No abstract available.
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal*

OBJECTIVES: On September 2, 2010 and November 25, 2011, the Korean Research Project on Integrated Exposure Assessment to Hazardous Materials for Food Safety (KRIEFS) organized two international symposia in Seoul, Korea. KRIEFS, established by the Korean Food and Drug Administration in March 2010, envisioned these international symposia as means to obtain advanced experiences from other countries and to reflect on and refine the KRIEFS's survey design and methods. METHODS: For the first symposium KRIEFS invited human biomonitoring (HBM) experts from Germany, the US, and Canada. The visiting HBM experts shared the details of their national studies while the KRIEFS discussed study design, as well as the methods, results and policymaking processes of the KRIEFS project. The second symposium was organized to share the survey design and results on endocrine disruptors from Taiwan. RESULTS: The Speaker from Germany introduced the German Environmental Survey and shared their experiences in HBM design, such as the process of developing reference values, and discussed the new HBM plan in Germany and the European Union. The Representative from Canada shared insights from national HBM approach. In the case of the US, the speaker focused on risk communication with subjects in epidemiological studies. In the second international symposium, the speaker shared the experience of endocrine disruptors'studies from Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS: KRIEFS was able to better understand previous nationwide HBM research designs, policy making process, and risk communication with research subjects.
Canada ; Cohort Studies ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Epidemiologic Studies ; European Union ; Food Safety ; Germany ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Korea ; Policy Making ; Reference Values ; Research Design ; Research Subjects ; United States Food and Drug Administration

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: One of the common problems of dental implant prosthesis is the loosening of the screw that connects each component, and this problem is more common in single implant-supported prostheses with external connection, and in molars. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were: (1) to compare the initial abutment screw detorque values of the six different implant-abutment interface designs, (2) to compare the detorque values of the six different implant-abutment interface designs after cyclic loading, (3) to compare the detorque values of regular and wide diameter implants and (4) to compare the initial detorque values with the detorque values after cyclic loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six different implant-abutment connection systems were used. The cement retained abutment and titanium screw of each system were assembled and tightened to 32Ncmwith digital torque gauge. After 10 minutes, initial detorque values were measured. The custom titanium crown were cemented temporarily and a cyclic sine curve load(20 to 320N, 14Hz) was applied. The detorque values were measured after cyclic loading of one million times by loading machine. One-way ANOVA test, scheffe's test and Mann-Whitney U test were used. RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1. The initial detorque values of six different implant-abutment connections were not significantly different(p> 0.05). 2. The detorque values after one million dynamic cyclic loading were significantly different (p <0.05). 3. The SS-II regular and wide implant both recorded the higher detorque values than other groups after cyclic loading(p <0.05). 4. Of the wide implants, the initial detorque values of Avana Self Tapping Implant, MIS and Tapered Screw Vent, and the detorque values of MIS implant after cyclic loading were higher than their regular counterparts(p <0.05). 5. After cyclic loading, SS-II regular and wide implants showed higher detorque values than before(p <0.05).
Crowns ; Dental Implants ; Molar ; Prostheses and Implants ; Titanium ; Torque

No abstract available.
Mitral Valve*

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, childhood-onset, neuropsychiatric disorder with an estimated prevalence of 2–7.6% in Korean children. Although the etiology of ADHD is not well understood, evidence from genetic factor and environmental factor studies suggests that ADHD results from a gene environmental interaction. In the current study, we reviewed the evidence for and clinical implications of the hypothetical roles of organophosphate pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalate, bisphenol, polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, manganese, tobacco, alcohol as harmful risk factors in the development of ADHD.
Arsenic ; Cadmium ; Child ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Manganese ; Pesticides ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Tobacco

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) is clearly more reliable than computer tomography and myelography in radiological diagnosis of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Moreover, MRI can also detect degenerative changes of intervertebral discs. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility and accuracy of MRI in conjuntion with the diagnosis of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc and to compare findings with operative findings. Comparisons of operative findings and MRI were done in 133 cases. Each patients had been diagnosed by MRI as having lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. MRI findings included those of spin echo T1-weighted images and T2-weighted images, gradient echo T1-weighted images and T2-weighted images, and gadolinium-DTPA enhancement when needed. In 32 protrusion disc cases diagnosed by MRI, 28 cases were confirmed by operation and four were actually extrusion disc. In 77 cases diagnosed by MRI as extrusion disc, 72 cases were confirmed by operative findings, while 5 cases were found to be protrusion disc. 4 cases of sequestration disc diagnosed by MRI were confirmed by operative findings. Specific dimensions of MRI use yielded the following results: protrusion disc indicated 84.8% in sensitivity, 95% specificity, 87.5% in accuracy; extrusion disc showed 94.7%, 86.5%, 93.5%, respectively; and sequestration disc revealed 100% in all categories. In this study, the average accuracy of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc diagnosed by MRI was 93.6% on average. Accordingly, MRI has shown itself to be a good diagnostic tool for determining anatomical and biological change in lumbar herniated intervertebral disc.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histological changes of the synovial membrane treated by 166Ho-Chitosan complex in collagenase induced arthritis of the knee in the rabbit. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Arthritis was induced in sixteen rabbits by intra-articular injection of 1mg collagenase II and then treated by intra-articular injection of 0.4mCi 166Ho-Chitosan complex 2weeks later. The radioisotope scan was checked in each rabbit for the distribution and extra-articular leakage of the 166Ho-Chitosan complex. The synovial tissues from the femorotibial joints were evaluated for serial histological changes 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after the 166Ho-Chitosan complex injetion. RESULTS: Two weeks after 166Ho-Chitosan complex administration, inflammatory cells such as giant cells, lymphocytes, histiocyte, and fibroblasts appeared in the subsynovial stroma. The most synovial cells were necrotized. Four weeks after 166Ho-Chitosan complex administration, the inflammatory cells were decreased and many fibroblasts appeared on the subsynovial stroma. There was neovasculization in the synovial membrane 4 weeks after administration. The fibers of collagen were noticed in the synovial membrane and subsynovial stroma at 8 weeks. There was no synoviocyte in the synovium and the thickness of fibrosis was increased at 12weeks. There were fragmentation of the nucleoli of synoviocyte and endothelial cell on the transmission electron microscope (TEM) . CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the synovial membranes treated by 166Ho-Chitosan complex in the collagenase induced arthritis of the knee in the rabbit show early radiation damage and then subsequently develop the fibrosis, and no synovial cell regeneration was observed until 12 weeks.
Arthritis* ; Collagen ; Collagenases* ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytes ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Knee* ; Lymphocytes ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Synovial Membrane

OBJECTIVES: Although mercury (Hg) exposure is known to be neurotoxic in humans, its effects on liver function have been less often reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether total Hg exposure in Korean adults was associated with elevated serum levels of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). METHODS: We repeatedly examined the levels of total Hg and liver enzymes in the blood of 508 adults during 2010-2011 and 2014-2015. Cross-sectional associations between levels of blood Hg and liver enzymes were analyzed using a generalized linear model, and nonlinear relationships were analyzed using a generalized additive mixed model. Generalized estimating equations were applied to examine longitudinal associations, considering the correlations of individuals measured repeatedly. RESULTS: GGT increased by 11.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5 to 18.0%) in women and 8.1% (95% CI, -0.5 to 17.4%) in men per doubling of Hg levels, but AST and ALT were not significantly associated with Hg in either men or women. In women who drank more than 2 or 3 times per week, AST, ALT, and GGT levels increased by 10.6% (95% CI, 4.2 to 17.5%), 7.7% (95% CI, 1.1 to 14.7%), and 37.5% (95% CI,15.2 to 64.3%) per doubling of Hg levels, respectively, showing an interaction between blood Hg levels and drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Hg exposure was associated with an elevated serum concentration of GGT. Especially in women who were frequent drinkers, AST, ALT, and GGT showed a significant increase, with a significant synergistic effect of Hg and alcohol consumption.
Adult* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Alcohol Drinking ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Drinking ; Female ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Liver* ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Male

A 29-year-old woman in her 8th week of pregnancy was referred to our hospital for swelling in the lower extremities, rapid onset of dyspnea (1 hr) and pre-syncope. Severe right ventricular dysfunction and moderate pulmonary hypertension were detected using 2-dimentional Doppler echocardiography. In addition, left calf vein and proximal thromboses were detected by venous compression ultrasound imaging. After successful thrombolytic treatment, the patient quickly recovered and was discharged from hospital on subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin. She delivered a normal, healthy infant at full-term (40 weeks).
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Infant ; Lower Extremity ; Pregnancy* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

PURPOSE: The quality of life questionnaire in Korean children with allergic rhinitis (QoL-KCAR) was developed to assess the quality of life in Korean children aged 6–12 years old with allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to validate the QoL-KCAR in Korean middle school students with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A survey with questionnaire and skin prick test was performed on 277 middle school students. The students were classified into 3 groups: allergic-rhinitis (AR), non-allergic rhinitis (non-AR), and controls. AR was defined who had nasal symptoms within 12 months and positive response to skin test. Non-AR group was composed of students with nasal symptoms but had negative response to skin test. The rest who had no symptoms of rhinitis and negative response to skin test were classed as control group. QoL-KCAR has 10 questions with 5-point scales for response options. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the answer scores among the 3 groups (P<0.05). Total answer score is 20.9±10.2, 17.3±8.8, 4.4±5.6 in the AR, non-AR group, and control groups, respectively. It showed significant differences in all items between the AR and control groups, and 4 questions between the AR and non-AR groups. There were significant differences in total score and each score of 8 questions between before and after education in AR group. CONCLUSION: QoL-KCAR questionnaire can be useful for assessing quality-of-life in the Korean students aged 12 to 15 years old with allergic rhinitis as well as children aged 6 to 12 years old.
Child* ; Education ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Skin ; Skin Tests