Characterization of the Repeat Sequences of Varicella-Zoster Virus

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a causative agent for shingles and herpes zoster. The genomes of VZV contain five reiteration (R) sequences and an origin of replication (ORI) sequences composed of tandem repeats whose numbers vary among different strains. Variation of the genome lengths among VZV strains could be attributed by the lengths of R sequences. There was a strong correlation between the lengths of VZV genome and R sequences, while variation of ORI did not contribute the variation of VZV genome length. The high G+C contents of The R sequences in ORF11, 14 and 22 influenced the codon usage of VZV in these ORFs. None of the most frequent 5 codons in R sequences was included in the top 5 most frequent codon in ORF11-14-22 or VZV genome, and vice versa.

Effect of Regional Nerve Block in Total Knee Arthroplasty / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of femoral, obturator, and sciatic nerve regional blocks with using ropivacaine during total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a prospective study, we performed total knee arthroplasty for 383 patients from Oct. 2004 to Feb. 2009. There was 139 cases of femoral and obturator nerve regional block, 123 cases of femoral, obturator, and sciatic nerve regional block, and 121 cases of lidocaine local anesthesia at the synovium and subcutaneous tissue during wound closure. All the femoral nerve block cases used a femoral catheter for an additional ropivacaine injection at 10 hours after surgery. The pain was examined using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The VAS scores were checked on the day of surgery and at post operative 24 hours, 48 hours and 6 days. The pain control effects among the 3 groups were compared with one-way ANOVA test and Scheffe`s multiple comparison test. RESULTS: The mean postoperative VAS score on the day of surgery and at post operative 24 hours, 48 hours and 6 days in the femoral and obturator nerve block group, were 6.3, 5.6, 5.3, and 4.7, respectively. For the cases of femoral, obturator and sciatic nerve block, the VAS scores were 3.9, 4.3, 3.5 and 1.9, respectively, and the VAS scores in the lidocaine local anesthetic group were 7.1, 6.1, 5.8 and 5.2, respectively. There was a statistical significance in all three groups (p<.0001), and the additional sciatic nerve block groups had significant effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Pain control with the ropivacaine regional nerve block is more effective than the lidocaine local anesthesia, and additional sciatic nerve block is a important factor for decreasing the postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty.

Arthrodesis of the Knee with a Huckstep Nail Following the Treatment Failure of an Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty

We performed knee arthrodesis with a Huckstep nail in 4 patients that had failed in controlling infection after TKA. The purpose of this study is to introduce our surgical methods and report our clinical results. We retrospectively reviewed 4 patients who underwent knee arthrodesis with a Huckstep nail after the treatment failure of infection following TKA from 2003 to 2007. Mean age was 73 years (70~79 years). All patients had type II diabetes and hypertension. From primary TKA to knee arthrodesis with a Huckstep nail, patients underwent 3.2 operations (3~4 times) on average including removal of implant, synovectomy, antibiotic cement insertion, and revisional TKA. Allo-bone grafting was performed additionally in all cases to minimize lower limb shortening. Patients were evaluated clinically, hematologically and radiologically. The mean duration of follow-up was 20.2 months (12~36 months). All patients showed bony union radiologically within one year. There was no migration or loosening of a nail and screws. Limb length discrepancy was 3 cm on average. Although 1 patient complained ambulatory pain, all patients returned to ambulation without evidence of infection recurrence. Arthrodesis of the knee with a Huckstep nail for patients who had failed in controlling infection after TKA was considered effective treatment option.

The Breakage of Epidural Catheter during Continuous Epidural Analgesia for Cancer Pain: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

During pain control by continuous epidural analgesia, the breakage of epidural catheter is a very rare complication. We experienced breakage of epidural catheter in patient of cancer pain during continuous epidural analgesia. We performed epidural catheterization between T12 and L1 level for pain control. After 6 weeks of epidural catheterization, abruptly patient complained severe pain. When we applied negative pressure to catheter by syringe before epidural injection of bolus dose, a few airs were aspirated. We strongly suspected breakage of catheter, and the breakage in 1617 cm from epidural catheter tip was confirmed by normal saline administration via epidural catheter. After new epidural catheter inserted again, patient's pain was controlled by VAS 24 and another complications were not appeared. We must carefully manage the catheter because of complications of epidural catheter.

The Effect of Ondansetron on the Corrected QT Interval of Electrocardiography during General Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGOUND: Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) has a potential risk of inducing life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia. Although 5-HT3 antagonists are useful antiemetics, several cases of cardiac dysrhythmia after administration of 5-HT3 antagonists have been reported. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the changes in QTc interval that occur after administration of a clinical dose of ondansetron during general anesthesia. METHODS: Seventy-five patients, who underwent elective surgery under standardized general anesthesia were evaluated. After anesthetic induction, the patients were given either normal saline, 2 mg or 4 mg of iv ondansetron. The QTc on the electrocardiogram was measured immediately prior to administration of the treatment drug and then every minute after injection of the study drug for 10 minutes, 12 and 15 minutes. RESULTS: There were no differences observed in the baseline QTc of the different treatment groups. In addition, there were no significant changes in the QTc interval of the control group, however, the QTc interval was prolonged significantly in both the ondansetron 2 mg and 4 mg groups. Further, DeltaQTc (the difference in QTc interval from the baseline value) was significantly prolonged in the ondansetron 2 mg and 4 mg groups when compared with the control group. There were no differences in the number of patients who showed abnormal QTc and there were no incidences of dysrhythmia in any of the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ondansetron administration for emesis prophylaxis during general anesthesia was associated with statistically significant prolongation of the QTc interval. The authors recommend that caution be used when ondansetron is administered to prevent and/or treat postoperative nausea and vomiting, particularly in patients who have a prolonged QTc interval.

Coronoid view: A New Radiograph for the Evaluation of the Coronoid Fractures

PURPOSE: It is very important to evaluate and fix coronoid process fractures because they are a critical element for a stable, effective elbow function. The lateral view of the elbow joint is used for a radiographic evaluation of the coronoid but an understanding of the fracture pattern is often difficult because of overlap of the radial head and obliquity of the fracture line. We developed the coronoid view, which is a new radiograph for an evaluation of the coronoid process fracture, and discuss its advantages for a postoperative follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The coronoid view was designed for an evaluation of the anteromedial fragment of the coronoid process. After the patient sat on his side, the shoulder was abducted 45degrees and the elbow was flexed 90degrees The X-ray beam was shot perpendicular to the table. Since shoulder was abducted 45degrees the fracture line of the coronoid process can be parallel to the X-ray beam, and the radial head can be cleared. CONCLUSION: The coronoid view can be a good alternative radiograph for an evaluation of a coronoid process fracture because the beam is parallel to the fracture line. The coronoid view can be particularly useful in postoperative patient follow-up where computed tomography is impractical due to metal implants and cost.

DCC Gene and Protein Expression in Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The germline, or somatic, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, through point mutation, or deletion, plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Several gene alterations, such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and p53, have been detected in the development of colorectal cancer. Within these genes, a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the DCC gene locus was frequently associated with colorectal tumors, and the LOH of the DCC gene, and the expression of the DCC protein, might be related to malignant formation and metastasis. The aim of this study was to determine the DCC LOH and the expression of DCC protein in colorectal cancers, and evaluate their prognostic value and relationship with the clinicopathological data. MTHODE: Fifty colorectal cancer tissues were obtained from resected specimens. Using formalin-fixed paraffin- embedded sections as a source of DNA, we examined the DCC protein in the tissue through immunohistochemical stainings and immunoblotting analysis, the DCC LOH through a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). RESULTS: DCC LOH was observed in 24 of the 50 patients (48.0%). The expression of the DCC protein was decreased in the cancer tissue (62.3 23.6%) compared with the adjacent normal mucosa inform the immunoblotting analysis. A decreased DCC protein expression was also observed from the immunohistochemistry, which coincided with the immunoblotting analysis. However, both the DCC LOH and the decreased DCC protein were not related to the clinical and pathological parameters, such as location of tumor, tumor size, histological type and the venous, and lymphatic invasions. There were significant correlations between the DCC protein expression and tumor progression, and hematogenous metastasis (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: A decreased expression of the DCC protein was noted in human colorectal cancers, and there was a significant relationship between the expression of the DCC protein and distant metastasis, but there was no correlation between the DCC LOH and distant metastasis. These results suggest that the expression of the DCC protein might be related to tumor progression and metastatic potential, and the DCC protein immunoreactivity may be a useful prognostic factor in patients with colorectal cancers.

A Study on the Relationship between CEA Immunohistochemical Findings and Expression Rate of PCNA and Clinicopathologic Factors of Colorectal Cancers

Immunohistochemical study was performed for CEA staining patterns and PCNA indices. And the relationship between immunohistochemical findings and well-known clinical prognostic factors on the purpose of the clinical usefulness was evaluated. In forty seven cases of surgically removed colorectal carcinomas, the results were as follows; CEA staining patterns were apical (17 cases) and cytoplasmic (30 cases) type. Carcinomas with cyto plasmic pattern for CEA revealed more advanced Dukes' stage and more undifferentiated type and higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and were correlated with increased serum CEA levels. But PCNA indices showed no correlation with the Dukes' stage, histologic grade and CEA staining patterns. The cytoplasmic pattern of CEA immunohistochemistry may be a useful marker suggesting more aggressive biologic behavior of the colorectal carcinomas.

The Study on Comparing the Expression of the Collagen IV with different Histopathologic Features of the Colorectal Carcinomas

The malignant potential of a tumor is related to its ability to dissociate invasion and seed other sites-metastasis. In either instance, the tumor cells are confronted with a barrier signif icantly composed of type IV collagen. This type IV collagen is a major structural protein of basement membranes. Using immunohistochemical method to detect type IV collagen, intensity of stain and continuity of basement membrane at the tumor-stromal border was studied in surgical specimens from 47 colorectal carcinomas at the Pusan Paik-Hospital. Immunoreactivity was evaluated semi-quantitatively as three categories; Type-1, thick or normal basement membrane with or without minimal discontinuity; Type-2, thin basement membrane with or without moderate discontinuity; Type-3, fragmented or absent basement membrane. Also, in each case the tumor morphologic features were identified. The histologic type, differentiated grade, desmoplastic response, lymphatic and vascular invasion, lymph node involvement, tumor size and modified Dukes' stage were estabilished. Type-1 immunoreactivity was significantly observed in well-differentiated, negative lymph node, Dukes' stage B1/B2 tumors, and Type-3 was in poorly differentiated, positive lymph node, Dukes' stage C2/D. The expres sion of collagen IV in basement membrane was statistically significant correlated with differentiated grade, lymph node metastasis and modified Dukes' stage. By contrast, no statistically significant correlation was found between paucity of type IV collagen and the other parameters. The result suggest that expression of type IV collagen in basement membrane may be a useful prognostic marker, and may play a part in the invasive and metastatic process of colorectal carcinomas.