The human oral mucosa has noncornified lining epithelium, cornified masticatory epithelium, and complex epithelium. The epithelium of human tongue shows diverse morphological variations from one site to another, and conflicting reports exist in the literature concerning the type of lingual epithelium. Cytokeratin[CK] have been shown to characterize different type of epithelia. In the present study to clarify intermediate filament patterns of tongue mucosa and lingual gland in human fetus from second trimester of pregnancy and adult, cytokeratin expression was investigated immunohistochemically using antibodies for cytokeratins in the dorsal surface of tongue, taste bud, and lingual gland, and comparison with the expression between fetus and adult was made. The epithelium of the fetal lingual papillae consisted of 4 to 6 layered stratified cells, and that of the inferior surface of tongue consisted of 6-8 layered stratified cells in PAS-hematoxylin stain. The lingual gland was well differentiated and the alveolus was strongly positive to PAS reaction. The dorsal surface of the adult tongue was composed of lingual papillae. The papillae was covered by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and interpapillary area by nokeratinized epithelium in hematoxylin-eosin stain. The taste bud was present in the fungiform papilla. The lingual gland appeared among the muscle layers near the inferior surtace and was composed of mucous and serous cells. By immunohistochemical stain, the epithelium of the lingual papillae exhibited various staining-intensities for cytokeratin antibodies, and showed same staining patterns bosh epithelium in tip of papilla and interpapillary area in fetus. However, the dorsal epithelium of the adult tongue showed different staining patterns between tip of the papilla and interpapillary area. In fetal lingual papilla CK7 and CK8 were expressed in superficial cells, AE8 in intermediate and superficial cells, CKl4 in basal cells. MNFI116 and AE3 showed a strong reaction in basal and suprabasal cells. The epithelium of the inferior lingual surface reacted positively with AE8 and CK14, MNF116, and AE3. CK7 and CK8, however, were not reacted. In adult lingual papilla CK10 was expressed in superficial cells of the tip of the papilla, AE8 in suprabasal cells of interpapillary epithelium, CKl4 in basal cells of papillary and interpapillary epithelium, CKl9 in superficial cells of interpapillary epithelium, MNFI116 and AE3 in suprabasal cells of papillary and interpapillary epithelium. However, CK7, CK8, CK18, and 5D3 were not expressed in the epithelium of the dorsal tongue. The cells of taste bud in fetus showed positive reactions for CK7, CK8, MNF116, and AE3, but negative reactions with CK10 and AE8. The cells of taste bud in adult were stained with CK7, CK8, CK18, and MNF116, but not stained with CK10 and AE8. In lingual gland of fetus, CK7, CK8, CKl8, 5D3, MNF116, and AE3 were expressed in alveolar cells. Only CK10 gave a negative staining in ductal cells. The mucous cells of the adult lingual gland were reacted with CK7, CK10, CK18, CK19, and MNF116, and the serous cell with CK7, CK19, and MNF116. The ductal cells of the adult lingual gland were stained with CK7, AE8, CK18, CKl9, 5D3, MNF116, and AE3. CK14 was expressed in the cells of intralubular ductule, not in the ductal cells. By electron microscopy, the epithelia of both dorsal and inferior lingual surfaces in fetus consisted of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. A cell with clear cytoplasm and some dense granules was noted among the basal cells. These results indicate that the epithelium of fetal lingual papillae is non-keratinized type and the epithelium of the papillary tip is keratinized type and interpapillary epithelium is nonkeratinized type in adult, and suggest that the superficial cell containing cytokeratins 7 and 8 in dorsal lingual epithelium of fetus has a similar role to the periderm of fatal skin.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelium* ; Female ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratins ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane ; Negative Staining ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Skin ; Taste Buds ; Tongue

Urinary protein per se causes renal tubular injury and stimulates immunologic reaction. The extent of proximal tubular injury can be estimated by measuring the amount of 24 hours urinary beta2-microglobulin (U beta2-MG). The aim of this study was whether U beta2-MG level could predict the response to the initial steroid treatment for the patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). We analyzed 58 adult patients (33 M, 25 F), aged 33+/-15 years (range 16-76), with biopsy-proven MCNS treated with 40 to 60mg of oral prednisolone daily up to 16 weeks. The responsiveness (44 cases) inculded complete and partial remission or steroid resistance (14 cases). No difference was found between the steroid responsive and resistant group with regard to age, BUN, serum creatinine, albumin, cholesterol, and urinary protein. The levels of U beta2- MG (microgram/g creatinine) were 250808+/-478917 and 1648+/-2386 in resistan ia Kwang-Yul Chang, et al.:Prediction of Steroid Responsiveness in Adult Minimal Change Nephrotic. Syndrome Using Urinary beta2-Microglobulint group and responsive group, respectively (P<0.05). The cut off value was 400microgram/ g creatinine with 78% of sensitivity and 48% of specificity. The likelihood ratio for the resistance was 2.5 to 2.8 with the U beta2-MG levels over 400 ug/g creatinine and was 0.2 to 0.3 below that value. Multivariate analysis confirmed that higher U beta2- MG level was associated with a lower likelihood of steroid responsiveness, independent of age, sex, creatinine, serum protein, and urinary protein. This study showed that the pretreatment U beta2- MG level may be used to identify subgroup of patients with MCNS who are more likely to be responsive to initial steroid treatment.
Adult* ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrosis, Lipoid* ; Prednisolone ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the incidence and the meaning of epileptiform discharges accompanied by chronic recurrent headaches. METHODS: We selected 449 cases of children who visited Dong-A University Hospital because of recurrent headaches from January 1999 to July 2005. The headaches were classified by the criteria established by the International Headache Research Committee in 2004. The electroencephalography was performed in 336 cases and 36 cases who showed epileptiform discharges were selected. We studied the characteristics of epileptiform discharges, MRI findings and the relationship with epilepsy. RESULTS: The incidence of interictal epileptiform discharges(ILEDs) of the patients with chronic headaches was 10.7%, which was higher than that in a normal population. In the location of ILEDs, focal areas(9.2%) were more common than general areas(1.5%). The incidence of the ILEDs was different according to the types of headaches(P<0.01). The focal ILEDs were concentrated at the central temporal areas. The most common type of ILEDs was frequent epileptiform discharges(63.9%). For the wave forms of ILEDs, focal spike activities were 83.3%, and bursts of slow waves mixed with spikes were 13.9%. Among the 36 cases that showed the ILEDs, 2 cases were associated with epilepsy and another 2 with AV malformation on the MRI images. CONCLUSION: The ILEDs of the patients with chronic recurrent headaches mainly occurred in the central temporal areas as focal spike wave forms, which shows a benign course. Because a few cases can accompany epilepsy and brain abnormalities, close observation and follow-up tests are needed.
Brain ; Child* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache Disorders ; Headache* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of wide excision of subconjucntival fibrovascular tissue after conjunctivo-limbal autograft of primary and recurrent pterygium. METHODS: Sixty-five eyes of 59 patients underwent pterygium excision with conjunctivo-limbal autograft. Thirty-six eyes of 33 patients had wide excision of pterygium, 29 eyes of 26 patients did not have wide excision of pterygium. All patients underwent follow-up for more than one year. Complications, recurrence rate, and operation time were evaluated. RESULTS: With a minimum of one year of follow-up, there was no recurrence in either group. Six cases (17%) of subconjunctival fibrosis at the donor site, one case (3%) of subconjunctival neovascularization at the donor site, and one case (3%) of wound gapping at the recipient site were noted in the wide excision group. In the non-wide excision group, there were two cases (7%) of subconjunctival fibrosis at the donor site, one case (3%) of granuloma at the donor site, and one case (3%) of retention cyst at the recipient site. Mean operating time in the non-wide excision group (45.2 +/- 6.9 minutes) was significantly shorter than that in the wide excision group (62.4 +/- 6.2 minutes). CONCLUSIONS: Non-wide excision with conjunctivo-limbal autograft in pterygium surgery can be considered an effective treatment with shorter operating time than the wide excision method. Both of these methods show low recurrence rates and few complications for both primary and recurrent pterygia.
Eye ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Pterygium ; Recurrence ; Retention (Psychology) ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukins*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study evaluate to assess the feasibility and safety of performing vaginal hysterectomy on our experience. METHODS: Between 1990 year and 1997 year, 3408 women underwent vaginal hysterectomy without laparoscopic assistance at Hallym University Hospital in Korea. All hysterectomies(abdominal & vaginal) were reviewed and these were compared with all hysterectomy cases from most recent year available for complete analysis. RESULT: 1. In 1990 yrs~1997 yrs, vaginal hysterectomies compromised 51%(vaginal hysterectomy [below VH]: 268 / total abdominal hysterectomy [below TAH]: 258; 1990), 55%(VH: 254/TAH: 212; 1991), 60%(VH: 346/TAH: 227; 1992), 64%(VH: 341/TAH: 190; 1993), 72%(VH: 434/TAH: 168; 1994), 75%(VH: 489/TAH: 156; 1995), 76.%(VH: 632/TAH: 196; 1996), 78%(VH: 657/TAH: 190;1997), a high increased rate of vaginal hysterectomy significantly. 2. The average age of patients was 41.9+/- 8.18(26~84) years old and 25 nullipara and 274 primiparas and 3109 multiparas. The mean parity was 2.74+/-0.36. 3. The common surgical indications were uterine myoma(53.9%), prolapse of uteri(23.3%), CIN II-III or microinvasive cervical cancer(6.5%), others(16.3%) 4. The average time of operation(hysterectomy and colporrhaphy) was 78.3+/- 14.2 min(40~230). 5. The average weight of uterus was 166.5+/- 111.4 gm(60~1130 gm), 34.0% was done morcellation. 6. 5.7% of operated women had previous abdominal operaton (without tubal ligation). 7. The common associated procedures were posterior colporrhaphy(47.4%), anteroposterior colporrhaphy(45.6%), adnexectomy(4.9%), other(2.1%). 8. The mean blood loss was 280+/- 104.4 ml and 12.4% of operated women were need of transfusion. 9. The minor complication rate was 10.6% e.g. urinary retention(5.3%-179cases), abdominal bleeding (including conversion TAH) (0.3%-9cases), pelvic hematoma(0.3%-11cases), post operation fever(2.8%-94cases), mortality cases none. 10. The mean hospital days were 7 days(4~20) CONCLUSION: In our experience the following conclusions have been reached that vaginal hysterectomy is usually well tolerated by most women, a safe operation with few complications and without notable blood loss and without the need of expensive laparoscopic equipment. The incidence of vaginal hysterectomy is characterized by pronounced fluctuations suggested that no valid general guidelines have yet been established for the indication via vagina of surgical treatment. The incidence of vaginal hysterectomy correlates with the experience of individual surgeon strongly. Vaginal hysterectomy remains the method of choice for removal of the uterus in the absence of absolute contraindication.
Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Parity ; Prolapse ; Uterus ; Vagina

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have revealed the adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to particulate matter less than 10 mum in aerodynamic diameter (PM10). The aim of the present study was to examine the spatial distribution of PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality and to investigate the spatial correlation between PM10 and cardiovascular mortality using spatial scan statistic (SaTScan) and a regression model. METHODS: From 2008 to 2010, the spatial distribution of PM10 in the Seoul metropolitan area was examined via kriging. In addition, a group of cardiovascular mortality cases was analyzed using SaTScan-based cluster exploration. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to investigate the correlation between PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: An examination of the regional distribution of the cardiovascular mortality was higher in provincial districts (gu) belonging to Incheon and the northern part of Gyeonggido than in other regions. In a comparison of PM10 concentrations and mortality cluster (MC) regions, all those belonging to MC 1 and MC 2 were found to belong to particulate matter (PM) 1 and PM 2 with high concentrations of air pollutants. In addition, the GWR showed that PM10 has a statistically significant relation to cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: To investigate the relation between air pollution and health impact, spatial analyses can be utilized based on kriging, cluster exploration, and GWR for a more systematic and quantitative analysis. It has been proven that cardiovascular mortality is spatially related to the concentration of PM10.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Gyeonggi-do ; Incheon ; Mortality* ; Particulate Matter ; Seoul ; Spatial Analysis*

PURPOSE: A field investigation was done to evaluate the level of the epidemic of Shigellosis in Jeju Island during the first half of year 2000. METHODS: Confirming the Shigellosis was done by the structured questionnaire and the result of rectal swab for the residents having a diarrhea. RESULTS: As the confirmed patients with Shigella sonnei were 933 from 25 April to 14 August 2000, the crude incidence rate was 174 per 100,000 persons. The highest incidence rate was shown in 5-9 year-old group. Especially the south area of Jeju Island, called as Namjejugun, had the major epidemic occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The huge and chronic epidemic of Shigellosis was confirmed. The nature of this epidemic suggested that the endemic occurrence had been existed in Jeju Island.
Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dysentery, Bacillary* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Shigella ; Shigella sonnei ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: A traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (TDR) is a diagnostic challenge and the associated injuries determine the outcome in those diagnosed early. A TDR has long been considered to be a marker of the severity of injury with an average reported Injury Severity Score (ISS) between 31 and 50. This report reviewed the TDR cases in order to emphasize the method and timing of the diagnosis, associated injuries and the outcome. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 30 patient treated for TDR between August 1998 and september 2002. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 33.4 years and the injury predomiantly affected males (male: female=2: 1). Blunt trauma by TA was the most common cause of the TDR (25 patients). The ruptured sites were on the left in 22 cases and on the right in 8 cases. The most common symptom was chest pain (23 cases) followed dyspnea (21 cases). Liver injuries and a pneumo-hemothorax were the most common associated injuries. The mean CRAMS scale was 6.47 and Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 18.93. Eighteen TDR cases were suspected based on the abnormal chest X-ray findings. Nineteen cases underwent surgery within 6 hours after the trauma (early diagnosis). Although many complications occurred in 11 cases, there were no lethal complications. The mean size of the diaphragmatic rupture was 9.77 cm and an intraabdominal organ herniation had not occurred in ruptures smaller than 6 cm. Surgical repair of the diaphragm was performed via a laparotomy in 20 cases and thoracotomy in 7 cases. A left side TDR was preferred to a laparotomy whereas a right sided TDR was preferred to a thoracotomy. Pulmonary complications (atelectasis, pneumonia, pleural effusion) occurred in 14 cases postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The patient's complaints and physical findings were not a reliable indicator of the diagnosis, but usually a manifestation of the associated injuries. A suspicion and routine chest X-ray was the most reliable diagnostic tool, even though the chest X-ray was normal in 12 cases. A high rate of early diagnosis can be achieved using an aggresive investigation protocol, suspicion and a combined radiologic evaluation in multiple trauma patients. Although pulmonary complications occurred in the early diagnosed cases, lethal complications and long term sequela were directly related to the time of diagnosis. The higher ISS had many complications (11 cases) but there were no lethal complications, long term sequela.
Chest Pain ; Diagnosis ; Diaphragm ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Laparotomy ; Liver ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax