No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma*

No abstract available.
Estradiol* ; Female ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Progesterone*

No abstract available.

Neomorphogenesis of cartilage using chondrocyte-polymer constructs is a potential source for development of cartilage reconstruction. Current tissue engineering techniques of neocartilage rely on in vivo implantation of polymer-chondrocyte constructs. The purpose of this study was to find a way to bioengineer cartilage in vitro by entrapping chondrocytes in a molded autologous fibrin glue. Chondrocytes isolated from the cartilage of rabbit joints were combined with fibrinogen extracted by a single cryoprecipitation of autologous plasma, and they were then polymerized with thrombin to create a fibrin glue with a final cell density of 2.5x10(6) cells/ml. The collagen for a control study was used as a polymer. The polymer-chondrocyte constructs were cultured for 4 weeks and the fibrin-chondrocyte constructs molded in the shape of a human ear were cultured for 6 weeks in vitro. Morphometric, histochemical, and histomorphometric analysis including glycosaminoglycan quantitation confirmed the following results: 1) Highly-concentrated autologous fibrinogen was easily extracted by a single cryoprecipition of autologous olasma. 2) The fibrin-chondrocyte constructs demonstrated the presence of actively proliferating chondrocytes with the production of cartilaginous matrix(collagen and glycosaminoglycan) at 1 week after culture, as well as gross and histologic evidence similar to those of normal cartilage at 3-4 weeks after culture. 3) The collagen-chondrocyte constructs demonstrated lower degrees of hardness and transparency, as well as a lower density of cells and glycosaminoglycan during the culture period. 4) Neocartilage generated from fibrin-chondrocyte constructs in the shape of a human ear nearly retained their original configuration and size without degeneration for 6 weeks of culture in vitro. This study demonstrated a novel method for bioengineering the molded cartilage in vitro using autologous fibrin glue as a matrix scaffold. The generated cartilage showed gross and histologic evidence similar to those of normal cartilage, retaining the original gross dimension. With further refinement, this may be a new application of tissue engineering for the reconstruction of cartilage.
Bioengineering ; Cartilage* ; Cell Count ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Ear ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Fibrinogen ; Fungi ; Hardness ; Humans ; Joints ; Plasma ; Polymers ; Thrombin ; Tissue Engineering*

PURPOSE: To compare the detectability and conspicuity of focal hepatic lesions among conventional spin echo techniqueniques and fast scanning techniqueniques in MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 36 patients (24 men and 12 women, mean age of 54 years) with suspected liver mass on CT scan and US underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T system. Conventional spin echo T1, T2 weighted imaging, T2 weighted fast spin echo, T1 weighted fast multiplanar spoiled gradient recalled(FMPSPGR) imaging and Gd-enhanced FMPSPGR(Gd-FMPSPGR) were performed. 16 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 13 cases of hemangioma, 3 cases of metastasis, 3 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, and 1 case of lymphoma were included. Lesion conspicuity and number of detected hepatic masses were compared among the MR sequences. RESULTS: Overall 63 hepatic lesions were detected in 36 patients. Lesion detection' was 63(100%) with Gd-FMPSPGR, 62(98%) with non-enhanced FMPSPGR, 58(92%) with SE T2WI, 56(89%) with SE T1WI and 54 (86%)with FSE. For solid tumors, the contrast to noise ratio was greatest on Gd-FMPSPGR which was significantly higher than any other sequences. For hemangiomas it was greatest on SE T2WI and was significantly higher than SE T1WI. In the qualitative assessment, Gd-FMPSPGR was preferred for both solid mass lesion and hemangioma. FSE was inferior to SE T2WI for lesion detection and conspicuity without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: For the evaluation of focal hepatic lesions, breath-hold FMPSPGR with and without contrast enhancement may replace the conventional SE T1WI. Because FSE was inferior to SE T2WI when the later is used with respiratory compensation in some cases, it is difficult to replace the SE T2WI with FSE. But FSE, FMPSPGR and Gd-FMPSPGR images, when combined, may replace SE T1WI and SE T2WI.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Compensation and Redress ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Noise ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The purpose of this study was to compare surface roughness and bone formation around two types of threaded commercially pure titanium implants manufactured by two different companies. The test implants were manufactured by Sumin synthesis dental materials Co. (Avana, Busan, Korea), while the controls were manufactured by Nobel Biocare (MK II, Goteborg, Sweden). To compare bone formation adjacent to newly product with Branemark MK II implant, surface roughness was measured by Accurate 1500M and histomorphometric analysis was done. The results were as follows : 1. Measurement of surface roughness showed that Avana implant had a slightly more irregular surface compared with Branemark implant. 2. In the light microscopic studies, no infiltration of inflammatory cells nor the giant cells wee observed on both groups. 3. In th light and fluorescent microscopic studies, the amount of osseointegration and the extent and the timing of bone formation were similar. 4. There were no statistically difference between two groups in the average bone to implant contacts. Branemark implant ; 67%(SC 23%), Avana implant ; 70%(SD 16%). Comparing with Branemark implant, Avana implant made of CP grade II titanium showed similar good bone healing, formation and osseointegration.
Busan ; Dental Materials ; Giant Cells ; Osseointegration ; Osteogenesis ; Titanium*

BACKGROUND: The external jugular vein (EJV) is a useful intravenous (IV) cannulation site for anesthesiologists, although it has a relatively high failure rate. Unlike other central veins, visualization of the EJV is important during IV cannulation, and the Valsalva maneuver distends the jugular venous system. However, the relationship between the maneuver and EJV visibility remains unknown. This study compared EJV visibility before and after the Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study that included 200 participants. After the induction of anesthesia, EJV visibility grade, depth from the skin to the EJV superficial surface (EJV depth), and EJV cross-sectional area (CSA) before the Valsalva maneuver were measured. The same parameters were measured after the Valsalva maneuver was performed. The EJV visibility grade was defined as grade A: good appearance and good palpation, grade B: poor appearance and good palpation, and grade C: poor appearance and poor palpation. RESULTS: Patient body mass index and EJV depth affected the EJV visibility grade before the Valsalva maneuver (p < 0.05), although EJV CSA did not. The Valsalva maneuver distended EJV CSA and reduced EJV depth, although these changes were not correlated with EJV visibility grade. With regard to EJV visibility, 34.0% of grade B cases and 20.0% of grade C cases were improved by the Valsalva maneuver. CONCLUSIONS: Although the Valsalva maneuver improved EJV CSA and EJV depth, it did not greatly affect EJV visibility grade.
Anesthesia ; Body Mass Index ; Catheterization ; Humans ; Jugular Veins* ; Observational Study ; Palpation ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Ultrasonography ; Valsalva Maneuver* ; Veins

PURPOSE: To characterize strain-specific differences in radiation response in murine tissues with different radiosensitivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six-week old male mice of 2 strains, C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ, were given whole body gamma-radiation with a single dose of 10 or 25 Gy. At different times after irradiation, mice were killed and tissues with different radiosensitivity, thymus and liver, were collected. Each tissue sample was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and apoptotic cells were scored. Expression of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was analysed by western blotting and densitometry. RESULTS: Radiation induced massive apoptosis in thymus with a peak level at 8 h after radiation. With 10 Gy irradiation, apoptotic indices in C57Bl/6J and C3H/HeJ were 81.0 2.5% and 59.4 4.0%, respectively (p<0.05). Radiation upregulated the expression of p53, Bcl-x, and Bax, but not Bcl-2; p53 with a peak level of 2.5 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.4 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 4 h, Bax with a peak level of 2.6 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 1.3 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h, and Bcl-x with a peak level of 11.1 fold (C57Bl/6J) and 8.2 fold (C3H/HeJ) at 8 h after radiation. In liver, however, radiation-induced apoptosis was minimal (peak apoptotic index of 2.1% in C57Bl/6J and 1.7% in C3H/HeJ). None of p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-x, and Bax was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of apoptosis and regulation of related genes by radiation were tissue specific. Strain difference of radiation-induced apoptosis was well coupled with theinduction of related genes in thymus, a radiosensitive tissue. This study shows that quantitative difference of radiation induced apoptosis by strain is regulated at the gene level with the involvement of multiple genes.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Densitometry ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Radiation Tolerance ; Thymus Gland

No abstract available.
Schizophrenia* ; Water*

No abstract available.
Schizophrenia* ; Water*