Gal alpha(1-3)Gal expression of the cornea in vitro, in vivo and in xenotransplantation.

Background: To investigate alpha Gal (Gal alpha1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc-R) expression of the porcine cornea in vitro, in vivo and after xenotransplantation.

Methods: Using the GS-IB4 lectin (Griffonia simplifolia I isolectin B4), the expression of alpha Gal was evaluated in the normal porcine cornea and in cultured corneal stromal and endothelial cells of the second passages. The distribution of alpha Gal epitopes was also evaluated in corneal grafts at 4, 7 and 10 days after pig-to-rat orthotopic corneal transplantation.

Alteration of the quaternary structure of human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase by a double mutation.

There are conflicting views for the polymerization process of human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) and no clear evidence has been reported yet. Based on crystal coordinates for Streptococcus pyogenes UGDH, we made double mutant A222Q/S233G. The double mutagenesis had no effects on expression, stability, and secondary structure.

Serial CT findings of Paragonimus infested dogs and the Micro-CT findings of the worm cysts.

Objective: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P.

Gefitinib-induced pneumonitis in non-small cell lung cancer: radiological and clinical findings in five patients.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the radiological and clinical features of gefitinib-induced pneumonitis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Five patients who suffered dyspnea after gefitinib treatment were selected. Chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) findings, along with clinical course, were evaluated.

The changes of posterior corneal surface and high-order aberrations after refractive surgery in moderate myopia.

Purpose: To compare forward shift of posterior corneal surface and higher-order aberration (HOA) changes after LASIK, LASEK, and wavefront-guided LASEK surgery in moderate myopia

Methods: One hundred eighty four eyes undergoing LASIK, LASEK and wavefront-guided LASEK with VISX STAR S4 were included in this study. The posterior corneal elevation was measured with Orbscan before, 2 and 4 months after surgery. Changes of the elevation were assessed using the difference map generated from preoperative and postoperative elevation maps.

Comparison of observer performance on soft-copy reading of digital chest radiographs: high resolution liquid-crystal display monitors versus cathode-ray tube monitors.

The purpose of this study is to compare observer performance for detection of abnormalities on chest radiographs with 5-megapixel resolution liquid-crystal displays (LCD) and 5-megapixel resolution cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors under bright and subdued ambient light conditions. Six radiologists reviewed a total of 254 digital chest radiographs under four different conditions with a combination of two types of monitors (a 5-megapixel resolution LCD and a 5-megapixel resolution CRT monitor) and with two types of ambient light (460 and 50 lux). The abnormalities analyzed were nodules, pneumothorax and interstitial lung disease.

The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients admitted for coronary angiography to evaluate ischemic heart disease.

Background: Most of the known risk factors associated with ischemic heart disease are based on studies from Western countries; there is only limited information on Korean populations. This study was designed to analyze age related differences in epidemiologic and clinical characteristics in patients who were admitted for coronary angiography for the evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

Methods: As part of the multicenter KCAR (Korean Coronary Artery disease Registry) Study, the clinical data of 6,549 patients, who were evaluated at the cardiac catheterization laboratory by coronary angiography, at seven university hospitals in Korea from March 1999 to December 2005, were registered into the KCAR database and analyzed.

Screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic average-risk Koreans: analysis in relation to age and sex.

Background And Aims: Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is rising in Asian countries, there are no guidelines for its screening in this region due in part to the lack of epidemiological data regarding colorectal neoplasms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in average-risk Koreans and to assess the effectiveness of screening colonoscopy in Korea.

Methods: The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms was assessed by primary screening colonoscopy in 5,086 consecutive asymptomatic adults (males 70.

The efficacy of an acrylic intraocular lens surface modified with polyethylene glycol in posterior capsular opacification.

To investigate if the surface modification of intraocular lens (IOL) is efficient in the prevention of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), the acrylic surface of intraocular lens (Acrysof) was polymerized with polyethylene glycol (PEG-IOL). The human lens epithelial cells (1 x 10(4) cells/mL) were inoculated on PEG grafted or unmodified acrylic lenses for the control. The adherent cells on each IOL surface were trypsinized and counted.

CTA contrast enhancement of the aorta and pulmonary artery: the effect of saline chase injected at two different rates in a canine experimental model.

Objective: To investigate the effect of saline chase injected at 2 different rates on computed tomography (CT) angiography.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by our institutional animal study committee. Three injection protocols were used; contrast injection (24 mL, 0.

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration with hemorrhagic infarction in an adult.

Symptomatic extralobar pulmonary sequestration in adults is thought to be extremely rare. We present a case of an extralobar pulmonary sequestration, with infarct, in a 28-year-old woman who complained abrupt onset of chest pain. Chest computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in the left paraspinal area, medial to the left lower lobe, and serial chest radiographs revealed increasing pleural effusion.

Focal interstitial fibrosis manifesting as nodular ground-glass opacity: thin-section CT findings.

The purpose of this study was to describe the thin-section computed tomographic (CT) features of focal interstitial fibrosis manifesting as nodular ground-glass opacity (GGO) and its changes during follow-up. The thin-section CT findings of pathologically proven focal interstitial fibrosis manifesting as nodular GGO were retrospectively evaluated in nine patients (five women and four men; mean age, 59.3 years; age range, 34-81 years).

Nodular ground-glass opacity at thin-section CT: histologic correlation and evaluation of change at follow-up.

The popularization of computed tomography (CT) in clinical practice and the introduction of mass screening for early lung cancer with the use of CT have increased the frequency of findings of subtle nodules or nodular ground-glass opacity. Nodular ground-glass opacity may be observed in malignancies such as bronchioloalveolar carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, as well as in their putative precursors, such as atypical adenomatous hyperplasia. Nodular ground-glass opacity also may be seen in the presence of benign conditions, including focal interstitial fibrosis, inflammation, and hemorrhage.

Protective effect of uridine on cornea in a rabbit dry eye model.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of uridine on cultured human corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes in vitro and to evaluate whether the application of uridine-containing eye drops could improve ocular surface health in an in vivo dry eye model.

Methods: Uridine was added to cultured epithelial cells (3 x 10(4) cells/well) and keratocytes (1 x 10(4) cells/well) at various concentrations (0.5-50 microM).

Nodular ground-glass opacities on thin-section CT: size change during follow-up and pathological results.

Objective: To evaluate the inter-group differences in growth and the pathological results of nodular ground-glass opacities (GGOs) according to their size and focal solid portions.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-six nodular GGOs in 55 individuals followed by CT for at least one month from an initial chest CT were included. Forty nodular GGOs in 30 individuals were pathologically confirmed to be: adenocarcinoma (n = 15), bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) (n = 11), atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) (n = 8), focal interstitial fibrosis (n = 5) and aspergillosis (n = 1).

Determination of optimal timing window for pulmonary artery MDCT angiography.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the optimal timing window for pulmonary artery MDCT angiography.

Subjects And Methods: We prospectively studied 150 patients. Routine chest CT scans were acquired using 1.

[The determinants of adolescent smoking by gender and type of school in Korea].

Objectives: This study assessed the influences of various factors that are related to youth smoking such as gender, age and type of school, and we wanted to provide supporting data for tailored and effective policy initiatives to reduce adolescent smoking.

Methods: A self-report survey was conducted on 14,910 teen-age students who were selected based on the nationwide distribution of students in large and small cities and counties, the gender ratio of the students and the ratio of students attending various type of school at 38 middle and high schools in six representative areas of each province. The survey was handled and managed by a health education teacher at each school.

Expression, purification, crystallization, and preliminary X-Ray analysis of the human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase.

UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) catalyzes the synthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid from UDP-glucose resulting in the formation of proteoglycans that are involved in promoting normal cellular growth and migration. Overproduction of proteoglycans has been implicated in the progression of certain epithelial cancers. Here, human UGDH (hUGDH) was purified and crystallized from a solution of 0.

Identification of OmpU of Vibrio vulnificus as a fibronectin-binding protein and its role in bacterial pathogenesis.

Vibrio vulnificus is a pathogenic bacterium that causes gastroenteritis and primary septicemia. To identify factors involved in microbial adherence to the host cells, we investigated bacterial proteins capable of binding to fibronectin, one of the main components comprised of the extracellular matrix of mammalian cells. A protein of approximately 35 kDa was purified from the extracts of V.

CT analysis of the anterior mediastinum in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Objective: We wanted to determine whether the amount and shape of the anterior mediastinal fat in the patients suffering with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) was different from those of the normal control group.

Materials And Methods: We selected patients who suffered with UIP (n = 26) and NSIP (n = 26) who had undergone CT scans. Twenty-six controls were selected from individuals with normal CT findings and normal pulmonary function tests.

PLD2 forms a functional complex with mTOR/raptor to transduce mitogenic signals.

Mammalian target-of-rapamycin (mTOR), which is a master controller of cell growth, senses a mitogenic signal in part through the lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA), generated by phospholipase D (PLD). To understand further which isozymes of PLD are involved in this process, we compared the effect of PLD isozymes on mTOR activation. We found that PLD2 has an essential role in mitogen-induced mTOR activation as the siRNA-mediated knockdown of PLD2, not of PLD1, profoundly reduced the phosphorylations of S6K1 and 4EBP1, well-known mTOR effectors.

CT findings of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in the lung.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the computed tomographic (CT) findings of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) in the lung.

Materials And Methods: The CT findings of AAHs in eight patients were retrospectively reviewed. The CT findings of each AAH lesion were evaluated for multiplicity, location, shape, size and internal density of the lesion, the interface between the normal lung and the lesion, the internal features within the lesion and any change of the lesion on the follow-up CT scans (range: 33 to 540 days; average: 145.

The value of computed tomography for predicting empyema-associated malignancy.

Objective: To determine the value of computed tomography (CT) scanning in detecting associated malignancy in patients with chronic empyema.

Methods: Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed CT scans of 112 consecutive patients with chronic empyema and arrived at a consensus about the findings. Among these patients, 6 were confirmed by pathology evaluation to have empyema-associated malignancy (EAM), including 4 lymphomas.

Three-dimensional MDCT imaging and CT esophagography for evaluation of esophageal tumors: preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to determine whether multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging, including CT esophagography (CTE), can be used as a comprehensive imaging test for esophageal tumors. Twenty-three patients with esophageal neoplasms underwent MDCT with esophageal distension and endoscopy. Of them, 20 underwent barium study.