This study examined the expression of the bcl-2 protein in 59 cases of transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs) of the bladder and evaluated the relationship of bcl-2 and p53 with apoptosis. The cases were divided into 41 low-grade TCCs, 18 high-grade TCCs, 32 superficial TCCs, and 27 invasive TCCs. p53 and bcl-2 protein were detected by the immunohistochemical method and apoptosis was analysed by using hematoxylin-eosin stained slide. The results were as follows: bcl-2 protein was detected in 8 (14%) TCCs and all of these cases were low grade TCCs. Expression of bcl-2 protein was not correlated with clinical stage. There was no correlation between bcl-2 and p53 protein. According to the immunohistochemical results of bcl-2 and p53 protein, the cases were divided 4 groups. Apoptotic index (AI) was higher in p53 positive/ bcl-2 negative group than other groups but the significance was recognized only between p53 positive/bcl-2 negative group and p53 negative/bcl-2 negative group (p<0.05). p53 protein was detected in 20 (36%) TCCs and its expression was correlated positively with histologic grade and clinical stage (p<0.05). AI correlated positively with histologic grade and clinical stage (p<0.01). These data indicate that overexpression of bcl-2 protein is rare in TCC of the bladder and associated with low grade TCCs. Overexpression of p53 is associated with the tumor progression in the TCCs. AI correlates with p53 positivity but does not correlate with bcl-2 positivity.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Urinary Bladder*

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease, involving multisystem, confirmed by the presence of non-caseating granulomas. Sinonasal involvement in sarcoidosis is rare and difficult to diagnose since the symptoms of nasal obstruction and rhinitis are nonspecific. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis begins with clinical suspicion, followed by with imaging, and finally confirmed with tissue biopsy. In this study, we report a case of sarcoidosis of the nasal septum, which was early confirmed by a biopsy of the nasal septum and hilar lymph node.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Granuloma ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum* ; Rhinitis ; Sarcoidosis*

Caudal septal deviation is an important cause of nasal obstruction and is a major cause of nasal septal surgery. Although reinforcing and straightening the deviated nasal septum with bone fragment or cartilage is known to be quite effective, such procedure is complicated and time-consuming as it consists of three steps; ‘separation,’ ‘correction,’ and ‘reposition and fixation.’ In this article, we introduce a new technique that can reliably position the caudal septum along the midline and simplify the surgical process into two steps: ‘separation’ and ‘correction and fixation.’

Background and Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the normalization period of the maxillary sinus after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for odontogenic sinusitis (ODS) and factors related to it. The thickness of the maxillary sinus mucosa may reflect the improvement of symptoms and may help determine when the dental implant procedure will be possible. Subjects and Method A total of 52 patients (34 males and 18 females) who were diagnosed with ODS and treated by ESS between 2014 and 2019 were enrolled in this study. The recovery status was defined as ‘improved’ when the mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus was less than 4 mm measured by X-ray radiograph; ‘partially improved’ when it was 5 to 10 mm, and ‘little’ when it was more than 10 mm. The recovery period of the maxillary sinus after ESS was measured with an endoscope and X-ray radiograph and its related factors were analyzed. Results: About 2.1±1.6 months were required for maxillary sinus to return to normal as investigated with an endoscope and X-ray radiograph. Assessed one month after ESS when compared to the three months after ESS, the results showed 100% recovery in ‘improved’ cases, 85.7% in ‘partially improved’ cases, and 50% in ‘little’ cases. ‘The mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus one month after ESS’ (p<0.001), ‘oroantral fistula (OAF)’ (p=0.010), and ‘delayed extraction’ (p=0.028) were significantly related to the recovery period of the maxillary sinus by multiple regression analysis. Conclusion ODS responds well to the ESS, and the mean period for returning to normal maxillary sinus was 2.1±1.6 months. The normalization period of the maxillary sinus was positively correlated with the mucosal thickness of the maxillary sinus one month after ESS, OAF, and delayed tooth extraction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate neural correlates associated with recovery of motor function over 6 months in patients with basal ganglia (BG) stroke using acetazolamide (ACZ) stress brain-perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: Medical records of 22 patients presenting first-ever BG stroke were retrospectively reviewed. Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) were measured for 9 regions in each cerebral hemisphere (primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, BG, and thalamus). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) motor score was used to assess motor function. RESULTS: After ACZ injection, CBF of all regions of interest (ROIs) increased compared with baseline. Baseline CBF of all ROIs was not significantly correlated with changes in FMA upper or lower motor score. However, multivariate analysis revealed CVR was significantly associated with change in FMA upper score in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex (R2=0.216, p=0.017), the ipsilateral parietal lobe (R2=0.135, p=0.029), and the contralateral primary motor cortex (R2=0.210, p=0.041). CONCLUSION: CVR in the bilateral primary motor cortex and ipsilateral parietal lobe was associated with restoration of upper motor function 6 months after BG stroke. SPECT is a readily available imaging modality useful in studying brain residual function in patients with BG stroke.
Acetazolamide ; Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Cerebrum ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Motor Cortex ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate neural correlates associated with recovery of motor function over 6 months in patients with basal ganglia (BG) stroke using acetazolamide (ACZ) stress brain-perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: Medical records of 22 patients presenting first-ever BG stroke were retrospectively reviewed. Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) were measured for 9 regions in each cerebral hemisphere (primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, premotor cortex, prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, BG, and thalamus). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) motor score was used to assess motor function. RESULTS: After ACZ injection, CBF of all regions of interest (ROIs) increased compared with baseline. Baseline CBF of all ROIs was not significantly correlated with changes in FMA upper or lower motor score. However, multivariate analysis revealed CVR was significantly associated with change in FMA upper score in the ipsilateral primary motor cortex (R2=0.216, p=0.017), the ipsilateral parietal lobe (R2=0.135, p=0.029), and the contralateral primary motor cortex (R2=0.210, p=0.041). CONCLUSION: CVR in the bilateral primary motor cortex and ipsilateral parietal lobe was associated with restoration of upper motor function 6 months after BG stroke. SPECT is a readily available imaging modality useful in studying brain residual function in patients with BG stroke.
Acetazolamide ; Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Cerebrum ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Motor Cortex ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, Emission-Computed ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

A nasal septal abscess results from the collection of purulent fluid between the cartilage of bony septum and overlying mucoperichondrium or mucoperiosteum. Unless early diagnosis and surgical treatment are performed, serious complications such as cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis, sepsis, and saddle nose may occur. We report a case of septal abscess and sphenoid sinusitis that occurred after dental implant. A 74-year-old female with diabetes and liver cirrhosis was referred to the hospital for management of rapidly aggravated perinasal pain, nasal obstruction, and headache. The patient had undergone dental implant in the right upper incisor area 6 days ago. A CT revealed septal abscess and bilateral sphenoid sinusitis. The patient was operated upon to drain septal abscess, and both sphenoid sinuses were opened widely.

A nasal septal abscess results from the collection of purulent fluid between the cartilage of bony septum and overlying mucoperichondrium or mucoperiosteum. Unless early diagnosis and surgical treatment are performed, serious complications such as cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis, sepsis, and saddle nose may occur. We report a case of septal abscess and sphenoid sinusitis that occurred after dental implant. A 74-year-old female with diabetes and liver cirrhosis was referred to the hospital for management of rapidly aggravated perinasal pain, nasal obstruction, and headache. The patient had undergone dental implant in the right upper incisor area 6 days ago. A CT revealed septal abscess and bilateral sphenoid sinusitis. The patient was operated upon to drain septal abscess, and both sphenoid sinuses were opened widely.
Abscess ; Aged ; Cartilage ; Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis ; Dental Implants ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incisor ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Nose ; Sepsis ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sphenoid Sinusitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Altered environmental gravity, including both hypo- and hypergravity, may result in space adaptation syndrome. To explore the characteristics of this adaptive plasticity, the expression of immediate early gene c-fos mRNA in the vestibular system following an exposure to hypergravity stimulus was determined in rats. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The animals were subjected to 2 G force (two-fold earth's gravity) stimulus for 3 hours, and were examined at post-stimulus hours 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24. Real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was adopted to analyze temporal changes in the expression of c-fos mRNA. RESULTS: The hypergravity stimulation produced the expression of c-fos mRNA in the vestibular ganglion, medial vestibular nucleus, inferior vestibular nucleus, hippocampus, vestibulocerebellum, and vestibular cortex. The peak expression occurred at hour 6 in the animals hypergravity-stimulated for 3 hours. Bilateral labyrinthectomy significantly attenuated the degree of up-regulation in c-fos mRNA expression. MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, also significantly attenuated the degree of up-regulation in c-fos mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the adaptive neuroplasticity in response to an altered gravity occurs in the vestibular-related organs in the central nervous system, in which peripheral vestibular receptors and NMDA receptors play an important role.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Ganglion Cysts ; Genes, fos ; Gravitation ; Hippocampus ; Hypergravity* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neuronal Plasticity* ; Plastics ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; RNA, Messenger ; Space Motion Sickness ; Up-Regulation ; Vestibular Nuclei

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, the swinging door and grafting techniques have been heavily used for straightening and holding the caudal septum. However, reconstructive septoplasties require more extensive dissection of septal structures. Extensive anatomical dissection and complicated procedures may affect the probability of postoperative bleeding and infection. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 141 consecutive patients who underwent septal surgeries from February 2013 to December 2015. The patients were classified into two groups according to surgical technique: those who underwent submucous resection with or without endoscopy were classified as the “resection” group, while those who underwent the swinging door or batten graft technique were classified as the “reconstruction” group. The resection and reconstruction groups were matched using the propensity score. The incidence of postoperative septal abscesses (PSAs) was analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS: For the two groups, 36 patients were matched with 36 patients (1:1) using the propensity score. Of the 72 patients, PSAs developed in 5 patients (6.9%). One patient was in the resection group (2.8%), while the other four patients were in the reconstruction group (11.1%). However, the incidence of PSAs was not significantly higher in the reconstruction group according to Fisher's exact test (p=0.164). CONCLUSION: Reconstructive septoplasty resulted in more septal abscesses than resection, but the difference was not significant.
Abscess* ; Endoscopy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Methods ; Nasal Septum ; Postoperative Complications ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants ; Wound Infection