No abstract available.

Void-free impression taking is important for the fabrication of accurate dental restorations.One of the essential properties of an impression material used for indirect fabrication of precision castings is the reproduction of the fine detail. The objective in this study was to determine the influence of mixing methods on the number of voids and surface detail reproduction.The number of voids and surface detail reproduction were evaluated with the stereomicroscope SZ-PT and photographed. The results were as follows; 1.In comparison of the void formation according to mixing methods of all impression materials,mechanical mixing was better than hand mixing and there was significant difference(P<0.05). 2.In comparison of the void formation according to hand mixing of alginate impression materials(TOKUSO A-1 alpha ,CAVEX IMPRESSIONAL ,AROMA FINE DF III), there was no significant difference among alginate groups.But the number of void was increased in the order of Panasil contact,TOKUSO A-1alpha , Permlastic light bodied and there was significant difference(P<0.05). 3.In comparison of the void formation according to mechanical mixing of alginate impression materials(TOKUSO A-1 alpha, CAVEX IMPRESSIONAL, AROMA FINE DF III), there was no significant different among alginate groups.But the number of void was decreased in order of TOKUSO A-1 alpha, Permlastic light bodied,Panasil contact and there was significant difference(P<0.05). 4.In comparison of the surface detail reproduction according to mixing methods of 3 types of impression materials(TOKUSO A-1 alpha, Permlastic light bodied,Panasil contact), there was no significant difference between hand mixing and mechanical mixing method 5.The surface detail reproduction was only influenced by impression materials,and produced better in order of TOKUSO A-1alpha, Panasil contact,Permlastic light bodied.There was significat difference among 3 type of impression materials(P<0.05). From the above results,void formation is influenced by mixing methods and surface detail reproduction is influenced by impression materials than mixing methods.Therefore,to fabricate accurate restorations,proper impression material and mechanical mixing method are more effective and available clinically.
Hand ; Reproduction*

Juvenile xanthogranuloma(JXG) is a disorder of histiocytes usually associated with cutaneous lesions. JXG developing in soft tissue is rare and receives little attention. Therefore deeply located JXG may present a diagnostic difficulty in the absence of cutaneous lesions. Clinically, deep JXG seems to occur as solitary lesions on the trunk rather than on the head and neck region and tends to be composed of a monotonous population of histiocytic cells, with rare, if any, foamy macrophages or Touton-type multinucleated giant cells. We report an unusual case of JXG in a 4-month-old male infant who had a deep-seated mass located on the subcutaneous and muscle layer of the left forearm.
Forearm ; Giant Cells ; Head ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Infant ; Macrophages ; Male ; Neck ; Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile*

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic or chronically relapsing, inflammatory, pruritic skin disease. Because tacrolimus ointment does not induce skin atrophy, it is especially indicated in delicate areas such as the face, intertriginous areas and anogenital region. OBJECTIVE: With the aim of investigating the differences between the established clinical guidelines and actual treatment response, an open-label, non-comparative, multicenter clinical observational study was undertaken. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-three patients with AD in the head and neck area were treated with topical tacrolimus 0.1% twice daily. Clinical evaluations were conducted at baseline, week 4 and week 8. Efficacy was assessed through the investigator's evaluation of the patients' individual signs (erythema, edema, oozing, excoriation, scaling, lichenification and fissuring) and symptoms (burning, pruritus and telangiectasia) using a 4-point grading system. The physician's and patient's global assessments and quality of sleep were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among 153 enrolled patients, 25 (16.3%) were lost to follow-up, and 6 (3.9%) dropped out due to adverse events, leaving 79.7% of the population who completed the trial. Head and neck dermatitis was improved or cleared in 93.6% (week 4) and 94.4% (week 8) by physicians and in 92.1% (week 4) and 90.8% (week 8) by patients. Tacrolimus treatment improved the quality of sleep in head and neck dermatitis patients. Eighty-seven percent of the subjects were compliant, applying it at least 3 days per week. Burning sensation was the most frequently reported adverse event, followed by pruritus and aggravation of the lesion. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% is a safe and effective treatment option for atopic dermatitis of head and neck including eyelids.
Atrophy ; Burns ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Edema ; Eyelids ; Head* ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neck* ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tacrolimus*

Generalized pustular psoriasis(GPP) is an uncommon and severe form of psoriasis. The possible provocative factors such as steroid therapy, infection, stress, drugs, pregnancy, sun exposure, and metabolic disorders were reported. Among them, corticosteroid therapy is thought to be the most common factor. Although the cause of psoriasis remain obscure, the coexistence of psoriasis and autoimmune disease and cyclosporin accepted for the treament of psoriasis emphasize the importance of immunologic mechanism in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We present a case of GPP in a 48-year-old male, who has had a history of myasthenia gravis since the age of 34 years and managed with long-term corticosteroid therapy. With the administration of acitretin and cyclosporin, generalized pustular eruptions nearly cleared and clinical improvement was achieved.
Acitretin ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cyclosporine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Pregnancy ; Psoriasis* ; Solar System

BACKGROUND: Computer-aided image analysis (CAIA) has been suggested as an effective diagnostic tool for pigmented skin lesions (PSLs), especially melanoma. However, few studies on benign PSLs have been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate benign PSLs with our CAIA software and analyze the differences between the parameters of those lesions. METHODS: By using homegrown CAIA software, we analyzed 3 kinds of PSLs-nevus, lentigo, and seborrheic keratosis. The group of seborrheic keratosis was divided into pigmented seborrheic keratosis, sebolentigine, and hyperkeratotic seborrheic keratosis. The CAIA was used to extract the color, as well as the morphological, textural, and topological features from each image. RESULTS: In line with clinical observations, the objective parameters indicated that nevus was dark and round, lentigo was small and bright, and seborrheic keratosis was large and spiky. The surface of nevus showed the highest contrast and correlation. In topological analysis, the concentricity clearly separated melanocytic lesions from seborrheic keratosis. The parameters of pigmented seborrheic keratosis were between those of typical nevus and seborrheic keratosis. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that definite correlations exist between the subjective differentiation by experts' examination and the objective evaluation by using CAIA. We also found that the morphological differences observed in CAIA were greatly influenced by the composition ratios of keratinocytes and melanocytes, which are already known histopathological characteristics of each PSL.
Bioengineering ; Keratinocytes ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Lentigo ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Nevus ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Previously developed diagnostic assays to detect antibodies against HIV have difficulties in diagnosing the infected blood prior to seroconversion. Various 3.5 generation HIV diagnostic assays developed in the Republic of Korea also have the same problem. Newly developed LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus (LG Life Science, Seoul, Korea) is the product to overcome this limitation. METHODS: Sensitivity of both LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus and Enzygnost HIV Integral (Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany) were evaluated by using 82 anti-HIV 1 positive samples, 2 anti-HIV 1 group O positive samples (Vital products, Boynton Beach, FL, USA), 25 anti-HIV 2 positive samples, 5 anti-HIV panels (Boston Biomedica, Inc., MA, USA). Specificity of both product were evaluated using 1081 Anti-HIV negative samples (1000 healthy donors, 13 alcoholics sera, 20 end-stage renal disease sera, 20 HBsAg positive sera, 22 anti-HBs antibody positive sera, 6 anti-HCV positive sera). Seroconversion window was evaluated by using 4 seroconversion panels. Intrapersonal and interpersonal reproducibility of the test were also evaluated. RESULTS: Sensitivity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus to sera of healthy donor was 99.9% and that to sera of patients with other underlying diseases was 100%. Sensitivity of both LG HIV Ag-Ab plus and Enzygnost HIV integral assays to sera of HIV infected patients was 100%. Sensitivity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus to BBI panel was comparable or better than that of Enzygnost HIV Integral. Analysis of window period using seroconversion panels showed no difference between both tests. CONCLUSION: Sensitivity and specificity of LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus was comparable to that of Enzygnost HIV Integral. It also had an excellent result in analysis of window period using seroconversion panels. So, newly developed LG HIV Ag-Ab Plus assay, by using it in screening donated blood, may provide significant contribution in safety of donated blood.
Alcoholics ; Antibodies ; Biological Science Disciplines ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; HIV* ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mass Screening ; Republic of Korea ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul ; Tissue Donors

Pseudomonas infections can occur from inadequate chemical treatment of water, prolonged exposure to the water source and excessive numbers of bathers in the pool or hot tub. Therefore, pseudomonas folliculitis is also called 'hot tub folliculitis'. We report a 3-year-old boy with Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis suggestively caused by water from the bathing tub of a Hotel. According to the sanitary code of the United States of America, pool staff should regularly check both chlorine and pH levels to prevent swimmers from recreational water infection. However, in Korea, there is no definite regulation regarding chlorine or pH level of recreational water. Thus, we report this issue with a review of the literature.
Americas ; Baths ; Chlorine ; Folliculitis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Preschool Child ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Pseudomonas Infections ; United States ; Water

Various treatment modalities are available for mycosis fungoides including topical steroids, topical chemotherapy, phototherapy, and spot radiation therapy. However, these modalities do not always result in optimal effects, with efficacy depending on lesion size, number, and location. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a recently introduced therapeutic modality that proved effective in patients with unilesional mycosis fungoides. A 58-year-old woman presented with a seven-year history of a pruritic erythematous scaly patch on her right thigh. Through skin biopsy, we verified the lesion as mycosis fungoides. The lesion did not respond well to a topical steroid. We opted for topical PDT with methyl-aminolevulinate (MAL). MAL cream was applied for 4 hours following irradiation with a red light. Four sessions were administered, separated by five weeks. The lesion clinically improved after treatment without severe side effects. PDT using MAL could be considered an effective and tolerable treatment for mycosis fungoides.
Biopsy ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Phototherapy ; Skin ; Steroids ; Thigh