OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to find the relationship between oral health conditions of elderly people and closures of public dental health clinics in rural areas. METHODS: Oral examinations and surveys were conducted in 2011 from May 11 through November 4 on 383 seniors over 65-years and under 74 years old. RESULTS: The results of this study were as follows: 1. The results of comparative analysis of the usage behaviors of health clinics of subjects in relation to the closures of public dental clinics within the area showed that the usage level and frequency of public health agencies in areas with public dental clinics were high, and that the trend of influence on personal oral health conditions and improvement in prevention was high. When compared to 3 years ago, there was an 11.6 percentage point reduction in areas without public dental clinics (24.4%) compared to areas with public dental clinics (12.8%). 2. The results of comparative analysis of the oral health conditions and behaviors of subjects in relation to the closures of public dental clinics showed that the level of dental caries was high in areas with no public dental clinics, and the number of toothbrush usage and oral health supplemental product usage were shown to be high in areas with public dental clinics. CONCLUSION: The closures of public dental clinics were found to affect oral health behavior and conditions of elderly people in rural areas.
Aged* ; Dental Care for Aged ; Dental Caries ; Dental Clinics* ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Humans ; Oral Health* ; Public Health* ; Rural Health Services

Precise and accurate measuring of tooth size is essential procedure in orthodontic diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of tooth size measurements with regard to tooth and investigator. Five investigators measured the size of one side of teeth, from central incisor to first molar, on 20 sets of casts that show a moderate degree of crowding. Mesio-distal width was measured with digital vernier calipers in each tooth and this procedure was repeated three times at two weeks interval. To obtain a standard measurement for each tooth, dental casts were cut into individual tooth, and its width was measured with micrometer. The difference between the measurement from dental cast and the standard measurement was defined as the measurement error. Through various statistical analyses, following results were obtained. 1. The reproducibility did not show significant differences with regard to tooth or investigator. 2. The measurement error showed some difference with regard to tooth and investigator. 3. The magnitude of the measurement error showed increasing tendency from anterior to posterior teeth with maximum value in the first molar. 4. While the measurements obtained on study casts generally showed smaller number compared to standard measurements, the direction of the difference showed variability according to tooth or investigator. 5. The measurement errors did not show significant correlations with the degree of crowding. The results of the present study indicate that the possibility of tooth size measurement error should be taken into consideration when diagnosing an orthodontic case.
Crowding ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incisor ; Molar ; Research Personnel ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of unilateral otitis media and unilateral cerumen occlusion of the ear canal on thermometers. METHODS: One hundred eighty six children with unilateral otitis media, fifty children with unilateral cerumen occlusion, and fifty children with neither otitis media nor cerumen were enrolled. Temperature was measured in both ear canals using thermometers. After 15 minutes, second temperature was measured again in both ears. Unilateral otitis media was graded by video otoscope for 7 grades. Differences in temperatures between affected ears and unaffected ears were analyzed. RESULTS: No temperature difference between the normal and cerumen groups was observed. The mean temperature of the otitis media ear canal was 0.13+/-0.20degrees C higher than that of the intact ear canal (36.99+/-0.54degrees C vs 36.86+/-0.52degrees C; P<0.001). There was no statistically significant temperature difference between grades. CONCLUSION: Unilateral otits media can affect estimation of body temperature measured by thermometers.
Body Temperature ; Cerumen ; Child ; Ear ; Ear Canal ; Humans ; Otitis ; Otitis Media ; Otoscopes ; Thermometers

No abstract available.
Pilomatrixoma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical features and culture-positive rates according to the involved lung in adolescent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adolescents who ranged in age from 10 to 20 years and who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of TB at Kwangju Christian Hospital from 2000 to 2008. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were identified with pulmonary TB: median age 16.82 years; 48.5% males. Among them, 90.9% of patients were between 15 and 20 years of age. Most patients presented with multiple symptoms, and the most common included cough (74.2%), sputum (60.6%), fever (39.5%), and night sweating (18.2%). Sputum samples were smear-positive in 28 (42.4%), culture-positive in 40 (60.6%), and PCR-positive in 46 (69.7%). The most common radiological patterns included cavitation in 18 (27.3%), pleural effusion in 18 (27.3%), lymphadenopathy in 10 (15.2%), and tuberculoma in 5 (7.6%). The prevalence of smear, culture, and PCR positive rates increased as the number of involved lobes increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.05). The median treatment duration was 7 months. Twelve patients (18.2%) had lower lung field TB (Group A) and forty-four patients (66.7%) had other areas involving TB, except for Group A (Group B), and ten patients (15.1%) had only TB pleurisy (Group C). The difference of clinical characteristics and culture rates between group A and group B was not significant. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary TB toward late adolescence is increasing. We need to pay more attention to lower lung field TB, which is difficult to detect with specific radiographic findings.
Adolescent ; Cough ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pleural Effusion ; Pleurisy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Palmar digital vein thrombosis causing one or more nodules seems to be a relatively rare condition. Only 20 cases of palmar digital vein thrombosis have been reported worldwide in the English language literature. It presents with a painful, firm and blue nodule located at or in close proximity to one of the flexion creases. The etiology remains unknown, but changes in the vessel wall related to the anatomic characteristics of the palmar digital veins may play a role, along with intraluminal stasis. Two patients with blue nodule located in close proximity to flexion creases on the volar side of the finger presented to our hospital. Histological examination showed organizing thrombus within the dilated vessel. We report here on these two cases of palmar digital vein thrombosis.
Fingers ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Thrombosis ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a significant comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD. METHODS: The bone mineral densities (BMDs) of the lumbar spine and femoral bone were measured in 53 patients with clinically stable COPD and 41 age- and gender-matched control subjects showing a normal lung function. Osteoporosis was defined as a T-score < or =-2.5. The subjects' clinical characteristics and laboratory data were reviewed, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with osteoporosis in COPD patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis was 47% and 32% in the COPD patients and controls, respectively. In particular, using the femoral neck T-score, the prevalence of osteoporosis in COPD patients was higher than that in the controls (26% vs. 5%; p=0.006). The average T-score of the lumbar spine (p=0.025) and femoral neck of COPD patients were significantly lower than those of the controls (p=0.001). The forced expiratory volume in the 1 second (FEV1) % predicted (p=0.019; odds ratio [OR], 0.955; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.919-0.993) and age (p=0.024; OR, 1.144; 95% CI, 1.018-1.287) were independently associated with osteoporosis in patients with COPD. CONCLUSION: Using the femoral neck T-score, the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with COPD was higher than the age-and gender-matched controls. A lower FEV1 and older age further increase the risk of osteoporosis in patients with COPD.
Bone Density ; Comorbidity ; Femur Neck ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoporosis ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Risk Factors ; Spine

No abstract available.
Lip* ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Salivary Glands, Minor*

Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) are new anticancer agents that act by inhibiting EGFR signaling transduction pathways, thus decreasing tumor growth. They have made anti-cancer treatment more tolerable and have also reduced systemic side effects. However, they have many cutaneous side effects. Alopecia is an uncommon cutaneous side effect of EGFRIs, and cicatricial alopecia has been reported more rarely. A 59-year-old woman presented with itching and hair loss on the scalp, which started 2 months ago. She had been taking gefitinib for 7 months. A physical examination revealed localized erythematous hairless patches with scattered thick crusts on the scalp. Histopathologic examination showed a decreased number of hair follicles with perifollicular lymphocytes infiltration and perifollicular fibrosis, consistent with a scarring alopecia. We report a rare and interesting case of cicatricial alopecia after using the EGFRI, gefitinib.
Alopecia ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Cicatrix ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Physical Examination ; Pruritus ; Quinazolines ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Scalp

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that airborne-particle abrasion of fiber post can improve the bonding strength to resin cement. But, airborne-particle abrasion may influence the property of fiber post. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of airborne-particle abrasion on flexural strength of fiber post. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two fiber-reinforced posts; DT Light Post Size 2 (1.8 mm diameter, Bisco Inc) and RelyX Fiber Post Size 3 (1.9 mm diameter, 3M ESPE); were used in this study. Each group was divided into 3 subgroups according to different surface treatments; without pretreatment: 50 µm aluminum oxide (Cobra®, Renfert): and 30 µm aluminum oxide modified with silica (Rocatec Soft®, 3M ESPE). After airborne-particle abrasion procedure, three-point bending test was done to determine the flexural strength and flexural modulus. The diameter of each posts was measured to an accuracy of 0.01 mm using a digital micrometer. There was no diameter change before and after airborneparticle abrasion. The mean flexural moduli and flexural strengths calculated using the appropriate equations. The results were statistically analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Scheffe's post-hoc test at 95% confidencial level. RESULTS: There was no significant difference on flexural strength between groups. CONCLUSION: In the limitation of this study, flexural strength and flexural modulus of fiber post are not affected by airborne-particle abrasion.
Aluminum Oxide ; Resin Cements ; Silicon Dioxide