Tumor immune microenvironment is influenced by frameshift mutations and tumor mutational burden in gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: Immunoscore can effectively predict prognosis in patients with colon cancer; however, its clinical application is limited. We modified the Immunoscore and created a tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) classification system for gastric carcinoma. Unlike previous studies that used small sample sizes or focused on particular immune-cell subtypes, our simplified system enables pathologists to classify gastric carcinomas intuitively using H&E-stained sections. METHODS: Samples from 326 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were reviewed and analyzed by pathologists using simple determination and digital image analysis. Comprehensive results of cancer-panel sequencing, Epstein-Barr‒virus (EBV) status, and PD-L1, HER2, ATM, PTEN, MET, FGFR2, and EGFR immunohistochemistry were evaluated with respect to the TIM class. RESULTS: The TIM was classified as "hot" (n = 22), "immunosuppressed" (n = 178), "excluded" (n = 83), or "cold" (n = 43). TIM category was significantly associated with numbers of frameshift mutations (P < 0.001) and high tumor mutational burden (P < 0.004), and predicted overall survival. It was also significantly associated with age, histological type, degree of fibrosis, PD-L1 expression, loss of ATM and PTEN expression (P < 0.001), sex, EBV positivity, and HER2 overexpression (P < 0.04). "Hot" tumors were frequent in PD-L1 expressing and EBV-positive samples, and in those with ATM and PTEN loss. "Excluded" tumors were frequent in HER2-positive cases, whereas "cold" tumors were more frequent in younger patients with poorly cohesive histology and high fibrosis levels. CONCLUSIONS: TIM classification system for gastric carcinoma has prognostic significance and results in classes that are associated with molecular characteristics.

Percutaneous nephrostomy placement in infants and young children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinical effectiveness of ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) placement in infants and young children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2015, 57 patients had a total of 66 fluoroscopically guided PCN placement procedures. There were 37 boys and 20 girls with a mean age 8.6±15.3 (SD) months (range: 1 day-75.5months). The most common underlying disease was upper-urinary-tract obstruction, including ureteropelvic-junction stenosis (27/66, 40.9%) and ureterovesical-junction stenosis (16/66, 24.2%). Technical success, complications, clinical effectiveness, and radiation exposure were retrospectively analyzed. Technical success was defined as completion of PCN catheter in the renal calyx or proximal ureter. Complications were graded in severity using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event (version 4.03). Clinical effectiveness was evaluated with presence of decompression of the hydronephrosis on follow-up ultrasonography. RESULTS: All PCN placement procedures were technically successful. A total of 37 complications were identified in 33/37 procedures (89.2%), with transient gross hematuria (n=28) being most common (mean hematuria duration 2.2±1.4 [range: 1-6] days), which were grade 1 Postprocedural fever occurred after eight procedures; four and three patients were graded 1 and 2, respectively. Complete hydronephrosis decompression was achieved in 35/53 kidneys (66%), incomplete hydronephrosis decompression in 17/55 kidneys (32.1%), and progression of hydronephrosis was noted in 1/55 kidney (1.9%). Dose-area-product (DAP) was 44.86±89 (SD) (range: 3.7-464) µGycm2 and cumulative dose was 10.3±20.4 (SD) (range: 0.3-97.9) mGy. CONCLUSION: PCN is a feasible and effective treatment option to relieve urinary obstruction, and can serve as a bridging procedure until definitive corrective surgery in pediatric patients.

Identification of major dietary patterns in Korean adults and their association with cancer risk in the Cancer Screening Examination Cohort.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cancer is the primary cause of disease-related death in Korea. The purposes of this study were to confirm the major dietary patterns and to evaluate whether there were associations between these identified dietary patterns and the risk of cancer based on data from the Cancer Screening Examination Cohort (CSEC) 2004-2008 of the National Cancer Center (NCC) of Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 8 024 subjects who completed a written survey on demographics and lifestyles, as well as a 3-day dietary record. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis using the principal component analysis method. The associations between the identified dietary patterns and cancer risk were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 9.0 years, 425 cancer cases were newly diagnosed. We identified 4 major dietary patterns ('rice and kimchi', 'vegetables and fish', 'fruits and dairy', and 'meats and sweets'). There was a negative relation between 'rice and kimchi' pattern and the risk of non-gastrointestinal cancers only (highest vs. lowest tertile; multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio=0.60, 95% confidence interval=0.41, 0.88). The 'fruits and dairy' pattern tended to decrease the risk of cancer, and the preventive effect was noted only for gastrointestinal cancer risk. However, there was no association after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional dietary pattern with high consumption of rice, kimchi, soybean paste and vegetables may decrease the cancer risk among Koreans, and strategies based on the dietary pattern may effectively reduce the cancer risk.

