STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The success of implants depends on intimate and direct contact of implant material on bone tissue and on functional relationship with soft tissue contact. Creation and maintenance of osseointegration depend on the understanding of the tissue's healing, repairing, and remodeling capacity and these capacities rely on cellular behavior. Altering the surface properties can modify cellular responses such as cell adhesion, cell motility, bone deposition. Therefore, various implant surface treatment methods are being developed for the improved bone cell responses. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responses of osteoblast-like cells to surface- modified titanium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was composed of four groups. Group 1 represented the electropolished surface. Group 2 surfaces were machined surface. Group 3 and Group 4 were anodized surfaces. Group 3 had low roughness and Group 4 had high roughness. Physicochemical properties and microstructures of the d iscs were examined and the responses of osteoblast-like cells to the discs were investigated. The microtopography was observed by SEM. The roughness was measured by three-dimension roughness measuring system. The microstructure was analyzed by XRD, AES. To evaluate cell responses to modified titanium surfaces, osteoblasts isolated from calvaria of neonatal rat were cultured. Cell count, morphology, total protein measurement and alkaline phosphatase activities of the cultures were examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results were as follows 1. The four groups showed specific microtopography respectively. Anodized group showed grain structure with micropores. 2. Surface roughness values were, from the lowest to the highest, electropolished group, machined group, low roughness anodized group, and high roughness anodized group. 3. Highly roughened anodized group was found to have increased surface oxide thickness and surface crystallinity. 4. The morphology of cells, flattened or spherical, were different from ach other. In the electropolished group and machined group, the cells were almost flattened. In two anodized groups, some cells were spherical and other cells were flattened. And the 14 day culture cells of all of the groups were nearly flattened due to confluency. 5. The number of attached cells was highest in low roughness anodized group. And the machined group had significantly lower cell count than any other groups(P<.05). 6. Total protein contents showed no difference among groups. 7. The level of alkaline phosphatase activities was higher in the anodized groups than electropolished and machined groups(P<.05).
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Count ; Cell Movement ; Edible Grain ; Crystallins ; Osseointegration ; Osteoblasts ; Rats ; Skull ; Surface Properties ; Titanium*

Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is the most common intra-abdominal disease required surgery during the first few months of life. The expression of pyloric stenosis is dependent upon the genetic influence of ancestors affected with the disease, as well as unknown environmental influences in the postnatal period. Pyloric stenosis has been reported in multiple sibs in a family, which suggests the genetic influence on the expression of this disease. Until now, the genetic influence is thought a sex-modified polygenic or multifactorial background which facilitates the expression of a common dominant gene. We experienced a case of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a two siblings. The siblings suffered projectile vomiting for 2~4 days at 16 days old of age and 15 days old of age. After we confirmed the diagnosis by upper gastrointestinal series and abdominal sonogram, the Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy was done successfully. This case suggests the genetic influence on the expression of this disease.
Diagnosis ; Genes, Dominant ; Humans ; Pyloric Stenosis ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Siblings* ; Vomiting

No abstract available.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The long-term success of implants is the development of a stable direct connection between bone and implant surface, which must be structural and functional. To improve a direct implant fixation to the bone, various strategies have been developed focusing on the surface of materials. Among them, altering the surface properties can modify cellular responses such as cell adhesion, cell motility and bone deposition. PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the cellular behaviors on the surface-modified titanium by morphological observation, cellular proliferation and differentiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specimens were divided into five groups, depending on their surface treatment: electropolishing(EP) anodizing(AN), machining(MA), blasting with hydroxyapatite particle(RBM) and electrical discharge machining(EDM). Physicochemical properties and microstructures of the specimens were examined and the responses of osteoblast-like cells were investigated. The microtopography of specimens was observed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Surface roughness was measured by a three-dimensional roughness measuring system. The microstructure was analyzed by X-ray diffractometer(XRD) and scanning auger electron microscopy(AES). To evaluate cellular responses to modified titanium surfaces, osteoblasts isolated from neonatal rat were cultured. The cellular morphology and total protein amounts of osteoblast-like cell were taken as the marker for cellular proliferation, while the expression of alkaline phosphatase was used as the early differentiation marker for osteoblast. In addition, the type I collagen production was determined to be a reliable indicator of bone matrix synthesis. RESULTS: 1. Each prepared specimen showed specific microtopography at SEM examination. The RBM group had a rough and irregular pattern with reticulated appearance. The EDM-treated surface had evident cracks and was heterogeneous consisting of broad sheet or plate with smooth edges and clusters of small grains, deep pores or craters. 2. Surface roughness values were, from the lowest to the highest, electropolished group, anodized group, machined group, RBM group and EDM group. 3. All groups showed amorphous structures. Especially anodized group was found to have increased surface oxide thickness and EDM group had titaniumcarbide(TiC) structure. 4. Cells on electropolished, anodized and machined surfaces developed flattened cell shape and cells on RBM appeared spherical and EDM showed both. After 14 days, the cells cultured from all groups were formed to be confluent and exhibited multilayer proliferation, often overlapped or stratified. 5. Total protein amounts were formed to be quite similar among all the group at 48 hours. At 14 days, the electropolished group and the anodized group induced more total protein amount than the RBM group(P<.05). 6. There was no significant difference among five groups for alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity at 48 hours. The AN group showed significantly higher ALP activity than any other groups at 14 days(P<.05). 7. All the groups showed similar collagen synthesis except the EDM group. The amount of collagen on the electropolished and anodized surfaces were higher than that on the EDM surface(P<.05).
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone Matrix ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Shape ; Edible Grain ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Durapatite ; Osteoblasts* ; Rats ; Surface Properties ; Titanium*

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypoxemia has been noted in patients with liver cirrhosis because of bronchial vessel dilatation. Cabenes et al. reported that bronchial hyperresponsiveness to the metacholine inhalation was observed in patients of left side heart failure, he suggested that one of the mechanism was bronchial vessel dilatation. We hypothesized that patients of liver cirrhosis might have bronchial hyperresponsiveness to metacholine inhalation due to portal hypertension. We evaluate the relationship between bronchial responsiveness and severity of liver cirrhosirs, severity of portal hypertension. METHODS: In the 22 patients of the liver cirrhosis with clinical portal hypertension metacholine provocation test was done and determined PC20 FEV1. We classified lifter cirrhosis according to Pugh- Child classification Esophagogastroscopies were performed for the evaluation of the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and severity of esophageal varix. RESULTS: In the 22 cases of the liver cirrhosis with clinical portal hypertension. The causes of liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis was 9 cases. hepatitis B virus was 12 cases, hepatitis C virus was 1 case. and 151 cases (68.18%) of total 22 cases were positive in metacholine provocation test. In positive cases There was no significant relationship between PC20FEV1 and severity of liver cirrhosis which were classified by Pugh-Child classification or severity of esophageal varix(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: we observed that bronchial responsiveness to metacholine increased in the patients of liver cirrhosis and there was no significant relationship between the severity of liver cirrhosis and the severity of esophageal varix.
Anoxia ; Child ; Classification ; Dilatation ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Fibrosis ; Heart Failure ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Inhalation ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Liver*

The wild simulated ginseng (WSG) has been effectively used in folk medicine as a remedy against hepatic disease, hypertension and arthritic disease. However, there is still lack of scientific proof about its antioxidant capability. The present study has been conducted to evaluate the protective role of the WSG ethanol extract in the CCl4-induced oxidative stress and resultant hepatic disfunction in ICR mice. The electron donating abilities and IC50 of WSG etnanol extract were 76.86 +/- 1.06% and 33.3 ug/mL (that of ascobic acid was 16.5 ug/mL), respectively. Total antioxidant status of WSG extract was 2.13 +/- 0.06 mmoL/mg, while the values of ascorbic acid and BHT were 3.63 +/- 0.06 and 3.12 +/- 0.02, respectively. ICR mice (aged 3weeks) were fed for 4 weeks on AIN-93M diet and had free access to food and water. The animals were divided into three groups: normal group (intraperitoneally (i.p) injected with PBS at 100 microliter/mouse), group C; CCl4-induced and without any treatment. (i.p injected only PBS, 100 microliter /mice), group G; CCl4-induced and treated with WSG (i.p injected with 5 mg WSG extract per mouse, suspended in 100 microliter phosphate buffer). After the i.p. injection of WSG or PBS (5 times for 7weeks), all mice were administered CCl4 in olive oil at the last day of the experiment, except for normal group. The normal group was administered only olive oil. Determination of plasma triglyceride, total cholersterol, fasting glucose and GPT activity was performed using automatic blood analyzer. To evaluate the protective effect against the oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation and TBARS were determined in blood leucocytes and RBC and hepatocyte, respectively. Body and organs weights and food intake did not show significant differences among the groups. Blood total cholesterol of group G was similar to that of normal group, which was the lowest in group C. The fasting blood glucose level was the highest in normal group (205.20 +/- 135.24), which were decreased in group C (134.2 +/- 79.31) and group G (126.48 +/- 77.05). TBARS values in a red blood cell and hepatic tisuue homogenate were lower in group G comparing to the group C. DNA% in tail, tail length (TL) and tail moment (TM) of blood leucoocytes showed the highest values in group C (20.11 +/- 2.47, 17.36 +/- 2.58, 94.11 +/- 12.29) and they were significantly diminished in group G (9.63 +/- 1.19, 7.04 +/- 1.50, 38.64 +/- 7.60). In conclusion, wild simulated ginseng might be a protective agent against the oxidative stress.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Glucose ; Butylated Hydroxytoluene ; Carbon ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; DNA Fragmentation ; Eating ; Electrons ; Erythrocytes ; Ethanol ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hepatocytes ; Hypertension ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Olea ; Olive Oil ; Oxidative Stress ; Panax ; Plant Oils ; Plasma ; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances ; Water ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Standard PET (peritoneal equilibration test) is time consuming and it cannot reflect the water removal accurately because it measures solute transport by diffusion only. Thus, it is important to find parameters that can be used to predict both the diffusive permeability of peritoneal membrane and the peritoneal fluid removal. Sodium removal in CAPD is strongly related to the ultrafiltration and the recent study has suggested that dialysate sodium concentration at 240 minutes could reflect both peritoneal fluid removal and peritoneal transport characteristics. In this study, we investigated whether a single dialysate sodium test after overnight dwell could provide the same information as the standard PET and could reflect ultrafiltration failure. METHODS: A 9-hour overnight dwell study with 2L of 3.86% glucose dialysis solution was carried out in 48 clinically stable CAPD patients. All patients underwent a PET test with 2L of 2.27% glucose solution in the morning after an overnight dwell study. According to ultrafiltration (UF) failure (net UF<100 mL/4 hour on 2.27% glucose solution), patients were divided into two groups (group I, UF failure group; group II, non UF failure group). D/P(Na540) and D(Na540) at the end of the 9-hour dwell were compared between two groups RESULTS: D/P(Na540) was significantly correlated with D/Pcreatinine (r=0.551, p<0.001) and drained volume (r=-0.536, p<0.001) at 240 minutes on PET. There was also a significant correlation between D/P(Na540) and drained volume (r=-0.555, p<0.001) at 540 minutes after overnight dwell. D(Na540) was significantly correlated with D/Pcreatinine (r=0.448, p<0.01) at 240 minutes on PET and also weakly correlated with drain volume at 240 minutes (r=-0.37, p<0.01). There was a significant difference in D/P(Na540) between the group I and group II (p<0.05), but not in D(Na540). CONCLUSION: Overnight 9-hour dwell study with 3.86% glucose solution is a simple procedure and easy to perform on outpatient basis. D/P(Na540) is comparable with PET results and may discriminate the different transport groups. D/P(Na540) may also be used as an indicator of ultrafiltration failure.
Ascitic Fluid ; Dialysis ; Diffusion ; Glucose ; Humans ; Membranes ; Outpatients ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Permeability ; Sodium* ; Ultrafiltration

