No abstract available.
Cryptococcosis*

Since the nose is the most prominent part in the face, the plastic surgeons are interested in the continued effort for rhinoplasty. Nasal tip projection is essential to optimal nasal for the patient's face. But, the nasal tips of Orientals are characterized by bulbous appearance due to thick and tense skin, flaring of nostril. and restriction of nasal tip projection due to underdevelopment of medial crus of alar cartilage and short columella. Most orientals want to correct their nasal tip as well as shape of nose. We present clinical cases of various nasal tip deformities which were corrected with various operative methods through either alar rim incision of open rhinoplasty incision depending upon the severity of tip deformity in order to achieve more natural tips and good nasal tip projection. And the clinical cases were categorized into causes of nasal tip deformity and methods of nasal tip augmentation. We are reporting these reporting these cases with review of literatures.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Nose ; Rhinoplasty ; Skin ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

The aim of this study is to evaluate pituitary-ovarian function at different postpartum periods during the lactational amenorrhea in order to understand the mechanism by which puerperal lactation is associated with a protracted period of amenorrhea and natural infertility. Ninety four lactating women and 119 lactating women with menstruation, aged between 21 and 38 years, volunteered for this study. The pituitary was relatively insensitive to LH-RH during the first 3 weeks following delivery. The recovery of FSH responsiveness to LH-RH occurred earlier than that of LH. Normal FSH response resumed in the 2nd week while the LH response, although not normal, started at the 3rd week postpartum. Pituitary responsiveness after the 5th week postpartum was similar to that occurring in normally menstruating women, except that FSH response was exagerated. Serum prolactin levels were elevated above 160 ng/ml until the 5th week postpartum and decreased to 84.2 ng/ml in the 6th week postpartum. It appears that at least one reason for anovulation during the first four weeks following delivery is the relative insensitivity of the pituitary to hypothalamic stimulation. Prolactin does not seem to modulate pituitary responsiveness to LH-RH. In order to clarify hormonal profiles during the lactational amenorrhea beyond the 5th week puerperium, serum levels of LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone were determined during different postpartum periods. Serum FSH and LH levels during 1-10 months postpartum were similar to basal levels seen during the normal menstrual cycle. Serum estradiol concentrations throughout 1-10 months postpartum, however, were significantly decreased as compared with the levels during the follicular phase of the normal menstrual cycle. Serum prolactin levels were elevated throughout 1-10 months postpartum in lactating amenorrhic women but decreased as the postpartum period lengthened. As compared with lactating amenorrhic women, lactating women with resumed menstruation showed a decrease in prolactin levels from 89.20 ng/ml to 51.39 ng/ml at 1-3 months, from 75.08 ng/ml to 49.99 ng/ml at 4-6 months, and from 54.73 ng/ml to 28.74ng/ml at 7-10 months postpartum. These results suggest that the apparent anovulation seen beyond 5th week postpartum during lactation was not due to pituitary insensitivity to LH-RH. Rather, prolactindependent mechanism interfering with cyclic activity may be operative during long term lactation.
Amenorrhea/etiology* ; Female ; Gonadorelin/pharmacology ; Gonadotropins, Pituitary/secretion ; Human ; Lactation* ; Ovary/physiology* ; Pituitary Gland/physiology* ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin/physiology ; Puerperium*

Estriol excreation was studied in 216 normal and 61 pathologic pregnancies. The 95% fiducial limits of the normal excretion of estriol, within which 95% out of 100 future determinations in normal pregnancies are expected to fall, were established. The estriol curve in normal pregnancy in this study agrees well in its general shape with those presented by previous investigators who used different chemical methods of determination. The estriol values in pathologic pregnancies with preeclampsia. intrauterine fetal death and antepartum hemorrage have been analyzed. The clinical significance of estriol determinations during pregnancy was discussed.
Estriol/urine* ; Female ; Fetal Death/urine ; Human ; Pre-Eclampsia/urine ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnancy Complications/urine* ; Uterine Hemorrhage/urine

