7 days postinfection.
Bacteriophages ; Baculoviridae ; Blotting, Western ; Chromatography ; Clone Cells ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Genome ; Inclusion Bodies ; Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus* ; Molecular Weight ; Nucleopolyhedrovirus* ; Recombination, Genetic* ; RNA

This article reports a case of spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) following a thawed embryo transfer cycle. OHSS, a potentially life-threatening condition, is an iatrogenic complication of controlled ovarian stimulation; therefore, it is very important to prevent and treat OHSS during treatment with ovulation-inducing agents. Despite our efforts to prevent OHSS, in this case, severe spontaneous OHSS occurred, which resulted in uncontrolled preterm labor and a preterm delivery and also persisted for 6 weeks after delivery. Freezing all embryos cannot entirely prevent the development of OHSS because OHSS can occur spontaneously. Although spontaneous OHSS remains a rare event, females with a history of OHSS may have an elevated risk for spontaneous OHSS. We suggest closely monitoring cases of pregnancy following thawed embryo transfer for early diagnosis of spontaneous OHSS and the use of conservative management.
Cryopreservation ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Freezing ; Humans ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome* ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.

PUPOSE: Through a survey on an Internet homepage, we conducted research concerning the need of patients and their families for information on gastric cancer. We also assessed their interest in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 619 inquiries presented from June 2002 to September 2003 and 524 replies submitted to a questionnaire survey delivered by the Internet homepage (www.gastriccancer.co.kr) from August to October 2003 to gastric cancer patients and their families. RESULTS: Analysis of Inquiries: The classified inquiries listed in order of frequency are as follows: treatment, prognosis, stages, symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, favorable food, etiology, follow-up, etc. Among the inquiries about treatment, the most frequent subgroup was about the scope of surgery or perioperative implications. Next came questions concerning chemotherapy. Among the questions from patients yet to be operated, on those about operability and the prognosis were most frequent. Among the patients who had undergone a resection, questions on complications and the corresponding prognosis were most frequent. The concern from patients with inoperable or recurrent cancers was related to terminal care and/or chemotherapy. Analysis of Questionnaires: The respondents acquired information on gastric cancer from the Internet (40%), doctors (32%), the mass media (15%) and acquaintances (13%). Only 6% of the respondents were sufficiently satisfied with the information provided by doctors. Among the respondents, 89.9% were interested in complementing treatment with folk remedies while only 5% were not. CONCLUSION: Patients and their families were eager to get information about gastric cancer. However, many of them found the doctors' information to be insufficient. Our suggestion is that the public health, academic societies, medical institutions, and public organizations should endeavor to provide through an activated Internet network correct information on gastric cancer.
Complement System Proteins ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Friends ; Humans ; Internet* ; Mass Media ; Medicine, Traditional ; Prognosis ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Societies, Medical ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Terminal Care

Rahnella aquatilis, an infrequently isolated gram-negative rod, is the only species of the genus Rahnella within the Enterobacteriaceae family. The organism's natural habitat is water, from which most isolates have been recoverd. Infecions in humans have only occasionally been reported, especially in immunocompromised patients. We reort a case of bacteremia caused by this organism in a hemodialysis patient.
Bacteremia* ; Ecosystem ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Rahnella* ; Renal Dialysis*

Tibialis anterior muscle hernia is the most common hernia among lower extremity muscles. This condition can be diagnosed by physical examination and radiologic findings, especially by dynamic ultrasonography. There are surgical methods of treatment for muscle hernia, including direct repair, fasciotomy, fascial patch grafting using autologous fascia lata or synthetic mesh. We report a case of tibialis anterior muscle hernia treated with local periosteal rotational flap. Because there are several advantages to the local periosteal rotational flap, such as lack of donor site morbidity, lack of skin irritation, low cost, simplicity, and an easy approach, this technique could be an option for tibialis anterior muscle hernia.
Fascia Lata ; Hernia ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Spontaneous tonsillar hemorrhage (STH) is an extremely rare event. Usually, the causes of STH are ascribed to vessel wall erosion secondary to bacterial or viral infection of tonsils. Other causes include vascular or tumorous lesions around tonsil, coagulation disorders and idiopathic one. On one hand, the total number of reported STH has slightly increased because STH is defined as all forms of "bleeding tonsils", including even minor bleeding. On the other hand, the portion of the total STH that is life-threatening has become relatively few. Management of STH involves the use of antibiotics, and early tonsillectomy is recommended. We have experienced a case of a 29 year-old female with tonsillar hemorrhage in the absence of any identifiable cause. We report the case with a review of the related literatures.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hand ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Palatine Tonsil ; Tonsillectomy