An analysis of contributing factors of head and neck space infections of odontogenic origin: A long-term retrospective clinical study (including COVID-19 pandemic period).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate predisposing factors for the head and neck infections (HNIs), regarding to the demographic data, anatomical spaces, microbiology and antibiotic sensitivity for affected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 13-year of retrospective study evaluating 470 patients with HNIs, treated as inpatient management in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of KyungHee University school of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea, from January 2009 to February 2022. Statistical analysis of demographic, time-related, anatomic, microbiologic, and treatment variables were investigated for each patient. RESULTS: The frequency of HNIs was significantly higher in 50's in males, followed by 70's in females. High Severity score (SS) were significantly associated with increased LOH (Length of hospital stay) and LOM (Length of medication), while LOH showed more intensive relationship compared with LOM. The most frequently involved space in abscess was submandibular space, though incidence and severity of HNIs shows declining tendency throughout 13-year research. Streptococcus viridans was the most predominant species isolated from pus culture growth, and a combination of ampicillin and sulbactam was the 1st choice of antibiotics intravenously. According to the comparison analysis between recommended antibiotics from resistance testing result and clinically administered antibiotics, final coincidence rate was estimated about 55%. CONCLUSIONS: Due to HNIs being multifactorial, predicting progression and management of HNIs is still a challenge for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The present study showed several predisposing factors of SHNIs and their correlations, which could contribute to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment planning for clinicians, thereby leading to the improvement of prognosis for patients, ultimately.

Persistent Palatal Ulcerations. A Potential Manifestation of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Oral ulcerations in children and adolescents is a common occurrence and affects about 20-30% of this population. This case report describes a unique and serious autoimmune condition that presented with distinct oral findings that significantly supported the differential diagnosis of Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a 15 year-old female. Pediatric and general dentists should familiarize themselves with the condition to facilitate diagnosis with collaborative efforts with the medical team.

Efficacy of polymers from spontaneous carotenoid oxidation in reducing necrotic enteritis in broilers.

This study evaluated the preventive effect of the spontaneous oxidation of ß-carotene (OxC-beta) in broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis by Clostridium perfringens taking into consideration various parameters including clinical signs, body weight, intestinal lesion severity, and bacterial enumeration. The mean body weight of the OxC-beta treatment groups increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to that of the C. perfringens challenge group. Intestinal lesion scores due to C. perfringens infection were significantly alleviated by OxC-beta treatment (P < 0.05), and the number of clostridial bacteria in intestine was reduced by OxC-beta in a dose-dependent manner. OxC-beta in feed contributes to the prevention of necrotic enteritis in commercial broiler chicken, and has a positive effect in improving productivity.

Production of mycelia and exo-biopolymer from molasses by Cordyceps sinensis 16 in submerged culture.

The molecular weight of exo-biopolymer obtained from a submerged culture of Cordyceps sinensis 16 consisted of a main unit and a subunit of 126 and 68 kDa, respectively. The optimal medium for the production of mycelia and exo-biopolymer was determined to be molasses containing 2% sucrose, 0.9% yeast extract, 0.3% K2HPO4, and 0.4% CaCl2. Using optimized medium, maximum productions of mycelia and exo-biopolymer in shake-flask culture were 54.0 g/L and 28.4 g/L, respectively. This study suggests that large-scale production of mycelia and exo-biopolymer by C. sinensis 16 is possible in submerged culture.

Scaffold development using selective laser sintering of polyetheretherketone-hydroxyapatite biocomposite blends.

In tissue engineering (TE), temporary three-dimensional scaffolds are essential to guide cell proliferation and to maintain native phenotypes in regenerating biologic tissues or organs. To create the scaffolds, rapid prototyping (RP) techniques are emerging as fabrication techniques of choice as they are capable of overcoming many of the limitations encountered with conventional manual-based fabrication processes. In this research, RP fabrication of solvent free porous polymeric and composite scaffolds was investigated. Biomaterials such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and hydroxyapatite (HA) were experimentally processed on a commercial selective laser sintering (SLS) RP system. The SLS technique is highly advantageous as it provides good user control over the microstructures of created scaffolds by adjusting the SLS process parameters. Different weight percentage (wt%) compositions of physically mixed PEEK/HA powder blends were sintered to assess their suitability for SLS processing. Microstructural assessments of the scaffolds were conducted using electron microscopy. The results ascertained the potential of SLS-fabricated TE scaffolds.