Leuconostoc species are gram-positive cocci and they are rarely pathogenic in human. Leuconostoc infections are commonly associated with immunocompromised status and indwelling medical devices include intravenous catheter, tracheostomy, endotracheal intubation and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Clinical isolates of Leuconostoc were frequently misidentified, usually as viridans streptococci, but they possess inherent resistance to vancomycin despite sensitivity to most other antibiotics. We present a case of Leuconostoc peritonitis in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 48-year-old man with hypertensive nephropathy has been treated with peritoneal dialysis, developed peritonitis due to Leuconostoc species. The peritonitis was poorly responded to empirical antibiotics. He was successfully treated with intraperitoneal administration of ampicillin. The dialysis catheter was left in place, and continued to function. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Leuconostoc peritonitis reported in Korea.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Dialysis ; Gastrostomy ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Leuconostoc* ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Tracheostomy ; Vancomycin ; Viridans Streptococci

Recently, new treatments for human heart disease such as ischemia, infarction, cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease have been developed. transplantation various kinds of cells from skeletal muscle, endothelium, mesenchyme, hemopoietic tissue to injured area after infarction were challenged. It's so called 'Cell Transplantation'. This therapeutic strategy already adopted and got a good result in clinical trial. But several limitations are still remained, including ethics, donor cell numbers, side effects, therapeutic efficiency. In this research, we investigated the formation of intercellular junction and synchronous contraction between cardiomyocyte and H9c2 cell line in co-culture to establish experimental model in vitro for cell transplantation. For this purpose, two kinds of cells, primary cultured cardiomyocyte and H9c2 (cardiomyoblast cell line) were used. Cultured cardiomyocytes had repetitive contraction-relaxation pattern along longitudinal axis both in single and coculture. But their contractions were slower, less regular, less strong in co-culture than in cardiomyocyte culture only. H9c2 cells did not contracted actively themselves, but moved toward cardiomyocyte passively coincided with contraction. In contact region between two kinds of cells, there was no signal after immunocytochemical staining labeled with connexin43 (gap junction), desmoplakin (desmosome), N-cadherin (adherent junction) even though they had membrane contact. Moreover, F-actin and striation were less developed. These results suggested that co-culture system interfere with remodelling of contractile apparatus, intercellular junction formation as well as contraction-relaxation. Furthermore cardiomyocyte could not induce H9c2 cells differentiation into cardiomyocyte. Therefore, much more research would be essential for clinical application of cell transplantation and this study would be the basic source for further study of new therapy of myocardial disease and building up in vitro model.
Actins ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cadherins ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cell Count ; Cell Line* ; Cell Transplantation ; Coculture Techniques* ; Connexin 43 ; Coronary Disease ; Desmoplakins ; Endothelium ; Ethics ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intercellular Junctions* ; Ischemia ; Membranes ; Mesoderm ; Models, Theoretical ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor, but ventricular myxoma accounts for only 5% of the cases. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman with a left ventricular myxoma emerging from the ventricular side of the mitral valve that led to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The patient complained of chest discomfort and dyspnea. A mobile intracardiac mass was seen on echocardiography. The mass was excised and confirmed to be a myxoma by histopathological examination. She was discharged from the hospital without complications and remains asymptomatic.
Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Myxoma ; Thorax ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction