The purpose of this study is to evaluate the color differences that can exist between differnet brands of dentin porcelain having identical shade designations. The instrumental colorimetric technique was used to determine these differences. The three brands of dentin porcelain used were Vita VMK-68, Shofu Vintage, and Ceramco II. The three shades selected were the Vita Lumin shades A2, B2, and C2. The color difference values were compared with each other using L*, a*, b*, three variables of the CIELAB color system, and E. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Corresponding shades of different brands of dentin porcelain produced different L*, a*, b* values. 2. The greatest E value in corresponding shade was found to exist between Ceramco II and Shofu Vintage, followed by between Vita VMK-68 and Ceramco II, and then between Vita VMK-68 and Shofu Vintage. 3. The E values in shade C2 were mainly influenced by L* value ; however none of L*, a*, b* values had greater influence on E values than the others in shade A2, B2. 4. Shofu Vintage had the highest b* value, followed by Vita VMK-68, and then Ceramco II.
Dental Porcelain* ; Dentin*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Statistics as Topic*

We described the clinical manifestation of herpes zoster in thirteen children with underlying malignancies. Among the associated malignancies, hematologic malignancy including acute lymphotytic leukemia was the commonest and CNS tumors were also frequently associated. Pain was mild, and some showed high fever and abnormal liver function test results. Recurrent attacks were observed in 3 cases(23%). Thoracic segment and trigeminal nerve were commonly affected. In most cases, herpes zoster developed within two years after the diagnosis of the malignancy.
Child* ; Diagnosis ; Fever ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Liver Function Tests ; Trigeminal Nerve

In order to investigate the fundus fundings in myopic eyes and to clarify the correlation between the refractive error and the myopic fundus changes, 7968 eyes of school children with refractive error in Seoul were selected and the observation of ophthalmoscopic features of crescent of optic nerve, cup to disc(C/D) ratio and the spontaneous venous pulsation were attempted. The result of the study were summarized as follows: 1. The optic nerve crescent was counted in 2643 eyes(33.2%) among 7968 eyes and the temporal crescent was the most frequent localization(72.8%) in 2643 eyes. 2. The incidence of the optic nerve crescent was increased in proportion to the degree of myopia regardless of its localization type, however the incidence of the crescent was decreased at -7.0 D or higher myopes. 3. The mean horizontal C/D ratio was 0.24 +/- 0.13 and the C/D ratio of 0.4 or more were common in the myopia of -2.0 D or more. The correlation between the C/D ratio and the refractive error appeared statistically significant(p<0.05). 4. In most of eyes(98.6%), difference of the C/D ratio between right and left eye was 0.2 or less. 5. The spontaneous venous pulsation on the optic disc was observed in 594 of 7968 eyes(7.5%).
Child ; Financial Management ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myopia ; Optic Nerve ; Refractive Errors* ; Seoul

Forty eight cases of strabismus were treated with an injection of Botulinum toxin A(Oculinum(R)) into the extraocular muscle under electromyographic control. There were 18 cases of esotropia, 14 of exotropia, 2 of hypertropia, 13 of unila teral abducens nerve palsy and 1 eyeball deviation even after the removal of old intraorbital metalic foreign body. All of the patients were followed up at least 6 months after the injection. By the final visit, the mean correction of preinjection deviation was 52.7% in esotropia, and 56.8% in exotropia, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups. Two patients of hypertropia obtained poor alignment chan ges after the injection. Among 13 patients with sixth nerve palsy, 10 who received injection only obtained mean 53.2% of correction and 3 patients who underwent both the injection and Jensen operation obtained 71.6%. In the one case of old intraorbital foreign body, lateral and inferior deviation before the injection were 60 P.D. and 20 P.D. respectively. After 5 months of injection, it improved to orthophoria and diplopia disappeared at primary position. The most common complication was ptosis, and it occurred in 19 patients(39.5%). Induced vertical deviation had the longest mean duration, lasting for 71.1 dyas. Twelve of 48 patients did not show any complications. No systemic complications were observed in any of the patients.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Diplopia ; Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Strabismus*

