Melanosomes were isolated from the human hair by graded centrifugation and identified by transmission and scanning electron microscopic examination. Melanosomes were separated from the keratinous structures by treating with strong NaOH solution for 15 hours. The keratinous structures were removed by centrifugation ai 2,500xg and 3,500xg for 10 minutes respectively at 0 ℃. The isolated melanosomes were collected by centrifugation at 7,800xg at 0 ℃. Scanning electron microscopic examination made it possible to evaluate the global structure of purified melanosomes.
Centrifugation ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Melanosomes* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

ERCP was performed in 38 cases of clonorchiasis of the liver, which was confirmed by stool egg test withStoll's dilution method from Apr. 1979 to Oct. 1982. The resuls were as follows 1. The sex distribution ofclonorchiasis showed marked male predominance by 97.4% and age distrigution were higher in 5th and 6th decades. 2.Multiple small filling defects in the intrahepatic bile duct was the most characteristic finding in ERCP and widespread irregular stenosis, dilatation of terminal portion, disturbance of peripheral filling, fuziness andraggedness of intrahepatic duct were also noted. 3. The severity of clonorchiasis by ERCP were classifed asfollows; Grade I-7 cases (18.4%), GradeII-9 cases(23.7%) Grade III-12 cases (31.6%) and Grade IV-10 cases(26.3%)4. Chronic cholecystitis 10 cases(26.3%), Billary tree stone 7 cases (18.4%), malignancy of distal CBD 1 case(2.6%) were found with clonorchiasis by ERCP. 5. Three cases, treated with Niclofolan, showed marked improvementof pathology on follow-up ERCP.
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystitis ; Clonorchiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Methods ; Niclofolan ; Ovum ; Pathology ; Sex Distribution ; Trees

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study for radiographically and clinically assessing nonunion after lumbar spine fusion. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to analyze the risk factors for nonunion that requires surgical treatment after lumbar spine fusion SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: A diagnosis of the nonunion after lumbar spine fusion was made by using only the only radiologic images. The incidence of nonunion has been underreported because there are many asymptomatic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plain X-ray films were evaluated for 1317 patients who could be followed up more than 1 year after lumbar fusion. Nonunion was diagnosed at 1 year after fusion by instability seen on the flexion-extension radiograph and the clinical findings like as sustained pain and local tenderness at the surgical site. The risk factors we reviewed included age, the number of levels fused, associated diseases, smoking, alcohol drinking, the initial diagnosis, a previous history of spinal operation, infection, a clear zone and malposition of pedicle screws and metal failure. The relations between nonunion and the factors mentioned above were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were diagnosed as having nonunion underwent reoperation and all had surgically confirmed nonunion. Smoking, infection and a previous history of spine operation had a significant influence on nonunion (p < 0.05). Clear zones persisting more than 1 year and metal failure also had a significant influence on nonunion (p < 0.05). Age, the number of fused levels, the initial diagnosis and alcohol drinking were not shown to influence the rate of nonunion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A through clinical and radiologic evaluation is essential to diagnose nonunion, and this should not be done according to the radiologic images only. Risk factors such as a previous history of spine operation, infection, smoking, the development of a clear zone and metal failure all showed a statistically significant influence on nonunion. Additionally, preoperative and postoperative evaluation of these parameters is needed to achieve bone union.
Alcohol Drinking ; Humans ; Incidence ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spine ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate survival outcome according to the expression status of CD73 in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were enrolled in the current study. For each patient, a retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Immunohistochemical staining for CD73, CD8, FoxP3, and CD68 was performed using tissue microarray made with paraffin embedded tissue block. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 29.9% of patients (n=50) showed negative expression for CD73, whereas 70.1% of patients (n=117) showed positive expression for CD73. The CD73 positive group showed better prognosis compared to the CD73 negative group (5-year overall survival of CD73 positive group, 73.0%; that of CD73 negative group, 50.1%; p=0.023). CD73 was more frequently expressed in mucinous adenocarcinoma and clear cell carcinoma compared to serous or endometrioid adenocarcinoma. In addition, CD73 overexpressions were more frequently detected in patients with known good prognostic factors, i.e., low stage, well/moderate differentiation, negative peritoneal cytology, no lymphovascular involvement, and no macroscopic residual tumor after debulking surgery. There was significantly more infiltration of regulatory T cells in the CD73 negative group compared to the CD73 positive group. CONCLUSION: Good prognosis in patients with overexpression of CD73 may be due to that overexpression of CD73 was more frequently observed in epithelial ovarian cancer patients with known good prognostic factors. Therefore, this result means that favorable differentiation and stage have more influence on survival outcome than adverse effect of CD73 per se.
5'-Nucleotidase ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate survival outcome according to the expression status of CD73 in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were enrolled in the current study. For each patient, a retrospective review of medical records was conducted. Immunohistochemical staining for CD73, CD8, FoxP3, and CD68 was performed using tissue microarray made with paraffin embedded tissue block. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients, 29.9% of patients (n=50) showed negative expression for CD73, whereas 70.1% of patients (n=117) showed positive expression for CD73. The CD73 positive group showed better prognosis compared to the CD73 negative group (5-year overall survival of CD73 positive group, 73.0%; that of CD73 negative group, 50.1%; p=0.023). CD73 was more frequently expressed in mucinous adenocarcinoma and clear cell carcinoma compared to serous or endometrioid adenocarcinoma. In addition, CD73 overexpressions were more frequently detected in patients with known good prognostic factors, i.e., low stage, well/moderate differentiation, negative peritoneal cytology, no lymphovascular involvement, and no macroscopic residual tumor after debulking surgery. There was significantly more infiltration of regulatory T cells in the CD73 negative group compared to the CD73 positive group. CONCLUSION: Good prognosis in patients with overexpression of CD73 may be due to that overexpression of CD73 was more frequently observed in epithelial ovarian cancer patients with known good prognostic factors. Therefore, this result means that favorable differentiation and stage have more influence on survival outcome than adverse effect of CD73 per se.
5'-Nucleotidase ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Three hundred renal transplantations were performed by the transplantation team in the Kosin Medical College from December, 1984 to August, 1993. Prognosis and complications with affecting factors and demographic data were analysed and the results were as follows; 1. In 300 recipients, 206 cases were male and 94 cases were female. 146 cases were male and 154 cases were female in 300 donors 2. All 300 cases were living transplantations ; among them, 207 cases were related and 93 cases were unrelated donors. 3. The most common underlying disease of recipients was chronic glomerulonephritis (89%). 4. In 263 donors, the left kidney was selected for graft. 5. For donor nephrectomy, flank incision( anterior incision) was used in all cases and among them 12th transcostal incision was made in 134 cases. 6. For ureteroneocystostomy, modified MacKinnon`s method was performed in 297 cases and Politano-Leadbetter procedure was used in only 3 cases. 7. Postoperative urologic complications occurred in 26 cases( 8.3%) ; perirenal hematoma, 16 cases for which revision was done; urine leakage, 8 cases for which 6 cases needed revision. 8. Complications of donor nephrectomy occurred in 8 cases( 2.6%) ; retroperitoneal hematoma, 2 cases; pneumothorax, 2 cases; pleural effusion, atelectasis, ulcer perforation and stress ulcer, one case respectively. 9. The survival rate for the graft was 91.6% for one year, 88.1 % for 2 years, 81.5% for 3 years, 77.7% for 4 years and 74.3% for 5 years. The survival rates of the recipients were 94.4%, 93.6%, 91.4%, 89.7% and 89.7% according to each year respectively.
Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Unrelated Donors

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications following bonemarrow transplantation(BMT) are common and associated with a high mortality rate, We investigated the yield, safety, and impact of fiberoptic bronchoscopy(FOB) for diagnosis of postBMT pneumoniae. METHODS: From May 1997 to April 2000, 56 FOBs were performed in 52 post BMT patients for clinical pneumoniae. BMT patients with repiratory symptoms and/or pulmonary infiltrates had a thoracic HRCT(high resolution computed tomography) and bronchoscopic examination including BAL(bronchoalveolar lavage), TBLB(transbronchial lung biopsy), PSB(protected specimen brush). RESULTS: The characteristics of the subjects were as follows:37 males, 15 females, mean age of 31.3 years(17-45), 35 sibling donor allogenic BMTs, 15 nonrelated donor allogenic BMTs, and 2 autologous BMTs. Fiftynine percent of FOBs (33 FOBs, 31 patients) were diagnostic. Isolated pathogens included the following:12 cytomegalovirus(CMV) (21.4%), 7 pneumocystis carinii(PC) (12.5%), 11 CMV with PC (19.6%), 2 Mycobacaterium tuberculosis (3.6%), and 1 streptococcus (1.8%). Most of the radiographic findings were diffuse interstitial lesions. CMV pneumoniae had mainly diffuse interstitial nodular lesion, and PC pneumoniae had diffuse, interstitial ground glass opacity(GGO). When CMV was accompanied by PC, a combined pattern of nodular and GGO was present. Of the 56 cases(23.2%), 13 died of CMV pneumoniae(n=2), PCP(n=2), mixed infection with CMV and PC(n=3), underlying GVHD(n=1), underlying leukemia progression(n=1), or respiratory failure of unknown origin(n=4). There was no major complication by bronchoscopy. Only 3 cases developed minor bleedig and 1 episode temporary hypoxemia. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, CMV and PC are the major causes of postBMT pneumoniae. In addition, BAL can be considered a safe and accurate procedure for the evaluation of pulmonary complications after BMT.
Anoxia ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Bronchoscopy* ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumocystis ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Siblings ; Streptococcus ; Tissue Donors ; Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium (M.) fortuitum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium. It is classified as Runyon's group IV with M. abcessus and M. chelonae that are mostly found in water and soil. M. fortuitum infection usually occurs after trauma, surgery or procedures such as acupuncture that cause cutaneous or soft tissue manifestations. We report a case of cutaneous infection due to M. fortuitum in a 72-year-old woman with erythematous deep-seated nodules on her left hand. She inflicted a minor injury to her left hand in a farm. Culture from skin biopsy specimens on 3% Ogawa medium yielded bacterial colonies after 5 days. The microorganism was subsequently identified as M. fortuitum by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The skin lesions were improved by antibiotic therapy with clarithromycin for 6 months.
Acupuncture ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Clarithromycin ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium fortuitum ; Skin ; Soil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patterns of swallowing difficulties were associated with the location of the brain lesion, cognitive function, and severity of stroke in stroke patients. METHOD: Seventy-six patients with first-time acute stroke were included in the present investigation. Swallowing-related parameters, which were assessed videofluoroscopically, included impairment of lip closure, decreased tongue movement, amount of oral remnant, premature loss of food material, delay in oral transit time, laryngeal elevation, delay in pharyngeal triggering time, presence of penetration or aspiration, and the amount of vallecular and pyriform sinus remnants. The locations of brain lesions were classified into the frontal, parietotemporal, subcortical, medulla, pons, and cerebellum. The degree of cognitive impairment and the severity of stroke were assessed by the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), respectively. RESULTS: An insufficient laryngeal elevation, the amount of pyriform sinus, and vallecular space remnant in addition to the incidence of aspiration were correlated with medullary infarction. Other swallowing parameters were not related to lesion topology. Lip closure dysfunction, decreased tongue movement, increased oral remnant and premature loss were associated with low MMSE scores. A delayed oral transit time were associated with NIHSS scores. CONCLUSION: In-coordination of the lip, the tongue, and the oropharynx were associated with the degree of cognitive impairment and the stroke severity rather than with the location of the lesion, whereas incomplete laryngeal elevation and aspiration were predominant in medullary lesions.
Brain ; Cerebellum ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infarction ; Lip ; Oropharynx ; Pons ; Pyriform Sinus ; Stroke ; Tongue

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The introduction of "The Long-term Care Insurance System"(a public nursing care insurance scheme) is scheduled from July in 2008. Lately, the importance of oral health care had increased. Introduction and establishment of the methodology (nursing care procedure) based on professional dental knowledge is inevitable. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to rouse recognition of the importance of dental care in the long term elderly care in nursing homes, with implementation of the new insurance law. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Visited two institutions for the elderly, Yudang Village and Sungjiwon located in Suwon city to investigate the present conditions in terms of (1) the detailsof the institution, (2) the activities concerning with dental care in the institution, and (3) the consciousness and recognition regarding dental care of the staffs. RESULTS: In two institutions, under the present conditions, oral cleaning (including the cleaning of denture) for residents was operated with no professional advices and limited professional dental care. It was found that there was very little awareness of aspiration pneumonia. The members of staff however, did recognizethe necessity of professional maintenance and management of oral care in daily nursing care, and that many residents hold dental problems. They were very eager in introducing the methodology (nursing care procedure) in dental care in nursing homes.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Consciousness ; Dental Care ; Dentists ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Homes ; Oral Health ; Pneumonia, Aspiration