PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the qualities of the four different processing chemicals(solutions). MATERIALS AND METHODS: With EP 21 films(Ektaspeed plus film, Kodak Co., USA), nine unexposed and nine exposed films of a step wedge were processed utilizing automatic film processor(XR 24, Durr Co., Germany) for 5 days. During 5 days, the total number of processed films including out-patient's intraoral films were about 400-500 for each brand. Base plus fog density, film density, contrast of processed films were measured with densitometer(model 07-443 digital densitometer, Victoreen Co., USA). These measurements were analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: The results were as follows, 1. For the base plus fog density, there was significant difference among the four chemicals (p<0.05). The sequence of the base plus fog densities was in ascending order by Kodak, X-dol 90, Agfa and Konica. 2. For the film density, all chemicals showed useful range of photographic densities(0.25-2.5). The sequence of the film densities was in ascending order by Kodak, X-dol 90, Konica and Agfa. But there was no statistically significant difference of film density between X-dol and Kodak (p<0.05). 3. The sequence of the contrasts was in ascending order by Konica, X-dol 90, Kodak and Agfa. But there was no statistically significant difference of contrast between X-dol and Konica (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the four processing chemicals had the clinically useful film density and contrast, but only Kodak processing chemical had useful base plus fog density.
Dentistry* ; Weather

The examination of the optic nerve is an important part of every examination of the fundus. In attempting to determine weather or not a pathologic process is present, it is essential that the normal disk and its varitions, as well as the congenital anomalies, be thoroughly understood. For this reason the major portion of this study will be devoted to the normal disk shape and its congenital variations.
Optic Nerve ; Weather

PURPOSE: To develop a practical film dosimetry system for routine Quality Assurance (QA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An One Click Film (OCF) Dosimetry system was designed to perform swift routine QA with functions including automatic fog value elimination, angle adjustment, automatic symmetry calculation, and realtime profile generation with the ability to display realtime three-dimensional dose distributions. RESULTS: The most frequently used functions for routine QA, such as the elimination of the fog value, conversion into an H&D curve, symmetry, and isodose distribution, can be achieved with only one click. CONCLUSION: Reliable results were achieved with the OCF dosimetry with simpler steps than other commercially available film dosimetry systems for routine QA. More research on the refined user interface will make this system be clinically useful.
Film Dosimetry ; Weather

Hair shaft breakage is a common condition frequently caused by physical or chemical trauma as well as intrinsic diseases. The hair can be modified both externally and internally through the cosmetically-used chemicals. Use of these products causes a decrease in the hair shaft's elastic properties, allowing increased hair breakage. Herein we report four cases of hair shaft breakage presented with features of alopecia caused by hair care cosmetics. Microscopic examination revealed abnormal hair shaft endings such as weathering, trichoptilosis and trichoclasis. Through these cases, we remind the fact that the dermatologist can better aid the patient with hair difficulties if he or she has an understanding of the formulation and the effects of products designed to modify the hair.
Alopecia ; Hair* ; Humans ; Weather

No abstract available.
Hyponatremia ; Motor Activity* ; Water Intoxication ; Weather*

In acute phase, cerebral infartion is usually hypodense on CT and hyperintense on T2-weighted MR image. This hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR image gradually approaches an isointensity stage after 2 or 3 weeks of onset. In the later stage, cerebral infarction is observed hyperintense on T2-weighted MR image. This sequential phenomenon is so-called "fogging effect". We experienced two cases of "fogging effect". The first case did not show abnormal signal intensity on TI or T2 weighted MR images taken after 14 days of onset and the second case also did not show abnormal signal intensity after 17 days of onset. Each case revealed hyperintense in T2-weighted image with contrast enhancement taken after 20 weeks and 8 weeks of onset, respectively. We present two cases with MRI and brief review of literatures.
Cerebral Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Weather*

PURPOSE: To compare the film density of Insight dental X-ray film (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA) with that of Ektaspeed Plus film (Eastman Kodak) under manual and automatic processing conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Insight and Ektaspeed Plus films were exposed at three different exposure conditions with an aluminum step wedge on the films under the three different exposure times. The exposed films were processed by both manual and automatic ways. The Base plus fog density and the optical density made by exposing step wedge were calculated using a digital densitometer (model 07-443, Victoreen Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). The optical densities of the Insight and Ektaspeed film versus thickness of alumimun wedge at the same exposure time were plotted on the graphs. Statistical analyses were applied for comparing the optical densities of the two films. RESULTS: The film density of both Insight films and Ektaspeed Plus films under automatic processing condition was significantly higher over the manual processing. The film density of Insight films was significantly higher than that of Ektaspeed Plus films on both automatic and manual processing conditions. CONCLUSION: The radiation exposure time can be reduced when using Insight over Ektaspeed Plus film. To take the full advantage of reducing exposure time, Insight film should be processed automatically.
Aluminum ; Ohio ; Radiography ; Weather ; X-Ray Film*

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of the newly marketed, Insight dental X-ray film. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Kodak Ultraspeed (DF-58), E-speed, Agfa Dentus M2, and Kodak Insight (IP-21) films were radiographed using a Trophy intra-oral radiographic machine. 10 step exposure times were prepared and each step exposure was monitored using a FH 40G (ESM Eberline Instruments) dosimeter for each of the 4 types of intra-oral film. All films were manually processed and the radiographic densities at 6 sites of each processed film were measured, and the characteristic curves of each of the 4 types intra-oral films were created utilizing these dosimetric data and radiographic densities, based on ISO 5779. The film contrast, speed, and base plus fog density of Insight film were compared with those of the 3 other films examined in this experiment. RESULTS: E-speed film showed greatest average gradients followed by Insight film. E-speed and Ultraspeed film showed great average gradients at low density levels. Insight film showed the fastest speed followed by E-speed, Dentus M2 and Ultraspeed film. Dentus M2 film showed greatest base plus fog density level followed by Insight film. CONCLUSION: Kodak Insight film showed fastest film speed with comparable film contrast on characteristic curve.
Film Dosimetry ; Weather ; X-Ray Film*

Eccrine hidrocystoma is a cyst origined from the secretory portion of the eccrine sweat gland and tends to occur as a solitary facial lesion. Clinically, an eccrine hidrocystoma presents as a small, translucent and cystic swelling(often having a bluish hue) which measures 1 to 3 mm in diameter. In some patients, the mass is appeared with numerous lesions. The mass has the tendency that the number of cyst increases in warm weather and decreases during winter. The histologic finding is an intradermal cyst with a thin wall composed of two layers of eosinophilic- staining cuboidal cells. Eccrine hidrocystoma has not yet reported in the journal of korean society of plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Thus, we report a case of 65-years-old female patient with eccrine hidrocystoma, which presents 2.1 x 1.6 x 1.6 cm in size and bluish hue color, occurring on the nasal tip.
Female ; Hidrocystoma* ; Humans ; Sweat Glands ; Weather

The aims of this paper are to identify where the quality research activity has been and is carried out in Korea, and to examine weather the Korean plastic surgeons have sufficient capacity to place their official journal "The Journal of Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons(KPRS)" to international databases. We investigated the publication productivity of all departments of plastic surgery in Korean medical colleges, hospitals, and clinics as measured by the number of papers in journals indexed in SCI(Science citation index). The 27 year period from 1974 to 2000 is covered. A total of 195 papers is published in SCI journals by the plastic surgeons in Korea. The first SCI paper was published in 1985; the number of publication has gradually increased. Since 1998, over 30 papers are annually published in SCI journals by Korean plastic surgeons. The production of SCI papers are concentrated in a few universities. About seventy percent of SCI journal papers is published by top seven medical schools; 25.6% by Yonsei university. In 1985, only one medical school was involved in the production of SCI journal papers. After 1997, however, more than 10 medical school and some surgeons in local clinics published SCI journal papers. The percent of SCI journal papers among all papers written by the Korean plastic surgeons increased recently: About 15% are published in SCI journals in 1999 and 2000 respectively. These data suggest that Korean plastic surgeons have enough capacity to place their official journal KPRS into international data bases.
Efficiency* ; Korea ; Publications* ; Schools, Medical ; Surgery, Plastic ; Weather