PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare in vivo biofilm formation on titanium surface and zirconia surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For biofilm formation on titanium and zirconia in oral cavity, after producing oral appliances using acrylic resin and orthodontic wire tailored to 9 subjects, we made titanium and zirconia specimens (6 mm x 6 mm x 2 mm), fixed them on oral appliances and maintained them in oral cavity of test subjects for 24 and 72 hours. Test subjects who have equipped two pairs of specimens maintained oral hygiene not by using toothpaste but only by tooth brushing. After 24 and 72 hours, we removed and observed specimens through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Biofilm formation showed large deviation depending on individuals. For formation comparison between titanium and zirconia for 24 hours, zirconia showed less biofilm formation than titanium. Biofilm formation showed large deviation depending on individuals. As for formation comparison between zirconia and titanium, the degree of biofilm formation in zirconia was less than it was in titanium after a lapse of 24 hours. The result of biofilm formation in 72 hours trial show that zirconia has an inclination to formate less biofilm than it was in titanium. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, we can conclude that early biofilm formation in oral cavity was influenced by difference of abutment materials.
Biofilms* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Orthodontic Wires ; Titanium* ; Tooth ; Toothpastes ; Zirconium

BACKGROUND: It has been widely accepted that the prevalence of tinea pedis in soldiers may be higher due to their occlusive army boots and communal baths. OBJECTIVE: Our study was designed to investigate the prevalence of tinea pedis in Korean soldiers monthly throughout the year by the ranks of the soldiers and also to verify whether tinea pedis is one of the occupational diseases in Korean soldiers. METHODS: We examined the feet of soldiers in a battalion monthly throughout the year. On those with suspected skin lesions, microscopic examinations along with fungus cultures were performed in July, 1996. RESULTS: Average prevalence of tinea pedis throughout the year was 51.5% on clinical examination. The highest prevalence was 74.0% in August and the lowest in February by 36.7% . The prevalence of tinea pedis by rank was 38.3%(18/47) in the new private group, 61.7%(29/47) in the private group, 84.8%(67/79) in the private 1st class group, 72.4%(55/76) in the corporal group and 70.9%(39/55) in the sergeant group in July, 1996. Dermatophytes were demonstrated microscopically in 59.1%(123/208) of the specimens examined. Cultures were positive in 93 cases, i.e., from 44.7% of those examined. CONCLUSION: The major factor contributing to the highest prevalence of tinea pedis in August among the months of the year seems to be the hot and damp weather conditions(especially in July and August). Considering the fact that the prevalence of tinea pedis in winter season was also higher by 36.7-40.2%, Korean soldiers seem to possess higher risk of tinea pedis due to their tight-fitting army boots. The spread of infection among non-infected soldiers might have resulted from the communal bath and Korean traditional habit of taking-off their shoes in a large dormitory where they sleep together. Moreover, the fact that the prevalence of tinea pedis increases markedly with their ranks suggests that tinea pedis should be considered as an occupational disease among Korean soldiers.
Arthrodermataceae ; Baths ; Foot ; Fungi ; Humans ; Military Personnel* ; Occupational Diseases ; Prevalence* ; Seasons ; Shoes ; Skin ; Tinea Pedis* ; Tinea* ; Weather

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation can induce apoptosis of melanocytes and melanoma cells. However, mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is not clarified yet. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the molecular mechanism of UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells. METHODS: G361 lightly pigmented melanoma cells were analyzed for apoptotic mechanism by flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: G361 melanoma cells showed apoptotic features with gradual increment of UVB doses by MTT and flow cytometry. Western blotting disclosed activation of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) after UVB irradiation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed that UVB-induced apoptosis of melanoma cells is mediated by PARP activation which is induced by caspase cascade.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases* ; Cell Line* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate clinical manifestations and findings of ultrasonogram of neonatal septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. We tried to determine the value of ultrasonogram as a tool for early diagnosis of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 17 patients, who were diagnosed septic arthritis and/or osteomyelitis in Departments of Pediatrics and Orthopedic Surgery, Han dong University Sunlin Hospital in Pohang between Jan. 1994 and Sep. 1998. Radiologic findings were reviewed retrospectively according to the duration of symptoms at the onset. We compared the sensitivity of ultrasonogram with other radiologic tools done within 7 days of illness. RESULTS: We compared sensitivity of each imaging study done within 7 days of illness. 20%(3/5) had abnormality in plain radiographs, 78.6%(11/14) in ultrasonogram, 28.6%(2/7) in bone scan, and 100,0%(3/3) in MRI. Deep soft-tissue swelling around the bone was the earliest sign of acute osteomyelitis in ultrasonogram. Concurrently early septic arthritis showed deep soft tissue swelling around the joint and increased synovial effusion in ultrasonogram. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonogram is not so expensive, non-invasive, not harmful to patients, and there is no need to sedate patients for examination. Comparing with other imaging studies, the sensitivity of ultrasonogram is relatively high. Ultrasonogram is a useful diagnostic tool of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in newbom infants.
Arthritis, Infectious* ; Early Diagnosis ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Infant ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orthopedics ; Osteomyelitis* ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the diverse factors associated with aneurysms of the posterior circulation. In addition, the results of conventional craniotomy were compared with those of endovascular treatment. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with posterior circulation aneurysms were selected for study inclusion. The factors that might affect the clinical outcomes were studied , such as the initial Hunt-Hess (H-H) grade, aneurysm location, size of the aneurysm, and therapeutic modalities. In addition, the morbidity and mortality rates were analyzed. The treatment outcomes were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 6 months after the initial insult. RESULTS: The patient population consisted of 67 women and 34 men, with a mean age of 52 (range 28-81 years). The overall morbidity and mortality rates at 6 months were 13.9% (14/101) and 17.8% (18/101), respectively. Sixty-one operations (60.3%) were performed, and 32 patients were treated with endovascular therapy. Forty-two (85.7%) of the 49 patients that had initial H-H grades of I and II had a better prognosis (GOS more than 4) than those with poor H-H grades (P<0.001). Patients that underwent endovascular treatment had better outcomes than those that had clipping (P=0.032). There was no significant difference in outcome according to the size of the aneurysm, location of the aneurysm, or the age of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that the factors affecting the prognosis were the initial HH grade and treatment modality. Considering the very high mortality rate in patients with rebleeding, early management may help improve the prognosis of patients with posterior circulation aneurysms. Endovascular therapy should be considered the primary treatment modality in patients with posterior circulation aneurysms.
Aneurysm ; Craniotomy ; Female ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Male ; Prognosis

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and prognostic significance of the high-risk feature (HRF) in patients with T3N0 colon cancer. Methods: We included 1,205 patients with pT3N0 colon cancer treated with curative radical resection between 2012 and 2016. HRF was defined as lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, poorly/undifferentiated histology, margin involvement, and preoperative obstruction. We investigated the relationships between the number and type of HRF and recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), as well as the effect of adjuvant treatment. Results: A total of 751 of the patients (62.3%) had more than 1 HRF and 515 of the patients (42.7%) underwent adjuvant treatment. Patients who had more than 2 HRFs had a significantly worse 5-year RFS and OS compared to patients who had neither HRF nor even one HRF. According to the findings of the multivariate analysis, the presence of multiple HRFs was a risk factor for a lower RFS and OS. When the quantity and type of HRF were taken into consideration in the multivariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy was not found to be linked with RFS or OS in patients with pT3N0 colon cancer. Conclusion In the present study, adjuvant treatment based on the current guideline of treatment indication was unable to enhance the prognosis of patients with pT3N0 colon cancer. The role of adjuvant treatment in T3N0 colon cancer must be examined with the HRF count in mind.

PURPOSE: Although laparoscopic appendectomies (LAs) are performed universally, a controversy still exists whether the LA is an appropriate surgical approach to complicated appendicitis (CA). We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomies for CA. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 60 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having CA from July 2009 to January 2011. Outcomes such as operative time, time to soft diet, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in operative time between the LA and the open appendectomy (OA) groups. Return to soft diet was faster in the LA group (2.1 +/- 1.2 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.5 days; P = 0.001). Length of hospital stay was shorter for the LA group (4.4 +/- 2.3 vs. 5.8 +/- 2.9 days; P = 0.045). The overall complication rates showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. In cases involving a periappendiceal abscess, the LA had a significantly higher incidence of intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) and postoperative ileus (PI; P = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The LA showed good results in terms of the time to soft diet, the length of hospital stay, and surgical site infection (SSI) whereas the overall complication rates were similar for the two groups. However, the LA was associated with significantly higher incidence of IAA and PI for the cases with a periappendiceal abscess. Therefore, when using a LA, the surgeon must take great care to minimize the incidence of IAA and PI if a periappendiceal abscess is present.
Abdominal Abscess ; Abscess ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Diet ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

Peg-interferon is the main therapeutic agent in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus. It is rather safe, but it is known to induce production of autoantibodies and it can lead to the occurrence of autoimmune disease. Interferon induced thyroiditis is considered a major clinical problem for patients who receive interferon therapy. We recently experienced a 36 year-old woman who developed peg-interferon induced thyroiditis. To the best of our knowledge, this is a rare case report in Korea. We report here on this casea long with a review of the literature.
Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Humans ; Interferons ; Korea ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune

PURPOSE: To identify the unique pathologic findings of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) in optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Retrospectively, 29 eyes of 25 patients with age-related macular degeneration and complicated RAP were analyzed. All 29 eyes had choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the area of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) or adjacent to it, which was visible with fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography. Cross-sectional images were obtained by OCT scanning through the CNV lesions. RESULTS: Six distinctive findings of OCT included drusen (100%), inner retinal cyst (80%), outer retinal cyst (68%), fibrovascular PED (84%), serous retinal detachment (40%), and PED (68%). CONCLUSIONS: Through analysis of OCT findings, we revealed six different types of lesions distinctive of RAP which may provide helpful diagnostic information for subsequent treatment and predicting the prognosis of RAP.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retina/*pathology ; Retinal Neovascularization/*diagnosis/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to recognize the relapse rate and risk factors of relapse after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs in patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spikes(BECT). METHODS: The subjects were 57 patients with BECT, who visited our hospital from January 1990 to December 2004. They were followed up for more than 24 months after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. And they were analysed on the relapse rate and the factors that were presumed to influence the relapse. RESULTS: Seizures were relapsed in 7 of 57 patients(12.2%) after discontinuation of antiepileptic drugs. Relapses were more frequent in patients who took antiepileptic drugs for seizure control more than 12 months(15.0%) than those who didn't(10.8%). Moreover, more relapses occurred to those who were at higher age at onset and who took antiepileptic drugs less than 36 months(100%). Furthermore, those who had abnormalities in EEG experienced more relapses(33.3%) than others. The relapse rate was not significantly different in the aspect of and sex seizure frequency after discontinuation of medication between relapsed and non-relapsed patients. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that we should consider the risk factors of relapse in patients with BECT in order to avoid relapse when discontinuing antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, further studies are needed to clarify the risk factors of relapse.
Anticonvulsants* ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Seizures