Chitin and chitosan, polysaccharides made up of polymeric N-acetly glucosamine and D-glucosamine, are widely found in nature, forming the skeletons of crustaceans and insects, as well as the components of bacteria cell walls. Chitin and chitosan have been known to have many useful biological properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial activity, and wound healing. There properties have been known to be different depending on the degree of deacetylation of chitin, but it has not yet been fully evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wound healing effect by the degree of deacetylation. Full-thickness skin incision was made on the backs of Sprague-Dawley rats. Three concentrations of powder, comprising 90% chitin, 50% chitin and 10% chitin, were separately embedded in the wounds of 3 rat groups. The wound-breaking strength and the collagen-hydroxyproline content of the skin at the wound sites were measured and histological examination was performed at postoperative 3, 7, and 10 days. The 50% chitin group had the highest tensile strenght of all groups. But the 50% chitin and 90% chitin groups had the lowest collagen hydroxyproline levels among all groups. The wounds treated with 50% chitin powder were completely reepithelialized and granulation tissue in the wound was observed 7 days after initial wounding. The arrangement of collagen fibers in the skin was ordered and similar to normal skin The 50% chitin powder is considered to be the most efficient wound healing accelerator among different concentrations of chitin powder.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Cell Wall ; Chitin* ; Chitosan* ; Collagen ; Glucosamine ; Granulation Tissue ; Hydroxyproline ; Insects ; Polymers ; Polysaccharides ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skeleton ; Skin ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

We report a case of primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma in a 39-year-old male patient. It was a slightly erythematous hard nodule on left chin and composed of cribriform and tubular masses of basaloid cells. Lumina formed by neoplastic cells contained mucin and hyalin, and similar constituents were located between neoplastic cell masses and adjacent dermis. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells stained only focally with S-100 protein and negative with carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). Therapy should employ wide surgical excision that extends well beyond the clinical confines of the neoplasm.
Adenoids* ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Chin ; Dermis ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Male ; Mucins ; S100 Proteins

Aplasia cutis congenita represents a congenital absence of all skin layers, and it may occasionally extend through the bone and dura of the skull. Since the first report by Cordon in 1767, over 500 cases have been reported. Eighty percents of all cases are found in the scalp, and 20 percents of these cases involve extremities and trunk and are often bilaterally symmetrical. Histologic examination demonstrates a layer of thin dermal collagen without overlying epithelium or adnexal structures. It has several clinical groups classified by the location and pattern of the skin defect, associated anomalies and the mode of inheritance. Its management is controversial and may be conservative treatment or the surgical option to provide definite skin cover. In 1990, Wexler suggested that conservative treatment using Silvadene was the preferred option. We would like to present 2 cases in which silicone gel sheet as a conservative treatment modality led to favorable outcomes. It was invented for the treatment of hypertrophic scar but has been used and studied for the open wounds in recent years. The use of silicone gel sheet on congenital skin defect has many advantages: the danger of infection is minimized due to frequent washing; prolonged hospitalization is prevented; pain or bleeding is minimized for dressing changes because it doesn't adhere to the wound; and it can be used after the epithelization for the prevention of hypertrophic scar.
Bandages ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen ; Ectodermal Dysplasia* ; Epithelium ; Extremities ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Scalp ; Silicone Gels* ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; Skin ; Skull ; Wills ; Wounds and Injuries

Adequate circulation is indispensable for flap survival. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the causes of flap necrosis. Current evidence suggests that tissue damage associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury and inflammatory responses may be mediated by oxygen free radicals and neutrophils. Oxygen free radicals can directly alter structural component of tissue, attack membrane phospholipids and produce the chemotactic factor for neutrophil which is main cell in inflammatory reactions and an important source of oxygen free radicals. Deferoxamine is well known as a powerful chelator of iron and free radical scavenger. It is also known to decrease the skin flap necrosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of deferoxamine on the oxygen free radicals and neutrophils after ischemia-reperfusion injury of skin flaps. A 6 x 3 cm sized island skin flap was made on the left abdomen of rat and the epigastric pedicle was occluded for 6 hours. Thirty minutes before reperfusion, the flaps were perfused with normal saline or deferoxamine. The flap survival rates were assessed by computerized planimetry on the fifth day after reperfusion. Tissues for assay of MDA and MPO were obtained at 6, 12, 24, 48 hours after reperfusion. The results were as follows: 1. Deferoxamine administration groups improved flap survival rates significantly compared to control groups (78.3+/-13.2%, 54.6+/-6.35%) (p = 0.0011). 2. The level of MDA was significantly lowered in deferoxamine administration groups compared to control groups(p<0.05). The levels of MDA were increased over time in each group but, the ircrement was steeper in control groups than that in deferoxamine administration groups. In control groups, the increment between 6 and 12 hours was argest. 3. MPO content was increased over time in each group but significantly low in deferoxamine administration groups compared to control groups(p<0.05). The increment of control groups was steeper than that of deferoxamine administration groups. We conclude that deferoxamine improve the flap survival rates after reperfusion injury by inhibition of production of oxygen free radicals and neutrophil influx via a free radical scavenger 8 anti-inflammatory action.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Deferoxamine* ; Free Radicals ; Iron ; Membranes ; Necrosis ; Neutrophils* ; Oxygen* ; Phospholipids ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Skin ; Survival Rate

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a familial syndrome consisting of mucocutaneous pigmentation and gastrointestinal polyposis and appears to be inherited as a single pleiotropic autosomal dominant gene with variable and incomplete penetrance. Cases of hamartomatous polyps of the Peutz-Jeghers type without Peutz-Jeghers syndrome have only rarely been reported. Moreover, only one case of a Peutz-Jeghers polyp at the appendix has been reported; it was resected by appendectomy. We report here on a case of a 45 year old man who had a hamartomatous polyp of the Peutz-Jeghers type arising from the appendix. The polyp was successfully removed by endoscopic polypectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a hamartomatous polyp of the Peutz-Jeghers type that originated from the appendix and that was resected endoscopically.
Appendectomy ; Appendix ; Genes, Dominant ; Penetrance ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation ; Polyps

BACKGROUND: Rocuronium produce intense discomfort on IV injection in conscious patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of pain associated with IV injection of rocuronium in conscious patients and to determine the efficacy of different doses of IV lidocaine at minimizing injection pain. METHODS: The author evaluated 120 in-patients undergoing various elective surgeries. Patients were randomized into four groups of 30 patients for this blind, prospective study. After tourniquet application on the forearm, the patients were given saline (3 ml) (Group I, n = 30), lidocaine 20 mg (Group II, n = 30), lidocaine 40 mg (Group III, n = 30), or lidocaine 60 mg (Group IV, n = 30) diluted in a 3 ml solution. The occlusion was released after 20 seconds and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg was injected over 10 seconds. The patients were observed and asked immediately if they had pain in the arm; responses were assessed. Five mg/kg of thiopental sodium was injected intravenously, 30 seconds after the administration of rocuronium. RESULTS: The incidence of pain was 86.7% in group I and was significantly lower group II (60.0%), group III (36.3%), and in IV (P <0.05). In addition, patients pretreated with lidocaine were less likely to suffer moderate to severe pain. But, pain incidences and severities were similar in those that received 40 mg or 60 mg of lidocaine. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine was effective at relieving rocuronium-induced and doses of 40 mg and 60 mg of lidocaine were most effective.
Arm ; Forearm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lidocaine* ; Prospective Studies ; Thiopental ; Tourniquets

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Halitosis is a symptom that bothers patients more socially than medically and its pathogenic mechanisms are unclear and treatment armamenterium is limited. Clinicians generally ignored active interventions. Since halitosis is closely associated with volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), we used a Halimeter and gas chromatography to measure VSCs in patients with Helicobacter-pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastric diseases. METHODS: We categorized 72 patients with H. pylori infection into two groups based on their endoscopic findings: a non-erosive mucosal group (NE, n=24) and an erosive mucosal group (E, n=48). Halitosis was objectively assessed by applying either a Halimeter to breath air or gas chromatography to gastric juice. Simultaneously, the expression of VSC-generating enzyme was measured with reverse-transcriptase PCR using mRNA isolated from biopsy tissues. RESULTS: The levels of VSCs in exhaled breaths or aspirated gastric juices differed significantly between the NE and E groups (p<0.00001), suggesting that VSCs might reflect eroded epithelial damage induced by H. pylori infection. The expressions of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) were broadly consistent with the degree of mucosal injury. CONCLUSIONS: Erosive changes in esophagogastroduodenal mucosa were strongly correlated with increased VSC levels, suggesting that halitosis might result from H. pylori-associated erosive lesions.
Biopsy ; Chromatography, Gas ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Gastric Juice ; Halitosis ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; Mucous Membrane ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach Diseases ; Sulfur ; Sulfur Compounds

Diverse developments in the field of tissue engineering have stimulated much research on tissue production. However, studies on fat tissue still remain insufficient. The purpose of this study is to examine if alginate gel and collagen gel can be used as a three-dimensional scaffold for the culture of preadipocytes, and if these gels can induce preadipocytes to differentiate into mature adipocytes. The preadipocytes harvested from rat epididymal fat pads were three-dimensionally cultured in 1%, 2% alginate gel and collagen gel for 14 days. The morphology, number, and activity of preadipocytes were examined during the experimental period. The results were as follows; 1. The preadipocytes of monolayer culture were spindle shape with rich cytoplasm. The preadipocytes of collagen gel were multipolar or star-like in shape and there was no oil-red 0 stained cell until 14 days. However, the preadipocytes in alginate gel were round and some of cells transformed into mature fat cells which were stained by oil-red 0 after 14 days. 2. The number of preadipocytes in collagen gel continuously increased for 14 days, and significantly increased compared to that of preadipocytes in monolayer culture after 7 days. However, the number of preadipocytes in alginate gel significantly decreased compared to that of preadipocytes in monolayer culture and collagen gel for 14 days, and there was no difference between 1% and 2% alginate gel groups in the number of preadipocytes. 3. The activity of preadipocytes in collagen gel was decreased until 7 days, but not significantly different after 10 days, when compared with that of preadipocytes in monolayer culture. And the activity of preadipocytes in alginate gel was decreased than that of preadipocytes in monolayer culture until 10 days, was higher than that of preadipocytes in collagen gel until 7 days, but was not significantly different compared with that of preadipocytes in monolayer culture and collagen gel on the 14th day. There was no difference between 1% and 2% alginate gel groups in activity of preadipocytes for 14 days. The results suggest that collagen gel are adequate three-dimensional scaffolds in which the proliferation of preadipocytes can be induced, and that alginate gel can be used as a three-dimensional scaffold that has the ability to induce differentiation of preadipocyte although the proliferation of preadipocytes is inhibited.
Adipocytes ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Collagen* ; Cytoplasm ; Gels* ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering

Neuroendocrine cells are distributed throughout the body and they are found in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lung, thyroid, adrenal gland and many other organs, and especially the gastrointestinal tract. As a consequence, neuroendocrine tumors of the colon and rectum are common neoplasm. Several cases of the benign carcinoid tumor and a few cases of the malignant carcinoid tumor of the colon and rectum have been reported. Yet there have been no reports on concurrent malignant carcinoid tumor and benign carcinoid tumor at the same site of the colon. A 60-year-old man presented with an asymptomatic rectal mass. After the mass was evaluated and operated on, it was confirmed to be a concurrent malignant carcinoid tumor and benign carcinoid tumor of the rectum, and metastasis to the liver was also found.
Adrenal Glands ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Colon ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Cells ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pancreas ; Rectum ; Thyroid Gland

To develop a live vaccine candidate using an attenuated strain of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), biochemical properties, plasmid profile, PFGE patterns and pathogenic analysis of the ST isolate were carried out after sequential passage of the ST isolate in porcine neutrophils. By the passage, the ability of the neutrophil-adapted isolate to utilize d-xylose was lost, while the ability of the strain to ferment trehalose was delayed after 2 or more days of the culture. Also, changes including deletion of the gene fragments were observed in PFGE analysis of the neutrophil-adapted isolates. Two plasmids, 105kb and 50kb, were cured in the strain passaged over 15 times in porcine neutrophils. The 50% of lethal dose (LD50) of the parent strain was changed from 1 x 10(5) LD50 to 6 x 10(6) LD50 by the passage in intraperitoneal injection of the strains into mice. These results suggested that bacterial genotypic and phenotypic responses might be globally altered depending on the inside environment of neutrophils.
Animals ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; Parents ; Plasmids ; Salmonella ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Sprains and Strains ; Trehalose ; Xylose