PURPOSE: Stem cell-based therapies represent new promises for the treatment of urinary incontinence. This study was performed to assess optimized cell passage number, cell dose, therapeutic efficacy, feasibility, toxicity, and cell trafficking for the first step of the pre-clinical evaluation of human amniotic fluid stem cell (hAFSC) therapy in a urinary incontinence animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proper cell passage number was analyzed with hAFSCs at passages 4, 6, and 8 at week 2. The cell dose optimization included 1x10(4), 1x10(5), and 1x10(6) cells at week 2. The in vivo cell toxicity was performed with 0.25x10(6), 0.5x10(6), and 1x10(6) cells at weeks 2 and 4. Cell tracking was performed with 1x10(6) cells at weeks 2 and 4. RESULTS: The selected optimal cell passage number was smaller than 6, and the optimal cell dose was 1x10(6) for the mouse model. In our pre-clinical study, hAFSC-injected animals showed normal values for several parameters. Moreover, the injected cells were found to be non-toxic and non-tumorigenic. Furthermore, the injected hAFSCs were rarely identified by in vivo cell trafficking in the target organs at week 2. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates for the first time the pre-clinical efficacy and safety of hAFSC injection in the urinary incontinence animal model and provides a basis for future clinical applications.
Amniotic Fluid/*cytology ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Injections ; Mice ; Stem Cell Transplantation/*methods ; Stem Cells/*cytology ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Incontinence/*therapy

Background The clinical significance of complete revascularization for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) pa-tients during admission is still debatable. Methods A total of 1406 STEMI patients from the Korean Myocardial Infarction Registry with multivessel diseases without cardiogenic shock who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were analyzed. We used propensity score matching (PSM) to control differences of baseline characteristics between culprit only intervention (CP) and multivessel percutaneous coronary interventions (MP), and between double vessel disease (DVD) and triple vessel disease (TVD). The major adverse cardiac event (MACE) was analyzed for one year after discharge. Results TVD patients showed higher incidence of MACE (14.2%vs. 8.6%, P=0.01), any cause of revascularization (10.6%vs. 5.9%, P=0.01), and repeated PCI (9.5%vs. 5.7%, P=0.02), as compared to DVD patients during one year after discharge. MP reduced MACE effectively (7.3%vs. 13.8%, P=0.03), as compared to CP for one year, but all cause of death (1.6%vs. 3.2%, P=0.38), MI (0.4%vs. 0.8%, P=1.00), and any cause of revascularization (5.3%vs. 9.7%, P=0.09) were comparable in the two treatment groups. Conclusions STEMI patients with TVD showed higher rate of MACE, as compared to DVD. MP performed during PPCI or ad hoc during admission for STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock showed lower rate of MACE in this large scaled database. Therefore, MP could be considered as an effective treatment option for STEMI patients without cardiogenic shock.

BACKGROUND: There has been controversy whether methylmethacrylate precoating of the cemented femoral stem is a solution for aseptic loosening or rather contributes to increased failure rates in cemented total hip arthroplasties. METHODS: On a retrospective basis, we analyzed 76 primary hybrid total hip arthroplasties from 63 patients with precoated, cemented femoral stems between October 1990 and December 1995. The mean age of the patients was 46.8 years (range, 22 to 77 years) with a minimum follow-up of 14 years (mean, 15.5 years; range, 14 to 19.5 years). Third generation cementing techniques were employed in all cases. RESULTS: Twenty-four out of 76 cases (31.6%) showed aseptic loosening of the femoral stems, of which 23 stems were revised at an average revision time of 8 years (range, 3 to 14.8 years). The main mode of loosening was cement-stem interface failure in 22 hips (91.7%). Twenty-one out of 24 failed hips (87.5%) demonstrated C2 cementing grades (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis using radiographic aseptic loosening of the femoral stem as the endpoint for failure showed survival rates of 76.5% at 10 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 71.4 to 81.6) and 63.2% at 19 years (95% CI, 57.3 to 69.1). CONCLUSIONS: An early failure of the precoated femoral stem in this study was mainly due to an insufficient cementing technique. Achievement of good cement mantle may improve the survival rates.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/*instrumentation ; *Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Equipment Failure Analysis ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis/diagnosis/surgery ; *Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Methylmethacrylate ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Failure ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the clinical results of arthroscopically assisted single and double bundle tibial inlay reconstructions of an isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. METHODS: This study reviewed the data for 14 patients who underwent a single bundle tibial inlay PCL reconstruction (Group A) and 16 patients who underwent a double bundle tibial inlay PCL reconstruction (Group B) between August 1999 and August 2002. The mean follow-up period in groups A and B was 90.5 months and 64 months, respectively. RESULTS: The Lysholm knee scores in groups A and B increased from an average of 43.3 +/- 7.04 and 44.7 +/- 5.02 preoperatively to 88.1 +/- 7.32 and 88.7 +/- 9.11 points at the final follow-up, respectively. In group A, stress radiography using a Telos device showed that the preoperative mean side-to-side differences (SSDs) of 9.5 +/- 1.60 mm at 30degrees of flexion and 9.8 +/- 1.70 mm at 90degrees of flexion were improved to 2.8 +/- 1.19 mm and 3.0 +/- 1.1 mm, respectively. In group B, the preoperative SSDs of 10.4 +/- 1.50 mm at 30degrees of flexion and 10.7 +/- 1.60 mm at 90degrees of flexion improved to 2.7 +/- 1.15 mm and 2.6 +/- 0.49 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference in the clinical scores and radiologic findings between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Single bundle and double bundle PCL reconstructions using the tibial inlay technique give satisfactory clinical results in patients with an isolated PCL injury, and there are no significant differences in the clinical and radiological results between the two techniques. These results suggest that it is unnecessary to perform the more technically challenging double bundle reconstruction using the tibial inlay technique in an isolated PCL injury.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Arthroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Procedures/*methods ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament/*injuries/*surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/methods ; Tendons/transplantation ; Tibia/*surgery ; Young Adult

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been defined as a transitional state between normal aging and Alzheimer disease. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can estimate the microstructural integrity of white matter tracts in MCI. We evaluated the microstructural changes in the white matter of MCI patients with DTI. We recruited 11 patients with MCI who met the working criteria of MCI and 11 elderly normal controls. The mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in 26 regions of the brain with the regions of interest (ROIs) method. In the MCI patients, FA values were significantly decreased in the hippocampus, the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the splenium of corpus callosum, and in the superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus compared to the control group. MD values were significantly increased in the hippocampus, the anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsules, the splenium of the corpus callosum, the right frontal lobe, and in the superior and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Microstructural changes of several corticocortical tracts associated with cognition were identified in patients with MCI. FA and MD values of DTI may be used as novel biomarkers for the evaluation of neurodegenerative disorders.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/*pathology ; Anisotropy ; Biological Markers ; Cerebral Cortex/*pathology ; Cognition Disorders/*pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Pathways/*pathology ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the exposure levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene(1-OHP) were surveyed among the workers using coal tar paint. METHOD: The study subjects for the exposed group were 107 male coal tar workers in 10 factories, and for the comparison group were 201 male clerk workers who had never been exposed to coal tar paint. Ambient PAHs, and pre-shift and end-shift urinary 1-OHP were sample and 16 PAHs were analysed. Smoking history was recorded during the survey day. RESULTS: The geometric mean of ambient concentration of total PAHs was 120.17 microgram/m3. Naphthalene had the highest level among the 16 PAHs. The pre-shift 1-OHP in the exposed group (8.89 micro mol/mol creatinine) was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.29 micro mol/mol creatinine). The end-shift 1-OHP in the exposed group (19.02 micro mol/mol creatinine) was significantly higher than that in the pre-shift (8.89 micro mol/mol creatinine) (Ed- confirm). 1-OHP of smokers was significantly higher than that of non-smokers in both groups. The difference between pre-shift and end-shift 1-OHP in smokers (12.40 micro mol/mol creatinine) was twice as high as that in non-smokers (6.06 micro mol/mol creatinine). The difference of 1-OHP between smokers and nonsmokers was 7.59 micro mol/mol creatinine in pre-shift and 13.96 micro mol/mol creatinine in end-shift. Thus, the effect of smoking and exposure to PAHs on 1-OHP may not be additive. In regression analysis for 1-OHP, the significant independent variables were pre-shift 1-OHP and PAHs. The direction of these variables was positive. When the analysis was performed in workers exposed to higher PAHs, smoking was significant independent variable. CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that not only ambient PAHs but also smoking, one of the most important non-occupational PAHs source, influenced the level of 1-OHP. Moreover, the effect of smoking to 1-OHP changed according to the exposure level of PAHs.
Coal Tar* ; Coal* ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Male ; Paint* ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic* ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study analysed the incidence and the degree of an acetabular retroversion in a dysplastic hip. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 28 cases of dysplastic hips, in whom the CE angle was <20 degrees, and 20 cases of control group with a normal CE angle were enrolled in this study. Four cuts among the CT images (most superior cut of the femoral head, middle cut of the proximal half, middle portion, and middle cut of the distal half of the femoral head) were used to measure the acetabular anteversion. RESULTS: In the control group, anteversion of four cuts (form the cranial to caudal) were observed with an average of 4.1, 10.3, 16.5, 19.7degrees, and there was one case with a retroversion. In the dysplastic hips, the average anteversion angles were 4.4, 11.0, 17.9, 20.8degrees, and 9 cases with retroversion were discovered. In all cases showing retroversion, an overlapping of the acetabular anterior and posterior wall (cross-over sign) was observed on the simple pelvis AP radiography. CONCLUSION: There was a 32% incidence of acetabular retroversion, which was much higher than the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, in order to prevent an over-correction of the retroversion, which may cause impingement, the presence and the amount of retroversion must be recognized using CT before performing a periacetabular osteotomy.
Acetabulum* ; Head ; Hip* ; Incidence* ; Osteotomy ; Pelvis ; Radiography

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is being used as a therapeutic modality in many diseases in which thoracotomy has been used. We studied that the VATS can substitute the thoracotomy in benign esophageal disease. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Group I (n=18) underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery, and group II (n=19) thoracotomy. Group I includes 14 leiomyomas and 4 achalasias. Group II includes 16 leiomyomas and 3 achalasias. Operative technique is enucleation in the leiomyoma and modified Heller's myotomy in the achalasia. Analyzing factors of operation-efficacy are anesthetic time, operation time, hospital stay, chest tube drainage amount and chest tube removal day. The degree of the postoperative pain is assessed by the frequency of opioid analgesics injection. RESULT: There was no death in both groups. There were 5 complications in the group I and 2 in the group II. Prolonged pleural effusion and restenosis of achalasia occurred to 1 patient in each group. In the group I, there were 1 temporaty vocal cord palsy and 2 mucosal tear leading to thoracotomy. There were no differences in anesthesia time, operation time, hospital stay, total chest tube drainage amount, chest tube removal day and frequency of opioid analgesics injection. The amount of the chest tube drainage at POD 1 day was significantly lower in group I (155.6+/-77.8cc) than in group II (572.8+/-280.1cc) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our data showed that video-assisted thoracic surgery for benign esophageal disease is as effective as thoracotomy and in addition, cosmetic effect is much better. We concluded VATS may be a substitute for thoracotomy in benign esophageal disease.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Chest Tubes ; Drainage ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Esophageal Diseases* ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Length of Stay ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pleural Effusion ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted* ; Thoracotomy* ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

BACKGROUND: Video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic imporvement. However the degree of satisfaction may diminish with time due to cmpensatory sweating or excessive hand dryness. Therefore by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathectomy or sympathicotomy at various levels we aim to determine the optimal level of sympathetic nerve block which will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefit. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 194 patients having undergone video assisted thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy between January 1996 and June 1999, 137 patients who responded to either telephone interview or questionnaire were included in the current study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I(n=61) ; patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathectomy group II(35) ; patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy and group III(41) ; patients having undergone limited T2 sympathicotomy which consist of block of interganglionic neuronal fiber on the third rib. The parameters studied comprised of pre- and post-operative palmar temperature change treatment satisfaction the degree of compensatory sweating or discomfort from palmar dryness postoperative complication and changes in plantar sweating. RESULT: There was no difference in age and sex among the groups and the mean postoperative elevation in palmar temperature was 21.59degrees C without any differences among the groups. Patients expressing satisfaction were 65.6%, 62.9% and 90.24% in groups I, II and III, respectively(p<0.05) Moderate to severe compensatory sweating was present in 65.6% 51.4%, and 24.39%, in group I, II, and III, respectively (p<0.05) Slight but comfortable amount of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order group III(41.6%) group I(24.6%) and group II(5.7%) (p<0.05) Ineffectiveness or recurrence was present in 5patients in group I(8.2%) 1 patient in group II(2.9%) and none in group III. With regards to plantar sweating decrease in sweating was expressed in 43 patients(31.4%) while similar degree of sweating in 61 patients(44.5%) and increase in sweating in another 33 patinets(24.1%). CONCLUSION: Limited T2 sympathicotomy resection of the lower interganglionic neuronal fiber of the second sympathetic ganglion on the third rib showed immediate effect in palmar hyperhidrosis and caused lesser compensatory sweating and hand dryness.
Autonomic Nerve Block ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Interviews as Topic ; Neurons ; Postoperative Complications ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Recurrence ; Ribs ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) is a rare desease, which usually manifests between the age of 10 and 20. Its main clinical feature is multiple recurrent episodes of cholestasis without extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. We report here a case of nonfamilial benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis. The patient has experienced recurrent jaundice with pruritus since childhood. Main bile duct obstrution was excluded by abdominal CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Other causes of cholestasis were not found. Hepatic histology revealed bile plug which were mainly concentrated in the centrilobular region, and increased number of mononuclear cells in the portal triad, but hepatic parenchyma showed no inflammation and necrosis. In the last anicteric period, she was healthy and the liver function test and biopsy specimen were normal.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholestasis ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Jaundice ; Liver Function Tests ; Necrosis ; Pruritus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed