BACKGROUND: Twenty-six patients (12 male and 14 female) with symptomatic scapular winging caused by serratus anterior dysfunction were managed by split pectoralis major tendon transfer (sternal head) with autogenous hamstring tendon augmentation from 1998 to 2006. METHODS: Twenty-five patients showed positive results upon long thoracic nerve palsy on electromyography. The mean duration of symptoms until surgery was 48 months (range, 12-120 months). Four patients had non-traumatic etiologies and 22 patients had traumatic etiologies. On follow-up assessment for functional improvement, a Constant-Murley score was used. Twenty-one patients were completely evaluated, while five patients who had less than 12 months of follow-up were excluded. RESULTS: Pain relief was achieved in 19 of the 21 patients, with 20 patients showing functional improvement. The pain scores improved from 6.0 preoperatively to 1.8 postoperatively. The mean active forward elevation improved from 108degrees (range, 20degrees-165degrees) preoperatively to 151degrees (range, 125degrees-170degrees) postoperatively. The mean Constant-Murley score improved from 57.7 (range, 21-86) preoperatively to 86.9 (range, 42-98) postoperatively. A recurrence developed in one patient. Of the 21 patients, ten had excellent results, six had good results, four had fair results, and one had poor results. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with severe symptomatic scapular winging showed functional improvement and pain relief with resolution of scapular winging.
Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Paralysis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies* ; Scapula* ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Thoracic Nerves ; Wings, Animal

Regarding therapies for treatment of corneal wounds, ex vivo corneal culture is the most effective for minimizing expensive animal studies. Eighteen porcine enucleated eyes were soaked in 0.2% povidone iodine solution for disinfection prior to cornea excision. Subsequently, corneas were excised from whole eyes and filled with an agar/medium mixture. Corneas were transferred into culture dishes, after which culture medium was added until the limbus was covered. Cultures were then placed onto a plate rocker to mimic blinking action, followed by incubation at 37degrees C and 5% CO2. Corneas were harvested on Days 0, 3, and 7 after incubation, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed on Day 7. Two eyes from each group were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde/4% paraformaldehyde for low vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM), and four eyes from each group were fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for histological analysis. OCT results showed that central corneal thickness significantly increased by Day 7 compared to Day 0 (P<0.05). Using LV-SEM, gaps between endothelial cells were detected on Day 7 of ex vivo culture. In the histological evaluation, four to five stratified squamous cell layers, wing cells, and basal cells in the epithelium as well as flat-shaped keratocytes in the stroma were found on Day 0. By Day 7, stratified squamous cells and basal cells had decreased in number, and slightly round-shaped keratocytes were observed; however, the number of keratocytes was similar to that on Day 0. In this short-term ex vivo culture, epithelium and endothelium were sensitive to culture, whereas stroma and keratocytes were well maintained. An additional deswelling method will be needed to obtain more successful results in porcine corneal ex vivo culture.
Animals ; Blinking ; Cornea* ; Disinfection ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Epithelium ; Formaldehyde ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Povidone-Iodine ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vacuum ; Wounds and Injuries ; Wings, Animal

Pax6 and its Drosophila homolog Eyeless (Ey) play essential roles during eye development. Ey/Pax6 contains two distinct DNA binding domains, a Paired domain (PD) and a Homeodomain (HD). While Ey/Pax6 PD is required for the expression of key regulators of retinal development, relatively little is known about the HD-dependent Ey function. In this study, we used the UAS/GAL4 system to determine the functions of different Ey domains on cell growth and on retinal development. We showed that Ey can promote cell growth, which requires the HD but not the PD. In contrast, the ability of Ey to activate Ato expression and induce ectopic eye formation requires the PD but not the HD. Interestingly, deletion of the HD enhanced Ey-dependent ectopic eye induction while overexpression of the HD only Ey forms antagonizes ectopic eye induction. These studies revealed a novel function of Ey HD on cell growth and a novel antagonistic effect of Ey HD on Ey PD-dependent eye induction. We further show the third helix of the Ey HD can directly interact with the RED subdomain in Ey PD and that deletion of the HD increased the binding of Ey PD to its target. These results suggest that the direct interaction between the HD and the PD potentially mediates their antagonistic effects. Since different Ey splicing forms are expressed in overlapping regions during normal development, we speculate that the expression ratios of the different Ey splice forms potentially contribute to the regulation of growth and differentiation of these tissues.
Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; metabolism ; Binding Sites ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Drosophila ; metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; Eye Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; PAX6 Transcription Factor ; Paired Box Transcription Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Repressor Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Retina ; cytology ; metabolism ; Wings, Animal ; growth & development

