No abstract available.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of patients with vitrified-thawed embryos transferred using either the 0.25 mL straw method and the pull and cut straw (PNC) method. To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with transferred embryos that underwent assisted hatching at the cleaved embryo (day 3) or the blastocyst (day 5) stage. METHODS: The study population consisted of women who underwent vitrified-warmed embryo transfer between May 2000 and December 2011 and assisted hatching was performed after warming of embryos. Cycles of thawing between assisted hatching treated and non treated groups were compared for survival and pregnancy rates. RESULTS: The PNC vitrification method improved survival and pregnancy rates in partial lysed embryos. While assisted hatching did not affect the developmental and clinical pregnancy rates of the vitrified-warmed blastocyst group, it did increase the pregnancy rate of poor quality vitrified-warmed cleaved embryos. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PNC may increase the number of clinical pregnancies via the vitrification of both cleaved embryos and blastocysts. In addition, selective assisted hatching treatment of embryos that show a poor prognosis after warming may increase the rate of clinical pregnancy.
Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prognosis ; Vitrification

The present study was carried out in order to observe the changes in the expression of the sialoglycoconjugates of the rabbit sinus mucosa after inoculation of influenza A virus utilizing a biotin labeled lectins for light microscopy with four different lectins; Maackia amurensis(MAA), Wheat germ agglutinin(WGA), Sambucus nigra(SNA), and Peanut(PNA). A comparison of the affinity of these lectins demonstrated the different distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the ciliary layer and goblet cells. The normal sinus mucosa stained with four types of lectins showed that the sialoglycoconjugates were mainly distributed in the ciliary layer and goblet cells. Moreover, the main sugar residues of the sialoglycoconjugates were figured out to be consisted of Neu5Ac(alpha2,3)Gal, GlcNAc and Neu5Ac. Influenza A virus infection decreased the staining intensity of the mucosa with MAA, but not with WGA. The staining intensity of PNA, however, was highly increased in the viral infected mucosa. These results suggest that Neu5Ac(alpha2,3)Gal sugar residues may be required as protecting factor or modulator for Influenza A virus infectivity.
Biotin ; Goblet Cells ; Influenza A virus* ; Influenza, Human* ; Lectins ; Maackia ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Microscopy ; Mucous Membrane* ; Sambucus ; Triticum

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The epithelial rupture theory for the polyp formation has been well approved. According to Norlander et al., the polyp formation initiated by multifactorial pathophysiological events (infection/inflammation) appears to be a series of the consecutive events involving the rupture of epithelium, prolapse of lamina propria, epithelial ingrowth, microcavity formation, and finally the polyp formation. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of steroid and steroid receptor blocker at the early stage of the polyp formation in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 20 New Zealand white rabbits, polyps were induced by epithelial damage with ostial occlusion. The mometasone and RU 486, given by the biodegradable film (polylactic acid), were used to investigate the possible effects of steroid and steroid receptor blockers. After one and three weeks, macroscopic polyps were counted postmortem and on histological slides after serial sectioning. RESULT: The polyp formation was significantly increased in the RU 486-treated group, whereas it was reduced in the mometasone-treated group. According to the alpha-actin immunohistochemistry, neovascularization at the margin of the initial polyp in the RU 486-treated group markedly increased compared with the mometasone-treated group. CONCLUSION: Steroid is thought to inhibit the initial polyp formation by reducing neovascularization particularly at the margin of initial polyp.
Actins ; Epithelium ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mifepristone ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps* ; Prolapse ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Steroid* ; Rupture ; Steroids ; Mometasone Furoate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Add on adefovir (ADV) to ongoing lamivudine (LAM) has been recommended as a standard therapy for the treatment of LAM resistance. In the past, switch to ADV monotherapy was suggested as an option for the treatment of LAM resistance, leading to frequent development of ADV resistance. However, ADV monotherapy has been still used in LAM-resistant patients because of low cost in Korea. The aims of this study were to evaluate the virologic response and virologic breakthrough during adding on LAM in LAM-resistant patients receiving ADV monotherapy. METHODS: The study population comprised 99 patients with LAM-resistance. We divided them into 3 groups (Group 1: switch to ADV monotherapy, N=58, Group 2: add on ADV to ongoing LAM, N=25, Group 3: add on LAM to ADV monotherapy, N=16). HBV DNA levels were assessed at baseline and every 3 months during therapy. Serum HBV DNA levels were measured by bDNA assay or the COBAS TaqMantrade mark HBV test. RESULTS: The median treatment duration for group 1, group 2, and group 3 was 42.0, 20.6, and 31.8 (18.7 mon. of ADV+13.1 mon. of LAM) months, respectively. Cumulative rate of virologic breakthrough in group 1 was 5.2%, 19.0%, and 25.9% at 12, 24, and 36 months of treatment, respectively. Virologic breakthrough was not detected in group 2 and group 3 (p=0.016, group 1 vs. group 2 or 3). In group 3, median serum HBV DNA levels were 4.22 log10 copies/mL prior to LAM administration. Median serum HBV DNA changes from baseline (log10 copies/mL) were -0.91, -1.93, -1.87 and -1.74 at week 12, 24, 36 and 48, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Later add on LAM to ADV monotherapy prevented the development of ADV resistance in patients with LAM resistance effectively, comparable to ADV add on to continuing LAM therapy.
Adenine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents/*pharmacology ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphonic Acids/*therapeutic use

