Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the ultrastructural and chemical composition of sialoliths, tonsilloliths, and antroliths and to describe their growth pattern. Materials and Methods: We obtained 19 specimens from 18 patients and classified the specimens into three groups: sialolith (A), tonsillolith (B), and antrolith (C). The peripheral, middle, and core regions of the specimens were examined in detail by histology, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: In the micro-CT, group A showed alternating radiodense and radiolucent layers, while group B had a homogeneous structure. Group C specimens revealed a compact homogeneous structure. Histopathologically, group A showed a laminated, teardrop-shaped, globular structure. Group B demonstrated degrees of immature calcification of organic and inorganic materials. In group C, the lesion was not encapsulated and showed a homogeneous lamellar bone structure. SEM revealed that group A showed distinct three layers: a peripheral multilayer zone, intermediate compact zone, and the central nidus area; groups B and C did not show these layers. The main elemental components of sialoliths were O, C, Ca, N, Cu, P, Zn, Si, Zr, F, Na, and Mg. In group B, a small amount of Fe was found in the peripheral region. Group C had a shorter component list: Ca, C, O, P, F, N, Si, Na, and Mg. TEM analysis of group A showed globular structures undergoing intra-vesicular calcification. In group B, bacteria were present in the middle layer. In the outer layer of the group C antrolith, an osteoblastic rimming was observed. Conclusion Sialoliths had distinct three layers: a peripheral multilayer zone, an intermediate compact zone and the central nidus area, while the tonsillolith and antrolith specimens lacked distinct layers and a core.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium butyrate (SB)-containing calcium sulfate (CaS) bone graft on fibroblasts, oral mucosa and bone tissue. All the tests were performed according to the standard method of ISO 10993. For the cytotoxicity assay, the SB/CaS mixture was set for 24 h, and was placed on the layer of fibroblasts covered with agar for 24 h. Most cells under and near the mixture were viable and showed the morphology of healthy cells, which indicated that there was no cytotoxicity. The effect of SB/CaS mixture on oral mucosa was evaluated using the hamster cheek pouch. There were no signs of tissue responses indicating inflammatory reactions to SB/CaS mixture. Finally, there was no appearance of inflammatory cells, and normal tissue histology was shown by the implantation of SB/CaS mixture to the femur of rabbits. Therefore, it was considered that the SB/CaS mixture was non-cytotoxic and non-irritant to oral mucosa and bone tissue.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) mimics the anti-inflammatory effect of apoptotic cells by binding to the PS receptor of macrophages. In this study, the effect of PS-modified polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles on macrophage polarization was investigated.PLGA nanoparticles (PLGAnPs) containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and PS were prepared using the emulsificationsolvent-evaporation (ESE) technique and classified as follows: 1) PC 100% (PCnP); 2) PS:PC = 50:50 (PSPCnP); and 3) PS 100% (PSnP). PS-grafted PLGAnPs tended to inhibit LPS-induced morphological change into M1 macrophages and mRNA expression of the M1 markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40, CD86, and iNOS). In particular, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p40 were significantly decreased in the PSPCnP group, as compared to those of the positive control and and PLGAnP groups (p<0.05). Therefore, the study results demonstrate the potential of PS-grafted PLGAnPs in attenuating inflammation and modulating the drug delivery system.

Background: The 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a metabolite of tobacco-specific lung carcinogen that can be found in both smokers and non-smokers.Particularly, NNAL levels of children with a history of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) are higher than those of adults. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between SHS exposure and urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII. Overall, 648 never-smoking adolescents (425 boys and 223 girls) aged 12 to 18 were included in this study. Logistic regression analyses identified the relationship between SHS exposure and elevated urine NNAL levels. Results: The mean urine NNAL levels of the no exposure and exposure group in boys were 1.39 and 2.26 ng/mL, respectively, whereas they were 1.01 and 2.45 ng/mL in girls, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the adolescents exposed to SHS, the confounder-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for elevated urine NNAL levels according to exposure area as overall, home, and public area were 2.68 (1.58–4.53), 31.02 (9.46–101.74), and 1.89 (1.12–3.17) in boys;and 6.50 (3.22–13.11), 20.09 (7.08–57.04), and 3.94 (1.98–7.77) in girls, respectively. Conclusion SHS exposure was significantly associated with elevated urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents, particularly in female adolescents and in those with home exposure.These findings remind us of the need to protect adolescents from SHS.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) on the biocompatibility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). DCPD was added to MTA (OrthoMTA) to suppress the increase in pH of MTA during hardening, and the change of pH, cytotoxicity, and subcutaneous inflammation reactions in mouse model were observed. The pH of OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA at 1st day in phosphate-buffered saline was 12.5 and 12.8, respectively. At 19th day, the pH was 11.6 (OrthoMTA) and 8.8 (DCPD-OrthoMTA). Cytotoxicity of DCPD-OrthoMTA extract was lesser than that of OrthoMTA at high concentration (above 50%) (p<0.05). No significant differences appeared in subcutaneous inflammatory reactions among ProRoot MTA, OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA. Therefore, it is likely that there is no apparent relationship between the cytotoxicity and subcutaneous inflammation in our experimental conditions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) on the biocompatibility of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). DCPD was added to MTA (OrthoMTA) to suppress the increase in pH of MTA during hardening, and the change of pH, cytotoxicity, and subcutaneous inflammation reactions in mouse model were observed. The pH of OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA at 1st day in phosphate-buffered saline was 12.5 and 12.8, respectively. At 19th day, the pH was 11.6 (OrthoMTA) and 8.8 (DCPD-OrthoMTA). Cytotoxicity of DCPD-OrthoMTA extract was lesser than that of OrthoMTA at high concentration (above 50%) (p<0.05). No significant differences appeared in subcutaneous inflammatory reactions among ProRoot MTA, OrthoMTA and DCPD-OrthoMTA. Therefore, it is likely that there is no apparent relationship between the cytotoxicity and subcutaneous inflammation in our experimental conditions.

