PURPOSE: The inhibitory effect of TGFbeta1 on survivals of L1210 and anticancer drug- resistant L1210 sublines was investigated and the gene expression of TGFbeta1 in these cells was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survivals of L1210, adriamycin-resistant(L1210AdR), vincristine-resistant(L1210VcR) or cisplatin-resistant(L1210Cis) cells were measured by MTT assay after treatment of TGFbeta1. Northern analysis was performed for TGFbeta1 gene expression in L1210, L1210AdR, L1210VcR or L1210Cis. RESULTS: There was no different survival ratio between two groups, control and TGFbeta1(10 ng/ml) treated groups in L1210 cells. However, the survival ratio of L1210AdR was 59% in TGFbeta1 treated group for 96 hours. The survival ratio of L1210VcR was 61% for 96 hours in TGFbeta1 treated group. The survival ratio of L1210Cis was 40% for 96 hours in TGFbeta1 treated group. Expressions of TGFbeta1 gene in drug-resistant sublines were significantly decreased than that of L1210 cells. CONCLUSION: Growth of anticancer drug-resistant L1210 sublines were inhibited by TGFbeta1 but not in L1210 cells. So, it is suggested that TGFbeta1 gene expression may have a part in anticancer drug-resistance.
Control Groups ; Gene Expression

878 enrolled subjects were divided into 4 age groups: control group, aged 18-44, medium group, aged 45-59, senil group, aged 60-74 and older group, aged 75-90. Kidney-renal cavity parenchyma and the ratio of kidney-renal cavity parenchyma had varied according to the age and the most obvious variation was in the eldest group. There was a strictly negative correlation between the age and the variation of kidney parenchyma and kidney parachyma – renal cavity ratio.
Ultrasonography ; Aged ; Control Groups

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fracture resistance of crown-root fractured teeth repaired with dual-cured composite resin and horizontal posts. 48 extracted human premolars were assigned to control group and three experimental groups. Complete crown-root fractures were experimentally induced in all control and experimental teeth. In the control group, the teeth (n=12) were bonded with resin cement and endodontically treated. Thereafter, the access cavities were sealed with dual-cured composite resin. In composite resin core - post group (n=12), the teeth were endodontically treated and access cavities were sealed with dual-cured composite resin. In addition, the fractured segments in this group were fixed using horizontal posts. In composite resin core group (n=12), the teeth were endodontically treated and the access cavities were filled with dual-cured composite resin without horizontal posts. In bonded amalgam group (n=12), the teeth were endodontically treated and the access cavities were sealed with bonded amalgam. Experimental complete crown-root fractures were induced again on repaired control and experimental teeth. The ratio of fracture resistance to original fracture resistance was analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis test. The results showed that teeth in control and composite resin core - post group showed significantly higher resistance to re-fracture than those in amalgam core group (p < 0.05). The resistance to refracture was high in the order of composite resin - post group, control group, composite resin group and bonded amalgam group. Within the scope of this study, the use of horizontal post could be beneficial in increasing the fracture resistance of previously fractured teeth.
Bicuspid ; Control Groups ; Humans ; Resin Cements ; Tooth

In 1991-1998 year period, 50 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients (divided into 2 groups: case group and control group) were treated by phylamin. Good results were manifested, patient resistance capacity enhanced in the course of irradiation, reduced the prosibility of development of communicable disease by 2.5 times. Patients had weight gain, maintaining their working productivity and selt service capacity. 3 years survival duration had got 77% in case group, while 40% in control group.
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Therapeutics ; Weight Gain ; Control Groups

69 patients with systemic lupus erythema (SLE) at the Central Institute of Dermatology and Venerology were studied on. The control group included 57 healthy blood donors. The investigation on the existance of 2bp compression phenomenon on exon 29 using PCR technique showed that: C4A deficiency caused by 2bp compression on exon 29 was not detected on these patients of SLE and in control subjects also. There was no relation between the deficiency of the gene encoding C4A caused by 2bp compression on exon 29 and the development of SLE.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/deficiency ; Control Groups ; Tissue Donors

The physical properties of seven sizes of control groups and experimental group in stainless steel orthodontic wires were studied in tension, hardness, bending, torsion and observation of microstructure. The wires (0.40-0.90mm dia.) of round type were tested in the as-received condition. The wires of control groups were TRU-CHROME and REMANlUM, and experimental group was SK wire which was developed by ourselves and made in Korea. The results were as follows; 1. The chemical compositions of control groups and experimental group were austenite stainless steel wires of SOS 304. 2. Higher values of tensile and yield strength in tension were control group I, experimental group, control group II. Maximum tensile and yield strength of experimental group were 203.63 +/- 1.41kgjmm2 in 0.70mm diameter and 148.96 +/- 4.88kg/mm2 in 0.60mm diameter, and maximum elongation was 5.20 +/- 0.57% in 0.45mm diameter. 3. Hardness values of experimental group were similar to control groups. Maximum hardness values were 596.2 +/- 13.66Hv in 0.45mm diameter wire of control group I, 5 90.5 +/- 20.08Hv in 0.50mm diameter wire of control group II, and 563.6 +/- 5.35Hv in 0.70mm diameter wire of experimental group. 4. Torsion properties of experimental group were similar to control group I and more than control group II. Maximum torsion cycles were 31.8 +/- 2.48 in 0.45mm diameter of control group I, 17.4 +/- 4.84 in 0.60mm diameter of control group II, and 24.6 +/- 3.04 in 0.45mm diameter of experimental group. 5. Maximum bending cycles of experimental group were smaller than control groups. Maximum bending cycles were 9.00 +/- 0.00 in 0.50mm diameter wire of control group I, 10.0 +/- 0.82 in 0.40mm diameter wire of control group II, and 8.0 +/- 1.26 in 0.50mm diameter wire of experimental group. 6. Microstructures of experimental and control groups co-existed with martensited austenite structure and elongated austenite structure. 7. The direction of wire fracture was propagated parallel to torsion direction typically and there was no probability showing wire fracture at inclusions and surface scratches. 8. The type of wire fracture was brittle fracture at initiation site and ductile fracture at core.
Control Groups ; Hardness ; Korea* ; Orthodontic Wires* ; Stainless Steel*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of electrical stimulation over the trunk in improving trunk control during early stroke rehabilitation. METHOD: Thirty-two acute and subacute hemiparetic stroke patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups, control group or electrical stimulation (ES) group. Both groups received the same physical therapy for 3 weeks. ES group received additional electrical stimulation over the posterior back muscles for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week for 3 weeks. Outcome measurements included Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS), total score of postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS), trunk control subscale of postural assessment scale for stroke patients (PASS-TC), trunk control test (TCT), Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI), and motricity index (MI). These measurements were checked before and after treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics and initial values between two groups. Following 3 weeks therapy, the changes of TCT and PASS-TC scores in the ES group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p <0.05). The changes of K-BBS, PASS, and K-MBI scores in the ES group tend to be higher than those in the control group. However the differences were not statistically significant. The changes of PASS-TC and TCT scores were significantly correlated with the changes of BBS and K-MBI scores at discharge. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that electrical stimulation over the trunk may be a beneficial therapeutic technique in improving trunk control in acute and subacute hemiparetic stroke patients.
Control Groups ; Electric Stimulation ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Muscles ; Stroke

The purpose of present study is comparing the effect of Teflon Membrane and Nylon Membrane on bone regeneration in rabbit tibia. The 6 defects of 8x8x5mm size were drilled with dental handpiece in rabbit tibia, which on left side as an order of Control group(no coverage), Group 1(Nylon 5 micrometer size), Group 3(Nylon 10 micrometer size), and on right side Control group, Group 2(5 micrometer Teflon), Group 4(10 micrometer Teflon). Animals were killed at 7, 10, 14, 42 days to make specimens and observed the difference of healing potentials with light microscopy. The results were as follows ; 1. New bone formation has taken place at 14 days in Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) group comparing to the Control group of massive inflammatory status. 2. Larger pore membrane allows more favorable healing potentials. Bone formation started earlier in larger membrane pore groups than smaller groups, until 14 days. 3. Bone forming potentials of Teflon membrane group was higher than Nylon membrane groups, Control group has the lowest bone forming potentials. 4. New bone formation was almost ended in 42 days, and there was no difference of bone formation between Nylon and Teflon membrane group of different size. There was no difference of bone formation at final stage(42 days) between Nylon membrane and Teflon membrane of same pore size. So nylon membrane may be clinically usable in guided bone regeneration case with further studies.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Control Groups ; Membranes* ; Microscopy ; Nylons* ; Osteogenesis ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Tibia*

This study was performed to detect the oxidative stress in the cornea and lens in vivo by fluorophotometer after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). Twenty New Zealand white rabbits(20 eyes)were divided into two groups, control group(10 eyes)and PRK group(10 eyes). Rabbits of PRK group underwent PRK(8 diopters)and 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)was applied on the central cornea 6 hours after PRK in both groups. Fluorophotometric readings of the cornea and lens were measured 15 minutes(F15)and 30 minutes(F30)after DCFH-DA application in both groups. The cornea and lens was observed with slit lamp biomicroscope for 8 weeks. F15 and F30 of the cornea in PRK group(3.83+/-1.22 ng/ml, 5.12+/-1.57 ng/ml)were significantly higher than those in control group(2.61+/-0.59 ng/ml Eq, 3.26+/-0.76 ng/ml Eq)(p=0.01, p=0.005). F15 and F30 of the lens in PRK group(409.7+/-157.2 ng/ml, 594.9+/-242.2 ng/ml Eq)were significantly higher than those in control group(74.1+/-48.3 ng/ml Eq, 310.1+/-249.8 ng/ml Eq)(p=0.0004, p=0.01). No lens opacity developed and F15 and F30 of the cornea did not correlate with corneal haze determined at postoperative 8 weeks. In this study, we demonstrated increased oxygen free radicals in the cornea and lens after PRK by fluorophotometer in vivo and this method can be used as a useful tool to investigate the possible damage induced by oxygen free radicals in the cornea and lens after excimer laser corneal ablation.
Cataract ; Control Groups ; Cornea* ; Free Radicals* ; Lasers, Excimer* ; New Zealand ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen* ; Rabbits ; Reading

The Korean medical community has recently faced political conflicts with the government in the implementation of the Korean diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment system. This study found that scientific evidence is insufficient so far to support the claim that the DRG results in lower medical expenses without sacrificingthe quality of health care. There is no 'free lunch' and 'free DRG' as well. Unreasonable and compulsory implementation of the Korean DRG may give rise to an unwanted burden to both the Korean people and medical community. The economic burden of the patient is unlikely to decrease after Korean DRG application, given the lack of scientific and political evidence for this possibility. We can expect that the systems will be effective in holding down medical expenses in the long term. However, it will not be practical without the reduction of medical expenses by means such as reducing hospitalization service and other medical service amount. The enforcement of the Korean DRG payment system appears to be one of the typical cases of excessive state intervention in health policy in the history of Korea.
Cost Control ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Health Policy ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Quality of Health Care