Distribution of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 alleles in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

This study was performed to investigate the association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and susceptibility to sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the Korean population. HLA-A and HLA-B typing using a standard microlymphocytotoxicity technique and HLA-DRB1 genotyping were performed in 35 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and in 206 healthy controls. Prednisone (usual dose 60 mg/day) was administered for 6 days and tapered for an additional 4-6 days.

Incidence and significance of demonstrating the meniscofemoral ligament on MRI.

The aim was to evaluate how often MRI can detect the meniscofemoral ligament and if there is any relationship with the presence of lateral meniscal tears. Sagittal and coronal MR images of 138 patients with arthroscopically proven meniscal tears were included in this study. MR images were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of a meniscofemoral ligament and a lateral meniscal tear.

Combined analysis of germline polymorphisms of p53, GSTM1, GSTT1, CYP1A1, and CYP2E1: relation to the incidence rate of cervical carcinoma.

Background: The authors established the genotype frequencies of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1/MspI, CYP2E1/PstI, and CYP2E1/DraI), glutathione-S-transferase (GSTM1 and GSTT1), and p53 (exon 4/AcclI and intron 3/16-base pair duplication) gene polymorphisms in cervical carcinoma patients and controls and evaluated the association between the specific genotype or genotype combinations of these polymorphisms and the risk of cervical carcinoma.

Methods: In this case-control study, the genotypes of 181 human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 or HPV-18 positive cervical carcinoma patients and 1-to-1 age-matched controls were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-based technique.

Results: Among these polymorphisms, the individuals carrying arginine/proline genotypes of p53 showed a 9.

Hormone replacement therapy in women with pre-existing hyperpigmented lesions.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine whether skin pigmentation is darkened after hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Methods: The color of hyperpigmentary lesions and control sites before and after 1, 2, and 3 months of HRT was measured.

Results: All of the three tested sites showed no significant pigment alteration in 3 months of follow up after starting HRT (P>0.

CD40 engagement on synovial fibroblast up-regulates production of vascular endothelial growth factor.

We tested the impact of CD40 engagement on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from rheumatoid synovial fibroblasts. Fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) were prepared from the synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis patients and cultured in the presence of CD40 ligand-transfected (CD40L+) L cells. VEGF levels were determined in the culture supernatants by ELISA.

AAC-11 overexpression induces invasion and protects cervical cancer cells from apoptosis.

To identify the genes involved in cervical carcinogenesis, we applied the mRNA differential display (DD) method to analyze normal cervical tissue, cervical cancer, metastatic lymph node, and cervical cancer cell line. We cloned a 491-bp cDNA fragment, CC231, which was present in metastatic tissue and cervical cancer cell line, but absent in normal cervical and cervical cancer tissues. The 491 bp cDNA fragment has 98% homology to the previously published sequence, AAC-11 (antiapoptosis clone 11).

Mutations of hepatitis C virus 1b NS5A 2209-2248 amino acid sequence is not a predictive factor for response to interferon-alpha therapy and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Genetic changes between codons 2209 and 2248 of NS5A of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV-1b) have been reported to be associated with the sensitivity to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The present study was performed to analyze such relationship in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCV-1b (n=19), including 12 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-alpha, 3 chronic hepatitis C patients without treatment as controls, and 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Two serum samples, before and after the treatment, were analyzed for the mutations by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing.

Balloon catheter dilation in common canalicular obstruction of the lacrimal system: safety and long-term effectiveness.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and long-term effectiveness of balloon catheter dilation in the treatment of common canalicular obstruction of the lacrimal system.

Materials And Methods: Fluoroscopically guided dilation with a 3-mm-diameter balloon catheter was attempted in 195 eyes of 148 patients (26 men, 122 women; mean age, 57 years; age range, 33-78 years) with epiphora due to common canalicular obstruction. Eighty-four of 195 eyes had complete obstruction, and 111 had partial obstruction.

Microsatellite instability and mutations of E2F-4 in hepatocellular carcinoma from Korea.

It has been suggested that genetic changes in cancers are related to genomic instability. To evaluate a possible correlation between growth-regulatory genes and genomic instability in HCC, we investigated microsatellite instability and mutations of TGF-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) and E2F-4 genes in each pair of tumor and surrounding nontumor liver tissues, collected from 19 patients with HCC. By the identification of mutations in six different genetic loci (D1S170, D2S123, D4S395, D13S126, D13S260, and D16S402), one or more alterations in microsatellite markers were identified in 13/19 (68%) hepatocellular carcinoma specimens.

Screening method for detecting staphylococci with reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin.

The incidence of infections caused by staphylococci with decreased susceptibility to teicoplanin (MIC>/=8 microg/ml) is increasing, but the disk diffusion test has difficulty detecting this low level of resistance. In addition, detection is complicated because of the heterogeneous phenotypes for teicoplanin. In this study, we evaluated an agar screening method to detect staphylococci with decreased susceptibility to teicoplanin or heterogeneous resistance.

Corneal ectasia detected after laser in situ keratomileusis for correction of less than -12 diopters of myopia.

We report 2 cases of corneal ectasia detected after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of less than -12.0 diopters (D) of myopia. Patients were evaluated before and after LASIK by corneal topography and pachymetry.

Shunt-independent surgical treatment of middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts in children.

The best operative intervention for children with arachnoid cysts remains the subject of controversy. Recent reports stress that craniotomy for cyst fenestration is associated with a low incidence of morbidity and mortality and may leave the child shunt-independent. Among a total of 66 intracranial arachnoid cysts operated on in the authors' department from 1985 to 1997, 44 cases (67%) were located in the middle cranial fossa.

Comparison between pediatric and adult neurosurgery: management and future perspectives. Tethered cord syndrome, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis.

With creation of the many subdivisions within the field of neurosurgery, neurosurgeons have taken on different roles. It is important for neurosurgeons to understand all the different subjects involved to enable them to build up long-term goals in patient management and research. As pediatric neurosurgeons, the authors give accounts of three characteristic diseases encountered in pediatric patients: spinal dysraphism with tethered cord syndrome, hydrocephalus, and craniosynostosis.

Long-term follow-up of shunting therapy.

Ventricular CSF shunting surgery has changed the overall outcome figures for hydrocephalic patients over the past three decades. The factors that have improved the outcome are evolution of the shunt systems, improvement of the surgical environment and use of potent antibiotics, technological advances in brain imaging, and refinements in the assessment of cognitive and functional outcomes and of actuarial statistical techniques. But the recent large studies revealed that nearly half of all shunt placements were for revision, and there is a low but real percentage of cases in which death and neurological impairment are related to shunt surgery.

Effect of resection velocity and suction ring on corneal flap formation in laser in situ keratomileusis.

Purpose: To determine the effects of microkeratome-cutting velocities and the suction ring on corneal flap creation.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Methods: Procedures were performed under clinical settings in 65 pig eyes.

Altered distribution of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia during radiation therapy.

The radiographic findings of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) are various. The typical findings are diffuse, bilateral, symmetric, finely granular, or reticular infiltrates. In patients taking aerosol pentamidine, atypical findings may be the first manifestation.

Chondroblastoma: MR characteristics with pathologic correlation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the MR findings of chondroblastoma with pathologic correlation.

Method: In 22 patients with pathologically proven chondroblastoma, MR signal characteristics were correlated with pathological findings.

Results: On T2-weighted images, 12 (55%) lesions were hyperintense with hypointense areas in 9 lesions, whereas 10 (45%) were hypointense.

Diffuse and focal adenomyosis: MR imaging findings.

Adenomyosis is a common gynecologic disorder that affects women during their menstrual life. Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained in 45 patients with pathologically proved adenomyosis who underwent hysterectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Diffuse adenomyosis was seen in 30 cases (66.

Staging of early endometrial carcinoma: assessment with T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR imaging.

This study evaluated the usefulness of T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images correlated with patients' menopausal status in assessing the depth of myometrial invasion in stage I endometrial carcinoma. MR images of 46 patients with stage I endometrial carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-five patients were premenopausal, and 21 were postmenopausal.

Corneal perforation during laser in situ keratomileusis.

Two cases of corneal perforation that occurred during laser ablation but not during flap formation in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) are reported. In the first case, no problem in flap formation occurred, and stromal bed thickness was assumed to be about 239 microns after laser application. However, a stromal bed perforation was found when 608 pulses were applied (theoretical ablation depth was 140 microns).

Corneal flap thickness in laser in situ keratomileusis using an SCMD manual microkeratome.

Purpose: To evaluate corneal flap thickness in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and to measure variables correlated with corneal flap thickness.

Setting: Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Adenovirus-mediated p53 tumor suppressor gene therapy against subcutaneous HuH7 hepatoma cell line nodule of nude mice.

Mutations of the tumor-suppressor gene p53 have been found in 30-50% cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, E1-negative adenoviral vector encoding wild-type p53 under the control of the human cytomegalovirus promoter (AdCMV-p53w) was constructed to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy against tumor nodules developing after injection of HuH7 cell lines in ten nude mice. When each nodule had reached 10 mm in perpendicular diameter, 1.