STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to study the effects of various surface treatments to a titanium surface on the expression of Runx2 in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human Osteosarcoma TE-85 cells were cultured on machined, sandblasted, or anodic oxidized cpTi discs. At various times of incubation, the cells were collected and then processed for the analysis of mRNA expression of Runx2 using reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS: The expression pattern of Runx2 mRNA was differed according to the types of surface treatment. When the cells were cultured on the untreated control culture plates, the gene expression of Runx2 was not increased during the experiments. In the case of that the cells were cultured on the machined cpTI discs, the expression level was intermediate at the first day, but increased constitutively to day 5. In cells on sandblasted cpTi discs, the expression level was highest in the first day sample and the level was maintained to 5 days. In cells on anodized cpTi discs, the expression level increased rapidly to 3 days, but decreased slightly in the 5-th day sample. CONCLUSION: Different surface treatments may contribute to the regulation of osteoblast function by influencing the level of gene expression of key osteogenic factors.
Durapatite ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteosarcoma ; RNA, Messenger ; Titanium

Multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) are defined as the presence of two or more malignancies in different organs, without a subordinate relationship. Although rarely reported, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occasionally presents with simultaneous or metachronous primary malignancies in other organs. In this report, we describe a patient with lung adenocarcinoma and lymph node and bone metastases, treated with five chemotherapeutic regimens for 24 months. Changing the chemotherapy regimen based on the suspicion of metastasis of a new liver mass did not lead to improvements. This prompted a liver biopsy and a revised diagnosis of HCC. Sixth-line treatment with the concurrent use of cisplatin-paclitaxel for lung cancer and sorafenib for HCC, stabilized the disease. The concurrent treatment was not tolerated and was discontinued owing to adverse events. Considering our findings, treatment with increased efficacy and lower toxicity for MPMs is warranted.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLHCC) is a rare malignant hepatic cancer with characteristics that differ from those of typical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unlike conventional HCC, FLHCC is common in young patients without any underlying liver disease and is known to be associated with a unique gene mutation. This cancer type is rare in Asia, with only a few cases being reported in Korea. We report a case of FLHCC in a young woman that successfully underwent surgical resection. The efficacy of alternative treatments, such as transarterial chemoembolization or systemic chemotherapies, has not yet been established. To conclude, early diagnosis and appropriate surgical resection are important for the treatment of FLHCC.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is a leading cause of liver-related deaths worldwide. Recently available direct-acting antiviral agent is very safe and highly effective (>95% sustained virologic response, SVR) against all genotypes of HCV. Achievement of SVR has been associated with a significant reduction of hepatic decompensation, development of HCC, and liver-related mortality. However, HCC risk is not eliminated even after SVR. The annual incidences of HCC in advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis have been estimated to be up to 2.5–4.5% even in patients with SVR. Therefore, surveillance for HCC is recommended in this high-risk patients. In this review, we will describe the clinical outcomes and the risk of HCC in patients with SVR and suggest who should receive surveillance for HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Fibrosis ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Mortality ; Risk Factors

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein invasion has a poor prognosis. Treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiation therapy (RT), sorafenib are done as a first line treatment. But in case of incomplete response to first line treatment, there's no established guideline about salvage treatment. We present a 47 year-old male who was diagnosed as HCC with portal vein invasion. He was treated with RT and repeated TACE, but remnant viable tumor was observed. Surgical resection was performed as a salvage treatment, and HCC was completely removed. He has been followed up over 3 years, but there was no recurrence.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Humans ; Male ; Portal Vein* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Salvage Therapy ; Thrombosis

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a complication in patients undergoing catheterization. The risk increased when large-bore sheaths, concomitant anticoagulation therapy, and antiplatelet therapy are used during the intervention. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection has become the treatment of choice. Rapid expansion, rupture, infection, and mass effect resulting in distal or cutaneous ischaemia or peripheral neuropathy, as well as failure of other treatment options are all indications for surgery. We report a 48-year-old man who developed hemorrhagic shock due to femoral pseudoaneurysm rupture after coronary angiography, and successfully treated by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection.
Aneurysm, False* ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Renal Dialysis ; Rupture* ; Shock, Hemorrhagic* ; Thrombin

Plasmodium falciparum can invade all stages of red blood cells, while Plasmodium vivax can invade only reticulocytes. Although many P. vivax proteins have been discovered, their functions are largely unknown. Among them, P. vivax reticulocyte binding proteins (PvRBP1 and PvRBP2) recognize and bind to reticulocytes. Both proteins possess a C-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane domain, which drives adhesion to reticulocytes. PvRBP1 and PvRBP2 are large (> 326 kDa), which hinders identification of the functional domains. In this study, the complete genome information of the P. vivax RBP family was thoroughly analyzed using a prediction server with bioinformatics data to predict B-cell epitope domains. Eleven pvrbp family genes that included 2 pseudogenes and 9 full or partial length genes were selected and used to express recombinant proteins in a wheat germ cell-free system. The expressed proteins were used to evaluate the humoral immune response with vivax malaria patients and healthy individual serum samples by protein microarray. The recombinant fragments of 9 PvRBP proteins were successfully expressed; the soluble proteins ranged in molecular weight from 16 to 34 kDa. Evaluation of the humoral immune response to each recombinant PvRBP protein indicated a high antigenicity, with 38-88% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Of them, N-terminal parts of PvRBP2c (PVX_090325-1) and PvRBP2 like partial A (PVX_090330-1) elicited high antigenicity. In addition, the PvRBP2-like homologue B (PVX_116930) fragment was newly identified as high antigenicity and may be exploited as a potential antigenic candidate among the PvRBP family. The functional activity of the PvRBP family on merozoite invasion remains unknown.
Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/*chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunodominant Epitopes/chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Malaria, Vivax/immunology/*parasitology ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium vivax/chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry/genetics/*immunology ; Reticulocytes/*parasitology

