OBJECTIVES: Carboplatin, a platinum-containing anti-cancer drug used to treat a variety of cancers, induces ototoxicity. Since, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) seem to be responsible for this toxicity, the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC), and NO synthetase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were predicted to have protective effects against carboplatin ototoxicity. The aim of this study was to test for the protective effects of L-NAC and L-NAME on cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). METHODS: Cochlear organotypic cultures and dissociated spiral ganglion neuron cultures, from mice postnatal day 5 cultures were used in this study. The cultures were treated with carboplatin alone or in combination with L-NAC or L-NAME, and carboplatin-induced damage was monitored. RESULTS: Treatment with carboplatin induced a significant loss of outer hair cells, while inner hair cells were preserved in the cochlear organotypic cultures. Addition of L-NAC or L-NAME reduced the amount of carboplatin-induced hair cell damage; the differences did not reach statistical significance. However, carboplatin significantly decreased the number of surviving SGNs in dissociated cultures. The toxic effects were significantly reduced by addition of L-NAC or L-NAME. In addition, carboplatin induced the loss of neurites from the SGN somata, and this was not blocked with L-NAC or L-NAME. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that ROS and NO are involved in carboplatin-induced damage to hair cells and SGNs, and administration of L-NAC/L-NAME can be used to attenuate the toxicity.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals ; Carboplatin ; Hair ; Ligases ; Lysine ; Mice ; Neurites ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spiral Ganglion

OBJECTIVES: Carboplatin, a platinum-containing anti-cancer drug used to treat a variety of cancers, induces ototoxicity. Since, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) seem to be responsible for this toxicity, the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC), and NO synthetase inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were predicted to have protective effects against carboplatin ototoxicity. The aim of this study was to test for the protective effects of L-NAC and L-NAME on cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). METHODS: Cochlear organotypic cultures and dissociated spiral ganglion neuron cultures, from mice postnatal day 5 cultures were used in this study. The cultures were treated with carboplatin alone or in combination with L-NAC or L-NAME, and carboplatin-induced damage was monitored. RESULTS: Treatment with carboplatin induced a significant loss of outer hair cells, while inner hair cells were preserved in the cochlear organotypic cultures. Addition of L-NAC or L-NAME reduced the amount of carboplatin-induced hair cell damage; the differences did not reach statistical significance. However, carboplatin significantly decreased the number of surviving SGNs in dissociated cultures. The toxic effects were significantly reduced by addition of L-NAC or L-NAME. In addition, carboplatin induced the loss of neurites from the SGN somata, and this was not blocked with L-NAC or L-NAME. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that ROS and NO are involved in carboplatin-induced damage to hair cells and SGNs, and administration of L-NAC/L-NAME can be used to attenuate the toxicity.
Acetylcysteine ; Animals ; Carboplatin ; Hair ; Ligases ; Lysine ; Mice ; Neurites ; Neurons ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spiral Ganglion

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious clinical problem with significant medical and economic effects on health systems worldwide. Some patients undergo amputation and others experience disability for an extended period of time. Treatment of diabetic foot ulcer is complex and difficult. Even with proper management, the wounds may not heal as well as expected. To promote wound healing, many advanced topical dressing materials have been developed. Among them, bi-layered collagen membrane, which is composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid, is believed to enhance wound healing. Herein we report two cases of diabetic foot ulcer which were successfully treated using bi-layered collagen membranes.
Amputation ; Bandages ; Collagen ; Diabetic Foot ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Membranes ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious clinical problem with significant medical and economic effects on health systems worldwide. Some patients undergo amputation and others experience disability for an extended period of time. Treatment of diabetic foot ulcer is complex and difficult. Even with proper management, the wounds may not heal as well as expected. To promote wound healing, many advanced topical dressing materials have been developed. Among them, bi-layered collagen membrane, which is composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid, is believed to enhance wound healing. Herein we report two cases of diabetic foot ulcer which were successfully treated using bi-layered collagen membranes.
Amputation ; Bandages ; Collagen ; Diabetic Foot ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Membranes ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVES: There have been many studies on the relationship between diabetes mellitus and presbycusis. Microangiopathy and neuropathy that's caused by chronic hyperglycemia may lead to damage to the inner ear. Several clinical studies on humans and animal studies have been performed to investigate the association between diabetes and hearing loss, however, this relationship is still a matter of debate. We investigated the association of diabetes and sensorineural hearing loss in an animal model of type-2 diabetes and obesity (the ob/ob mouse [OM]). METHODS: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were obtained in the OM and the wild type mice (C57BL/6J mice) up to 25 weeks after birth. After the animals were sacrificed, their cochleae were retrieved and then subjected to histopathologic observations. RESULTS: The OM exhibited significantly elevated ABR thresholds at 21 weeks of age, yet the C57BL/6J mice exhibited no significant change until 25 weeks of age. On the histological findings, outer hair cell degeneration and loss of spiral ganglion cells were observed in the middle and basal turns of the OM. On the contrary, no degenerative change was observed until 25 weeks of age in the C57BL/6J mice. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that chronic hyperglycemia and obesity may lead to early sensorineural hearing loss.
Animals ; Cochlea ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Ear, Inner ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hair ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Mice ; Mice, Obese ; Models, Animal ; Obesity ; Parturition ; Presbycusis ; Spiral Ganglion

Anti-M is detected at room temperature and is often found in the sera of people who have never been exposed to human red cells. In a few cases, anti-M can be detected at 37 degrees C or at the antiglobulin phase, and these antibodies can cause hemolytic diseases in newborn or hemolytic transfusion reactions. Some examples of anti-M demonstrate stronger agglutination at low pH (pH 6.5), and when they react with the red blood cells of the MM type (dosage effect). An unexpected antibody test was carried out for the routine screening of donated blood and two cases that reacted to all panel cells at 5 degrees C were found, which indicated anti-M. We repeated the unexpected antibody identification test at pH 6.5 and confirmed the presence of anti-M. The reduction of the test system pH is a useful and simple method for detecting some cases of anti-M.
Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening

BACKGROUND: It is recommended that ABO, Rh typing and unexpected antibody screening should be tested during pregnancy in order to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). However, it is unclear that a routine prenatal antibody screening test predicts the occurrence of HDN. We performed a retrospective study to determine the frequency of unexpected antibody during pregnancy, antibody specificity, and the usefulness of prenatal antibody screening as a predictor of HDN. METHODS: All 6,293 prenatal antibody screening were tested at Eulji hospital from April 1997 to December 2002. The results of antibody screening and identification test were reviewed in laboratory sheet. The past transfusion and pregnant history and postnatal HDN evidence were reviewed in pregnant women with positive antibody screening. A commercial two cell panel, Selectogen I, II, and panel cell (Ortho Diagnostic Systems Inc., Raritan, USA) were used with tube method until March 1999. In April 1999, reagent cells were changed to a gel agglutination test with ID-Diacell I, II and ID-Dia Panel of DiaMed-ID Micro Typing System (DiaMed AG, Cressier, Switzerland). RESULTS: Positive results of antibody screening test were found in 52 cases (0.83%, 52/6,293). Only 28 cases of them were tested antibody identification. Antibody specificity was identified at 22 cases and 17 (77.3%, 17/22) women had unexpected antibodies which are not associated with HDN. They were 11 with anti-Lea , 3 with anti-Leb, and 3 with anti-P1. The others were 3 cases of anti-E, 1 of anti-M, and 1 of anti-S. However, no one had evidence of HDN. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that routine prenatal antibody screening may not be necessary for all pregnant women except Rh (D) negative women or those who have a history of HDN.
Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies

Authors found a case of anti-Wr(a) with anti-E antibody in 67 years old female patient. Anti-Wr(a) in Korea was reported for the first time in 2005. Anti-Wr(a) has been associated with hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) and hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). It is necessary to study the incidence of Wr(a) antigen and anti-Wr(a) in Korea.
Aged ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea

BACKGROUND: The FDA has approved the storage of frozen red blood cells (RBCs) at -80degrees C for 10 years. After deglycerolization, the RBCs can be stored at 4degrees C for no more than 24 hours, because open systems are currently being used. We evaluated Haemonetics ACP 215, an automated, functionally closed system, for both the glycerolization and deglycerolization processes. METHODS: Thirty packed RBCs that had been glycerolized and stored at -80degrees C for 2 weeks were thawed, deglycerolized and resuspended in AS-3. The RBCs were then stored at 4degrees C for 2 weeks. For the evaluation of the procedure, RBC recovery rate, osmolarity, specific gravity, LDH, K+, Hb-2, 3 DPG, Hb-ATP, and plasma hemoglobin were tested at day 0 and day 14. RESULTS: The recovery rate of RBCs was 83.7+/-2.6% (78.9-88.8%). The Hb ATP and 2, 3-DPG of RBCs were 5.16+/-1.0 mol/g Hb and 10.4+/-2.4 mol/g Hb, respectively, at day 0. The supernatant K+, specific gravity, osmolarity, LDH were 1.3+/-0.6 mmol/L, 1.008+/-0.001, 295.0+/-3.1 mOsm/kgH2O, 175.0+/-39.0 unit/L, respectively. All measurements were acceptable to allow the RBCs deglycerolized on ACP 215 to be stored at 4degrees C for 14 days. The blood cultures were negative at day 0 and day 14. CONCLUSIONS: Haemonetics ACP 215 provides a closed, automated system for RBC glycerolization and deglycerolization. This study showed that the RBCs that were glycerolized and deglycerolized in the automated instrument and stored in AS-3 at 4degrees C for 14 days are of an acceptable quality.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Cryopreservation* ; Erythrocytes* ; Glycerol ; Osmolar Concentration ; Plasma ; Specific Gravity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Migration, hyperproliferation, differentiation of basal keratinocytes and accumulation of keratin debris are the major pathogenic reactions in middle ear cholesteatoma. p53 is a multi-functional protein that acts as a negative regulator of cellular proliferation. This is known to increase in cholesteatoma, which is related to the apoptotic pathway. However, it is still not proven whether overexpression of p53 is associated with the increase in mRNA or modifications at the protein level. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty-seven human cholesteatoma and 20 retroauricular skins were obtained. We tried to detect the overexpression of p53 using immunohistochemical staining, and conducted semi-quantitative analysis of mRNA level using relative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: There was a difference in the number of p53 stained cells between cholesteatoma and normal skin. However, we could not find any significant differences in the p53 mRNA expression between them. CONCLUSION: We could confirm the overexpression of p53 in human cholesteatoma, which does not seem to be related with transcriptional up-regulation.
Cell Proliferation ; Cholesteatoma* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; Genes, p53 ; Humans* ; Keratinocytes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin ; Up-Regulation