PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the cleansing performance of a distilled water, a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite as a household bleaching cleanser and three alkaline peroxide cleansers in vivo plaque deposits by using scanning electron microscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five individuals were selected from department of the prosthodontics in Pusan National University Hospital, and each of them was inserted with specimens for plaque accumulation in their temporary dentures for 48 hours. The specimens were removed and cleaned by each cleansing agents for 8 hours. Scanning electron micrographs were made from the specimens at a magnification of x2,000. A panel of ten persons with a dental or paradental background, but not directly involved in the study, was selected to analyze the photomicrographs to determine which denture cleanser was more effective in removing plaque. RESULTS: Diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite was the most effective at removing plaque following Polident(R), Cleadent(R)e, Bonyplus(R) and distilled water in order. But there was no significant difference of cleansing efficacy between diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite and Polident(R), Polident(R) and Cleadent(R)e, Cleadent(R)e and Bonyplus(R), respectively (P > .05). Alkaline peroxide cleansers by themselves cannot adequately remove accumulated plaque deposits, especially if the deposits are heavy. Corrosion could be seen on the surface of non-precious alloy specimens immersed in diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to use of alkaline peroxide type cleansers with brushing whenever possible, since denture cleanliness is often poor due to the relative inefficiency of these cleansers.
Alloys ; Corrosion ; Denture Cleansers ; Dentures ; Detergents ; Electrons ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Prosthodontics ; Sodium ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Water

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of UltraFast Doppler ultrasonography (US) for evaluating hepatic vessels in liver recipients. METHODS: Thirty-nine liver Doppler US sessions were conducted in 20 liver recipients. Each session consisted of UltraFast and conventional liver Doppler US in a random order. We compared the velocities and phasicities of the hepatic vessels, duration of each Doppler study, occurrence of technical failures, and differences in clinical decisions. RESULTS: The velocities and resistive index values of hepatic vessels showed a strong positive correlation between the two Doppler studies (mean R=0.806; range, 0.710 to 0.924). The phasicities of the hepatic vessels were the same in both Doppler US exams. With respect to the duration of the Doppler US exam, there was no significant difference between the UltraFast (251+/-99 seconds) and conventional (231+/-117 seconds) Doppler studies (P=0.306). In five poor breath-holders, in whom the duration of conventional Doppler US was longer, UltraFast Doppler US (272+/-157 seconds) required a shorter time than conventional Doppler US (381+/-133 seconds; P=0.005). There was no difference between the two techniques with respect to technical failures and clinical decisions. CONCLUSION: UltraFast Doppler US is clinically equivalent to conventional Doppler US with advantages for poor breath-holders during the post-liver transplantation work-up.
Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler*

Objectives: ：The authors examined the association of sleep quality and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in schizophrenic patients using actigraphy. Methods: ：A total of 101 schizophrenic patients were included in this study. Fifty-four (53.4%) patients met the criteria of MetS. Self-assessment of subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, physical activities were measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), respectively. Objective sleep quality and physical activity were measured by Actigraph (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT). Results: ：Total time in bed (TIB) (p=0.032), sleep latency (SL) (p=0.001), wake after sleep onset (WASO) (p<0.001) and average awakening (p=0.015) were significantly longer in patients with MetS than those of non-MetS. Results of multiple logistic regression showed that long sleep latency (OR 7.876, 95% CI 1.519, p=0.014) and low sleep efficiency (OR 9.902, 95% CI 1.111, p=0.040) were high risk factors for MetS. Conclusion ：This was the first study to find the correlations of sleep quality and MetS in schizophrenic patients by objective sleep measurements. Although long sleep latency and low sleep efficiency were associated with MetS in patients with schizophrenia, more extensive and complicated designed studies may be needed to the association of MetS and sleep problems in schizophrenic patients.

Objectives: ：The authors examined the association of sleep quality and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in schizophrenic patients using actigraphy. Methods: ：A total of 101 schizophrenic patients were included in this study. Fifty-four (53.4%) patients met the criteria of MetS. Self-assessment of subjective sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, physical activities were measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), respectively. Objective sleep quality and physical activity were measured by Actigraph (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT). Results: ：Total time in bed (TIB) (p=0.032), sleep latency (SL) (p=0.001), wake after sleep onset (WASO) (p<0.001) and average awakening (p=0.015) were significantly longer in patients with MetS than those of non-MetS. Results of multiple logistic regression showed that long sleep latency (OR 7.876, 95% CI 1.519, p=0.014) and low sleep efficiency (OR 9.902, 95% CI 1.111, p=0.040) were high risk factors for MetS. Conclusion ：This was the first study to find the correlations of sleep quality and MetS in schizophrenic patients by objective sleep measurements. Although long sleep latency and low sleep efficiency were associated with MetS in patients with schizophrenia, more extensive and complicated designed studies may be needed to the association of MetS and sleep problems in schizophrenic patients.

Background: s/Aims: The enhancing capsule (EC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis has received varying degrees of recognition across major guidelines. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of EC in HCC detection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent pre-surgical computed tomography (CT) and hepatobiliary agent-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (HBA-MRI) between January 2016 and December 2019. A single hepatic tumor was confirmed based on the pathology of each patient. Three radiologists independently reviewed the images according to the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) v2018 criteria and reached a consensus. Interobserver agreement for EC before reaching a consensus was quantified using Fleiss κ statistics. The impact of EC on the LI-RADS classification was assessed by comparing the positive predictive values for HCC detection in the presence and absence of EC. Results: In total, 237 patients (median age, 60 years; 184 men) with 237 observations were included. The interobserver agreement for EC detection was notably low for CT (κ=0.169) and HBA-MRI (κ=0.138). The presence of EC did not significantly alter the positive predictive value for HCC detection in LI-RADS category 5 observations on CT (94.1% [80/85] vs. 94.6% [88/93], P=0.886) or HBAMRI (95.7% [88/92] vs. 90.6% [77/85], P=0.178). Conclusions The diagnostic value of EC in HCC diagnosis remains questionable, given its poor interobserver agreement and negligible impact on positive predictive values for HCC detection. This study challenges the emphasis on EC in certain diagnostic guidelines and suggests the need to re-evaluate its role in HCC imaging.

BACKGROUND: CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play a critical role in immune responses. We explored the status of Tregs in neoplastic and autoimmune hematologic diseases. We also evaluated the technical aspects of Treg measurement in terms of sample type and detection markers. METHODS: A total of 68 subjects were enrolled: 11 with AML, 8 with MDS, 10 with autoimmune diseases, and 39 controls. Tregs were analyzed in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples from each subject. Flow cytometry and the Human Regulatory T cell Staining Kit (eBioscience, USA) for CD4, CD25, and FoxP3 (forkhead box P3) were used. RESULTS: The CD4+CD25high/CD4 and CD4+CD25highFoxP3+/CD4 populations were significantly correlated (P<0.0001). The AML and high-risk MDS groups had significantly larger CD4+CD25high/CD4 and CD4+CD25highFoxP3+/CD4 populations in PB than the autoimmune (P=0.007 and 0.012, respectively) and control groups (P=0.004 and 0.006, respectively). Comparable findings were observed in BM. The CD4+CD25highFoxP3+/CD4 population was significantly larger in PB than in BM (P=0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides comparison data for Tregs in AML, MDS, and autoimmune hematologic diseases, and would be helpful for understanding the different immunologic bases of various hematologic diseases. Treg measurement using CD4, CD25, and/or FoxP3 in PB rather than in BM seems to be practical for routine hematologic purposes. Large-scale analysis of the diagnostic role of Treg measurement is needed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis/immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors/*metabolism ; Hematologic Diseases/*diagnosis/immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/*metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis/immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/diagnosis/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology/*metabolism

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to asses the CT findings and clinical features differentiating malignant from benign focal splenic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 673 patients with splenectomy, we included 114 patients with pathologically confirmed focal splenic lesions (malignant = 66, benign = 48). Two radiologists retrospectively assessed CT findings including: size, number, solid component, margin, wall, calcification, contrast-enhancement, lymph node (LN) enlargement and possible malignancy. We assessed clinical features including age, sex, underlying malignancy, fever, and leukocytosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of malignant lesion. We used receiver operating curve analysis for determination of diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Common findings of malignant lesions include enhanced, mainly solid, ill-defined margin, absence of splenomegaly, absence of the wall, absence of calcification, LN enlargement, and presence of underlying malignancy (p < 0.05). Among them, mainly solid features (odds ratio [OR], 39.098, p = 0.007), LN enlargement (OR, 6.326, p = 0.005), and presence of underlying malignancy (OR, 8.615, p = 0.001) were significant predictors of malignancy. The mean size of benign splenic lesions (5.8 ± 3.3 cm) was larger than that of malignant splenic lesions (4.0 ± 3.4 cm). Diagnostic performance of CT findings by two reviewers using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for differentiation of malignant lesions was 0.856 and 0.893, respectively. CONCLUSION: Solid nature of the splenic mass on CT images, LN enlargement, and presence of underlying malignancy are significant predictors of malignant splenic lesion.
Equidae ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Logistic Models ; Lymph Nodes ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Diseases ; Splenomegaly