Cytopathic Change and Inflammatory Response of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Induced by Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts

Acanthamoeba castellanii has ubiquitous distribution and causes primary acanthamoebic keratitis (AK). AK is a common disease in contact lens wearers and results in permanent visual impairment or blindness. In this study, we observed the cytopathic effect, in vitro cytotoxicity, and secretion pattern of cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) induced by A. castellanii trophozoites and/or cysts. Morphological observation revealed that panked dendritic HCECs co-cultured with amoeba cysts had changed into round shape and gradually died. Such changes were more severe in co-culture with cyst than those of co-cultivation with trophozoites. In vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed the highest cytotoxicity to HCECs in the co-culture system with amoeba cysts. A. castellanii induced the expression of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL1 in HCECs. Secreted levels of IL-1α, IL-6, and IL-8 in HCECs co-cultured with both trophozoites and cysts were increased at an early incubation time (3 and 6 hr). These results suggested that cytopathic changes and pro-inflammatory cytokines release of HCECs in response to A. castellanii, especially amoebic cysts, are an important mechanism for AK development.

A bioactivity study of Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphosphate on human pulp cell / 대한치과보존학회지

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of beta-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of beta-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of beta-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM. Addition of beta-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM beta-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control. In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with beta-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.

A Priority Anti-collision Algorithm Based on RFID in Healthcare Environment / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Today, Korean medical community faces rapid changes in medical environment due to opening of medical market, more emphasis on making profit and introduction of private medical insurance. Therefore, it is apparent that around, major university hospitals, efforts are being made to adapt to such changes by establishing mid to long range strategic plans. We want to keep pace with changing times and diverse demand of patients by introducing state of the art system, utilizing Radio Frequency Identification and Ubiquitous Sensor Network technologies for improvements. In doing so, we want to distinguish our hospital services from others. However, Hospital Information System that integrates ubiquitous technologies are introduced in limited basis due to problems like standardization and limits on medical use, where responsibilities lie, legal safeguard on transmission, invasion of privacy etc. Particularly, problems like absence of tag design suitable for medical environment, compatibility issue with previous medical information system, and also, problems on sharing information with other organizations and patients need to be addressed on application of Radio Frequency Identification technologies. METHODS: In order to solve such problems, we have designed medical tags for the first time that are consistent with future ubiquitous environment by deciding on medically suitable field with 96bit tag offered by Electronic Product Code as its base. Second, improving on previous multi-tag recognizing crash prevention algorithm, we have designed a priority anti-collision algorithm that reflects priorities on the needs in medical environment, This means, by designing group bit that reflects priorities, this algorithm is able to recognize tags with faster priorities. RESULTS: For performance evaluation of proposed techniques, we have designed medical tags on 96 bit Philips U-code tag to store and to use medical information. A priority anti-collision algorithm showed superior performance than previous algorithm by recognizing tags with at least 4 times faster priorities. CONCLUSION: This study represented a priority anti-collision algorithm based on RFID in healthcare environment. we expected that the designed algorithm could provide high quality services in hospital.

Design and Implementation of an Effective Hospital System Based on an RFID and Web Service Technology / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Currently hospitals are working hard to make their hospital stand out from the rest in the medical market. The government is trying to hard to resolve the problem in regards to false claims for treatment expenses through issued medical prescriptions. There is a known limit to 1:1 service which needs much improvement. This proposed system will help prevent fake medical prescriptions from being issued. METHODS: In order to provide distinguished medical services for the next generation, we have designed and implemented a system that applies the Radio Frequency Identification standard, web services and mobile technology. RESULTS: In the proposed system, the Radio Frequency Identification card is issued to the patient and the hospital system can automatically recognize the patient and a simple SMS message will be sent. Through this method of communication 1:1 customer service can be accomplished. By applying the web services technology, any pharmacy can use the saved medical prescription code contained in the Radio Frequency Identification tag. This in turn resolves the systematic problems with illegal usage. CONCLUSION: Through this proposed system, we offer the functionality of easily applying the Radio Frequency Identification technology to various medical fields. By using a mobile device, it is possible to collect bio data remotely about a patient.

A Design of A Mobile Remote Monitoring PDA Prototype Base on Embedded Linux with Wireless LAN Environment / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Telemedicine uses common technologies that provide a conduit for information exchange between physicians nurses and patients. In addition to patient records, medical professionals can obtain vital signs and other reference data through telemedicine applications. also, recent advancement in RF technology and wireless communications has enabled the development of noble networks. Mobile telemedicine involves more than just communicating via mobile phone of PDA that sends and receives medical data on Portable Internet. METHODS: This paper describes the design of a mobile telemedicine PDA prototype based on Embedded Linux that can be used to monitor the medical information using a single board computer(SBC). RESULTS: The device hardware architecture consist of signal conditioning circuit, single chip micro-controller, LCD display and wireless network interface card(W-NIC). Embedded Linux was ported as its operating system and application software was developed QT/embedded 2.3.7. CONCLUSION: This system would be very useful for patients with chronic illness, especially in an emergent environment, and for containing medical cost in the aged society.

A Study on the Result Report System of the Donation of Blood Inspection using Mobile / 대한의료정보학회지

Recently, Wireless internet market has reached to the induction and growth stage by rapid development of Mobile service by fusion of Internet and wireless technology of communications. This paper improved the problem of a result report system of the donation of blood inspection which is delivered to the mail currently. We can confirm the result of the blood inspection to the execution. The user uses cellular phone taking the security of the individual into account. We used ASP language with WML and developed in this paper, Database used MS-SQL2000 Servr and Web server used a host server which offers Mnuri.

Correction of the Nasal Hump considering the Height of the Nasal Root

Oriental hump nose is characterized by mild degree of the hump, broad dorsum, low nasal height and drooping tip. Therefore, conservative humpectomy followed by either tip-plasty or augmentation rhinoplasty yields more satisfactory results than classical Joseph's nasal hump reduction. However, the degree of the hump as well as the length of the nose can be affected by the height of the nasal root. That is, if the nasal root is too low, the hump nose may stand out and the nose will seem longer than the actual measurements. We think that it is important to consider the height of the nasal root in the course of the nasal hump reduction. During the last 2 year periods, we have classified twenty eight patients with hump nose into three groups, low(group A: 7 patients), moderate(group B: six patients) and high(group C: fifteen patients), based on the nasal root height. Each group went through different operative procedures according to their nasal root height and favorable results were obtained.

Numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 and her2/neu gene amplification, her2/neu and p 53 protein expression in breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death attributable to cancer in women. In view of the limitations of conventional predictable factors of the breast cancer, additional second-generation parameters would be valuable in selecting the patients who would be most likely to be beneficial from adjuvant therapy and breast reconstruction. The author investigated the HER2/neu gene amplification and the number of chromosome 17 in 39 cases of paraffin embedded breast cancer tissues, 20 cases without lymph node metastasis and 19 cases with lymph node metastasis, using fluorescent in situ hybridization(FISH) and compared the results with HER2/neu and p 53 protein expression detected by immunohistochemical method. Eleven cases fibroadenoma were used as benign tumor control. Numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 were found in 17 out 39 breast cancer cases (44%)(monosomy in 10 cases, 26%; trisomy in 3 cases, 8%; tetrasomy in 3 cases, 8%; polysomy in 1 case ,3%), and the frequency of each type aberration was not significantly different between the negative and positive groups in lymph node metastasis. Monosomy of chromosome 17 was found in 2 out of 11(12%) fibroadenoma cases. HER2/neu gene amplification was found in 8 out of 39 cases (19%) and other 2 cases revealed HER2/neu gene amplification in lymph node metastatic tumor only, not in original tumor. Fourteen out of 19 cases of breast cancer with lymph metastasis showed HER2/neu protein expression both in original and metastatic tumors. All of the six cases showing HER2/neu gene amplification in original and/or metastatic tumor revealed HER2/neu protein expression. The frequency of HER2/neu gene amplification in the 39 breast cancer cases was not different between metastatic and non-metastatic groups(p= 0.284). However, HER2/neu protein expression was increased significantly in the metastatic group(p=0.028). None of the 11 fibroadenoma cases revealed HER2/neu gene amplification or HER2/ neu protein expression. Nine out of 19 cases of breast cancer with lymph node metastasis showed p 53 protein accumulation in original tumor(47%), but 3 of them revealed p 53 protein accumulation only in original tumor. The frequency of p 53 protein accumulation was not significantly different between metastatic and non-metastatic groups. None of the 11 fibroadenoma cases revealed p 53 protein accumulation. In conclusion, there are no differences between the lymph node metastatic group and non-metastatic groups in numerical aberrations of the chromosome 17 , amplification of the HER2/neu gene expression and accumulation of the p 53 protein in breast cancer. However, the HER2/neu protein expression was increased significantly in lymph node metastatic group, so it could be one of the predictors of the metastasis in breast cancer.

