BACKGROUND: Social support is defined as interpersonal transaction ; the giving of symbolic or material aid to another. It has been shown to have both buffering effects and direct beneficial effects on diverse health related outcomes. But there has been the dearth of well-validated measurement instruments. This article describes the development of Korean version of the Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire(DUFSS), focusing on the aspect of social support. METHODS: The 13-item, self-administered questionnaire was translated to Korean language. It was evaluated on 177 patients attending the family medicine clinic of Seoul National University Hospital during one month(November, 1996.) Comparisons to the family APGAR, COOP/ WONCA functional status chart are made to assess validity. Factor analyses are performed. Correlation of the questionnire score with the sum of family APGAR and each items of COOP/ WONCA functional chart are measured Internal consistency are evaluated. RESULTS: The questionnaire score are correlated with significantly correlated with social activity item. The total Cronbachs alpha is calculated as 0.89. The four content areas developed by factor analyses are donfidant support(items 8, 9, 10), af fective support(items 4, 5, 6, 7), instrumental support(items 3, 12) and quantity of support(item 1). These shows similarity to American study results. CONCLUSIONS: The Korean version of the Duke-UNC functional social support questionnaire has been documented as having high reliability and moderate validity. It covers two dimensions well(confidant support, affective support) with a small enough number of questions. Instrumental support may need further study.
Humans ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No Abstract Available.
Chondrocytes* ; Phenotype*

For the successful autologous chondrocyte transplantation, it is important to maximize the number of chondrocyte and maintain its original morphology and phenotypic change of the chondrocyte in the culture. In this study, the effect of ascorbic acid and human serum which are known to promote cell proliferation and collagen synthesis was observed in the culture of human chondrocyte. Media were prepared with the conditions of fetal bovine Serum(FBS) treated group, FBS +ascorbic acid(asc) treated group, human serum(HuS) treated group, and HuS+asc treated group, respectively. Proliferation was measured by cell counting using trypan-blue staining method. We used to determine the degree of expression of aggrecan of mRNA and type II collagen using RT-PCR. Type II collagen in cultured cell and medium was measured by western blot analysis and proteoglycan synthesis by DMB (Dimethylene Blue) assay. Under all conditions, aggrecan on mRNA level was well expressed. On the other hand, expression of type II collagen was reduced on HuS treated group than FBS treated group, and ascorbic acid treated groups showed decreased expression of type II collagen. Western blot analysis showed increased expression of type II collagen on HuS treated group than FBS treated group, and ascorbic acid treated groups showed increased level. HuS+asc treated group showed the most significant effect than the other groups. The increased effects of ascorbic acid on the proliferation and collagen synthesis were more prominent in the culture with human serum. It might be due to the synergic effect with some growth factors which were present in human serum.
Aggrecans ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II ; Hand ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Phenotype* ; Proteoglycans ; RNA, Messenger

In monolayer culture, articular chondrocytes are well known to proliferate and dedifferentiate by seum and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta). These dedifferentiated cells regain the ability to express type II collagen in alginate bead culture. In this study, the effects of human serum and TGF-beta on the proliferation and phenotypical change of human chondrocytes were examined in both monolayer and alginate bead culture. Proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation and cell counting, chondrocytic phenotype by Western blot analysis of type II collagen expression, and proteoglycan synthesis by dimethylmethylene blue assay. Both human serum and TGF-beta synergistically increased the proliferation of chondrocytes in monolayer culture. Human serum had effect to maintain the type II collagen expression, even with enhanced level, in monolayer culture and showed redifferentiation in alginate culture, similar to fetal bovine serum control. TGF-beta enhanced the production of proteoglycan in monolayer culture. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that human serum and TGF-beta could be used as potent additives to increase chondrocyte proliferation and maintain its phenotype.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type II ; Humans* ; Phenotype ; Proteoglycans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

This study was initiated to investigate the effect of ultrasound(US) stimulation on therapeutic effects on human osteoarthritic cartilage repair. Cartilage explants from human osteoarthritic knee were sonicated for 10 minutes every day using continuous wave at frequency 1 MHz US signals with spatial and temporal average intensities of 0, 40, 200, 500 and 700mW/cm2. One group of explants was exposed to sham ultrasound as a control. After 1 week of culture, the intensity-dependent effects of US on DNA, proteoglycan (PG) and collagen synthesis were measured by 3H-thymidine, 35S-sulfate, 3H-proline incorporation, respectively. The expression of PG and type II collagen released into medium were measured by DMB (dimethylmethylene blue) method and western blot analysis. Safranin O/fast green and immunohistochemical staining with anti-collagen type II antibody were performed using the serial sections of cartilage explants. The histochemical examination showed that the expression of PG at the pericellular area in the deep layer increased continuously up to 700mW/cm2. In contrast, the depth of the superficial layer significantly decreased after treatment of sonication at 500 and 700mW/cm2. The expression of PG and type II collagen assessed by the isotope incorporation was significantly enhanced to the level up to 140%, 120% respectively, although US had no stimulatory effect on cell proliferation. These results suggest that optimum intensity of US for the effective expression of extracellular matrix in osteoarthritic cartilage may be around 200mW/cm2. In conclusion, our study suggests the possibilities that sonication may be therapeutically utilized for the repair of human osteoarthritic cartilage.
Blotting, Western ; Cartilage* ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II ; DNA ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans* ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis* ; Proteoglycans ; Sonication* ; Ultrasonography

A man's self-esteem can be influenced by his external genitalia. If a man perceives his penis as inadequate size, whether real or imagined, such feelings invade his sexual activities. Most patients seek increased thickness and length to improve appearance during intercourse. Many men want to enlarge their penes despite of normal function or above average size. Dermal fat graft is extracted from a patient and penile augmentation with it is highly satisfactory since the amount of dermal fat graft absorption to the body itself is pretty low and rare cases of complication, and its natural appearance of penis without physical comfort. The most common complications after dermal grafting are penile skin edema and erythema. Sebaceous glands usually disappear within 2 weeks and hair follicles generally within 2 months. We report our experience with the evaluation and management of patient who present with uncommon penile cutaneous fistula after penile augmentation with dermal fat grafting.
Absorption ; Cutaneous Fistula* ; Edema ; Erythema ; Genitalia ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Sebaceous Glands ; Sexual Behavior ; Skin ; Transplants

A male baby with intrauterine growth retardation had a short neck, small hands and feet, hypospadia, both grade I hydronephrosis, type II atrial septal defect, and moderate valvular pulmonary stenosis. The routine chromosome and banding analyses revealed a 46,XY,rec(8)del(8)(p21)dup(8) (q24.1)inv(8)(p21q24.1)pat chromosome constitution. His mother has normal chromosomes, but the father had 46,XY,inv(8)(p21q24.1). Also his uncle had an inv(8) chromosome constitution. We used lymphocytes and examined 40 mitotic cells. All mitotic cells showed deletion of 8p21-->pter and duplication of 8q24.1-->qter. Because 8p21 involves secretion of macrophage and lymphocyte against cancer cells, long-term follow-up for cancer will be needed.
Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Fathers ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Foot ; Hand ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Hypospadias ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mothers ; Neck ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Trisomy

Articular cartilage is a unique tissue devoid of blood and nerve tissue and so its regeneration is very limited. Recently a clinical trial on transplantation using autologous chondrocyte with periosteal flap has drawn a great deal of attention. Chondrocytes cultured in a plastic flask in monolayer can rapidly dedifferentiate appearing fibroblastic, and exhibit a change in matrix gene expression characterized by a decrease in type II collagen synthesis. It is uncertain whether phenotypic change of dedifferentiated chondrocytes in vitro can be reversible to their original status alter long term culture. It is important to verify tile maintenance of the phenotype and determine the optimum period for culturing chondrocytes to be used in autologous chondrocyte transplantation. This study will be set up to confirm the reversibility of once-dedifferentiated chondrocytes with matrix-producing capability. The phenotype of cultured human chondrocyte is analysed by Northern blot and Western blot analysis for collagen type I and II. Chondrocytes appeared fibroblast right after adhering to the flask buttom at first week of culture. The proliferating rates of chondrocyte in a monolayer culture were maximum at 3rd and 4th week of culture. And thereafter, proliferation rate flowed down or stops as confluence rose. On Northern and Western blot analysis, collagen type II was well expressed by 3th to 4th week culture, thereafter progressively decreased its density with time. On the other hand, collagen type I m-RNA has not expressed until 3rd week of the culture, showing progressive increment of density thereafter. On Northern blot analysis in pellet culture, type II collagen m-RNA is apparantly reexpressed. This study indicates chat in the monolayor culture, the chondrocytic phenotype was lost with regards to morphology and mRNA expression and cartilage specific protein. However, these cells seemed to haute the potential to redifferentiate to well-differentiated chondrocytes in densely packed culture, such as pellet.
Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type II ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Hand ; Humans* ; Nerve Tissue ; Phenotype ; Plastics ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger

The LEOPARD syndrome is an acronym and serves as a mnemonic for the features of this autosomal dominant syndrome : L - lentigines (multiple), E - electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities, O - ocular hypertelorism, P - pulmonary stenosis, A - abnormalities of genitalia, R - retardation of growth, and D - deafness (sensoryneural). The main features of the syndrome are multiple lentigines in combination with congenital heart malformations. These frequently accompanied cardiac abnormalities are pulmonary stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and various ECG abnormalities. It is advisable to make cardiac evaluation in a patient with LEOPARD syndrome in spite of no clinical symptoms or signs, since cardiac dysfunction may be progressive or developed later. We experienced a case of this syndrome in a 31 year-old female, presenting multiple lentigines, ocular hypertelorism, and congenital cardiac abnormalities of incomplete right bundle branch block and cor triatriatum. We report the case with brief literature review.
Adult ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cor Triatriatum* ; Deafness ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Genitalia ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Lentigo ; LEOPARD Syndrome* ; Panthera* ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

PURPOSE: This article attempted to determine the factors affecting the preload and screw loosening. METHODS: Available clinical studies from 1981 to 2008 from the PUBMED that presented screw loosening data and review articles regarding screw joint stability were evaluated. Eleven studies dealing the biomechanical principles of the screw mechanics were reviewed. Moreover, the results of our data were included. RESULTS: The frequency of screw loosening was consequently reduced due to the advancement in torque tightening with torque wrench, screw material, coating technique for reducing the frictional force, and thread design, etc. If preload in the screw falls below a critical level, joint stability may be compromised, and the screw joint may fail clinically. The types of fatigue failure of screw were divided to adhesive wear, plastic deformation, and screw fracture. CONCLUSION: An optimum preload is essential to the success of the implant-abutment complex. To maintain optimum preload, using a torque wrench and re-tightening at recall time were needed.
Adhesives ; Fatigue ; Friction ; Joints ; Mechanics ; Plastics ; Torque