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

No abstract available.

A study was undertaken during the past 2 years of patients who visited the infertility clinic of this hospital. The patients included those with male infertility, scrotal mass, scrotal pain or impotence. These patients were studied by means of reviewing the clinical applications of 'Scrotogram' and the following results were obtained. A total of 122 cases underwent a 'Scrotogram' study and among them 80 cases were diagnosed as varicocele, which included 14 cases( 18%) of subclinical varicocele which are difficult to be diagnosed by initial physical examination. There was statistical significance in the varicocele index between the control group and the Grade I varicocele group(p<0.01) and between the control group and subclinical varicocele group(p<0.01), and between the Grade I and Grade II group.(p<0.01), and between the Grade II and Grade II group(p<0.05). Among 66 clinical varicocele patients, 63 cases(80% ) were diagnosed by varicocele index, and 54 cases(82% ) were diagnosed by static image. A combination of the above two methods allowed 61 cases(92%) to be diagnosed. Among 48 patients who underwent high ligation of internal spermatic vein, 25 patients were subject to postoperative follow-up 'Scrotogram', which revealed 12 cases with excellent results, 8 cases with good results, and 5 cases with poor results. The average varicocele index before and after surgery was 1.78 and 1.24 and there were statistical significance(p<0.01). There was statistical significance, in sperm count and motility between the control group and clinical varicocele group(p <0.01) and between the control group and subclinical varicocele group(p <0.01). However, there appeared no statistical significance in semen character between the clinical varicocele and subclinical varicocele group. Among the 13 patients who were subject to postoperative follow-up semen analysis 11 patient showed improved results, and there was marked improvement in sperm count(p<0.05). There was slight improvement in sperm motility and morphology but showed no statistical significance. At present, 2 patients were impreged. Among 110 patients with infertility and olieoasthenoteratozoospermia, 22 were initially diagnose as varicocele by physical examination only, and 7 patients were diagnosed as subclinical varicocele after a 'Scrotogram' was taken. In conclusion, the 'Scrotogram' is able to identify varicocele objectively, and also identify subclinical varicocele which is an important contributing factor to male infertility. Also, this method of study is able to assess the postoperative result of varicocele accurately.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Ligation ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Varicocele ; Veins

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of an endodontic infection on presence of furcation involvement in periodontally-involved mandibular molars. All first and second mandibualr molars in 45 patients were selected if at least one was root-filled or had a possible periapical radiolucency. The sample consisted of patients from a referral population at a periodotnal clinic which represented an adult population with a mean age of 47.5 years (range 31 to 63) For mandibular molars with periapical destruction at both roots, frequency of horizontal furcation depth > or = 3 mm was significantly more compared to teeth without periapical destruction. Mean periodontal probing depth was significantly greater at mandibular molars with periapical destruction. It is suggested that a root canal infection in periodontitis-involved molars may potentiate periodontitis progression by spreading of endodontic pathgens through patent accessory canals and dentinal tubules. In conclusion, an endodontic infection in mandibular molars was found to be associated with additional attachment loss in the furcation area, and may thus be considered to be one of several risk factors influencing the prognosis of molars in periodontitis-prone patients.
Adult ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dentin ; Humans ; Molar* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Tooth