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

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

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

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of orthodontic bands in vitro and in vivo.4 types of orthodontic bands were applied to cultured fibroblast and the supermatants were injected into dorsal subcutaneous tissue of mice. In vitro, the cytotoxixity was evaluated by an MTT assay after 2 and 6days.In vivo, the histopathologic observation was performed 2 days after injection. The results were: 1. The cell viability was significantly decreased in the group added phosphoric acid in comparison to control group, but there was not any significance among the experimental group after 2 days. 2. Cell viability decreased in the high Ni containing group after 6 days. 3. The histopathological finding was that the Cr-containing group showed severe infiltration of inflammatory cells and muscular destruction.
Animals ; Cell Survival ; Fibroblasts ; Mice ; Subcutaneous Tissue

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variations of the skeletal and dentoalveolar dimensions in relation to vertical facial patterns. Lateral cephalogram of 200 cases (100 cases of male and 100 cases of female, average age of which was 23.2 years) were traced and some measurements of skeletal and dentoalveolar dimensions were measured. The ratio of UAFH/LAFH was employed to classify the samples into groups of excess and short lower anterior facial height. And the comparison between two groups were taken statistacally. The following results were obtained. 1. The dentoalveolar height, lower anterior facial height, lower gonial angle, and FMA in the excess-lower-anterior-facial-height group were significantly larger than those in short-lower-anterior-facial-height group. 2. The dentoalveolar height, ramus height, and Jarabak ratio in the male subjects were significantly larger than those in the female subjects. 3. The UAFH/LAFH ratio showed a significant correlation to upper, lower facial height, AUDH, PUDH, ALDH, PLDH, Lower gonial angle, FMA, and Bjok`s Sum.
Female ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to compare the effects of the stepwise exposure treatments on the morphological normality, fertilization and blastocyst formation rate of the frozen-thawed mouse mature oocytes by vitrification or ultra-rapid freezing and to use as a fundamental data for the cryopreservation of human oocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The morphological normality and fertilization rates of the vitrified and ultra-rapid frozen mouse mature oocytes after three-stepwise exposure treatments (1step, 3step and 5step) were observed. After choosing the 3step exposure treatment groups, we observed the morphological normality and fertilization, blastocyst formation rate vitrified and ultra-rapid frozen mouse mature oocytes. RESULTS: The morphological normality and fertilization rates of the vitrified mouse mature oocytes after three-stepwise exposure treatments (1step, 3step and 5step) were 75%, 85%, 88% and 58%, 61%, 54% respectively. There were no significant differences among treatments (p>0.05). The morphological normality and fertilization rates of the control was 92% and 65%. There were no significant differences in fertilization rate among control and treatments (p>0.05). The morphological normality and fertilization rates of the ultra-rapid frozen mouse mature oocytes after three-stepwise exposure treatments (1step, 3step and 5step) were 83%, 83%, 84% and 75%, 63%, 56% respectively. There were no significant differences among treatments (p>0.05). The morphological normality and fertilization rate of the control was 95% and 67%. There were no significant differences among control and treatments (p>0.05). The morphological normality and fertilization rate of the vitrified or ultra-rapid frozen mouse mature oocytes after 3step exposure treatment were 69% and 75%, respectively. The blastocyst formation rate was 60% and 57%. The results did not differ significantly between vitrification and ultra-rapid freezing (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: As known in the above results, there were no significant differences in the fertilization and blastocyst formation rate of the frozen-thawed mouse mature oocytes by vitrification or ultra-rapid freezing among the control and treatments. It is suggested that vitrification and ultra-rapid freezing method were effective for the cryopreservation of mouse mature oocytes.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; Cryopreservation ; Fertilization ; Freezing* ; Humans ; Mice* ; Oocytes* ; Vitrification*

PURPOSE: The sunken chest deformity without breast asymmetry is not a rare condition encountered in augmentation mammaplasty. Therefore, failure to recognize the deformity and improper surgical plan will lead to a suboptimal result. The authors review the experience of breast augmentation in simple sunken chest patient based on retrospectively collected data. METHODS: From January, 2008 to January, 2009, patients with simple sunken chest underwent endoscopic submuscular augmentation mammaplasty through axilla, using silicone implants. Patient demographics were queried and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Eleven patients (22 breasts) were followed up for 8.2 months after surgery. Sunken chests were augmented with implant size of approximately 248.9 cc (range: 213~286 cc) and contralateral chest with 211.4 cc (range: 180~235 cc). Simultaneous camouflaging the chest wall depression with breast augmentation resulted in good aesthetic outcome. All of the patients were satisfied with the surgery. There were no complications among all patients. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated proper surgical planning with precise implant selection to optimize results in patients with small breast and simple sunken chest. Even though asymmetry still remains after the operation, it is still considered as acceptable.
Axilla ; Breast ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Demography ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicones ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intracardiac pathology results in 15 - 20% of ischemic stroke, but transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has a number of limitations because of suboptimal precordial windows or ultrasound interference with prosthetic materials. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides superior resolution of basal structures such as the left atrium, left atrial appendage, mitral valvular apparatus, atrial septum, and aorta. The purpose of this study was to describe the various TEE findings which were sources of cerebral emboli. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study population was comprised of 122 patients (mean age:54.5, male 83, female 39) who were admitted to Severance Hospital because of ischemic stroke from 1991 to 1997. All patients underwent TEE with agitated saline contrast administration. Patients without a definitive cardiac source of embolism underwent Holtor monitoring, internal carotid and cerebral angiography, as well as transcranial Doppler. RESULTS: 1) The number of patients diagnosed as cardioembolic stroke was 55 (45.1%). Atrial fibrillation was noted in 31 patients of cardioembolic stroke and it was the most frequent finding. Among these patients, 16 did not have any other cardiac problem. 2) We were able to find the possible source of embolism in 49 (40.2%) patients with TEE. Among these patients, 12 did not have dysrhythmia or any known previous heart problem. We found spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium and left atrial appendage in 33 cases. There were 8 patients who had intracardiac thrombus. Among these patients, 6 patients had thrombi in the left atrial appendage, 1 in left atrium and 1 in left ventricular apex. We found patent foramen ovale in 3 cases and atrial aneurysm in 1 case. We found atheromatous plaque and/or thrombi of the aorta in 16 cases, while there were 4 cases where lesions located in the ascending aorta and aortic arch and which were considered as the source of embolism. Small thrombi in the left atrial appendage and left atrium were only detectable with TEE. CONCLUSIONS: We described TEE findings in ischemic stroke patients. And we assert TEE is a useful diagnostic tool in detecting the source of cardioembolic stroke and it may be used as a primary diagnostic tool in patients who are being evaluated for ischemic stroke.
Aneurysm ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Atrial Septum ; Cerebral Angiography ; Dihydroergotamine ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Embolism ; Female ; Foramen Ovale, Patent ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Intracranial Embolism ; Male ; Pathology ; Stroke* ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Humans