The purpose of this study was to compare the corrosion characteristics between implant fixture and two types of abutment screw; gold screw, titanium screw. The anodic polarization behavior, the galvanic corrosion behavior, and the crevice corrosion behavior of prepared samples were investigated using potentiostat and scanning electron microscope. The results were as follows : 1. Anodic polarization behavior of samples: The primary passivation potential of implant fixture was -420mV, implant abutment was -560mV, titanium screw was -370mV and gold screw was -230mV. All samples were shown to have a high corrosion potential and good formation of passive film. The critical passive current density of gold screw was higher than of other samples and the sample of gold screw showed a unstable passive film formation at passive region. 2. Galvanic corrosion behavior of samples: Contact current density between implant fixture and titanium screw showed 8.023x 10-5C/cm2. Contact current density between implant fixture and gold screw showed 5.142x 10-5C/cm2. 3. Crevice corrosion behavior of samples : The crevice corrosion resistance of sample using titanium screw was higher than that of sample using gold screw, and a severe corrosion morphologies were observed at the fixture-screw interface by the scanning electron microscope.
Corrosion* ; Titanium

Adenosine deaminase(ADA) is an enzyme capable of catalysing the pathway from adenosine to inosine. Previous studies have shown that this enzyme may be useful in recognition of a tubeculous etiology of pleural, peritoneal, or meningeal effusions. ADA activity was studied in 42 patients with large amount of pericardial effusion. Patients were subdivided into the following four group : (A) 15 cases of tuberculous effusions : (B) 4 with pyogenic effusions : (C) 15 with idiopathic effusions : (D) 9 with malignant effusions. The results were as follows ; 1) The mean ADA activities assessed in pericardial effusions were 134.0+/-77.6U/L in group A : 93.8+/-43.8 in group B : 38.3+/-23.2 in group C : 27.3+/-20.8 in group D. Comparing the level achieved in group A with all others, the difference is significant at the P<0.001 level. 2) The mean ADA activities assessed in sera were 50.7+/-57.2 U/L in group A : 63.5+/-24.1 in group B : 25.9+/-12.0 in group C : 14.0+/-7.5 in group D. Comparing the level achieved in group A with all others, there is no significant difference. 3) Specificity(0.87) and sensitivity(0.93) of the test for the differential diagnosis of patients with tuberculous effusion from those with idiopathic effusion is high, when a value of more than 50 U/L is considered. In conclusion, the assessment of ADA in pericardial effusions is of great value in the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis.
Adenosine Deaminase* ; Adenosine* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Inosine ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericarditis, Tuberculous

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens*

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the role of positron emission tomography using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) in the diagnosis of recurrence or the assessment of therapeutic response in cervical and ovarian cancer patients through making a comparison between FDG-PET, abdominal computed tomography (CT) and serum tumor marker. Materials and METHODS: We included 103 cases (67 patients) performed FDG-PET and abdominal CT. There were 42 cervical cancers and 61 ovarian cancers. We retrospectively reviewed the interpretations of PET and CT images as well as the level of tumor marker. We calculated their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for these three modalities. And then we analyzed the differences between these three modalities. RESULTS: Tumor recurrences were diagnosed in 37 cases (11 cervical cancers and 26 ovarian cancers). For PET, CT and tumor marker, in cervical cancer group, sensitivity was 100% (11/11), 54.5% (6/11) and 81.1% (9/11), respectively. And specificity was 93.6% (29/31), 93.6% (29/31) and 100% (31/31). In ovarian cancer group, sensitivity was 96.2% (25/26), 84.6% (22/26) and 80.8% (21/26), and specificity was 94.3% (33/35), 94.3% (33/35), 94.3% (33/35). PET was highly sensitive to detect the intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal metastasis with the help of the CT images to localize the lesions. However, CT had limitations in differentiation of the recurrent tumor from benign fibrotic tissue, identification of viable tumors at the interface of tissues, and detecting extraperitoneal lesions. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET can be an essential modality to detect the recurrent or residual tumors in gynecologic cancer patients because of its great field of the application and high sensitivity.
Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Thromboelastography (TEG) has recently become popular for assessment of whole blood coagulation in the operating room. Ketorolac, a potent injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is commonly used for postoperative analgesia. NSAID inhibit platelet aggregation in coagulation process. This study was designed to determine whether ketorolac used for postoperative analgesia can affect hemostatic function using a TEG. METHODS: Seventy-four female patients, ASA physical status 1 or 2, scheduled for an elective gynecologic surgery were randomly allocated into one of four groups (Group 1: n = 10, control without patient-controlled analgesia (PCA); Group 2: n = 21, PCA with morphine 60 mg; Group 3: n = 20, PCA with morphine 30 mg + ketorolac 90 mg; Group 4: n = 23, PCA with ketorolac 180 mg). Blood samples were obtained for TEG analysis preoperatively and 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Cumulative drug dosage, visual analog pain scale, satisfaction degree and side effects were measured at 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in TEG parameters among the four groups at each time. There were no significant differences in visual analog pain scales and satisfaction degrees among the three groups using PCA for postoperative analgesia. Among the three groups using PCA for postoperative analgesia, Group 2 experienced more side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Ketorolac does not affect hemostatic function for 3 days after surgery when administrated as a PCA drug.
Analgesia* ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Blood Coagulation ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Ketorolac* ; Morphine ; Operating Rooms ; Pain Measurement ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Platelet Aggregation ; Thrombelastography

BACKGROUND: The activation of phospholipase C(PLC) is one of the early cellular events in various growth process, including malignant transformation. PLC-gamma1 is activated through direct interaction with growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using immunoblot assay, we evaluated overexpression of PLC-gamma1 expression in twenty human breast cancer tissues. It was also determined whether there was any connection between other prognostic factors(numbers of metastatic axillary nodes, nuclear and histological grade, c-erbB2, p53 and E-cadherin) and the overexpression of PLC-gamma1 protein. RESULTS: Seventeen of 20 breast cancer tissues showed overexpression of PLC-gamma1, which was corresponded to that seen on the immunohistochemistry( kappa= 0.8275, p = 0.003). Of 3 tumor markers, immunohistochemically determined, positive expression of E-cadherin only was associated with PLC-gamma1 protein overexpression in a range of statistical significance (p=0.045, kappa=0.607). CONCLUSION: PLC-gamma1 overexpression might be pathogenic trigger involved in breast cancer and the relationship between expression of E-cadherin and PLC-gamma1 would require further elucidation.
Breast Neoplasms ; Cadherins ; Humans ; Phospholipases* ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Biomarkers, Tumor

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to analyze correlation between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) on positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) scan and the degree of contrast enhancement on computed tomography (CT) scan in lung cancers, and to recognize the difference in SUVmax and CT enhancement between groups of different histopathologic subtypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 53 patients of pathologically confirmed primary lung cancer, who were performed PET-CT and post-contrast chest CT. We calculated initial and delayed SUVmax (SUV1, SUV2), difference between SUV1 and SUV2 (SUVd), retention index (RI), and the degrees of CT contrast enhancement of lung cancers. We analyzed these variables for subtypes of lung cancers. RESULTS: The values (mean +/- standard deviation) were 8.3+/-4.4 for SUV1, 10.7+/-5.7 for SUV2, 2.4+/-1.6 for SUVd, 30+/-14 for RI and 47.1+/-14.8 HU (Hounsfield Unit) for degree of CT contrast enhancement. The difference of SUV1 and degree of CT enhancement between subtypes was not meaningful. SUV1 showed positive correlations with SUVd (r=0.74, p<0.01) and tumor size (r=0.58, p<0.01), but no significant correlation with degree of CT enhancement (r=0.06, p=0.69). In 10 cases, there was discrepancy in the same mass between the area of highest FDG-uptake and the area of highest contrast enhancement. CONCLUSION: We suggest that FDG uptake in lung cancer does not have a positive linear correlation with degree of CT enhancement. And there is no significant difference in FDG uptake and degree of CT enhancement between different subtypes of lung cancers
Electrons ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Retention (Psychology) ; Thorax ; Tomography, Emission-Computed

A 46-year-old woman was admitted with an ulcerative lesion on the posterior neck. Four months before admission, the patient took part in a faith healing ritual, which the pastor performed with his fingernails causing wounds. This abnormal method of healing caused repeated injury to the patient in the posterior neck area. Treatment with cefazolin was begun, but the lesion did not improve. Biopsy of the skin lesion and cervical lymph nodes was performed. Microscopical examination revealed findings highly suggestive of syphilis. Serological tests for syphilis were positive and a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the neck showed enlargement of regional lymph nodes and tonsils. A single dose of penicillin G 2.4 million units was given intramuscularly. Two weeks later, the wound had healed. Eight weeks after treatment, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory titer had decreased and a CT scan of the neck showed a decrease in the size of the lymph nodes. We reasoned that syphilis was non-sexually transmitted, and that the healing ritual was the cause. Our case suggests that skin trauma by scratching with the fingernails may cause an accidental direct inoculation of Treponema pallidum, resulting in extragenital primary syphilis.
Biopsy ; Cefazolin ; Faith Healing ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Nails* ; Neck ; Palatine Tonsil ; Penicillin G ; Serologic Tests ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Skin ; Syphilis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treponema pallidum ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of critical complications in liver cirrhosis patients with ascites. We aimed to review clinical course of SBP patients in a 10-year period from single center. METHODS: This study enrolled SBP patients between 2005 and 2015. Their medical records were reviewed. The laboratory findings of serum and ascites were examined, and characteristics of isolated microorganisms in ascites were analyzed. RESULTS: Total 51 patients were enrolled. Male patients were predominant (64.7%), and mean age was 59.20 years. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol (41.2%), followed by hepatitis B (39.2%). Microorganism was isolated from the ascites in 31 patients (60.78%). The proportions of Gram negative and Gram positive were 80.64% and 19.36%. The proportions of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Streptococcus species were 29.41%, 19.61% and 11.76%. Among Escherichia colis, 4 cases were ESBL positive (7.84%). The most commonly used first-line antibiotic was cefotaxime (80.40%). Prophylactic antibiotics treatment was performed only in 8 patients, and SBP was recurred in 7 patients (13.72%). When comparing the SBP recurrence group and the non-recurrence group, there were no significant differences in laboratory findings of serum and ascitic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: SBP is still a critical complication in cirrhosis patients with ascites, and the clinical features of SBP have not been altered much compared with those in 1990's. The effective treatment of SBP is still very important for a better prognosis of cirrhosis patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid ; Bacteria ; Cefotaxime ; Escherichia coli ; Fibrosis ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Medical Records ; Peritonitis* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Streptococcus

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious infectious complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, information about prognosis of SBP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is limited. We investigated the clinical course of SBP in HCC patients. METHODS: This study enrolled patients diagnosed with SBP between 2005 and 2017. Medical records of patients were reviewed and clinical course was compared between the non-HCC and HCC groups. RESULTS: In total, 123 SBP cases including 49 HCC cases were enrolled. Men were predominant (48/74, 64.9% vs. 34/49, 69.4%; P = 0.697); median age was 58 years in both non-HCC and HCC groups (P = 0.887). The most common etiology was alcohol (32/74, 43.2%) in non-HCC group and hepatitis B (30/49, 61.2%) in HCC group (P = 0.009). Antibiotic resistance rate was higher in non-HCC than in HCC group (29.7% vs. 12.2%; P = 0.028); in-hospital mortality did not differ between the groups (25/74, 33.8% vs. 13/49, 26.5%; P = 0.431). Development rate of hepatorenal syndrome did not differ between non-HCC and HCC group (14/74, 18.9% vs. 10/49, 20.4%; P = 1.000), but hepatic encephalopathy was less common in HCC group (26/74, 35.2% vs. 9/49, 18.3%; P = 0.008). The most important predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with HCC was white blood cell count above 11,570 cells/mm3 (odds ratio, 6.629; 95% confidence interval, 1.652–26.590; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Prognosis of SBP in HCC patients is relatively less severe. This result may be related with reduced antibiotics resistance and lower development rates of other complications, such as hepatic encephalopathy. Degree of systemic inflammation may be the most important factor for in-hospital mortality.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Medical Records ; Peritonitis* ; Prognosis*