Calcific tendinitis of hand and foot is rare and frequently misdiagnosed because of its rare incidence and its similar clinical presentation to other conditions such as infection. Awareness of the typical location as well as familiarity with the imaging findings is essential for making a correct diagnosis of this rare condition. We report four cases of calcific tendinitis of hand and foot, occurring in the flexor hallucis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, and abductor pollicis brevis.
Foot ; Hand ; Incidence ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the effects of maxillary second and third molar eruption status on the distalization of first molars with a modified palatal anchorage plate (MPAP), and (2) compare the results to the outcomes of the use of a pendulum and that of a headgear using three-dimensional finite element analysis. METHODS: Three eruption stages were established: an erupting second molar at the cervical one-third of the first molar root (Stage 1), a fully erupted second molar (Stage 2), and an erupting third molar at the cervical one-third of the second molar root (Stage 3). Retraction forces were applied via three anchorage appliance models: an MPAP with bracket and archwire, a bone-anchored pendulum appliance, and cervical-pull headgear. RESULTS: An MPAP showed greater root movement of the first molar than crown movement, and this was more noticeable in Stages 2 and 3. With the other devices, the first molar showed distal tipping. Transversely, the first molar had mesial-out rotation with headgear and mesial-in rotation with the other devices. Vertically, the first molar was intruded with an MPAP, and extruded with the other appliances. CONCLUSIONS: The second molar eruption stage had an effect on molar distalization, but the third molar follicle had no effect. The application of an MPAP may be an effective treatment option for maxillary molar distalization.
Crowns ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Molar* ; Molar, Third

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites, usually in the absence of clinical and laboratory abnormal findings. BMS is not an uncommon disease that ENT doctors can encounter in the OPD clinics. However, the causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of BMS are not known yet, and there are just a few reported articles. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of BMS and to evaluate the effects of steroid gargle treatments. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed 18 patients with BMS who visited the Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University Hospital. The patients were analyzed according to the sites, duration of their burning sensations and associated symptoms. Furthermore, the interview included inquiries regarding current diseases, on-going medications, smoking history and psychological factors. The change of symptoms after steroid gargle treatment with/without other drugs was carefully analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of patients with BMS was 56.4 years old, and the male to female ratio was 8:10. The most frequently involved site was tongue (94.4%), followed by lower lip, gingiva, palate, and floor of mouth. We found that the causes of BMS were psychogenic factors for 4 patients, and diabetes mellitus and hypertension for 2 patients each. Approximately 80.0% (8/10 patients) of the women was menopausal. Six (50.0%) of 12 patients treated only with steroid gargle and 3 (75.5%) of 4 patients treated with steroid gargle and other medications showed relieved symptoms. CONCLUSION: Burning mouth syndrome is not an uncommon disease in the ENT field, and has complex etiology. Although the definitive treatment for BMS is not known yet, we think that steroid gargle may be helpful in the treatment of BMS.
Burning Mouth Syndrome* ; Burns* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lip ; Male ; Mouth Floor ; Otolaryngology ; Palate ; Psychology ; Sensation ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steroids ; Tongue

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A human cholesteatoma in the middle ear is characterized by the presence of a keratinizing epithelium from hyperproliferative properties. It needs intercellular signal exchange through gap junctions as well as intracellular signal pathway for hyperproliferation. Connexin (Cx) is a gap junction protein for intercellular communication, and especially Cx26 and Cx43 are plenty in human epithelial cells. The objective of this study was to analyze the expression pattern of Cx43 and Cx26 in human middle ear cholesteatomas against normal epitheliums. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Ten retroauricular skins (RAS), ear canal skins (ECS), and cholesteatomas were taken during middle ear operations at the Department of Otolaryngology. Immunohistochemical staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blotting were used to detect Cx43 and Cx26. RESULTS: In human cholesteatomas, Cx43 were expressed in the whole suprabasal layers, especially in the middle portion, except in the basal layer, and Cx26 were usually expressed in the supra layer and in the basal layers. But normal RASs showed weak expression of Cx43 in the upper spinosal and granular layers, but not in the basal layers, and the restricted localization of Cx26 in the basal layer. The expression of Cx43 and Cx26 in EASs was weak but showed similar patterns to that of cholesteatomas. In RT-PCR and Western blot, the expression of Cx43 and Cx26 were increased in cholesteatomas than in RASs. CONCLUSION: Human middle ear cholesteatomas showed upregulated expression and different localization of Cx43 and Cx26, gap junction proteins for intercellular communication, compared with normal RASs, suggesting that perturbations of intercellular communication through gap junctions may be associated with the pathology of human middle ear cholesteatomas.
Blotting, Western ; Cholesteatoma ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear* ; Connexin 43 ; Connexins* ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Gap Junctions* ; Humans* ; Otolaryngology ; Pathology ; Signal Transduction ; Skin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unlike the normal skin, cholesteatomas characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes exhibits up-regulation of connexins (Cxs) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Currently, there are no appropriate clinical methods that can inhibit cholesteatoma progression nor are there available optimal in vitro models of cholesteatomas. The objectives of this study were to identify the regulating materials that control GJIC using human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) and to get preliminary information about how to inhibit cholesteatoma progression with an aim to make in vitro models. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Acetic acid (AA), H2O2, dexamethasone, retinoic acid (RA), or green tea extracts-epicatechin (EC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were used for this study. After HaCaT cells were cultured with chemicals for 24 hours, cytotoxicity was quantitatively analyzed by cell counting and Neutral-red uptake test. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunocytochemistry were performed to analyze the change of Cx expression. GJIC was functionally evaluated with scrape-loading dye transfer (SLDT). RESULTS: After the 24-hour culture, H2O2 or EGCG (100 microM) were observed to have interfered with cell growth. In the Western blot, Cx26 and Cx30 showed higher up-regulation by EGCG or dexamethasone, but less down-regulation by AA or H2O2 than the control. In comparison with the control, immunocytochemistry (Cx26, Cx43) showed less expression and abnormal location of Cxs under AA, H2O2, or 50 microM EGCG than the control, and increased up-regulation or equal expression under 5microM EGCG, EC, RA, or dexamethasone was greater than the control. In SLDT, dye transfer was significantly lower in AA-, H2O2-, dexamethasone-, or RA-treated cells than in the control cells. EC showed higher dye transfer than the control cells. CONCLUSION: The expression of Cxs and GJIC on human HaCaT keratinocytes can be up- or down-regulated by chemicals such as AA, H2O2, dexamethasone, or EC. These results may be useful information in understanding the progression or inhibition mechanisms of cholesteatomas.
Acetic Acid ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin ; Cell Count ; Cholesteatoma ; Connexins ; Dexamethasone ; Down-Regulation ; Gap Junctions ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Skin ; Tea ; Tretinoin ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: We performed this study to assess the suitability of conventional angiography (CA) vs. multi-detector row helical CT angiogram (MD-CTA) as a method of preoperative diagnostic imaging for low extremity arterial surgery. METHODS: From February 2004 to September 2006, 23 patients (4 claudicants, 19 limb-threatening ischemia) were studied with CA and MD-CTA preoperatively. The site and degree of stenotic or occlusive lesions in arterial segments from the renal artery to the dorsalis pedis artery were compared with both methods. We also compared the surgical inflow and outflow site changes in preoperative planning based on CA and MD-CTA and the final outcome. Additional diagnostic value and test-related complications were also analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 68 years old (range: 43~89 years), with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. Twenty-three patients had CA after an MD-CTA scan. One hundred fifty lesions were detected in these patients. The total ratio of consistency for occlusion in CA vs. MD-CTA was 69.6%. Three patients received amputation treatment and eleven patients received a bypass operation. The agreement between the preoperative plan based on MD-CTA and the final operation was 100%, even in critical limb ischemia. There were no serious complications related to the tests. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that MD-CTA is an adequate preoperative imaging study of infrainguinal arterial surgery and may be substituted for conventional angiography without any serious complications.
Amputation ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Renal Artery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

V. fluvialis is a gram-negative, oxidase-producing, halophilic bacterium. It is normally found in coastal waters and seafoods. There have been a few reports on Vibrio fluvialis gastroenteritis in other countries, whereas there has been no previous report of V. fluvialis infections in Korea. Reports from other countries showed that V. fluvialis was isolated mostly from infants and children. We experienced a rare case of gastroenteritis due to V. fluvialis in a 55-year-old man with liver cirrhosis who ate an ark shell. He was admitted due to mild abdominal pain and severe watery diarrhea followed by rapidly progressive dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hepatorenal syndrome for a week. This patient was not improved by intensive care and antibiotic therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Arcidae ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea ; Gastroenteritis* ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Humans ; Infant ; Critical Care ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Seafood ; Vibrio*

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality in Korea. The TNM stage at presentation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has the greatest impact on prognosis. Patients who undergo a complete resection for NSCLC are likely to develop recurrent and/or metastatic disease. There are several factors influencing the development of recurrence. We explored risk factors of recurrence in patients with stages I and II NSCLC, who had undergone curative resection. METHODS: We reviewed patients who had complete surgical resection as definitive treatment for stage I or II. Patients followed up for more than 36 months. We evaluated several factors which might have relationship with recurrence, such as patient's demographic factors, TNM staging, pathologic finding, tumor markers and surgical technique. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were enrolled for analysis, of whom 58 were men and 17 were women with mean age of 61 (range, 37 to 76) years. The average size of tumors was 3.9 cm (0.7 to 10 cm). There were 64 patients with stage I NSCLC and 11 with stage II NSCLC. Among 64 patients with stage I NSCLC, 35 patients showed recurrences whereas 8 patients have recurred in stage II NSCLC. Grade of differentiation of tumor was closely related to the recurrence. Seventy-five percent of patients who had poor tumor differentiation experienced a recurrence. In contrast, 3 patients of twelve had recurrences, who revealed differentiation in their tissue (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tumor differentiation could be a predictive factor for tumor recurrence in patients who have undergone curative resection for stage I or II NSCLC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cell Differentiation ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: RUNX3, a novel tumor suppressor, is frequently inactivated in gastric cancer. In the present study, we examined the pattern of RUNX3 expression in gastric cancer cells from gastric cancer specimens and the impact of its alteration on clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 124 samples of both gastric cancer and normal tissue were obtained from 124 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy at the Seoul Medical Center from January 2001 to December 2005. RUNX3 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining, and the results were analyzed. Statistical analysis wabased on clinicopathological findings and differences in survival rates. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.9:1. The expression rate of RUNX3 was 59.7% (74/124). The expression rate was higher in differentiated gastric cancers (nucleus: 9.1%, cytoplasm: 57.6%) than in the undifferentiated types (nucleus: 5.2%, cytoplasm: 46.6%) (P=0.133). The 5-year survival rates according to RUNX3 expression determined from cancer tissue were 88.9% for the nucleus +/- cytoplasm(+) group of patients, 76.1% for the cytoplasm only (+) group of patients, and 65.3% for the RUNX3 negative expression group of patients (P=0.626). Only UICC TNM staging showed statistical significance related to the survival rate, as determined by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The RUNX3 expression rate was higher in differentiated gastric cancer than in the undifferentiated types without significance. Although RUNX3 expression predicted better survival, based on multivariate analysis, the finding was not statistically significant. More cases should be further evaluated.
Cytoplasm ; Gastrectomy ; Humans* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate