PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of varying the time of Mitomycin-C (MMC) subconjunctival injection before, during and after operation. METHOD: We divided rabbits into 3 groups according to injection time. Subconjunctival injections of 0.01% MMC 0.05 ml were given to the preoperative group at 6, 12 and 24 hours before operation, and to the postoperative group at 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. The control group was given the injections during operation. Bleb formation and histologic analyses were studied for 4 weeks after operation. RESULTS For gross findings, the blebs of the preoperative and control groups were seen on the fourth day and completely formed at one week after operation, and were larger than those of the postoperative group. On the other hand, the blebs of the postoperative group were seen to have poor formation, displaying hypervascularity on the fourth day and disappearing one week after operation. For histologic findings, the proliferation of collagen fibers and the undifferentiation of fibroblasts observed in the preoperative and control groups were almost identical. But, the proliferation of collagen fibers and well-differentiated fibroblasts were seen to increase in the postoperative group, so aqueous flow was obstructed at week 3. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival injections within 24 hours before or during glaucoma filtration surgery were better for bleb formation and preservation than those administerd after surgery.
Blister ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Filtering Surgery* ; Filtration* ; Glaucoma* ; Hand ; Mitomycin* ; Rabbits*

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of varying the time of Mitomycin-C (MMC) subconjunctival injection before, during and after operation. METHOD: We divided rabbits into 3 groups according to injection time. Subconjunctival injections of 0.01% MMC 0.05 ml were given to the preoperative group at 6, 12 and 24 hours before operation, and to the postoperative group at 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. The control group was given the injections during operation. Bleb formation and histologic analyses were studied for 4 weeks after operation. RESULTS For gross findings, the blebs of the preoperative and control groups were seen on the fourth day and completely formed at one week after operation, and were larger than those of the postoperative group. On the other hand, the blebs of the postoperative group were seen to have poor formation, displaying hypervascularity on the fourth day and disappearing one week after operation. For histologic findings, the proliferation of collagen fibers and the undifferentiation of fibroblasts observed in the preoperative and control groups were almost identical. But, the proliferation of collagen fibers and well-differentiated fibroblasts were seen to increase in the postoperative group, so aqueous flow was obstructed at week 3. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival injections within 24 hours before or during glaucoma filtration surgery were better for bleb formation and preservation than those administerd after surgery.
Blister ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Filtering Surgery* ; Filtration* ; Glaucoma* ; Hand ; Mitomycin* ; Rabbits*

Human colon epithelial cells secrete an array of proinflammatory cytokines that includes IL-8, MCP-1, GM-CSF, TNF alpha and IL-6. This response may serve to attract neutrophils and macrophags to the site of infection. In addition to IL-8 and MCP-1, the chemokine family contains other members, which, alone or in combination, can recruit and/or activate inflammatory and lymphoid cells. In this study, we asked whether colon epithelial cells express a broader array of chemokines than previously described. The colon epithelial cell line, Caco-2, was stimulated for 3h with IL-1 alpha, or was infected with Salmonella dublin. RNA was extracted and chemokine mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. Ex pression of GRO alpha, GRO beta, GRO gamma and IP-10 increased by bacterial infection or IL-l alpha stimulation. These data strongly support the notion that epithelal cells are an important and integral component of the host's natural immune system.
Bacterial Infections ; Chemokines ; Colon* ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans* ; Immune System ; Interleukin-1alpha ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Lymphocytes ; Neutrophils ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Salmonella

Segmental non-familial colonic polyposis was first reported by Chiang et al. in 1992. It is characterized by segmental distributlion of colonic polyposis usually confined to the descending colon, absence of family history of polyposis, large bowel malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease, or other pre-malignant colonic conditions. We experienced a nineteen-year-old male, who suffered from 2 years watery diarrhea about five to ten times a day, intermittent hematochezia, and weight loss of 12 kg in a year. He had no family history of colonic polyps, colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease. Colon study showed variable sized multiple colonic polyps on the rectum and sigmoid colon. Colonoscopy showed that 0.5 to 1.5 cm sized multiple polyps were scattered from the 6cm site to the 30cm site above the anal verge and the intervening mucosa between polyps was edematous. Colonoscopic biopsy revealed hyperplastic, adenomatous, and mixed hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps, After partial colectomy, we discovered 169 polyps from the resected specimen. After operation, diarrhea and abdominal pain had disappeared. We experienced a case of segmental non-familial polyposis and report it with review of the literatures related to it.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Biopsy ; Colectomy ; Colon* ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Polyps ; Rectum ; Weight Loss

