No abstract available.
Intestinal Obstruction*

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effect of repeated ultrasonic scaling and surface polishing with intraoral polishing kits on the surface roughness of three different restorative materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 identical discs were fabricated with three different materials. The ultrasonic scaling was conducted for 20 seconds on the test surfaces. Subsequently, a multi-step polishing with recommended intraoral polishing kit was performed for 30 seconds. The 3D profiler and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate surface integrity before scaling (pristine), after scaling, and after surface polishing for each material. Non-parametric Friedman and Wilcoxon signed rank sum tests were employed to statistically evaluate surface roughness changes of the pristine, scaled, and polished specimens. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Surface roughness values before scaling (pristine), after scaling, and polishing of the metal alloys were 3.02±0.34 µm, 2.44±0.72 µm, and 3.49±0.72 µm, respectively. Surface roughness of lithium disilicate increased from 2.35±1.05 µm (pristine) to 28.54±9.64 µm (scaling), and further increased after polishing (56.66±9.12 µm, P<.05). The zirconia showed the most increase in roughness after scaling (from 1.65±0.42 µm to 101.37±18.75 µm), while its surface roughness decreased after polishing (29.57±18.86 µm, P<.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonic scaling significantly changed the surface integrities of lithium disilicate and zirconia. Surface polishing with multi-step intraoral kit after repeated scaling was only effective for the zirconia, while it was not for lithium disilicate.
Alloys* ; Ceramics* ; Lithium ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ultrasonics*

PURPOSE: PET developed on the basis of biochemical characteristics of malignant tissues where the increase in glucose metabolism. Therefore, early and accurate detection of primary or metastatic lesion can be expected. This study is to compare PET and other traditional methods in detection of primary breast carcinoma and metastatic lesion, and to find the advantage of PET. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared and analysed the results of PET, US, mammogr aphy, bone scan, CT and biopsy reports of the 46 patients who were examined in our hospital from September 1, 19094 to July 31, 1995. PET Trace 200 cyclotron and PET Advanced Scenner were used for FDG synthesis and imaging respectively. RESULTS: 10 of the 12 cases who had preoperative PET were consistent with the results of mammography and ultrasound and 9 of the 10 cases were consistent with the pathologic results. In one case, which did mammography and PET after excis ional biopsy, PET gaves a false positive result. In the detection of axilliary node metastasis, PeT after excisional biopsy, PET gaves a false positive result. In the detection of axilliary node metastasis, PET shows 100% sensitivity and specificity but bone scan shows 100%, 72.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: PET is useful for diagnosis of primary breast cancer and is superior to bone scan in specificity for diagnosis of bone metastasis and in early detection of response to treatment. Because PET cannot exclude false (+) in inflamm atory lesion, continuous investigation is needed for establishment of indication and reduction of false (+), false (-).In spite of high cost, PET may become a new and useful diagnostic tool.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cyclotrons ; Diagnosis* ; Electrons* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Mammography ; Metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Positron-Emission Tomography* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Drainage of the peritoneal cavity after abdominal surgery has been routinely practiced, although few data exist to scientifically support the efficacy of such an approach. In gastric cancer surgery, drainage is regarded as an essential procedure to keep the peritoneal cavity clear after extended lymphadenectomy and, also, to facilitate early detection of hemorrhage, and anastomotic or duodenal stump leakage. In this context, we planned a randomized prospective trial of drainage use after gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Between February and July 2001, 170 patients who underwent gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy were randomly allocated to either a non-drainage (n=84) or drainage group (n=86). The primary outcome measure was the complication rate. Additional outcome measures were operation time, requirements of rescue analgesics, changes in the level of serum albumin and hemoglobin, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Demographic details, preoperative physical status, and pathologic features were not different between the two groups. Incidences of total gastrectomy and splenectomy among total gastrectomies were similar in both groups. However, operation time was shorter in the non-drainage group than in the drainage group (P=0.022). There were no differences in surgical outcome, including changes in hemoglobin and albumin levels, requirement for rescue analgesics, time to flatus or soft diet, and length of hospital stay. Complication rates were not different between the two groups(P=0.691), nor in the patterns of complication in either group. There was no operative mortality or reoperation. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, routine abdominal drainage should not be mandatory or even standard after gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer.
Analgesics ; Diet ; Drainage ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Mortality ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Prospective Studies ; Reoperation ; Serum Albumin ; Splenectomy ; Stomach Neoplasms*

There is a widespread belief that nasogastric decompression in gastric cancer surgery allows better surgical field and leads to the reduction of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether gastric cancer surgery can be safely performed without nasogastric decompression. From March to June 2000, 119 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma were randomized into either a tubeless group (n=56) or an intubated group (n=63). Exclusion criteria included a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and pyloric obstruction. No remarkable difference was found in the incidence of complications in the tubeless and intubated groups (mean 10.9%, p=0.945). The incidence of nasogastric tube insertion in the tubeless group was similar to the incidence of nasogastric tube reinsertion in the intubated group (p=0.747). Time to pass flatus was not different in the two groups (p=0.054), nor was the length of hospital stay (p=0.148). These results suggest that gastric cancer surgery can be performed safely without nasogastric decompression.
Adult ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; *Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Male ; Middle Age ; Postoperative Complications/etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/*surgery

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to compare nosocomial infection rates between intensive care units of military and civilian hospitals. METHODS: From July to December 2000, we surveyed the intensive care unit of Armed Forces Capital Hospital (AFCH). We compared device use ratios and device-day infection rates with those of Korean Society for Nosocomial Infection Control (KOSNIC) and National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system. RESULTS: During the period of study, 185 cases were admitted and 24 nosocomial infections were detected: 7 cases of pneumonia, 6 urinary tract, 3 blood stream, 3 cardiovascular system, 3 surgical site infections, 1 skin and soft tissue, and 1 central nervous system infection. Ventilator, urinary catheter and central venous catheter use ratios were 0.14 (95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.16), 0.58 (0.56-0.60) and 0.33 (0.31-0.35). The ratios of NNIS were 0.41, 0.67 and 0.50. Ventilator-, urinary catheter- and central venous catheter-day infection rates were 18.69(11.36-53.32), 6.65 (3.36-14.20) and 1.95 (1.44-9.92). However, the rates of KOSNIC were 9.93, 5.29 and 3.62. The rates of NNIS were 11.24, 6.14 and 5.55. CONCLUSIONS: In AFCH ventilators were used less frequently than NNIS, but more ventilator-associated pneumonia were developed than KOSNIC and NNIS.
Arm ; Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System Infections ; Central Venous Catheters ; Cross Infection* ; Hospitals, Military ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Military Personnel* ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Rivers ; Skin ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract ; Ventilators, Mechanical

The adenocarcinoma of appendix and fallopian tube are both very rare. The incidence rate for fallopian tube is less than 1% of all genital malignancies. Fallopian tubes have been very rarely associated with synchronous tumorigenesis, and to the authors knowledge, the combination of mucinous adenocarcinoma of appendix has never been previously reported. The authors experienced a extremely rare case of synchronous adenocarcinoma of appendix and fallopian tube in 56 years old female patient who has suffered for 10days from RLQ abdominal pain. Pathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed a synchronous mucinous type adenocarcinoma of vermiform appendix and fallopian tube.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Appendiceal Neoplasms ; Appendix* ; Carcinogenesis ; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms ; Fallopian Tubes* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Mucins

Objective: This study aimed to clarify differences in the positions of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) landmarks according to different midsagittal planes (MSPs) in patients with skeletal Class III facial asymmetry. Methods: Pre-treatment CBCT data from 60 patients with skeletal Class III were used.The patients were classified into symmetric (menton deviations of < 2 mm) or asymmetric (menton deviations of > 4 mm) groups. Six MSPs were established based on previous studies, and three-dimensional analyses were performed for the planes in both the groups. The measurement outcomes were compared statistically. Results: A statistically significant interaction (p < 0.01) was observed between MSPs and facial asymmetry. No significant differences were observed among MSPs in the symmetric group. However, significant differences in linear measurements were identified among MSPs in the asymmetric group. Specifically, the upper facial MSP revealed both maxillary and mandibular transverse asymmetries. On the other hand, anterior nasal spine (ANS)-associated MSP could not identify maxillary asymmetry. Furthermore, the menton deviation was approximately 3 mm lower when estimated using the ANS-associated MSP than that using upper facial MSP. Conclusions The choice of MSP can significantly affect treatment outcomes while diagnosing patients with asymmetry. Therefore, care should be taken when selecting MSP in clinical practice.

Objective: This study assessed the differences in soft tissue deviations of the nose, lips, and chin between different mandibular asymmetry types in Class III patients. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography data from 90 Class III patients with moderate-to-severe facial asymmetry were investigated. The sample was divided into three groups based on the extent of mandibular rolling, yawing, and translation. Soft tissue landmarks on the nose, lips, and chin were investigated vertically, transversely, and anteroposteriorly. A paired t test was performed to compare variables between the deviated (Dv) and nondeviated (NDv) sides, and one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-hoc test was performed for intergroup comparisons. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the relationship between the soft and hard tissue deviations. Results: The roll-dominant group showed significantly greater differences in the vertical positions of the soft tissue landmarks between the Dv and NDv than other groups (P < 0.05), whereas the yaw-dominant group exhibited larger differences in the transverse and anteroposterior directions (P < 0.05). Moreover, transverse lip cant was correlated with the menton (Me) deviation and mandibular rolling in the roll-dominant group (P < 0.001); the angulation of the nasal bridge or philtrum was correlated with the Me deviation and mandibular yawing in the yaw-dominant group (P < 0.01). Conclusions The threedimensional deviations of facial soft tissue differed based on the mandibular asymmetry types in Class III patients with similar amounts of Me deviation. A precise understanding of soft tissue deviation in each asymmetry type would help achieve satisfactory facial esthetics.