Type I and type II collagens are considered the major collagens of bone and cartilage respectively. Monitoring the patterns of those gene and protein expressions during development will provide a basis for the understanding of the normal and abnormal growths. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of collagen genes and proteins involved in the developing human mandible. Fifty embryos and fetuses were studied with Alcian blue-PAS, Masson's Trichrome, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and Southern blot analysis. Our results showed that pro-alpha1(II) collagen gene expression begins in the 5th week. Type II collagen is synthesized in mesenchymal cells in advance of overt chondrogenesis. The gene expression for type II collagen was highest during the appearance of Meckel's cartilage. There was a switch in collagen protein expression from type I to type II during the appearance stage of Meckel's cartilage. The distribution of the mRNA for type II collagen corresponded well with the pattern of type II collagen protein. The endochondral ossification was observed where there was direct replacement of cartilage by bone.
Blotting, Southern ; Blotting, Western ; Cartilage ; Chondrogenesis ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II* ; Embryonic Structures ; Fetus ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Mandible* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger

We have examined the in vitro stage-related chondrogenic potential of human mandibular and limb bud mesenchyme cells using micromass culture, Our results indicate that limb bud mesenchyme cells as early as stage 16 by Carnegie system (37 days), well before the initiation of in vivo chondrogenesis, have chondrogenic potential which is expressed in micromass culture, These results are correlated with stage-related chondrogenic potential of human limb bud in vivo as a result of Alcian blue staining. The proliferation of chondrogenic cells increased in the first 3 days after culture and then decreased. These results were correlated with the cell cycle analysis of which the number of G degrees/G1 phase increased markedly after 3 days of culture, while the percentage of cells in S phase was decreased, On the other hand, it was rarely differentiated in the mandible. We examined the effects of two PKC modulators such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of PKC, and staurosporine (STSN), an inhibitor of PKC. PMA inhibited the chondrogenesis, whereas STSN promoted the chondrogenesis in a dose dependent manner. In addition, PMA exerted no inhibitory effect when the cells were pretreated for 24 h with STSN, implying that the chondrogenic events might be settled at an early step in vitro and PKC may act as a negative modulator, Collectively, these results demonstrate, for the first time, the stage-related chondrogenic potential of human mandibular and limb bud mesenchyme cells and the role of PKC during chondrogenesis in vitro & in vivo.
Alcian Blue ; Cell Cycle ; Chondrogenesis ; Embryonic Structures* ; Extremities* ; Hand ; Humans* ; Limb Buds* ; Mandible ; Mesoderm ; Protein Kinase C* ; Protein Kinases* ; S Phase ; Staurosporine

No abstract available.
Plasmapheresis* ; Prednisolone* ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between different types of exposure to noise and a classic sign of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL); the audiometric notch. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was carried out in electronics sound inspectors exposed to continuous and impulsive type noises. The noise levels in the working environments, and the audiometric hearing threshold levels were measured. RESULTS: Electronics sound inspectors were exposed to impulsive noise ranging from 74.1 to 88.9 dBA. The hearing loss induced by impulsive noise was greater and was characterized by maximum loss at 6 kHz audiometric frequency, as opposed to the notch at 4 kHz that is typical of continuous noise. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the probable effect of impulsive noise on hearing should be considered even when the exposure is within the 85 dB equivalent A-weighted level. To diagnose NIHL it is important to elicit a detailed and accurate history of exposure to noise. Although the notch at 4 kHz is a well established clinical sign and may be valuable in confirming the diagnosis, the 6 kHz notch is variable and of limited importance.
Diagnosis ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Hearing* ; Noise*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Pneumoconiosis*

Broncho-gastric fistula caused by benign gastric ulcer perforation after esophagectomy is very rare. In general anesthesia of a patient with broncho-gastric fistula, in spite of hyperventilation, leakage of the anesthetic gases through fistula may make the patient hypercapneic, and positive pressure ventilation may increase the risk of the pulmanary aspiration by the regurgitation of gastric fluid by stomach distension. For that reason, in this patient, denitrogenation was performed during patient's voluntary respiration with 100% oxygen for 5 minutes, and induction was performed without positive pressure ventilation, and one lung ventilation was carried out. Hypoxemia was followed by one lung ventilation because his pulmonary function was moderate obstructive type and his lung was damaged by aspiration of gastric fluid via broncho-gastric fistula. A low level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has no significant hemodynamic effect and can maintain the patency of nonventilated lung, so hypoxemia induced by one lung ventilation may be reduced. Thus we carried out one lung ventilation with CPAP (10 cmH2O) in nonventilated lung and blocked broncho-gastric fistula with a bronchial blocker for prevention of both regurgitation of gastric fluid and leakage of anesthetic gases. One lung anesthesia was performed without any problem in this case.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Anoxia ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Esophagectomy ; Fistula* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Lung ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Oxygen ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Respiration ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer

The hormonally active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 [1.25-(OH)2D3] is one of the several humoral factors that may regulate osteoblast differentiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on the PDL cells. Human PDL cells were prepared from the first premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment and they were incubated in the environment of 37degrees C, 5% CO2 and 95% humidity. [3H]-thymidine incorporation as a measure of proliferation potential and alkaline phosphatase activity were evaluated at 10nM, l00nM 1,25-(OH)2D3. The observed results were as follows. 1. 1,25-(OH)2D3 was significantly enhanced [3H]-thymidine incorporation at l00nM, But did not affect by 10nM. 2. 1,25-(OH)2D3 was significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity at 1 day and 6 days in a dose-dependent manner.
Alkaline Phosphatase* ; Bicuspid ; Cholecalciferol ; Humans* ; Humidity ; Osteoblasts ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Tooth ; Vitamin D

Pelvic actinomycosis is a rare disease, and has variable clinical manifestations and courses, which make it difficult to diagnose the disease initially. We experienced a pelvic actinomycosis in a woman who complained vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain, and had not been carring a intrauterine contraceptive device. This infection results in tissue destruction, fibrosis, and the formation of draining sinuses. We describe the case with brief review of clinical diagnosis and management.
Abdominal Pain ; Actinomycosis* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices ; Rare Diseases ; Vaginal Discharge

Paneth cell-rich carcinoma is essentially an adenocarcinoma with a predominance of Paneth cells. A 60-year-old male patient was admitted with a history of abdominal distension for several months. Endoscopic examination revealed a large ulceroinfiltrative tumor involving most of the areas of the stomach. The biopsy of the lesion confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and total gastrectomy was followed. The submitted total stomach contained a diffuse infiltrative Borrmann type IV mass with ulceration, 8.0 3.5 cm, at the body along the lesser curvature. Microscopically, it was composed of Paneth cell differentiated cancer cells and poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma cells. The Paneth cell differentiation was characterized by cytoplasmic coarse eosinophilic granules, which were PAS-positive and positive reaction for lysozyme. Electron microscopic examination showed numerous, spherical, electron-dense, homogeneous granules corresponding to those in Paneth cells as well as mucin granules in the signet-ring cells, and various intermediate forms in some cancer cells, which might be immature in the Paneth cell lineage.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cytoplasm ; Eosinophils ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins ; Muramidase ; Paneth Cells ; Stomach* ; Ulcer

We report a case of necrotizing arteritis involving the gallbladder. This case was clinically diagnosed as cholelithiasis with cholecystitis, and necrotizing arteritis was found in the surgically resected specimen. Vascular changes were similar to those seen in classic polyarteritis nodosa, involving medium-sized muscular arteries and characterized by fibrinoid necrosis and panarterial and periarterial inflammation varying from active to resolving stages. Acute cholecystitis is a rare initial clinical manifestation of the systemic vasculitis. If acute cholecystitis is found in the absence of obvious cause, careful examination is essential. Since steroid therapy improves the prognosis in the systemic vasculitis, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of this unusual lesion.
Arteries ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Cholelithiasis ; Gallbladder* ; Inflammation ; Necrosis ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Prognosis ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Vasculitis*