Angiogenesis is an essential process in tumor growth and metastasis. VEGF has been considered a leading candidate inducing tumor angiogenesis. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node matastasis, and prognosis of cancers of various parts of body. However, little has been known about the correlation between VEGF expression and clinicopathologic parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to correlate VEGF expression with the clinicopathological parameters and microvessel density. Forty six oral squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed using immunohistochemical method with primary antibodies to VEGF and CD31. VEGF expression was detected in 33 (71.7%) of the 46 cases. The microvessel density was significantly correlated with VEGF expression (P=0.002). There was no correlation between microvessel density and tumour size, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression did not correlate with the histological grade of tumour differentiation, tumour size, and clinical stages. The VEGF-positive rate seemed to be higher in patients with cervical lymph nodal metastasis than in those without it, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the overexpression of VEGF in the oral squamous cell carcinoma seemed to be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. Further study is necessary to define the role of VEGF in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

No abstract available.
Hemochromatosis* ; Spleen*

No abstract available.
Diatomaceous Earth* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Pneumoconiosis*

BACKGROUND: The Multiplate analyzer (Dynabyte GmbH) has been recently introduced as a platelet function test for patients taking antiplatelet drugs. The study aimed at providing basic data for determining the reference interval of parameters produced by Multiplate in Koreans and to study the factors that influence those parameters. METHODS: Blood was collected from 35 healthy volunteers (female 18, male 17) into tubes containing hirudin or 3.2% sodium citrate. Whole blood platelet aggregations triggered by adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP), ADP-high sensitive (ADP+PGE1 only in hirudin samples), arachidonic acid (AA), collagen or thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP) were investigated using Multiplate according to the manufacturer's instructions. Data from healthy volunteers for the area under the curve (AUC) were determined from the central 95th percentile of the results. RESULTS: The values of AUC in hirudin samples for all agonists were significantly higher than those in sodium citrate samples. The AUC values in hirudin (sodium citrate) samples were as follows: ADP 38-107 (18-119) U; ADP+PGE1 16-91 U; AA 64-156 (32-117) U; collagen 53-112 (26-108) U; and TRAP 81-163 (49-149) U. The parameters from Multiplate were significantly correlated with leukocyte counts, but not with hematocrit levels. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data were derived from only 35 subjects, the results are expected to be helpful in determining the reference interval at a single institute and may serve as basic data for future cumulative data of reference intervals from multiple institutes in Korea.
Academies and Institutes ; Adenosine Diphosphate ; Arachidonic Acid ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Platelets ; Citrates ; Citric Acid ; Collagen ; Hematocrit ; Hirudins ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Platelet Function Tests ; Receptors, Thrombin ; Sodium

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Odontogenic myxoma is one of rare tumors in oral and maxillofacial region and it is thought to be mesenchymal or ectomesenchymal origin. Its characteristics are benign and non-metastatic but it has the potential of local invasion and high recurrence rate. It originally occurs in atrium of heart and in central case, my xoma is located mainly in the maxilla and mandible. Most odontogenic myxoma develops in 2nd or 3rd decades of life and rarely occurs in child or older persons over fifty. The distribution of reported cases between the sexes is similar and the maxilla and mandible are equally affected or slightly higher in mandible. Clinically it is usually asymptomatic, however it can cause pain and paresthesia is complained in the advanced stages. Displacement and mobility of teeth have also been reported Odontogenic myxoma is not a frequent tumor, but in case of slow and painless growing tumor it must be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Heart ; Humans ; Jaw ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Myxoma* ; Paresthesia ; Recurrence ; Tooth

Purpose: To investigate the effects of simultaneous soft and hard tissue augmentation and the addition of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) on regenerative outcomes. Materials and Methods: In five mongrel dogs, chronic ridge defects were established in both mandibles. Six implants were placed in the mandible, producing buccal dehiscence defects. The implants were randomly allocated to one of the following groups: 1) control: no treatment; 2) GBR: guided bone regeneration (GBR) only; 3) GBR/PDRN: GBR+PDRN application to bone substitute particles; 4) GBR/CTG: GBR+connective tissue grafting (CTG);5) GBR/VCMX: GBR+soft tissue augmentation using volume stable collagen matrix (VCMX); and 6) group GBR/VCMX/ PDRN: GBR+VCMX soaked with PDRN. The healing abutments were connected to the implants to provide additional room for tissue regeneration. Submerged healing was achieved. The animals were euthanized after four months. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were then performed. Results: Healing abutments were gradually exposed during the healing period. Histologically, minimal new bone formation was observed in the dehiscence defects. No specific differences were found between the groups regarding collagen fiber orientation and density in the augmented area. No traces of CTG or VCMX were detected. Histomorphometrically, the mean tissue thickness was greater in the control group than in the other groups above the implant shoulder (IS). Below the IS level, the CTG and PDRN groups exhibited more favorable tissue thickness than the other groups. Conclusion Failure of submerged healing after tissue augmentation deteriorated the tissue contour. PDRN appears to have a positive effect on soft tissues.

Early recognition of coalescence in pneumoconiotic lesions is important because such coalescence is associated with the respiratory symptoms and deterioration of lung function. This complicated form of pneumoconiosis also has worse prognosis than does simple pneumoconiosis. High resolution computerized tomography(HRCT) provides significant additional information on the stage of the pneumoconiosis because it easily detects coalescence of nodules and emphysema that may not be apparent on the simple radiograph. The Purpose of this study is to clarify the role of HRCT in detection of large opacity and the relationship of change between the coalescence of nodules or emphysema and lung function in dust exposed workers. 1. There was good correlation between the HRCT grade of pneumoconiosis and ILO category of profusion. 5(9.09%) in 55 study population had confluent nodule extending over two or more cuts on HRCT. HRCT could identify the pneumoconiotic nodules which was not found by simple radiography in 6 workers with category 0/0. 2. No significant difference was observed coalescence of nodules and emphysema by dust type. 3. There was no significant difference in pulmonary function according to ILO and HRCT classification. 4. HRCT could detect the significant reduction in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEER, FEF25, FEF50, and FEF75 and remarkable increase in RV and TLC in study persons with emphysema compared with non-emphysema group. 5. Emphysema was found more often in nodules-coalescence group than small opacity group by HRCT. We found that HRCT could easily detect areas of coalescence and complicated emphysema compared to plain chest X-ray. Also our data suggest that it is primarily the degree of emphysema rather than the degree of pneumoconiosis that determines the level of pulmonary function.
Classification ; Dust ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Thorax

Monocytes and macrophages regulate host immune system against infectious pathogens. Activated macrophages play an important role in restricting the multiplication and dissemination of pathogens. The concept of alternative activation of macrophages might provide useful insights into pathology of infectious diseases. M1 macrophages (classically activated macrophages) and M2 macrophages (alternatively activated macrophages) are associated with responses to tissue remodeling, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory reactions in various infectious diseases. However, the relevance of macrophage polarization in several infectious diseases was not revealed clearly. Macrophage plasticity and polarization should be considered as a useful conceptual framework for understanding the unknown pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Here we reviewed the recent progress on macrophage polarization and its characters in infectious diseases.
Communicable Diseases ; Immune System ; Macrophages* ; Monocytes ; Pathology ; Plastics

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of community visiting health service units using DEA and to compare the results with those of traditional evaluation methods. METHODS: Data were collected using 2008 annual reports of 10 districts in one city. Input variables were number of staff and operational budget per year and output variables were number of managed household per nurse, rate of controlled hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. EMS Window version 3.1 was used to measure efficiency score and bootstrapping Chi-square test was applied to identify differences between efficient and non-efficient unit by organizational factors. RESULTS: The average efficiency score of 10 community visiting health services was about 66%. Only two of the units operated program efficiently. The career of the staff was one among other factors associated with efficiency. The evaluation results from the traditional method and DEA were totally different. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that, evaluation methods have very important and significant effects on the evaluation results of community visiting health service units. The DEA method is recommend as an alterative method for evaluating community visiting health service.
Budgets ; Community Health Nursing ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Family Characteristics ; Health Services ; Hypertension