Traditional adipose tissue transplantation has unpredictable viability and poor absorption rates. Recent studies have reported that treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) are related to increased survival of grafted adipose tissue. This study was the first simultaneous comparison of graft survival in combination with PRP, ASCs, and SVF. Adipose tissues were mixed with each other, injected subcutaneously into the back of nude mice, and evaluated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Human adipocytes were grossly maintained in the ASCs and SVF mixtures. Survival of the adipose tissues with PRP was observed at 4 weeks and with SVF at 8 and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, volume reduction in the ASCs and SVF mixtures were 36.9% and 32.1%, respectively, which were significantly different from that of the control group without adjuvant treatment, 51.0%. Neovascular structures were rarely observed in any of the groups. Our results suggest that the technique of adding ASCs or SVF to transplanted adipose tissue might be more effective than the conventional grafting method. An autologous adipose tissue graft in combination with ASCs or SVF may potentially contribute to stabilization of engraftment.
Adipocytes/*transplantation ; Adipose Tissue/cytology/*transplantation ; Adult ; Animals ; Female ; *Graft Survival ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; *Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Stem Cells ; Stromal Cells/*transplantation ; Transplantation, Heterologous

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a representative inflammation-associated cancer and known to be the most frequent tumors. HCC may also induce important pro- and anti-tumor immune reactions. However, the underlying mechanisms are unsatisfactorily identified. We investigated the protective effect of boiled and freeze-dried mature silkworm larval powder (BMSP) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. METHODS: Mice were fed with diet containing BMSP (0.1, 1, and 10 g/kg) for two weeks and DEN (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was injected 18 hours before the end of this experiment. Liver toxicity was determined in serum and histopathological examination was assessed in the liver tissues. Infiltration of immune cells and expressions of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were also examined. RESULTS: Pretreatment with BMSP reduced necrotic and histopathological changes induced by DEN in the liver. Measurement of serum biochemical indicators, the levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, showed that pretreatment with BMSP also decreased DEN-induced hepatotoxicity. In addition, BMSP inhibited the macrophage and CD31 infiltration in a dose-dependent manner. The expressions of interleukin-1β, IFN-γ and chemokines for T cell activation were decreased in BMSP pretreatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: BMSP may have a protective effect against acute liver injury by inhibiting necrosis and inflammatory response in DEN-treated mice.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bombyx* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Diet ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Liver ; Macrophages ; Mice* ; Necrosis

PURPOSE: Adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) are readily harvested from lipoaspirated tissue or subcutaneous adipose tissue fragments. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a heterogeneous set of cell populations that surround and support adipose tissue, which includes the stromal cells, ASCs, that have the ability to differentiate into cells of several lineages and contains cells from the microvasculature. The mechanisms that drive the ASCs into the osteoblast lineage are still not clear, but the process has been more extensively studied in bone marrow stromal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the osteogenic capacity of adipose derived SVF cells and evaluate bone formation following implantation of SVF cells into the bone defect of human phalanx. METHODS: Case 1 a 43-year-old male was wounded while using a press machine. After first operation, segmental bone defects of the left 3rd and 4th middle phalanx occurred. At first we injected the SVF cells combined with demineralized bone matrix (DBM) to defected 4th middle phalangeal bone lesion. We used P (L/DL)LA [Poly (70L-lactide-co-30DL-lactide) Co Polymer P (L/DL)LA] as a scaffold. Next, we implanted the SVF cells combined with DBM to repair left 3rd middle phalangeal bone defect in sequence. Case 2 was a 25-year-old man with crushing hand injury. Three months after the previous surgery, we implanted the SVF cells combined with DBM to restore right 3rd middle phalangeal bone defect by syringe injection. Radiographic images were taken at follow-up hospital visits and evaluated radiographically by means of computerized analysis of digital images. RESULTS: The phalangeal bone defect was treated with autologous SVF cells isolated and applied in a single operative procedure in combination with DBM. The SVF cells were supported in place with mechanical fixation with a resorbable macroporous sheets acting as a soft tissue barrier. The radiographic appearance of the defect revealed a restoration to average bone density and stable position of pharyngeal bone. Densitometric evaluations for digital X-ray revealed improved bone densities in two cases with pharyngeal bone defects, that is, 65.2% for 4th finger of the case 1, 60.5% for 3rd finger of the case 1 and 60.1% for the case 2. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that adipose derived stromal vascular fraction cells have osteogenic potential in two clinical case studies. Thus, these reports show that cells from the SVF cells have potential in many areas of clinical cell therapy and regenerative medicine, albeit a lot of work is yet to be done.
Adipose Tissue ; Adult ; Bone Density ; Bone Matrix ; Durapatite ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Injuries ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Microvessels ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Polymers ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stromal Cells ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Syringes ; Tissue Therapy

