No abstract available.
Crohn Disease*

OBJECTIVE: The surface roughness of orthodontic materials is an essential factor that determines the coefficient of friction and the effectiveness of tooth movement. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surface roughness change of the brackets and wires after experimental sliding quantitatively. METHODS: Before and after experimental sliding tests, the surface roughness of stainless steel brackets, ceramic brackets, stainless steel wires, and beta-titanium (TMA) wires were investigated and compared using atomic force microscopy (AFM). RESULTS: After sliding tests, changes in the surface of the wire were greater than changes in the bracket slot surface. The surface roughness of the stainless steel bracket was not significantly increased after sliding test, whereas the roughness of ceramic brackets was decreased. Both the surface roughness of stainless steel and TMA wires were increased after sliding test. More changes were observed on the ceramic bracket than the stainless steel bracket. CONCLUSIONS: AFM is a valuable research tool when analyzing the surface roughness of the brackets and wires quantitatively.
Ceramics ; Friction ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Stainless Steel ; Tooth Movement

Microfluidics is considered an important technology that is suitable for numerous biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis, metastasis, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Although microfluidics is still considered to be a new approach in urological research, several pioneering studies have been reported in recent years. In this paper, we reviewed urological research works using microfluidic devices. Microfluidic devices were used for the detection of prostate and bladder cancer and the characterization of cancer microenvironments. The potential applications of microfluidics in urinary analysis and sperm sorting were demonstrated. The use of microfluidic devices in urology research can provide high-throughput, high-precision, and low-cost analyzing platforms.
Diagnosis ; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices* ; Microfluidics* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Spermatozoa ; Tissue Engineering ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urology*

A 63-year-old Korean man presented with generalized, asymptomatic, discrete papules and coalescent annular plaques for one year. Interestingly, the patient complained of conjunctival congestion, concurrently with aggravation of the skin lesion. Histopathologic findings of the skin lesion and conjunctiva revealed giant cells engulfing fragmented elastic fibers, and a diagnosis of actinic granuloma with ocular involvement was made. Ten months later, the patient revisited with a two-week history of bilateral temporal headache, neck pain, intermittent jaw claudication, and blurred vision. Biopsy of the temporal artery confirmed the clinical diagnosis of temporal arteritis. Both actinic granuloma and temporal arteritis show similar pathologic process, and this case supports the hypothesis that actinically degenerated elastic tissue is likely to be the antigenic basis of actinic granuloma of the skin and temporal arteritis.
Actins* ; Biopsy ; Conjunctiva ; Diagnosis ; Elastic Tissue ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Giant Cell Arteritis* ; Giant Cells ; Granuloma* ; Headache ; Humans ; Jaw ; Middle Aged ; Neck Pain ; Skin ; Temporal Arteries

PURPOSE: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2A (MEN 2A) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by development of the medullary thyroid cancer, adrenal pheochromocytoma and parathyroid hyperplasia. Gennline mutations of RET gene, which cause a susceptibility to MEN 2A syndrome, have been reported in MEN 2A families. The identification of germline mutation in family members with hereditary tumor syndrome makes the presymptomatic diagnosis possible. However, there are only a few reports on the germline mutation of RET gene in Korean patients with MEN 2A. This study was performed to investigate the germline mutation of RET gene in a Korean MEN 2A family. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from family members of a MEN 2A family. Mutational status was investigated using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) method, and following direct sequencing. Basal level of calcitonin was measured, and calcium provocation test was done when the result of basal level of calcitonin was equivocal. RESULTS: A missense type germline mutation of RET gene was identified at codon 634 (TGC->TGG) in eight patients from the family. All patients with the germline mutation of RET gene showed elevation of calcitonin level either in basal test or in calcitonin provocation test. CONCLUSION: We identified a germline mutation of RET gene in a family with MEN 2A, and it would make the accurate presymptomatic diagnosis possible.
Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Codon ; Diagnosis ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a* ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Thyroid Neoplasms

The configuration of mandibular symphysis is likely to be dependent upon the genetic predeterminants and/or compensatory adjustments onto functional demands. The interrelation of morphological distinctives of symphysis in conjunction to the craniofacial skeleton had been scarcely anecdotal, therefore, the objective was to determine the correlation of morphological modifications between the mandibular symphysis and craniofacial complex. Lateral cephalometric headfilms of 212 subjects were employed for the conventional measurements. The proportion of chin height against chin depth length was referred as chin ratio, then, Low Symphysis (IS) and High Symphysis (HS) groups were turned out by means of the chin ratio. These samples yielded 35 in LS and 35 in HS groups. The data per capita were statistically analyzed and the following results were drawn ; 1. Overall characteristics of the craniofacial skeleton in HS group manifested hyperdivergence and LS group showed hypodivergence. 2. Gonial angle increased as chin ratio increased and was highly correlated to the chin ratio. 3. The chin ratio presented high correlation to the vertical face height, especially in terms of the chin height to anterior face height and the chin depth to posterior face height. 4. The morphological configuration of chin was hardly correlated with hyoid bone position.
Chin ; Hyoid Bone ; Skeleton*

PURPOSE: Phyllodes tumor is a rare fibroepithelial tumor of the breast, first described by Johannes Muller in 1838. Much has been written about phyllodes tumor, but very few widely accepted conclusions about its clinical behavior, treatment modality, and prognosis have been reached. This study aims to analyze the clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics of phyllodes tumor of the breast. METHODS: The medical records of 41 patients with phyllodes tumor who had been treated between February 1982 and August 1998 at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, were retrospectively reviewed for clinical, radiological and pathological findings, treatment modalities, and follow-up results. RESULTS: Of these 41 cases, there were 28 cases (68.3%) of benign tumors and 13 cases (31.7%) of malignanat tumors. All patients were females, and the mean ages of onset were 33.2 years for benign tumors and 40.8 years for malignant tumors. Most patients, 100% of benign and 92.3% of malignant, presented with a papable mass in the breast. The median duration of illness was 2 months for malignant tumors and 8 months for benign tumors. The tumor size was greater than 10 cm in diameter in 5 cases (38.5%) of malignant tumors and in 3 cases (10.7%) of benign tumors. Only 4 cases were preoperatively diagnosed as having a phyllodes tumor by using radiological and fine needle aspiration cytology. Out of the 10 malignant cases reviewed, 5 cases were confirmed as malignant, and 5 cases were confirmed as borderline phyllodes tumors. Cellularity was moderate or above in all 5 malignant and 5 borderline cases. Atypism above moderate degree was found in 4 of 5 (80%) malignant tumors, in 3 of 5 (60%) borderline tumors, and in 4 of 24 (16.7%) benign tumors. Mitotic counts in all 5 malignant cases were 5 or more per 10 high power field while those in the 5 borderline tumors were 2-5 mitoses per 10 high power field. The most commonly performed operative procedures were a simple mastectomy (50%) for malignant tumors and a simple excision (64.3%) for benign tumors. Post-operative adjuvant therapy was done for 4 cases; out of these, 1 case had been initially diagnosed as a malignant phyllodes tumor, but the diagnosis was changed to a benign phyllodes tumor upon review. Of the 27 follow-up cases, recurrences developed in 3 cases (16.7%) of benign tumors. CONCLUSION: From the above results, there were no specific clinical features for differentiating benign from malignant phyllodes tumor preoperatively; therefore, we cannot help depending on the pathologic findings. Pathologic reviews showed that among several criteria, atypism, cellularity, and mitotic count were the most definite pathologic characteristics in differentiating benign from malignant phyllodes tumor. But much more experience and long-term follow-up may be needed to define optimal treatments and to analyze the prognosis for phyllodes tumors of the breast.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Medical Records ; Mitosis ; Phyllodes Tumor* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Surgical Procedures, Operative

