PURPOSE: Controversy exists regarding whether pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients with microscopic hematuria should undergo radiographic evaluation. Adult patients have indications such as shock and deceleration injury. This study was conducted to suggest indications for the use of CT to detect significant renal injury in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients with microscopic hematuria. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2009, patients less than 18 years of age with blunt abdominal trauma and microscopic hematuria who had undergone CT were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the correlation between microscopic hematuria, shock, deceleration injury, and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) renal injury grade. Patients were divided into two groups: the insignificant renal injury group (AAST grade 1) and the significant renal injury group (AAST grades 2-5). We compared age, gender, mechanism of injury, degree of microscopic hematuria, evidence of shock, presence of deceleration injury, and associated injuries between the two groups. We analyzed the effect of each of the above each factors on renal injury by using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Forty-three children were included, and the median age was 15 years. Five children had a significant renal injury. No significant differences, except age and microscopic hematuria (more than 30 red blood cells per high power field (RBC/HPF), p = 0.005) existed between the insignificant and the significant injury groups. A positive correlation existed between renal injury and microscopic hematuria (rho = 0.406, p = 0.007), but renal injury was not correlated with shock and deceleration injury. In the multivariate regression analysis, microscopic hematuria was the only factor correlated with renal injury (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: If a microscopic hematuria of more than 30 RBC/HPF exists, the use of CT should be considerd, regardless of shock and deceleration injury to detect significant renal injury in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma patients.
Adult ; Child ; Deceleration ; Erythrocytes ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Kidney ; Logistic Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock

BACKGROUND: The precise measurement of body temperature during anesthesia is important to prevent hypothermia.The aim of this study was to compare the urinary bladder temperature to the esophageal, nasopharyngeal, rectal and skin temperatures, and to compare three heating methods during spine surgery. METHODS: Forty-two patients with ASA physical status I-II, who were scheduled to undergo spine surgery in the prone position, were included in this study.The patients were randomly divided into 4 groups:Group I was treated without any heating methods; group 2, with fluid-warmers; group 3, with forced air-warmers; and group 4, with a combination of both heating methods.After the induction of anesthesia, the esophageal, nasopharyngeal, rectal, urinary bladder and skin temperature was monitored every 15 minute for 3 hours.The urinary bladder temperature was compared to the esophageal, nasopharyngeal, rectal and skin temperatures. RESULTS: The urinary bladder temperature was found to be higher than the esophageal and the nasopharyngeal temperatures (P < 0.01).The urinary bladder temperature of group 3 was higher than that of group 1 at 180 minutes after induction of anesthesia (P < 0.05).The urinary bladder temperature of group 4 was higher than that of group 1 at 150 minutes (P < 0.05), as well as at 165 and 180 minutes (P < 0.05).The skin temperatures of groups 3 and 4 were higher than group 1 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The urinary bladder temperature was higher than the esophageal temperature and correlated with the esophageal, nasopharyngeal and rectal temperatures.During spine surgery in the prone position, a forced air-warmer was found to be the most effective but a combination of all the methods tested was found to be even more effective.
Anesthesia ; Body Temperature ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Spine ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of middle meatal antrostomy (MMA) on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and histopathology of the nasal mucosa in experimentally induced maxillary sinusitis in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Maxillary sinusitis was induced in both maxillary sinuses (MSs) of 30 Pasturella-free New Zealand white rabbits by partially occluding the natural ostium and inoculating with P. aeruginosa. After 4 weeks, the MS and inferior turbinate mucosae were obtained in 5 rabbits. In the remaining 25 rabbits, the ostia were reopened. Five rabbits were sacrificed 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks after MMA, respectively and the MS and inferior turbinate mucosae were obtained. Another 5 normal rabbits were used as a control group. CBF was measured by video-computerized analysis. Degree of inflammation in histopathology was graded using a 100-point scale of inflammation score. CBF and inflammation score were compared among the 6 experimental and control groups. RESULTS: CBF of the MS mucosa significantly improved after MMA in a time-dependent pattern, but did not reach a normal level even after 12 weeks. CBF of the inferior turbinate mucosa significantly improved after MMA in a time-dependent pattern, and reached a normal level after 12 weeks. Inflammation scores of the MS and inferior turbinate mucosae were significantly decreased after MMA in a time-dependent pattern. However, they did not reach a normal level of the control group even after 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: MMA can improve not only the primary inflammation of the MS mucosa but also functionally and morphologically improve the secondarily developed inflammation of the nasal mucosa in experimentally induced maxillary sinusitis in rabbits.
Cilia ; Inflammation ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Maxillary Sinusitis* ; Mucous Membrane ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Rabbits* ; Turbinates

The purpose of this study was to compare physical and biodegradable properties of 3D printed resorbable membranes that are used for guided tissue regenerations in periodontal tissues. Three types of 3D printed membranes (two types of non β-TCP and one type of β-TCP) were considered. The form and element compositions of 3D printed membranes were analyzed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Porosity and pore size were measured using Micro-CT. Also, tensile strength, biodegradability tests were performed. Statistical analyses were carried in tensile strength and cell viability test (p<0.05). The result of SEM images with EDS analyses showed linear layers of lattice structure with presence of C and O in all groups. There was a slight difference in Ca and P among some groups. Tensile strength was significantly different among all groups (p<0.05), and biodegradability showed that the group containing β-TCP resulted in the fastest degradation rate. Therefore, the results of this study concluded that the 3D printed resorbable membrane has variable physical and biodegradable properties for clinical use, where such information would be useful to be considered for the future development of related products and clinical application of the products.

The purpose of this study was to compare physical and biodegradable properties of 3D printed resorbable membranes that are used for guided tissue regenerations in periodontal tissues. Three types of 3D printed membranes (two types of non β-TCP and one type of β-TCP) were considered. The form and element compositions of 3D printed membranes were analyzed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Porosity and pore size were measured using Micro-CT. Also, tensile strength, biodegradability tests were performed. Statistical analyses were carried in tensile strength and cell viability test (p<0.05). The result of SEM images with EDS analyses showed linear layers of lattice structure with presence of C and O in all groups. There was a slight difference in Ca and P among some groups. Tensile strength was significantly different among all groups (p<0.05), and biodegradability showed that the group containing β-TCP resulted in the fastest degradation rate. Therefore, the results of this study concluded that the 3D printed resorbable membrane has variable physical and biodegradable properties for clinical use, where such information would be useful to be considered for the future development of related products and clinical application of the products.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a known predictor of diabetes mellitus (DM), but whether longitudinal changes in MetS status modify the risk for DM remains unclear. We investigated whether changes in MetS status over 2 years modify the 10-year risk of incident DM. METHODS: We analyzed data from 7,317 participants aged 40 to 70 years without DM at baseline, who took part in 2001 to 2011 Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. Subjects were categorized into four groups based on repeated longitudinal assessment of MetS status over 2 years: non-MetS, resolved MetS, incident MetS, and persistent MetS. The hazard ratio (HR) of new-onset DM during 10 years was calculated in each group using Cox models. RESULTS: During the 10-year follow-up, 1,099 participants (15.0%) developed DM. Compared to the non-MetS group, the fully adjusted HRs for new-onset DM were 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.79) in the resolved MetS group, 1.75 (95% CI, 1.30 to 2.37) in the incident MetS group, and 1.98 (95% CI, 1.50 to 2.61) in the persistent MetS group (P for trend <0.001). The risk of DM in subjects with resolved MetS was significantly attenuated compared to those with persistent MetS over 2 years. In addition, the adjusted HR for 10-year developing DM gradually increased as the number of MetS components increased 2 years later. CONCLUSION: We found that discrete longitudinal changes pattern in MetS status over 2 years associated with 10-year risk of DM. These findings suggest that monitoring change of MetS status and controlling it in individuals may be important for risk prediction of DM.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidemiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genome ; Life Style ; Proportional Hazards Models

Alcohol abuse and its medical and social consequences are a major health problem in many areas of the world. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for the treatment of liver disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with ethanol (EtOH). Administration of EtOH for 20 days induced significant changes in serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and glucose) accompanied by histological changes in the liver tissue. Treatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH inhibited the EtOH-induced biochemical and histological changes of the liver. In perfused rat livers, administration of EtOH caused an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the perfusate and activated the pro-apoptotic Bax protein but inhibited the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Pretreatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH decreased the EtOH-induced LDH release and inhibition of Bcl-2 protein. These results suggest that KRG exerts anti-apoptotic effects and alleviated EtOH-induced liver injury in rats.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alcoholism ; Animals ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Ethanol ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Panax ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Fatty Acids ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is a multi-enzyme molecule that plays a role in the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. FAS is expressed at low levels in most normal human tissues because, cells preferentially utilize circulating lipids for the synthesis of new structural lipids. Recent studies have demonstrated that high levels of FAS occur in a subset of human cancers (such as breast, ovary, and prostate cancer etc) and these high FAS levels are associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of FAS in breast cancer and to examine the relationship between FAS and the clinicopathological data. METHODS: We reviewed clinical profiles [clinical data and short term outcome (recurrence)] of 67 breast cancer patients by reviewing their medical records. The average followed-up period was 22.6 month. FAS expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS: FAS expression of breast cancer was nonspecifically high, but there was no statistical importance between the FAS expression, the clinicopathological data and the short term recurrence (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The overexpression of FAS in breast cancer patients may not be a reliable marker for a poor prognosis. However, further studies are required in order to define the biological significance and the specific role of FAS in breast cancer development, growth, and invasion. Also, inhibition of FAS may be a target treatment for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Fatty Acids ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Recurrence

Cell death and survival are tightly controlled through the highly coordinated activation/inhibition of diverse signal transduction pathways to insure normal development and physiology. Imbalance between cell death and survival often leads to autoimmune diseases and cancer. Death receptors sense extracellular signals to induce caspase-mediated apoptosis. Acting upstream of CED-3 family proteases, such as caspase-3, Bcl-2 prevents apoptosis. Using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), we suppressed Bcl-2 expression in Jurkat T cells, and this increased TCR-triggered AICD and enhanced TNFR gene expression. Also, knockdown of Bcl-2 in Jurkat T cells suppressed the gene expression of FLIP, TNF receptor-associated factors 3 (TRAF3) and TRAF4. Furthermore, suppressed Bcl-2 expression increased caspase-3 and diminished nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) translocation.
Apoptosis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Physiology ; Receptors, Death Domain ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes* ; TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 4 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins