OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of polymer- and rhodium-coated wires compared to uncoated wires by measuring the frictional forces using self-ligation brackets. METHODS: 0.016-inch nickel titanium (NiTi) wires and 0.017 x 0.025-inch stainless steel (SS) wires were used, and the angulations between the brackets and wires were set to 0degrees, 5degrees, and 10degrees. Upper maxillary premolar brackets (Clippy-C(R)) with a 0.022-inch slot were selected for the study and a tensile test was performed with a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. The maximum static frictional forces and kinetic frictional forces were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The maximum static frictional forces and the kinetic frictional forces of coated wires were equal to or higher than those of the uncoated wires (p < 0.05). The maximum static frictional forces of rhodium-coated wires were significantly higher than those of polymer-coated wires when the angulations between the brackets and wires were set to (i) 5degrees in the 0.016-inch NiTi wires and (ii) all angulations in the 0.017 x 0.025-inch SS wires (p < 0.05). The kinetic frictional forces of rhodium-coated wires were higher than those of polymer-coated wires, except when the angulations were set to 0degrees in the 0.016-inch NiTi wires (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the frictional forces of the coated wires with regards to aesthetics were equal to or greater than those of the uncoated wires, a study under similar conditions regarding the oral cavity is needed in order to establish the clinical implications.
Bicuspid ; Esthetics ; Friction* ; Mouth ; Nickel ; Stainless Steel ; Titanium

Renal artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon disease. A 47-year-old man complained of recently developed gross hematuria and left flank pain. The initial laboratory study and radiographic evaluation revealed acute pyelonephritis. After the treatment with antibiotics, gross hematuria was resolved and the patient was discharged. However, he revisited with repeated gross hematuria and throbbing left flank pain. The renal angiography revealed left intra-renal arterial pseudoaneurysm. Angiographic embolization by glue injection was successfully performed. Thereafter, gross hematuria and flank pain were disappeared. We report a successful glue embolization of intra-renal artery pseudoaneurym associated with acute pyelonephritis.
Adhesives ; Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arteries ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pyelonephritis ; Renal Artery

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationships between homocysteine, folate, MTHFR and TSER polymorphism for postmenopausal women with osteoporotic compression fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three postmenopausal compression fracture patients and as many normal controls were included. The plasma homocysteine and folate levels were measured using a FPIA (fluorescent polarizing immunoassay) kit. The MTHFR and TSER genotypes were amplified by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and separated by RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) in a 3.5% agarose gel. RESULTS: The plasma folate level was significantly lower in the postmenopausal women with osteoporotic compression fractures, particularly in the MTHFR 677CT and TSER 2R (-) genotypes. However, the plasma homocysteine level and MTHFR C677T polymorphism were similar to the control group. CONCLUSION: A low folate level and the TSER 2R (-) genotype can be associated with osteoporotic compression fractures in postmenopausal women.
Female ; Folic Acid* ; Fractures, Compression* ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; Plasma ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sepharose

This study was carried out to identify the phylogenetic relationships among several caterpillar fungi by comparing the sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeat unit. The sequences of ITS1, ITS2, and the 5.8S rDNA from 10 strains of Cordyceps species, 12 strains of Paecilomyces, 3 strains of Beauveria, 2 strains of Metarhizium and 1 strains of Hirsutella were amplified, determined and compared with the previously known Cordyceps species. The sequences of 5.8S rDNA were more conserved in length and variation than those of ITS regions. Although the variable ITS sequences were often ambiguously aligned, the conserved sites could be found. In the phylogenetic tree, the species generally divided into three clusters, supported by their morphology and/or host ranges. The 5.8S rDNA and ITS1 sequences among 10 species of Cordyceps militaris were identical and only one base pair in ITS2 sequence was different. Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps ophioglossoides were also clearly different, although they belonged to the same cluster. The GenBank database search of species revealed sister taxa of an entomogenous fungus. Metarhizium was used as an outgroup in all taxa.
Base Pairing ; Beauveria ; Cordyceps ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; DNA, Ribosomal* ; Fungi* ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Metarhizium ; Paecilomyces ; Phylogeny ; Siblings

To provide a basis for studying the pharmacological actions of tetracaine.HCl, we analyzed the membrane activities of this local anesthetic. The n-(9-anthroyloxy) stearic and palmitic acid (n-AS) probes (n = 2, 6, 9, 12 and 16) have been used previously to examine fluorescence polarization gradients. These probes can report the environment at a graded series of depths from the surface to the center of the membrane bilayer structure. In a dose-dependent manner, tetracaine.HCl decreased the anisotropies of 6-AS, 9-AS, 12-AS and 16-AP in the hydrocarbon interior of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles isolated from bovine cerebral cortex (SPMV), and liposomes derived from total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. However, this compound increased the anisotropy of 2-AS at the membrane interface. The magnitude of the membrane rotational mobility reflects the carbon atom numbers of the phospholipids comprising SPMV, SPMVTL and SPMVPL and was in the order of the 16, 12, 9, 6, and 2 positions of the aliphatic chains. The sensitivity of the effects of tetracaine.HCl on the rotational mobility of the hydrocarbon interior or surface region was dependent on the carbon atom numbers in the descending order 16-AP, 12-AS, 9-AS, 6-AS and 2-AS and on whether neuronal or model membranes were involved in the descending order SPMV, SPMVPL and SPMVTL.
Anisotropy ; Carbon ; Cell Membrane ; Cerebral Cortex ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Liposomes ; Membranes ; Neurons ; Palmitic Acid ; Palmitic Acids ; Phospholipids ; Stearic Acids

Background/Aims: Endoscopic diagnosis of dysplasia or colitic cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is more challenging than that of colorectal neoplasia in non-colitic patients. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the endo-scopic diagnosis of “nonpedunculated” dysplasia or colitic cancer in UC patients. Methods: Ten endoscopists from four countries were surveyed using photographs of 61 histologi-cally confirmed dysplastic or non-dysplastic lesions retrieved from the UC registry database of Asan Medical Center. The participants provided their assessment based on the given photographs and their intention to perform biopsy. Results: The overall diagnostic performance of the 10 participants is summarized as follows: sensitivity of 88.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.3% to 91.5%), specificity of 34.8% (95% CI, 29.1% to 40.8%), positive predictive value of 63.0% (95% CI, 60.8% to 65.2%), negative predictive value of 70.2% (95% CI, 62.7% to 76.6%), and accuracy of 64.6% (95% CI, 60.7% to 68.4%). The interobserver agreement on the inten-tion to perform a biopsy was poor (Fleiss kappa=0.169). Of the three endoscopic characteristics of the lesions, includ-ing ulceration, distinctness of the borders, and pit patterns, only neoplastic pit patterns were significantly predictive of dysplasia (odds ratio, 3.710; 95% CI, 2.001 to 6.881). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of neoplastic pit patterns were 68.2% (95% CI, 63.0% to 73.2%) and 63.3% (95% CI,57.3% to 69.1%), respectively. Conclusions Diagnostic per-formance based on the endoscopist’s intention to perform a biopsy for nonpedunculated potentially dysplastic lesions in UC patients was suboptimal according to this survey-based study.

The role of atypical bacteria and the effect of antibiotic treatments in acute bronchitis are still not clear. This study was conducted at 22 hospitals (17 primary care clinics and 5 university hospitals) in Korea. Outpatients (aged > or = 18 yr) who had an acute illness with a new cough and sputum (< or = 30 days) were enrolled in 2013. Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect five atypical bacteria. A total of 435 patients were diagnosed as having acute bronchitis (vs. probable pneumonia, n = 75), and 1.8% (n = 8) were positive for atypical pathogens (Bordetella pertussis, n = 3; B. parapertussis, n = 0; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, n = 1; Chlamydophila pneumoniae, n = 3; Legionella pneumophila, n = 1). Among clinical symptoms and signs, only post-tussive vomiting was more frequent in patients with atypical pathogens than those without (P = 0.024). In all, 72.2% of the enrolled patients received antibiotic treatment at their first visits, and beta-lactams (29.4%) and quinolones (20.5%) were the most commonly prescribed agents. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the incidence of atypical pathogens is low in patients with acute bronchitis, and the rate of antibiotic prescriptions is high.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bordetella parapertussis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bordetella pertussis/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Bronchitis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications ; Legionella pneumophila/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sputum/microbiology

BACKGROUND: Since the bioavailability of itraconazole capsule is influenced by patients gastric acidity, it results in treatment failure due to its low dissolution and subsequent low absorption when administered in fasting. Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet has been lately developed in order to improve its dissolution profile. It is the first clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of itraconazole melt-extrusion tablet 400mg daily for 1 week(pulse therapy) for hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and manus. METHODS: A clinical and mycological investigation was made of 812 outpatients with hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus who had visited at 52 general hospitals under the lead of the Korean Dermatological Association from June to December, 1998. Patients confirmed by clinically and microscopically as hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus were administered 2 tablets twice a day for one week and followed up for 8 weeks from the start of the medication. RESULTS: The results were summarized as follows; 1. Clinical symptoms of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea mauns were significantly improved at the end of study, week 8(p<0.001). 2. Clinical response rate, defined as more than 50% decrease of the sum of the clinical symptom scores, was 79.3%(512/646). 3. Mycological cure rate, dafined as both culture and KOH negative at week 8, was 78.2%(244 /312). 4. 40(5.5%) patients, of the 727 patients evaluable for drug safety evaluation, were reported to have adverse event. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole Melt-Extrusion tablet 400mg/day for 1 week (pulse therapy) is effective and safe in the treatment of hyperkeratotic type of tinea pedis and/or tinea manus.
Absorption ; Biological Availability ; Fasting ; Gastric Acid ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Itraconazole* ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Tablets ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Treatment Failure