No abstract available.
Molecular Biology* ; Shigella*

No abstract available.
Optic Nerve Injuries* ; Optic Nerve*

We report a case of epidermolysis bullosa simplex occurred in a 12-year-old girl, who presented with intractable bullous lesions of the hands and feet after minor traumas ever since her early neonatal period. The bullous lesions were noted on the 2nd and 4th webs of the fingers and dorsum of the hands as well as on the skin of the ankle. The lesions were healed without scar formation. Family history was not contributary and seasonal pattern was not noted. Histologic sections revealed intraepidermal bullae just above the well preserved basement membrane. Electron microscopic findings revealed cytolysis of basal cells with preservation of the basement membrane, indicating the epidermal type of epidermolysis bullosa simplex.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans

No abstract available.
Rhinoplasty* ; Transplants*

The term endometriosis refers to ectopic endometriume. It most often involves the pelvic organs, including ovaries, broad and round ligaments, fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina and the pouch of Douglas. We report a case of vesical endometriosis in a 4- year old female patient and review literature. Segmental resection of this mass with involved bladder resulted in cure and this lesion was confirmed histologically as endometriosis of the bladder.
Cervix Uteri ; Endometriosis* ; Endometrium ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary ; Round Ligament of Uterus ; Urinary Bladder ; Vagina

No abstract available.
Keloid*

BACKGROUND: We performed electrical cardioversion for the patients with chormic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation under the transesophageal echocardiographic guidance after anticoagulation to evaluate the safety of this procedure and the effects of electrical cardioversion on the atrial function. METHODS: After anticoagulation therapy with coumadine for three weeks, we tried chemical cardioversion with amiodarone first. Failed cases were included in this study. Pre-cardioversion transesophageal echocardiographic parameters were measured after exclusion of thrombi. After sedation with intravenous midazolam, direct-current cardioversion was done with the transesophageal echocardiographic probe in situ. Immediately after sinus conversion, we measured echocardiographic parameters again. Spontaneous echo contrast(SEC), left atrial appendage flow velocity, pulmonary vein flow velocity and time-velocity-integral(TVI), transmitral flow velocity, TVI and deceleration time were measured. All patients were anticoagulated for at least 4 weeks after cardiovesion. RESULTS: The total number of patients was forty one(24 males, 17 females) with the mean age of 58 years(range : 39-70). Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 65 months(range : 1-360). Hypertension(12), dilated cardiomyopathy(10), cerebrovascular accidents(6), ischemic heart disease(2) and chronic lung disease(1) were associated. There were no complications. SEC increased or newly appeared in 18(43.9%) patients after sinus conversion. The left atrial appendage emptying velocity decreased(32.8+/-17.4 vs. 22.1+/-11.4cm/sec, p=0.020) and systolic TVI of both upper pulmonic vein increased significantly after sinus conversion. In two cases, early systolic forward flow(S1) of pulmonic vein appeared after sinus conversion. Transmitral E velocity decreased(86.9+/-28.8 vs. 76.3+/-30.6cm/sec, p=0.006) and the deceleration time increased(164+/-49 vs. 206+/-53msec, p=0.000) after sinus conversion. Transmitral A velocity was still low(34.9+/-19.5cm/sec) and E/A ratio was high(2.6+/-1.4) immediately after sinus conversion. CONCLUSION: After appropriate anticoagulation therapy and exclusion of left atrium and left atrial appindage thrombi with TEE we could perform electrical cardioversion safety without complications. The changes in transesophageal echocardiographic parameters after sinus conversion revealed the appearance of atrial mechanical activity in concordance with electrical activity. But these findings suggested atrial stunning or electromechanical dissociation which necessitates extended anticoagulation therapy until the full recovery of atrial mechanical function.
Amiodarone ; Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Atrial Function ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Electric Countershock* ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Midazolam ; Pulmonary Veins ; Veins ; Warfarin

No abstract available.
Female ; Mucins* ; Ovary*

Sterilization has received much attention in orthodontic practices over the past several years. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of sterilization on the physical properties of orthodontic pliers-AEZ, Unitek, and Dentronix ligature cutters. This study was designed to examine the tips of ligature cutters before and after 200 and 400 sterilization cycles using the Bowmar RHT-1000, the Dentronix DDS-5000, and the Eschmann SES-2000. The tip surface and the fracture surface were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The microstructure was observed with an optical microscope. The hardness test was carried out with the micro-Vickers hardness tester and the Rockwell C Scale hardness tester. The chemical composition was analyzed_ by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The number and the size of corrosion products on the tip surface and the proportion of cleavage planes in fractured specimen increased, but the hardness of the tip decreased in proportion to sterilization cycles. From these observations, it was considered that mechanical properities decreased in proportion to sterilization cycles. 2. The number and the size of chromium carbides increased in proportion to sterilization cycles. Coarse microstructure decreased mechanical properities. 3. The AEZ and Unitek ligature cutters were Fe-Cr stainless steels, but the Dentronix ligature cutter was Co-Cr alloy. There were many differences among manufactures, but the chemical composition was not changed after sterilization cycles. 4. The tip edge of ligature cutter used in a clinic revealed microcracks with the SEM observation. Clinical experience confirmed that ligature cutters were gradually degraded by sterilization.
Alloys ; Chromium ; Corrosion ; Hardness ; Hardness Tests ; Ligation ; Stainless Steel ; Sterilization*

PURPOSE: Galectin-3 is a member of a large family of beta-galactoside- binding animal lectins. It is thought that galectin-3 can be a suppressor of apoptosis because of its significant sequence similarity with Bcl-2. We examined the role of galectin-3 for the paclitaxel-induced apoptosis after transfection of the galectin-3 gene in LNCaP cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Galectin-3 cDNA was cloned into PcDNA 3.1(-) and transfected into LNCaP cells. Stable transfection of galectin-3 into the LNCaP cells was achieved. Growth of the transfectants was observed with performing MTT assay. Apoptosis was induced by 100nM paclitaxel and 2microM staurosporine, and this was observed by DNA fragmentation assay. The viable cell numbers(% of control) after induction of apoptosis were determined with performing MTT assay. RESULTS: The LNCaP subclone that expressed galectin-3(LNCaP-G3-PcDNA) grew faster than the control transfectant(LNCaP-PcDNA)(p<0.05). The DNA fragmentation bands were decreased in the LNCaP subclone expressing galectin-3(LNCaP-G3-PcDNA) as compared to the control transfectant(LNCaP-PcDNA) after induction of apoptosis by 100nM paclitaxel or 2iM staurosporine; this means that galectin-3 inhibits apoptosis. The viable cells (% of control) with LNCaP-G3-PcDNA after the induction of apoptosis by 100nM paclitaxel was 92+/-2% in 8 hours, 77.5+/-1.9% in 24 hours and 40.4+/-2.9% in 48 hours on average, respectively. In contrast, the viable cells(% of control) of the control transfectant were 84.5+/-2%, 46+/-2.5% and 19+/-2.6% on average, respectively. The viable cells(% of control) with the LNCaP-G3-PcDNA after the induction of apoptosis by 100nM paclitaxel was higher than that of the control transfectant(LNCaP- PcDNA cells)(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Galectin-3 gene transfer stimulates the growth of LNCaP cells. The galectin-3 protects LNCaP cells from paclitaxel-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Line* ; Clone Cells ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA, Complementary ; Galectin 3* ; Humans ; Lectins ; Paclitaxel ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Staurosporine ; Transfection