As modern society becomes increasingly complex, there has been a steady increase in violence, as well as in automobile and industrial accidents. This has resulted in an increased incidence of facial injuries, including mandibular fractures. Many methods have been advocated to achieve reestablishment of normal feature and function. The choice generally depends upon such factors as location of the fractures, displacements, status of the dentition and favorability of the fracture line. Many cases of mandibular fracture are treated by intermaxillay fixation using an arch bar or bite block(acrylic splint)for rapid bone union and minimal displacement. However, there had been some problems, such as discomfort to patients, limitation to eating and weight loss, poor oral hygiene, and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. As a consequence, we have modified the shape of the acrylic splint and method of fixation for circum-mandibular fixation instead of intermaxillary fixation. Acrylic splints are rigid, strong, easily adjusted and repaired, translucent, lightweight and well tolerated by the oral mucosa. The splints are properly secured to each tooth and bind all the teeth together as a single unit. Authors have used modified acrylic splints as tools of circum-mandibular fixation in 12 cases of mandibular symphysis and body fracture from May 1997 to August 1998, achieving the results of very good occlusal relationship, oral hygiene and comfort to patients.
Accidents, Occupational ; Ankylosis ; Automobiles ; Dentition ; Eating ; Facial Injuries ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandibular Fractures* ; Mouth Mucosa ; Oral Hygiene ; Splints* ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Tooth ; Violence ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the differences in clinical parameters and survival rates between the primary tumor (T) and nodal involvement (N) in stage II cancers. METHODS: This report is a retrospective clinical analysis of 100 patients of stage II gastric cancer who were treated surgically at the Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1999. Among the 100 patients, the pT3N0 group included 48 patients, and the pT2N1 group 52 patients. In this study, we used the UICC TNM staging system (the fourth edition). RESULTS: There were no significant differences except for age and tumor sizes between the pT3N0 and the pT2N1 groups with regard to the mode of presentation, sex, location of tumor, type of resection, lymph node dissection, Borrmann and Lauren classification, cell cytology, recurrence, number of resected lymph nodes, and the 5-year survival rate. Based on the number of lymph nodal metastases, no significant difference was observed in the 5-year survival rate, but based on the ratio of lymph nodal metastases, the 5-year survival rate for those with up to 20% frequency of metastases was 85.2% and the 5-year survival rate for those with greater than 20% was 40.0%, which is significant difference in the 5-year survival rate. CONCLUSION: In stage II gastric cancer, there was no difference between the pT3N0 and the pT2N1 group, except that in the pT2N1 group, a subdivision of the pN stage according to the ratio of lymph nodal metastases could be successfully applied to the clinical evaluation of stage II gastric cancer.
Classification ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

Cat liver fluke (Platynosomum fastosum) was identified upon necropsy of a Felis catus (domestic cat). This trematode has not been reported in domestic cats previously in Korea. Diagnosis of this fluke was made by the presence of eggs in the feces of the cat through the fecal sedimentation method. Flukes in the gallbladder, bile duct, and liver parenchyma were revealed by the necropsy findings. This report describes as the first case of a domestic cat with Platynosomum fastosum in Korea.
Animals ; Bile Ducts ; Cats ; Eggs ; Fasciola hepatica ; Feces ; Gallbladder ; Korea ; Liver ; Ovum ; Trematoda

Cat liver fluke (Platynosomum fastosum) was identified upon necropsy of a Felis catus (domestic cat). This trematode has not been reported in domestic cats previously in Korea. Diagnosis of this fluke was made by the presence of eggs in the feces of the cat through the fecal sedimentation method. Flukes in the gallbladder, bile duct, and liver parenchyma were revealed by the necropsy findings. This report describes as the first case of a domestic cat with Platynosomum fastosum in Korea.
Animals ; Bile Ducts ; Cats ; Eggs ; Fasciola hepatica ; Feces ; Gallbladder ; Korea ; Liver ; Ovum ; Trematoda

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), an acetylated form of L-carnitine, is able to influence the activity of cholinergic neurons, cell membrane stabilization and enhancing mitochondrial function. A 52-year-old woman was referred to neurology clinic for memory impairment within 1 year. She was administered ALC as dose of 1,500 mg per day for improving memory decline. After 14 days from administrating ALC, she complained vivid dreams at every night. Vivid dream was disappeared after ceasing ALC. Another patient, a 72-year-old man, visited neurology clinic for cognitive decline for 2 years. After 20 days from administering ALC with dose of 1,500 mg per day, he also suffered from vivid dreams at every night. His previous stable sleep was also restored after ceasing ALC. ALC supplementation may present vivid dreams as a side effect. Possibility of vivid dream as a side effect should be considered during the management with oral ALC.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Aged ; Carnitine ; Cell Membrane ; Cholinergic Neurons ; Dreams* ; Female ; Humans ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Neurology

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is important in both diabetic complications and the development and the progression of type 2 diabetes via the effects on the pancreatic beta-cells. EGCG (epigallocatechin galleate), a major constituent of green tea, has been known to have beneficial effects on various diseases through the mechanisms of antioxidant and cell signaling modulation. But, very small numbers of studies were published about the direct effects of EGCG on the pancreatic beta cell lines. We performed this study to see the protective effect of EGCG on pancreatic beta cell line under H2O2 and the mechanisms of this phenomenon. METHODS: We used INS-1 cells and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidative stressor. Their viabilities were verified by MTT assay and FACS. The activity of glutathione peroxidase was assessed by total glutathione quantification kit. Western blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR for the catalase, SOD (superoxide dismutase), PI3K and Akt were performed. Functional status of INS-1 cells was tested by GSIS (glucose stimulated insulin secretion). RESULTS: The biological effects of EGCG were different according to its concentrations. 10 micrometer EGCG effectively protected hydrogen peroxide induced damage in INS-1 cells. The expression and the activity of SOD, catalase and the glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased by EGCG. EGCG significantly increased PI3K and Akt activity and its effect was inhibited partially by wortmannin. GSIS was well preserved by EGCG. CONCLUSION: EGCG in low concentration effectively protected INS-1 cells from the oxidative stress through the activation of both antioxidant systems and anti-apoptosis signaling. Further studies will be necessary for the more detailed mechanisms and the clinical implications.
Androstadienes ; Blotting, Western ; Catalase ; Diabetes Complications ; Glutathione ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Oxidative Stress ; Tea

Odontoblasts are responsible for the formation and maintenance of dentin. They are known to synthesize unique gene products including dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP). Another unique genes of the cells remain unclear. OD314 was isolated from the odontoblasts/pulp cells of rats and partially characterized as an odontoblast-enriched gene (Dey et al., 2001). This study aimed to elucidate the biological function of OD314, relating to odontoblast differentiation and dentinogenesis. After determining the open reading frame (ORF) of OD314 by transient transfection analysis using green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression vector, mRNA in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western analysis were performed. The results were as follows: 1. In in-situ hybridization, OD314 mRNAs were expressed in odontoblasts of developing coronal and root pulp. 2. OD314 was a novel protein encoding 154 amino acids, and the protein was mainly expressed in cytoplasm by transient transfection analysis. 3. Mineralized nodules were associated with multilayer cell nodules in the culture of human dental pulp cells and first detected from day 21 using alizarin-red S staining. 4. In RT-PCR analysis, OD314, osteocalcin (OC) and DSPP strongly expressed throughout 28 days of culture. Whereas, osteonectin (ON) mRNA expression stayed low up to day 14, and then gradually decreased from day 21. 5. Western blots showed an approximately 17 kDa band. OD314 protein was expressed from the start of culture and then increased greatly from day 21. In conclusion, OD314 is considered as an odontoblast-enriched gene and may play important roles in odontoblast differentiation and dentin mineralization.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cytoplasm ; Dental Pulp ; Dentin ; Dentinogenesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Odontoblasts ; Open Reading Frames ; Osteocalcin ; Osteonectin ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection

BACKGROUND: The sitting position for shoulder arthroscopic surgery can cause critical hypotension, a reduction in cerebral blood flow and possible cerebral ischemia due to decreased venous return.The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a positional change to the sitting position on the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) through ECG, invasive blood pressure monitoring and near-infrared spectrometry. METHODS: Thirty five patients of ASA class I or II undergoing shoulder surgery were chosen randomly.General anesthesia was administered with sevoflurane and a mixed gas of medical air and oxygen.The MAP, HR, rSO2 and rate of change in the rSO2 on the left and right side were measured at the following times:after induction when the MAP and HR were stabilized (baseline), 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after placing the patient in the sitting position. RESULTS: The MAP decreased significantly at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after placing the patient in the sitting position.The HR increased significantly at 1 min and 3 min after placing the patient in the sitting position, and decreased significantly at 15 min and 20 min after placing the patient in the sitting position.The rSO2 showed a significant decrease at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min on the left side and at 10 min, 15 min and 20 min on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: The MAP and rSO2 significantly decreased after placing the patient in the sitting position but there were no neurological complications.However, close monitoring of the MAP and rSO2 is required in elderly patients or patients with cerebrovascular disease is recommended while the patient is in the sitting position in order to avoid neurological complications.
Aged ; Anesthesia ; Arterial Pressure ; Arthroscopy ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Brain Ischemia ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Methyl Ethers ; Oxygen ; Shoulder ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared

Perfusion scintigraphy has proved to be an essential part for the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism. The wedge shaped perfusion defect extending to lung base is a highly probable finding of pulmonary embolism. Occasionally, great perfusion defects could be presented as a false positive finding under the circumstance of nonthromboembolic origin, such as neoplastic compression or invasion of pulmonary artery. We report an unusual case of massive perfusion defect resulting from pulmonary arterial compression by bronchogenic carcinoma. A 71-year-old man visited our hospital because of productive cough and was diagnosed as bronchogenic carcinoma. The perfusion scintigraphy showed unilateral total defect of lung, not accompanied by any clinical evidence of thromboembolism. A contrast enhanced computed tomogram showed heterogeneous mass shadow in left hilum, abutting to the descending aorta and compressing left main pulmonary artery. These findings suggested a nonembolic mechanism of perfusion defects which were produced by the neoplastic compression of pulmonary artery.
Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung* ; Perfusion Imaging ; Perfusion* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thromboembolism

The aim of this meta-analysis study was to examine the effectiveness of exercise interventions on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pertaining to cognitive function such as attention and impulsivity in children.ZA comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases including Korean Information Service System, DBpia, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Assembly Library from 1995 to 2014. Search terms included 'ADHD', 'children', 'exercise', 'physical activity', and 'sports'. Standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and the heterogeneity of the studies was estimated using Q statistic. That is, these results revealed that effectiveness of exercise groups was higher by approximately 32% compared with control groups.ZEight studies (n=150) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis suggested that exercise has a moderate to large effect on core symptoms involved in attention [effect size (ES)=0.93] and impulsivity (ES=0.92) in children with ADHD. The main findings indicate that exercise, based on several types of exercise intervention, appears to be effective for mitigating symptoms such as attention, impulsivity in children with ADHD. From this perspective, exercise might be an effective adjunctive therapy for enhancing the effects of medication in children with ADHD. Future study related to exercise effect on ADHD symptoms is required in order to understand the specific evidence of relationship between exercise and core symptoms.
Child* ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Information Dissemination ; Information Services ; Population Characteristics