Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the distribution characteristics of radiological damage to the hand of rheumatoid arthritis patients and evaluate its effectiveness using a new damage assessment method. Methods: Hand radiographs of a total of 127 rheumatoid arthritis patients were evaluated. We simplified the pre-existing van der Heijde modified total sharp score to assess the extent of bone damage. We selected 36 joints in both hands as regions of interest in our own way, and the erosion and joint space narrowing were scored. Results: When the erosion and joint space narrowing score values of each joint of the hand were added together, the joint space narrowing score was higher than the overall erosion score. We can see that the scaphoid,lunate,radius and ulnar joints have higher erosion scores, and the 4th proximal interphalangeal (PIP), Scaphoid, Lunate, and Radius joints have higher joint space narrowing scores than other joints. These damage assessment results were similar to the results from the previous damage assessment model. Conclusions The joint space narrowing score is higher than the erosion score, suggesting that joint space narrowing precedes erosion. When checking the hand X-ray of rheumatoid arthritis patients, it is necessary to carefully check the scaphoid,lunate,radius and ulnar and 4th PIP joints, which relatively high radiographic damage scores. Also, the damage assessment model used in this study is relatively simple and does not show difference in analysis results from existing assessment models, so it can be considered for application in follow-up research.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extracts of Scutellaria Radix on the alveolar bone formation in the extract socket of rat. Thirty-six Sprague-dawley rats were used in this study. Mean body weight of rat was 130+/-5g. Experimental animal were administered 0.4% beta-aminopropionitril(Sigma, USA) with the solid commercial food for 5 days. All the maxillary 1st molar of the rats were extracted by using of the tissue forcep under the general anesthesia with Pentobarbital sodium(Tokyo Chemical Co., Japan) injection into intraperitoneal space. All the extracted rats were divided into two group, experimental group which were feeded the solid food mixed ethanolic extracts of Scutellaria Radix, and control group which were feeded same food without reagent. At 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 14th days after tooth extraction, rats in both groups were serially sacrificed respectively. All the specimen were treated as usual method and prepared Hematoxylin-eosin stain for the light microscopic observation. The results were as follows : 1. Bone formation of extracted socket starts from the area on remained periodontal ligament than other area. 2. In the case of administration of the extracted Scutellaria Radix showed rapid healing process of connective tissue than non-administrated group. 3. In the case of administration of the extracted Scutellaria Radixshowed rapid osteogenesis than non-administrated With above results, it was concluded that ethanolic extracts of Scutellaria Radix may play a favorable role on the healing process of exatraction socket after extraction in rats. It was suggested that further study to evaluate the different concentration and administration method of ethanolic extracts of the Scutellaria Radix into same experimental model.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Connective Tissue ; Ethanol* ; Models, Theoretical ; Molar ; Osteogenesis* ; Pentobarbital ; Periodontal Ligament ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scutellaria* ; Surgical Instruments ; Tooth Extraction

One of the fundamental causes of periodontal disease is accumulation of bacterial plaque and calculus and most effective method of removing these plaque and calculus are scaling and root planning using hand curet and ultrasonic scaler. Many studies concerning residual degenerated mineral content after periodontal therapies have been carried out, but some problems about these studies were also known. This research studies mineral concents and distribution of residual root surfaces after perfoming hand curet and ultrasonic scaler on root surfaces of single rooted teeth which were extracted for periodontal reasons. EPMA were used to avoid errors from chemical quantative analysis and in addition SEM observation was also performed. The results were as follows. 1. No differences were found between curet group andultrasonic scaler group in Ca, P, Mg and Na level. 2. Concentration level was decreased in the sequence of Ca, P, Mg and Na. 3. Ca and P level were decreased as going to apical portion at curet group and ultrasonic scaler group. 4. More cementum was removed at cervical portion compared to other portion at curet group and ultrasonic scaler group. 5. Ca, P, Mg level was higher in dentin compared to cememtum. There was no difference in mineral level for Ca, P, Mg and Na between root surfaces treated with hand curet and ultrasonic scaler.
Calculi ; Dental Cementum ; Dentin ; Hand ; Periodontal Diseases ; Tooth ; Ultrasonics*

Objective: . Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder characterized by chronic diffuse pain and enhanced pain response to stimuli and is caused by central sensitization. Tinnitus also is related to central sensitization. So we investigated the impact of tinnitus on FM. Methods: . We included 22 FM patients with tinnitus and 25 FM patients without tinnitus. We assessed a range of symptoms using the Widespread Pain Index; Symptom Severity Score scale; Visual Analogue Scale of pain; and the Korean versions of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Short-form Health Survey (SF-36). Information about the severity of tinnitus in FM patients was evaluated using the Korean version of the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ-K). Results: . There were significant differences between the group that had mild tinnitus (THQ＜38) and the group that had moderate-to-severe tinnitus (THQ≥38) for FIQ score (p=0.025) and for the physical functioning (p=0.003), social functioning (p=0.035), and mental health (p=0.017) components of the SF-36. Also, after dividing patients into 2 groups according to insomnia severity, significant differences were observed in FIQ score (p=0.002) and in body pain (p=0.001), general health (p=0.008), vitality (p=0.003), social functioning (p=0.003), role limitation due to emotional condition (p=0.001), and mental health (p＜0.001) components of the SF-36. Conclusion . The FM patients with severe tinnitus had more functional impairments and lower quality of life than those with mild tinnitus. Severe insomnia also was accompanied by worse health status and lower quality of life.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the regenerated bone histollogically using titanium reinforced ePTFE(TR-ePTFE) membrane and to investigate cell occlusiveness, wound stabilization and tissue integration of TR-ePTFE membrane. Adult male rabbits (mean BW 2kg) and TR9W (W.L.Gore&Associate.INC,USA) were used in this study. Intramarrow penetration defects were surgically created with round carbide bur(HP long #6) on calvaria of rabbits. TR-ePTFE membrane was applied to defect. Then guided bone regeneration was carried out using TRePTFE membrane and resorbable suture. At 2,4,8,12 weeks after the surgery, animals were sacrificed. Nondecalcified specimens were processed for histologic analysis. The result and conclusion of this study were as follows: 1. TR-ePTFE membrane had good ability of biocompatibility and cell occlusiveness. 2. space making for guided bone regenerayion was good at TR-ePTFE membrane. 3. Tissue integration was not good at TR-ePTFE membrane. So, wound stabilization was not good. 4. At 8 weeks, 12 weeks after GBR procedure, bone formation was seen. From the above results, TR -ePTFE membrane fixed tightiy on alveolar bone might be recommended for the early bone formation.
Adult ; Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes* ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Skull ; Sutures ; Titanium* ; Wounds and Injuries

We report a patient with AIDS, who initially presented with progressive cognitive impairment and gait disturbance. A T2-weighted brain MRI demonstrated multiple hyperintensities in bilateral periventricular white matter, thalami, brainstem, cerebellum, and left temporo-occipital white matter. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot for HIV were positive. The CD4+ T-cell count was 158 cells/mm3 and the plasma HIV RNA level was 65, 000 copies/mL. Highly active antiretroviral therapy was administered.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Dementia* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gait ; HIV ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plasma ; RNA ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: The goal of therapeutic interventions for Parkinson's Disease (PD) is to improve the symptoms and mitigate the effect on the Quality of Life (QOL) in the individual patient. The purpose of this study was to investigate QOL and related factors in PD patients in Korea. METHODS: Between January 1, 2004 and July 15, 2004, eighty-one PD patients were included. The patients were assessed using Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life (PDQL), Modified Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and K-MMSE. RESULTS: Twenty-five male and 56 female patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.7 years and the mean disease duration was 7 years. The male patients (p=0.07) and young age at onset (p=0.07) showed borderline correlation with PDQL score. Medical cost for PD showed significant correlation with PDQL score (p<0.001). The patients working in the daytime or spending the daytime with their spouse showed significantly higher PDQL score than those who did not (p=0.01). Among the disease characteristics, the disease duration, levodopa dosage, UPDRS score, ADL, Hoehn and Yahr stage, the presence of motor fluctuation and dyskinesia, showed that depression had a strong correlation with the PDQL score (p<0.001). On the stepwise regression analysis, the most important factor was presence of depression, disease duration and the UPDRS total score in order of strength. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL in PD patients was strongly associated with depression, disease duration, and the severity of PD. We suggest that the assessment and proper management of depression as well as other PD symptoms is necessary to improve QOL of the PD patients.
Activities of Daily Living ; Depression ; Dyskinesias ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Levodopa ; Male ; Parkinson Disease* ; Quality of Life* ; Regression Analysis ; Spouses

Chorea is an uncommon clinical manifestation of Sytemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its pathogenic mechanism has not been clearly clarified. We report a 54-year-old woman with SLE who presented with generalized chorea as an initial manifestation. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET revealed increased metabolism in the bilateral putamen. Intravenous and oral administration of steroid markedly improved chorea. Hypermetabolism of the bilateral putamen diminished on follow-up FDG-PET after the disappearance of chorea. This study suggests that chorea in SLE is associated with striatal hypermetabolism.
Administration, Oral ; Chorea* ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Putamen