A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of the pathogenic Yersinia pestis from other Yersinia spp. was developed. Five Y. pestis strains, ninety-two other Yersinia species and twenty-four Enterobacteriaceae strains were collected in Korea and from other countries. Oligonucleotide primers were designed from pathogenic gene of antiphagocytic protein capsule gene (fra 1) and plasminogen activator gene (pla). The 428 bp DNA fragment was amplified from five Y. pestis which contained the fra I gene. No product was amplified from other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. The 439 bp DNA fragment was amplified from three K pestis which contained the pla gene. No product was amplified from two Y. pestis, other Yersinia species and other strains of the Enterobacteriaceae. These showed that the designed primers were specific for detection of Y. pestis among other Yersinia species and Enterobacteriaceae strains. Amplification was successful whether the template was derived from purified DNA or from aliquots of boiled bacterial suspension. The detection limits were 100 pg of DNA and 100 colony forming units (CFU) for fra I and 100 pg DNA and 10 CFU for pla, respectively. Our results prove that the PCR method using specific primers for Y. pestis is a rapid and convenient procedure for routine clinical detection and identification of Y. pestis.
DNA ; DNA Primers ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Plasminogen Activators ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Stem Cells ; Yersinia pestis* ; Yersinia*

No abstract available.
Cryotherapy* ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous* ; Metronidazole*

No abstract available.
Myiasis*

Human untreated costal cartilage was compared with lyophilized human costal cartilage which was treated with defatting solution for 48 hours and freeze drying for 72 hours (-70degree C, 10??bar) on the tendency of distortion. All cartilages, which were taken from six cadavers, were carved 5x5x30mm in size on principle of the balanced cross section. Their distortions were evaluated by two methods at intervals of one week, one month, three months, six months after experiment. At first, the degree of distortion was grossly graded with four steps: grade O; no distortion / grade I; minimal distortion / grade II; moderate distortion / grade III; severe distortion. Second method is measurement and quantification of distortion in the horizontal and vertical plane of cartilage.Untreated cartilage is shown to be an unsatisfactory material, with only three(12%) of the 25 cartilages being cosmetically acceptable(grade 0 and 1) after 6 months. In lyophilized cartilage, 18(94%) of the 19 cartilages were cosmetically acceptable(grade 0 and 1) at 6 months. This figure is highly significant(p<0.01). In another method, distortion in the horizontal(h) and vertical (v) planes of cartilage were measured, and mean values of ???? were calculated. In untreated group, the mean values of ???? were 0.82 at 1 week, 0.91 at 1 month, 1.13 at 3 months, and 1.31 at 6 months. In lyophilized group, the mean values were 0.27 at 1 week, 0.29 at 1 month, 0.40 at 3 months and 0.47 at 6 months. All values were statistically significant(p<0.01).
Cadaver ; Cartilage* ; Freeze Drying ; Humans

No abstract available.
Transposases*

Takayasu,s arteritis is a systemic disease characterized by occlusion of aorta and its major branches because of a panaortitis with thickening of the adventitia. Coronary artery narrowing is due to extension of inflammations that occur in aorta. Angina pectoris may be the first symptom of the disease if the coronary arteries are the initial site of severe arterial narrowing. We present a case of bilateral coronary ostial stenosis where Takayasu,s arteritis was pathologically proved as an etiology. The patient was taken coronary ostial angioplasty with good result.
Adventitia ; Angina Pectoris ; Angioplasty ; Aorta ; Arteritis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Takayasu Arteritis*

Bony defect is one of the most common problems in craniomaxillofacial surgery. Although aurogenous bone graft is the best choice for the treatment of bone defect, it provides many problems such as donor site morbidity, irregular absorption, and limited amount of harvest. To overcome the shortcomings of autogenous bone graft many bone substitutes have been introduced. The ideal bone substitution is to have characteristics such as cheap, easy to obtain, rapid fusion to recipient bone, hard structure, long maintenance of shape and volume, low infection rate, and low exposure rate. Among those bone substitutes which have been widely used we chose lyophilized cartilage allograft because of low antigenecity, low resorption rate, easiness of carving and ling term preservation. From August 1993 to August 1997, 66 patients had been performed craniomaxillofacial reconstruction with lyophilized cartilage allograft. Orbital wall reconstruction and correction of enophthalmos were 24, correction of cleft lip and nose deformity were 19, temporal augmentations were 7, and others 16. Complications such as infection, exposure were not common. And partially removed cartilage was proved some calcification. Radiologic follow-up presented well positioned lyophilized cartilage allograft. Two radiologic works revealed haziness of bone density at the site of cartilage allograft. This suggests the ossification of lyophilized cartilage allograft. Together with liw infection rate, low exposure rate, and good framework for osteoconduction, lyophilized cartilage allograft are regarded as one of the good bone substitutes.
Absorption ; Allografts* ; Bone Density ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; Cartilage* ; Cleft Lip ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Enophthalmos ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nose ; Orbit ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Purpose: We hereby would like to compare on the basis of the initial 12 hips and latter 18 hips by analyzing the initial results of the minimal incision total hip arthroplasty of 30 hips we experienced. Materials and Methods: For the period of December 2004 through June 2005, we performed the total hip arthroplasty with minimal incision in 10cm or shorter using the posterolateral approach on 25 patients (30 hips) whose BMI(body mass index) is 30 or lower. We compared by analyzing results of the initial 12 cases and 18 latter cases. Results: The average BMI was 23.7. There weren`t statistically meaningful differences the change in the hemoglobin value of pre-op and post-op, necessity of blood transfusion, position of component, and the Harris hip score 6 weeks after operation. But, the average initial operation time of 124 minutes was remarkably reduced to 65 minutes in average in the latter operation and the length of a skin incision was reduced from the average 9.2 cm in the initial operation to an average of 8.1cm in the latter operation. There wasn't the malposition of acetabular cup and femoral stem. Conclusion: Although we need more statistical data through more cases and the analysis of long-term results, we think that, to surgeons with much experience in the conventional total hip arthroplasty, the total hip anthroplasty using minimal incision for patients with BMI of 30 or below would be a useful approach having the advantage in a cosmetic aspect.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Blood Transfusion ; Hip ; Humans ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Skin

Actinic keratoses (AK) are premalignant lesions, which can develop into invasive squamous cell carcinoma(SSC). Therapies for AK include cryotherapy, curettage, topical 5-fluorouracil, laser therapy and so forth. All therapies currently prescribed can be painful and may result in scarring and changes in skin pigmentation. A potential new treatment modality for AK is the imiquimod (Aldara(R)), which can be applied by patients themselves. We reported a case of AK which was very extensive on the scalp of the old man, who was treated with topical imiquimod.
Actins* ; Cicatrix ; Cryotherapy ; Curettage ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Laser Therapy ; Scalp ; Skin Pigmentation