A 34-year-old man, who had been treated with an endoscopic injection of a mixture of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) and Lipiodol for control of variceal bleeding 6 months previously, presented with an intracardiac mass in the right atrium (RA). Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed an intracardiac mass in the RA that appeared to extend from the inferior vena cava. The origin of the sclerosant was traced by computed tomography (CT). This is a very rare case in which the sclerosant migration route was demonstrated by CT scan. The findings of this case suggest that the systemic migration of sclerosant into an intracardiac chamber should be considered in patients with an intracardiac mass, especially with a history of previous sclerotherapy for variceal bleeding.
Adult ; Echocardiography ; Embolism ; Enbucrilate ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophagus ; Ethiodized Oil ; Heart Atria ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Sclerotherapy ; Vena Cava, Inferior

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Entecavir is a potent and selective guanosine analogue that has demonstrated a significant antiviral efficacy against hepatitis B virus (HBV). The aim of this study was to characterize the response to entecavir and to examine the factors affecting that response. METHODS: We administered 0.5 mg of entecavir once daily for more than 12 months to 114 naive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We measured the levels of liver enzymes, serological markers, and serum HBV DNA at 3-month interval. RESULTS: Normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels was observed in 68.5% (76/114), 74.6% (85/114), and 81.6% (62/76) of patients after 6, 12, and 24 months of therapy, respectively. HBV DNA levels of <50 copies/mL (as evaluated by polymerase chain reaction) were observed in 43.9% (50/114), 71.1% (81/114), and 85.5% (65/76) of patients after 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Viral breakthrough was not observed. The rates of HBeAg loss and seroconversion were 43.5% (27/62) and 14.5% (9/62), respectively, after 12 months of therapy, and 56.4% (22/39) and 15.4% (6/39) after 24 months. The independent factor associated with PCR negativity was early virologic response (EVR; HBV DNA <2,000 copies/mL after 3 months of therapy, P<0.001). The independent factors predicting HBeAg loss were found to be serum albumin levels (P=0.041) and EVR (P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir induced excellent biochemical and virologic responses in naive CHB patients. EVR was an independent factor for predicting HBV PCR negativity and HBeAg loss.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Female ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffening may affect regional myocardial function in hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 70 patients, of mean age 48 +/- 14 years, with untreated hypertension and EF > 55%. Using two-dimensional-speckle tracking echocardiography, we measured longitudinal and circumferential strain (epsilon) and strain rate (SR). Basal and apical rotations were measured using short axis views. RESULTS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in these patients was 152 +/- 15 mmHg and 92 +/- 11 mmHg, respectively. The mean value of PWV was 1578 +/- 274 cm/s. PWV significantly correlated with age (r = 0.682, p < 0.001), body mass index (r = -0.330, p = 0.005), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.386, p = 0.001) and pulse pressure (r = 0.509, p < 0.001). PWV also significantly correlated with septal E' velocity (r = -0.570, p < 0.001), E/A ratio (r = -0.414, p < 0.001), E/E' ratio (r = 0.589, p < 0.001), systolic global longitudinal epsilon (r = 0.300, p = 0.012) and early diastolic SR (SRE) (r = -0.479, p < 0.001) suggesting impaired abnormal relaxation. PWV was also correlated with basal rotation (r = -0.301, p = 0.011) and basal-to-apical twist (r = -0.256, p = 0.032). The increases in apical rotation and basal-to-apical twist were attenuated in patients with PWV > 1700 cm/s compared to those with PWV < or = 1400 cm/s or those with PWV 1400-1700 cm/s. CONCLUSION: In hypertensive patients with normal ejection fraction, arterial stiffening contributes to impaired systolic and diastolic function of the regional myocardium. Compensatory increases in ventricular twist were diminished in patients with advanced stage of vascular stiffening.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Myocardium ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Relaxation ; Sprains and Strains ; Track and Field ; Vascular Stiffness