To evaluate the effect of a static magnetic field on the bone producing potential of MC3T3 El cells, the alkaline phosphatase activity was measured after the cells having been cultured under 76.4mT static magnetic field using a SmCos magnets for 5days, 7days, lldays, 15days and 2ldays for each cell culture group. Also, the amount of bone nodule stained with Alizarin red S was observed. The results were as follows. · The alkaline phosphatase activity of the 7, 11, and 15 days group among the experimental groups was decreased as compared with the control groups, and the decrease of alkaline phosphatase activity in the 11 days group was the most evident among them. · Any stained bone nodules of both groups had not been observed until the 11th day. The stained bone nodules in the control groups were found on the 15th day, but not in the experimental groups. The stained bone nodules were observed in both groups on the 21st day, but the control groups have more bone nodules than the experimental groups.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Magnetic Fields*

Orofacial pain has various causes, making it challenging to differentiate from dentalrelated diseases based solely on symptoms. Toothache, usually attributed to pathological changes in the pulp and periodontal tissue, is the most common cause of orofacial pain and relatively easy to diagnose. However, distinguishing orofacial pain and nonodontogenic toothache due to myofascial, neuropathic, neurovascular, paranasal sinus and cardiac originating, and psychogenic pain presents diagnostic challenges that may result in incorrect treatment. Therefore, dentists must recognize that orofacial pain can arise from not only dental issues but also other causes. This case report explores the necessary considerations in diagnosing orofacial pain and nonodontogenic toothache by examining the diagnoses of patients presenting at the dental hospital with orofacial pain and nonodontogenic toothache of cardiac origin.

Hydroxyurea is an antineoplastic agent with selective cytotoxicity for cells in the DNA synthesizing phase, or S phase, of the cell cycle. It is commonly used in the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders, e.g., chronic myelogenous leukemia, essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera. Its major adverse reactions are reversible and dose dependent marrow suppression and gastroenteric disturbances. Cutaneous side effects such as erythema, hyperpigmentation, lichen planus-like dermatitis, nail discoloration and alopecia, atropy of the skin occur, especially with long-term treatment. Painful leg ulcers in association with hydroxyurea have only rarely been reported. The ulcers were usually extremely painful and typically located near the malleoli but were occasionally found over the tibia, on the dorsal aspect of the feet, calves, knees, heels, and hands. Any minor trauma could precipitate skin breakdown and ulceration and these ulcers tended to heal slowly. No consistent correlation between the dose or duration of hydroxyurea therapy and the occurrence of ulcers. Complete wound healing was achieved by simply discontinuing treatment with hydroxyurea. We describe 2 patients who developed spontaneous painful lower leg ulcers during long-term hydroxyurea therapy for a myeloproliferative disorder(chronic myelogenous leukemia and essential thrombo cythemia). All ulcers were painful and typically located both lateral malleoli. These ulcers healed only after hydroxyurea was withdrawn and with conservative therapy including manual debridement and occlusive dressing.
Alopecia ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Cycle ; Debridement ; Dermatitis ; DNA ; Erythema ; Foot ; Hand ; Heel ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea ; Hyperpigmentation ; Knee ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; Lichens ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Occlusive Dressings ; Polycythemia Vera ; S Phase ; Skin ; Thrombocythemia, Essential ; Tibia ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and the optimal cut-off value for predicting recurrence in cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with complete remission after primary treatment. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 783 cervical squamous cell cancer patients who underwent primary therapy and showed complete remission at our institution between January 2000 and April 2014. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal SCC-Ag threshold to predict recurrence. Cox regression model for disease free survival was used to assess differences in outcome. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 41.2 months, and 154 patients (19.7%) had recurrent disease. The median pretreatment and posttreatment SCC-Ag level was 2.6 ng/mL (range, 0.1 to 532.0 ng/mL) and 0.7 ng/mL (range, 0.0 to 46.8 ng/mL), respectively. Both pretreatment and posttreatment SCC-Ag levels were higher in the recurrence group (P=0.017 and P=0.039). Optimal cut-off value of pretreatment and posttreatment SCC-Ag for predicting recurrence was 1.86 ng/mL (area under the curve, 0.663; P=0.000), and 0.9 ng/mL (area under the curve, 0.581; P=0.002), respectively. In the multivariate Cox regression model, pretreatment SCC-Ag >1.86 ng/mL (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 3.22; P=0.001) and posttreatment SCC-Ag >0.9 ng/mL (odds ratio, 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 2.28; P=0.003) were significantly associated with poor disease free survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with pretreatment SCC-Ag >1.86 ng/mL or posttreatment SCC-Ag >0.9 ng/mL should be considered at high risk for cancer recurrence after complete remission, and therefore, closer surveillance is needed.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Recurrence* ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the patients satisfaction with a newly established video-monitor system and the associated basic items for performing breast ultrasound exams by conducting a survey among the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 349 patients were invited to take the survey and they had undergone breast ultrasound examination once during the 3 months after the monitor system has been introduced. The questionnaire was composed of 8 questions, 4 of which were about the basic items such as age, gender and the reason of their taking the breast ultrasound exam, their preference for the gender of the examiner and the desired length of time for the examination. The other 4 question were about their satisfaction with the video monitor. The patients were divided into two groups according to the purposes of taking the exams, which were screening or diagnostic purposes. The results were compared between these 2 groups. The satisfaction with the video monitor system was assessed by using a scoring system that ranged from 1 to 5. RESULTS: For the total patients, the screening group was composed of 124 patients and the diagnostic group was composed of 225. The reasons why the patients wanted to take the examinations in the diagnostic group varied. The questionnaire about the preference of the gender of the examiner showed that 81.5% in the screening group and 79.1% in the diagnostic group preferred a woman doctor. The required, suitable time for the breast ultrasound examination was 5 to 10 minutes or 10 to 15 minutes for about 70% of the patients. The mean satisfaction score for the video monitor system was as high as 3.95 point. The portion of patients in each group who answered over 3 points for their satisfaction with the monitor system was 88.7% and 94.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that patients preferred 5-15 minutes for the length of the examination time and a female examiner. We also confirmed high patient satisfaction with the video monitor system.
Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Patient Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Purpose: This study aimed to identify reproducible locations for evaluating masseter muscle function by measuring its thickness using ultrasonography (US). The study focused on comparing two measurement locations: the thickest part of the masseter muscle during ultrasonographic scanning (TMUS) and the most prominent part during clenching (PMC). Methods: Forty healthy adults (20 males and 20 females) participated in the study. US images were obtained from both sides of the masseter muscle under resting and clenching conditions. Measurements were taken at the TMUS and PMC locations, and the clenching-to-resting (C/R) ratio was calculated. Intra- and inter-rater reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and the agreement between the two locations was further analyzed using Bland–Altman (BA) plots. Results: The measurements at both TMUS and PMC showed high intra- and inter-rater agreement, with no significant difference in measurements between the two locations.However, the PMC location demonstrated slightly higher ICC values (0.94) compared to TMUS (0.91). The C/R ratio for PMC showed higher consistency (0.89) compared to TMUS (0.65). BA plots indicated that the agreement between TMUS and PMC was slightly better during clenching than at rest, with smaller mean differences in clenching (–0.06 mm) than resting (–0.13 mm). Additionally, the number of measurements outside the upper and lower limits was lower during clenching (10) than at rest (13). Conclusions Both TMUS and PMC locations demonstrated reliable measurements, but the PMC location showed slightly better consistency across different muscle states. The findings suggest that PMC provides a more reproducible and standardized approach for masseter muscle assessment, making it a better choice for both clinical practice and research in evaluating masticatory function.