A clinical review of frontal sinus fracture

No abstract available.

Changes of immune response by immune modulators in burn injured rats

No abstract available.

Cyclodiathermy Effect on Post-inflammatory Obstructive Glaucoma

The treatment of pest-inflammatory obstructive glaucoma present difficult and anxious problems. In my case, before acute secondary glaucoma attack, in the region of pupil adhesions between the iris and capsule of the lens was about 3/4 of total pupillary zone and goneoscopically mild grade one peripheral anterior synechia was noted about 6 o'clock area of right eye. But intraocular pressure was normal limit. Ten years after binocular chronic anterior uveitis treatment, right eye suddenly developed .acute anterior uveitis signs and symptoms with 60 mmHg(IOTA). After secondary glaucoma with uveitis of right eye developed, uveitis treatment and diamox and oral glycerol was not controlled intracoular pressure: Intracular pressure was over 30 mmHg (IOTA) against medical treatment for two weeks. After medical treatment for two weeks, intracoular pressure was not controlled because of post-inflammatory obstructive glaucoma developed. During the acute inflammatory phase of right eye, where an iridectomy, a transfixation of iris and filtrating operation is thought to be hazardous because of intraocular surgery. I want to control post-inflammatory obstructive glaucoma without intraocular surgery such as iridectomy or filtrating operation. By the method of cyclodiathermy, the ball type electrode was applied to the inferion half sclera along an arc 6 mm to 8 mm from the limbus at about 15 place several millimeter apart. After 4 months of cyclodiathermy applied, intraocular pressure has been about 18 mHg(IOTA) for 3 months and naked visual acuity of right eye is 0.6.

A Simplified way to Remove the Head of Pterygium

The etiology of pterygium has given rise to much discussion, innumerable factors has been inculpated. Surgical treatment with beta radiation is at present thc only satisfactory approach, but no surgical technique is universally accepted as being perfect. Recurrences of pterygium are distressing, for the pterygium grows again at a rapid pace and may scon become as large or larger than the original growth. A multiple of different operative techniques has been advocated, but excision of the head of pterygium from the cornea has not been discussed. Author have excised the head of pterygium from limbus to corneal side. Author's method is much more easily and clearly excised than excision of its head from cornea to limbal side.

Therapeutic Uses of T-lens (Soflens) in Bullous Keratopathy

21 patients suffering from bullous keratopathy were fitted with T-Iens (Soflens) continuously for average 12 months without adverse effect. The T-Iens (Soflens) produced dramatic relief of ocular pain occurred in 9 patients among the 12 paitents. The T-Iens (Soflens) produced mild clinical improvement of vesicle. visual auity and corneal edema.

Influence of a Soft Contact Lens (Soflens) on the Penetration of 24NaCI and 3H Cortisol Solution into the Anterior Chamber

A soft contact lens is used not only for the correction of refractive errors, but also for therapeutic purpose. Soft contact lens is hydrophilic, it takes up and releases medicaments so that it promotes and prolongs the penetration of drugs through the cornea. It has been also recently report!,!d that a soft lens increases pressure lowering effect in pilocarpine therapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the penetration rate of drugs immersed into a soft contact lens (Soflens) through the cornea. In this study the authors used 24NaCl and [3H] cortisol solution on the rabbit cornea with or without Soflens. The results were as follows: 1. During four hours following the administration of 24NaCl the pent ration rate into the anterior chamber when Soflens, immersed in 24NaCl solution for 2 minutes was applied, showed 2.4 times higher than that of topical instillation. In topical instillation, the Soflens group revealed a higher penetration rate (1.6 times) than non-Soflens group. It was revealed that Soflens promoted the penetration of 24NaCl solution into the anterior chamber of rabbits. 2. Intracorneal penetration of 24NaCl solution was 1.5 times higher in topical instillation in the Soflens group than the non-Soflens group. Meanwhile, the highest penetration (2.2 times) was noted in the group of Soflens which were soaked in 24NaCl solution. The highest concentration in the iris (1.5 times) was noted in the soaked Soflens group. 3. In topical instillation of cortisol solution in the group of Soflens without treatment and the group of Soflens immersed in cortisol solution showed much lower penetration rates into the anterior chamber with 0.9 and 0.5 times than those of the topical instillation group. Based on the above results, it is clear that Soflens does not always promote the penetration of drugs into the anterior chamber. The drug-sponging effect is supposed to very according to various factors such as solubility, molecular weight of drug and physico-chemical properties of a soft con tact lens.

The Change of the Permeability of the Rabbit Corneal Endothelium in Various Storage Time

It is well known that a successive corneal graft depends primarily on the corneal endothelial viability The standard eye-bank method for the preserving donor's corneal tissue for transplantation is moist storage at 4 degrees C. The purpose of this study is to determine the change in permeabilty of the rabbit corneal endothelium for the purpose of evaluating the possible change in the endothelia] viability after varying duration of storage time ranging from 6 hours to 7 days in a moist chamber at 4 degrees C. To fully describe the permeability, the author measured the two main coefficient, hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and reflection coefficient(sigma(NaCI)). In this study, the hydraulic conductivity of the rabbit corneal endothelium increased graduaIly during the first 3 days of storage time and then progressively decreased. Reflection coefficient was 0.4 on the first and second day and then decreased progressively. Both the hydraulic conductivity and the reflection coefficient showed a marked decrease on the 7th day of storage. Therefore, it is clear that the rabbit corneal endothelial cells almost lost their viability and function as physical barrier mechanism on the 7th day of storage. A comparison of the result of this permeability with those of other methods (N B T corneal endothelial staining and electron microscopic etc.) was discussed.

The Change of the Permeability of the Rabbit Corneal Endothelium in Various Storage Time

It is well known that a successive corneal graft depends primarily on the corneal endothelial viability The standard eye-bank method for the preserving donor's corneal tissue for transplantation is moist storage at 4 degrees C. The purpose of this study is to determine the change in permeabilty of the rabbit corneal endothelium for the purpose of evaluating the possible change in the endothelia] viability after varying duration of storage time ranging from 6 hours to 7 days in a moist chamber at 4 degrees C. To fully describe the permeability, the author measured the two main coefficient, hydraulic conductivity (Lp) and reflection coefficient(sigma(NaCI)). In this study, the hydraulic conductivity of the rabbit corneal endothelium increased graduaIly during the first 3 days of storage time and then progressively decreased. Reflection coefficient was 0.4 on the first and second day and then decreased progressively. Both the hydraulic conductivity and the reflection coefficient showed a marked decrease on the 7th day of storage. Therefore, it is clear that the rabbit corneal endothelial cells almost lost their viability and function as physical barrier mechanism on the 7th day of storage. A comparison of the result of this permeability with those of other methods (N B T corneal endothelial staining and electron microscopic etc.) was discussed.

Ocular Manifestations related to Systemic Diseases: A statistic report for ocular manifestations related to systemic diseases in year of 1968

Authors were reviewed clinically for the patients who revealed ocular manifestations related to systemic diseases in year of 1968 (Table 1). The incidence of ocular changes related to systemic diseases (Table 2, 3, and 4), and ocular mansfestations of various systemic diseases such as infectious diseases, allergic diseases, endocrine diseases, nutritional and metabolic, central nerve system, cardiovascular diseases, hematopoietic diseases and connective tissue disorders (Table 5 to 22) were statistically and clinically observed in many respects. We observed some interesting cases such as macular edema (OU, aged 22, male) related to epidemic homorrhagic fever, monocular pseudoptosis in ocular conversion reaction and optic nerve atrophy (OU, aged 34, female) in toxemia.

A Case of Keratomycosis Caused by Fusarium Species

One case of fungus infection of the cornea, which led to enucleation, is reported. The fungus of Fusarium species was demonstrated on culture media and microscopic examination. The necessary for awareness of mycotic infections of the cornea, especially in antibiotic or/and cortisone topical treated eyes, is stressed.