OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of tooth displacement on frictional force when conventional ligating lingual brackets (CL-LBs), CL-LBs with a narrow bracket width, and self-ligating lingual brackets (SL-LBs) were used with initial leveling and alignment wires. METHODS: CL-LBs (7th Generation), CL-LBs with a narrow bracket width (STb), and SL-LBs (In-Ovation L) were tested under three tooth displacement conditions: no displacement (control); a 2-mm palatal displacement (PD) of the maxillary right lateral incisor (MXLI); and a 2-mm gingival displacement (GD) of the maxillary right canine (MXC) (nine groups, n = 7 per group). A stereolithographic typodont system and artificial saliva were used. Static and kinetic frictional forces (SFF and KFF, respectively) were measured while drawing a 0.013-inch copper-nickel-titanium archwire through brackets at 0.5 mm/min for 5 minutes at 36.5℃. RESULTS: The In-Ovation L exhibited lower SFF under control conditions and lower KFF under all displacement conditions than the 7th Generation and STb (all p < 0.001). No significant difference in SFF existed between the In-Ovation L and STb for a 2-mm GD of the MXC and 2-mm PD of the MXLI. A 2-mm GD of the MXC produced higher SFF and KFF than a 2-mm PD of the MXLI in all brackets (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CL-LBs with narrow bracket widths exhibited higher KFF than SL-LBs under tooth displacement conditions. CL-LBs and ligation methods should be developed to produce SFF and KFF as low as those in SL-LBs during the initial and leveling stage.
Friction* ; Incisor ; Ligation ; Saliva, Artificial ; Tooth*

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to evaluate the mechanical properties (MP) and degree of the phase transformation (PT) of martensitic (M-NiTi), austenitic (A-NiTi) and thermodynamic nickel-titanium wire (T-NiTi). METHODS: The samples consisted of 0.016 x 0.022 inch M-NiTi (Nitinol Classic, NC), A-NiTi (Optimalloy, OPTI) and T-NiTi (Neo-Sentalloy, NEO). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), three-point bending test, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and microstructure examination were used. Statistical evaluation was undertaken using ANOVA test. RESULTS: In DSC analysis, OPTI and NEO showed two peaks in the heating curves and one peak in the cooling curves. However, NC revealed one single broad and weak peak in the heating and cooling curves. Austenite finishing (Af) temperatures were 19.7degrees C for OPTI, 24.6degrees C for NEO and 52.4degrees C for NC. In the three-point bending test, residual deflection was observed for NC, OPTI and NEO. The load ranges of NC and OPTI were broader and higher than NEO. XRD and microstructure analyses showed that OPTI and NEO had a mixture of martensite and austenite at temperatures below Martensite finishing (Mf). NEO and OPTI showed improved MP and PT behavior than NC. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical and thermal behaviors of NiTi wire cannot be completely explained by the expected degree of PT because of complicated martensite variants and independent PT induced by heat and stress.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Dental Alloys ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Thermodynamics ; Transition Temperature ; X-Ray Diffraction

No abstract available.
Megacolon* ; Pregnancy*

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an extremely rare benign inflammatory disease of the gall bladder characterized by yellowish focal nodular appearance with tissue necrosis and lipid-containing histiocyte (xanthomacell). Recently, we experienced a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. A 71-year old woman was admitted with the complaints of RUQ pain for 1 month. On abdominal ultrasound examination, there were diffuse gallbladder wall thickening, echogenic nodule with acoustic shadow, the calculous cholecystiti and the gall badder cancer were strongly suspected and the operation was performed. At operation the gall bladder was marked enlarged and wall thickening with two brownish, oval shaped, smooth surfaced stones. The specimen was revealed a xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis by the pathology.
Acoustics ; Aged ; Cholecystitis* ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pathology ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: Many foreign researchs show that physical illness and loneliness are causes of cognitive decline in old men. Especially, living alone group feels more depressive mood and loneliness than married group. Neverthe- less, there is no domestic research whether loneliness is associated with cognitive decline. METHOD: We have interviewed 95 elderly, living alone, who are supported by an elderly wellfare office of Seoul city. Educated three interviewers investigated sociodemographic characteristics, loneliness scale, dementia scale, instru- mental activity of daily living, and depression scale. RESULTS: The subjects were almost women(90.5%), low educated(no schooling; 67.4%), low economic status(income < 600,000 won/month; 97%) and had moderate-high degree loneliness(UCLA lonliness scale 49.8), mild depression (GDSSF-K score; 7.8). In a multiple regression analysis, there was no correlation between the loneliness and cognitive function(p=.878), no association between social disengagement index and cognitive function(p=.817). However, age (p=0.005), education(p=0.000), smoking(p=0.045) had statistical correlation with cognitive function. CONCLUSION: In living alone elderly, the cognitive function is not associated with loneliness and social support, but associated with age, education, smoking.
Aged* ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Dementia ; Depression ; Education ; Humans ; Loneliness* ; Male ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between postoperative sensory change on lower extremities and clinical factors associated with gynecologic operation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 38 cases of patients with postoperative complaints of pain or dysthesis on lower extremities, especially anterolateral thigh from March 1993 through December 1999 at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were performed in all 38 patients. According to the result of EMG and NCV, patients were divided into control group (n=28) which in that with normal finding in electrodiagnosis and study group (n=10) who showed femoral cutaneous nerve injury in electrodiagnosis. Clinical characteristics (age, height, weight and operative history), operative methods, skin incisional method, operative time and postoperative diagnosis were reviewed in each group. RESULTS: There were significant differences in patient's body weight, height, skin incisional method and operative method between control and study group. Height was 152.5cm [150.3-155.6] in study group and 157.5cm [153.4-159.2] in control group (p-value = 0.020). Weight was 46.9kg [43.4-58.0] in study group and 57.0kg [54.4-58.1] in control group (p-value=0.004). Skin incisional method in study group was done by 6 cases (60%) of infraumbilical mid-line vertical incision and in control group by 5 cases (17.9%) (p-value = 0.019). In operative method, radical hysterectomy was 4 cases (40%) in study group and 2 cases (7.1%) in control group (p-value=0.031). But no correlation was observed in post-operative diagnosis, operative time, blood loss and transfusion between two groups. CONCLUSION: It was suggested that Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was compressed by pelvic retractor during the gynecologic operation. Patient's body weight, height, skin incisional method and operative method may play a role of compressive factor on Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, increasing Meralgia Paresthetica.
Body Weight ; Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis ; Electromyography ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Neural Conduction ; Obstetrics ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Thigh