Background: The 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a metabolite of tobacco-specific lung carcinogen that can be found in both smokers and non-smokers.Particularly, NNAL levels of children with a history of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) are higher than those of adults. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between SHS exposure and urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII. Overall, 648 never-smoking adolescents (425 boys and 223 girls) aged 12 to 18 were included in this study. Logistic regression analyses identified the relationship between SHS exposure and elevated urine NNAL levels. Results: The mean urine NNAL levels of the no exposure and exposure group in boys were 1.39 and 2.26 ng/mL, respectively, whereas they were 1.01 and 2.45 ng/mL in girls, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the adolescents exposed to SHS, the confounder-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for elevated urine NNAL levels according to exposure area as overall, home, and public area were 2.68 (1.58–4.53), 31.02 (9.46–101.74), and 1.89 (1.12–3.17) in boys;and 6.50 (3.22–13.11), 20.09 (7.08–57.04), and 3.94 (1.98–7.77) in girls, respectively. Conclusion SHS exposure was significantly associated with elevated urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents, particularly in female adolescents and in those with home exposure.These findings remind us of the need to protect adolescents from SHS.

PURPOSE: With the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, profiling a wide range of genomic alterations has become a possibility resulting in improved implementation of targeted cancer therapy. In Asian populations, the prevalence and spectrum of clinically actionable genetic alterations has not yet been determined because of a lack of studies examining high-throughput cancer genomic data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this issue, 1,071 tumor samples were collected from five major cancer institutes in Korea and analyzed using targeted NGS at a centralized laboratory. Samples were either fresh frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) and the quality and yield of extracted genomic DNA was assessed. In order to estimate the effect of sample condition on the quality of sequencing results, tissue preparation method, specimen type (resected or biopsied) and tissue storage time were compared. RESULTS: We detected 7,360 non-synonymous point mutations, 1,164 small insertions and deletions, 3,173 copy number alterations, and 462 structural variants. Fifty-four percent of tumors had one or more clinically relevant genetic mutation. The distribution of actionable variants was variable among different genes. Fresh frozen tissues, surgically resected specimens, and recently obtained specimens generated superior sequencing results over FFPE tissues, biopsied specimens, and tissues with long storage duration. CONCLUSION: In order to overcome, challenges involved in bringing NGS testing into routine clinical use, a centralized laboratory model was designed that could improve the NGS workflows, provide appropriate turnaround times and control costs with goal of enabling precision medicine.
Academies and Institutes ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Paraffin ; Point Mutation ; Precision Medicine ; Prevalence

From 2006 to 2011, an outbreak of a particular type of childhood interstitial lung disease occurred in Korea. The condition was intractable and progressed to severe respiratory failure, with a high mortality rate. Moreover, in several familial cases, the disease affected young women and children simultaneously. Epidemiologic, animal, and post-interventional studies identified the cause as inhalation of humidifier disinfectants. Here, we report a 4-year-old girl who suffered from severe progressive respiratory failure. She could survive by 100 days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and finally, underwent heart-lung transplantation. This is the first successful pediatric heart-lung transplantation carried out in Korea.
Child, Preschool ; Disinfectants/toxicity ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Humans ; *Humidifiers ; Lung/drug effects/pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*chemically induced/pathology/*therapy ; *Lung Transplantation ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax/diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors for delayed graft function (DGF) and determine its impact on the outcomes of deceased donor (DD) kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2011, we performed 195 DD renal transplants. After the exclusion of primary nonfunctional grafts (n = 4), the study recipients were divided into two groups-group I, DGF (n = 31, 16.2%); group II, non-DGF (n = 160, 83.8%). The following variables were compared: donor and recipient characteristics, patient and graft survival, postoperative renal function, acute rejection (AR) episodes, and the rates of surgical and infectious complications. RESULTS: Donor-related variables that showed significant differences included hypertension (P = 0.042), diabetes (P = 0.025), and prerecovery serum creatinine levels (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in recipient-related factors. One significantly different transplant-related factor was positive panel reactive antibody (PRA > 20%, P = 0.008). On multivariate analysis, only the prerecovery serum creatinine level (P < 0.001; hazard ratio [HR], 1.814) was an independent risk factor for the development of DGF. A Cox multivariate analysis of risk factors for graft survival identified these independent risk factors for graft survival: nephron mass (donor kidney weight to recipient body weight ratio) index (P = 0.026; HR, 2.328), CMV infection (P = 0.038; HR, 0.114), and AR episode (P = 0.038; HR, 0.166). CONCLUSION: In DD KT, an independent risk factor for DGF was the prerecovery serum creatinine level. Although there was a significant difference in graft survival between the DGF and non-DGF groups, DGF was not an independent risk factor for graft failure in this study.
Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Delayed Graft Function* ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nephrons ; Risk Factors* ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplants