OBJECTIVE: Identification of the regulatory mechanism for arrest and initiation of primordial follicular growth is crucial for female fertility. Previously, we found 15 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) that were specifically abundant in the day-5-subtracted cDNA library and that the B357 clone was novel. The present study was conducted to obtain the whole sequence of the novel gene including B357 and to characterize its mRNA and protein expression in mouse ovary and testis. METHODS: The extended sequence of the 2,965-bp cDNA fragment for the clone B357 was named 5-day-ovary-specific gene-1 (5DOS1) and submitted to GenBank (accession number AY751521). Expression of 5DOS1 was characterized in both female and male gonads at various developmental stages by Northern blotting, real-time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The 5DOS1 transcript was highly expressed in the adult testis, brain, and muscle as compared to the other tissues. In the ovary, the 5DOS1 transcript was detected in all oocytes from primordial to antral follicles, and highly expressed at day 5 after birth and decreased thereafter. In contrast, expression of 5DOS1 showed a gradual increase during testicular development and its expression was limited to various stages of male germ cells except spermatogonia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the expression and characterization of the 5DOS1 gene in the mouse gonads. Further functional analysis of the 5DOS1 protein will be required to predict its role in gametogenesis.
Adult ; Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Clone Cells ; Cluster Analysis* ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA, Complementary ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Fertility ; Gametogenesis ; Gene Library ; Germ Cells ; Gonads ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Mice* ; Oocytes ; Ovary* ; Parturition ; RNA, Messenger ; Spermatogonia ; Testis*

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that is seldom cited as a Kawasaki disease (KD) complication is known as an additional, potentially severe, and frequently irreversible sequel. Furthermore the vestibular functions of KD have been underestimated and it could be an important complication combined with SNHL in KD. We described a case that a 4 year-old boy who developed vestibular loss with SNHL has recovered successfully with a combined treatment.
Ear, Inner* ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis* ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome*

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of tetracycline - HCl on the change of implant surface microstructure according to application time. Implants with pure titanium machined surface and titanium plasma-sprayed surface were utilized. Implant surface was rubbed with 50mg/ml tetracycline - HCl solution for 1 min., 1 1/2 min., 2 min., 2 1/2 min. and 3min. respectively in the test group and with saline for 1 min. in the control group. Then, the specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopic observation. The following results were obtained. 1. Pure titanium machined surfaces conditioned with saline for 1 min., showed a few shallow grooves and ridges and were less irregular. 2. Pure titanium machined surfaces conditioned with 50mg/ml tetracycline - HCl solution showed more irregular and corrosive surfaces compared to the control group irrespective of the application time of tetracycline - HCl solution. 3. Titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces conditioned with saline for 1 min., were deposited with round or amorphous particles and showed round or irregular pores that can be connected to each other. 4. The irregularity of titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces conditioned with 50mg/ml tetracycline - HCl solution was lessened and the flattened areas were wider relative to the application time of tetracycline - HCl solution. 5. Titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces conditioned with tetracycline - HCl solution for 1 min. and 1 1/2 min. were very similar to that of the control group, but the surfaces conditioned for 2 min., 2 1/2 min. and 3 min. were changed. In conclusion, pure titanium machined surfaces were changed irrespective of the application time of tetracycline - HCl solution. And titanium plasma-sprayed surfaces conditioned with tetracycline - HCl solution began to be changed from 11/2 min. This results will be applicable to the regenerative procedures for peri-implantitis treatment.
Peri-Implantitis ; Tetracycline* ; Titanium

This study was conducted to evaluate and to recognize the status and the problems of working conditions, and industrial accidents for migrant workers in a group of 342 who lives in Ansan area, Kyunggi province. By the questionnaire written by 5 languages (English, Bangladesh, Indonesian, Chinese and Korean), the informations of socio-demographic factors, occupational conditions of engaged company and general & occupational health status were obtained from June, 1st to July 30th, 1998. We used the ANOVA to examine differences of working hours, days and average monthly wages between overseas industrial trainee and illegal migrant workers, and by using logistic regression, odds ratio of general risk factors for industrial accidents in migrant workers were calculated. The results obtained were as follows 1. The major distribution of nationals were from Philippine, Indonesia, Bangladesh and China(92.1%), and the most of subjects were man(78.9%) and over high school graduate(81.9%). 2. Most migrant workers worked at small scale companies under 50 employees, and engaged in dye, textile clothing, leather industry. The average working hours were 59.9 hours per week in overseas industrial trainee, 64.9 hours in illegal migrant worker respectively. 3. Trainees have transferred to another company for 1.89 times, and workers who have changed qualification from trainee to illegal status were 3.09 tims, and illegal workers moved 2.36 times. The major portion of reason to move to another company were low salary and overdue salary. 4. Trainees, workers who have changed position from trainee to illegal status, and illegal workers knows 62.27%, 42.31%, and 20.45% in each about legal documentation for foreign industrial trainees in Korea "Regulations for protecting and managing of foreign industrial trainees in Korea" published on March 1995. Additionally, trainees and illegal workers have experienced medical examination by 52.3% and 18.2% respectively. 5. Industrial accident condition from Jun. 1st, 1997 to Dec. 3lth, 1997 were as follows in case of frequent rate, trainees and illegal workers were 30.04, 23.78 each, and 8.6%, 7.4% for industrial accident rate respectively. 6. The most common causes and types of industrial accident were inappropriate motions of body and abrasion, and body sites most vulnerable to injury were the hands and fingers. The results suggest that working status and industrial accidents of migrant workers are very poor in Korea. Therefore, occupational safety and health policy aimed at migrant workers are needed to protect the migrant workers.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bangladesh ; Clothing ; Fingers ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Indonesia ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Health ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Textiles ; Transients and Migrants*

