Inonotus obliquus is a fungus that causes white heart rot on several broad-leaved species. This fungus forms typical charcoal-black, sterile conks (chaga) or cinder conks on infected stems of the birche (Betula spp). The dark brown pulp of the sterile conk is formed by a pure mycelial mass of fungus. Chaga are a folk remedy in Russia, reflecting the circumboreal distribution of I. obliquus in boreal forest ecosystems on Betula spp. and in meridional mountain forests on beech (Fagus spp.) in Russia, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. Distribution at lower latitudes in Western and Southern Europe, Northern America, Asia, Japan, and Korea is rare. Infected trees grow for many years without several symptoms of decline. The infection can penetrate through stem injuries with exterior sterile conks developing later. In the Czech Republic, cinder conk is found on birches inhabiting peat bogs and in mountain areas with a colder and more humid climate, although it is widespread in other broad leaved species over the Czech Republic. The most common hosts are B. pendula, B. pubescens, B. carpatica, and F. sylvatica. Less frequent hosts include Acer campestre, Acer pseudoplatanus, Alnus glutinosa, Alnus incana, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus cerris, Q. petraea, Q. robur, Q. delachampii, and Ulmus sp.
Acer ; Alnus ; Asia ; Betula ; Climate ; Czech Republic ; Ecology ; Ecosystem ; Europe ; Europe, Eastern ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Fagus ; Fraxinus ; Fungi ; Heart ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; North America ; Quercus ; Russia ; Scandinavia ; Soil ; Trees ; Ulmus ; Wetlands

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the etching effects and bond strength of total etching and self-etching adhesive system on unground enamel using scanning electron microscopy and microtensile bond strength test. The buccal coronal unground enamel from human extracted molars were prepared using low-speed diamond saw. Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (group SM), Clearfil SE Bond (group SE), or Adper Prompt L-Pop (group LP) were applied to the prepared teeth, and the blocks of resin composite (Filtek Z250) were built up incrementally. Resin tag formation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, after removal of enamel surface by acid dissolution and dehydration. For microtensile bond strength test, resin-bonded teeth were sectioned to give a bonded surface area of 1mm2. Microtensile bond strength test was perfomed. The results of this study were as follows. 1. A definite etching pattern was observed in Scotchbond Multi-Purpose group. 2. Self-etching groups were characterized as shallow and irregular etching patterns. 3. The results (mean) of microtensile bond strength were SM; 26.55 MPa, SE; 18.15 MPa, LP; 15.57 MPa. SM had significantly higher microtensile bond strength than SE and PL (p < 0.05), but there was no significant differance between SE and PL.
Adhesives* ; Dehydration ; Dental Enamel* ; Diamond ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molar ; Tooth

The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the shaping ability of the three different Ni-Ti file systems used by undergraduate students. Fifty undergraduate students prepared 150 simulated curved root canals in resin blocks with three Ni-Ti file systems - ProFile(R) (PF), Manual ProTaper(R) (MPT), Rotary ProTape(R) (RPT). Every student prepared 3 simulated root canals with each system respectively. After root canal preparation, the Ni-Ti files were evaluated for distortion or breakage. Assessments were made according to the presence of various types of canal aberrations. The pre- and post-instrumented canal images were attained and superimposed. The instrumented root canal width were measured and calculated for the net transportation (deviation) and the centering ratio. Under the condition of this study, both ProTaper(R) systems allowed significantly more removal of root canal wall than the ProFile(R) system. In the important other aspects such as the centering ratio, there was no significant differences between the systems. Novice dental students were able to prepare curved root canals with any kinds of Ni-Ti file systems with little aberration and great conservation of tooth structure. Students want to learn effective methods and at the same time simple rotary procedures. The rotary ProTaper(R) systems were one of the most compatible to these students from the point of view of cutting ability. The ProFile(R) system was also compatible in safe and gentle shaping.
Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Root Canal Preparation ; Students, Dental ; Tooth ; Transportation

BACKGROUND: To analyze the patterns of medical care utilization and its related factors in hypertensive patients during 19 years (1990-2008), utilizing national patient survey in Korea. METHODS: Using seven surveyed data, age-standardized medical care utilization increasing ratios for the inpatients and outpatients compared to the year of 1990 were calculated, respectively. Changes of medical facilities (%) of patients used in 1990, 1999, and 2008 were compared. For the outpatients, median length of stay and discharge mortality rate per 1,000 persons were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression methods were used to identify related factors of the resident patients and the comparison characteristics between hypertensives and the others of all subjects. Sample weights were used. RESULTS: The medical care utilization of hypertensives were increased for both inpatients and outpatients. However, the ratios were dramatically diminished after the standardization. Age-standardized ratios were 3.6 in outpatients and 5.9 in inpatients compared to 1990. For the outpatients, mainly used medical facilities were changed from general hospital to convalescent hospital. Also, median length of stay and discharge mortality rate were increased up to 5 times and 4 times compared to 1990. The odds of being resident patients were related with discharge as death and using oriental medical center convalescent hospital in 2008. Hypertensive patients were older than the others. Confined to hypertensive patients, member of National Health Insurance was more tend to be outpatients but less inpatients. CONCLUSIONS: Aging population and long-term care Act were presumed as the main reason for the increasing of medical care utilization in 1990 to 2008.
Aging ; Health Care Surveys ; Hospitals, Convalescent ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Long-Term Care ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Outpatients ; Utilization Review ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.

