No abstract available.
Blood Glucose* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. RESULTS: Scatter corrected studies was lower in counts by 18+/-3% than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. CONCLUSION: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.
Chest Pain ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Memory ; Perfusion* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

BACKGROUND: Ciclopiroxole.minsolution or cream is the topical in imycotic agent which has been known to have the ability to penetrate the horny skin and nail keratin. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pierapeutic effect of 1% ciclopiroxolamine solution on onychomycosis. METHODS: 1% ciclopiroxolamie solution was applied topically to hentire surface of t,he diseased nail at least twice a day for 12 to 36 weeks according to the verity of nail involvement and degree of improvement in 21 cases of onychomycoses. RESULTS: 1. With only topical application of 1% ciclopiroxolamine solutior, 4 out of 21 cases(67%) showed 25% or more reduction of the affected nail area, and 8 out of 21 cases(38%) showed 50% or more reduction of the affected nail area. 2. There was no significant difference in the degree of improvem of according to the duration of disease. 3. Therapeutic effect was relat.ively high on Candida albicans, while it was relatively low on Aspergillus species. 4. 3 out of 7 cases of mild(up to 30%) involvement showed a 7% or more reduction of the affected nail, while 4 out of 6 cases of severe(60-100%) involvement showed a 25% or less reduction of the affected nail. 5. As side effects during the topical application of 1% ciclopiroxol nr ne solution, periungualer ythema appeared in 3 cases, and a burning sensation in 4 of 21 cases. CONCLUSION: 1% ciclopiroir olaniine solution could be tried as an effctive therapeutic agent on onychomycosis for the patient who would not be tolerable to oral an ifiigal medication for associated systemic diseases or who does not want oral medication.
Aspergillus ; Burns ; Candida albicans ; Humans ; Onychomycosis* ; Sensation ; Skin

PURPOSE: The authors sought to determine the neuroprotective effect of melatonin in a model of ischemic injury in rabbit retina. METHODS: Ischemia was induced by high intraocualr pressure. A dose of 100 microgram of melatonin or dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) alone was injected intravitreally just after the induction of ischemia. After 7 and 14 days, the neuroprotective effect of melatonin on ischemic retina was examined with light microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The authors found reduction of cytoplasm of retinal ganglion cell(RGC), vacuole formation, chromatin condensation and rupture of nuclear membrane in ischemia-injured eyes treated with DMSO alone. But in melatonin treated eyes, we found that RGC layer's thickness and number of RGC reduced and destruction of cytoplasmic organells and nuclear damage were minimal. The partial recovery of wave is noted in melatonin-treated eyes after ischemia induction. CONCLUSIONS: The melatonin(100 microgram) protected the rabbit retina from high intraocular pressure-induced ischemic injury when administered intravitreally. Melatonin may be useful to decrease neuronal damage in the retina as a result of ischemic injury. But further investigations are neccesary to decide effective concentration, route and time of administration.
Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Ganglion Cysts ; Ischemia* ; Melatonin* ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Nuclear Envelope ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Rupture ; Vacuoles

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Unlike screw-retention type, fixture-abutment retention in Locking taper connection depends on frictional force so it has possibility of abutment to sink. PURPOSE: In this study, Bicon(R) Implant System, one of the conical internal connection implant system, was used with applying loading force to the abutments connected to the fixture. Then the amount of sinking was measured. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 10 Bicon(R) implant fixtures were used. First, the abutment was connected to the fixture with finger force. Then it was tapped with a mallet for 3 times and loads of 20 kg corresponding to masticatory force using loading application instrument were applied successively. The abutment state, slightly connected to the fixture without pressure was considered as a reference length, and every new abutment length was measured after each load's step was added. The amount of abutment sinking (mm) was gained by subtracting the length of abutment-fixture under each loading condition from reference length. RESULTS: It was evident, that the amount of abutment sinking in Bicon(R) Implant System increased as loads were added. When loads of 20 kg were applied more than 5 - 7 times, sinking stopped at 0.45 +/- 0.09 mm. CONCLUSION: Even though locking taper connection type implant shows good adaption to occlusal force, it has potential for abutment sinking as loads are given. When locking taper connection type implant is used, satisfactory loads are recommended for precise abutment location.
Bite Force ; Fingers ; Friction ; Retention (Psychology)

Brain metastases are a common cause of disability and death in patients with cancer, but their management remains a major clinical problem. They can, however, be effectively controlled by radiation therapy, possible modalities being external radiotherapy, brachytherapy(implantation), stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS), or a combination of the above modalities. It can be expected that the neurologic status of patients thus treated will remain stable or improve for most of the period during which they survive; using whole brain radiotherapy, the possible palliation index is 75-80%. Despite treatment, however, as many as 1/3 to 2/3 of patients are expected to die from complications related to the progression of brain metastases. With regard to survival, randomized trials involving dose escalation have not yet shown any advantage over the conventional dose; the same palliation index of 75-80% is expected for 40Gy/20 fractions, 30Gy/10 fractions, and 20Gy/5 fractions. It is clear, however, that a smaller daily dose of radiation(the conventional dose is 200cGy/fraction) will reduce the incidence of radiation induced dementia and improve the quality of life in long term survivors. In certain conditions such as solitary brain metastasis without extracranial disease and good performance status(KPS>or=70), a more aggressive approach, including surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery can be considered.
Brachytherapy ; Brain* ; Dementia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Quality of Life ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy ; Survivors

Herpes zoster is characterized by several groups of vesicles situateu unilaterally within the distribution of the cranial or spinal nerve coming from one posterior ganglion Biateral involvement and recurrence are rare, and zoster involves two widely separated regions at on time are even rarer. We report a case of bilateral eupes zoster. A 5-years-old female patient was presented with painful bilateral grouped vesicles on an erythematous base along the dermatome of Lt T2 and Rt T5. Tzanck smear revealed multinucleated giant cells, and histopathologic findings were consistent with herpetic infection. She was successfully treated by administration of acyclovir without any significant cornplications.
Acyclovir ; Female ; Ganglion Cysts ; Giant Cells ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Spinal Nerves

PURPOSE: In the present study, the difference in patients' nursing demands and nursing performance as perceived by the patients was examined. METHODS: The participants were 272 patients on maintenance hemodialysis at five university hospitals. Nursing need and nursing performance were measured using the tool developed by Lee for this study. RESULTS: The mean score for nursing demand was 3.35 points out of 4. The scores were higher for participants with middle school graduation or less, those not professing religion, and those whose medical insurance was of the medicaid type. The mean score for perceived nursing performance was 3.22 points out of 4. Nursing performance as perceived by hemodialysis patients was lower than nursing demand for 22 of 28 items. The item with the largest difference between nursing performance and nursing demand was 'Give a pain-free injection', followed by 'Explain about insurance benefits and supports' and 'Maintain quiet environment in the hemodialysis unit enabling rest during hemodialysis'. CONCLUSION: The results show that nursing performance as perceived by hemodialysis patients was lower than nursing demand. This result indicates a need to develop appropriate strategies to enhance nursing performance, especially for items that showed low nursing performance.
Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance Benefits ; Medicaid ; Oxalates ; Renal Dialysis

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the factors affecting the time to recurrence after radical nephrectomy for localized renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 321 patients who received radical nephrectomies for localized renal cell carcinoma (pT1a-pT2b N0M0). Of 29 patients with disease recurrence, 9 had recurrence more than 5 years after radical nephrectomy. We evaluated the clinicopathological factors, with the use of a retrospective study design. RESULTS: Tumor necrosis was statistically different between the late recurrence group and the recurrence free group (Fisher exact test, p=0.046). Hematuria at diagnosis (chi-square test, p=0.045) was statistically significant in early recurrence. In the univariate logistic regression analysis, tumor necrosis (odds ratio [OR], 4.629; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.106 to 19.379; p=0.036) and pT stage>1 (OR, 7.232; 95% CI, 1.727 to 30.280; p=0.007) were risk factors of late recurrence. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, pT stage>1 (OR, 7.143; 5% CI 1.706 to 29.912, p=0.007) was associated with late recurrence. Regarding early recurrence, initial symptoms at diagnosis and pathologic T stage>1 were statistically significant in both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. In terms of recurrence site, patients with late recurrence tended to have unusual metastasis sites other than lung, liver or bone (chi-square test, p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that tumor necrosis may affect late disease recurrence. Patients with initial symptoms and hematuria at diagnosis are vulnerable to recurrence in a shorter period after nephrectomy. Patients with late recurrence showed a tendency to have unusual metastasis site other than lung, liver or bone.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Liver ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy* ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors