In vivo Genotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles after 90-day Silver Nanoparticle Inhalation Exposure

OBJECTIVES: The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles has resulted in their widespread use in many consumer products. Yet, despite their many advantages, it is also important to determine whether silver nanoparticles may represent a hazard to the environment and human health. METHODS: Thus, to evaluate the genotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles, in vivo genotoxicity testing (OECD 474, in vivo micronuclei test) was conducted after exposing male and female Sprague-Dawley rats to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days according to OECD test guideline 413 (Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity: 90 Day Study) with a good laboratory practice system. The rats were exposed to silver nanoparticles (18 nm diameter) at concentrations of 0.7 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (low dose), 1.4 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (middle dose), and 2.9 x 10(6) particles/cm3 (high dose) for 6 hr/day in an inhalation chamber for 90 days. The rats were killed 24 hr after the last administration, then the femurs were removed and the bone marrow collected and evaluated for micronucleus induction. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or in the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes among the total erythrocytes after silver nanoparticle exposure when compared with the control. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that exposure to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days does not induce genetic toxicity in male and female rat bone marrow in vivo.

A Study of the Effect of a Mixture of Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Guardix-sol(R)) on the Prevention of Pericardial Adhesion / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a mixture of hyaluronic acid and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Guardix-sol(R)) on experimental pericardial adhesion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty rats were divided into 2 groups of 15 rats each and pericardial mesothelial injury was induced during surgery by abrasion. In the control group, blood and normal saline were administered into pericardium; in the test group, blood and HA-CMC solution were administered. Pericardial adhesions were evaluated at 2 weeks (n=5), 4 weeks (n=5), and 6 weeks (n=5) after surgery. The severity of adhesions was graded by macroscopic examination, and the adhesion tissue thickness was analyzed microscopically with Masson trichrome stain and an image processing program. RESULT: The test group had significantly lower macroscopic adhesion scores (2.9+/-0.6 : 3.9+/-0.4, p<0.000) compared with the control group. For microscopic adhesion tissue thickness, the test group had lower scores compared with the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (91.73+/-49.91 : 117.67+/-46.4, p=0.106). CONCLUSION: We conclude that an HA-CMC solution (Guardix-sol(R)) reduces the formation of pericardial adhesions in this animal model.

Application of Veno-venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Multitrauma Patient with ARDS: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is difficult to treat and it is often fatal. If the medical treatment for ARDS is not effective, then extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be applied to the patient. A 22-year-old female who suffered multiple traumatic injuries due to a car accident presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Veinarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) was started to treat her respiratory failure. With the VA ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation remained at only 84%, and so the ECMO system was switched to V-VA ECMO via an additional venous outflow through the right jugular vein to increase both the systemic and pulmonary oxygen saturation. After conversion to the V-VA type ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation increased to 94% and the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) increased to 65 mmHg. We report here on a successful case of ECMO conversion from the VA type to the V-VA type in a patient with severely hypoxic respiratory failure.

Recent Early Operative Outcomes of Comprehensive Aortic Root & Valve Reconstruction (CARVAR) Procedure / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: A Comprehensive Aortic Root and Valve Reconstruction (CARVAR) procedure is comprised of aortic root wall reconstruction and corrections of the leaflets for treating various aortic valve diseases. We evaluated our recent early clinical experience with the CARVAR procedure. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From October 2007 to September 2008, 114 cases (66 males) of CARVAR procedures were performed. The mean patient age was 53 years (range: 14~84). The patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) the AAR group: aortic regurgitation with aortic root wall deformity such as annulo-aortic ectasia or ascending aortic aneurysm (n=18), 2) the IAR group: isolated AR with leaflet abnormality (n=42), 3) the IAS group: isolated aortic stenosis (n=51) and 4) the PAVR group: previous aortic valve replacement (n=3). Sinotubular junction (STJ) reduction was done in all the patients, leaflet correction was done in 10 of the AAR group patients and in all the patients of the other groups, annulus reduction was done in 14 of the AAR group patients and in 6 of the IAR group patients. Aortic dissection was excluded from this analysis. RESULT: There was no mortality or follow-up death. The diameter of the aortic sinus decreased from 54.6+/-8.4 mm to 38.3+/-3.8 mm in the AAR group, the mean AR grade decreased from 3.2 to 0.2 in the IAR group, the mean aortic valve pressure gradient decreased from 47.1+/-24.4 mmHg to 15.1+/-11.7 mmHg in the IAS group and the mean AR grade decreased to 0 in the PAVR group. Balloon type coronary perfusion cannula-related coronary ostial stenosis developed in 4 patients and this was treated with OPCAB in three patients and with PTCA in one patient. Two patients developed postoperative infectious endocarditis. All the patients were discharged and followed up in a stable condition. CONCLUSION: The CARVAR procedure showed excellent short term results, but a good further follow up result is required to apply this procedure to most kinds of aortic valve diseases.

Radiological analysis of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia in skeletal system

Over a period of recent 3 years, the 5 cases of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia were proven histologically atNational Medical Center, and they were evaluated and analysed radiologically and clinically. The results were asfollows; 1. The age of 5 patients ranged from 12 to 21. 2. In general, clinical symptoms of thses patients werepain of affected sites and swelling, fracture, walking disturbance of lower extremities. 3. The order of frequentsite of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia was skull (4 cases), femur( 3 cases), maxilla (2 cases), humerus, tibia,rib, radius, metacarpal bone and phalanx. 4. The characteristic radiological findings of polyostotic fibrousdysplasia were multicystic lesions with ground glass appearance, osteoslcerosis, cortical thinning and pathologicfracture and deformity of long bones. Particularly, in the extremities, multicystic radiolucencies, groud glass appearance, shepherd's crook and coxa vara deformities were noticed, and in teh skull and maxilla, sclerotic changes wee principally demonstrated.

Hysterosalpingographic evaluation in infertility

H.S.G. has been proven to be an important diagnsotic method in clinical gyencology for under 50 yrs. It isvaluable in the investigation of the uterine and tubal factors of female infertility. Hysterosalpingograms of 81 patients with infertility were analysed and following brief results were obtained. 1. Ratio between primary andsecondary infertility was 3:5, 2ndary infertility was more frequent. 2. Age distribution was more frequnet under 30 years of age than over 30 years of age. 3. Abnormal uterine finding was only seen in 18 cases, abnormal tubalfinding was only seen in 25 cases and combined uterine and abnormalities were seen in 14 cases. 4. Abnormaluterine findings were malposition (12 cases), filling defect (5), spastic uterus(5), irregular contour (3),arcuate uterus(3), dideplphia(1), in order of frequency. 5. Abnormal tubal findings were hydrosalpinx (21 cases), occlusion(19), intravasation (6), beaded appearance(3), & diverticula(2) , in order of frequency. 6. Negativefinding in both uterus and tube was seen in 23 cases. 7. In 2 cases, pregnancy after the H.S.G. examination wasconfirmed.