BACKGROUND: Twenty-six patients (12 male and 14 female) with symptomatic scapular winging caused by serratus anterior dysfunction were managed by split pectoralis major tendon transfer (sternal head) with autogenous hamstring tendon augmentation from 1998 to 2006. METHODS: Twenty-five patients showed positive results upon long thoracic nerve palsy on electromyography. The mean duration of symptoms until surgery was 48 months (range, 12-120 months). Four patients had non-traumatic etiologies and 22 patients had traumatic etiologies. On follow-up assessment for functional improvement, a Constant-Murley score was used. Twenty-one patients were completely evaluated, while five patients who had less than 12 months of follow-up were excluded. RESULTS: Pain relief was achieved in 19 of the 21 patients, with 20 patients showing functional improvement. The pain scores improved from 6.0 preoperatively to 1.8 postoperatively. The mean active forward elevation improved from 108degrees (range, 20degrees-165degrees) preoperatively to 151degrees (range, 125degrees-170degrees) postoperatively. The mean Constant-Murley score improved from 57.7 (range, 21-86) preoperatively to 86.9 (range, 42-98) postoperatively. A recurrence developed in one patient. Of the 21 patients, ten had excellent results, six had good results, four had fair results, and one had poor results. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with severe symptomatic scapular winging showed functional improvement and pain relief with resolution of scapular winging.
Electromyography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Paralysis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Scapula ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Thoracic Nerves ; Wings, Animal

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to introduce a microvascular training model based on use of materials that can be easily obtained from the daily surroundings. METHODS: Simple microinstruments and a medical school laboratory microscope were used for anastomosis training. Chicken blood vessels were used as a material for this study. A long segment of blood vessel from the proximal brachial artery to the distal radial artery was used for training. End-to-side anastomosis was practiced first, and the training continued with end-to-end anastomosis of the appropriate segments. RESULTS: The instruments used for setting up this model were simple and easy to use; therefore, the time required for preparation of the materials and dissection of the chicken wings was only approximately five to ten minutes. The characteristics of 20 chicken wings were analyzed. The length of the brachial artery to the radial artery was 8 - 10 cm. The average diameter of the brachial artery was 1.3 mm +/- 0.2 mm and that of the radial artery was 1.0 mm +/- 0.2 mm. Taking advantage of these characteristics, the proximal brachial artery was grafted to the radial artery for practice of end-to-side anastomosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an effective and feasible method for microvascular anastomosis training using chicken wing arteries and simple microinstruments. This model may simulate the conditions of a superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery anastomosis surgery.
Anastomosis, Surgical ; Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Brachial Artery ; Chickens ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Imidazoles ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Nitro Compounds ; Radial Artery ; Schools, Medical ; Temporal Arteries ; Transplants ; Wings, Animal

Honey production from approximately 1.6 million colonies owned by about 199,000 Korean beekeepers was almost 23,000 metric tons in 2009. Nosema causes significant losses in honey production and the virus decreases population size. We initiated a survey of honey bee colonies on the blooming period of Acacia to determine the prevalence of Nosema and virus in 2011. Most Korean beekeepers have moved from the south to north of Korea to get Acacia nectar for 2 mon. This provided a valuable opportunity to sample bees originating from diverse areas in one location. Twenty hives owned by 18 beekeepers were sampled in this year. Nosema spore counts ranged from zero to 1,710,000 spores per bee. The average number of nosema spores per bee was 580,000. Approximately 95% of the colonies were infected with Nosema, based on the presence of spores in the flowering period of Acacia. This indicates that Nosema is the predominant species affecting honeybee colonies. Also, the seven most important honeybee viruses were investigated by reverse transcription-PCR. Among them, four different viruses were detected in samples. Black queen cell virus was present in all samples. Chronic bee paralysis virus was detected in 10% of samples. Deformed wing virus was present in only 5% of the samples. Prevalence of Sacbrood virus was 15%. However, Cloudy wing virus, Israel acute paralysis virus and kashmir bee virus were not detected in any of samples.
Acacia ; Bees ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Flowers ; Honey ; Israel ; Korea ; Nosema ; Paralysis ; Plant Nectar ; Population Density ; Prevalence ; Spores ; Urticaria ; Viruses ; Wings, Animal

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the accuracies and ease of use of several commonly used microanastomosis training models (synthetic tube, chicken wing, and living rat model). METHODS: A survey was conducted among neurosurgeons and neurosurgery residents at a workshop held in 2009 at the authors' institute. Questions addressed model accuracy (similarity to real vessels and actual procedures) and practicality (availability of materials and ease of application in daily practice). Answers to each question were rated using a 5-point scale. Participants were also asked what types of training methods they would chose to improve their skills and to introduce the topic to other neurosurgeons or neurosurgery residents. RESULTS: Of the 24 participants, 20 (83.3%) responded to the survey. The living rat model was favored for model accuracy (p < 0.001; synthetic tube -0.95 +/- 0.686, chicken wing, 0.15 +/- 0.587, and rat, 1.75 +/- 0.444) and the chicken wing model for practicality (p < 0.001; synthetic tube -1.55 +/- 0.605, chicken wing, 1.80 +/- 0.523, and rat, 1.30 +/- 0.923). All (100%) chose the living rat model for improving their skills, and for introducing the subject to other neurosurgeons or neurosurgery residents, the chicken wing and living rat models were selected by 18 (90%) and 20 (100%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Of 3 methods examined, the chicken wing model was found to be the most practical, but the living rat model was found to represent reality the best. We recommend the chicken wing model to train surgeons who have mastered basic techniques, and the living rat model for experienced surgeons to maintain skill levels.
Animals ; Cerebral Revascularization ; Chickens ; Microsurgery ; Neurosurgery ; Rats ; Wings, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on cell death pattern in neuronal development of chick embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We planned to compare the cytokinetic features in the normal chick embryo and those with BPA. Fifteen eggs were divided into three GROUPS: the control group, BPA 50 microgram/g egg group and BPA 200 microgram/g egg group. Embryos were incubated for 56 hours (Hamburger & Hamilton stage 16) and then we injected BPA into embryos. The embryos were sectioned by 3 micrometer thickness at the level of wing buds and stained at 72 hours after incubation (HH stage 18). We observed cell death in the spinal cord using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS: The TUNEL-positivity markedly increased in proportion to the doses of BPA. The number of TUNEL-positive cells per section was 15.2+/-2.14 in the control group, 34.6+/-3.44 in the BPA 50 microgram/g egg group, 87.6+/-4.32 in the BPA 200 g/g egg group. Furthermore the contour of spinal cord was deformed as the doses of BPA raised. CONCLUSION: BPA causes neuronal cell death and exerts cytotoxic effect on early chick embryos. It suggests that BPA might have an effect on cytogenesis during neural tube development.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Cell Death ; Chick Embryo ; Eggs ; Embryonic Structures ; Neural Tube ; Neurons ; Ovum ; Phenols ; Spinal Cord ; Wings, Animal

PURPOSE: Microsuturing is a difficult job for beginners of microsurgery. It is because they are not familiar with microscopic environment and, it needs much time for them to get used to microanastomosis. Before the real microsurgery, sometimes a surgeon wants rehearsal. But, microsurgical exercise has been performed with surgical glove, silastic drain or rat femoral artery. Rat femoral artery is a very good training material. But, it needs animal laboratory, anesthesia and its keeping facilities. And the surgeon should appoint the time to exercise with the laboratory. METHODS: We used chicken wing brachial artery for education material of microsuturing. The artery is 5cm long and the diameter is about 1mm. Monofilament 10-0 was used for suture material. RESULTS: Six persons of Seoul National University medical school students and one resident attended in this program. Each of them performed arterial anastomosis ten times. They were satisfied with chicken wing brachial artery for anastomosis training under the magnification environment. CONCLUSION: We think that chicken wing brachial artery is a very cheap and an effective training material for the beginners of microsurgery.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Arteries ; Brachial Artery* ; Chickens* ; Education ; Femoral Artery ; Gloves, Surgical ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; Rats ; Schools, Medical ; Seoul ; Sutures ; Wings, Animal*

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a re-closure capacity of the open neural tube defect(ONTD) and to characterize its re-closing process, the morphological changes and the re-closure rate of a surgically induced ONTD are examined chronologically in early chick embryos. METHODS: Embryos of Hamburger and Hamilton stage 18-19 were used. The posterior roof of the central canal in the closed neural tube was incised longitudinally at the wing bud level. The incision was 3 somites long, which was equivalent to approximately 0.8mm. Following surgery, the embryos were re-incubated in ovo for three or five days. The area of the incision was observed with a stereomicroscope. Some of them were examined histologically with the transverse section of the wing bud area. They were divided into two groups(POD 3 and POD 5) according to the re-incubation period at the time of sacrifice and then into two subgroups(re-closure and defect group) according to the presence of ONTD at the operative site. RESULTS: The results showed : 1) Re-closure of ONTD occurred in 58%(23/40) of POD 3 embryos and 46%(22/48) of POD 5 embryos. The difference of re-closure was not statistically significant. 2) Most of the re-closed neural tubes revealed no significant difference from the controls in the histological examination. 3) In POD 3 and 5 groups, there was a tendency of zipper-like fusion in both re-closure and defect groups. CONCLUSION: The results of study showed that the neural tube of the early chick embryo has a re-closure capacity after being surgically reopened. Seemingly, re-closure occurs mainly before POD 3 and progresses from the ventral to the dorsal part of the neural tube. The mechanism of re-closure needs to be investigated further.
Animals ; Chick Embryo* ; Embryonic Structures ; Neural Tube Defects* ; Neural Tube* ; Somites ; Wings, Animal