Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1), which is involved in vascular remodeling and bone formation, can stimulate odontogenic differentiation and angiogenesis when administered to human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Materials and Methods: The viability of hDPSCs upon exposure to CTHRC1 was assessed with the WST-1 assay. CTHRC1 doses of 5, 10, and 20 µg/mL were administered to hDPSCs.Reverse-transcription polymerase reaction was used to detect dentin sialophosphoprotein, dentin matrix protein 1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor 2. The formation of mineralization nodules was evaluated using Alizarin red. A scratch wound assay was conducted to evaluate the effect of CTHRC1 on cell migration. Data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance followed by the Tukey post hoc test. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: CTHRC1 doses of 5, 10, and 20 µg/mL had no significant effect on the viability of hDPSCs. Mineralized nodules were formed and odontogenic markers were upregulated, indicating that CTHRC1 promoted odontogenic differentiation. Scratch wound assays demonstrated that CTHRC1 significantly enhanced the migration of hDPSCs. Conclusions CTHRC1 promoted odontogenic differentiation and mineralization in hDPSCs.

Intentional replantation has been used for alternative treatment for conventional root canal therapy. This case report describes that the intentional replantation with application of extrusive orhodontic force for 6 weeks, on which tooth of previous root canal the-rapy. As preapplicatory orthodontic force, tooth moblity was increased so that extraction of the designated tooth was more easily accomplished and augmented volume of periodontal ligament is expected to acceleated gingival reattachment.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and its receptors have been suggested to play key roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of genetic variations in the TGF-beta receptor type III (TGFBR3) on asthma and on its related phenotypes in the general population. A cohort of 2,118 subjects aged from 10 to 18 years responded to a questionnaire concerning asthma symptoms and risk factors. Methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), skin test responses to common aeroallergens, and serum total IgE levels were evaluated in the cohort. A total of 19 SNPs for TGFBR3 were found using direct re-sequencing in 24 healthy adults. Of these, informative SNPs [+44T>C (S15F) and +2753G>A at 3'UTR] were selected and scored using the high throughput single base extension method. Atopy was identified in subjects with 44T>C allele [P = 0.04, OR (95% CI) = 0.79 (0.62-0.99)] and in subjects with Ht1 (CG) more frequently than in subjects with other haplotypes [P = 0.04, OR (95% CI) = 1.27 (1.01-1.59)]. The A allele in 2753G>A was more common in subjects with non-atopic asthma [OR (95% CI) = 1.76 (1.01-3.05)]. A significant association was found between non-atopic asthma and 44T_2753A [OR (95% CI) = 2.16 (1.22-3.82)]. Genetic variations in TGFBR3 appear to be associated with a genetic predisposition to development of asthma and to phenotypes of asthma. Also, the minor allele 2753G and the haplotype TA in the TGFBR3 gene were associated with a pathogenesis of non-atopic asthma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Asthma/ethnology/*genetics/immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; *Genetic Variation/physiology ; Genetics, Population ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/immunology ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Proteoglycans/*genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/*genetics

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on the damaged blood-ocular barrier caused by triolein emulsion, using contrast-enhanced MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An emulsion of 0.1-mL triolein in 20 mL of saline was infused into the carotid arteries of 32 cats, 12 cats were placed in the treatment group and 18 cats were placed in the Control group. Thirty minutes after the infusion of triolein emulsion, a set of orbital pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted MR images (T1WIs) were obtained. Infusion of 10 mg/kg dexamethasone into the ipsilateral carotid artery of each of the cats in the treatment group cats and 20 mL saline in each of the cats in the control group was given. A second set of pre- and post-contrast orbital T1WIs were obtained three hours following triolein emulsion infusion. Qualitative analysis was performed for the the anterior chamber (AC), the posterior chamber (PC), and in the vitreous humor of the ipsilateral and contralateral eyes. The signal intensity ratios of the ipsilateral eye over the contralateral eye were quantitatively evaluated in the three ocular chambers on the first and second set of T1WIs, and were then statistically compared. RESULTS: Qualitatively, the AC, the PC or the vitreous did not show immediate contrast enhancement on the first and the second set of post-contrast T1WIs. However, the AC and the PC showed delayed contrast enhancement for both groups of cats on the second pre-contrast T1WIs. No enhancement or minimally delayed enhancement was seen for the vitreous humor. Quantitatively, the signal intensity ratios in the PC of the treatment group of cats were statistically lower than the ratios of the control group of cats for the second set of T1WIs (p = 0.037). The AC and vitreous showed no statistically significant difference between the feline treatment group and control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced MR images revealed increased vascular permeability in the PC of the eye after infusion of triolein emulsion. Dexamethasone seems to decrease the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier in the PC.
Animals ; Blood-Aqueous Barrier/*drug effects ; Blood-Retinal Barrier/*drug effects ; Capillary Permeability/drug effects ; Cats ; Contrast Media ; Dexamethasone/*pharmacology ; Emulsions ; Glucocorticoids/*pharmacology ; Image Enhancement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Triolein/*adverse effects

Noroviruses (NoVs) cause major epidemic gastroenteritis in humans. To obtain the molecular epidemiological information on gastroenteritis sporadic cases in Incheon city, Korea, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of NoV strains detected during 2005~2007. We performed one step RT-PCR amplifying the open reading frame (ORF) 2 (capsid region) followed by semi-nested PCR from the stool samples from acute gastroenteritis patients from 2005 to 2007. Amplicons of the capsid region of norovirus strains were sequenced and analyzed using MegAlign in DNAstar software. Faecal samples were collected from 6,618 acute gastroenteritis patients during the study period. The incidence of NoV infection was about 10.7% (n=708) among patients with acute gastroenteritis and genotypes of the 320 positive samples were determined by sequence analysis. Sequence comparison of NoV strains revealed that 16 genotypes of GII NoV strains were circulated in Incheon city, from 2005 to 2007. Among norovirus strains, the most prevalent genotype GII/4 was most common 69.7% (223 strains), followed by GII/3 17.2% (55 strains), GII/12 4.4% (14 strains), GII/1 2.2% (7 strains), GII/5 1.6% (5 strains), GII/15 1.3% (4 strains) and 0.6% (2 strains) each of GII/9 and GII/16. The GII-3 strains were most frequently detected in Incheon, 2005. From the phylogenetic analysis of NoV strains, we detected 16 genotypes of GII NoV strains during 2005~2007 in Incheon. Our results suggest that various genotypes of human NoV strains in sporadic case of AGE were circulated in Incheon, Korea.
Base Sequence ; Capsid ; Gastroenteritis ; Genotype ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Norovirus ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis

This study was done to evaluate whether vital bleaching agents could influence on the translucency of the bovine enamel. The anterior bovine teeth that were extracted one day before and without any gross discoloration were obtained and then were preserved in physiologic saline. 6 mm cylindrical tooth specimens were fabricated with diamond puncher perpendicularly on labial surface of bovine tooth. After embedded in transparent acrylic resin with labial surface being exposed, they were cut to a thickness of 1.2 mm with low speed diamond saw (Isomat, Buehler Co., Lake Bluff, IL, USA). They were smoothly ground to 1 mm thickness of enamel with sandpaper. 24 specimens were randomly divided into 3 groups and control group respectively. Opalescence (10% carbamide peroxide, Ultradent, South Jordan, USA), Rembrandt (10% carbamide peroxide, DenMat, USA) and Opalescence F (15% carbamide peroxide with fluoride, Ultradent, USA) were applied on labial sides of the bovine enamel for 7 days (bleaching agents were reapplied every 24 hours) and the opposite surface was contacted to cotton that soaked in distilled water. The control group was soaked in distilled water. Three stimulus value X, Y and Z were evaluated with colorimeter (Color & Color Differencemeter, Model TC-6FX, Tokyo Denshoku Co., Japan) on the labial surface of all specimen three times on white and black background plate before the bleaching agents were applied and on 3rd, 5th and 7th day after applied. The degree of translucency was normally assessed by measuring the inverse property, opacity (contrast ratio). 10% Opalescence, 15% Opalescence-F, and control group showed no significant variation in the translucency of bovine enamel, However Rembrandt decreased the translucency of it (p < 0.01).
Bleaching Agents* ; Dental Enamel* ; Diamond ; Fluorides ; Jordan ; Lakes ; Tooth ; Urea ; Water

Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid is the most common thyroid cancer in children. It usually occurs in the teenage female and presents as a mass within the thyroid itself. In the great majority of cases the only presenting sign is a neck mass. In a high percentage (60-80%) there are also palpable lymph nodes. A 8 years old female patient was admitted because of palpable neck mass and miliary shadow in chest X-ray. On examination, a soft nontenter nodular mass 1x1 cm in size was palpated at supraclavicular area of left mid-neck. In chest X-ray and CT, well demarcated nodular milialy infiltration was fully distributed in both lung. After the initial treatment failure for the miliary tuberculosis, the fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed. The Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid was diagnosed. Total thyroidectomy and entire lymph node excision were performed, followed by radioiodine ablation and hormonal therapy. The patient has been improved clinically. We are reporting a case of thyroid papillary carcinoma presenting as a pulmonary miliary infiltration with brief review of the literature.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Child* ; Female* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Treatment Failure ; Tuberculosis, Miliary

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare tumor arising from the mesenchymal tissues of the spermatic cord, epididymis, testis, and testicular tunics, and represents 7% of all rhabdomyosarcomas. This tumor occurs predominantly in children and adolescent, but rarely in adult. We report a case of a paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma occurring in a 27-year-old man.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Child ; Epididymis ; Humans ; Male ; Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal ; Spermatic Cord ; Testis

With remarkable advances in medicine, the total bill of health care expenditure in Korea continues to rise at an ever increasing rate. Under the health insurance, however, to provide the appropriate medical care in limited resources and finite economy, efficient ways of approach to medical services are needed. One of them is to weigh the justification of sophisticated application of medical practice, taking into consideration both cost and effectiveness. Sice medical services have indispensable relation to health insurance, both sides should try to make good companion in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of health improvement and everythhing about health insurance. Especially the basic principles of medical fees review must be kept in mind.
Delivery of Health Care ; Fees, Medical* ; Friends ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea

The epiopathogenesis of craniosynostosis remains obscure. According to the studies involved, the conditions observed at birth are very different. In case that a deformity is obvious or the risk of brain compression is possible, strip craniectomy, frontal bone advancement and cranial vault remodeling methods are used. These direct reshaping or remodeling methods are time consuming and require greater use of physical resources and still are not uniformly successful in making skull shape to normal. Distraction of the cranial bone has been studied to solve this problem. This study subsequently included 30 white rabbits aged about 25 weeks. The rabbits were divided in three groups. In group I, a 0.25mm distraction was done every other day after 3 day latency period. In group II, there was a 7 day latency period with the same rate of distraction as in group I. There was a 3 day latency period with a 0.5mm distraction every other day in group III. The contralateral side underwent a sham operation as a control group. During distraction and after consolidation periods, histologic and ultrastructural studies were carried out. And a serial radiologic study was done. As a result, group I and group II showed successful distraction osteogenesis, and we demonstrated the biological and mechanical factor associated with distraction osteogenesis. In group I, despite the short latency period, there was successful bone regeneration. Group III, it also showed successful ossification. During the distraction period, there was a remarkable increase of TGF-beta1 in both groups, especially in periosteum osteoid and newly developed connective tissue. In conclusion, we have demonstrated a useful model of distraction osteogenesis in rabbit skulls, and attempted to evaluate associated biological and mechanical factors.
Bone Regeneration ; Brain ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Connective Tissue ; Craniosynostoses ; Frontal Bone ; Latency Period (Psychology) ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Parturition ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Skull* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1