PURPOSE:It is important to evaluate the healing process of avascular necrosis (AVN) involving femoral head after treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of pinhole bone scintigraphy in the AVN of femoral head after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the changing pattern of pinhole bone scintigram in 21 femoral heads of 16 patients (14 lesions/11 male, 7 lesions/5 female, mean age: 39.4 yrs) before and after multiple drilling or vascularized bone grafting for AVN of the femoral head. In all patients, pre-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months before treatment and the first post-operative scintigrams were obtained at 1 to 3 months after treatment. All patients were followed for 2 to 4 years after operation. RESULTS: The findings of the pinhole scintigrams were divided into three patterns: 1) curvilinear, 2) scattered spotty and 3) undetermined. The 10 of 11 lesions with curvilinear pattern had good postoperative clinical and radiological follow-up findings. However, all 6 lesions with scattered spotty pattern showed poor postoperative findings, which necessitated total hip joint replacement. Of the 4 lesions with undetermined pattern, 2 required total hip joint replacement. There was significant difference in postoperative prognosis between the curvilinear and scattered spotty patterns (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the pattern of pinhole bone scintigram obtained within 1 to 3 months after multiple drilling or vascularized bone graft operation is a useful prognostic indicator in the AVN of femoral head.
Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Prognosis* ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: The tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) is an important source of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which have a strong prognostic and predictive value in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A previous study reported that the levels of CXCL13 mRNA expression were associated with TLSs, but measuring the gene expression is challenging in routine practice. Therefore, this study evaluated the MECA79-positive high endothelial venule (HEV) densities and their association with the histopathologically assessed TLSs in biopsy samples. In addition, the relationship of TLSs with the CXCL13 transcript levels and clinical outcomes were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 108 TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) were studied. The amounts of TILs and TLSs were measured histopathologically using hematoxylin and eosin–stained slides. The HEV densities and TIL subpopulations were measured by immunohistochemistry for MECA79, CD3, CD8, and CD20. CXCL13mRNA expression levels using a NanoString assay (NanoString Technologies). RESULTS: The mean number of HEVs in pre-NAC biopsies was 12 (range, 0 to 72). The amounts of TILs and TLSs, HEV density, and CXCL13 expression showed robust correlations with each other. A lower pre-NAC clinical T stage, higher TIL and TLS levels, a higher HEV density, CD20-positive cell density, and CXCL13 expression were significant predictors of a pathologic complete response (pCR). Higher CD8-positive cell density and levels of CXCL13 expression were significantly associated with a better disease-free survival rate. CONCLUSION: MECA79-positive HEV density in pre-NAC biopsies is an objective and quantitative surrogate marker of TLS and might be a valuable tool for predicting pCR of TNBC in routine pathology practice.
Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Cell Count ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Gene Expression ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* ; Venules*

The KA1 kainate receptor (KAR) subunit in the substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) has been implicated in the processing of nociceptive information from the orofacial region. This study compared the expression of the KA1 KAR subunit in the SG of the Vc in juvenile, prepubescent and adult mice. RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses were used to examine the expression level in SG area. The expression levels of the KA1 KAR subunit mRNA and protein were higher in juvenile mice than in prepubescent or adult mice. Quantitative data revealed that the KA1 KAR subunit mRNA and protein were expressed at levels approximately two and three times higher, respectively, in juvenile mice than in adult mice. A similar expression pattern of the KA1 KAR subunit was observed in an immunohistochemical study that showed higher expression in the juvenile (59%) than those of adult (35%) mice. These results show that the KA1 KAR subunits are expressed in the SG of the Vc in mice and that the expression level of the KA1 KAR subunit decreases gradually with postnatal development. These findings suggest that age-dependent KA1 KAR subunit expression can be a potential mechanism of age-dependent pain perception.
Age Factors ; Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Mice ; Receptors, Kainic Acid/*metabolism ; Substantia Gelatinosa/*metabolism