From June 1990 to December 1998, 792 kidney transplantations were performed at Asan Medical Center. 436 cases(55M) were from living-related donors, 139 cases(17.6%) were from living-unrelated donors and 217 cases(27.4%) were from cadaveric donors. The results of the trasnplantation were analyzed according to the various factors known to influence the outcome of transplantation. In living transplants, the overall patients survival rate was 98.2% at 1 year and 95.8% at 5 years, the corres-ponding allograft survival rate was 96.9 and 86.1N. In cadaveric transplants, the overall patients survival rate was 94.3% at 1 year and 94.3% at 5 years, the corresponding allograft survival rate was was 90.296 and 84.8%. In living transplants, donor age(>50yrs), recipient age(>50yrs), ABO compatability, pretrans-plant blood transfusion, diabetic history had no effect on allograft survival rate. But HLA DR cornpa-tability, serum creatinine(2.5mg/dL) at discharge and rejection history had effect on allograft survival(p<0.05). In living-related transplants, 5 year allograft survival rate was 100% at HLA identical group and 86% at HLA haplomatched group. But the statistical significance was not found(p=0.052). In cadaveric transplants, donor age(>50yrs), recipient age(>50yrs), ABO compatability, HLA DR match, diabetic history, pretransplant transfusion had no effect on allograft survival. But serum creatinine at discharge(>2.5mg/dL) and posttransplant rejection had effect on allograft survival.
Allografts ; Blood Transfusion ; Cadaver ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors

Split cord malformations (SCMs) usually present in childhood, and are rarely reported in adults. And also, a cervicothoracic SCM associated with tethered cord syndrome has very rarely been reported in the literature. We report a case of SCM associated with tethered cord and spina bifida in an adult. This report describes the case of a 34-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of neck pain, back pain, and intermittent paraparesis of several months duration. The MRI and CT showed a SCM at the cervicothoracic level and a fibrous septum at the thoracic level. She underwent surgery for the SCM and tethered cord syndrome, and was followed for 7 years. Patient presented complete recovery in the follow-up. The authors discuss this unusual lesion and describe the anatomical relationship of the level of cord duplication and fibrous septum.
Adult* ; Back Pain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; General Surgery ; Humans ; Neck Pain ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Paraparesis ; Spinal Dysraphism

PURPOSE: Due to their comorbidities, dialysis patients have many chances to undergo radiologic procedures using iodinated contrast media. We aimed to assess time-sequenced blood oxidative stress level after contrast exposure in hemodialysis (HD) patients compared to those in the non-dialysis population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 21 anuric HD patients [HD-coronary angiography (CAG) group] and 23 persons with normal renal function (nonHD-CAG group) scheduled for CAG, and assessed 4 oxidative stress markers [advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP); catalase; 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine; and malondialdehyde] before and after CAG, and subsequently up to 28 days. RESULTS: In the nonHD-CAG group, only AOPP increased immediately after CAG and returned to baseline within one day. However, in the HD-CAG group, all four oxidative stress markers were significantly increased starting one day after CAG, and remained elevated longer than those in the nonHD-CAG group. Especially, AOPP level remained elevated for a month after contrast exposure. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that iodinated contrast media induces severe and prolonged oxidative stress in HD patients.
Aged ; Contrast Media/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Renal Dialysis/*adverse effects

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the clinical results of partial sublingual glandectomy accompanying the excision of ranula as new treatment modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 43 patients who were treated between 1999 and 2007 for oral or plunging ranula were reviewed. All patients were treated surgically by various methods with a total of 55 different procedures performed. Ten cases of partial sublingual glandectomy with excision of the ranula were conducted. All excised specimens were examined. We compared the clinical outcomes resulting from each treatment method. RESULTS: The recurrence rates for marsupialization, excision of ranula, marsupialization with gauze packing, total excision of sublingual gland and ranula, and partial sublingual glandectomy with excision of ranula were 50%, 25%, 25%, 0% and 10%, respectively. Of the 10 patients treated by partial sublingual glandectomy with ranula excision, only one experienced recurrence (10%), i.e., plunging ranula. None of the ranulas contained an epithelial lining, and the excised portion of the feeding sublingual glands showed degenerative changes. CONCLUSION: In removal of ranulas, we found that excision of the attached sublingual gland, which removed the feeding portion and degenerative acinar cells, yielded good outcomes. Thus, as a new conservative method for treatment, we recommend partial sublingual glandectomy to accompany excision of the ranula.
Acinar Cells ; Humans ; Ranula ; Recurrence ; Sublingual Gland ; Treatment Outcome

Monochorionic twins with discordant karyotypes are rare and mostly caused by post-zygotic mitotic nondisjunction. A 32 year old nulliparous woman at 11 weeks of gestation with spontaneous twin pregnancy was referred to our hospital. An amniocentesis was performed in both amniotic sacs at 15 weeks of pregnancy. One fetus in monochorionic twin pregnancy was diagnosed with Turner syndrome with cystic hygroma, and the other fetus was normal. Because of high mortality rate in abnormal fetuses, the umbilical cord coagulation was performed using radiofrequency ablation to prevent the damage of co-twin that may be caused by the demise of one fetus. After delivery, chorionicity of placenta was ascertained by pathologic exam. Postnatal findings of physical exam, abdominal and brain sonography were normal in the surviving neonate.
Amniocentesis ; Brain ; Catheter Ablation ; Chorion ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotype ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Mortality ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Turner Syndrome* ; Umbilical Cord

Malignant melanoma arising in the uterine endometrium is extremely rare. Only 12 cases of malignant melanoma of the uterine endometrium have been previously reported to date. All of them were metastatic cases. The most common presenting symptom was abnormal uterine bleeding. We report a case of primary malignant melanoma arising from the uterine endometrium. A 63-year-old multigravid woman presented with uterine bleeding. The pathologic review of an endometrial curettage specimen suggested an undifferentiated malignant tumor. A total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymph node dissection were performed. Final pathologic examination revealed malignant melanoma. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated reactivity of tumor cells for HMB-45 and S-100 protein. She had no previous history of malignancy. Whole body PET scan was performed in an effort to find the primary site of malignant melanoma and showed no demonstrable abnormal FDG uptake suggesting malignancy elsewhere. This case is the first report of primary malignant melanoma involving uterine endometrium in Korea.
Curettage ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; S100 Proteins ; Uterine Hemorrhage

Neurological complications are a rare but important and significant source of information about morbidity and mortality in liver transplant patients. Based on the clinical and radiological findings of 21 patients, neurological complications were categorized into five main groups; focal hemorrhagic or occlusive complications (n=11); diffuse hypoxic-ischemic injury (n=3); hypertensive encephalopathy (n=1); central pontine or extra-pontine myelinolysis (n=4); and infection (n=2). Neurological manifestations varied according to the location of the lesion, although seizures were the most common manifestation. In this pictorial review, we illustrate the radiological findings, focusing on MR and CT images, of a spectrum of neurological complications following liver transplants, as well as their clinical correlations.
Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Hypertensive Encephalopathy ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Seizures