The amygdala is known as a site for inducing analgesia, but its action on the trigeminal nucleus has not been known well. Little information is available on the effect of dynorphin on NMDA receptor-mediated electrophysiological events in the trigeminal nucleus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the single neuron spikes at the trigeminal nucleus caused by the amygdala and the action of dynorphin on the trigeminal nucleus. In the present study, extracellular single unit recordings were made in the dorsal horn of the medulla (trigeminal nucleus caudalis) and the effects of microiontophoretically applied compounds were examined. When (D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Glys5-ol)enkephalin (DAMGO, 10-25 mM), a mu-opioid receptor agonist, was infused into the amygdala, the number of NMDA-evoked spikes at the trigeminal nucleus decreased. However, the application of naloxone into the trigeminal nucleus while DAMGO being infused into the amygdala increased the number of spikes. Low dose (1 mM) of dynorphin in the trigeminal nucleus produced a significant decrease in NMDA-evoked spikes of the trigeminal nucleus but the NMDA-evoked responses were facilitated by a high dose (5 mM) of dynorphin. After the kappa receptors were blocked with naloxone, dynorphin induced hyperalgesia. After the NMDA receptors were blocked with AP5, dynorphin induced analgesia. In conclusion, dynorphin A exerted dose-dependent dual effects (increased & decreased spike activity) on NMDA-evoked spikes in the trigeminal nucleus. The inhibitory effect of the dynorphin at a low concentration was due to the activation of kappa receptors and the excitatory effect at a high concentration was due to activation of NMDA receptors in the trigeminal neurons.
Action Potentials* ; Amygdala ; Analgesia ; Animals ; Dynorphins* ; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- ; Horns ; Hyperalgesia ; N-Methylaspartate ; Naloxone ; Neurons ; Rats* ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Receptors, Opioid, kappa ; Trigeminal Nuclei*

As the incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension increases, complications such as decreased renal function are also increasing in many patients. Nutritional management in hemodialysis patients is a very important factor for prognosis and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in nutritional status and dietary management according to hemodialysis duration. A total of 145 patients were divided into 4 groups according to hemodialysis duration: less 1 year (D1), 1–5 years (D2), and above 5 years (D3). The rates of protein-energy wasting were 31.1% in D1 group, 49.5% in D2 group, and 47.6% in D3 group. However, there was no significant difference between the 3 groups. Nutrient intake analysis showed that protein, iron, and vitamin C were significantly lower in the D3 group than in the D1 group. Protein intake in all 3 groups was insufficient compared to the recommended dietary amount for dialysis patients. The most difficult aspect in dietary management was cooking with low sodium. In the D3 group, which had the longest duration of dialysis, the practice of diet therapy and self-perceived need for nutrition education was lowest. Observations of nutritional status are necessary to maintain the health status of dialysis patients. In addition, education plans should be prepared to mediate the nutrient intakes and identify the patient's difficulties and provide practical help.
Ascorbic Acid ; Chronic Disease ; Cooking ; Dialysis ; Diet Therapy ; Education ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Iron ; Nutritional Status* ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sodium

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plain radiographic and CT findings of the necrotizing fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiologic findings of 4 cases with necrotizing fasciitis. Three cases were proven pathologically. We evaluated pattern and extent of the gas shadows in plain films. CT findings were analysed, with emphasis on : (a) gas pattern, (b) extent, (c) location and involved site, (d) associated focal abscess, and (e) swelling of the adjacent muscles. RESULTS: On plain radiographs, four cases showed streaky or mottled gas densities in the pelvis, three cases in the perineum, one case in the abdomen, and two cases in the thigh. On CT images, gas pattern was mottled and streaky appearance with swelling of the adjacent muscles. Gasshadows located in the extraperitoneal space in four cases, fascial layer in four cases, and subcutaneous layer infour cases. There were gas shadows in pelvic wall, perineum, abdominal wall, buttock, thigh, and scrotum. Focallow density lesion suggestive of focal abscess was not visualized. CONCLUSION: Plain radiography is useful forearly diagnosis of the necrotizing fasciitis and CT is very useful for detection of precise location and extent of the disease. CT is also useful for differentiation of necrotizing fasciitis from focal abscess and cellulitis.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Buttocks ; Cellulitis ; Diagnosis ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Muscles ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrotum ; Thigh