BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated the early time course of expression of the major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin-6 and the histopathological changes in the coronary arteries of cardiac allografts exchanged between inbred mice strains that differ in one loci of class I major histocompatibility antigen (B10.BR to B10.A). MATERIAL AND METHOD: No immunosuppressive therapy was used. Both allografts and the hearts of the recipients were harvested at 7 (group 1, n=6), 15 (group 2, n=6), 21 (group 3, n=6), and 30 (group 4, n=6) days after transplantation. They were examined by immunohistochemistry, microscopy and morphometry. All allografts had contractions at the time of harvest. RESULT: A strong MHC class I antigen expression was present on the endothelial and medial cells of the coronary arteries in group 1 and remained unchanged in the rest of the groups. However, MHC class II reactivity was none or very little at any time. Mild to moderate ICAM-1 expression was observed on the endothelial cells, but not on the medial cells at any time by 30 days. VCAM-1 expression was strong both on the endothelial and medial cells at any time. Moderate degree expression of interleukin-6 was observed from 7 to 30 day specimens. Histopathologically, percentage of affected vessels (vessels with intimal thickening) was less than 10 % in 7 day group and increased up to 50 % at 30 days. Mean percent narrowing of the lumen of the affected vessels revealed less than 20 % at 7 days and 40 % at 30 days. The area occupied by tropomyosin positive cells in the intimal lesion, graded from 0 to 3, showed gradual increase but remained between grade 0 to 1 by 30 days. Medial integrity was also well preserved at any time. Moderate perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration was observed at 7 days and it was progressively increased upto 30 days. Recipients' heart revealed no positive immunopathologic findings. CONCLUSION: In this study, the early time course of progression of the transplantation vasculopathy was demonstrated in the murine heterotopic heart transplant model.
Allergy and Immunology ; Allografts ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Vessels* ; Endothelial Cells ; Heart* ; Histocompatibility ; Histocompatibility Antigens ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice* ; Microscopy ; Transplantation ; Tropomyosin ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

No abstract available.
Prevalence* ; Ulsan*

PURPOSE: We report the clinical features of paranasal sinus mucoceles with orbital extension and compare the results of external and transnasal approaches based on the rates of complications and recurrence. METHODS: Thirty-three cases of paranasal sinus mucoceles with orbital extension diagnosed at our hospital from 2003 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 48.6 years. The common sites of origin were the frontal, ethmoidal, frontoethmoidal sinuses, and proptosis was the most common presenting feature. Among the mucoceles of frontal and frontoethmoid sinuses, there was no difference in the rates of recurrence or complications between the two different methods. CONCLUSIONS: Mucoceles with orbital involvement generally present with a noninfiltrating mass resulting in many ophthalmic signs and symptoms. Obliteration of the involved sinus is not recommended if there is erosion of the sinus bony wall with extension of the mucocele into the orbit. The mucosa lining the mucocele become adhered to the orbital periosteum and cannot be removed during surgery without significant risk of injury to the adjacent structures. Endoscopic sinus surgery is considered effective for paranasal sinus mucoceles with orbital involvement.
Exophthalmos ; Humans ; Mucocele ; Mucous Membrane ; Orbit ; Periosteum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of uncinectomy for osteotomy method during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: This retrospective review study comprised 102 nasolacrimal duct obstruction patients that underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy with uncinectomy at our hospital between 2003 and 2006. The patients were classified into two groups based on records of preoperative endoscopic examination. Group A consisted of patients who had no nasal cavity abnormality, and Group B comprised patients who had a nasal cavity abnormality but received no treatment. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included in Group B. The success rates of endonasal DCR were 89.5% in Group A and 90.6% in Group B, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.99). There were no cases of mucosal burn, orbital fat prolapse, spinal fluid leak, maxillary sinusitis, or delayed bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior resection of the uncinate process is the most important surgical step to expose the medial aspect of the lacrimal fossa and to form the precise location of osteotomy during endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.
Burns ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Orbit ; Osteotomy ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Pneumonia* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thorax*

Potentially, some donor site complications are associated with the harvesting of autogenous tricortical iliac bone grafts for anterior spinal fusion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the anterior iliac crest reconstruction after harvesting autogenous iliac grafts for anterior spinal fusion. We devided into two groups : the study group were the anterior iliac crest reconstruction in 57 patients with minimal twelve months follow up period, the control group were not the anterior iliac crest reconstruction in 21 patients who could not obtain the rib from retroperitoneal approach. The average follow up was obtained at 43.3 months(12 to 72 months) in study group, at 41.6 months(12 to 60 months) in control group. The study group had a tendency to improve the donor site pain after incorporation of the rib graft and the control group tend to remain the donor site pain till late especially in the thinner group and combined disease group. In residual deformity of the donor site, the study group was superior to the control group. Residual deformity of the study group was associated with the complications such as displacement and resorption of the grafts. Cosmetic residual deformity tends to be higher in the thinner group. Radiographically all rib gragts incorporated in situ in 51 patients despite of some cases of migration(Average 11 weeks and 4 days) and clinical results did not affect by biological behavior of rib grafts on the follow up radiogram. The authors attempted anterior iliac crest reconstruction using the implants (Mennen plate in 3 patients, threaded pin in 3 patients) after large harvesting of autogenous tricortical graft in 6 patients who could not obtain the rib from retroperitoneal approach or could not fit the rib too the defect. In those cases the results were satisfactory clinically. These results suggest anterior iliac crest reconstruction can minimize painful deformity after the harvesting of autogenous tricortical iliac grafts for anterior spinal fusion.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ribs ; Spinal Fusion ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of dacryoscintigraphy in the assessment of patients with a clinical diagnosis of functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dacryoscintigraphy was performed in symptomatic 35 lacrimal drainage systems in 18 patients (age range: 37~76, 8 males, 10 females) that were patent on syringing. RESULTS: Abnormalities were detected with dacryoscintigraphy in 75.8% of systems. The positive scintigrams were subdivided into those demonstrating prelacrimal sac delay (31.8%), delay at the lacrimal sac/junction (40.9%), or delay within the duct (27%). CONCLUSION: Dacryoscintigraphy is noninvasive useful technique in the assessment of the functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction and very sensitive at detecting abnormalities in patients with lid laxity caused by senile change and facial nerve palsy.
Diagnosis* ; Drainage ; Facial Nerve ; Humans ; Male ; Nasolacrimal Duct* ; Paralysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical results and clinical effectiveness of silicone tube intubation through Hasner's valve under intranasal endoscopic guidance in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNDO). METHODS: The present study enrolled a total of 58 eyes of 46 children over 12 months of age diagnosed with CNDO in the Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine from 2003 to 2010. Patients who had previously undergone ineffective probing or had a combination of an anatomical abnormality such as secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction were also included. The silicone tube was intubated through the Hasner's valve and observed with intranasal endoscopy; tube retention time was planned for at least 12 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 20 eyes were previously probed preoperatively (mean 1.7 times). After the average follow-up period of 13.5 months, the overall success of silicone intubation was 57 of 58 eyes (98%). In one failed eye, nasolacrimal obstruction was already combined preoperatively, and unintentional tube removal by the patient occurred within one week. Silicone tube reintubation was performed after four months, and CNDO symptoms improved. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal endoscopic observation to ensure the passage of a silicone tube through Hasner's valve decreases anatomical injury. When considering patient age and former treatment, silicone tube intubation with intranasal endoscopic observation could produce desirable results with a higher success rate.
Child ; Dietary Sucrose ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intubation ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Ophthalmology ; Retention (Psychology) ; Silicones

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent* ; Humans

This work aimed to assess some pharmacological activities of P. leptostachya var. asiatica Hara. The dried roots of P. leptostachya var. asiatica Hara were extracted with 70% ethanol to generate the powdered extract, named PLE. Anti-angiogenic activity was detected using chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via analyzing nitric oxide (NO) content, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Antioxidant activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in the stimulated macrophage cells. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and -2 (MMP-2) activities in the culture media were detected using zymography. PLE exhibits an anti-angiogenic activity in the CAM assay, and displays an inhibitory action on the generation of NO in the LPS-stimulated macrophage cells. In the stimulated macrophage cells, it is able to diminish the enhanced ROS level. It can potently scavenge the stable DPPH free radical. It suppresses the induction of iNOS and COX-2 and the enhanced MMP-9 activity in the stimulated macrophage cells. Both monooxygenase and oxidase activities of tyrosinase were strongly inhibited by PLE. Taken together, the dried roots of P. leptostachya var. asiatica Hara possess anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and skin whitening activities, which might partly provide its therapeutic efficacy in traditional medicine.
Chorioallantoic Membrane ; Culture Media ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Ethanol ; Macrophages ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Medicine, Traditional ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Oxidoreductases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Skin*