PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of CT in early detection, location, and extent of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed surgically proved 27 cases of 22 patients with osteochondritis dissecans in elbow joint retrospectively. We compared simple x-ray(elbow AP & lateral) with CT on the basis of staging of OCD of talus by simple x-ray. RESULTS: The frequency of location was as follows:fourteen cases of capitellum, 5 cases of olecranon tip, 5 cases of medial epicondyle, 2 cases of trochlea, and 1 case of olecranon base. Among the 4 cases of normal finding on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case each of stage I, II, III, and IV OCD and among the 8 cases of stage I on simple x-ray, CT showed 2 cases of stage I, 1 case of stage II, and 5 cases of stage III. Among the 3 cases of stage II on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case of stage II and 2 cases of stage III. Among the 5 cases of stage III on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case of stage II, 2 cases of stage III, and 2 cases of stage IV, but it was difficult to detect the presence or absence of attachment between the articular cartilage of mother bone and osteochondral fragment. CT was more accurate than simple x-ray in detection of loose body. CONCLUSION: CT might be an useful imaging modality in early diagnosis of OCD and evaluation of its anatomic location and extent in elbow joint.
Cartilage, Articular ; Early Diagnosis ; Elbow Joint* ; Elbow* ; Humans ; Mothers ; Olecranon Process ; Osteochondritis Dissecans* ; Osteochondritis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Talus

An implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis (ISFDP) or an implant-supported overdenture (IOD) are good options when treating a completely edentulous jaw opposing natural teeth. However, an ISFDP for a full arch requires sufficient bone quality and quantity, which limits its application. Meanwhile, using an ISFDP as an abutment of a removable partial denture has been considered recently. This clinical report discusses the treatments applied to two patients with edentulous maxillas and opposing natural teeth: one was treated with an IOD and the other was treated with an ISFDP and removable partial denture. Follow-up and management were performed for 8 years.
Dental Implants ; Dental Prosthesis ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Denture, Overlay ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Jaw, Edentulous ; Maxilla ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Prosthodontics ; Tooth

Amyloidogenesis is the key pathological phenomenon commonly observed in various neurodegenerative disorders. alpha-Synuclein is the major constituent of Lewy bodies as a common pathological signature of Lewy body diseases (LBDs) including Parkinson's disease (PD), PD with dementia (PDD), and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). As proteins unfold, they would result in producing either ordered or disordered aggregates unless they are folded back to the native state by molecular chaperones or removed via proteolytic degradation. alpha-Synuclein known as a natively unfolded protein has self-assembled into the ordered protein aggregates of amyloid fibrils which comprise the radiating filaments found in Lewy bodies. Amyloid fibrils are generated via either a template-dependent or template-independent mechanism. The prevalent nucleation-dependent fibrillation accelerates the assembly process in the presence of seeds such as prefibrillar species. As a template-independent process, we have recently proposed the double-concerted fibrillation mechanism in which the oligomeric species of alpha-synuclein act as a growing unit to form the mature fibrils. Despite insufficient understanding of the toxic causes of alpha-synuclein, the oligomeric species have been suggested to be responsible for the cellular degeneration by influencing membrane stability while leaving the amyloid fibrils as a detoxification end product. Alternatively, the transition process from the oligomers to the fibrils has been proposed to affect cell viability. It is, therefore, expected to develop prophylactic and therapeutic strategies toward the synucleinopathies by studying cellular function of alpha-synuclein, molecular mechanism of its assembly into the amyloid fibrils, and their effects on cellular biogenesis. By studying cellular function of alpha-synuclein, its molecular mechanism of assembly into amyloid fibrils and their effects on cellular biogenesis, progress of prophylactic and therapeutic strategies toward synucleinopathy can be seen.
alpha-Synuclein ; Amyloid ; Amyloidosis ; Cell Survival ; Dementia ; Lewy Bodies ; Membranes ; Molecular Chaperones ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Parkinson Disease ; Proteins ; Seeds ; Organelle Biogenesis

PURPOSE: This study is to describe authors'experience on mammographic findings of breast cancer and to know if there is difference between 35 years of age or younger and older groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mammograms of 72 patients with breast cancer detected from January, 1991 to December, 1993 were retrospectively analysed. Mammographic findings were classified into mass only, mass with microcalcifications, microcalcifications only and others. Marginal characteristics of mass were classified into spiculated, poorly marginated and well marginated. Shape of microcalcifications were classified into casting, granular and mixed types. These findings were compared between 35 years of age or younger and older groups. RESULTS: Mammogram showed mass only in 33 patients(46%), mass with microcalcifications in 26 patients (36%), microcalcifications only in seven(10%) and other findings in six(8%). Other findings were architectural distortion, asymmetric high density and incidental breart carcinoma from paraffinoma in one patient respectively, and dense breast in three patients. The margins of the breast mass were spiculated in ten(17%) poorly marginated in 30(51%), well-marginated in 19(32%). Shape of microcalcifications were casting type in 13(40%), granular in 14(42%) and mixed in six(18%) cases. 3 patients had dense breast with which mammography did not demonstrate the lesion. 3 patients without mammographically demonstrable lesions due to dense breasts were under 35 years in age. and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups(p-value<0.05). Microcalcifications only was more common findings in 35 years of age or younger. CONCLUSION: The most important mammographic findings of breast cancer were mass and microcalcifications. Architectural distortion and asymmetric high density were additional findings. In 35 years of age or younger, microcalcifications only was an important finding because mass lesions are frequently masked by dense breast. Thus other imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography, were required.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Mammography ; Masks ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

The diagnosis of scrotal tumors in children can be challenging because of the rarity, vague symptoms, and varied imaging features of the tumors. The pathology and frequency of scrotal tumors that occur in children are different from tumors that arise in adults. In this pictorial essay, we illustrate the imaging findings of scrotal tumors in children with pathological correlations. In addition, we present the clinical manifestations that are valuable for a differential diagnosis. Familiarity with the imaging findings and clinical manifestations of pediatric scrotal tumors may be helpful in making an accurate diagnosis and providing proper patient management.
Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Recognition (Psychology)

No abstract available.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor* ; Hepatocytes* ; Placenta* ; Pre-Eclampsia*

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability attributable to single-locus effects with a regression of offspring on mid-parent (ROMP) method for cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The regression of offspring on mid-parent is determined with and without the inclusion of a single-locus effect, and the difference between the slopes of these two regression is an estimate of the heritability attributable to the single-locus effect. The study population included 1,550 family members of 295 patients, derived from cardiovascular genome center. The risk factors considered were total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, apoAI and apoB. Heritability was estimated from the slope of the linear regression of offspring on mid-parents. RESULTS: Estimated heritability was 35 to 46% for total cholesterol with 6.2% attributable to polymorphism S128R. For triglyceride, the estimated heritability was 47.6% with 2% attributable to polymorphism G-217A. The heritability was 36-46% for LDL-cholesterol. For LDL cholesterol, S128R specific effect was 8.7%. Estimated heritability was 62.2% for apoAI with 3.2% attributable to polymorphism G-217A and 58 to 75% for apoB with 5.4% attributable to polymorphism S128R. CONCLUSIONS: These traits were significantly associated with polymorphism S128R. These results highlight the importance of considering genetic factors in studies of cardiovascular risk factors. Unlike traditional population-based tests of association, ROMP appears to be robust with respect to population stratification.
Apolipoproteins B ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Genome ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: Although nucleotides -like Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and its derivatives Adenosine, were known to induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in diverse cell lines, little is known about their effects on trophoblast. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effects of extracellular ATP and adenosine on trophoblast cell growth and to delineate if apoptosis is involved in this mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used TL cell line, derived from human term placenta. The cells were cultured for 24, 48, and 72 hours after being treated with ATP and adenosine, each. Also, cell growth according to different concentrations of ATP and adenosine was evaluated. To test whether apoptosis was induced by each nucleotide, DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation by Hoechst 33258 stain and P53 protein expression were evaluated. RESULTS: Cell growth was inhibited by ATP and adenosine in time and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the growth inhibitory effect of adenosine was stronger than ATP, whereas signs of DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation were observed in ATP treated cells, but not in adenosine treated ones. CONCLUSION: Our results shows that ATP and adenosine exert inhibitory effect on growth in TL cell line. These findings suggest that pathological production of ATP or its metabolites, adenosine, may lead to a pathologic status such as preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction.
Adenosine Triphosphate* ; Adenosine* ; Apoptosis* ; Bisbenzimidazole ; Cell Line* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans* ; Nucleotides ; Placenta ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Trophoblasts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modulates the expression of cyclooxy- genase-2 (COX-2) and also whether COX-2 is involved in the LPS induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activation in human trophoblastic (TL) cell line. METHODS: We used the TL (trophoblast-like) cells and evaluated the effect of LPS on expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein and on activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Also, we pretreated cell line with LPS and NS398, a COX-2 inhibitor, and compared MMPs activities with LPS only group. In the present study, COX-2 was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis and gelatin zymography was done for the evaluation of gelatinase activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expressions of COX-2 were increased by LPS in time- and dose-dependant fashions. COX-2 mRNA expression began to rise from 1 hour of LPS treatment and was increased steadily thereafter. COX-2 protein expression was detected from 1 hour of LPS treatment, but maximally increased by the 3 hours of treatment. LPS also increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in time and dose dependant fashions. Especially, active form of MMP-9 was observed in the high concentration of LPS (>50 microgram/ml). When adding COX-2 inhibitor (NS398) to LPS pretreated cell line, the MMPs activities increased in two or three fold compared to LPS only group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that LPS induces expression COX-2 and up-regulates activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in trophoblastic cell, but COX-2 although involved in LPS mediated MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation, may act through a different pathway than the commonly known prostaglandin metabolites mediated one.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Line* ; Gelatin ; Gelatinases ; Humans* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts*

Toxocariasis is known as visceral larva migrans in humans and it is caused by T. canis and T. catis, especially in children, but it is less commonly reported in adults. Although several cases of toxocariasis in adults have been reported, there have been no descriptions of toxocariasis involving the liver or, the lungs and the pleura. We report here on a case of T. canis infection in an immunocompetent adult with peripheral eosinophilia, elevated serum levels of Ig E and CT findings displaying multiple focal air space consolidations in the lungs, bilateral pleural effusion and low attenuated hepatic nodules.
Adult* ; Child ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Larva Migrans, Visceral ; Liver ; Lung ; Pleura ; Pleural Effusion ; Toxocariasis*