OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study was undertaken to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological properties of commercially available metal orthodontic brackets in South Korea, because national standards for these products are lacking. METHODS: Four bracket brands were tested for dimensional accuracy, (manufacturing errors in angulation and torque), cytotoxicity, composition, elution, and corrosion: Archist (Daeseung Medical), Victory (3M Unitek), Kosaka (Tomy), and Confidence (Shinye Odontology Materials). RESULTS: The tested rackets showed no significant differences in manufacturing errors in angulation, but Confidence brackets showed a significant difference in manufacturing errors in torque. None of the brackets were cytotoxic to mouse fibroblasts. The metal ion components did not show a regular increasing or decreasing trend of elution over time, but the volume of the total eluted metal ions increased: Archist brackets had the maximal Cr elution and Confidence brackets appeared to have the largest volume of total eluted metal ions because of excessive Ni elution. Confidence brackets showed the lowest corrosion resistance during potentiodynamic polarization. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study could potentially be applied in establishing national standards for metal orthodontic brackets and in evaluating commercially available products.
Animals ; Corrosion ; Fibroblasts ; Ions ; Mice ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Republic of Korea ; Torque

No abstract available.
Lymphocyte Subsets* ; Lymphocytes*

PURPOSE: To evaluate position of the mandibular condyle within articular fossa in an asymptomatic population radiographically by a cone beam computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography of 60 temporomandibular joints was performed on 15 males and 15 females with no history of any temporomandibular disorders, or any other orthodontic or prosthodontic treatments. Position of mandibular condyle within articular fossa at centric occlusion was evaluated. A statistical evaluation was done using a SPSS. RESULTS: In the sagittal views, mandibular condyle within articular fossa was posteriorly located at medial and central sections. In the coronal views, mandibular condyle within articular fossa was laterally located at central section. Mandibular condyles in the right and left sides were showed asymmetric positional relationship at medial,central, and lateral sections. CONCLUSION: Mandibular condyle within articular fossa in an asymptomatic population was observed nonconcentric position in the sagittal and coronal views.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle* ; Prosthodontics ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between living arrangements and influenza vaccination among elderly South Korean subjects. METHODS: We used data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants older than 65 years were included and categorized into 4 groups according to the type of living arrangement as follows: (1) living alone group; (2) living with a spouse group; (3) living with offspring (without spouse) group; and (4) living with other family members group. A total of 1,435 participants were included in this cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: A lower vaccination rate was observed in the living with offspring (without spouse) group, whereas the living with a spouse group had higher rates of both seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccination. After adjusting for age, sex, region, education level, income level, and number of comorbidities, the living with offspring (without spouse) group had a higher H1N1 vaccination non-receipt rate than the living alone group (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-3.82). CONCLUSION: Influenza vaccination rates differed according to the type of living arrangement. Particularly, those living with offspring (without spouse) had the lowest H1N1 influenza vaccination rate compared to those with other living arrangements, and this difference was significant. Interventions to improve influenza vaccination coverage should target not only elderly persons who live alone, but also those living with offspring.
Aged* ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Residence Characteristics* ; Seasons ; Spouses ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the clinical outcomes of primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and Ahmed valve implantation for secondary open-angle glaucoma following uveitis. METHODS: This study was conducted retrospectively on 30 eyes of 25 patients with open-angle glaucoma secondary to uveitis that had undergone trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and 33 eyes of 24 patients that had undergone Ahmed valve implantation. The clinical outcome indicators used in this study were intraocular pressure (IOP), number of anti-glaucoma agents, surgical success rate and occurrence of complications. RESULTS: Mean IOP and surgical success rate in patients who had undergone trabeculectomy with mitomycin C after a 12 month postoperative period were 14.0+/-8.2 mmHg and 76.7%, respectively, while those of patients with Ahmed valve implantation were 13.2+/-7.7 mmHg and 81.8%. The data did not show clinical significance. There was greater risk of surgical failure in patients at a younger age and/or with diabetes mellitus in cases of having gone through trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. CONCLUSIONS: Both trabeculectomy with mitomycon C and Ahmed valve implantation can be considered as primary surgical treatments for patients with open-angle glaucoma secondary to uveitis. However, trabeculectomy with mitomycin C should only be applied to a limited extent in patients that are young and/or have diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Mitomycin ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy ; Uveitis

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, may participate with pathogenesis of intercellular detachment and loss of cell-matrix interaction. Autoimmune bullous dermatoses is an entity charaterized by bullous lesions of the skin and mucosa, and autoantibodies to the specific tissue components. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the induction of apoptosis in the lesional skin of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), pemphigus foliaceus (PF), bullous pemphigoid (BP), and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). METHODS: Hoechst 33342 (bisbenzimide) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to determine the induction of apoptosis in the lesional skin of each disease. RESULTS: In PV and PF, typical findings of apoptosis were observed in the lesional epidermis showing acantholysis. However, in BP and EBA, no apoptosis of the epidermis was observed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that apoptosis is only associated with acantholysis of the epidermal keratinocytes, one of many components of pathogenesis in bullous disease, in patients with pemphigus.
Acantholysis ; Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; Blister ; Cell Death ; Epidermis ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa* ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Mucous Membrane ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Pemphigus* ; Skin ; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous

No abstract available.
Carcinosarcoma* ; Lung*

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids are known to be significant prognostic parameters in sepsis. Recently, an absolute and relative insufficiency of the corticosteroids system has often been reported to often develop particularly in severe sepsis. Degree of such an adrenal insufficiency not only has prognostic implications but also can be used to guide corticosteroids replacement therapy. The 24-hour urinary cortisol levels as well as serum cortisol concentrations were measured to assess the clinical significance and their relationship with the other parameters of sepsis, and also evaluated the clinical implications of the relative adrenal insufficiency. METHODS: 26 consecutive patients with sepsis were enrolled. The basal random serum cortisol, ACTH, ADH, lactate levels and 24-hour urinary free cortisol amount were measured. The rapid ACTH (250 microgram) stimulation test was also performed. RESULTS: Basal serum cortisol levels were higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels were higher in the patients with severe sepsis than in those without. The serum cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum ADH and lactate levels. The 24-hour urinary free cortisol levels strongly correlated with the serum cortisol and lactate levels. The fractional changes in the cortisol levels after the rapid ACTH stimulation tests correlated with the serum cortisol, ADH, and lactate levels. CONCLUSION: Both the serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol were found to be significant prognostic factors in sepsis, and showed a strong correlation with the other parameters. The relative adrenal insufficiency might also be an important clinical parameter.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Lactic Acid ; Prognosis ; Sepsis* ; Survivors

BACKGROUND: The nitric oxide (NO) released by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Corticosteroids also play a role in the hemodynamic and inflammatory reactions in sepsis. Both have been shown to have a relationship theoretically, but their correlation and clinical impacts have rarely been evaluated. METHODS: 26 patients with sepsis and 14 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The initial random plasma total NO and the serum cortisol levels were measured. The same measurements were serially carried out on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. RESULTS: The initial total plasma levels of NO and cortisol were higher in the patients with sepsis than in the healthy controls. The total NO levels were higher in patients with severe sepsis than in the those with mild sepsis. There was a correlation between the total NO and cortisol level throughout the study. CONCLUSION: In patients with sepsis, the levels of plasma NO and cortisol were well correlated during the first week of sepsis, which suggests an interrelationship. However, the clinical and pathogenetic implications await further evaluation.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide* ; Plasma ; Sepsis* ; Shock, Septic

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is a rare complication that usually occurs in younger patients within the first year after a right total lung resection. Its clinical presentations are stridor, dyspnea, and recurrent pulmonary infections. An airway obstruction secondary to the extreme mediastinal shift and rotation after a pneumonectomy is the main mechanism. It is commonly complicated with tracheobronchomalacia due to longstanding airway compression. The management modalities involve a repositioning of the mediastinum with volume expansion of the pneumonectomy site by a expandable prosthesis. however, other methods including an endobronchial stent insertion should be considered in the presence of a tracheobronchomalacia or in poor surgical candidates. Here we describe a case of postpneumonectomy syndrome complicated by a bronchomalacia, which was successfully treated with a self-expandable endobronchal stent.