The acknowledgements was incorrect in the original publication of this article.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the buffering effects of social support as an effects modifier in the association between depression and inflammation in the elderly. METHODS: We analyzed the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) for questionnaire, clinical, and laboratory data of 530 older adults living in a rural community. Multivariate regression models were used to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and C-reactive protein level (CRP), a marker of inflammation, at varying levels of social support. RESULTS: Social support affected the association between depressive symptoms and CRP level in both sexes. However, the direction of effects modification was different for men and women. In men, a higher CRP level was significantly associated with depressive symptoms only among those with lower support from a spouse or family members. By contrast, in women, the association was significant only among subgroups with higher spousal or family support. Social support from neighbors or friends did not affect the depression-inflammation relationship in men but modestly affected the relationship in women. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that social support may have a buffering effect in the relationship between depression and inflammation in elderly Koreans. But the influence of social support may run in different directions for men and women.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; C-Reactive Protein ; Depression ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Rural Population ; Spouses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of tensile stress of canal obturated maxillary second premolar with access cavity and notch-shaped class V cavity restored with composite resin using a 3D finite element analysis. The tested groups were classified as 8 situations by only access cavity or access cavity with notch-shaped class VS cavity (S or N), loading condition (L1 or L2), and with or without glass ionomer cement base (R1 or R2). A static load of 500 N was applied at buccal and palatal cusps. Notch-shaped cavity and access cavity were filled microhybrid composite resin (Z100) with or without GIC base (Fuji II LC). The tensile stresses presented in the buccal cervical area, palatal cervical area and occlusal surface were analyzed using ANSYS. Tensile stress distributions were similar regardless of base. When the load was applied on the buccal cusp, excessive high tensile stress was concentrated around the loading point and along the central groove of occlusal surface. The tensile stress values of the tooth with class V cavity were slightly higher than that of the tooth without class V cavity. When the load was applied the palatal cusp, excessive high tensile stress was concentrated around the loading point and along the central groove of occlusal surface. The tensile stress values of the tooth without class V cavity were slightly higher than that of the tooth with class V cavity.
Acrylic Resins ; Bicuspid ; Finite Element Analysis ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Morpholines ; Oxazolidinones ; Silicon Dioxide ; Tooth

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of various dentin bonding systems on microtensile bond strength of immediate dentin sealing (IDS) and delayed dentin sealing (DDS). Eighteen extracted permanent molars were used in this study. The teeth for DDS group were restored with a provisional restorations, and immersed in saline solution for 1 week, and divided into 3 subgroups according to various dentin bonding adhesives; SB subgroup (3 step total-etch adhesive), SE subgroup (2 step self-etch adhesive), XE subgroup (1 step self-etch adhesive). In IDS group, the teeth were divided into 3 subgroups, and applied with bonding adhesives as in DDS group. The teeth were restored with provisional restorations, and immersed in saline solution for 1 week. Indirect composite disc was cemented with resin cement, and all specimens were subjected to microtensile bond strength. The data were statistically analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Student t-test. The results were as follows: 1. The IDS group showed significantly higher microTBS than DDS group in 3 step total-etch and 2 step self-etch adhesive (p < 0.05). 2. In IDS and DDS group, 3 step total-etch adhesive showed the highest microTBS value, followed by 2 step self-etch, and 1 step self-etch adhesive. In IDS group, the microTBS value for 1 step self-etch adhesive was significantly different from those of the other subgroups (p < 0.05), and in DDS group, there were statistical differences in all subgroup (p < 0.05). 3. Failure modes of tested dentin bonding adhesives were mostly mixed failure and only 1 step self-etch adhesive showed adhesive failure.
Adhesives ; Analysis of Variance ; Dentin ; Humans ; Molar ; Resin Cements ; Sodium Chloride ; Tooth

The purposes of this study were to examine the variability of adhesive thickness on the different site of the cavity wall when used total-etch system without filler and simplified self-etch system with filler and to evaluate the relationship between variable adhesive thickness and microtensile bond strength to the cavity wall. A class I cavity in six human molars was prepared to expose all dentinal walls. Three teeth were bonded with a filled adhesive, Clearfil(TM) SE bond and the other three teeth were bonded with unfilled adhesives, Scotchbond(TM) Multi Purpose. Morphology and thickness of adhesive layer were examined using fluorescence microscope. Bonding agent thickness was measured at three points along the axial cavity wall, edge of cavity margin (rim), halfway down each cavity wall (hlf), internal angle of the cavity (ang). After reproducing the adhesive thickness at rim, hlf and ang, micro-tensile bond strength were evaluated. For both bonding agents, adhesive thickness of ang was significantly thicker than that of rim and hlf (P < 0.05). As reproduced the adhesive thickness, microtensile bond strength was increased as adhesive thickness was increased in two bonding agents. Adhesive thickness of internal angle of the cavity was significantly thicker than that of the cavity margin and the halfway cavity wall for both bonding agents. Microtensile bond strength of the thick adhesive layer at the internal angle of the cavity was higher than that of the thin adhesive layer at the cavity margin and the halfway cavity in the two bonding systems.
Adhesives* ; Dentin ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Molar ; Tooth