Evaluation of developmental toxicity in rats exposed to the environmental estrogen bisphenol A during pregnancy.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an essential component of epoxy resins used in the lacquer lining of metal food cans, as a component of polycarbonates, and in dental sealants. The present study was conducted in an attempt to evaluate the adverse effects of the environmental estrogen BPA on initiation and maintenance of pregnancy and embryofetal development after maternal exposure during the entire period of pregnancy in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test chemical was administered by gavage to mated females from days 1 to 20 of gestation (sperm in varginal lavage = day 0) at dose levels of 0, 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg. All females were subjected to caesarean section on day 21 of gestation and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities. In the 1000 mg/kg group, significant toxic effects including abnormal clinical signs, decreased maternal body weight and body weight gain, and reduced food consumption were observed in pregnant rats. An increase in pregnancy failure was also found in the successfully mated females. In addition, increased number of embryonal deaths, increased postimplantation loss, reduced litter size and fetal body weight, and decreased number of fetal ossification centers of several skeletal districts were seen. On the contrary, no significant changes induced by BPA were detected in the number of corpora lutea and implantation sites and by fetal morphological examinations. In the 300 mg/kg group, suppressed maternal body weight and body weight gain, decreased food intake and reduced body weight of male fetuses were seen. There were no adverse signs of either maternal toxicity or developmental toxicity in the 100 mg/kg group. It was concluded that BPA administration during the entire period of pregnancy in rats produced pregnancy failure, pre- and postimplantation loss, fetal developmental delay and severe maternal toxicity, but no embryo-fetal dysmorphogenesis at an oral exposure level of 1000 mg/kg.

Differential absorption and distribution of epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor in diabetic NOD mice.

Previous studies have shown that absorption of growth factors occurs through the gastrointestinal tract and the oral cavity. The non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model for spontaneous development of type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), was evaluated for the absorption and systemic distribution of growth factors. Radiolabeled epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor, type I (IGF-I), were administered by gavage into the stomach or by lozenge into the sublingual vasculature of either diabetic or nondiabetic mice. After a time-dependent uptake, the levels of absorption and distribution through the tissues were measured. A similar time course of EGF absorption following gavage administration was determined for NOD and C57BL/6 mice, with a maximum tissue distribution by 30-min post infusion. Diabetic NOD mice showed similar levels of IGF uptake and tissue distribution compared with nondiabetic NOD and normal healthy C57BL/6 mice, whether administered by gavage or sublingual lozenge. On the other hand, gavage uptake and tissue distribution of EGF was significantly higher in diabetic mice when compared to sublingual administration in nondiabetic NOD or C57BL/6 healthy control mice. These findings suggest that the overall potential uptake and distribution of saliva-derived growth factors in systemic wound-healing processes is retained with diabetes onset, and may offer a new avenue to treating this complication of diabetes.

Inactivation of microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase by 2-chloroethylethyl sulfide.

Exposure of liver microsomes to 2-chloroethylethyl sulfide (CEES) led to a dose-dependent decrease of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. Studies on a structural requirement and a time dependence suggest that the enzyme inhibition may proceed via an instantaneous process involving an alkylation by an unstable intermediate, presumably a sulfonium form. It is noteworthy that the microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase was more sensitive to CEES than the Na+/K(+)-ATPase from erythrocyte membranes. The Ca(2+)-ATPase was inhibited non-competitively by CEES, and its inhibitory action was independent of Ca2+ concentrations. The involvement of membrane phospholipid in the enzyme inhibition is excluded, since the temperature dependence of microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase was not affected by CEES. Moreover, Triton X-100-solubilized Ca(2+)-ATPase was inactivated by the compound to the same extent as the membrane-bound enzyme was. Thus, it is suggested that CEES inactivates Ca(2+)-ATPase by alkylating the enzyme molecule at a region other than the active site.

