Retinal prosthesis is regarded as the most feasible method for the blind caused by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. One of the prerequisites for the success of retinal prosthesis is the optimization of the electrical stimuli applied through the prosthesis. Since electrical characteristics of degenerate retina are expected to differ from those of normal retina, we investigated differences of the retinal waveforms in normal and degenerate retina to provide a guideline for the optimization of electrical stimulation for the upcoming prosthesis. After isolation of retina, retinal patch was attached with the ganglion cell side facing the surface of microelectrode arrays (MEA). 8x8 grid layout MEA (electrode diameter: 30micrometer, electrode spacing: 200micrometer, and impedance: 50 k omega at 1 kHz) was used to record in-vitro retinal ganglion cell activity. In normal mice (C57BL/6J strain) of postnatal day 28, only short duration (<2 ms) retinal spikes were recorded. In rd/rd mice (C3H/HeJ strain), besides normal spikes, waveform with longer duration (~100 ms), the slow wave component was recorded. We attempted to understand the mechanism of this slow wave component in degenerate retina using various synaptic blockers. We suggest that stronger glutamatergic input from bipolar cell to the ganglion cell in rd/rd mouse than normal mouse contributes the most to this slow wave component. Out of many degenerative changes, we favor elimination of the inhibitory horizontal input to bipolar cells as a main contributor for a relatively stronger input from bipolar cell to ganglion cell in rd/rd mouse.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Ganglion Cysts ; Macular Degeneration ; Mice ; Microelectrodes ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retina ; Retinal Diseases ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinaldehyde ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; Visual Prosthesis

Cardiovascular disease is the most important cause of unexpected sudden death. Although ischemic heart disease by coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death, other diseases such as cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease and rarely myocarditis can produce sudden cardiac death. Myocarditis is an inflammatory process of the myocardium characterized by an interstitial inflammatory infiltrate and an injury to myocytes adjacent to the inflammatory cells. The clinical expression of myocarditis ranges from the asymptomatic state to fulminant fatal congestive heart failure. Because myocardial involvement is subclinical in most acute infectious disease, the majority of patients have no specific complaints referable to the cardiovascular system. It is possible that it causes a medicolegal problems in case of sudden death. Therefore, author reviewed the clinical and pathological findings of 18 myocarditis autopsy cases. The victims 'age was varied 4-month-59-year olds. 5 (28%) were male and 13 (72%) were female. 15 cases received medical treatment due to clinical symptoms(URI symptoms: 2 cases, tonsillitis and tonsillar abcess: 3 cases, GI symptoms: 5 cases, URI & GI symptoms: 3 cases, pneumonia: 1 case, operation due to ovarian tumor: 1 case) and were associated with medicolegal problem. By the results of this study, important gross findings were pericardial effusions, characteristic cardiomegaly, and pulmonary edema.
Asymptomatic Diseases ; Autopsy ; Cardiomegaly ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Death, Sudden ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Failure ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Cells ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocarditis* ; Myocardium ; Palatine Tonsil ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Pulmonary Edema ; Tonsillitis

Although the management of fractures of the calcaneus still remains controversial, open reduction and internal fixation is gaining in popularity as the method of choice for the treatment of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures. However, open methods can make several complications such as neurovascular injury and infection. Thus we have performed the new technique of arthroscopic reduction and minimal internal fixation for displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures in 5 cases. The results were evaluated between 12 and 16 months after surgery. A Bohler angle was restored to 25degrees-40degrees in all cases. Anatomical reduction of articular surface were obtained from 4 cases out of 5. No complications were found except 1 peroneal tendinitis. The clinical results by Creighton-Nebraska health foundation assessment for fractures of the calcaneus were 3 excellent, 1 good and 1 fair. Even though this was a few case and a short term follow-up study, the arthroscopic assisted management of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture induced a little complications and satisfactory results.
Calcaneus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Tendinopathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the scar formation and hand function between moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) treatment and conventional skin graft in full thickness hand burns. METHOD: Prospective comparative study was done between MEBO treatment group and conventional skin graft group. Full thickness burn wound scars on dorsal hand were compared. Scars were assessed with the Vancouver scar scale and other objective measurement tools such as pigmentation, erythema, pliability, transepideramal water loss, thickness and perfusion. Hand function was evaluated by the Jebsen hand function test and Michigan Hand Function Questionnaire. RESULTS: Vancouver Scar scale showed significantly better scores in the MEBO group than in the conventional skin graft group. Scar thickness and transepidermal water loss were greater in the MEBO treatment group whereas pigmentation value was greater in the conventional skin graft group. There was no significant difference in the hand function between the two groups. CONCLUSION: MEBO application could be an alternative treatment to conventional skin graft treatment in full thickness hand burn wounds. In the future, more studies are yet to come how MEBO treatment may affect the skin condition of the burn injuries.
Burns* ; Cicatrix* ; Erythema ; Hand* ; Michigan ; Perfusion ; Pigmentation ; Pliability ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin* ; Transplants* ; Wounds and Injuries