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in bone mineral density (BMD), T-scores, and the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis between mountain villagers and seaside villagers. MATERIALS & METHODS: Four hundred fifty-one postmenopausal women (138 women in mountain villagers and 313 women in seaside villagers) were examined, including women > 50 years of age. The study subjects were recruited from the women who had received care at the health examination center of our hospital between January 2005 and September 2009. The BMD was measured at lumbar 1-4 by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Prevalence ; Spine

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that H.pylori causes changes in fundic leptin levels and plasma levels of ghrelin, and that eradication of H.pylori infection can increase appetite. There is also a report that showed changes of appetite between before and after eradication of H.pylori in peritoneal dialysis patients. Our study investigated the degree of appetite between H.pylori negative group and H.pylori positive group in adults. METHODS: The subjects included those without appetite- related diseases. We carried out gastroscopy and then performed CLO test in subjects who had no gastric lesions. We interviewed the study subjects about appetite related behavior (three items: desire to eat, hunger before meal, deliciousness) using visual analogue scale. We examined the appetite related behavior between CLO (??) group and CLO (+) group. RESULTS: The difference of age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, alcohol con sumption, blood pressure, hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, AST, ALT, GGT between CLO (??) group and CLO (+) group were not statistically significant. The difference of appetite related behavior (three items) between CLO (??) group and CLO (+) group was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The degree of appetite between CLO (??) group and CLO (+) group was not different.
Adult ; Anorexia ; Appetite* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Fasting ; Gastroscopy ; Ghrelin ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Hunger ; Leptin ; Meals ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: Dementia is the most important factor affecting everyday life of the elderly and there have been studies on the relationship between dementia and social withdrawal or loneliness. However, there is a lack of investigations on the relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in the elderly living alone. METHODS: Ninety five community-dwelling elderly people registered to Sungbook elderly welfare center in Seoul, who were living alone, were enrolled in the study. Personal visits by three pre-trained researchers were made during April 2006. One year later, 11 elderly dropped out, and 84 elderly were interviewed in the same way. They were interviewed based on loneliness scale, social support, Hasegawa dementia scale, instrumental activities of daily living, and depression. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 78.3 years. Most of them were women (90.5%) and education level was low (no schooling in 69%). The loneliness scale did not change much during one year (P=0.63), but the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) score had worsened from 10.5 to 11.2 (P=0.002) The mean Hasegawa dementia scale score decreased from 23.2 to 21.0 during one year (P<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis for the one-year difference in Hasegawa Dementia Scale revealed loneliness was a significant factor after adjusting for age, the level of education, social support, IADL score, and depression (regression coefficient=-0.712, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: Loneliness was associated with a decline in cognitive function in the elderly people living alone. In contrast, social withdrawal and depression had no effect on changes of cognitive function during one year.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Dementia ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Uterine sarcoma is relatively rare tumor of mesodermal origin, and constitutes 2% to 6% of uterine malignancies. It is the most malignant group of gynecologic tumors and presents difficult problems in regard to diagnosis and management. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinicopathologic findings and outcome of patients with uterine sarcoma. METHODS: From March 1990 to March 2004, 8 patients were evaluated with histologically proven uterine sarcoma at department of obstetrics and gynecology of Gyeongsang University Hospital for their clinical profiles and survival retrospectively. RESULTS: The age of patients with uterine sarcoma ranged 39 to 71, and the mean age was 58.4 years. The common presenting symptoms were abnormal uterine bleeding, abdominal pain and lower abdominal palpable mass. Using the FIGO classification: two patients had stage I, one patients had stage II, two patients had stage III, three patients had stage IV disease. Four patients were treated with surgery followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, three patients were treated surgery alone, and one patient was treated with radiotherapy alone. Recurrences were revealed at two patients, and the sites were pelvis and brain. The mean duration of follow up was 25.1 months and the overall 2 years survival rate was 25%. The most common pathologic type of uterine sarcomas was leiomyosarcoma. MMMT (malignant mixed mullerian tumor) showed worse prognosis than LMS (leiomyosarcoma) or ESS (endometrial stromal sarcoma). CONCLUSION: Uterine sarcoma are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. Age and stage were significant prognostic factor. The primary treatment modality has been surgical resection. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not get been clearly defined and further large scaled multicentric studies are needed.
Abdominal Pain ; Brain ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Mesoderm ; Obstetrics ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma* ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage