PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microthreads on removal torque and bone-to-implant contact (BIC). METHODS: Twelve miniature pigs for each experiment, a total of 24 animals, were used. In the removal torque analysis, each animal received 2 types of implants in each tibia, which were treated with sandblasting and acid etching but with or without microthreads at the marginal portion. The animals were sacrificed after 4, 8, or 12 weeks of healing. Each subgroup consisted of 4 animals, and the tibias were extracted and removal torque was measured. In the BIC analysis, each animal received 3 types of implants. Two types of implants were used for the removal torque test and another type of implant served as the control. The BIC experiment was conducted in the mandible of the animals. The P1-M1 teeth were extracted, and after a 4-month healing period, 3 each of the 2 types of implants were placed, with one type on each side of the mandible, for a total of 6 implants per animal. The animals were sacrificed after a 2-, 4-, or 8-week healing period. Each subgroup consisted of 4 animals. The mandibles were extracted, specimens were processed, and BIC was analyzed. RESULTS: No significant difference in removal torque value or BIC was found between implants with and without microthreads. The removal torque value increased between 4 and 8 weeks of healing for both types of implants, but there was no significant difference between 8 and 12 weeks. The percentage of BIC increased between 2 and 4 weeks for all types of implants, but there was no significant difference between 4 and 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of microthreads was not a significant factor in mechanical and histological stability.
Animals ; Biomechanics ; Dental Implants ; Mandible ; Osseointegration ; Swine ; Tibia ; Tooth ; Torque

BACKGROUND: Myocardial cell death after myocardial infarction or reperfusion is classified into necrosis and apoptosis. Bcl-2 protein is a cytoplasmic protein, which inhibits apoptosis and is expressed in acute stage of myocardial infarction but not in normal heart. This study was performed to investigate whether Bcl-2 protein was expressed respectively to the reperfusion time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty nine New Zealand white rabbits weighing 1.5-4.8 kg (mean, 2.9kg) were alloted into 7 groups (n=5 in each group) which underwent left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours, and 3, 7 days after occlusion. Ventricle was excised immediately after intervention. Tissues were fixed in 10% buffured formalin and embedded in paraffin. Bcl-2 protein was detected by immunohistochemical stain with using monoclonal antibody against Bcl-2 protein. RESULTS: The positive immunohistochemical reactivity for Bcl-2 protein was observed in 12, 24 hours, and 3 days reperfusion groups. Bcl-2 protein was detected in salvaged myocytes surrounding the infarcted area. CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-2 protein is expressed at the late acute stage of infarct. Therefore, the expression of Bcl-2 protein may not protect acute cell death, but may play a role in the prevention of late cell death after myocardial is chemia-reperfusion.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Death ; Coronary Vessels ; Cytoplasm ; Formaldehyde ; Heart ; Muscle Cells ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardium* ; Necrosis ; Paraffin ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Cat scratch disease (CSD) is an emerging disease worldwide and is mainly caused by Bartonella henselae, a gram-negative bacterium. The most common clinical manifestation is regional lymphadenopathy, though clinical recognition may be difficult, as atypical manifestations occur. The condition can be complicated by neuroretinitis, endocarditis, and sometimes fatal encephalopathy. The reservoir of B. henselae is the cat, and the prevalence rates of B. henselae infection in cat populations range from 4 to 70%. The prevalence of Bartonella infection in Korea has not been studied, thus, in this study Bartonella infection was investigated in cats captured in the Inchon and Ansan areas. METHODS: Twenty wild cats were captured and their livers and spleens were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bacterial culture, and histopathologically. PCR used two primers: Cat (sense:5'-GAT TCA ATT GGT TTG AA(G/A) GAG GCT-3', antisense:5'-TCA CAT CAC CAG G(A/G)C GTA TTC- 3') and Barto (sense:5'-(C/T) CT TCG TTT CTC TTT CTT CA-3', antisense:5'-AAC CAA CTG AGC TAC AAG CC-3'). Culture was performed by inoculating sliced spleen and liver into the ECV304 cell line and bacterial growth was observed over a period of 3 weeks. If no visible bacterial growth was identified, the presence of bartonella was examined by DNA staining, indirect immunofluorescent staining, and PCR. Liver and spleen were stained with H&E and scrutinized under the light microscope. RESULTS: Nine pairs of culture cells inoculated with liver and spleen were examined by indirect immunofluorescent staining and PCR; no positive case was found. In addition, no positive case was identified by PCR in the liver and spleen specimens of eleven cats. Spleen and liver specimens of eleven cats were examined by light microscopy and none showed granuloma. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that the Bartonella infection is probably uncommon in the cat population of the Inchon and Ansan areas. Further studies should be undertaken to detail the prevalence of Bartonella infection in other areas and in human.
Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella Infections ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats* ; Cell Line ; DNA ; Endocarditis ; Granuloma ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Liver ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Microscopy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Retinitis ; Spleen

During the past several years, the maze operation has become the most effective method of treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation. When the maze procedure is done concomittantly with other cardiac operations, surgeons, in their initial experiences, may be concerned about the additional operative risks and uncertainty of the results. We performed the Cox-maze III procedure in six cases of chronic atrial fibrillation associated with mitral, mitral & aortic, or coronary arterial disease. Maze III procedure was done with open mitral commissurotomy (3 cases), mitral valve replacement (1 case), aortic and mitral valve replacement (1 case), and two-vessel coronary bypass graft (1 case). In spite of rather prolonged aortic cross clamp time, cardiac recovery was uneventful in all cases. No cases required reexploration for postoperative bleeding. All patients showed regular sinus rhythms immediate or between 2 and 20 days postoperateratively. Transient postoperative supraventricular arrhythmarias were easily controlled by various antiarrhythmic agents. In follow up evaluations, all cases showed regular sinus rhythm on ECG and the right and left atrial transport function was confirmed by Doppler echocardiography in all except one. Though our experience was limited in case number, the Cox-maze III procedure was effective in controlling the chronic atrial fibrillation without serious additional operative risks.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Transplants ; Uncertainty

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between three major allergic diseases, asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis (AD), and psychological and behavioural problems in preschoolers based on a community survey. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire to determine the prevalence of symptoms and diagnosed allergic diseases, and a Korean version of the Child Behaviour Checklist to assess internalizing, externalizing, and sleep problems among 780 preschoolers. Five-hundred and seventy-five preschoolers with valid data were included in this study. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime diagnosis and treatment in the past 12 months was 8.7% and 4.4% for asthma, 24.4% and 19.2% for AR, and 35.1% and 16.6% for AD, respectively. Scores for internalizing and sleep problems were significantly higher in those diagnosed with AR. Preschoolers who had been treated for AD in the past 12 months had higher attention problem and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder scores. Sleep problems were more severe in moderate to severe AD compared to control and mild AD groups, categorised according to SCOring index of AD. The severity of sleep problems correlated positively with the percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological and behavioural problems differed among the three major allergic diseases, weaker association for asthma and stronger association for AR and AD. The results of this study may lead to the identification of potential underlying shared mechanisms common to allergic diseases and psychological and behavioural problems.
Asthma ; Checklist ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Prevalence ; Psychometrics ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma is a clonal B-cell malignancy manifested by the accumulation of terminally differentiated plasma cells. The disease is characterized by clinical heterogeneity, with survival ranging from a few months to more than 10 years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of specific chromosomal abnormality in multiple myeloma. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical records of 40 patients who were diagnosed as multiple myeloma, between April, 1995 and August, 2004. Cytogenetic analysis was conducted by metaphase karyotype analysis. Patients were grouped into normal cytogenetic group (arm A), complete or partial deletion of chromosome 13 and hypodiploidy group (arm B) and other cytogenetic abnormality group (arm C). RESULTS: Median follow up duration was 13.1 months (range 1.5-92.1). Overall response rate to chemotherapy was 58.8% and response rate among arm A, B and C were 56.3%, 33.3% and 75%, respectively (p=0.229). The prognostic factors affecting survival were clinical stage, performance status, serum creatinine level, sex and chromosomal abnormality. The median overall survival was significantly different among arm A, B and C (34.9 months, 8.5 months and 19.8 months, respectively, p=0.0125). CONCLUSION: chromosomal abnormality, especially, complete or partial deletion of chromosome 13 and hypodiploidy at initial diagnosis is significantly associated with survival duration.
Arm ; B-Lymphocytes ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Creatinine ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Metaphase ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasma Cells ; Population Characteristics ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergen sensitization in students at an elementary school in Seoul. METHODS: A modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire survey was administered to 1,376 elementary school children in the Songpa area of Seoul. Serum total IgE, blood eosinophils, and skin prick tests for 18 common allergens were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of AR symptoms during the last 12 months and the current AR, defined as having AR symptoms during last 12 months with a history of AR diagnosis from the doctor, were 39.0% and 24.2%, respectively. Males were more likely to have current AR than females (26.6% vs. 21.5%, P =0.04). Independent risk factors for current AR were parental allergic disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.78, 95% CI, 2.76-5.18), history of atopic dermatitis (AD; aOR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.04), history of asthma (aOR, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.15-5.61), and higher maternal education (aOR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.02-1.99). The subjects with higher quartiles of serum total IgE (P value for trend <0.001), more than 4% of eosinophil fraction (aOR 1.76; 95% CI, 1.24-2.48), and allergen sensitization house dust mites [aOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.10-2.15], dog [aOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.38-6.28], cat [1.85; 95% CI, 1.02-3.34], Alternaria [aOR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.06-5.32] and late-blooming tree pollen mixture [aOR 2.26; 95% CI, 1.12-4.57] were more likely to have current AR. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AR in children has increased during the last decade. The sensitization to common allergens and increased sensitization were associated with the development of current AR. House dust mites, dog, cat, alder, and Alternaria were the important allergens for current AR.
Allergens ; Alnus ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Asthma ; Cats ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Parents ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors ; Skin

Garlic(Allium sativum) is recognized as a sensitizing agent responsible for allergic contact dermatitis with food handlers and housewives. Lymphomatoid contact dermatitis, which is a type of allergic contact dermatitis, shows similar histologic features to Mycosis Fungoides. We report a 66-year-old male, who had applied garlic extract to both lower extremities and the trunk for 8 months for relieving his symptoms of arthralgia and generalized pruritis. He had complained of variable sized multiple erythematous pruritic papules on both lower extremities and the trunk and lymphadenopathy of both inguinal and axillary area. Skin biopsy was performed and the histological exam presented microscopically abnormal lymphocyte infiltration in the upper dermis. T-cell marker studies revealed strong CD3 positivity and increased CD4/CD8 ratio. The results of PCR-heteroduplex analysis showed negative for T-cell receptor- gene rearrangement and abscence of T-cell monoclonality. We could diagnose his skin lesion and generalized lymphadenopathy as lymphomatoid contact dermatitis which represented as a T-cell pseudolymphoma histologically. He was treated with local steroid injection and phototherapy and the skin lesion were improved without recurrence.
Aged ; Arthralgia ; Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermis ; Garlic* ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Phototherapy ; Pruritus ; Pseudolymphoma ; Recurrence ; Skin ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: The use of colony stimulating factor (CSF) has increased to mobilize hematopoietic progenitor cells for allo-PBSCT. The most effective mobilization regimen has not yet defined. The authors analyzed the results of the mobilized PBSC collection through large volume leukapheresis from 38 normal healthy donors using three different regimens, namely, a single regimen with GM-CSF (Leucogen ), a concurrent use of GM-CSF and G-CSF (Leucostim ), and a sequential regimen with GM-CSF followed by G-CSF. METHODS: This study was done on 38 healthy donors from Sep. 1998 to Jan. 2001. One donor was mobilized with G-CSF alone, 9 with GM-CSF alone, 20 with concurrent regimen and 8 with sequential regimen. After 5 days of mobilization treatment, PBSCs were collected by large volume leukapheresis through femoral vein catheter. We compared the results of each collected progenitor cells and observed the side effects. RESULTS: The average WBC count before apheresis was 22.6+-11.0x103/uL and circulating CD34+cell percent was 1.31+-2.24%. Total 66 times with an average of 1.46+-0.61 of largevolume leukapheresis were performed for the 37 donors. The mean collected MNC count was 4.61+-2.77x108/kg, CD3+cell count was 2.95+-1.82x108/kg and CD34+cell count was 9.76+-12.42x106/kg. A significant side effect observed after large volume leukapheresis was thrombocytopenia showing decrease from 199.1+-52.2 to 80.7+-25.2x103/uL without any bleeding tendency. The mean collected MNC counts provoed to be significantly higher in combination groups with GM-and G-CSF than GM-CSF alone (P<0.05). The CD34+cell counts showed to be statistically higher in a sequential group compared to the concurrent and single regimen groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A mobilization protocol with combination regimens of GM-CSF and G-CSF seemed to be superior to a single regimen with GM-CSF. Large volume leukapheresis through femoral vein catheter after mobilization with combination regimens of GM-and G-CSF in normal healthy donors was safe and proved to be an excellent. method to harvest stem cells.
Blood Component Removal ; Catheters ; Colony-Stimulating Factors ; Femoral Vein ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukapheresis* ; Stem Cells* ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tissue Donors*