Congenital anomalies of the scrotum are uncommon and among them the ectopic scrotum is extremely rare. Only one case of ectopic scrotum has been recorded in Korea. In 1993 we experienced a case of unilateral ectopic scrotum with no other congenital abnormalities in a 22-year-old man. His left scrotum was normal in position and size, and contained a normal palpable testis. There was definite median raphe but no scrotal development to the right of this line. The penis showed externally normal appearance. A large sac of skin, having the typical hyperpigmented wrinkled appearance of normal scrotum, was overlying right inguinal ring. The sac contained a normally developed testis.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; Korea ; Male ; Penis ; Scrotum* ; Skin ; Testis ; Young Adult

Articular cartilage defect rarely heals spontaneously due to its avascularity and low cellularity. Even small articular cartilage defects can develop into osteoarthritis, and subsequently, its management has been a major clinical concern. Although there are several treatment options for cartilage defect, no treatment has been established as a gold standard procedure. Bone marrow stimulation techniques which is equivalent to microfracture these days has been adapted as first line treatment, attributed to their technical easiness and minimal invasiveness to patients. However, this procedure has limitation in reproducing hyaline cartilage, so recent cell-based therapies using autologous chondrocytes or mesenchymal stem cells have drawn particular attention. MSCs regardless of its origin have shown significant potential for chondrogenesis. Novel approaches using MSCs as an alternative cell source for patient derived chondrocytes are currently on trial. In this review, stem cells from various origins considered as cell sources and potential application of mesenchymal stem cells to promote cartilage repair will be discussed. While differentiation of stem cell can be well controlled in vitro, it is not easy to predict the course of differentiation when the stem cell is transplanted. Some novel methods using physical stimulation and material based techniques for differentiation control are introduced in this context. Such differentiation control will be beneficial when it is adapted before transplantation. We call it preconditioning.
Bone Marrow ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Chondrogenesis ; Humans ; Hyaline Cartilage ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoarthritis ; Physical Stimulation ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Therapy ; Transplants

Patients with acromegaly have a reduced life expectancy rnainly due to cardiovascular, respiratory or cerebrovascular diseas-. Malignancy also seems to occur with greater than the expected incidence. In particular, the published retrospective or prospective studies have suggested a strong association of colonic neoplasia with acromegaly. But, there were a few reports of thyroid cancer in acrornegaly. We report a case of thyroid papillary cancer derived from diffuse goiter in acromegaly, sugge- sting the possible carcinogenic role of growth hormone.
Acromegaly ; Bites and Stings ; Colon ; Goiter ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Expectancy ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

Treatment options for partial thickness cartilage defects are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the chondrocyte-seeded cartilage extracellular matrix membrane in repairing partial thickness cartilage defects. First, the potential of the membrane as an effective cell carrier was investigated. Secondly, we have applied the chondrocyte-seeded membrane in an ex vivo, partial thickness defect model to analyze its repair potential. After culture of chondrocytes on the membrane in vitro, cell viability assay, cell seeding yield calculation and cell transfer assay were done. Cell carrying ability of the membrane was also tested by seeding different densities of cells. Partial defects were created on human cartilage tissue explants. Cell-seeded membranes were applied using a modified autologous chondrocyte implantation technique on the defects and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice for 2 and 4 weeks. In vitro data showed cell viability and seeding yield comparable to standard culture dishes. Time dependent cell transfer from the membrane was observed. Membranes supported various densities of cells. Ex vivo data showed hyaline-like cartilage tissue repair, integrated on the defect by 4 weeks. Overall, chondrocyte-seeded cartilage extracellular membranes may be an effective and feasible treatment strategy for the repair of partial thickness cartilage defects.
Animals ; Cartilage* ; Cell Survival ; Chondrocytes* ; Extracellular Matrix* ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lifting ; Membranes ; Mice ; Mice, Nude

Study on the Potential of Hydroxapatite Based Bioactive Bone Cement PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to propose a new bioactive bone cement (BBC) composed of bone powder (hydroxyapatite; HA), chitosan powder, and currently available polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement for use in orthopaedic surgeries such as vertebroplasty or bone filler. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of proposed BBCs and a currently available commercial PMMA were tested. In vitro studies the surface morphology, chemical composition, changes in pH value along the time, exothermic temperatures, intrusion and cellular responses were investigated. SEM, radiological and histological examinations were performed in animal studies. RESULTS: The major components of BBCs were C, O, Ca, P, Cl, Si, S, Ba and Mg. The pH values in BBCs decreased after 1 day, however they eventually reached 7.2-7.4. The water absorbency, weight loss, and porosity in BBCs increased more than PMMA more than during degradation (p<0.05). However, the compressive Young's moduli and ultimate compressive strength (UCS) of BBCs were lower than those of PMMA (<0.05). The exothermic temperatures of the BBCs were considerably lower than that of PMMA (p<0.05). In view of setting time, it takes relatively longer for BBCII and III to be solidified than PMMA (p<0.05). The intrusion tests showed that the BBCs were more intrusive than PMMA (p<0.05). The cell proliferation test on BBCII showed that the BBCII was more preferable than the PMMA. No cytotoxic characteristics were found in all BBCs. In the animal test, BBC II was more biocompatible as well as osteoconductible than the PMMA. CONCLUSION: The results of in vitro and animal studies indicated that the proposed BBCs have a potential of clinical application as replacement of the current PMMA bone cements.
Animals ; Bone Cements ; Cell Proliferation ; Chitosan ; Compressive Strength ; Durapatite* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Porosity ; Vertebroplasty ; Water ; Weight Loss

Incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease is increasing with the wider recognition and development of diagnostic technology. Mycobacterium kansasii is the second most common pathogen of NTM pulmonary disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However in Korea, the incidence of M. kansasii pulmonary disease is relatively low, and there has been no report of M. kansasii pulmonary disease with bronchial involvement in HIV patients, to the best of our knowledge. We report a case of M. kansasii pulmonary disease presenting with endobronchial lesions in an HIV-infected patient complaining of chronic cough with bilateral enlargements of hilar lymph nodes on chest X-ray.
Bronchial Diseases ; Cough ; HIV ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Diseases* ; Lymph Nodes ; Mycobacterium kansasii* ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Thorax

Biliary drainage in patients with malignant biliary obstruction relieves jaundice and prevents the development of cholangitis or hepatic failure from biliary obstruction. Therefore, this may result in better quality of life along with survival prolongation. Biliary stent placement is an effective and safe measure for biliary decompression and is preferred than bypass surgery in high risk patients. Entero-biliary perforation-communication is one of the rare complications of biliary stent. We herein report a case of duodeno-biliary perforation-communication in patient with distal cholangiocarcinoma who presented with duodenal ulcer and obstruction, occurring 4 years later from the metallic biliary stent insertion. Patient was managed with a pyloric metal stent and conservative care.
Aged, 80 and over ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/pathology ; Biliary Fistula/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Cholangiocarcinoma/complications/*diagnosis ; Duodenal Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Stents/*adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Myeloid sarcoma is an uncommon extramedullary tumor of immature myeloid cells or myeloblasts. It may occur alone or concurrently with an underlying hematological malignancy. Although it can develop anywhere in the body, common sites include bones, particularly the skull and vertebra, soft tissues, and lymph nodes. However, there have been few reports of myeloid sarcoma occurring in the respiratory system, especially the large airways. We describe a case of endobronchial relapse of acute myeloid leukemia in a patient who achieved complete remission after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. To our knowledge, this is the first such report in Korea.
Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymph Nodes ; Myeloid Cells ; Recurrence ; Respiratory System ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Skull ; Spine ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: The biomechanical responses of degenerative porcine intervertebral disc were compared with those MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups were set; Group A (44.0+/-2.8 months old, female) and Group B (6.2 +/-1.3 months old, female). Histological (H&E stain) observations were carried out to see the degeneration for both groups. Then biomechanical responses were investigated by measuring height changes in disc, intradiscal pressure values and relaxation time for each specimen under axial compressive loads. RESULTS: Degenerative changes were confirmed through H&E staining in Group A. The ratios of the nucleus pulposus area to total area were 14.7+/-4.5% and 29.2+/-6.0% in Group A and B, respectively (p=0.000). The decrease rates in disc height were 12.1+/-3.3% and 21.6+/-7.6%, in Group A and B, respectively under the axial compression of 740 N (p=0.000). No significant difference in intradiscal pressure measured in anterior zone between-groups except at axial load of 740N (p> 0.05). However, significant difference in pressure was found in posterolateral zone when the load was 542 N and higher (542 N: p=0.015, 740 N: p=0.010). The average relaxation time for Group A was significantly longer than that for Group B at 740N, i.e., at maximum load (anterior: p=0.010, posterolateral: p=0.014). CONCLUSION: Different biomechanical responses in degenerative disc were confirmed. They are 1) less flexible, 2) slower in energy relaxation under axial loading, and 3) larger portion of the external load were taken up at posterior part of annulus fibrous, especially in degenerative disc.
Intervertebral Disc* ; Relaxation ; Spine*

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common fatal malignancies worldwide, especially in Korea. The recent advances in diagnostic techniques, such as serum tumor marker assay, ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and angiography, allow us to detect HCC at early stage. Even though, it remains difficult to distinguish malignant nodules from benign space-ccupying lesions of liver. Distinction of HCC from benign entities such as liver abscess is important because failure of prompt diagnosis could result in a missed opportunity for curative treatment. The differential diagnosis of HCC and liver abscess, especially HCC presenting as abscess, is sometimes very difficult. We report a case of HCC with liver abscess caused by secondary infection of CBD stone and cholangitis, that mimicked the dynamic CT findings of liver abscess, in an elderly patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Abscess ; Aged ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Cholangitis* ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography