PURPOSE: We tried to outline the incidence and characteristics of meniscal tears in recent lesions and chronic insufficiency of the ACL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through this retrospective study of 103 reconstructions of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) performed between Jun 1996 to Sep 1998, according to a more accurate evaluation, ACL-deficient knees can be classified into two different stages (recent, chronic injuries). RESULTS: Overall, there was a significantly increasing incidence of meniscal tears in chronic injuries (P<0.05). A predominance of lateral meniscal tears were demonstrated with recent injuries, whereas the incidence of medial meniscal tears increased significantly with chronic injuries (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the increase of lateral meniscal lesion in recent ACL rupture and increase of severe meniscal lesion, especially medial meniscus, with progressive worsening of knee instability after an ACL injury. Although not significant, meniscal tears in the recent injuries were more amenable to repair. The results suggest that maximal meniscal preservation is best achieved with ACL reconstruction shortly after injury.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Incidence ; Knee* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture*

PURPOSE: The morphometric change of optic nerve axons is one of the parameters for evaluating the optic nerve function in pathologic conditions such as optic neuritis, anterior optic neuropathy, glaucomatous optic nerve damage, and etc. There are various reports about the diameter of optic nerve axon and its change with age. This study was performed to observe the distribution and aging change of axon diameter, and morphometric characteristic of normal human optic nerve axon. METHODS: Eight enucleated eyes(36~80-year-old), which had no specific lesion in the optic nerve, were enrolled in the study. Optic nerve specimens at central and peripheral portions in each anterior and posterior sides of lamina cribrosa were obtained. The optic nerve axons were observed using transmission electron microscopy and the diameters of optic nerve axons were measured. RESULTS: The mean diameter of optic nerve axon was 1.172 micrometer(0.299 micrometer~6.432 micrometer, SD : 0.326). The mean diameter of optic nerve axon in anterior side of lamina cribrosa was 1.018 micrometer, central nerve fiber was 1.015 micrometer and peripheral nerve fiber was 1.022 micrometer. The mean diameter of optic nerve axon in posterior side of lamina cribrosa was 1.306 micrometer, central nerve fiber was 1.257 micrometer and peripheral nerve fiber was 1.355 micrometer. As age increased, the diameter of optic nerve axon had a tendency to increase(1.08 micrometer in 36-year-old, 1.373 micrometer in 80-year-old). CONCLUSIONS: The optic nerve axons in anterior side of lamina cribrosa were larger than those in posterior side of lamina cribrosa and the peripheral nerve fibers were larger than the central nerve fibers. This study demonstrated the morphometric variability of optic nerve fibers according to their locations and ages.
Adult ; Aging ; Axons* ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nerve Fibers ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Optic Nerve* ; Optic Neuritis ; Peripheral Nerves

There are two types of retinal macroglia: astrocyte and Muller cell. The major component of iintermediate filament in astrocyte is GFAP, recognized as the primary marker of astrocyte. Muller cells do not physiologically express GFAP in normal developing retina. A striking increase in GFAP expression. however, is observed in Muller cells under certain pathological condition. It is also suggested that this kind of changes of Muller cells in human retina is related with aging, and may be an early feature of pathogenesis of Age related macular degeneration. The goal of this study is to investigate the involvement of the human retinal macroglia in normal aging by immunogold labeling for electron. The goal of this study is to investigate the involvement of the human retinal macroglia in normal aging by immunogold labeling for electron microscopy. The sections of aged neurosensory retina showed the evidence of expression of GFAP by Muller cells. The results suggest, therefore, that Muller cells are induced to express GFAP during aging.
Aging ; Astrocytes ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein* ; Humans* ; Macular Degeneration ; Microscopy, Electron ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Strikes, Employee

Retinal horizontal cell is second-order neuron that integrates the information from photoreceptors over large retinal areas, mediating the lateral spread of visual signals to distant retina. The Neurofilament proteins, considered as neuronal markers, have been imunolocalized to mammalian retinal horizontal cess. However, the immunolabeling of Neurofilament in human, has been focused on the studies of visual pathway and large ganglion cells The goal of this study is to see whether human retinal horizontal cells are indeed neuronal nature or glial nature by immunogold labeling for electron microscopy. The sections of 65 year-old human retina showed the expression of Neurofilament by horizontal cells, which confirms the evidence of human retinal horizontal cell as neuronal nature.
Aged ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Negotiating ; Neurofilament Proteins ; Neurons ; Retina ; Retinal Horizontal Cells* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Pathways

Persistence is dormant phenotypic variants of regular cells that are tolerant to antibiotics. The persistent cells did not acquire antibiotic resistance genetically, being produced in response to antibiotic stress. Because of dormant phenotypic variants due to little or no cell-wall synthesis, translation, or topoisomerase activity, persistent cells show antibiotic tolerance. Recently, such persistent cells have been reported in many bacterial pathogens and are known to play significant roles in clinical settings, particularly in chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Therefore, development of anti-persister drug and appropriate antibiotic treatment are required to eliminate the persisters and to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance. Screening of genes related to persister formation would lead to new drugs to combat persisters during infection. By reviewing recent publications, we summarize phenomenon of survival and tolerance in persistent cells.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Chronic Disease ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Mass Screening

Hypoglycemia due to non-islet cell tumor is usually associated with hypersecretion of big insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). This big IGF-II cannot form ternary IGF complex, and is biologically more active in peripheral tissue, inducing increased glucose utilization and hypoglycemia. A 57-year-old man developed severe hypoglycemia due to hepatocellular carcinoma. To control hypoglycemia, the patient required continuous glucose infusion. The circulating levels of cortisol and free T4 were in the normal range. The plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, IGF-I, IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and total IGF-II levels were decreased. Radioimmunoassay of IGF-II revealed that big IGF-II immunoreactivity markedly increased compared to that of normal control. In this patient, it was strongly suggested that big IGF-II might be a cause of severe intractable hypoglycemia.
C-Peptide ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypoglycemia* ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II* ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay ; Reference Values

To investigate the possibility of transmission of CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli isolates among humans and animals, we compared CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates showing the same genotype from humans and dogs in Korea. Sixteen CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates from animals were selected and their genotypes were identified using MLST. Among clinical CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates from humans, which have been identified in previous studies, 12 isolates showing the same STs with those of E. coli isolates from animals were selected. For these 28 CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates, identification of bla CTX-M genes and their genetic environments, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, extended MLST, and PFGE were performed. Some CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates from humans showed the same genotypes, such as ST10, ST38, ST58, and ST95, but different CTX-M enzymes and PFGE patterns. Thus, it can be concluded that dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates between humans and animals is rare so far.
Animals* ; Dogs ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Korea*

Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is characterized by the transfer of blood via intertwin vascular anastomoses in a single placenta. It differs from twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) in that amniotic fluid levels remain normal during pregnancy. Since the concept of TAPS was first introduced in 2007, some cases have been reported abroad, but no such a case has been reported in Korea. Here, we report the first case of spontaneous TAPS in Korea.
Amniotic Fluid ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Twins*

Paragangliomas are unusual neuroendocrine cell tumors arising from paraganglia, of which ACTH-secreting cases in the mediastinum are extremely rare. A 51-year-old woman was admitted for generalized edema and weakness which began 5 months ago. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a tumor mass in the anterior mediastinum. The plasma cortisol and ACTH levels were very high. Other sources secreting ACTH, except mediastinal mass, were not found. Surgical excision of mediastinal mass and left supraclavicular lymph node was performed. The postoperative microscopic finding and immunohistochemical staining revealed organoid tumor cell nests (zellballen) and S-100 protein positive sustentacular cells which are characteristics of paraganglioma. This was thus a case of Cushing's syndrome resulting from ectopic ACTH production in anterior mediastinal paraganglioma.
Case Report ; Corticotropin/secretion+ACo- ; Cushing Syndrome/etiology+ACo- ; Female ; Human ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/therapy ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/secretion ; Mediastinal Neoplasms/complications+ACo- ; Middle Age ; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/therapy ; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/secretion ; Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal/complications+ACo-

We report a case of congenital and familial antithrombin III deficiency developing massive pulmonary thromboembolism. A 44-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of sudden chest pain and severe dyspnea. Five years ago, he was operated due to a mesenteric vein thrombosis of unknown cause. On admission, radioisotopic venogram showed deep vein thrombosis and lung scintigram showed multiple segmental perfusion defects. His plasma antithrombin III level was 10.5 mg/dL which was less than 50% of normal and those of a son and two daughters were also decreased. After treatment with tissue plasminogen activator, heparin and coumadin, his symptom and lung scintigram were significantly improved. As far as we reviewed, there were very rare reports with congenital antithrombin III deficiency presenting as pulmonary thromboembolism in Korea.
Adult ; Antithrombin III ; Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Heparin ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Mesenteric Veins ; Nuclear Family ; Perfusion ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Venous Thrombosis ; Warfarin