The bacterial flora of non-carbonated, natural mineral water from the springs to reservoir and glass and plastic bottles.

Quantitative and qualitative determinations of the bacterial flora of non-carbonated natural mineral water at the most important steps during bottling at a large water source yielded the following results: (i) Colony counts (on 1:10 diluted plate count agar, incubated at 20 degrees C for 14 days) for water of the five springs and the mixed water were less than 1 to 4 cfu ml-1. The Gram-negative bacterial flora (n = 50 isolates) showed a very different but constant spring specific species distributions with predominance of either eutrophic fluorescent pseudomonads, oligotrophic non-fluorescent pseudomonads or oligotrophic yellow bacteria. (ii) In the reservoir and immediately after bottling the counts were in the range of 10 cfu ml-1. But nearly 30% of the species of the spring water were no longer detectable and there was a significant increase of Gram-positive bacteria. (iii) After 1 week of storage at 20 degrees C colony counts of more than 10(5) cfu ml-1 were found in plastic bottles, but only about 10(4) cfu ml-1 in glass bottles. Besides, a very distinct change of the composition of the microflora occurred. In glass bottles slow-growing oligotrophic non-fluorescent pseudomonads, yellow bacteria and Acinetobacter predominated. In plastic bottles fast-growing eutrophic and mesotrophic fluorescent pseudomonads, Flexibacter and Acinetobacter were dominating. In mineral water, bottled into thoroughly cleaned glass bottles, colony counts of more than 10(5) cfu ml-1 were found within 4 days. In bottles, cleaned mechanically as usual, the increase was significantly slower with a maximum of only 5 x 10(3) cfu ml-1 after 8 days. The results of inoculation experiments in sterile filtered mineral and distilled water led to the suggestion that the difference between the two types of bottles is caused firstly by an inhibition of growth due to residues of cleaning detergents in the glass bottles. Growth promotion by dissolved organic substances in the plastic bottles only played a minor role. After repairing of the pump at a depth of 300 m in a warm mineral water spring, the colony counts at 20, 37 and 42 degrees C on 1:10 diluted and normal plate count agar increased beyond the limits required by the EC directive for mineral water stored a month. Then colony counts decreased slowly and reached the initial level after 1 year, except for the colony counts 1:10 diluted agar at 20 degrees C which stabilized at a relatively high number and a significant alteration of the microflora.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Matrix² coils in embolization of intracranial aneurysms: 1-year outcome and comparison with bare platinum coil group in a single institution.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The endosaccular occlusion by using BPC has been useful in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, but its limited durability remains a deep-seated drawback. The Matrix² coil, one of the bioactive-coated coils, had been developed to improve this limited durability. To evaluate durability of Matrix² coils after embolization of intracranial aneurysms, we retrospectively compared 1-year outcomes with that of BPC groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 121 aneurysms in 114 patients were embolized by using Matrix² coils between April 2006 and September 2008. The BPC group consisted of 151 aneurysms in 137 patients embolized by using BPCs alone between October 2007 and October 2008. The initial outcomes including packing densities, occlusion grades, and periprocedural complications, and the 1-year outcomes on MR angiography were retrospectively compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The Matrix² coil group and BPC group with similar baseline demographic characteristics revealed comparable initial outcomes. The rates of overall recurrence, major recanalization, and retreatment were 17.4%, 14.0%, and 10.7% versus 7.3%, 5.3%, and 4.6%, respectively (P = .066). However, the rates of subgroups with aneurysm volumes between 50 and 200 mm³ were 23.7%, 13.1%, and 10.5% versus 2.2%, 0%, and 0% (P = .022), respectively. The rates of subgroups with packing attenuation <30% were 38.3%, 31.9%, and 23.4% versus 13.3%, 11.7%, and 10% (P = .025), respectively. There were no differences in packing attenuation (P = .152), initial occlusion grade (P = .098), and 1-year outcomes (P = .209) according to the length of Matrix² coils used. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, initial and 1-year outcomes of the Matrix² coil group were comparable to those of the BPC group. However, in certain subgroups of aneurysm volume and packing attenuation, the 1-year durability of Matrix² coils was inferior to that of the BPC group.