Infection with nontyphoidal Salmonella most often results in self-limited acute gastroenteritis. However, occasionally it causes bacteremia and localized infection requiring antibiotic treatment. A third-generation cephalosporin or fluoroquinolone is often the first choice of antibiotic. However, there has been an increase in nalidixic-acid-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella with decreased fluoroquinolone susceptibility. Although there have been many cases reported of nontyphoidal Salmonella, no cases of nalidixic-acid-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella have been reported in Korea. Here, we report on the case of a 61-year-old man with a diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis and periosteal abscess of the femur caused by nalidixic-acid-resistant Salmonella enteritidis. He was treated successfully with prolonged administration of a high-dose of ciprofloxacin and drainage of the abscess.
Abscess ; Bacteremia ; Ciprofloxacin ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Drug Resistance ; Femur* ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nalidixic Acid ; Osteomyelitis* ; Salmonella ; Salmonella enteritidis*

Dementia with motor neuron disease is a rare subtype of frontotemporal dementia. A 59-year-old woman presented with a twenty month history of abnormal behaviors and progressive cognitive decline. Abnormal behaviors consisted of emotional unconcern, persecutory delusion, distractibility, impulsivity, wondering and excessive laughing. Neuropsychological tests showed profound frontal lobe dysfunction out of proportion to amnesia, aphasia, and visuospatial dysfunction. Brain MRI showed subtle atrophy of both frontal lobes. However, brain FDG-PET showed glucose hypometabolism of bilateral frontal and anterior temporal lobes. An open brain biopsy of right frontal lobe demonstrated nonspecific findings including neuronal loss and microvacuolation with reactive astrogliosis in the absence of Alzheimer changes or Pick body. Four months later she developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis starting with dysphagia. Her condition had continued to deteriorate, resulting in akinetic mutism and marked limb atrophy by the time she died of pneumonia three years postonset.
Akinetic Mutism ; Amnesia ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Aphasia ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Deglutition Disorders ; Delusions ; Dementia ; Extremities ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Frontotemporal Dementia* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Motor Neuron Disease* ; Motor Neurons* ; Neurons ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Pneumonia ; Temporal Lobe

PURPOSE: The optimal antibiotic regimen for appendicitis still remains poorly defined. The aim of this study was to define the optimal duration and route of antibiotics after an appendectomy, with regard to the clinicopathololgical aspects. METHODS: This study was performed on 73 consecutive patients who underwent an appendectomy. Groups A and B, which were composed of cases of simple appendicitis (phlegmonous and suppurative type) and complicated appendicitis (gangrenous and perforated type), respectively. Group A was randomized after the appendectomy into either A1 (n=17), a 1-day course of a combination of IV first generation cephalosporin and tobramycin; or to A2 (n=26), a 3-day course of the same regimen. Group B was randomized into either B1 (n=16), a 3-day course of a combination of IV cephalosporin, tobramycin, and metronidazole, followed by conversion to a 4-day course of a combination of PO third generation cephalosporin and metronidazole; or B2 (n=7), a 7-day course of a combination of IV cephalosporin and metronidazole, along with a 5-day course of tobramycin. The total leukocyte count (WBC), neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed preoperatively and on POD #3 and #7. An intraoperative culture of the surface of the appendix was also performed. RESULTS: The most common cultured organism was Escherichia coli (n=30). Ampicillin and first generation cephalosporin were 73% and 49% resistant to Gram-negative organisms, respectively. Third generation cephalosporin and imipenem were 100% sensitive. The subjects in group A were all under normal limits in the postoperative laboratory analyses, and had no complication. Groups B1 and B2 showed no significant differences in their WBC (P=0.301), neutrophil count (P=0.730), and complications (P=0.907), with the exception of CRP (P=0.040). CONCLUSION: After the appendectomy, simple appendicitis was treated with antibiotics for 24 hrs, with no complications. For complicated appendicitis, a 3-day IV course, followed by a conversion to 4-day PO antibiotics, was found to be safe. Surveillance of the WBC and neutrophil counts, CRP values, and body temperature permitted safe utilization of this regimen.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Appendix ; Body Temperature ; C-Reactive Protein ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Leukocyte Count ; Metronidazole ; Neutrophils ; Prospective Studies* ; Tobramycin