The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) after microfracture on the remodeling of subchondral bone and cartilage healing in a model of full-thickness articular cartilage injury in a rabbit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A full thickness articular cartilage defect of 6x3-mm-size was created in the trochlear groove of the right femur in 24 rabbits. The defect was left empty in six rabbits, and microfracture was done in 18 rabbits. After microfracture, no treatment was done in six rabbits, defect was filled with fibrin glue in six rabbits, and with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 in six rabbits. The effect of rhBMP-2 after microfracture was evaluated based on histological analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for analysis of collagen type at 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The score of histological grade scale of six rabbits in which the defect was filled with fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 was better than that of others and real-time PCR also showed a higher amount of collage type 1 and collage type 2 in these six rabbits. CONCLUSION: We consider that fibrin glue and rhBMP-2 after microfracture may accelerate cartilage healing in an articular cartilage defect and maybe helpful in healing the articular cartilage defect into more closely native hyaline cartilage.
Cartilage* ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Collagen ; Femur ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Rabbits ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

Fibroma of the tendon sheath is a benign slow-growing fibrous tumor. Although rare, cases occurring in the upper extremities usually involve the fingers. It appears as a well-defined, roundor oval-shaped mass originating from the flexor tendon. Abundant fibrous stroma makes fibromas appear as a low intensity mass in all MRI sequences. Most of the fibromas manifest as painless soft tissue masses. Herein, we report a case of fibroma of the tendon sheath with an unusual clinical presentation, triggering carpal tunnel syndrome during wrist movement.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to develop a smartphone application to encourage breast self-examination (BSE), and to evaluate the effects of this application in terms of modifying BSE behavior. METHODS: A smartphone application, based on the Android OS, was developed with functions including a BSE date alarm, a reminder to encourage mother and daughter to practice BSE together, record keeping, and educational content with video clips. Females aged 19 and over were enrolled to evaluate the effectiveness of the application. Two series of questionnaires were carried out (before and after use of the application) by e-mail, telephone, and face-to-face interviews between July and September 2012. RESULTS: Forty-five subjects were enrolled in the study (age 29.5-5.9 years). Of the participants, only 28 (62.2%) had ever practiced BSE and only one of these (2.2%) was carried out at the appropriate time, based on the results of the baseline survey. After using the application, the number of participants practicing BSE increased from 28 to 32 (62.2% to 71.1%, p = 0.503). In subgroup analysis (age < 30 years), the number of participants using BSE increased from 8 to 18 (36.4% to 81.8%, p = 0.002), and the number of those using it at the appropriate time rose from 1 to 15 (2.2% to 33.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the developed smartphone application increased BSE in females younger than 30 years. To confirm the long-term benefits of the mobile application, additional studies must be carried out.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination* ; Breast* ; Electronic Mail ; Feasibility Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Smartphone ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone

PURPOSE: Skin pH, an indicator of skin health, is maintained by various organic factors, which include lactate, free amino acid (FAA), and free fatty acid (FFA). As skin ages or with illness, skin pH becomes less acidic, and functional food has been developed to maintain the acidic pH of skin. In this study, we determined the dietary effect of green tea extract (GTE) on skin pH of photo-aged mice, as measured by epidermal levels of lactate, FAA, and FFA. The protein expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme of pyruvate reduction for lactate generation, was further determined. METHODS: Albino hairless mice were fed a control diet (group UV+) or a diet with 1% GTE (group GTE) in parallel with UV irradiation for 10 weeks. A normal control group was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for 10 weeks (group UV-). RESULTS: Skin pH was higher (less acidic) in group UV+ than in group UV-. In parallel, epidermal levels of lactate and FFA, as well as of LDH protein expression and activity, were reduced in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of GTE (group GTE) reduced skin pH to similar to the level of group UV-, and inversely increased epidermal levels of lactate, LDH protein expression and activity, but not of FFA. Although epidermal levels of FAA were similar in groups UV- and UV+, it was increased in group GTE to a level higher than in group UV-. In further analysis of major FFA, epidermal levels of palmitic acid [16:0], oleic acid [18:1(n-9)], and linoleic acid [18:2(n-6), but not of stearic acid [18:0] in group GTE were similar to or lower than those in group UV+. CONCLUSION: Dietary GTE normalized skin pH with increased levels of lactate and FAA, as well as with increased protein expression and activity of LDH in the epidermis of UVB irradiated hairless mice.
Animals ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Epidermis ; Functional Food ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase* ; Lactic Acid* ; Linoleic Acid ; Mice ; Mice, Hairless* ; Oleic Acid ; Palmitic Acid ; Pyruvic Acid ; Skin* ; Tea*

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) may be observed in various types of cancer, but is mainly seen in small-cell carcinoma. It can also be caused by several chemotherapeutic agents. However, it is a very rare phenomenon in esophageal cancer or its treatment. We report here on a case of SIADH related to esophageal cancer treatment. A 55-year-old man received chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer. After receiving CRT for 5 days, he complained of nausea, dizziness, and general weakness, and his sodium level had dropped to 107 mEq/L. His volume status was clinically euvolemic and there were no edema or pigmentation. After hypertonic saline infusion, the sodium level increased and the symptoms improved. There have been several reports of SIADH associated with malignancies or chemotherapy agents. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first Korean case of SIADH associated with esophageal cancer that occurred after cisplatin treatment.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; Dizziness ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Pigmentation ; Sodium

PURPOSE: The intraoperative version of the femoral component is usually determined by visual appraisal of the stem position relative to the distal femoral condylar axis. However, several studies have suggested that a surgeon's visual assessment of the stem position has a high probability of misinterpretation. We developed a computed tomography (CT)-based navigation system with a patient-specific instrument (PSI) capable of three-dimensional (3D) printing and investigated its accuracy and consistency in comparison to the conventional technique of visual assessment of the stem position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A CT scan of a femur sawbone model was performed, and pre-experimental planning was completed. We conducted 30 femoral neck osteotomies using the conventional technique and another 30 femoral neck osteotomies using the proposed technique. The femoral medullary canals were identified in both groups using a box chisel. RESULTS: For the absolute deviation between the measured and planned values, the mean two-dimensional anteversions of the proposed and conventional techniques were 1.41° and 4.78°, while their mean 3D anteversions were 1.15° and 3.31°. The mean θ 1, θ 2, θ 3, and d, all of which are parameters for evaluating femoral neck osteotomy, were 2.93°, 1.96°, 5.29°, and 0.48 mm for the proposed technique and 4.26°, 3.17°, 4.43°, and 3.15 mm for the conventional technique, respectively. CONCLUSION: The CT-based navigation system with PSI was more accurate and consistent than the conventional technique for assessment of stem position. Therefore, it can be used to reduce the frequency of incorrect assessments of the stem position among surgeons and to help with accurate determination of stem anteversion.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Osteotomy ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Surgeons ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is a common complaint seen at emergency centers. Various diseases can cause abdomin al pain making it difficult to make a correct diagnosis. In the elderly, however, the consequences of an incorrect or delayed diagnosis can be more critical. We investigated the accuracy of initial diagnoses in the emergency center and analyzed the associations among medical factors including age. METHODS: We compared the ICD 10 codes of initial diagnoses to the codes of final diagnoses, defined the 'degree of agreement' using a 5 point scale, and classified patients into 'high degree of agreement' or 'low degree of agreement' groups. According to the severity of illness, we classified patients as 'admission' or 'out patient follow up'. According to their illness, we classified them as 'surgical' or 'medical'. According to age, we classified them as 'elderly' or 'adult'. Finally, we analyzed the statistical significance of each association. RESULTS: Overall, admitted patients and surgical diagnoses had higher degrees of agreement. 'Elderly' patients had no significant difference in 'degree of agreement' from 'adult' patients. CONCLUSION: Among patients presenting with acute abdominal pain to the emergency center, the degree of agreement between initial diagnosis and final diagnosis is dependent on the diagnostic characteristics of the disease, and not on the age of the patients. Further studies on the diagnostic accuracy of individual diseases are needed. Additional diagnosis associated variables, for example comorbidity and prognosis, needs to be studied regarding relationship to diagnostic accuracy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Comorbidity ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Prognosis

Schizandra chinensis Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a Schizandra chinensis Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited beta-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Asthma ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases ; Digestion ; Drug Industry ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Oxidative Stress ; Plants ; RNA, Messenger ; Schisandra ; Serum Albumin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water