Nowadays, digital dentistry is generally applied to prosthodontics with fabrication of inlays or any other fixed prostheses by utilizing CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technology and intraoral scanner. However, in fabricating removable prosthesis, there are some limitations for digital technology to substitute conventional casting method. Therefore, approaching removable prostheses fabrication with CAD/CAM technology would be a meaningful trial. In this case report, Kennedy class III mandibular edentulous patient who was in need of increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion was treated with removable partial denture using CAD and rapid prototyping technique. Surveying and designing the metal framework of the partial denture was performed with CAD, and sacrificial plastic pattern was fabricated with rapid prototyping technique. During the follow up period of nine months, the removable partial denture has provided satisfactory results in esthetics and function.
Computer-Aided Design* ; Dentistry ; Denture, Partial ; Denture, Partial, Removable ; Esthetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inlays ; Methods ; Plastics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Vertical Dimension

PURPOSE: In spite of an extensive vaccination program, parvoviral infections still pose a major threat to the health of dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated a novel canine parvovirus (CPV) strain from a dog with enteritis. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis of the isolate showed that it is a novel type 2b CPV with asparagine at the 426th position and valine at the 555th position in VP2. To develop a vaccine against CPV infection, we passaged the isolate 4 times in A72 cells. RESULTS: The attenuated isolate conferred complete protection against lethal homologous CPV infection in dogs such that they did not develop any clinical symptoms, and their antibody titers against CPV were significantly high at 7-11 days post infection. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the virus isolate obtained after passaging can be developed as a novel vaccine against paroviral infection.
Animals ; Asparagine ; Dogs ; Enteritis ; Parvovirus, Canine ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sprains and Strains ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Valine ; Viruses

PURPOSE: In the presence of interferon, proteasome subunits are replaced by their inducible counterparts to form an immunoproteasome (IP) plays a key role in generation of antigenic peptides presented by MHC class I molecules, leading to elicitation of a T cell‒mediated immune response. Although the roles of IP in other cancers, and inflammatory diseases have been extensively studied, its significance in breast cancer is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the expression of LMP7, an IP subunit, and its relationship with immune system components in two breast cancer cohorts. RESULTS: In 668 consecutive breast cancer cohort, 40% of tumors showed high level of LMP7 expression, and tumors with high expression of LMP7 had more tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in each subtype of breast cancer. In another cohort of 681 triple-negative breast cancer patients cohort, the expression of LMP7 in tumor cells was significantly correlated with the amount of TILs and the expression of interferon-associated molecules (MxA [p < 0.001] and PKR [p < 0.001]), endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated molecules (PERK [p=0.012], p-eIF2a [p=0.001], and XBP1 [p < 0.001]), and damage-associated molecular patterns (HMGN1 [p < 0.001] and HMGB1 [p < 0.001]). Patients with higher LMP7 expression had better disease-free survival outcomes than those with no or low expression in the positive lymph node metastasis group (p=0.041). CONCLUSION: Close association between the TIL levels and LMP7 expression in breast cancer indicates that better antigen presentation through greater LMP7 expression might be associated with more TILs.
Antigen Presentation ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; HLA Antigens ; HMGB1 Protein ; Humans ; Immune System ; Interferons ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptides ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) releases Ca²⁺ from ryanodine receptor (RyR)-sensitive calcium pools in various cell types. In cardiac myocytes, the physiological levels of cADPR transiently increase the amplitude and frequency of Ca²⁺ (that is, a rapid increase and decrease of calcium within one second) during the cardiac action potential. In this study, we demonstrated that cADPR levels higher than physiological levels induce a slow and gradual increase in the resting intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺](i)) level over 10 min by inhibiting the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA). Higher cADPR levels mediate the tyrosine-dephosphorylation of α-actin by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) present in the endoplasmic reticulum. The tyrosine dephosphorylation of α-actin dissociates phospholamban, the key regulator of SERCA, from α-actin and results in SERCA inhibition. The disruption of the integrity of α-actin by cytochalasin B and the inhibition of α-actin tyrosine dephosphorylation by a PTP1B inhibitor block cADPR-mediated Ca²⁺ increase. Our results suggest that levels of cADPR that are relatively higher than normal physiological levels modify calcium homeostasis through the dephosphorylation of α-actin by PTB1B and the subsequent inhibition of SERCA in cardiac myocytes.
Action Potentials ; Adenosine Diphosphate* ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Calcium ; Cyclic ADP-Ribose ; Cytochalasin B ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Homeostasis ; Muscle Cells* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1* ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases* ; Reticulum ; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel ; Tyrosine

This study evaluated the possibility of the 3-dimensional attachment of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts to a periodntally involved root surface after an EDTA treatment in vitro. The human PDL fibroblasts were isolated from the middle third of the root of periodontally healthy teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. The cells were cultured in a medium containing Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum at 37degrees C in humidified air containing 5% CO2. Eight single-rooted teeth were obtained from patients diagnosed with periodotitis. After scaling and root planing, four teeth were etched with 24% ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) for two minutes (Experimental group). The other four teeth were not treated with EDTA and were used as the control group. The human PDL fibroblasts were placed in the total root surface and cultured for 4 weeks. The teeth were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in PBS before preparation for the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination. The human PDL fibroblasts showed a healthy morphology on the root surfaces treated with EDTA (Experimental group) and a relatively unhealthy appearance on the treated root surfaces (Control group). This suggests that EDTA favorably affects the 3-dimensional attachment of human PDL fibroblasts cultured on the root surfaces, which may play an important role in periodontal healing and regeneration.
Eagles ; Edetic Acid* ; Fibroblasts* ; Glutaral ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Regeneration ; Root Planing ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy is recognized as a disease affecting primarily young men under 30 years of age but it is relatively uncommon over 50 years of age. Findings on clinical and histological presentation and outcome of over 50 years of age have rarely published in Korea. METHODS: Between Febrary 1994 and July 2003, one hundred and thirty nine IgAN patients were recruited over 8 years. Nineteen patients over age 50 were compared to one hundred and twenty patients under age 50 clinical, histological findings, 5-Yr renal survival rate. Mean post-biopsy follow-up month was 23.8 +/- 23.5 months. RESULTS: Both group of patients were similar to baseline for gross hematuria, Male and female ratio. But older patients had a higher incidence of daily for 24 hour urine protein (p=0.010), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.010, p<0.01), serum C3 (p=0.001) and serum C4 (p=0.003). Albumin (p=0.011), creatinine clearance (p<0.01) were significantly lower in the older patients at the time of renal biopsy. Histologic grade IV was more common in the older patients (p=0.001). Moderate to severe mesangial proliferation (p=0.001) and crescent formation (p=0.043), arteriolosclerosis (p=0.006) were more common in older patients. Mesangial small deposition of IgA (p=0.007) and glomerular peripheral deposition of IgG, IgA, C1q (p=0.024, p=0.014, p=0.009) were more common in older patients than in under 50 years of age. Mesangial small electron dense deposits were more common in older patients than in younger patients (p=0.031). CRF (Ccr < 60 mL/min) was confirmed 55.6% over age 50 and 27.4% under age 50 (p=0.017). Renal replacement therapy was done 15.8% over age 50 and 4.3% under age 50 (p=0.048). 5-Year renal survival curves showed that kidney survival rate was 44.4% over age 50 and 72.6% under age 50 (p=0.0248). CONCLUSION: Poor prognostic factors were more common over age 50 than under age 50. CRF and renal replacement therapy were more common over age 50. Analysis of renal survival curves shows that the probability of developing ESRF increase after age 50. But, prolonged prospective follow-up is necessary to confirm this trend.
Arteriolosclerosis ; Biopsy ; Blood Pressure ; Creatinine ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Korea ; Male ; Prognosis ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Survival Rate

Tuberculosis of thyroid gland is rare. We experienced a case of tuberculosis of the thyroid gland with contralateral lymph node enlargement in a 45-year-old female patient. She had no clinical respiratory symptom and no weight change. Thyroid sonography demonstrated 5.4 × 3.8 mm sized round low echogenic mass on lower pole of left thyroid gland and right cervical lymph node enlargement. Core needle biopsy of thyroid showed epithelioid chronic granuloma in the caseous necrosis. She was administrered anti-tuberculosis therapy for 24 weeks. After medication, thyroid sonographic finding improved and thyroid mass and right cervical lymph node enlargement disappeared.
Biopsy, Large-Core Needle* ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Tuberculosis* ; Ultrasonography