The idiopathic corneal endotheliopathy appears clinically as a corneal graft rejection, which has a linear corneal endotheliopathy and well responds to corticosteroid theraphy. Its cause may be associated with autoimmune reaction(Khodadoust AA, Attazadeh A, 1982). We experienced five patients with idiopathic corneal endotheliopathy, and evaluated its clinical characteristics and treatment. We performed slit lamp examination, the measurement of intraocular pressure of five patients who visited our hospital to evaluate the progressive visual disturbance due to idiopathic corneal endotheliopathy. All cases showed endotheliopathy with keratic precipitates, corneal epithelial edema and stromal edema at corresponding areas. The intraocular pressures were within normal range and a mild inflammation in anterior chamber was found in two cases. The immune rings were shown in two cases and herpes zoster blepharitis had appeared in one case. All cases had a good response to topical corticosteroid and acyclovir treatment. However, four cases were recurred even though well responded to treatment following recurrence. We suggest that the pathogenesis of idiopathic corneal endotheliopathy would be associated with herpes virus infection.
Acyclovir ; Anterior Chamber ; Blepharitis ; Edema ; Graft Rejection ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraocular Pressure ; Recurrence ; Reference Values

Calcium sulfate has a long history of medical use as an implant material. The biocompatibility of the material has been clearly established. Bone ingrowth concomitant with resorption occurs rapidly with efficient conduction of bone from particle to particle. Calcium sulfate also has a potential for functioning as a good barrier membrane. The purpose of this study was to compare the biocompatibility of different types of calcium sulfate grafting materials including an experimental calcium sulfate compound on periodontal ligament cells in vitro as a preliminary test towards the development of a more convenient and useful form of grafting material which could promote regeneration of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were collected from the premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment. Cells were cultured in alpha-MEM culture medium containing 20% FBS, at 37degrees C and 100% humidity, in a 5% CO2 incubator. Cells were cultured into 96 well culture plate 1x104cells per well with alpha-MEM and incubated for 24 hours. After discarding the medium, those cells were cultured in alpha-MEM contained with 10% FBS alone(control group), in medcal-grade calcium sulfate(MGCS group), in plaster(plaster group), experimental calcium sulfate paste(CS paste group) for 1, 2, 3 day respectively. And then each group was characterized by examining of the cell counting, MTT assay, collagen synthesis. The results were as follows. 1. In the analysis of cell proliferation by cell counting, both medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group showed no stastically significant difference at day 1, 2, 3 accept for plaster group at day 1 compared to control group, but there was stastically significant difference between CS paste group and all other groups at day 1, 2, 3(P<0.05). 2. In the analysis of cytotoxicity by MTT assay, both medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group showed no stastically significant difference compared to control group at day 1, 2, 3 but there was stastically significant difference between CS paste group and all other groups at day 1, 2, 3(P<0.05). 3. In the analysis of collagen synthesis by immunoblotting assay, high level was detected for medical-grade calcium sulfate group and plaster group at day 1, 2, 3 compared to CS paste group. On the basis of these results, medical-grade calcium sulfate and plaster was shown to possess biocompatibility whereas the CS paste had unfavourable outcome. This observation shows a need for modification of the materials contained in calcium sulfate paste.
Bicuspid ; Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Humans ; Humidity ; Immunoblotting ; Incubators ; Membranes ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Regeneration ; Tooth ; Transplants

There is growing evidence of poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with panic disorder (PD). However, little is known about the factors affecting HRQOL in patients with PD. The authors examined whether 5-HTTLPR tri-allelic approach and Cathechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val(158)Met polymorphism can predict HRQOL in patients with PD controlling for sociodemographic factors and disorder-related symptom levels. The sample consisted of 179 patients with PD consecutively recruited from an outpatient clinic and age- and gender ratio-matched 110 healthy controls. The SF-36 was used to assess multiple domains of HRQOL. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the independent effect of the 5-HTTLPR and COMT Val(158)Met on the SF-36 in panic patients. Patients with PD showed lowered HRQOL in all sub-domains of the SF-36 compared to healthy controls. The 5-HTTLPR independently and additively accounted for 2.2% of variation (6.7% of inherited variance) of perceived general health and the COMT Val(158)Met independently and additively accounted for 1.5% of variation (5.0% of inherited variance) of role limitation due to emotional problems in patient group. The present study suggests that specific genetic polymorphisms are associated with certain domains of HRQOL and provides a new insight on exploring the factors that predict HRQOL in patients with PD.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase/*genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Panic Disorder/genetics/*pathology ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; *Quality of Life ; Regression Analysis ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/*genetics ; Sex Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the biological effects of cyanoacrylate-combined calcium phosphate (CCP), in particular its potential to act as a physical barrier - functioning like a membrane - in rabbit calvarial defects. METHODS: In each animal, four circular calvarial defects with a diameter of 8 mm were prepared and then filled with either nothing (control group) or one of three different experimental materials. In the experimental conditions, they were filled with CCP alone (CCP group), filled with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and then covered with an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS; BCP/ACS group), or filled with BCP and then covered by CCP (BCP/CCP group). RESULTS: After 4 and 8 weeks of healing, new bone formation appeared to be lower in the CCP group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. In both the CCP and BCP/CCP groups, inflammatory cells could be seen after 4 and 8 weeks of healing. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, CCP exhibited limited osteoconductivity in rabbit calvarial defects and was histologically associated with the presence of inflammatory cells. However, CCP demonstrated its ability to stabilize graft particles and its potential as an effective defect filler in bone augmentation, if the biocompatibility and osteoconductivity of CCP were improved.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium ; Calcium Phosphates ; Collagen ; Cyanoacrylates ; Hydroxyapatites ; Membranes ; Osteogenesis ; Porifera ; Rabbits ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Although the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for panic disorder (PD) has been studied previously, data on the predictors of treatment outcomes in MBCT for PD are scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients with PD were screened to analyze treatment outcomes such as MBCT completion, treatment response, and remission after undergoing MBCT for PD. Sociodemographic characteristics, comorbid personality disorders, and baseline medication doses were examined. The study administered the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised to patients at baseline and at eight weeks. RESULTS: Sixty-five participants were enrolled in the present study. Comorbid personality disorder was significantly associated with MBCT non-completion. We found that anxiety sensitivity (AS) improvement after an eight week MBCT program was a statistically significant factor associated with treatment response. Using logistic regression analysis, AS improvement after MBCT showed significant association with PD remission after MBCT. CONCLUSION: Comorbid personality disorders of participants could be a potential predictor of MBCT non-completion. Furthermore, AS improvement after MBCT may predict treatment response and remission after MBCT for PD. However, better designed studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm our findings.
Adult ; Cognitive Therapy/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mindfulness/*methods ; Panic Disorder/*therapy ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Young Adult

It was well known that calcium sulfate was biocompatible, resorbed rapidly in the body, had potential as a good barrier membrane. Platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) was one of polypeptide growth factor that had been reported as a biological mediator which regulates activities of wound healing process including the cell proliferation, migration and metabolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of calcium sulfate and PDGF on periodontal ligament cells in vitro to use as a regeneration promoting agent of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were prepared from the premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment. Cells were cultured in alpha-MEM contained with 20% FBS, at the 37degrees C, 100% of humidity, 5% Co2 incubator. Cells were inoculated and cultured into 96 well culture plate with 1x104cells/well of alpha-MEM for 1 day. After discarding the medium, those cells were cultured in alpha-MEM contained with 10% FBS alone(control group), in calcium sulfate(calcium sulfate group), in calcium sulfate treated with 15ng/ml of PDGF-BB(calcium sulfate+PDGF group), in alpha-MEM contained with 10% FBS treated with 15ng/ml of PDGF-BB(PDGF group) for 1, 2, 3 day respectively. And then each group was characterized by examining of the cell counting, MTT assay, collagen synthesis. The results were as follows. 1. In the analysis of cell proliferation by cell counting, both calcium sulfate group and calcium sulfate plus PDGF group showed no stastically significant difference compared to control group, but there was stastically significant difference between PDGF group and calcium sulfate group at 1, 2 day(P<0.05). 2. In the analysis of cell proliferation by MTT assay in calcium sulfate extracts, both calcium sulfate group and calcium sulfate plus PDGF group showed no stastically significant difference compared to control group, but there was stastically significant difference between PDGF group and calcium sulfate group at 2, 3 day, and between calcium sulfate plus PDGF group and calcium sulfate group at 2 day(P<0.05). 3. In the analysis of cell proliferation by MTT assay in transwell, both control group and PDGF group showed stastically significant difference compared to both calcium sulfate group and calcium sulfate plus PDGF group at 1 day, but there was no stastically significant difference compared to both calcium sulfate group and calcium sulfate plus PDGF group at 2, 3 day(P<0.05). 4. In the analysis of collagen synthesis by immunoblotting assay in calcium sulfate extracts, high level was detected on calcium sulfate group at 3 day, on calcium sulfate plus PDGF group at 1 day, on PDGF group at 2 day. On the basis of these results, calcium sulfate was biocompatible on the periodontal ligament cells and might have potential possibility as a vehicle of PDGF in the periodontal tissue regeneration.
Bicuspid ; Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Humans ; Humidity ; Immunoblotting ; Incubators ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor* ; Regeneration ; Tooth ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: Serotonin-1A receptors (5-HTR1A) is suggested to be involved in the etiology of several psychiatric disorders including panic disorder (PD). A few imaging studies have suggested the alterations of the cingulum bundle in PD. The objective of this study is to examine the structural changes of cingulum related to the 5-HTR1A polymorphism rs6295 in the patients with PD. METHODS: Thirty-two right-handed patients with PD [11 men, 21 women; 40.34+/-13.17 (mean+/-SD) age] who met the diagnostic criteria in Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV were examined by means of MRI at 3 Tesla. We divided the patients with PD into CC genotype group and non CC genotype group (GG/CG genotype group) of the 5-HTR1A rs6295 polymorphism to compare the cingulum white matter connectivity. RESULTS: Tract-based spatial statistics showed significantly increased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A CC genotype compared to GG/CG genotype in PD. Significant positive correlations were shown between the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) interoceptive fear subscale scores, the Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised fear of publicly observable anxiety reaction subscale scores and FA values of cingulate gyrus process of left cingulum in 5-HTR1A rs6295 GG/CG genotype group. In CC genotype group, APPQ total, APPQ agoraphobia subscale and APPQ social phobia subscale scores also showed significant positive correlations with FA values of hippocampal process of right cingulum. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that 5-HTR1A polymorphism may be associated with the cingulum white matter connectivity in PD.
Agoraphobia ; Anisotropy ; Anxiety ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Genotype ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroimaging ; Panic Disorder* ; Panic* ; Phobic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Background: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) constitutes 10%–20% of all malignant lymphomas and has a high cure rate (5-year survival, around 90%). Recently, interest has increased concerning preventing secondary complications (secondary cancer, endocrine disorders) in long-term survivors. We aimed to study the epidemiologic features and therapeutic outcomes of HL in children, adolescents, and young adults in Korea. Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of 224 patients aged < 25 years diagnosed with HL at 22 participating institutes in Korea from January 2007 to August 2016. Results: A higher percentage of males was diagnosed at a younger age. Nodular sclerosis histopathological HL subtype was most common, followed by mixed cellularity subtype.Eighty-one (36.2%), 101 (45.1%), and 42 (18.8%) patients were classified into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively. Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine was the most common protocol (n = 102, 45.5%). Event-free survival rate was 86.0% ± 2.4%, while five-year overall survival (OS) rate was 96.1% ± 1.4%: 98.7% ± 1.3%, 97.7% ± 1.6%, and 86.5% ± 5.6% in the low, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively (P = 0.021). Five-year OS was worse in patients with B-symptoms, stage IV disease, highrisk, splenic involvement, extra-nodal lymphoma, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level.In multivariate analysis, B-symptoms and extra-nodal involvement were prognostic factors for poor OS. Late complications of endocrine disorders and secondary malignancy were observed in 17 and 6 patients, respectively. Conclusion This is the first study on the epidemiology and treatment outcomes of HL in children, adolescents, and young adults in Korea. Future prospective studies are indicated to develop therapies that minimize treatment toxicity while maximizing cure rates in children, adolescents, and young adults with HL.

Purpose: Renal tumors account for approximately 7% of all childhood cancers. These include Wilms tumor (WT), clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) and other rare tumors. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric renal tumors in Korea. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2015, data of pediatric patients (0–18 years) newly-diagnosed with renal tumors at 26 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 439 patients (male, 240), the most common tumor was WT (n=342, 77.9%), followed by RCC (n=36, 8.2%), CCSK (n=24, 5.5%), MRTK (n=16, 3.6%), CMN (n=12, 2.7%), and others (n=9, 2.1%). Median age at diagnosis was 27.1 months (range 0-225.5) and median follow-up duration was 88.5 months (range 0-211.6). Overall, 32 patients died, of whom 17, 11, 1, and 3 died of relapse, progressive disease, second malignant neoplasm, and treatment-related mortality. Five-year overall survival and event free survival were 97.2% and 84.8% in WT, 90.6% and 82.1% in RCC, 81.1% and 63.6% in CCSK, 60.3% and 56.2% in MRTK, and 100% and 91.7% in CMN, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion The pediatric renal tumor types in Korea are similar to those previously reported in other countries. WT accounted for a large proportion and survival was excellent. Non-Wilms renal tumors included a variety of tumors and showed inferior outcome, especially MRTK. Further efforts are necessary to optimize the treatment and analyze the genetic characteristics of pediatric renal tumors in Korea.