OBJECTIVE: To investigate dose-related effects of repeated intraarticular steroid injection on the experimental arthritis. METHOD: Twenty-four adult male rabbits received Zymosan A into their right knee joint for experimental arthritis. After a week, they were injected with 2 mg (group I; n=9), 10 mg (group II; n=7) or 20 mg (group III; n=8) triamcinolone acetonide into their right knee weekly interval for 4 weeks. We measured weekly changes of the weight and the mediolateral diameter of both knees for the calculation of edema index. 99mTechnetium pertechnate (99mTc) uptake measurement were performed before the first steroid injection and a week after the final steroid injection. All rabbits were sacrificed and histologic examinations of their proximal tibia were performed. RESULTS: A progressive weight loss and changes of edema index were evident for all rabbits (p<0.05) and difference among the groups was not found (p<0.05). 99mTc uptake significantly decreased after the steroid injection in group I (p<0.05) but it was not profound in others (p>0.05). In the histological findings, fibrillation-frayings and fissures of the surface were similar in all rabbits, but loss of nuclear stains and cyst formations were increased prominently in group III than group I (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose repeated steroid intraarticular injections are safe and effective treatment in arthritis though no definite evidence of chondroprotection, and high-dose steroid injections accelerate degeneration of the arthritic cartilage.
Adult ; Arthritis* ; Cartilage ; Coloring Agents ; Edema ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Rabbits* ; Tibia ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Weight Loss ; Zymosan

PURPOSE: To evaluate quantification results of single breath-hold (SBH) magnetic resonance (MR) cine imaging compared to results of conventional multiple breath-hold (MBH) technique for left ventricular (LV) function in patients with cardiac arrhythmia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of patients with arrhythmia who underwent MBH and SBH cine imaging at the same time on a 1.5T MR scanner were retrospectively reviewed. Both SBH and MBH cine imaging were performed with balanced steady state free precession. SBH scans were acquired using temporal parallel acquisition technique (TPAT). Fifty patients (65.4 ± 12.3 years, 72% men) were included. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), myocardial mass, and LV regional wall motion were evaluated. RESULTS: EF, myocardial mass, and regional wall motion were not significantly different between SBH and MBH acquisition techniques (all P-values > 0.05). EDV, ESV, and SV were significant difference between the two techniques. These parameters for SBH cine imaging with TPAT tended to lower than those in MBH. EF and myocardial mass of SBH cine imaging with TPAT showed good correlation with values of MBH cine imaging in Passing-Bablok regression charts and Bland-Altman plots. However, SBH imaging required significantly shorter acquisition time than MBH cine imaging (15 ± 7 sec vs. 293 ± 104 sec, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SBH cine imaging with TPAT permits shorter acquisition time with assessment results of global and regional LV function comparable to those with MBH cine imaging in patients with arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left*

No abstract available.
Endoscopy* ; Esophageal Motility Disorders*

With the increased use of implantable cardiac devices, the incidence of hardware problems has also increased. Some of the hardware problems might be induced by patient factors. We experienced recurrent pacemaker lead fracture and dislocation after permanent pacemaker implantation. The patient was a bus driver who used his left arm vigorously when he turned the steering wheel. After a new lead was inserted via an axillary vein approach and the patient changed his occupation, no more lead problems have occurred. When a recurrent hardware problem with an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator occurs, patient factors related to anatomy or behavior must be considered.
Arm ; Atrioventricular Block ; Axillary Vein ; Defibrillators ; Dislocations ; Humans ; Incidence ; Occupations

OBJECTIVE: The direct repair of the pars interarticularis defect using a lag screw with bone grafting(Buck operation) is an anatomical, less invasive surgical treatment preserving motion segment. This paper reports the methods and long-term results of the direct screw repair of the pars interarticularis defect and fusion in symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis using a cannulated lag screw. METHODS: Ten patients with symptomatic spondylolysis nonresponsive to medical treatment more than 6 months underwent this operation. Eight patients(6 men and 2 women) were followed for longer than 24 months after surgery. Mean age at the time of surgery was 28.3(18-43) years. The involved lumbar vertebra were L5 in 6 cases, L3 in 1 case and L4 in 1 case. All patients except 1 case had bilateral lesion. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance(MR) image and plain radiographs including functional view. Patients with slippage, instability, moderate to severe intervertebral disc degeneration on preoperative MR image at the affected segment and isthmus defect more than 4mm in length were contraindications to this procedure. Surgical outcome was evaluated with visual analogue scale(VAS), Macnab classification, and functional rating index(FRI). Postoperative plain radiographs were taken 4 weeks, 3 months. 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months after surgery and postoperative computed tomography scan was performed between 12-24 months after surgery. RESULTS: The average length of inserted screws were 42mm(35-45mm). Three cases experienced Excellent outcome, Good in 5 cases according to Macnab classification 6months after operation. Preoperative mean FRI scrore is 86.0%(34.4points) and postoperative 24months is 32.8%(13.1points). DeltaFRI is 0.62. There was no operation related complication including implant related complication(eg. screw fracture, screw malposition). One case with unilateral pars defect showed fusion as early as 6 months. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Buck operation is a reliable and safe operation for symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis. Long-term data are needed for further evaluation for fusion.
Classification ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Male ; Spine ; Spondylolysis*

OBJECTIVES: Recently, it was reported that microsurgical fenestration of the lamina terminalis (LT) may reduce the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in aneurysmal SAH. The authors investigated the efficacy of the LT opening on the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus especially in the ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. METHODS: The data of 71 ruptured ACoA aneurysm patients who underwent aneurysmal clipping in acute stage were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the use of intraoperative microsurgical opening of the LT. Group I (n=36) included the patients with microsurgical fenestration of LT during routine pterional approach, Group II (n=35) consisted of patients in whom microsurgical fenestration of LT was not feasible. The rate of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was compared between two groups by logistic regression to control for confounding factor. RESULTS: Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts were performed after aneurysmal obliteration in 18 (25.4%) patients. Overall conversion rates from acute hydrocephalus on admission to chronic hydrocephalus in each group were 29.6% (Group I) and 58.8% (Group II), respectively. There was no significant correlation between the microsurgical fenestration and the rate of occurrence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although this study cannot provide a definitive answer, the microsurgical fenestration of LT can play a negative role for reducing the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus. Surgeons should carefully decide the concomitant use of LT fenestration during surgery for the ruptured ACoA aneurysms.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Hypothalamus* ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Logistic Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Periodontitis is a bacteria-induced inflammatory disease associated with alveolar bone loss. Osteoclast is a macrophage-lineage cell that exhibits phagocytic activity; however, osteoclast phagocytic activity has not been demonstrated under pathological conditions. Diabetes is a pathological condition that exacerbates alveolar bone loss via periodontitis; therefore, we examined phagocytic osteoclasts in diabetic rats that had periodontitis. The rats were divided into the control (C), periodontitis (P), and diabetes with periodontitis (DP) groups. Diabetes and periodontitis were induced by streptozotocin injection and ligature of the mandibular first molars, respectively. On days 3 and 20 after the ligature, the rats were sacrificed, and osteoclasts containing inclusions were quantified by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. On day 3, there were more osteoclasts containing inclusions in the DP group than in the C group. Among inclusions, osteocyte-like cells and dense bodies were more frequently observed in the DP group than in the C group. Cytoplasm-like structures were elevated more in the DP group than in the C and P groups. However, no differences were observed on day 20. Interestingly, some osteoclasts were in contact with the osteocytes within the exposed lacunae and contained several inclusions within a large vacuole. Thus, the elevation of phagocytic osteoclasts in rats with diabetes and periodontitis provides insight into the role of osteoclast phagocytic activity under pathological conditions.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Stem cell therapies for liver disease are being studied by many researchers worldwide, but scientific evidence to demonstrate the endocrinologic effects of implanted cells is insufficient, and it is unknown whether implanted cells can function as liver cells. Achieving angiogenesis, arguably the most important characteristic of the liver, is known to be quite difficult, and no practical attempts have been made to achieve this outcome. We carried out this study to observe the possibility of angiogenesis of implanted bio-artificial liver using scaffolds. METHODS: This study used adipose tissue-derived stem cells that were collected from adult patients with liver diseases with conditions similar to the liver parenchyma. Specifically, microfilaments were used to create an artificial membrane and maintain the structure of an artificial organ. After scratching the stomach surface of severe combined immunocompromised (SCID) mice (n=4), artificial scaffolds with adipose tissue-derived stem cells and type I collagen were implanted. Expression levels of angiogenesis markers including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34, and CD105 were immunohistochemically assessed after 30 days. RESULTS: Grossly, the artificial scaffolds showed adhesion to the stomach and surrounding organs; however, there was no evidence of angiogenesis within the scaffolds; and VEGF, CD34, and CD105 expressions were not detected after 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Although implantation of cells into artificial scaffolds did not facilitate angiogenesis, the artificial scaffolds made with type I collagen helped maintain implanted cells, and surrounding tissue reactions were rare. Our findings indicate that type I collagen artificial scaffolds can be considered as a possible implantable biomaterial.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Adult ; Animals ; Artificial Organs ; Biocompatible Materials ; Collagen Type I* ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver* ; Membranes, Artificial ; Mice ; Stem Cells* ; Stomach ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Brugada syndrome is an arrhythmogenic disease that is manifested by specific patterns of right bundle branch block with ST elevation in right precordial (V1-V3) ECG leads causing ventricular fibrillation, leads to a sudden death without organic heart problems. It is an incomplete penetrating autosomal dominant disease that is due to mutation in SCN5A gene, coding for Na+ channel of cardiac muscles. This syndrome is more common and may be endemic in southeast Asia. Although it is a highly risky disease, it's preventive treatment for arrhythmia has not been established yet. We experienced a case of 28 year old man who had wedge resection of lung because of spontaneous pneumothorax under general anesthesia and who was suspected Brugada syndrome based on specific ECG patterns and a family history of his father's sudden death after syncope.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Asia, Southeastern ; Brugada Syndrome* ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Clinical Coding ; Death, Sudden ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Lung ; Myocardium ; Pneumothorax ; Syncope ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Leptin is one of the adipocytokines produced from adipose tissue but its functions in periodontal tissue have not previously been investigated. In our current study, we examined the effects of leptin on the expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and gingival fibroblasts. Leptin receptor expression was evaluated by RT-PCR and the production of cytokines was measured by ELISA. The phosphorylation of Akt and Erk1/2 was assessed by western blotting. mRNA of long and short form leptin receptors were detected in both PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts. Leptin was found to increase the production of IL-6 and IL-8 in both of these cell types, an effect which was not blocked by polymyxin B, an inhibitor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Leptin did not alter the production of IL-6 and IL-8 induced by LPS in PDL cells but increased Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation in these cells. These results suggest that leptin acts as an inducer of IL-6 and IL-8 in PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts.
Adipokines ; Adipose Tissue ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Leptin ; Periodontal Ligament ; Phosphorylation ; Polymyxin B ; Receptors, Leptin ; RNA, Messenger