A defective HIV-1 helper virus DNA, pHyPC, was assembled by deleting the RNA packaging signal, env, nef and the 3'LTR sequences. HIV-1 like virus particles that carry the HIV-1 receptor, CD4 were generated by coexpression of pHyPC and plasmid DNAs encoding different chimeric CD4 proteins. The CD4 particles, sharing the CD4 ectodomain, precisely fused to different membrane anchors. CD4(+) particles specifically bound to HIV-1 Env expressing cells, but any signs of infection into these cells were not detected. Binding was only partially blocked by either polyclonal anti-CD4 antibodies or by high concentrations of soluble CD4. Suprisingly, CD4(+) particles also adsorbed to HeLa, CHO, NIH3T3 and COS-7 cells in the absence of HIV-1 Env expression. Adsorption was comparable in strength and speed to the highly specific CD4-Env interaction. CD4(-) particles exhibited only background levels of binding. Cell binding was CD4- dependent, but it was independent of the cell type from which the CD4(+) particles originated. Interestingly, CD4-dependent/Env-independent binding was only found when CD4 was present on virus particles. This suggests that the micro-environment of CD4 on virus particles uniquely expose this new cell binding activity. Its high affinity could explain in part why infection of Env(+) cells by CD4(+) particles was not detected. Further experiments will be required to evlauate whether this strong membrane interaction could represent one step in the multiple-step viral entry process.
Adsorption ; Animals ; Antibodies ; COS Cells ; DNA ; Helper Viruses ; HIV-1* ; Membranes ; Plasmids ; Product Packaging ; RNA ; Virion

The crossing laminar screw fixation might be the most recently developed approach among various fixation techniques for C2. The new construct has stability comparable to transarticular or transpedicular screw fixation without risk of vertebral artery injury. Quantitative anatomical studies about C2 vertebra suggest significant variation in the thickness of C2 lamina as well as cross sectional area of junction of lamina and spinous process. We present an elderly patient who underwent an occipito-cervical stabilization incorporating crossed C2 laminar screw fixation. We preoperatively recognized that she had low profiles of C2 lamina, and thus made a modification of trajectory for the inferiorly crossing screw. We introduce a simple modification of crossing C2 laminar screw technique to improve stability in patients with low laminar profiles.
Aged ; Humans ; Spine ; Vertebral Artery

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effect of rinsing time on the accuracy of interim crowns fabricated by digital light processing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maxillary right first molar master die was duplicated using a silicone material, while a study die was produced using epoxy resin. Scans of the epoxy resin die were used in combination with CAD software to design a maxillary right first molar interim crown. Based on this design, 24 interim crowns were fabricated with digital light processing. This study examined the trueness and precision of products that were processed with one of the three different postprocessing rinsing times (1 min, 5 min, and 10 min). Trueness was measured by superimposing reference data with scanned data from external, intaglio, and marginal surfaces. Precision was measured by superimposing the scan data within the group. The trueness and precision data were analyzed using KruskalWallis, nonparametric, and post-hoc tests, and were compared using a MannWhitney U test with Bonferroni correction (α=.05). RESULTS: The trueness of the external and intaglio surfaces of crowns varied significantly among the different rinsing times (P=.004, P=.003), but there was no statistically significant difference in terms of trueness measurements of the marginal surfaces (P=.605). In terms of precision, statistically significant differences were found among the external, intaglio, and marginal surfaces (P=.001). CONCLUSION Interim crowns rinsed for 10 minutes showed high accuracy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the accuracy (trueness and precision) of interim crowns fabricated using DLP (digital light processing) according to postcuring time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A virtual stone study die of the upper right first molar was created using a dental laboratory scanner. After designing interim crowns on the virtual study die and saving them as Standard Triangulated Language files, 30 interim crowns were fabricated using a DLP-type 3D printer. Additively manufactured interim crowns were post-cured using three different time conditions-10-minute post-curing interim crown (10-MPCI), 20-minute postcuring interim crown (20-MPCI), and 30-minute post-curing interim crown (30-MPCI) (n = 10 per group). The scan data of the external and intaglio surfaces were overlapped with reference crown data, and trueness was measured using the best-fit alignment method. In the external and intaglio surface groups (n = 45 per group), precision was measured using a combination formula exclusive to scan data (10 C2). Significant differences in accuracy (trueness and precision) data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and post hoc analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction (α=.05). RESULTS: In the 10-MPCI, 20-MPCI, and 30-MPCI groups, there was a statistically significant difference in the accuracy of the external and intaglio surfaces (P <.05). On the external and intaglio surfaces, the root mean square (RMS) values of trueness and precision were the lowest in the 10-MPCI group. CONCLUSION Interim crowns with 10-minute post-curing showed high accuracy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the accuracy (trueness and precision) of interim crowns fabricated using DLP (digital light processing) according to postcuring time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A virtual stone study die of the upper right first molar was created using a dental laboratory scanner. After designing interim crowns on the virtual study die and saving them as Standard Triangulated Language files, 30 interim crowns were fabricated using a DLP-type 3D printer. Additively manufactured interim crowns were post-cured using three different time conditions-10-minute post-curing interim crown (10-MPCI), 20-minute postcuring interim crown (20-MPCI), and 30-minute post-curing interim crown (30-MPCI) (n = 10 per group). The scan data of the external and intaglio surfaces were overlapped with reference crown data, and trueness was measured using the best-fit alignment method. In the external and intaglio surface groups (n = 45 per group), precision was measured using a combination formula exclusive to scan data (10 C2). Significant differences in accuracy (trueness and precision) data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and post hoc analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction (α=.05). RESULTS: In the 10-MPCI, 20-MPCI, and 30-MPCI groups, there was a statistically significant difference in the accuracy of the external and intaglio surfaces (P <.05). On the external and intaglio surfaces, the root mean square (RMS) values of trueness and precision were the lowest in the 10-MPCI group. CONCLUSION Interim crowns with 10-minute post-curing showed high accuracy.