Objectives: . To determine the appropriate anatomical borders of implantation on the temporal bone in a cadaver study, and to develop a simplified surgical technique for Baha Attract implantation through a small incision along the hairline using anatomical evidence and a navigation system. Methods: . In a cadaver study, 20 human adult dry skulls were used to find flat areas of the temporal bone for Baha Attract magnet implantation. Four borders of the “optimal surgical site” were defined: Asterion line, occipitomastoid suture line, sigmoid sinus line, and digastric groove line. In three patients, we implanted the Baha Attract according to the newly developed surgical procedure and validated the feasibility of this technique with a navigation system. Results: . We identified the appropriate position of the implant on the temporal bone, suggesting a simplified surgical technique for Baha Attract with a small incision. We determined the spot of implantation, and the implants were inserted through a small surgical incision (<2.5 cm) under local anesthesia; the procedure lasted approximately 30 minutes. Conclusion . The optimal surgical site of the temporal bone is a safe and easily accessible location for implantation of the Baha Attract.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To estimate the usefulness of bone scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of new fracture in osteoporotic vertebral fractures. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The diagnosis of new fractrure in osteoporotic vertebral fractures requires simple X-ray and supplementary studies. METHODS: We analyzed 87 vertebrae in 44 patients, who diagnosed with osteoporotic vertebral fractures using bone scan and MRI within 2 months interval between August 2001 and July 2008. We compared hot uptakes in bone scan with MRI findings such as new fractures, old fractures and degenerative lesions. RESULTS: Hot uptakes in bone scan was matched to 48 new fractures, 26 old fractures and 13 degenerative lesions in MRI findings. It was 55% of concordance between hot uptakes in bone scan and new fractures in MRI. The rate of new vertebral fractures confirmed by MRI according to 1 level hot uptakes in bone scan was 96%, 2 levels was 50% and 3 more levels was 36%. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of new fracture in osteoporotic vertebral fractures requires simple X-ray and supplementary studies such as bone scan and MRI. We recommend more careful interpretation in multiple osteoporotic vertebral fracture patients about hot uptake lesions of bone scan.
Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

Flowable resins can be used as a base material during the restoration of deep tooth cavity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of the layered specimens which have flowable resin as a base material. For the study, two composite resins and five flowable resins were chosen for the overlying and base materials, respectively. Flexural and compressive properties of each bulk and ten layered specimens were measured. Layered specimens showed high flexural strength (FS) and flexural modulus (FM) if bulk state FS and FM of the base flowable resin are high. However, compressive strength (CS) was not that case. CS of the layered specimen was not high (251.4~295.3 MPa) whether CS of the bulk state is high or not (259.8~439.8 MPa). FM showed high linear correlation with CM. After all mechanical properties of the layered specimens were not consistently influenced by the mechanical properties of the base flowable resins regardless of the overlying composite resins.
Composite Resins ; Compressive Strength ; Tooth

The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-inhibition test using a Clonorchis sinensis species-specific mouse monoclonal antibody(MAb), CsHyb 0605-23, showed increased specificity over the conventional ELISA used for serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis. To characterize the corresponding antigen further, the MAb was tested against polysaccharide, protein and glycolipid fractions obtained from a crude extract of C. sinensis adult worms, using chloroform, methanol and phenol extractions. Only the polysaccharide fraction was recognized by the MAb among those fractions. Mild oxidation of the antigen with sodium periodate showed decreased reactivity against the MAb. We concluded that the antigen and antigenic determinants recognized by the MAb are carbohydrates.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Monoclonal antibody ; antigen ; immunology ; carbohydrate ; polysaccharide ; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ; diagnosis

A simplified method of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) is evaluated by the study of 73 forensic cases. The sinoatrial node were observed in all cases (100.0%), atrioventricular node in 70 cases (95.9%) and penetrating bundle (His bundle) in 70 cases (95.9%). We divided the cases into three groups as the group of cardiac death (25 cases), non-cardiac death (24cases) and sudden unexpected death but undeterminable cause of death (24 cases) diagnosed after routine autopsy including routine cardiac examination and toxicological analysis and compared the type and incidence of CCS lesions in each groups. Narrowing of the sinoatrial (SA) or atrioventricular (AV) artery by fibromuscular hyperplasia (FMH) and fatty infiltration in SA or AV node were identified in all groups, lymphocytic infiltration in SA or AN node in cardiac and non-cardiac death group, hemorrhage and fibrosis of SA or AV node were identified in cardiac death group. FMH of the artery of SA or AN node occured more commonly in undeterminable cause of death group (45.1%) than in cardiac (16.0%) and non-cardiac group (20.8%) and severe narrowing (> or =75%) of the artery of SA or AV node was only present in undeterminable cause of death group (29.2%). The results led to the conclusion that this simple technique is very useful in detection of major abnor-malities of CCS with minimal effort and examination of the CCS in death which the routine autopsy and drug screen fail to provide a cause of death can yield a cause of death in a significant percentage of cases.
Arteries ; Atrioventricular Node ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Death ; Death, Sudden* ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Sinoatrial Node

We reviewed forensic autopsies and scene examinations performed at Central District of National Institute of Scientific Investigation, requested by every kinds of law enforcement agencies in Chung-cheong area of Korea during the year of 2003, and analysed the data of forensic autopsies and scene examinations according to the cause of death and the manner of death. The results are as follows ; 1. Scene investigation on the spot was performed in 220 cases ; Among these cases, 161 cases (73.2%) were unnatural deaths and the most common cause of death was trauma (61 cases). Autopy was per-formed in 93 cases (42.3%). 2. The total number of forensic autopsy were 685 cases (452 males and 233 females). The number of the forties (215 cases) and the thirties (124 cases) occupied almost half (49.5%) of all cases of autopsy. 3. Unnatural deaths were 434 cases (63.3%), natural 204 cases (29.8%), and the unknown 47 cases (6.9%). In 434 cases of unnatural deaths, suicide was 84 cases (19.3%), homicide 115 cases (26.5%), acci-dent 186 cases (42.9%), and the undetermined 49 cases (11.3%). Homicide occupied 43.7% of trauma, 77.1% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall down injury, and 97.7% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 35.0%. It showed only 1 cases (1.9%) of homicide in poisoning. 4. In 434 cases of unnatural deaths, traumatic deaths were 229 cases (52.8%). Blunt trauma was 70 cases (30.6%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Of remaining 205 cases of unnatural deaths, there were 52 cases (12.0%) of poisonings, 51 cases (11.8%) of thermal injuries, 41 cases (9.4%) of drowning, 40 cases (9.2%) of asphyxia, 19 cases (4.4%) of medical procedures, and 2 cases (0.5%) of electrocution. 5. Among 204 natural deaths, cardiovascular diseases were 106 cases (52.0%) and the leading cause of death in natural deaths. 36 cases (17.6%) of diseases involving vascular system were followed. 6. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 32 cases. Among these cases, unnatural deaths were 14 cases (43.8%) and most of them were accident.
Asphyxia ; Autopsy* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Drowning ; Homicide ; Humans ; Korea* ; Law Enforcement ; Male ; Poisoning ; Suicide