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various host and tumor parameters, particularly by the tumor size and lymph node metastasis have been studied in an attempt to evaluate and decide the optimal treatment of the patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has been necessary that the prognostic parameters can be useful to evaluate the biological behaviors of the malignancy. The Ki-67 is a proliferative marker of tumor cells and cyclin D1 is a cell cycle regulator essential for G1 phase progression. Loss of regulation of cyclin D1 is likely to contribute to tumor development. The author evaluated the prognostic significance of cyclin D1 and Ki-67 in the carcinoma of larynx and hypopharynx to determine the relationship with the various clinicopathological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 40 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx were studied by immunohistochemical method using the Ki-67 and cyclin D1 antibody. K1-67 index and expression of cyclin D1 were compared with the recurrence, survival rate, disease free time and other clinicopathological parameters such as, primary site, pathologic differentiation, tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The higher Ki-67 index was significantly correlated with poorer pathologic differentiation, and shorter disease free time. But there was no significant correlation between over expression of cyclin D1 and any factor for the head and neck cancer. However, the expression of cyclin D1 had a significant positive relationship with Ki-67 index (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ki-67 index is a good prognostic factors and cyclin D1 may be important in tumorigenesis for squamous cell cancer of the larynx and hypopharynx.
Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; G1 Phase ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Hypopharynx* ; Larynx* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Paraffin ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An intranasal topical and a systemic steroid therapy produce clinical improvement in patients with nasal polyps, but the mechanisms of their action are not clear. Recently, reactive oxygen species such as oxygen free radicals were identified as the potent toxic agents in various pathologic conditions including nasal polyps. The purposes of this study were to reveal the steroid effect on the generation of oxygen free radicals and exmaine the activities of various antioxidant enzymes in human nasal polyps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients who received endoscopic sinus surgery due to chronic paranasal sinusitis with nasal polyps were classified into four groups; Group I included 10 specimens with no medication, group II included 10 specimens with oral steroid medication, Group III included 10 specimens with intranasal topical steroid therapy, group IV included 10 specimens with both oral and intranasal topical steroid therapy. We measured the generation of oxygen free radicals and activity of antioxidant enzymes, (SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) and compared each group using electrophotometric analysis. RESULTS: The generation of oxygen free radicals were lowered in group II, III, and IV, compared to group I. Group IV showed the lowest level in the generation of oxygen free radicals. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT, which are specific scavengers of oxygen free radicals, increased significantly in groups II, III, and IV (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that oxygen free radicals may play an important roles in the formation of nasal polyps. The mechanism of steroid action in the treatment of polyps may be explained in the decreased generation of oxygen free radicals and the increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in some ways.
Animals ; Cats ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Nasal Polyps* ; Oxygen ; Polyps ; Psychotherapy, Group ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Sinusitis ; Superoxides*