Percutaneous insertion of Zilver stent in malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical efficacy and technical feasibility of the percutaneously inserted self-expandable nitinol stent (Zilver stent) for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS: Seventeen patients with malignant tumors involving the intra- or extrahepatic bile duct who presented with obstructive jaundice underwent percutaneous insertion of a self-expandable nitinol stent. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of patients and evaluated the technical feasibility on stent placement, complications, patient survival, and duration of stent patency. RESULTS: Percutaneous biliary stenting with 27 Zilver stents was performed in 17 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Technical success was 95%. Malposition of the stent was encountered in one patient. Minor technical problems were encountered in two patients: the introducer tip was broken during stent insertion, so endoscopic removal was done. Mean follow-up period for the 17 patients was 182 days (range 29-485 days): nine patients died of progressive disease at a mean follow-up of 151 days (range 61-371days) after stent insertion and eight patients remained alive at the final follow-up of 216 days (range 29-485 days). The median survival period for all patients was 277 days. The stent occlusion rate was 26% and the mean patency period was 280 days. In five patients, seven stents were obstructed by tumor ingrowth and overgrowth. Stent patency rates were 100%, 100%, 75%, 61%, and 41% at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. A late complication, erosive bleeding of the hepatic artery by the stent, developed in one patient. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous biliary stenting using the nitinol stent is technically feasible and safe and clinically efficacious treatment for malignant biliary obstruction, even with a minor technical problem during stent insertion.

Isolation and partial characterization of a 5'-nucleotidase specific for orotidine-5'-monophosphate.

A previously unknown 5'nucleotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.5) (5'-Nase) specific for orotidine 5'-monophosphate (OMP) hs been discovered. This enzyme orotidine 5'-monophosphate phosphohydrolase (OMPase), was isolated from mouse liver microsomes as a separate entity from the nonspecific 5'-Nase. OMPase was partially purified and is shown to cleave OMP to orotidine and inorganic phosphate. The enzyme has negligible activity towards UMP, CMP, dTMP, AMP, IMP, GMP, XMP, 6-azauridine 5'-monophosphate, 1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbarbituric acid 5'-monophosphate (BMF), 2'-UMP, 3'-UMP, 2'-AMP, 3'-AMP, ribose 5-phosphate and beta-glycerophosphate, all of which--with the exception of the 2' or 3' monophosphates, ribose 5'-phosphate, and beta-glycerophosphate--are substrates for 5'-Nase. Both enzymes are inhibited by NaF, but only OMPase is inhibited by SF reagents. OMPase is not inhibited by orotidine, orotate, BMP, concanavalin A, or tetramisole (an alkaline phosphatase inhibitor). OMPase had a Mr 53,000, Km value of 1 mM for OMP, and Vmax value of 49 nmol/min . mg of protein at the present stage of purification. OMPase activity has also been detected in various mammalian tissues including normal human tissues, human tumor xenografts, lymphocytes, and rat liver. OMPase may be responsible, in part, for the low levels of intracellular "free" OMP and for orotidine accumulation in cells treated with 6-azauridine and patients suffering from aortic aciduria.

Progress in understanding autoimmune exocrinopathy using the non-obese diabetic mouse: an update.

Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by histological and functional alterations of salivary and lacrimal glands that result in a severe dryness of the mouth and the eyes. The etiology of SS has remained undefined despite investigators' significant efforts to identify the mechanisms of initiation. Based on histopathology, several animal models are available--such as MRL/lpr, NZW/NZB, NFS/sld, graft vs. host, transgenic mouse expressing viral surface antigen, and the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse--for investigation of the etiology of SS. Biochemical and immunological similarities between human SS and autoimmune exocrinopathy (AEC) in the NOD mouse, including the loss of secretory function, establish the NOD mouse as an appropriate model to unravel the underlying pathophysiology of SS. Recently, several NOD congenic partner strains have been developed to investigate the roles of genetic intervals, cytokines, and autoantibodies in the disease pathogenesis. Studies on NOD-scid suggest that the pathogenesis of SS occurs in two phases: an asymptomatic phase, in which epithelial cells of exocrine tissues undergo dedifferentiation accompanied by elevated apoptosis; and a second phase in which autoaggression is mounted against target organ autoantigens, resulting in the activation of T- and B-cells, and the generation of autoantibodies. The presence of autoantibodies on the cell-surface signaling receptor, the muscarinic(3) receptor, in both SS patients and the NOD mice correlates with the hallmark clinical symptom of secretory dysfunction. Additionally, the NOD mouse model provides an important example of how both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, as well as non-immune genetic loci, are involved in the maintenance of and progression to the overt disease state. Ultimately, analysis of these data provides insight into potentially novel therapeutic interventions.

Properties of acetylcholinesterase reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) purified from mouse brain was reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge, and the properties of liposome-associated AChE were investigated. Relative to the Km value (38.5 microM) of AChE bound to a neutral liposome, the value of AChE reconstituted in a negatively-charged liposome decreased to 23.3 microM, whereas that of AChE in a positively-charged liposome increased to 90.9 microM. Additionally, AChE bound to a positively-charged liposome expressed a wider range of optimum pH than the enzyme in a negatively-charged liposome. In a stability study, it was found that soluble AChE was unstable at pH 5.5 and 7.4, while it was relatively stable at pH 10. Noteworthy, the immobilization of AChE to liposome enhanced the stability of soluble enzyme at acidic and neutral pH. Moreover, in the stabilization of the enzyme, a neutral liposome was more effective than charged liposomes, of which a positively-charged liposome was more effective than a negatively-charged liposome at acidic pH. Based on these results, it is proposed that while the Km value and the pH dependence of AChE activity are affected by the charge of liposome, the stability of AChE is determined mainly by a hydrophobic binding to a phospholipid membrane.

Ten-year pathological study of Beall mitral valve prostheses.

Detailed pathological studies are reported on 20 cloth-covered Beall mitral valve prostheses, which had to be removed for valve failure nine months to 10 years after implantation. Results in all patients except one indicated that there was a progressive and persistent granulomatous reaction that continued up to at least 10 years. Although the rate of tissue ingrowth into the valve decreased with time, the total volume of tissue formation increased. Cloth wear and disruption and deformity of the teflon discs was frequently seen. In these 20 valves the desired result--namely, the complete and smooth endothelialisation of the prosthesis--was certainly not achieved.

A dual role for interferon-gamma in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy in the nonobese diabetic mouse.

Sjogren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy (AEC) in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse progresses from a preimmune phase to an immune phase, resulting in dry mouth and/or dry eyes. In the present study, the impact of the prototypical T-helper type 1 cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), on the onset of AEC was investigated using both the IFN-gamma and the IFN-gamma receptor gene knockout mice, NOD.IFN-gamma(-/-) and NOD.IFN-gammaR(-/-), respectively. Neither the NOD.IFN-gamma(-/-) nor the NOD.IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice exhibited increased acinar cell apoptosis and abnormal salivary protein expression, typically observed in parental NOD mice prior to disease. Without these preimmune phase abnormalities, NOD.IFN-gamma(-/-) and NOD.IFN-gammaR(-/-) mice showed no subsequent autoimmune responses against the salivary glands at 20 weeks. Interestingly, real-time polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays suggested that IFN-gamma and STAT1, as well as the transcriptional activity of STAT1 in NOD glands, were increased at birth. Unlike the neonatal submandibular glands of NOD or NOD-scid mice that show abnormal glandular morphogenesis at birth, the submandibular glands of the newly constructed congenic strain, NOD-scid.IFN-gamma(-/-), were found to be normal. Taken together, IFN-gamma appears to play a critical role not only during the later immune phase of AEC, but also the early preimmune phase, independent of effector functions of immune cells. How exactly IFN-gamma functions during this period remains speculative.

Posterior capsular opacification in phacotrabeculectomy : a long-term comparative study of silicone versus acrylic intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term outcomes of silicone versus acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in phacotrabeculectomy (PT) with special emphasis on posterior capsular opacification. DESIGN: Long-term follow-up on prior 1-year prospective, randomized study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 200 eyes of 200 consecutive primary open-angle glaucoma patients who had undergone primary PT with capsular bag implantation of either a silicone IOL (102 eyes) or an acrylic IOL (98 eyes) according to the initial short-term prospective, randomized study protocol. INTERVENTION: The study eyes underwent primary trabeculectomy, phacoemulsification, and posterior chamber IOL implantation. Adjunctive mitomycin C was used selectively, primarily in patients with one or more risk factors for filtration failure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of posterior capsular opacification (PCO), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), number of pressure-lowering medications, and filtration success rates, defined as maintenance of target IOP while on one (criteria 1) or zero (criteria 2) pressure-lowering medications without further surgical intervention. RESULTS: At 3-year follow-up, the PCO rate and BCVA did not differ significantly between the two groups (P: > 0.05 for both). In addition, there were no significant differences in IOP, number of medications, and filtration success rate between the two groups (P: > 0.05 for each). CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant long-term differences between the silicone and acrylic IOL groups in PCO, BCVA, IOP, number of medications, and success of filtration surgery after PT. Both groups attained significant improvement in BCVA and IOP control after surgery.

Alleles from chromosomes 1 and 3 of NOD mice combine to influence Sjögren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy.

OBJECTIVE: NOD mice exhibit at least 2 overlapping autoimmune diseases: autoimmune endocrinopathy (Type I, insulin dependent diabetes) and autoimmune exocrinopathy (Sjogren's syndrome, SS). To date, 18 chromosomal regions have been identified that contribute to development of diabetes in NOD mice; however, genetic mapping of similar susceptibility loci for autoimmune exocrinopathy is just beginning. We investigated if these 2 autoimmune diseases share a genetic predisposition. METHODS: Congenic partner strains of NOD and C57BL/6 mice containing defined genetic intervals influencing susceptibility to diabetes (Idd) were screened for histological and biochemical markers for their effect on the development of SS-like disease. Saliva flow rates, protein concentration, amylase activity, and cysteine protease activity were evaluated. RESULTS: In contrast to the nonsusceptible parental C57BL/6 strain, C57BL/6.NOD Idd5 congenic partner strain, containing a genetic region derived from chromosome 1 of the NOD mouse, exhibited pathophysiological characteristics of autoimmune exocrinopathy. Replacement of individual diabetes susceptibility intervals Idd3, Idd5, Idd13, Idd1, and Idd9, as well as a combination of the Idd3, Idd10, and Idd17 intervals, with resistance alleles had little effect on development of autoimmune exocrinopathy. Conversely, NOD mice, in which the chromosome regions containing both Idd5 and Idd3 have been replaced by intervals derived from C57BL mice, exhibit a reduced pathophysiology associated with SS-like autoimmune exocrinopathy. CONCLUSION: Alleles on chromosomes 1 (Idd5) and 3 (Idd3) in combination appear to greatly influence susceptibility and resistance to development of autoimmune exocrinopathy. The association with certain Idd, but not other Idd loci, indicate that genetic overlap is present but probably not inclusive.

Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography in clinically equivocal acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: To establish the value of saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography in the the diagnosis of clinically equivocal acute appendicitis. METHODS: Saline-filled ultrasonography was performed in 43 patients with an equivocal clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. RESULTS: Sonography diagnosed 31 of 32 patients without acute appendicitis (97%). A normal appendix was visualized in 15 patients (47%), and we identified a normal appendix in 15 of 22 patients (68%) in whom the colon was cleansed with Golytely(R). Sonography diagnosed 10 of 11 patients with acute appendicitis (91%). In three of 10 patients, the findings corresponded to sonographic pitfalls. CONCLUSION: Saline-filled appendiceal ultrasonography enables the detection of a normal appendix and may overcome sonographic pitfalls in acute appendicitis.