Mammalian epithelia produce the various antimicrobial peptides against the bacterial or viral infection, thereby acting as the active immune modulators in the innate immunity. In this study, we examined the effects of the various proinflammatory cytokines or LPS on cell viability and antimicrobial beta-defensin gene expressions in human corneal epithelial cells. Results showed that the cytokines or LPS did not exert severe cytotoxic effects on the cells, and that beta-defensin 1 was constitutively expressed, while beta-defensin 2 was specifically induced by IL-1beta, supporting the idea that these cytokines or LPS involve the defense mechanism in the cornea. Furthermore, the reporter and gel shift assay to define the induction mechanism of beta-defensin 2 by IL-1beta demonstrated that the most proximal NF-kB site on the promoter region of beta-defensin 2 was not critical for the process. Data obtained from the normal or patients with the varying ocular diseases showed that our in vitro results were relevant in the clinical settings. Our results clearly demonstrated that beta-defensin 1 and 2 are important antimicrobial peptides in the corneal tissues, and that the mechanistic induction process of beta-defensin 2 by IL-1beta is not solely dependent on proximal NF-kB site activation, thus suggesting that the long distal portion of the promoter is needed for the full responsiveness toward IL-1beta.
Binding, Competitive ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Corneal Diseases/metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Epithelium, Corneal/drug effects/*immunology/metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interferon Type II/metabolism/pharmacology ; Interleukin-1/*pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism/pharmacology ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics)/drug effects/genetics ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism/pharmacology ; beta-Defensins/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism

BACKGROUND: Today, the eradication of H. pylori represents a generally accepted and beneficial therapeutic strategy for treatment and prevention of peptic ulcer relapse. Major factors that have affected H. pylori eradication are eradication rate of regimen, compliance of patients and complications of drugs. Recently, the combination of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin has been accepted as one of the most effective treatment for the eradication of H. pylori. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this therapeutic modality in Korean patients. METHODS: Two hundred twenty three patients with peptic ulcer and H. pylori infection were taken two types of triple therapy. Group A were treated with omeprazole 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 500 mg tid, clarithromycin 500 mg tid daily for 14 days. Group B were treated with omeprazole 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 1g bid, clarithromycin 500 mg bid daily for 7 days. Endoscopy with H. pylori tests was repeated 4 weeks after the end of treatment and then biopsy specimens were taken in antrum and body. CLO test and Warthin Starry silver stain were conducted concordantly. RESULTS: The H. pylori eradication rate was 92.5% in group A, 90.4% in group B. There was no significant difference in eradication rate. More than 50% of ulcer size reduction was observed 90.5% in group A, 86.3% in group B. There was no significant difference in ulcer healing(p > 0.05). The incidence of all side effects in both group were as follows; 22.6% in group A, 19.1% in group B. But major side effect was found only group A, of whom the symptom was too serious for the treatment to continue. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the seven days regimen was more favorable, because the eradication rate was almost the same as the 14 days regimen. And drug compliance and cost effectiveness were better than 14 days treatment regimen.
Amoxicillin* ; Biopsy ; Clarithromycin* ; Compliance ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Endoscopy ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Omeprazole* ; Peptic Ulcer ; Recurrence ; Silver ; Ulcer

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The most feared complication of gastrointestinal tract operations is anastomotic leakage, not only because of the presumed individual surgeon's culpability but also because of the assumption that this event is often fatal. We have experienced 32 cases of anastomotic leakage after elective gastric resection during 8 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the result of their treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the records of 1335 patients who had undergone elective gastric resection for an adenocarcinoma of stomach from January 1995 to October 2003 and conducted a retrospective, multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 1335 patients, 32 (2.4%) sustained an anastomotic leakage. Anastomotic leakages usually developed on mean postoperative day 9.1+/-3.2 (range:1~18 days). Overall, 31.3% (10/32) of patients who sustained an anastomotic leakage died. The anastomotic leakages were identifed by radiological study or by operative finding at the site of the duodenal stump (20 patients), the esophagojejunostomy (7), the gastroduodenostomy (4), and the gastrojejunostomy (1). Fourteen patients (43.8%) underwent a relaparotomy, a drainage procedure in the main, and 18 patients (56.3%) were treated conservatively. The mortality rates were 42.9% (6/14) and 22.2% (4/18), respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant. A cox's proportional hazard analysis showed that a body-mass Index < 24 kg/m2 (odds ratio 5.55, 95% CI: 0.69~44.82) and non-enteral feeding (odds ratio 18.27, 95% CI 2.22~150.69) were independent factors of mortality due to anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSION: Our observations show that anastomotic leakage after an elective gastric resection has a high risk of being fatal. Moreover, for a patient with a body-mass index lower than 24 kg/m2 and/or non-enteral feeding, an anastomotic leakage after an elective gastric resection has a higher risk of being fatal.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Anastomotic Leak* ; Drainage ; Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrectomy* ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms