No abstract available.
Child* ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Humans

No abstract available.

Between Feb. 1992 and Apr, 1995, the authors have performed arthroscopic abrasion arthroplasty in 78 knees of 76 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. The followup period was between 24 and 58 months, with on an average of 41 months. All patients had Zarins grade IV articular cartilage change. The results were as follows. 1. Of the total 78 knees, results were excellent in 25(32%), good in 33(42A), fair in 12(17%), poor in 8(10%) knees respectively. 2, The best results were obtained patellofemoral abrasion arthroplasty. 3. The poor results were obtained in patients with the both femoral condyle, lesion. 4. The results were much better in young age group (below 40 years). Aroscopic abrasion arthroplasty is not a curative but palliative method. But it could be an appealing altemative to total knee arthroplasty or high tibial osteotomy or can be performed postoperated after these reconstructive proeedures.
Arthroplasty* ; Cartilage, Articular ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis* ; Osteotomy

No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Extremities*

No abstract available.
Genes, myc* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of the limbal epithelial cells auto-cultivated in vivo on amniotic membrane (LIVAMs) designed for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS: We removed the epithelium of AM with a No.15 blade after it was blotted with 20% ethanol and made a 360 degrees stromal flap along the epithelial defect. We then mounted over-sized AM (1 mm larger in diameter than the defect) over the defect with the border of AM inserted under the flap, and performed interrupted suture with 10-0 nylon. A therapeutic contact lens was fitted over the AM and a temporary tarsorrhaphy was performed. To examine whether the limbal epithelial cells grew well onto AM, we observed the cornea after fluorescein dye staining using a slit lamp. To explore the characteristics of LIVAMs, we performed hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunochemical staining with AK-2, AE-5, AM-3 monoclonal antibodies, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Three of four rabbits had successful epithelial growth on the amniotic membrane. The epithelial growth on the amniotic membrane was stained using immunohistochemical staining (AK-2, AE-5). Electron microscopy showed a structure similar to that of a normal corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of auto-cultivation of limbal epithelial cells in vivo on amniotic membrane can be an efficient and convenient method and preserves the characteristics of limbal epithelial cells for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency.
Amnion* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cornea ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Ethanol ; Fluorescein ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nylons ; Rabbits* ; Stem Cells ; Sutures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenotype of conjunctival epithelial cells auto-cultivated in vivo on human amniotic membrane (CIVAMs) in rabbits for ocular surface reconstruction. METHODS: A fornix based-conjunctival flap 8 mm in diameter was made in 12 eyes of rabbits. Amniotic membrane was implanted into the conjunctival defects. Rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells were cultivated in vivo on amniotic membrane for a week. A frozen section was made of the excised specimen. To investigate the phenotype of CIVAMs, Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining to anti-MUC5AC (monoclonal antibody to conjunctival goblet cell mucin), and transmission electron microscopy were performed. RESULTS In 11 of 12 eyes, conjunctival epithelial cells grew successfully on amniotic membrane. Light microscopy demonstrated two to three layers of cuboidal epithelial cells and two to three layers of stratified epithelial cells in CIVAMs. CIVAMs exhibited non-goblet epithelial differentiation as determined by immunohistochemistry to anti-MUC5AC. Transmission electron microscopy of CIVAMs showed fine structure similar to that of normal conjunctival epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: CIVAMs showed morphological findings similar to normal conjunctival epithelial cells and are expected to accomplish more rapid reconjunctivalization than simple amniotic membrane transplantation. We expect that CIVAMs will be adopted in treating conjunctival burn, symblepharon, conjunctiva-scleral ulcer, and filtering bleb leakage with conjunctival defects.
Amnion* ; Blister ; Burns ; Epithelial Cells* ; Frozen Sections ; Goblet Cells ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenotype ; Rabbits* ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenotype of conjunctival epithelial cells auto-cultivated in vivo on human amniotic membrane (CIVAMs) in rabbits for ocular surface reconstruction. METHODS: A fornix based-conjunctival flap 8 mm in diameter was made in 12 eyes of rabbits. Amniotic membrane was implanted into the conjunctival defects. Rabbit conjunctival epithelial cells were cultivated in vivo on amniotic membrane for a week. A frozen section was made of the excised specimen. To investigate the phenotype of CIVAMs, Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining to anti-MUC5AC (monoclonal antibody to conjunctival goblet cell mucin), and transmission electron microscopy were performed. RESULTS In 11 of 12 eyes, conjunctival epithelial cells grew successfully on amniotic membrane. Light microscopy demonstrated two to three layers of cuboidal epithelial cells and two to three layers of stratified epithelial cells in CIVAMs. CIVAMs exhibited non-goblet epithelial differentiation as determined by immunohistochemistry to anti-MUC5AC. Transmission electron microscopy of CIVAMs showed fine structure similar to that of normal conjunctival epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: CIVAMs showed morphological findings similar to normal conjunctival epithelial cells and are expected to accomplish more rapid reconjunctivalization than simple amniotic membrane transplantation. We expect that CIVAMs will be adopted in treating conjunctival burn, symblepharon, conjunctiva-scleral ulcer, and filtering bleb leakage with conjunctival defects.
Amnion* ; Blister ; Burns ; Epithelial Cells* ; Frozen Sections ; Goblet Cells ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Phenotype ; Rabbits* ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: To compare the visibility and procedural parameters between a standard spinal needle and a new laser-etched needle (LEN) in real-time ultrasonography guided lumbar medial branch access in a phantom of the lumbosacral spine. METHODS: We conducted a prospective single-blinded observational study at a rehabilitation medicine center. A new model of LEN was manufactured with a standard 22-gauge spinal needle and a laser etching machine. Thirty-two inexperienced polyclinic medical students performed ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch access using both a standard spinal needle and a LEN with scanning protocol. The outcomes included needle visibility score, needle elapsed time, first-pass success rate, and number of needle sticks. RESULTS: The LEN received significantly better visibility scores and shorter needle elapsed time compared to the standard spinal needle. First-pass success rate and the number of needle sticks were not significantly different between needles. CONCLUSION: A new LEN is expected to offer better visibility and enable inexperienced users to perform an ultrasonography-guided lumbar medial branch block more quickly. However, further study of variables may be necessary for clinical application.
Humans ; Needles* ; Needlestick Injuries ; Observational Study ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation ; Spine ; Students, Medical ; Ultrasonography ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Hantaan virus is the causative agent of rather severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome which occurs widely in north-eastern Asia including Korea, China and far eastcrn part of Russia. Although several types of vaccine for this disease have been developed, the therapeutic agent has not been developed yet. Therefore, we launched the construction of ribozyme to be used as the therapeutic purpose of the disease. Ribozyme which cleaves RNA as an enzyme is a RNA oligonucleotide specific to target RNA. We constructed a ribozyme oligonucleotide aimed at S genomic RNA segment of Hantaan virus (strain 76-118) containing T7 promoter region cornplementary to promoter primer oligonucleotide. Then two oligonucleotides were annealed to prepare double stranded transcription template, and transcription was performed in vitro. Thus, we could prepare the clone of whole S segment of the virus by RT-PCR, and then BamHI/HinCII fragment of the S genome segment was subcloned to pT7T319U vector containing T7 promoter in genome sense. The substrate transcript was made by run-off transcription. These substrate and ribozyme transcripts were used to detect cleavage activity of the ribozyme to the target RNA substrate prior to its application to cultured cell. The cleavage reaction showed that the ribozyme cleaves the target RNA which is S segment of Hantaan virus. To know whether the ribozyme works in cell infected with Hantaan virus as well, the ribozyme was transfected to Vero-E6 cell by lipofectin after inoculation of the virus. The transfected ribozyme was detectable in the cell by RT-PCR utilizing ribozyme specific primers. On 7 days after inoculation, the culture media were harvested and used to determinate viral titers by immunoenzyme plaque assay. In contrast to the mock transfected negative control, the viral titers of the cultures transfected at 1, 2 and 3 days after the virus inoculation were lowered to 1/100 level. This result suggests that the ribozyme inhibits the multiplication of Hantaan virus in cultured cell successfully in early stage of infection, and ribozyme is a possible new anti-viral drug against the virus infection.
Asia ; Cells, Cultured ; China ; Clone Cells ; Culture Media ; Genome ; Hantaan virus* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Korea ; Oligonucleotides ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA ; Russia