Growing skull fracture is a rare complication of a closed head injury during infancy and childhood. Most growing skull fracture are located in the parietal region. The authors report a case of growing skull fracture of the orbital roof using three dimentional computerized tomography(3-D CT) imaging, the shpae and the size of defect were clearly demonstrated.
Head Injuries, Closed ; Orbit* ; Rabeprazole ; Skull Fractures* ; Skull*

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Minute amounts of LPS released from infecting pathogens can initiate potent innate immune responses that prime the immune system against further infection. However, when the LPS response is not properly controlled it can lead to fatal septic shock syndrome. The common structural pattern of LPS in diverse bacterial species is recognized by a cascade of LPS receptors and accessory proteins, LPS binding protein (LBP), CD14 and the Toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)-MD-2 complex. The structures of these proteins account for how our immune system differentiates LPS molecules from structurally similar host molecules. They also provide insights useful for discovery of anti-sepsis drugs. In this review, we summarize these structures and describe the structural basis of LPS recognition by LPS receptors and accessory proteins.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Lipopolysaccharides/*chemistry/immunology/pharmacology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/*chemistry/immunology/metabolism

No abstract available.
Animals ; Nitric Oxide Synthase* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Spermatic Cord Torsion* ; Testis*

IL-9 has been reported to play dual roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and cancers. The collaboration of IL-9 with microenvironmental factors including the broader cytokine milieu and other cellular components may provide important keys to explain its conflicting effects in chronic conditions. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the cellular sources of, and immunological responders to IL-9, in order to interpret the role of IL-9 in the regulation of immune responses. This knowledge will provide new perspectives to improve clinical benefits and limit adverse effects of IL-9 when treating pathologic conditions.

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Most cases of sudden deafness remain idiopathic. The majority of these cases are unilateral in their occurrences, whereas bilateral simultaneous involvement is rarely seen. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and treatment results between bilateral and unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), and considered the possible causes and provided available data for planning the appropriate treatment for bilateral SSNHL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Three hundred forty seven patients who visited the Department of Otolaryngology in Ajou University Hospital from June, 1994 to February, 2003 were classified into 3 groups. Of these 347 patients, 16 patients (32 ears) had SSNHL simultaneously in both ears (Group I), 23 patients had SSNHL sequentially in both ears (Group II), and 308 patients had unilateral SSNHL (Group III). We reviewed their charts for pure tone audiometry information, medical history and lipid panel information to compare bilateral SSNHL with unilateral SSNHL. RESULTS: The incidence of simultaneous bilateral SSNHL (Group I) was 4.6% of overall patients with SSNHL. Bilateral SSNHL occurs more commonly in patients of older age, with preexisting DM. Lpid panel abnormalities were compared with unilateral SSNHL. The recovery rate of hearing in simultaneous bilateral SSNHL (Group I) was 37.5% for both ears and 62.5% of patients, compared with 56.5% in unilateral SSNHL (Group III). CONCLUSION: Bilateral SSNHL is a very rare disease and the outcome from treatment is important for patients' quality of life. Recognition of similarities and differences between bilateral and unilateral SSNHL can help in counseling and managing the patients.
Audiometry ; Counseling ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Incidence ; Otolaryngology ; Quality of Life ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: Masticatory loading triggers active bone remodeling, altering alveolar bone mineral density (BMD). While dental implants are placed to bear masticatory loading, their influence on changing bone properties has not been fully investigated. Objective of this pilot study was to examine whether the dental implantation has an effect on BMD distribution of bone by comparing dentate, edentulous, and edentulous patients with implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 19 partially edentulous patients (Dent), 19 edentulous patients (Edent), and 16 edentulous patients who received implants in the mandible (Edent+Im), were obtained. CBCT images were also obtained from 5 patients within Edent+Im group, before implant placement and after implant loading. Basal cortical bone region of the mandible was digitally isolated. A histogram of gray levels proportional to BMD was obtained to assess mean, histogram standard deviation (HSD), fifth percentile of low and high values (Low5 and High5) of the BMD distribution. Multivariate analysis of variance and paired t-test were used to compare the BMD parameters among the 3 dental status groups and between pre- and post-implantation, respectively. RESULTS: Edentulous patients with implants had significantly greater HSD and High5 values compared to edentulous patients (P < .013). All other comparisons were not significant (P > .097). Mean, HSD, and High5 values significantly increased after receiving implants (P < .022). CONCLUSION The current findings suggested that receiving dental implants promoted oral bone mineralization for edentulous patients. The longitudinal investigation could provide valuable information on understanding the effects of implantation on the behavior of oral bone quality.

Small bowel malignancy accounts for approximately 2% of gastrointestinal malignancies. In particular, malignant lymphoma of the small intestine is so rare that it accounts for less than 1% of gastrointestinal malignancies. Initial symptoms are non-specific and diagnosis may be delayed until the patient presents with complications such as intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, or perforation. A 79-year-old man visited the emergency room with lower abdominal pain. Segmental resection of the small intestine was done and surgery revealed a 9.5x6 cm sized mass with jejunal perforation at 20 cm inferior to the ligament of Treitz. The mass was diagnosed as diffuse large B cell lymphoma. We experienced a case of diffuse large B cell lymphoma which was diagnosed after emergent surgery for jejunal perforation, and report it with a review of literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intestine, Small ; Jejunum ; Ligaments ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell

Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions to rituximab is well known, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to rituximab are also reported. Desensitization is commonly used to prevent immediate hypersensitivity reactions, but recently there have been cases of successful desensitization therapy for delayed hypersensitivity reactions. A 66-year-old patient who underwent rituximab treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma showed repeated rituximab-induced delayed hypersensitivity reactions with whole body rashes. Intravenous rapid desensitization was performed by using a 1-bottle, 11-step protocol for 6 cycles and thereafter hypersensitivity reaction did not recur. We herein reported a case of delayed hypersensitivity reaction caused by rituximab, which was successfully desensitized using our 11-step protocol.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Rituximab

An eleven-year-old spayed female Yorkshire Terrier presented with a sublumbar mass and upon ultrasonographic examination, was revealed to have a mammary gland tumor. Black to reddish colored masses, located in the visceral peritoneum of the sublumbar region was observed on laparotomy with masectomy of the right side. In the laparotomy, we observed reddish masses multifocally located in the serosal membrane of the large intestine. Histopathologic examination of the intestinal and abdominal mass showed highly invasiveness into the muscle and metastasis of melanocytic tumor cells through the blood vessels. The mammary glands showed abnormal hyperplasia of melanocytes, destruction of the normal glands by tumor cells and infiltration of some lymphocytes in the pool of melanocytic cells. We have identified a malignant melanoma containing an angiotumoral complex in which tumor cells occupied a pericytic location along the microvessels with intravasation determined by immunohistochemistry for S100 protein and protein kinase C-alpha. Histologic findings in this dog lead to a diagnosis of an angiotropic metastatic malignant melanoma.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Dogs ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestine, Large ; Laparotomy ; Lymphocytes ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Membranes ; Microvessels ; Muscles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peritoneum ; Protein Kinase C-alpha