BACKGROUND/AIMS: Imrnortalized human fetal liver cell lines established by transfecting simian virus 40 T gene wae found to lose differentiated liver cell functions in successive long-term culture. Butyrate, known as a differentiation-promoting agent for a variety of cancer cell lines, is produced in the colon by bacterial flora and selectively transported into the liver though the portal blood flow. Therefe, butyrate might play a role in the maintenance of differentiation in hepatocytes in vivo. In thepresent study, the effects of butyrate on cell growth and differentiation in human fetal liver cell lines was investigated. METHODS: Human fetal liver cell lines imrnortalized by SV 40 T antigen were treated with sodium butyrate (1mM), and cell growth rate after butyrate treatment were nmsured by the number of viable cells, determined by trypan blue dye exclusice method. The effects of sodium butyrate on the hepatocyte-specific differentiatian were assessed by albumin and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression, analyzed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and were also by the increment of albumin secretion into culture media, determined by a competitive inhibition ELISA. RESULTS: Treatment with sodium butyrate resulted in a cessation of cellular proliferation and alterations in cellular morphology (increased cell size and polygonal change in shape). The level of albumin mRNA after sodium butyrate treatment was elevated by about two times as compared to that of control. In contrast, AFP mRNA expression were dennstrated neither before nor after sodium butyrate treatment. The average amount of albumin released in the medium was less than 6pghnl/10'cells/2days in the absence of sodium butyrate, and increased to 17 p g/ml/10'cells/2days at day 2, 21ugfml 10'cells/2days at day 4 in the presence of sodium butyrate, and these levels thereafter were over 10 times higher than that in the absence of sodium butyrate until day 10. CONCLUSION: These mults indicate that treatment of immcetalized fetal liver cell lines with butyrate leads to inhibition of cellular proliferation and promotion of adult hepatocyte-specific differentiation.
Adult ; Antigens, Viral, Tumor ; Butyrates ; Butyric Acid* ; Cell Line* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Size ; Colon ; Culture Media ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatocytes ; Humans* ; Liver* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Simian virus 40 ; Sodium* ; Trypan Blue

PURPOSE: Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) application is increasing with sinus inlay bone graft, but there is few research with radiographic ananlysis on effect of PRP in maxillary sinus. The author investigated the amount of bony changes of maxillary sinus for dental implantation among the patients with maxillary inlay graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With 10 patients who were treated with sinus inlay autologous bone grafting combined with PRP technique, and with 5 patients who were treated with sinus inlay grafting only without PRP, the panoramic radiographys which were taken at preoperation, immediate postoperation, 3months postoperation, and 4 months postoperation(a month after dental implantation)periods were analysed. The films had been scanned, and then proceeded throughout image analysis system. The bone density of maxillary grafted sites was compared with adjacent tooth enamel density and remeasured according to density luminosity of each film. The density changes on PRP group and bone graft only group were an lysed with non-parameteric statistics method. RESULTS: In PRP combined patients group, bone density on postoperation periods was increased totally. The remarkable enhanced change of bone density was observed on 3 months postoperation period, thereafter the increasing rate was slightly reduced . In only bone graft patients group, bone density on postoperation periods was also increased compared with preoperation period, but the bone density of 4 months postoperation period was decreased compared with 3 months postoperation period. The amount of bone density on PRP group was significantly changed according to periods in contrast to bone graft only group. CONCLUSION: The bone density on PRP group was remarkably increased at 3 months postoperation compared to bone graft only group and it was seemed to be associated with more new bone formation, less grafted bone resorption at bone grafted sites with PRP.
Blood Platelets* ; Bone Density ; Bone Resorption ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Implantation ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Inlays ; Maxillary Sinus ; Osteogenesis ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Tooth ; Transplants