Microvenular hemangioma is an uncommon acquired vascular tumor of young to middle-aged adults of both genders. It usually presents as a small, solitary, purple to red papule or plaque on the extremities or trunk. Histologically, the tumor is composed of small branching venules with collapsed lumina and conspicuous pericytes infiltrating the full thickness of the reticular dermis. Because of histological similarity to a Kaposi's sarcoma, the awareness of microvenular hemangioma is important. We report a case of microvenular hemangioma in a 9-year-old girl.
Adult ; Child ; Dermis ; Extremities ; Female ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Pericytes ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Venules

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

Fractures of lumbo-sacral junction involving bilateral sacral wings are rare. Posterior lumbo-sacral fixation does not always provide with sufficient stability in such cases. Various augmentation techniques including divergent sacral ala screws, S2 pedicle screws and Galveston rods have been reported to improve lumbo-sacral stabilization. Galveston technique using iliac bones would be the best surgical approach especially in patients with bilateral comminuted sacral fractures. However, original Galveston surgery is technically demanding and bending rods into the appropriate alignment is time consuming. We present a patient with unstable lumbo-sacral junction fractures and comminuted U-shaped sacral fractures treated by lumbo-sacro-pelvic fixation using iliac screws and discuss about the advantages of the iliac screws over the rod system of Galveston technique.
Humans

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the possibility of improving the comprehension and satisfaction of patients discharged after receiving discharge instructions using a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), compared with conventional discharge instructions. METHODS: A randomized, prospective, consecutive, exploratory study was conducted on patients with ureteral stones in an emergency department (ED). The patients' objective comprehension, satisfaction, and subjective comprehension regarding their discharge instructions were compared with regard to discharge instruction (traditional verbal method, N=53 versus tablet PC method, N=53). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in age, gender, or level of education were observed between the two groups. The mean number of correct answers regarding ureteral stones on the questionnaire was 2.35+/-1.02 in the conventional group (CG) and 3.37+/-0.9 in the tablet PC group (TG) (p<0.05). The score for satisfaction was 7.75 in the CG and 8.03 in the TG (p>0.05). The subjective comprehension score was 7.42 in the CG and 7.8 in the TG (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Objective comprehension of ureteral stones showed improvement in the group with discharge instructions provided by the tablet PC. However, satisfaction and subjective comprehension did not show improvement.
Comprehension ; Computer-Assisted Instruction ; Computers, Handheld ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Patient Discharge ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ureter ; Urolithiasis