Background/Aims: Esophageal cancer is not an uncommon cancer in Korea, however, the prognosis still remains very poor with a 5 year survival rate bemg less than l0% mainly becauae of the delayed diagnosis. Although chromoscopy with lugol solution has been received to diagnose the esophageal cancer in an early stage without difficulty, its clinical use has not been popular yet in Korea. This study was performed prospectively to evaluate the usefulness of the chromoscopy for the detection of superficial esophageal cancer in risk patients for esophageal cancer. Methods: Ninety-five patients were selected among persons who received gasiroscopy at Asan Medical Center between Jan. 1996 and May 1996 and were prospectively included for chromoscopy. Inclusion criteria for the chromoscopy were patients older than 60 years of age with smoking history of more than 30 packyears, and/or past or family history of cancers. After conventional endoscopic examination, lugol solution was sprayed to stain the glycogen granules in the epithelial cells. The size of unstained lesion was measured and stainability was classified into 5 grades. All lesions unstained were biopsied for histological diagnosis.(continue...)
Chungcheongnam-do ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Glycogen ; Humans ; Korea ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been reported that patients with chronic renal failure have a tendency foward increased incidences of peptic ulcer diseases. However, it is yet unclear whether the increased incidence is due to altered gastric acidity, hypersecretin of gastrin, or increased colonization of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This study was conducted to investigate the role of H. pylori in the development of peptic ulcer diseases in patients with chronic renal failure. METHODS: Forty nine patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and 41 age-matched controls with normal renal function, were examined for H. pylori infection using a rapid urease test, histological examination with Hematoxylin, Eosin, Warthin-Starry silver stain, and culture. The presence of H. pylori was defined either as the positive culture or as positive for both CLO and histological examination. RESULTS: Ninteen (38.8%) out of 49 ESRD patients were positive for H. pylori, which was lower than 70.7% of the controls (p<0.01). Endoscopic examination revealed that 6 ESRD patients (12.2%) had peptic ulcers, while 2.4% of the controls did, which was not statistically significant. The ESRD patients were divided into two groups by therapeutic modality: group 1 included 31 patients under dialysis, and group 2, 18 patients with maintenance therapy. The incidence of H. pylori infection in group 1 was 51.6%, which was significantly higher than the 16.7% in group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the increased incidence of peptic ulcers in ESRD patients cannot be explained by H. pylori colonization, and that there may be other factors such as a high concentration of urea in the stomach of patients with ESRD, which can suppress the colonization of H. pylori.
Colon ; Dialysis ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Gastric Acid ; Gastrins ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence* ; Silver ; Stomach ; Urea ; Urease

Phytobezoar is rare disease in the stomach and small bowel of the patient without underlying previous gastroenterologic pathology. Because it usually occurs secondarily to peptic ulcer surgery, poor mastication, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and connetive tissue disease. In morden medicine, phytobezoars found in the stomach and/or intestines in humans, are known to be associated with considerable morbidity and even mortality. Patients with gastric bezoar present with chronic postprandial epigastic pain, nausea, and vomitihg. It is diagnosed by endoscopic examination or radiologic study and treated by surgical removal or non-surgical methods including conservative treatment, enzymatic dissolution, and endoscopic removal. We have experienced a case of small intestinal obstruction due to a fragment of gastric bezoar of the patient without underlying etiologic cause. So we report the case with a brief review of literatures.
Bezoars ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Intestines ; Mastication ; Mortality ; Nausea ; Pathology ; Peptic Ulcer ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach

PURPOSE: Chemokines are potent regulators of the host inflammatory or immune responses. Mucosal synthesis of chemokines may be important in the pathogenesis of mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). We performed this study to investigate the expression of C-X-C chemokine genes in UC. METHODS: Mucosal tissues were obtained from six normal controls and six UC patients by endoscopic biopsies. In patients with UC, mucosal tissues were separately obtained from both involved and uninvolved regions. RNA was extracted and mRNA levels of five C-X-C chemokines were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR using internal RNA standards. RESULTS: Mucosal mRNA levels of all chemokines tested increased in the involved region of UC compared with the uninvolved region of UC or normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that mucosal expression of C-X-C chemokines contributes to the pathogenesis of UC
Biopsy ; Chemokines ; Chemokines, CXC ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger ; Ulcer*

Background: Ginseng has been known in Korea as a healthsupportive herbal medicine from time immemorial. Essential oil isolated from fresh ginseng has been shown to display antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Objective: The effects of red ginseng oil (RGO) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells were studied. Methods: The cultured cells were treated with either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 μg/ml LPS, 50 μg/ml RGO, or 5 μg/ml LPS plus 50 μg/ml RGO for 6 and 24 hours.RT-PCR, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were performed for the analysis of inflammatory cytokine. Results: RGO showed the increased gene and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. RGO also showed the increased protein expression of p-c-jun and p-JNK in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Gene expression of TLR2 was increased in LPS-treated sebocytes following treatment with RGO. Additionally, RGO resulted in an increased expression of LL-37 in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Moreover, it remarkably increased the production of sebum in LPS-treated sebocytes. Conclusion RGO might be among the aggravating factors of acne vulgaris. It would be better to stop taking red ginseng in patients with inflammatory acne.

Background: Ginseng has been known in Korea as a healthsupportive herbal medicine from time immemorial. Essential oil isolated from fresh ginseng has been shown to display antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Objective: The effects of red ginseng oil (RGO) on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated sebocytes and outer root sheath (ORS) cells were studied. Methods: The cultured cells were treated with either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 5 μg/ml LPS, 50 μg/ml RGO, or 5 μg/ml LPS plus 50 μg/ml RGO for 6 and 24 hours.RT-PCR, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were performed for the analysis of inflammatory cytokine. Results: RGO showed the increased gene and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. RGO also showed the increased protein expression of p-c-jun and p-JNK in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Gene expression of TLR2 was increased in LPS-treated sebocytes following treatment with RGO. Additionally, RGO resulted in an increased expression of LL-37 in the LPS-treated sebocytes and ORS cells. Moreover, it remarkably increased the production of sebum in LPS-treated sebocytes. Conclusion RGO might be among the aggravating factors of acne vulgaris. It would be better to stop taking red ginseng in patients with inflammatory acne.