PIN1 Suppresses the Hepatic Differentiation of Pulp Stem Cells via Wnt3a.

This study aimed to investigate the role of PIN1 on the hepatic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and its signaling pathway, as well as the potential therapeutic effects of hDPSC transplantation and PIN1 inhibition on CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. The in vitro results showed that hepatic differentiation was suppressed by infection with adenovirus-PIN1 and promoted by PIN1 inhibitor juglone via the downregulation of Wnt3a and ß-catenin. Compared with treatment with either hDPSC transplantation or juglone alone, the combination of hDPSCs and juglone into CCl4-injured mice significantly suppressed liver fibrosis and restored serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and ammonia. Collectively, the present study shows for the first time that PIN1 inhibition promotes hepatic differentiation of hDPSCs through the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Furthermore, juglone in combination with hDPSC transplantation effectively treats liver fibrosis, suggesting that hDPSC transplantation with PIN1 inhibition may be a novel therapeutic candidate for the treatment of liver injury.

Effects of cilostazol on the pharmacokinetics of carvedilol after oral and intravenous administration in rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of cilostazol on the pharmacokinetics of carvedilol following oral or intravenous administration of carvedilol in rats. Clinically carvedilol and cilostazol can be prescribed for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Carvedilol and cilostazol are all substrates of CYP2C9 enzymes. Carvedilol was administered orally or intravenously without or with oral administration of cilostazol to rats. The effects of cilostazol on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 activity and P-gp activity were also evaluated. Cilostazol inhibited CYP2C9 activity in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 8.7 µM. Compared with the control group, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of carvedilol was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 38.0%. The peak concentration (C(max)) was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 49.2% in the presence of cilostazol after oral administration of carvedilol. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of carvedilol was increased by 1.15 - 1.38-fold, and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of carvedilol in the presence of cilostazol was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of the control. After intravenous administration, the AUC of carvedilol was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 19.2% compared to that in the control by cilostazol. These results suggest that cilostazol effectively inhibited the metabolism of carvedilol. The increased oral bioavailability of carvedilol might be due to the inhibition of CYP2C9-mediated metabolism of carvedilol in the liver by cilostazol.

Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans in children: CT features that predict responsiveness to pulse methylprednisolone.

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy (IPMT) is an important treatment option for post-infectious obliterative bronchiolitis (OB), although it must be used carefully and only in selected patients because of its drawbacks. This study evaluated whether CT and clinical features of children with post-infectious OB can predict their responsiveness to IPMT. METHODS: We searched the medical records for patients (less than 18 years of age) who were diagnosed with post-infectious OB between January 2000 and December 2011. 17 children who received IPMT were included in this study. All underwent chest CT before and after IPMT. The radiological features seen on pre-treatment CT were recorded. The air-trapping area percentages on pre- and post-treatment CT images were determined. The nine patients who exhibited decreased air trapping on post-treatment CT scans relative to pre-treatment scans were classed as responders. The patient ages and time from initial pneumonia to IPMT were recorded. RESULTS: All responders and only four non-responders had thickened bronchial walls before treatment (p = 0.029). The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis or the extent of air trapping, although the responders had a significantly shorter median interval between initial pneumonia and IPMT (4 vs 50 months; p = 0.005) and were significantly younger (median, 2.0 vs 7.5 years; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Immediate IPMT may improve the degree of air trapping in children with post-infectious OB if they show a thickened bronchial wall on CT. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Children with post-infectious OB may respond favourably to IPMT when pre-treatment CT indicates bronchial-wall thickening.

PIN1 inhibition suppresses osteoclast differentiation and inflammatory responses.

Inflammatory responses and osteoclast differentiation play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of osteolytic bone diseases such as periodontitis. Although overexpression or inhibition of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) offers a possible therapeutic strategy for chronic inflammatory diseases, the role of PIN1 in periodontal disease is unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate PIN1 expression in periodontitis patients as well as the effects of PIN1 inhibition by juglone or PIN1 small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and of PIN1 overexpression using a recombinant adenovirus encoding PIN1 (Ad-PIN1) on the inflammatory response and osteoclastic differentiation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and nicotine-stimulated human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). PIN1 was up-regulated in chronically inflamed PDLCs from periodontitis patients and in LPS- and nicotine-exposed PDLCs. Inhibition of PIN1 by juglone or knockdown of PIN1 gene expression by siRNA markedly attenuated LPS- and nicotine-stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production, as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, whereas PIN1 overexpression by Ad-PIN1 increased it. LPS- and nicotine-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation was blocked by juglone and PIN1 siRNA but increased by Ad-PIN1. Conditioned medium prepared from LPS- and nicotine-treated PDLCs increased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-stained osteoclasts and osteoclast-specific gene expression. These responses were blocked by PIN1 inhibition and silencing but stimulated by Ad-PIN1. Furthermore, juglone and PIN1 siRNA inhibited LPS- and nicotine-induced osteoclastogenic cytokine expression in PDLCs. This study is the first to demonstrate that PIN1 inhibition exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and blocks osteoclastic differentiation in LPS- and nicotine-treated PDLCs. PIN1 inhibition may be a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory osteolysis in periodontal disease.

Influence of stereopsis and abnormal binocular vision on ocular and systemic discomfort while watching 3D television.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the degree of three-dimensional (3D) perception and ocular and systemic discomfort in patients with abnormal binocular vision (ABV), and their relationship to stereoacuity while watching a 3D television (TV). METHODS: Patients with strabismus, amblyopia, or anisometropia older than 9 years were recruited for the ABV group (98 subjects). Normal volunteers were enrolled in the control group (32 subjects). Best-corrected visual acuity, refractive errors, angle of strabismus, and stereoacuity were measured. After watching 3D TV for 20 min, a survey was conducted to evaluate the degree of 3D perception, and ocular and systemic discomfort while watching 3D TV. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty subjects were enrolled in this study. The ABV group included 49 patients with strabismus, 22 with amblyopia, and 27 with anisometropia. The ABV group showed worse stereoacuity at near and distant fixation (P<0.001). Ocular and systemic discomfort was, however, not different between the two groups. Fifty-three subjects in the ABV group and all subjects in the control group showed good stereopsis (60 s of arc or better at near), and they reported more dizziness, headache, eye fatigue, and pain (P<0.05) than the other 45 subjects with decreased stereopsis. The subjects with good stereopsis in the ABV group felt more eye fatigue than those in the control group (P=0.031). The subjects with decreased stereopsis showed more difficulty with 3D perception (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The subjects with abnormal stereopsis showed decreased 3D perception while watching 3D TV. However, ocular and systemic discomfort was more closely related to better stereopsis.

Distant metastasis of intraosseous dentinogenic ghost cell tumour to the donor site of a bone graft.

A dentinogenic ghost cell tumour (DGCT) is an extremely rare odontogenic tumour which is considered as a solid, neoplastic variant of calcifying odontogenic cyst. Intraosseous DGCTs are more aggressive than extraosseous DGCTs and have a high propensity for local recurrence. This report describes a case of a diagnosis of recurrent DGCT at the primary site and a distant donor site. A 25-year-old female patient visited a dental hospital for a complaint of facial swelling for the previous month. Incisional biopsy was performed and the specimen was diagnosed as DGCT. Partial mandibulectomy for tumour resection and iliac bone graft was performed. 2 years later, the tumour recurred on the mandible and iliac bone. The recurrent lesion on the donor site was diagnosed as metastasized DGCT. This report highlights the possibility of distant metastasis occurring at a graft donor site.

Effects of curcumin on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its active metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, in rats: possible role of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein inhibition by curcumin.

The effects of curcumin, a natural anti-cancer compound, on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, were investigated in rats. Tamoxifen and curcumin interact with cytochrom P450 (CYP) enzymes and P-glycoprotein, and the increase in the use of health supplements may result in curcumin being taken concomitantly with tamoxifen as a combination therapy to treat or prevent cancer. A single dose of tamoxifen was administered orally (9 mg x kg(-1)) with or without curcumin (0.5, 2.5 and 10 mg x kg(-1)) and intravenously (2mg x kg(-1)) with or without curcumin (2.5 and 10 mg x kg(-1)) to rats. The effects of curcumin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 activity were also evaluated. Curcumin inhibited CYP3A4 activity with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 2.7 microM. In addition, curcumin significantly (P < 0.01 at 10 microM) enhanced the cellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 in MCF-7/ADR cells overexpressing P-gp in a concentration-dependent manner. This result suggested that curcumin significantly inhibited P-gp activity. Compared to the oral control group (given tamoxifen alone), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-infinity)) and the peak plasma concentration (C(max)) of tamoxifen were significantly (P < 0.05 for 2.5 mg x kg(-1); P < 0.01 for 10 mg x kg(-1)) increased by 33.1-64.0% and 38.9-70.6%, respectively, by curcumin. Consequently, the absolute bioavailability of tamoxifen in the presence of curcumin (2.5 and 10 mg x kg(-1)) was 27.2-33.5%, which was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05 for 2.5 mg x kg(-1); P < 0.01 for 10 mg x kg(-1)) compared to that in the oral control group (20.4%). Moreover, the relative bioavailability of tamoxifen was 1.12- to 1.64-fold greater than that in the control group. Furthermore, concurrent use of curcumin significantly decreased (P < 0.05 for 10 mg x kg(-1)) the metabolite-parent AUC ratio (MR), implying that curcumin may inhibit the CYP-mediated metabolism of tamoxifen to its active metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen. The enhanced bioavailability of tamoxifen by curcumin may be mainly due to inhibition of the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of tamoxifen in the small intestine and/or in the liver and to inhibition of the P-gp efflux transporter in the small intestine rather than to reduction of renal elimination of tamoxifen, suggesting that curcumin may reduce the first-pass metabolism of tamoxifen in the small intestine and/or in the liver by inhibition of P-gp or CYP3A4 subfamily.

Recurrent odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma (OGCC) at a reconstructed fibular flap: a case report with immunohistochemical findings.

Odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma (OGCC), a malignant counterpart of the odontogenic ghost cell tumor (OGCT), with aggressive growth characteristics, is exceedingly rare. A painful swelling in the jaw with local paresthesia is the most common symptom. We described a case of 47-year Korean woman who had a rare central epithelial odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma which recurred at reconstructed fibular flap. Immunohistochemical differences between OGCT and OGCC analyzed using primary and recurred surgical specimen. On the basis of this case, the tumor started as an OGCT and transformed into OGCC with highly aggressive, rapidly growing, infiltrative tumors. Our findings suggest that some of the cytokines produced by ghost cells may play important roles in causing extensive bone resorption in the odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma. Wide local excision with histologically clean margins is the treatment mode of selection. Also, we recommend close long-term surveillance of OGCT because of high recurrence and potential for malignancy transformation.

Dietary patterns and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean women.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The role of dietary patterns in metabolic syndrome has not been adequately investigated in Asian women. We aimed to identify dietary patterns and to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between dietary patterns and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean women. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a cross-sectional study of 4984 women aged 30-79 years, dietary patterns were derived from 16 food groups using factor analysis. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program (ATPIII NCEP) criteria as having three or more risk factors using a modified obesity index. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between dietary pattern and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Three dietary patterns (Western, healthy and traditional) were identified. Higher consumption of the healthy pattern was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (OR [95% CI] for highest vs. lowest quartile: 0.58 [0.50-0.91]; P for trend = 0.012) and most components of metabolic syndrome. In a stratified analysis by menopausal status, the inverse association of the healthy dietary pattern and metabolic syndrome was statistically significant only among postmenopausal women (OR [95% CI] for highest vs. lowest quartile: 0.60 [0.40-0.86]; P for trend = 0.004). The Western and traditional patterns showed no association with metabolic syndrome, but were related to some individual risk factors for metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the healthy dietary pattern is associated with a reduced risk for metabolic syndrome in Korean women, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Effect of dietary soy intake on breast cancer risk according to menopause and hormone receptor status.

BACKGROUND: Although high soy consumption may be associated with lower breast cancer risk in Asian populations, findings from epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of soy intake on breast cancer risk among Korean women according to their menopausal and hormone receptor status. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study with 358 incident breast cancer patients and 360 age-matched controls with no history of malignant neoplasm. Dietary consumption of soy products was examined using a 103-item food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The estimated mean intakes of total soy and isoflavones from this study population were 76.5 g per day and 15.0 mg per day, respectively. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, we found a significant inverse association between soy intake and breast cancer risk, with a dose-response relationship (odds ratios (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for the highest vs the lowest intake quartile: 0.36 (0.20-0.64)). When the data were stratified by menopausal status, the protective effect was observed only among postmenopausal women (OR (95% CI) for the highest vs the lowest intake quartile: 0.08 (0.03-0.22)). The association between soy and breast cancer risk did not differ according to estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) status, but the estimated intake of soy isoflavones showed an inverse association only among postmenopausal women with ER+/PR+ tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that high consumption of soy might be related to lower risk of breast cancer and that the effect of soy intake could vary depending on several factors.

The ultrastructural changes of tendon axonal profiles of medial rectus muscles according to duration in patients with intermittent exotropia.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural changes of tendon axonal profiles of medial recti in patients with intermittent exotropia at different ages. In addition, we compared the patterns of degeneration with those of secondary exotropia over time. METHODS: Thirteen patients, with different ages, with exotropia who had undergone surgery were included in this study and divided into two groups. Eight patients had intermittent or constant exotropia; their age ranged from 6 to 45 years and they had exotropia since childhood without amblyopia, these patients were assigned to group A. The other five patients with sensory exotropia ranged in age from 15 to 52 years; they did not have exotropia until a visual insult and had poor vision in one eye, these patients were assigned to group B. All patients had the medial recti resected (3-5.5 mm) to obtain tissue samples. All specimens were examined with an electron microscope. RESULTS: Schwann cell degeneration was observed with increased neurofilament density, axonal vacuoles and hydropic swelling of the Schwann cells in two patients less than 10 years of age in group A. The other six patients were more than 10 years of age in group A, and it was not possible to identify the tendon axonal profiles or neural structures in the medial recti specimens of these patients. For group B, all patients had intact proprioceptor structures including Schwann cells. However, the collagen diameter decreased and density increased within the capsule according to the duration of exotropia. CONCLUSION: Schwann cell degeneration of tendon proprioceptors in the medial rectus might induce the degeneration of proprioceptors in patients with intermittent exotropia over time.

The difference in muscle slippage according to scleral suture techniques in rectus muscle resection of rabbit eyes.

PURPOSES: To investigate the degree of muscle slippage according to scleral suture techniques in extraocular muscle resection of rabbit eyes. METHODS: Twenty eyes from 10 rabbits (20 superior rectus muscles) were divided into four groups according to scleral suture techniques. The types of scleral suture technique used for the four groups were as follows: group 1--double-arm mattress suture technique without midline suture; group 2--double-arm mattress suture technique with midline suture; group 3--long scleral tunnel suture technique without midline suture; and group 4--long scleral tunnel suture technique with midline suture. Five superior rectus muscles were assigned to each group and they underwent resection with 6-0 prolene using one of the four suture techniques. The degree of muscle slippage was measured 3 months after the surgery, defined as the distance between the prolene materials at the centre of muscle insertion and the pre-placement suture. RESULTS: The mean degree of muscle slippage for treatment groups 1-4 was 2.3+/-0.62, 1.0+/-0.27, 1.5+/-0.45, 0.5+/-0.46 mm respectively. Group 1 had significantly more muscle slippage than groups 2-4 (P=0.006, P=0.046, P=0.001 respectively). Group 4 had the least slippage among the four groups, while group 3 had significantly more slippage than group 4 (P=0.009). The differences between groups 2 and 3 and between groups 2 and 4 were not statistically significant (P=0.083, P=0.077 respectively). CONCLUSION: Long scleral suture technique is more effective method than double-arm mattress suture technique for the prevention of muscle slippage in rectus muscle resection. The addition of a midline suture of rectus muscle was helpful in the prevention of muscle slippage.

Surgical outcomes of intermittent exotropia associated with concomitant hypertropia including simulated superior oblique palsy after horizontal muscles surgery only.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and obtain guideline of treatment in intermittent exotropia associated with hypertropia including simulated superior oblique palsy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 93 patients of intermittent exotropia aligned with horizontal muscle surgery only, who showed hypertropia more than 2 PD in primary gaze before surgery and disappeared after surgery. They showed forveal extorsion and dysfunction of oblique muscles of 2+ or less and positive Bielschowsky head tilt test. The postoperative changes of deviation angle were analysed at postoperative 1 day, 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: Average amount of distant horizontal deviation in primary gaze was 32.3+/-9.58 (25-53) PD, hypertropia was 3.50+/-2.52 (2-14) PD. Average vertical deviation of ipsilateral (hypertropic eye) side was 8.8+/-4.63 PD and contralateral (hypotrophic eye) side was 4.0+/-4.77 PD in Bielschowsky head tilt test. Hypertropic eye was accorded with exotropic eye in 53.4%. After horizontal surgery, the amount of hypertropia was 1.2 PD at postoperative 1 day. On Bielschowsky head tilt test, hypertropia was almost eliminated showing 0.6 PD on the ipsilateral side and 0.2 PD on the contralateral eye at 1 month. This state was maintained up to postoperative 1 year. CONCLUSION: Small amount of hypertropia up to 14 PD in intermittent exotropia could be disappeared with horizontal muscle surgery only. However, careful examinations for head tilt history, fovea extorsion, oblique dysfunction, and Maddox rod test should be preceded to rule out true superior oblique palsy.

Mediastinal interfaces and lines in children: radiographic-CT correlation.

BACKGROUND: Various mediastinal interfaces and lines are well known in adults, but not fully understood in children. OBJECTIVE: To review the mediastinal interfaces and lines on plain radiographs in the paediatric age group with CT correlation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Soft copies of 195 sets of CT examinations and concurrent chest radiographs in 180 paediatric patients (age 1 month to 15 years) were retrospectively reviewed. The frequency of visualisation and the anatomical basis of the mediastinal interfaces and lines were assessed. The evaluated mediastinal interfaces and lines were superior vena cava interface, descending aorta interface, left paraspinal interface, azygoesophageal recess interface, right paratracheal stripe, anterior junction line and posterior junction line. RESULTS: Chest radiographs showed the SVC interface in 161, the descending aorta interface in 155, the left paraspinal interface in 98, the azygoesophageal recess in 94, the right paratracheal stripe in 53, the anterior junction line in 15 and the posterior junction line in 10. Non-visualisation of mediastinal interfaces and lines on plain radiographs was explained by normal anatomical difference compared with the adult and underlying intrathoracic abnormalities when they were correlated with CT. The frequency of visualisation of the SVC interface, descending aortic interface, left paraspinal interface and azygoesophageal recess fluctuated with age, while the frequency of the right paratracheal stripe, anterior junction line and posterior junction line increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the frequency of visualisation and the anatomical basis of the mediastinal interfaces and lines in paediatric patients may be helpful for interpretation of chest radiographs.

Fabrication of butyrylcholinesterase sensor using polyurethane-based ion-selective membranes.

A simple method of enzyme immobilization was investigated which is useful for fabrication of enzyme sensors based on polymeric ion-selective membranes. The enzyme membrane was built by coating a thin hydrophilic polyurethane (HPU) film directly mixed with an enzyme over an underlying polyurethane (PU)-based ion-selective membrane. This highly simple method of enzyme immobilization was applied to the fabrication of a potentiometric butyrylcholinesterase-based biosensor for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides. The enzyme was well entrapped within the HPU film and the intrinsic potentiometric response of the underlying ion-selective PU membrane was not influenced significantly by the outer HPU/enzyme membrane. The enzyme electrode was optimized by changing systematically the composition of the enzyme membrane to evaluate the effect of the changes on sensor response. The sensor was successfully applied to the analysis of paraoxon, an organophosphorus pesticide.