In the present study, we made an attempt to compare polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) with PCR-direct sequence analysis for their accuracy and sensitivity in detecting resistance to rifampicin (RMP). A total of 32 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis including 22 resistant and 10 sensitive isolates, whose drug susceptibility have been tested by conventional proportion method, were analyzed by using PCR-SSCP and PCR-sequence analysis. Among 22 RMP resistant isolates, 16 isolates showed SSCP profiles different from that of a RMP sensitive control strain, M. tuberculosis H37Rv indicating the possible existence of a sequence alteration in this region of the rpoB gene, while 6 resistant isolates displayed SSCP profiles indistinguishable from the sensitive control strain. On the other hand, all of 10 RMP sensitive isolates showed SSCP profiles similar to that of the sensitive control strain. Therefore, overall agreement rste between conventional proportion method and PCR-SSCP reached 81%. Subsequently, all of 32 clinical isolates were subjected to sequence analysis. The results from the sequence analysis revealed that all of 22 resistant isolates indeed contain mutations in the stretch of 81 bp region of rpoB gene, while none of 10 sensitive isolates contain any sequence alterations. Therefore, this study suggests that PCR-sequence analysis works more efficiently and accurately than PCR-SSCP analysis for rapid screening of RMP-resistant M. tuberculosis clinical isolates.
Hand ; Mass Screening ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Rifampin* ; Sequence Analysis* ; Tuberculosis

The transforming growth factor-beta 1 was known as having the most important influence on chondrocytes among various growth factors, being abundant in articular chondrocytes and osteocytes. We performed in vitro monolayer cultures of human articular chondrocytes from normal and osteoarthritic patients and studied the transforming growth factor-beta 1 responsiveness of those chondrocytes. The cell-growth curve indicated that the primary osteoarthritic chondrocyte culture with transforming growth factor-beta 1 showed a more rapid growth pattern than normal chondrocytes with or without TGF-beta 1 and osteoarthritic chondrocytes without TGF-beta 1. The osteoarthritic group showed a sharp decline in growth pattern with subsequent culture. The shape of osteoarthritic chondrocytes was bigger and more bizarre compared to those of normal chondrocytes. With subsequent culture, this change became prominent. The transforming growth factor-beta 1 increased the [3H]-TdR uptake in each group. The phenotypes of chondrocytes were more clearly expressed in the normal group. The chondrocytes lost their phenotype (production of collagen type II) following subculture in each group. The transforming growth factor-beta 1 could not inhibit or delay the dedifferentiation process (loss of phenotype).
Cartilage, Articular/drug effects* ; Cartilage, Articular/cytology ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Human ; Osteoarthritis/pathology ; Reference Values ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology*

BACKGROUND: Burow's graft is a useful full-thickness skin graft that employs the adjacent lax skin as a donor site and this is especially suitable for the facial region. When reconstructing a facial cutaneous surgical defect, we have to consider the facial cosmetic unit together with various other factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a Burow's graft by dermatologists and the cosmetic outcomes of Burow's graft for reconstructing facial defects, based on different facial cosmetic units. METHODS: From August 2005 to February 2007, 26 patients were treated with the Burow's graft technique for the reconstruction of facial cutaneous defects following Mohs micrographic surgery. According to the facial cosmetic unit, we divided the face into the forehead, periorbital area, nose, cheek and chin, and we redistributed the cases by the cosmetic units. The post-operative result of each case was rated with using serial clinical photographs that were taken at 1, 6 and 12 months, and the patient's charts were reviewed by two independent physicians. RESULTS: The cosmetic results of facial reconstructions by using Burow's graft were satisfactory, regardless of the cosmetic unit. 21 cases out of the 26 cases (81%) showed good to excellent results after 6 months. The early cosmetic consequence of the periorbital region was better than those of the other facial cosmetic units. No side effects were reported other than a trapdoor deformity in three cases. CONCLUSION: Burow's graft can be a good choice for reconstruction of facial cutaneous defects after skin cancer surgery in all the facial cosmetic units.
Cheek ; Chin ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cosmetics ; Forehead ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery ; Nose ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Burow's graft is a useful full-thickness skin graft that employs the adjacent lax skin as a donor site and this is especially suitable for the facial region. When reconstructing a facial cutaneous surgical defect, we have to consider the facial cosmetic unit together with various other factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a Burow's graft by dermatologists and the cosmetic outcomes of Burow's graft for reconstructing facial defects, based on different facial cosmetic units. METHODS: From August 2005 to February 2007, 26 patients were treated with the Burow's graft technique for the reconstruction of facial cutaneous defects following Mohs micrographic surgery. According to the facial cosmetic unit, we divided the face into the forehead, periorbital area, nose, cheek and chin, and we redistributed the cases by the cosmetic units. The post-operative result of each case was rated with using serial clinical photographs that were taken at 1, 6 and 12 months, and the patient's charts were reviewed by two independent physicians. RESULTS: The cosmetic results of facial reconstructions by using Burow's graft were satisfactory, regardless of the cosmetic unit. 21 cases out of the 26 cases (81%) showed good to excellent results after 6 months. The early cosmetic consequence of the periorbital region was better than those of the other facial cosmetic units. No side effects were reported other than a trapdoor deformity in three cases. CONCLUSION: Burow's graft can be a good choice for reconstruction of facial cutaneous defects after skin cancer surgery in all the facial cosmetic units.
Cheek ; Chin ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cosmetics ; Forehead ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery ; Nose ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a mesenchymal tumor of the skin of intermediate-grade which is a rare condition. The slow growing and aggressive invasion on local tissues are characteristic features of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The treatment for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is mainly a surgical excision such as a wide excision and Mohs micrographic surgery. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the result of wide excision and Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans at a single institution in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective review was done for 24 patients diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and treated surgically from 1999 to 2010 at Chonbuk National University Hospital. Patient demographics, tumor features, surgical features, and recurrence during the follow-up period were evaluated. RESULTS: 13 patients were treated with wide excision, and 11 with Mohs micrographic surgery. There was no metastasis for all the cases. Mean operation time for the wide excision group was 83 minutes whereas 182 minutes for the Mohs micrographic surgery group, and it was a statistically significant difference. However, no significant difference was observed in post-operative defect size, advanced surgical repair and local recurrence in our study. CONCLUSION: We suggest that wide excision and Mohs micrographic surgery are both successful modalities for the surgical treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Hence, individualized patient and tumor characteristics should be concerned when determining the surgical options for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
Demography ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mohs Surgery ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated gender differences in the relationship between psychiatric distress and subjective tinnitus severity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 134 female and 114 male patients who visited the otology outpatient clinic at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital for tinnitus from February to July 2015. Patients completed a series of instruments, including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean version of Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K), and visual analogue scales assessing various tinnitus characteristics (loudness, awareness, annoyance, and effect on life). RESULTS: Tinnitus severity did not significantly differ between the gender groups (p=0.632), and it correlated significantly with tinnitus characteristics and psychiatric distress. Partial correlations between tinnitus severity and depressive symptoms were stronger in males (r=0.411, p<0.01) than in females (r=0.304, p<0.01) while controlling for duration of tinnitus and tinnitus characteristics. However, stress (BEPSI-K) was positively correlated with tinnitus severity in only males (r=0.463, p<0.01). A multiple regression analysis revealed that effect of tinnitus on life, depressive symptoms, and stress were significantly associated with tinnitus severity in males, whereas only tinnitus annoyance and depressive symptoms were associated with tinnitus severity in females. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus severity was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms and stress, and there were gender differences in the relationship between tinnitus severity and psychiatric components. It is necessary to be vigilant of psychiatric symptoms among patients with tinnitus who visit the otology outpatient clinic, especially for male patients.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Otolaryngology ; Seoul ; Stress, Psychological ; Tinnitus ; Weights and Measures

Subtotal petrosectomy (STP) is an effective treatment modality for recurrent suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and cochlear implant (CI) may be combined for auditory rehabilitation. An active transcutaneous bone conduction implantation system, known as BonebridgeTM (BB) (MED-EL), is indicated for conductive or mixed hearing loss as well as for single-side deafness, but no cases of BB implantation during STP have been reported. A 37-year-old woman who had previously undergone radical mastoidectomy visited our clinic. The left side was deaf and the CT scan showed total ossification of the cochlea, indicating that CI was not possible. STP was performed and bone conduction-floating mass transducer was placed at a sinodural angle. A month later, the sound processor was applied successfully without any complications. This case suggests that BB implantation during STP may be another effective therapeutic option for CSOM patients who have difficulty undergoing CI procedure.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the skin. Most of the lesions are usually small, slow growing and rarely metastasize. However, giant basal cell carcinoma, which is defined as a lesion of more than 5 cm at its greatest diameter, is rare. Most giant basal cell carcinomas are of long duration, and neglect seems to be a major contribution to the development of giant basal cell carcinoma. Herein, we report a rare case of treating a recurrent giant basal cell carcinoma on the face of a Korean elderly woman with surgical excision.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Skin

The hematogenous spreading of an infectious pathogen via the portal vein from a mucosal injury in the gastrointestinal tract has been considered as one of the pathologic mechanisms of pyogenic liver abscess. Several studies have presented the association between colorectal cancer and pyogenic liver abscess. However, the cases of stomach cancer concomitant with pyogenic liver abscess have rarely been reported in the world. Herein, we present a case of advanced gastric cancer concomitant with pyogenic liver abscess in a patient who previously underwent subtotal gastrectomy due to peptic ulcer perforation.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* ; Peptic Ulcer Perforation ; Portal Vein ; Stomach Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the plain chest radiographic and CT findings of superficial endobronchial lung cancer and to correlate these with the findings of histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 19 consecutive patients with pathologically proven lung cancer confined to the bronchial wall. Chest radiographs and CT scans were reviewed for the presence of parenchymal abnormalities, endobronchial nodules, bronchial obstruction, and bronchial wall thickening and stenosis. The CT and histopathologic findings were compared. RESULTS: Sixteen of the 19 patients had abnormal chest radiographic findings, while in 15 (79%), CT revealed bronchial abnormalities: an endobronchial nodule in seven, bronchial obstruction in five, and bronchial wall thickening and stenosis in three. Histopathologically, the lesions appeared as endobronchial nodules in 11 patients, irregular thickening of the bronchial wall in six, elevated mucosa in one, and carcinoma in situ in one. CONCLUSION: CT helps detect superficial endobronchial lung cancer in 79% of these patients, though there is some disagreement between the CT findings and the pathologic pattern of bronchial lesions. Although nonspecific, findings of bronchial obstruction or bronchial wall thickening and stenosis should not be overlooked, and if clinically necessary, bronchoscopy should be performed.
Carcinoma in Situ/pathology/radiography ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology/*radiography ; Human ; Lung/pathology ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed