Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorder Presenting as Intractable Vomiting and Ascites in a Young Girl / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder (EGID) is a rare disease in children that affects the bowel wall, with eosinophilic infiltration in the absence of any other causes for eosinophilia. The etiology remains unknown, but allergies and immunological imbalance are suspected triggers. We encountered a case of serosal EGID presenting as intractable vomiting and ascites in a 9-year-old girl, after influenza virus infection. Peripheral eosinophilia was not present. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy of the bowel wall through laparotomy and endoscopy, and controlled by 2 courses of steroid therapy due to recurring symptoms. Influenza virus infection was assumed to play a role in the onset of EGID through a Th2 response that stimulated eosinophilic infiltration in the GI tract. We therefore report this case along with a literature review.

Effects of the Guided Tissue Regeneration Using Polylactic/Polyglycolic Copolymer Membrane in the Furcation Involvement / 대한치주과학회지

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration(GTR) using resorbable polylactic/polyglycolic copolymer(PLA/PGA) membrane in mandibular class II furcation involvement and to compare it to the clinical efficacy of only flap operation. Both procedures were conducted in 5 patients with class II furcation involvements. After 6 months of follow up, the probing pocket depth, clincial attachment level, bone probing depth, and radiographic changes were compared, and the following results were obtained: 1. GTR using PLA/PGA demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in probing pocket depth and bone probing depth, and the control group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in bone probing depth. 2. The comparison between the experimental and control group failed to demonstrate statistically significant difference in clinical improvement, but more reduction in probing pocket depth and bone probing depth were observed in the experimental group. The probing pocket depth and the bone probing depth were 2.2+/-1.6mm and 2.4+/-1.1mm respectively in the control group, while they were 2.4+/-1.3mm and 3.0+/- 1.2mm respectively in the experimental group. 3. Radiographic change was not detectable for the both groups during the 6 months of follow up. 4. Sites with deeper probing pocket depth at baseline examination showed greater amount of clinical improvement in both groups. Other clinical factors didn't have any significant effect on the treatment results. It is concluded that though there are some limitations, PLA/PGA membrane is effective for the treatment of mandibular class II furcation involvement.

The effect of safflower seed fraction extract on periodontal ligament fibroblast and MC3T3-E1 cell in vitro / 대한치주과학회지

Recently, use of natural medicine is getting more attention, and some of them are believed to be effective in the treatment of periodontitis. Among them, the seeds of safflower(Carthamus tinctorius L.) have been proven to be effective through its use in bone diseases such as fracture and osteoporosis. During the last few years, studies using the seeds of safflower grown in Korea have been active, and it has been reported that safflower seed extract increase the proliferation and the alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity of human periodontal ligament fibroblast(hPDLF), osteoblast, and that they promote the mineralization process. In animal studies, when safflower seed extract were administered orally new bone formation was promoted. Recently, in an effort to find out the most effective osteogenic components, among many components of the safflower seed, various safflower seed fraction extracts were obtained by multistep extraction of the safflower components using various solvents. Among these, saf-M-W fraction extracted by methanol and water was most effective in increasing osteogenic potential of osteoblasts. In this study, the effect of safflower seed fraction extract, saf-M-W, on the growth and differentiation of hPDLF and MC3T3-E1 cell was investigated. The toxicity of saf-M-W on both cells was measured using MTT(3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) test, and ALP activity was measured using the colorimetric assay of hPDLF. In addition, in MC3T3-E1 cells, the expression of ALP, bone sialoprotein(BSP) mRNA was observed using Northern blot, and the mineralized nodule formation was observed using von Kossa stain and phase-contrast microscope. 1. In concentrations below 10microgram/ml, saf-M-W didn't show any toxicity on hPDLF and MC3T3-E1 cell. 2. The change in saf-M-W concentration had no effect on the ALP activity of hPDLF. 3. In MC3T3-E1 cells, mRNA expressions of ALP and BSP were greater in the experimental group treated with 10microgram/ml concentration of saf-M-W compared with the control group. 4. In MC3T3-E1 cells, abundance of mineralized nodules were formed in the experimental group treated with 10microgram/ml concentration of saf-M-W, while no mineralized nodule was formed in the control group. These results suggest that safflower seed fraction extract, saf-M-W, didn't show any toxicity on hPDLF and MC3T3-E1 cell at concentrations below 10microgram/ml and effectively enhanced the differentiation and osteogenic potential of MC3T3-E1 cell.