No abstract available.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Titanium-Nickel alloy might be used in various prosthetic restorations since it has a unique property such as super-elasticity and high fatigue resistance. However, little is known about the casting ability of this alloy. PURPOSE: This in vitro study compared the casting accuracy and the porosity made with different investments and various sprue designs to ascertain what casting condition would be better for the fabrication of Ti-Ni cast restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 70 Ti-Ni alloy crowns were made and divided into 7 groups of 10 copings on a metal master die. For measuring the effect of the sprue numbers, two groups with one and two 8-gauge sprues were compared. Moreover, the results of the conventional sprue and the double thickness sprues were compared. Three investments were used; carbon free phosphate bonded investment, titanium investment and gypsum bonded investment. The cast restorations were evaluated at 48 points on the entire circumferential margin with a stereomicroscope measuring in micrometers. Each crown was radiographically examined for casting defects and porosity. Data on casting accuracy were analyzed using two-way and Post hoc Scheffe's comparison to determine whether significant differences existed at the 95% confidence level. Student-Newman-Keuls test were performed to identify significant differences in the number of voids. RESULTS: The double sprueing group and double thickness group had significantly less marginal discrepancy than the single sprueing group (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively). The castings with phosphate bonded investment showed the least marginal discrepancy and the smoothest surface. The castings invested in the gypsum bonded investment had the greatest gaps in margin and the largest failure rate. The double sprueing group and phosphate bonded investment group had significantly smaller void numbers and smaller void size than the other groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the casting accuracy of the groups using thicker, double sprue design and the phosphate bonded investment was significantly superior. Moreover, void number and size were less than other groups.
Alloys ; Calcium Sulfate ; Carbon ; Celiac Disease ; Crowns ; Fatigue ; Investments ; Porosity* ; Titanium

Statement of problem. Relatively low success rate of root analogue implant system was supposed to be due to the time duration between extraction and implant installation. The use of three-dimensional computer tomography and the reconstruction of objects using rapid prototyping methods would be helpful to shorten this time. Purpose. This aim of this study was to evaluate the application possibility of the 3-dimensional computer tomography and the rapid prototyping to root analogue implants. Material and methods. Ten single rooted teeth were prepared. Width and height of the teeth were measured by the marking points. This was followed by CT scanning, data conversion and rapid prototyping model fabrication. 2 methods were used; fused deposition modelling and stereolithography. Same width and height of this models were measured and compared to the original tooth. Results. Fused deposition modeling showed an enlarged width and reduced height. The stereolithography showed more exact data compared with the fused deposition modelling. Smaller standard deviation were recorded in the stereolithographic method. Overall width error from tooth to rapid prototyping was 7.15% in fused depostion modelling and 0.2% in stereolithography. Overall height showed the tendency of reducing dimensions. Conclusion. From the results of this study, stereolithography seems to be very predictable method of fabricating root analogue implant.
Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tooth

Hydrocephalus is a common malformation of the central nervous system and its cause may be either congenital or acquired. The imbalance between CSF formation and absorption, obstruction of CSF pathways, impaired venous absorption, and over secretion of CSF results in excessive accumulation of the fluid in the ventricles, leading to hydrocephalus. Although ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is regarded as the main and definitive therapy for rapidly progressive hydrocephalus, shunts in newborns have a high failure rate and thus there have been a search for alternative non-invasive techniques. Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhy- drase inhibitor, which acts by reducing production of CSF in the choroid plexus. Admini- stration of acetazolamide will decrease the rate of CSF production, preventing progressive ventricular enlargement. We experienced three cases of neonatal hydrocephalus successfully treated by long-term administration of acetazolamide. Brief review and related literatures were also presented.
Absorption ; Acetazolamide* ; Carbon ; Central Nervous System ; Choroid Plexus ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Infant, Newborn ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

The levels of pH,pCO,bicarbonate, and base excess in umbillical venous blood were measured at birth of life in 30 normal term infant and 27 high risk infants. The study group was divided into two categories by clinical evaluation: first group of normal term infant without high risk indication and second group of high risk infants. Following results were obiained. 1) The average level of umbilical venous blood pH in normal group was 7.3260.001 and high risk group was 7.3180.002(7.326 versus 7.318,respecitvely,p>0.05) 2) The average Apgar Score in normal group was 9.30.95 and more acidotic high risk group was 7.42.54 3) The average level of pCO in normal group was 43.361.36mmHg and high risk group was 43.952.36mmHg(43.36 respecitively, p>0.05) 4) The average level of pCo in normal group was 21.550.85mmEq/L and high risk group was 20.030.78mEq/L(21.55 versus 20.03mEq/L respectively,p>0.05) 5) The average level of base excess in normal group was -2.610.76mEq/L and high risk group was -3.060.91mEq/L(-2.61 versus -3.06mEq/L respecitively,p?0.05) 6) Relationship between hP and Apgar Score in normal group was False normal (6.7%),False abnormal(10%) and high risk group was False normal (14.8%) False abonromal(7.4%).
Apgar Score ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Infant* ; Parturition

PURPOSE: Empathy is an important trait in physicians and a key element in the physician-patient relationship. Accordingly, one of the goals in medical education is developing empathy in students. We attempted to practically assess medical students’ empathy through their direct verbal expressions. METHODS: The medical students’ empathy was measured using the modified Pencil-and-Paper Empathy Rating Test by Winefield and Chur-Hansen (2001). The students took 15 minutes or so to complete the scale, and it was then scored by one of two trained evaluators (0 to 4 points for each item, for a total score of 40). The subjects were 605 medical students, and the data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance in SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: The students’ empathy scores were low (mean, 12.13; standard deviation, 2.55); their most common responses (78.6%) registered as non-empathetic. Differences in empathy were observed by gender (female students>male students; t=-5.068, p<0.001), school system (medical school>medical college; t=-1.935, p=0.053), and academic level (pre-medical 1 year < other years; t=-4.050, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings lead us to the significant conclusion that there is the need for empathy enhancement training programs with practical content.
Education ; Education, Medical ; Empathy* ; Humans ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Professionalism ; Students, Medical

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder, but accurate recognition of depression is somewhat difficult because of different symptom presentation by age. The consequence of not recognizing to depression is that clinically significant and potentially treatable depression might be overlooked, misdiagnosed, and mistreated in depressive patients. The overlap of somatic symptoms of depression and physical illness and minimal expression of sadness is common in old age. Because of that reasons, alternative approach to identifying depression should be provided by proper screening instruments.
Depression ; Humans ; Mass Screening

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ego-states and communication skills in medical students. METHODS: A total of 109 medical school students participated in this study, which used the communication skills self-test papers and the Egogram checklist. The data were analyzed by frequency analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Ego-state was related to communication skills. In particular, adapted child ego-state was negatively associated with each sphere of communication skills. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that ego-state types should be considered in developing a communication skills education program for medical students.
Checklist ; Child ; Education ; Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical* ; Transactional Analysis

PURPOSE: Empathy is an important trait of a physician and a key element in the physician-patient relationship. This study evaluated the ability to express empathy in medical students. METHODS: Medical student empathy was measured by the modified Pencil-and-Paper Empathy Rating Test of Winefield and Chur-Hansen. The subjects comprised 110 medical students. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis and t-test using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp.). RESULTS: Empathy rating test scores were low-level in medical students (mean, 12.59). There were no differences in the level of ability to express empathy between genders (t=-1.714, p=0.089). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that practical training in expressing empathy should be included in medical education and that an empathy training program must be focused on changes in behavior.
Education ; Education, Medical ; Empathy* ; Humans ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Students, Medical*