Background: and Purpose We aimed to determine 1) the frequency of mammillary body (MB) atrophy in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and hippocampal sclerosis (HS), 2) the clinical significance of MB atrophy, and 3) the association between MB atrophy and volume changes in other subcortical limbic structures. Methods: We enrolled 69 patients with pathologically confirmed TLE with HS, who underwent a standard anterior temporal lobectomy, as well as 40 healthy controls. We used the FreeSurfer deep-learning tool of U-Net to obtain the volumes of the subcortical limbic structures, including the MB, hypothalamus, basal forebrain, septal nuclei, fornix, and nucleus accumbens. MB atrophy was considered to be present when the MB volume was decreased relative to the healthy controls. Results: MB atrophy was present in 18 (26.1%) of the 69 patients with TLE and HS. Among the clinical characteristics, the mean age at seizure onset was higher (25.5 vs. 15.9 years, p= 0.027) and the median duration of epilepsy was shorter (149 vs. 295 months, p=0.003) in patients with than without MB atrophy. The basal forebrain (0.0185% vs. 0.0221%, p=0.004) and septal nuclei (0.0062% vs. 0.0075%, p=0.003) in the ipsilateral hemisphere of HS were smaller in the patients with MB atrophy. Conclusions We observed ipsilateral MB atrophy in about one-quarter of patients with TLE and HS. The severity of subcortical limbic structure abnormalities was greater in patients without MB atrophy. These findings suggest that MB atrophy in TLE with HS is not rare, but it has little clinical significance.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the surface characteristics and the biocompatibility of zirconium (Zr) coating on Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The zirconium films were developed on Ti-6Al-4V discs using RF magnetron sputtering method. Surface profile, surface composition, surface roughness and surface energy were evaluated. Electrochemical test was performed to evaluate the corrosion behavior. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and gene expression of mineralized matrix markers were measured. RESULTS: SEM and EDS analysis showed that zirconium deposition was performed successfully on Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrate. Ti-6Al-4V group and Zr-coating group showed no significant difference in surface roughness (P>.05). Surface energy was significantly higher in Zr-coating group than in Ti-6Al-4V group (P<.05). No difference in cell morphology was observed between Ti-6Al-4V group and Zr-coating group. Cell proliferation was higher in Zr-coating group than Ti-6Al-4V group at 1, 3 and 5 days (P<.05). Zr-coating group showed higher ALP activity level than Ti-6Al-4V group (P<.05). The mRNA expressions of bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OCN) on Zr-coating group increased approximately 1.2-fold and 2.1-fold respectively, compared to that of Ti-6Al-4V group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that zirconium coating on Ti-6Al-4V alloy could enhance the early osteoblast responses. This property could make non-toxic metal coatings on Ti-6Al-4V alloy suitable for orthopedic and dental implants.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Alloys* ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cell Proliferation ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Corrosion ; Dental Implants ; Gene Expression ; Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein ; Orthopedics ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; RNA, Messenger ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; Zirconium*

No abstract available.
Surgery, Oral* ; Transplants* ; Veins*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A number of etiologies of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) have been proposed, including viral infection, vascular disturbance, and immune-mediated mechanisms. Intralabyrinthine hemorrhage (ILH) as a cause of SSNHL is extremely rare, and there have been no studies defining the characteristics of hearing impairment and prognosis in patients with ISSNHL due to ILH. This study aimed to investigate the difference in impaired hearing patterns and prognosis for hearing recovery between patients with ISSNHL due to ILH confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and sex- and age-matched patients with ISSNHL due to causes other than ILH. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We compared the results of audiometry and MRI in 12 patients who had ILH on MRI (hemorrhage group) and in 23 sex- and age-matched controls without abnormal findings related to their hearing loss on MRI (non-hemorrhage group). Initial hearing impairment, progression, and recovery of hearing loss were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A majority of patients (92%) in the hemorrhage group complained of dizziness. Initial hearing impairment was more frequent in the hemorrhage group than in the non-hemorrhage group (94.09±35.9 vs. 66.66±30.1, p-value=0.036). The final recovery threshold in the hemorrhage group was worse (78.19±46.26 vs. 37.17±31.96, p-value=0.014) than that in the non-hemorrhage group. In the hemorrhage group, hearing recovery seemed to occur less often at high frequencies (2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 Hz) than at low frequencies (250, 500, and 1,000 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ILH was associated with poor hearing prognosis and the occurrence of vertigo. The abrupt onset of hearing loss associated with vertigo and the presence of hyperresonance on fat-suppressed T1-weighted MRI images of labyrinthic fluid strongly suggests acute intralabyrinthine hemorrhage, and is predictive of considerable hearing impairment and poor prognosis.
Audiometry ; Dizziness ; Ear, Inner ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis* ; Vertigo

We studied the clinical characteristics, location of epileptogenic regions, and the surgical outcomes in 18 patients with intractable epilepsy associated with previous CNS infections. All patients underwent an extensive presurgical evaluation and 11 patients had intracranial EEG monitoring. On the basis of presurgical evaluation, epileptic regions were localized to the mesial temporal (n = 12) and the neocortical (n = 6) regions. The age of the time of CNS infection was significantly younger and the latent period of non-febrile seizures after CNS infection was longer in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). MRI showed hippocampal atrophy and hippocampal signal changes in 11 of 12 patients with MTLE. Among 6 patients with neocortical epilepsy (NE) 5 patients had normal MRI and one showed cerebral hemi-atrophy. Surgery was successful (class I & II) in all patients with MTLE, however, in the patients with neocortical epilepsy, seizure-free results were not achieved in any patients after resective surgery (6 patients) and only 2 patients achieved Class II outcomes after a second epilepsy surgery consisting of neocortical resection. Patients with MTLE after CNS infection were differentiated from the group of neocortical epilepsy by an earlier onset of CNS infection, a prolonged latent period and a higher frequency of meningitis. The characteristic pathology in this group was hippocampal sclerosis and the surgical result was excellent. Neocortical epilepsy following CNS infection usually had no focal lesion on MRI and was associated with a relatively poor surgical result. This study suggested that the surgical outcome was influenced by the type of epileptic syndromes rather than the etiology of seizures. The association of MTLE with the younger age of CNS infections and with meningitis more frequently suggested that the neocortical neurons during infancy or early childhood may be more resistant to the epileptogenesis, or that the CNS infections in patients with MTLE might be milder in severity to cause selective injuries to the hippocampal neurons during their vulnerable stage.
Adolescence ; Adult ; Encephalitis/surgery* ; Epilepsy/surgery* ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Meningitis/surgery*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nocturnal epilepsy is rare but an interesting phenomenon suggesting a close relationship between epilepsy and sleep. However, previous efforts to characterize the nocturnal epilepsy as a specific epileptic syndrome have been incomplete. This study was conducted to evaluate the prognosis and the recurrence rate of diurnal seizure in patients presented with nocturnal seizures only to further determine the clinical characteristics of nocturnal epilepsy. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with nocturnal seizures only were identified through the epilepsy registry form of the Yonsei Epilepsy Clinic(YEC) Data Bank. All patients had thorough history, physical and neurological examinations, blood tests, sleep deprived EEG with nasopharyngeal electrodes, and MRI or CT of brain according to the protocol of YEC. Patients followed at the YEC shorter than one year were excluded from the data analysis. All patients included to the study were initially treated by maximally tolerable monotherapy and then polytherapy if seizures were not controlled. RESULTS: Among sixty-six, patients, seizure descriptions were compatible with generalized tonic-clonic seizures in forty-seven patients and partial seizures with or without GTC in ninteen patients. EEG demonstrated either generalized or partial interictal epileptiform discharges in twenty-nine patients. CT or MRI showed focal lesions in eleven patients. For the follow up period of average thirty-nine months, twenty-five patients developed seizures while awake. Comparison of clinical characteristics between the patients with nocturnal seizures only and the patients with recurrent diurnal seizures did reveal followings ; duration of seizures at the time of initial evaluation was longer in the diurnal seizure (6. 7 vs. 9. 3 years), but it was not statistically significant (p<0.05). The presence of partial features in the history, neurological examinations, EEG, and MRI were more frequently associated with recurrent diurnal seizures. Responses to the AEDs.
Brain ; Electrodes ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; Statistics as Topic