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lens culinaris agglutinin-A reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP L3) has been reported to be highly specific for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of AFP-L3 for the diagnosis of HCC in the patients either with chronic liver disease or with HCC in complete remission who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. METHODS: A total numer of 34 patients (24 with chronic liver disease, 10 with HCC in complete remission) were enrolled, who showed significant increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in the liver on ultrasonography. Serum AFP L3 levels were analysed by AFP differentiation kit L. Abdominal spiral CT or ultrasonogram was performed at 1-3 month intervals and all of the patients were followed up for more than 6 months. RESULTS: Among 24 patients with chronic liver disease, two were positive (higher than 15%) for AFP L3; however, HCC was not detected in these patients, while HCCs were detected in two of 22 patients negative for AFP L3 during followe-up. Eight of the 10 patients with HCC in complete remission were positive for AFP L3; recurrent HCCs were detected in 7 of those 8 patients as well as in the rest 2 patients negative for AFP L3 during follow-up. The overall sensitivity and specificity of AFP L3 measurement for the detection of HCC within 6 months of follow-up were 63.6% and 87.0%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value for HCC in patients with chronic liver disease were O% and 90.9% and for recurrent HCC in HCC patients in remission were 87.5% and ON, respectively. CONCLUSION: The measurement of AFP L3 is suggested to be useful for the diagnostic strategy in patients either with chronic liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma in complete remission, who showed progressive increment of serum AFP level and no mass lesion in liver on ultrasonogram.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lens Plant* ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: As the mean life span is prolonged, the concern about health care in postmenopuasal women is now promoted. Expecially, osteoporosis is the serious health problem in postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density in postmenopause is controlled by that in premenopause. Therefore, we searched for the factors which contribute to bone mineral density in premenopause. METHODS: The study subjects who visited the Health Screening and Diagnosis Center in Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1998 to July 1999 was measured BMD at the lumbar spine using Dual Energy X ray Absorptiometry. Subjects were checked past medical history, life style(smoking, drinking, physical activity, exercise etc.), birth history, breast feeding, oral pill intake. The subjects who had disorders known to interfere with bone metabolism and premature menopausal and surgical menopausal women were excluded from the study. And we reviewed the results of the laboratory and radiologic findings which had done in Health Screening and Diagnosis Center. RESULTS: 352 women were included in this study. The number of normal BMD was 228 and the number of osteopenia was 124. Weight, height, BMI, exercise was significant positively correlated with bone mineral density(p<0.05). Previous operation history was significant negatively correlation with bone mineral density(p<0.05). Multiple logistic regression result showed that weight was the most significant factor affecting to BMD and the history of operation and exercise were significant factor affecting BMD(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In postmenopausal women, who has low weight, past operation history and lack of exercise were need to evaluation of BMD and education for prevention of osteoporosis is needed.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Breast Feeding ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Metabolism ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause ; Reproductive History ; Spine

The purpose of this paper was to report a successful treatment of transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis (NYE) for branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) with visible emboli. Two patients with acute, severe vision loss secondary to a branch retinal artery occlusion with visible emboli in one eye underwent NYE. A complete ocular examination was performed which included biomicroscopy of the posterior pole of the retina, intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photographs, and fluorescein angiography (FA). After the NYE, the two patients showed dramatic improvements in best-corrected visual acuity, as well as, immediate and dramatic restorations in flow past the obstructed arteriole in FA. NYE is a treatment modality to be considered in patients with BRAO who present acutely with severe vision loss and a visible embolus.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Lasers, Solid-State/*therapeutic use ; Microscopy, Acoustic ; Retinal Artery Occlusion/diagnosis/*surgery ; Thrombectomy/*methods ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined esophageal variceal ligation and sclerotherapy has been hypothesized to be more effective for the control of bleeding esophageal varices than ligation alone. The present study was to compare the combined therapy with ligation alone in terms of variceal eradication, rebleeding, complication and survival rates in patients with bleeding esophageal varices. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with bleeding esophageal varices were randomly assigned to receive ligation alone in 20 patients or the combined therapy in 18 patients. The clinical and endoscopic characteristics of patients in the ligation group were similar to those of patients in the combination group. In the combination group, 1-3 mL of ethanolamine was injected proximal to each ligated site. Treatments were repeated every 2- to 3-month until varices were eradicated. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the ligation and combination groups in variceal eradication rates (70% vs. 72%), numbers of endoscopic sessions required to achieve eradication (3.5+/-0.33 vs. 3.3+/-0.31), rebleeding rates (30% vs. 28%) or 2-yr cumulative survival rates (95% vs. 75%). There were significantly more complications in the combination group (25% vs. 89%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Ligation alone is recommended rather than the combined ligation and sclerotherapy because of its lower complication rates.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Ethanolamine ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Varicose Veins

