Acinetobacter species encounters frequently with clinical specimens and now accounts for a substantial proportion of endemic nosocomial infections in Korea. Recent trends indicate that the antimicrobial resistant strains of Acinetobacter species are increasing. Sixty-one strains were isolated from specimens of patients suspected of nosocomial infections during 1991 to 1996. At present, phenotypic identification of Acinetobacter using biochemical test may not be reliable and resulted in the difficulty to clarify the source of infections and epidemiological study of hospital-acquired infections. Aware of the importance of rational taxonomic proposal for these isolates, correct species identification of these organisms by molecular typing method was carried out. A total of fifty-four strains of A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex species which were identified to genospecies 2 and 13 by biochemical characteristics was subjected to identify by ribotyping using restriction endonuclease EcoRI, ClaI, and SalI. Of fifty-four strains, twenty-five strains were identified as A. baumannii (genospecies 2) and twenty-one strains as genospecies 13, and six strains changed to genospecies 3, and the rest two strains were confirmed as A. haemolyticus (genospecies 4). This result suggests that the ribotyping may be of value for identification of genospecies and epidemiological information of Acinetobacter strains.
Acinetobacter baumannii* ; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus* ; Acinetobacter* ; Cross Infection ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Humans ; Korea ; Molecular Typing ; Ribotyping*

In this study, we examined rabbit gastric ulcer models that can serve as more clinically relevant models. Two types of ulcer model were studied: acetic acid-induced ulcers (AAU) and mucosal resection-induced ulcers (MRU). For AAU, rabbit gastric mucosa was exposed by median laparotomy and treated with bottled acetic acid. MRU was examined as a model for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). Normal saline was injected into the submucosal layer and the swollen mucosa was resected with scissors. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is frequently performed for treatment of early gastric cancers. This procedure inevitably leads to ulcers and bleeding. Bleeding control is the major concern in endoscopic mucosectomy, and some endoscopic hemostatic agents are currently under clinical and preclinical studies. MRU was developed as a model for these induced ulcers and the evaluation of the healing process. The clinical relevancy of those models was compared with that of rat models. Progressive healing was observed for 7 days based on histology. Rabbit models demonstrate round, deep ulcers with clear margins and well-defined healing stages that were difficult to define in rat models.
Acetic Acid ; Animals ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hemorrhage ; Laparotomy ; Mucous Membrane ; Rats ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

Mature cystic teratomas of the ovary are one of the most common ovarian neoplasms found in reproductive age women. Malignant transformation is an uncommon complication in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, usually being reported in about 1-3% of cases. Of malignant transformations, squamous cell carcimona is the most common type and sarcomatous transformation is rare, its prognosis is poor. Adenocarcinoma occurs with less frequency. We experienced a case of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary, so we present this case with brief review of the literature.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Teratoma*

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a small vessel vasculitides mostly associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). The kidney is the most commonly affected organ in MPA. We report the case of a 9-year-old girl with ANCA-negative MPA who initially presented with respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and dyspnea. Based on her symptoms, atypical pneumonia was suspected. Also, childhood interstitial lung disease was considered based on findings seen on chest CT. Despite initial improvement of symptoms with oral corticosteroid therapy, dyspnea with initiation of corticosteroid tapering was noted. A final diagnosis of MPA was made after lung biopsy. ANCA was negative in both the initial and repeat blood tests. Oral cyclophosphamide and prednisolone treatments led to full remission. Since then, the patient has been treated with low dose prednisolone and azathioprine for maintenance. A good treatment response was achieved and her clinical symptoms, pulmonary functions, and radiologic findings have since improved. Thus, early and precise diagnosis of MPA is crucial for remission induction and prevention of symptom relapse.

PURPOSE: Surgeons are confronted frequently with the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the cases of acute appendicitis in the elderly. Despite the improvements in management, the morbidity and mortality remain high. In order to verify contributing factors of high morbidity and mortality and establish more proper diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, we compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute appendicitis in the elderly with those of younger people. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 30 elderly and 248 younger people who were pathologically diagnosed as appendicitis after an appendectomy. RESULTS: There was no difference in the rates of occurrence of right lower abdominal pain and tenderness between the two people. The rate of appendiceal perforation was significantly higher in the elderly. Prehospital delay was significantly longer in the elderly. Concomitant diseases were more prevalent in the elderly. The hospital stay was significantly longer and the rate of complication was relatively higher in the elderly also. CONCLUSIONS: When a vague and unexplained abdominal discomfort occurs in the elderly, we should suspect and rule out acute appendicitis as the cause of the discomfort. Early aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are essential components in managing acute appendicitis in the elderly. In addition, perioperative evaluation and prophylactic measures for concomitant diseases are needed to decrease morbidity and mortality in the elderly.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain ; Aged* ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies

Distraction osteogenesis is a well-estabilished procedure of membraneous bone formation and has been used to correct craniofacial deformities in dentofacial orthopedic-surgery area for decades. In this article, distraction osteogenesis is used for treatment of facial asymmetry. The patient underwent procedures to lengthen the mandibular ramus and body. After distraction, orthodontic treatment was done for occlusal settling.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Facial Asymmetry* ; Humans ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction*

Potato cultivar Atlantic is widely grown for potato chips in the world. However, this economically important potato cultivar exhibits very poor yields and traits under severe environmental stress. To develop an efficient plant transformation system that could be used to produce large scale transgenic potato plants with enhanced tolerance to environmental stress and therefore would be beneficial for potato processing industry, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of internodal stem explants using both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter was performed. Comparing to leaf explants, stem internodal explants were less liable to damage during manipulation, more amenable to in vitro conditions. The addition of silver thiosulfate to the selection medium considerably promoted the shoot induction from explant-derived callus. Seven to nine shoots per stem explant were obtained. By combining the best treatments, this system yielded shoot induction frequency of 94.2% and transformation frequency of 80% of internodal stem explants. Stable integration of the transgenes was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analyses. In conclusion, short duration (7～8 weeks), high efficiency and easy process make this system well suited for wider commercial applications of transgenic Atlantic potato plants.

In plants, oxidative stress is one of the major causes of damage as a result of various environmental stresses and it is primarily due to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. To develop transgenic potato plants with enhanced tolerance to environmental stress, transgenic potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Atlantic) expressing the Cu/ZnSOD and APX genes in chloroplasts were generated under the control of the oxidative stress-inducible promoter. To investigate oxidative stress tolerance, transgenic plants were evaluated at the level of leaf discs and plantlets after methyl viologen (MV) and salt treatment. Leaf discs from transgenic potato plants showed 13% less membrane damage compared to non-transgenic (NT) plants suffering 10 μmol/L MV treatment of 48 h, and showed 1.6-fold higher chlorophyll contents than those of NT plants at 1.0mol/L NaCl treatment (31% vs. 19%). In addition, transgenic potato plants maintained higher rooting rates (75%) during 100mmol/L NaCl treatment than those (12%) from NT plants. Moreover, the tolerance to salt stress in transgenic plants was consistent to increased transcript levels and higher activities of SOD and APX compared to NT plants. These results suggest that expression of Cu/ZnSOD and APX in chloroplasts could be used in plants to enhance the tolerance to environmental stresses.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture strength and traslucency of 3D printing resin crowns according to different thicknesses. Methods: Resin crowns were designed with CAD software and a 3D scanner, using scanned data of the #61 tooth model. Resin Crowns with different thicknesses were printed using a 3D printer, and subsequently divided into four groups according to thickness (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm). Fracture strength was compared among groups with a resin strip crown of 1.0 mm thickness. Compressive force was applied using a universal testing machine at 30° along the lingual surface at 1 mm/min cross head speed. For translucency evaluation, thin square specimens were printed of thicknesses 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm, and translucency was measured using a spectrophotometer. Results: As a result of fracture strength measurement, fracture strength increased as thickness increased, and a significant difference was observed solely between thicknesses of 0.3 and 0.5 mm, and the thicknesses of 0.3 and 0.5 mm (P<0.05). Translucency decreased as thickness increased, and similarly, a significant difference was observed only between thicknesses of 0.3 and 0.5 mm and the thicknesses of 0.7 and 1.0 mm (P<0.05). Conclusions A 3D printing resin crown can be used as a clinical option for restoring a primary anterior tooth affected by caries.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is characterized by variable complex of the following symptoms, such as pain, tenderness, vasomotor instability, and trophic changes in distal extremities resulting from injury to either central or peripheral nervous tissue. We measured blood flow using radioisotope angiography with agent containing technecium-99m in one patient with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. Blood flow were significantly lower in affected side than normal side. After epidural block with 0.5% lidocaine and left lumbar sympathetic block with 100% alcohol, burning pain was disappeared and blood flow was increased to near or above in relation to the normal side. Radioisotope angiography is a noninvasive study and not so expensive. And we thought that radioisotope angiography may be a useful aid not only for diagnosis, but also for evaluating therapeu-tic response.
Burns ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Radionuclide Angiography* ; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy* ; Reflex*