Recently the 2nd generation laboratory composite resins were introduced. Although the mechanical properties of these composite resins have been improved, there were some disadvantages such as discoloration, low abrasion resistance and debonding between metal and resin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tensile bond strength between non-pecious dental alloy(verabond) and four veneering reinforced composite resins: Targis(Ivoclar Co.,U.S.A.), Artglass(Kulzer CO., Gemany). Sculpture(Jeneric Pentron Co., U.S.A.), and Estenia(Kurary Co., Japan). All test metal specimens were polished with #1,000 SiC paper, and sandblasted with 250micrometer aluminum oxide. After then, according to manufacturer's instructions metal adhesive primer and veneering resins were applied. All test specimens were divided into two groups. One group was dried in a desiccator at 25degrees C for 3 days, the other group was subjected to thermal cycling(2,000x) in water(5/55degrees C). Tensile bond strength was measured using Instron Universal Testing machine and the fractured surface was examined under the naked eyes and scanning microscope. Within the limitations imposed in this study, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. in no-thermal cycling groups, there were no significant differences between Estenia and VMK68 but there were significant differences between Targis, Artglass, Sculpture and VMK68(p<0.05). 2. in no-thermal cycling resin groups, the highest tensile bond strength was observed in Estenis and there were significant differences between Estenia and the other resins(p<0.05). 3. Before and after thermal cycling, there were significant differences in tensile bond strength of Targis and Artglass(p<0.05). The tensile bond strength of Artglass was decreased and that of Targis was increased. 4. in no-thermal cycling groups, Artglass showed mixed fracture modes(95%), but after thermal cycling, Artglass showed adhesive fracture modes(75%).
Adhesives ; Aluminum Oxide ; Composite Resins* ; Dental Alloys* ; Sculpture

The finger flexor injuries are very difficult to treat satisfactorily. It is usually said that the earlier the treatment performed, the better result obtained. But the delicasy of the hand anatomy and its function as well as the absence of the hand surgeon in the first aid care make the problem more complex. Even if we made the primary treatment to the flexor tendon injuries, some disabilities are often remained. We have treated fifty eight cases of old flexor tendon injuries in forty eight patients, the results can be summarized as follows. 1. The cause of the tendon damage is due to the laceration injury in the majorities of the cases. T,he tendon injuries are especially common between the late second and the early third decade. 2. In the injury of the Zone II with pulley distortion, the pulley reconstruction using palmaris longus or fascia from other sites will prevent bowstring and help the tendon function. 3. The Zone II can be subdivided into two subspecific areas. The proximal area is from the distal palmar crease to the midoprtion of porximal phalanx and the distal one is from the midportion of the proximal phalanx to the insertion of the sublimis tendon. In the proximal area one can repair the injured tendon directly after removal of the A1 and about proximal half of the A2 pulley without any subsequent bowstring if the tendon and its tunnel is relatively well preserved. Thus one can convert this proximal portion of Zone II to Zone III. So the proximal area of the Zone II should be differentiated from the remaining distal part of the Zone II. 4. At six months after the operation the result of the operation was analyzed by the percentage of the recovery, which was calculated by the postoperative active range of the interphalangeal joints divided by one hundred seventy five degrees that means the available total range of motion of normal interphalangeal joints. Excluding the cases with the tenodesis or arthrodesis, the total result revealed good or excellent in about ninty percentages with this method. 5. There were two fingers that showed a postoperative lumbrical plus state in Zone II, which were recovered spontaneously within three to four months postoperatively. So it is considered that the relative shortening of the lumbrical muscles can be treated and overcome conservatively by the active use of the fingers, and there is no need to perform an lumbrical tenotomy to correct this kind of muscle imbalance.
Arthrodesis ; Fascia ; Fingers ; First Aid ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Lacerations ; Methods ; Muscles ; Patella ; Patellar Ligament ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Tenodesis ; Tenotomy ; Tibia

BACKGROUND: Moxifloxacin is an 8-methoxyquinolone compound which has been shown to have the best activity of the quinolones against M. tuberculosis but there is no literature showing the rate of cross-resistance between moxifloxacin and the other quinolones such as ofloxacin. Therefore, we tested the activity of moxifloxacin against ofloxacin resistant M. tuberculosis by a study of cross-resistance. METHODS: We tested MIC's of moxifloxacin and ofloxacin by proportion method against 34 M. tuberculosis isolates showing resistance against ofloxacin at 2.5microgram/ml concentration and 13 ofloxacin susceptible isolates from specimens submitted to clinical laboratory of National Masan Hospital from March 2003 to March 2004. RESULTS: For ofloxacin susceptible isolates, MIC(50) and MIC(90) of ofloxacin were all 1.25 microgram/ml, and MIC(50) and MIC(90) of moxifloxacin were 0.31 microgram/ml and 0.63microgram/ml respectively. For ofloxacin resistant isolates, MIC(50) of ofloxacin was over 10microgram/ml and MIC(50) of moxifloxacin was 5microgram/ml,MIC(90) of ofloxacin and moxifloxacin were all over 10microgram/ml. The rate of cross-resistance between the two was 67.6%(23/34) at 2.5microgram/ml concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Moxifloxacin showed activity against 82.4%(28/34) of ofloxacin resistant M. tuberculosis at 10microgram/ml, but more studies are needed so that moxifloxacin will be used for patient with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis including ofloxacin resistance.
Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Ofloxacin* ; Quinolones ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

PURPOSE: We studied to know the influence of respiratory virus and atopic characteristics on recurrence of virus-induced wheezing in children under 3 years of age. METHODS: Between March 2006 and February 2009, 340 children who were hospitalized with symptoms of sudden onset of dyspnea, cough and wheezing after symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection and detected specific respiratory viruses by multiplex RT-PCR were enrolled. The data were analyzed according to age (< or =6, 7-12, 13-24, and 25-36 months) as well as previous wheezing episodes (first or recurrent episode). Respiratory viruses and atopic characteristics were compared among individual groups. RESULTS: The 3 commonly identified viruses were RSV (62.4%), PIV (15.6%) and RV (11.8%). PIV and RV were significantly associated with recurrence, but RSV was not significantly associated with recurrence. Food sensitization, aeroallergen sensitization, elevation of total IgE, history of atopic dermatitis and history of parent asthma were significantly associated with the recurrent episode, but serum eosinophil and passive smoking were not significantly associated with the recurrent episode. CONCLUSION: These findings show that specific respiratory viruses can have different influence on recurrence and that atopy may be a risk factor for recurrence of wheezing, in children under 3 years of age with virus-induced wheezing.
Asthma ; Child ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Parents ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Risk Factors ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Viruses

Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. Only a few studies have focused on non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM parasomnias in narcolepsy. We report a narcolepsy without cataplexy patient presenting parasomnia as an initial symptom. A 18-year-old boy was admitted to hospital for abnormal behavior of sitting up during sleep over 2 years. He had a symptom of lethargy without cataplexy and subjective excessive daytime sleepiness, but his family found him often asleep during daytime. He underwent 3 times of polysomnography (PSG) including 1 multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) after the last PSG. The last PSG showed 1 episode of abrupt sitting. Three sleep REM onset period was observed in MSLT which was not detect in PSG. Parasomnia as an initial symptom of narcolepsy is a rare clinical entity. The MSLT may be useful in the evaluation of patients with parasomnia and unexplained hypersomnia.
Adolescent ; Cataplexy ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Eye Movements ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Lethargy ; Male ; Narcolepsy ; Parasomnias ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Arousal Disorders ; Sleep Paralysis

Focal subarachnoid hemorrhage occasionally presents as transient focal neurologic episodes mimicking transient ischemic attack (TIA). Unless properly diagnosed, it may aggravate cerebral hemorrhage by administering antithrombotic agents. Therefore, clinicians need to be aware that such focal subarachnoid hemorrhage sometimes cannot be detected on noncontrast computed tomography and blood-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging can detect even a small amount of hemorrhage. We describe an 85-year-old woman with focal subarachnoid hemorrhage and possible cerebral amyloid angiopathy who presented transient left arm weakness recurrently, which mimicked TIA.
Aged, 80 and over ; Arm ; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: There were debates on the relationship between peak expiratory flow (PEF) and oil spill cleanup activity. The aim of this study was to compare the distinction of PEF among pre-works and post-works in Hebei Spirit oil. METHODS: The study subjects were participators of cleanup works. The questionaire on symptoms was done. And PEF was measured. The subjects were sampled on random basis. We then used a logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of cleanup works on PEF. RESULTS: Only 66 (35.3%) participants versus 121 showed with low values in PEF before cleanup works. But, 78 (80.1%) participants versus 20 significantly showed with low values in PEF after cleanup works (P = 0.002). On our analysis, measuring their own PEF after cleanup works (Odds ratio [OR], 2.328; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.218 to 6.624), female gender (OR, 5.841; 95% CI, 3.571 to 9.557), the number of working days on cleanup activities (OR, 2.760; 95% CI, 1.364 to 7.900), and residents (OR, 4.610; 95% CI, 2.488 to 8.544) were shown to be significant risk factors for low value of peak expiratory flow. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that exposure to petroleum in cleanup works are associated with a significant low value in PEF. But, the heterogeneity of pre-works and post-works groups is a limitation of the study.
Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Petroleum ; Petroleum Pollution ; Population Characteristics ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The presence of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has been identified as a key characteristic of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disorder. We evaluated the performance of a cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (CIIFA) for detecting AQP4 antibodies using antigen prepared with a recombinant AQP4 peptide transfection technique and assessed the usefulness of CIIFA for diagnosis of NMOSD in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Forty-six serum samples from 36 patients as a comparison set and another 101 patients enrolled consecutively from a neurology clinic were included. CIIFA and fluorescence immunoprecipitation assays (FIPA) were performed. CIIFA was performed at 2 different institutions for comparison purposes. RESULTS: CIIFA and FIPA sensitivity in the comparison set was 86% and 79% in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients and 55% and 36% in high-risk NMO patients, respectively. The semiquantitative titer measured by CIIFA correlated well with the arbitrary unit (fluorescence units [FU]) derived from FIPA (r=0.66). Titers measured by CIIFA and FIPA were elevated in NMO patients compared to high-risk NMO patients (1:240 vs. 1:180 and 8,390 vs. 4,059 FU, respectively). The frequency of AQP4 antibody detection by CIIFA in 101 consecutively enrolled patients was 100% in NMO and 23% in high-risk NMO patients, while only 4.6% in control patients, including those with multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of AQP4 antibodies by CIIFA provides sensitive and highly specific diagnostic information for NMO and high-risk NMO patients, which can be used to differentiate these conditions from other demyelinating CNS diseases.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies/*blood ; Aquaporin 4/*immunology ; Female ; *Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuromyelitis Optica/*diagnosis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

BACKGROUND: The presence of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has been identified as a key characteristic of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disorder. We evaluated the performance of a cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (CIIFA) for detecting AQP4 antibodies using antigen prepared with a recombinant AQP4 peptide transfection technique and assessed the usefulness of CIIFA for diagnosis of NMOSD in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Forty-six serum samples from 36 patients as a comparison set and another 101 patients enrolled consecutively from a neurology clinic were included. CIIFA and fluorescence immunoprecipitation assays (FIPA) were performed. CIIFA was performed at 2 different institutions for comparison purposes. RESULTS: CIIFA and FIPA sensitivity in the comparison set was 86% and 79% in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients and 55% and 36% in high-risk NMO patients, respectively. The semiquantitative titer measured by CIIFA correlated well with the arbitrary unit (fluorescence units [FU]) derived from FIPA (r=0.66). Titers measured by CIIFA and FIPA were elevated in NMO patients compared to high-risk NMO patients (1:240 vs. 1:180 and 8,390 vs. 4,059 FU, respectively). The frequency of AQP4 antibody detection by CIIFA in 101 consecutively enrolled patients was 100% in NMO and 23% in high-risk NMO patients, while only 4.6% in control patients, including those with multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of AQP4 antibodies by CIIFA provides sensitive and highly specific diagnostic information for NMO and high-risk NMO patients, which can be used to differentiate these conditions from other demyelinating CNS diseases.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies/*blood ; Aquaporin 4/*immunology ; Female ; *Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuromyelitis Optica/*diagnosis ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

PURPOSE: T cells play a central role in cell-mediated immunity, atopic disease, and asthma. The balance of CD28/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4)-derived signal transduction plays an important role in the activation of T cells and an increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the genes encoding both CTLA4 and the high-affinity IgE receptor 1B (FCER1B) and serum IgE levels in Korean children with asthma. METHODS: We enrolled 238 controls and 742 children with asthma. The CTLA4 +49A/G and FCER1B -654C/T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: We observed no difference in the distribution of CTLA4 +49A/G among controls, children with asthma, and those with atopic asthma. In contrast, the GA genotype of CTLA4 +49A/G in children with atopic asthma was significantly higher compared to that in those with non-atopic asthma. Moreover, significantly higher log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels were found in children with asthma and those with atopic asthma carrying one or two copies of the CTLA4 +49A versus those homozygous for +49G. Gene-gene interactions between CTLA4 and FCER1B with the heterozygote and homozygote of variant genotypes were associated with the log Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not asthma development. In addition, children with Dp/Df (+) asthma carried an elevated combined genotype of risk allele compared to those with Dp/Df (-) asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism may contribute to the production of IgE in Korean children with asthma, especially in Dp/Df-specific IgE levels, but not in the direct development of asthma. In addition, Dp/Df-specific IgE levels with a FCER1B -654C/T polymorphism may involve additive effects.
Alleles ; Asthma ; Child ; Coat Protein Complex I ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Lifting ; Signal Transduction ; T-Lymphocytes