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Combined esophageal variceal ligation and sclerotherapy has been hypothesized to be more effective for the control of bleeding esophageal varices than ligation alone. The present study was to compare the combined therapy with ligation alone in terms of variceal eradication, rebleeding, complication and survival rates in patients with bleeding esophageal varices. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with bleeding esophageal varices were randomly assigned to receive ligation alone in 20 patients or the combined therapy in 18 patients. The clinical and endoscopic characteristics of patients in the ligation group were similar to those of patients in the combination group. In the combination group, 1-3 mL of ethanolamine was injected proximal to each ligated site. Treatments were repeated every 2- to 3-month until varices were eradicated. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the ligation and combination groups in variceal eradication rates (70% vs. 72%), numbers of endoscopic sessions required to achieve eradication (3.5+/-0.33 vs. 3.3+/-0.31), rebleeding rates (30% vs. 28%) or 2-yr cumulative survival rates (95% vs. 75%). There were significantly more complications in the combination group (25% vs. 89%, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Ligation alone is recommended rather than the combined ligation and sclerotherapy because of its lower complication rates.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Ethanolamine ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Sclerotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Varicose Veins

We investigated the interrelations between surface electrocardiographic changes and clinical outcomes in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP). 33 patients (19 boys, 14 girls) were classified into two groups; group I (15) who were in poor clinical status or dead; and group II (18) who showed good clinical status. Group I had larger LV dimensions compared to group II (Gr I vs. Gr II; LVEDD, 52 +/-11 vs. 42+/-7 (mm); LVESD, 43+/-12 vs. 30+/-5 (mm); p<0.05). QRS duration was prolonged in Gr I compared to Gr II and normal (Gr I, 84+/-28; Gr II, 66+/-12; normal control, 67+/-9). The QRS duration was correlated with the dimensions of left ventricle (LV). Corrected QT and JT interval and dispersions of QT in the DCMP group showed a significant difference compared to the normal control, however there was no significant difference between Gr I and II. In conclusion, QRS duration was correlated with ventricular dimension and clinical outcome in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Irrespective of increased ventricular inhomogeneity, QT dispersion could not be used to predict long-term prognosis.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/*diagnosis/*mortality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Electrocardiography ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: In congenital heart disease, the lung perfusion through stenosed pulmonary artery is usually decreased. And this decrement of lung perfusion also occurs with diaphragmatic palsy after the operation of congenital heart disease. It is difficult to delineate the amount of lung perfusion in case of combination of pulmonary artery stenosis and diaphragmatic palsy. We examined the change of lung perfusion after the induction of diaphragmatic palsy in rabbits. METHODS: We dissected left phrenic nerves in 20 rabbits to induce left diaphragmatic palsy. The lung perfusion scan was performed with 99mTc-MAA and the movement of diaphragm was examined with fluoroscopy. They were performed as baseline data and on 3rd and 10th day postoperatively. The amount of left lung pefusion before and after diaphragmatic palsy was compared and analysed in 12 rabbits which definitely had diaphragmatic palsy. RESULTS: Weight of the rabbits was 1.65+/-0.26 kg. Left lung perfusion percent was 45.93+/-6.42% before operation and these were 32.48+/-6.09% and 37.62+/-3.39% on the 3rd and 10th postoperative day, respectively. Left lung perfusion was significantly decreased just after diaphragmatic palsy but it was not changed thereafter. The decrement of lung perfusion was not affected by the body weight. The decreased amount of left lung perfusion was reciprocally correlated with the body weight of the rabbits on the postoperative 3rd day but not 10th day. CONCLUSION: Left lung perfusion percent of the rabbits was decreased 7% with the induction of diaphragmatic palsy and the decreased amount was reciprocally correlated with the body weight just after the diaphragmatic palsy was induced.
Body Weight ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diaphragm ; Fluoroscopy ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Lung* ; Paralysis* ; Perfusion* ; Phrenic Nerve ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rabbits

Fabella impingement syndrome after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a rare condition. However, the location of the inserted prosthesis and the size of the fabella are considered major causative factors. Thus far, a conventional surgical excision of the impinged fabella is recommended treatment for the impingement. A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis of the knee. She complained of fabella impingement due to an incompletely excised bony spur behind the posterolateral femoral prosthesis after TKA. The fabella and remaining bony spur were removed using an arthroscopic procedure. The impingement has not recurred and the range of motion (ROM) of the knee was improved after a 12 months follow-up. Arthroscopic surgery might be an alternative treatment for fabella impingement after TKA.
Aged ; Arthroplasty* ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular