PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the diametral tensile strength of polymer-based temporary crown and fixed partial denture (FPD) materials, and the change of the diametral tensile strength with time. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One monomethacrylate-based temporary crown and FPD material (Trim) and three dimethacrylate-based ones (Protemp 3 Garant, Temphase, Luxtemp) were investigated. 20 specimens (the empty set 4 mm x 6 mm) were fabricated and randomly divided into two groups (Group I: Immediately, Group II: 1 hour) according to the measurement time after completion of mixing. Universal Testing Machine was used to load the specimens at a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, the multiple comparison Scheffe test and independent sample t test (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: Trim showed severe permanent deformation without an obvious fracture during loading at both times. There were statistically significant differences among the dimethacrylate-based materials. The dimethacrylate-based materials presented an increase in strength from 5 minutes to 1 hour and were as follows: Protemp 3 Garant (23.16 - 37.6 MPa), Temphase (22.27 - 28.08 MPa), Luxatemp (14.46 - 20.59 MPa). Protemp 3 Garant showed the highest value. CONCLUSION: The dimethacrylate-based temporary materials tested were stronger in diametral tensile strength than the monomethacrylate-based one. The diametral tensile strength of the materials investigated increased with time.
Acrylic Resins ; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate ; Collodion ; Composite Resins ; Crowns ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Methacrylates ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Tensile Strength

PURPOSE: Conventional surgery for thyroid disease requires long skin incisions and can lead to prominent scars of the neck, adhesions, hypoesthesia, and paresthesia. To overcome these problems we performed an endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillo-bilateral breast approach. METHODS: Seventy patients with benign thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration were selected. Patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillo-bilateral breast approach from May, 2003, through November, 2007. RESULTS: Operations included 67 lobectomies, 1 isthmectomy, and 2 total thyroidectomies. Two cases were converted to an open thyroidectomy because of bleeding. The mean operating time was 90.6 min (range, 60~170). The mean length of hospital stay was 6.39 days (range, 4~12), and the mean duration of drainage was 3.87 days (range, 2~9). Postoperative hematoma for 3 patients was observed, but absorbed spontaneously. Two patients complained of hoarseness and 1 patient had vocal cord palsy, but these disappeared during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This approach resulted in satisfactory cosmetic results and no significant complications. We believe that endoscopic thyroidectomy via an axillo-bilateral breast approach is feasible and safe.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Length of Stay ; Neck ; Paresthesia ; Skin ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy* ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

The glucose uptake rate by plerocercoid of Diphyllobothrium sp. was a mean value of 5.35+/-0.80 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt, and total CO(2) production rates by the plerocercoid larva averaged 7.54+/-0.73 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. The relative specific activity into respiratory CO(2) showed a mean value of 7.30 +/-0.90 per cent. The rate of CO(2) production derived from medium C(14)-glucose was a mean of 0.58+/-0.13 micro-mole/hr/g of wet wt. Therefore, the average value of 1.92+/-0.38 per cent of glucose utilized by the larvae from the medium C(14)-glucose was oxidized to respiratory CO(2). The tissue concentration of glycogen in plerocercoid larva was a mean of 46.28 +/-2.23 mg/g or 4.63+/-0.22 per cent/g of wet wt., and the turnover rate of glycogen pool was a mean of 0.049 +/- 0.012 %/hr or 0.010 +/- 0.003 mg/hr/g of wet wt. The average value of 2.76+/-1.00 per cent of glucose utilized by the larvae from the medium C(14)-glucose was incorporated to the glycogen. These data accounts for that only 5 per cent of the utilized glucose by the plerocercoid larvae participated in furnishing the oxidation into respiratory CO(2) and the synthetic process into glycogen.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Diphyllobothrium sp. ; sparganum ; plerocercoid ; biochemistry ; autoradiography ; glucose ; metabolism ; CO(2)

Autoimmune diseases are occasionally associated with other autoimmune diseases in the same patients. Autoimmune Graves' disease has been associated with systemic rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). And Graves' disease associated with idiopathic thrornbocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported many times in Korea. There is a special relationship between SLE and ITP, both of which are autoimmune diseases. Some patients with thrombocytopenic purpura, labeled as idiopathic at the onset, later develop a classical course of SLE, suggesting that ITP may be an early manifestation of SLE. The relationships among these three conditions and their pathogenesis are poorly undemtood, and the coexistence of these diseases at the same time has been reported very rarely, but it may be very probable that there are some relationships among them. We report a case of SLE associated with Graves' disease and ITP treated well by imunosup-pressive agent who had been suffering from recurrence by conventional treatments (antithyroid medication, corticosteroid, subtotal thyroidectomy and splenectomy).
Autoimmune Diseases ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Recurrence ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Thyroidectomy

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome(EDS) is an inherited disorder of the connective tissue disease that is usually transmitted as autosomal dominant trait. The defect in the biogenesis of collagen results in varying degree of skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, skin fragility and bruising. There have been several reports of cardiac or great vessel abnormalities in patients with the EDS. A 45-year-old Woman was admitted to Maryknoll hospital because of orthopnea, palpitation and epigastric discomfort. Physical examination reveals multiple variable sized bruises and increased hyperelasticity on skin, and hypermobile joint in knee and proximal interphalanges of both hands. Mitral valvular prolapse and atrial septal defect were detected by echocardiography. We report a case of EDS accompanied by mitral valvular prolapse and ostium secundum atral septal defect with brief review of literature.
Organelle Biogenesis ; Collagen ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Contusions ; Echocardiography ; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome* ; Female ; Hand ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; Joints ; Knee ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Prolapse* ; Skin

PURPOSE: This current study determined the type, incidence, characteristics of ocular complications from electrical burn and associated risk factors. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed ocular complications from electrical injury on ninety-seven consecutive electrical burn patients. RESULTS: Of the ninety-seven patients with electrical burns, twelve patients (12%) had ocular complications (cataract, uveitis, macular hole, corneal opacity, and optic atrophy). The relationship between voltage and development of ocular complication was not statistically significant. The relationship between wound size and development of ocular complication was not significant. However, the relationship between entry site and development of ocular complication was statistically significant (P=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The patient who had electrical injury at any voltage with any wound size, especially electrical head injury for at least 6 months should be evaluated carefully.
Burns* ; Corneal Opacity ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retinal Perforations ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Uveitis ; Wounds and Injuries

Pancreas divisum—failure of fusion of the dorsal and ventral pancreatic ducts—is relatively well known as the most common congenital anomaly of the pancreatic duct, of with an incidence approximately 10% of all embryos. And there is a rare anomaly similar to pancreas divisum in which doubled ducts are formed. This condition is a rare developmental anomaly called pancreas bifidum or bifid pancreas or fish tail pancreas. This report describes a patient with pancreas bifidum who had 2 separated ducts within the pancreas from tail to neck but did not have a separated parenchyma. We hope that this report helps pancreatic surgeons to have knowledge of pancreas bifidum and helps them to be prepared for this anatomical variant.
Embryonic Structures ; Hope ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neck ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Surgeons ; Tail

We evaluated the safety of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor in experimental glaucoma filtration surgery in an animal model. Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent an experimental trabeculectomy and were randomly allocated into 3 groups according to the adjuvant agent: no treatment group (n = 5), 0.02% mitomycin C (MMC) soaking group (n = 5), and MMP inhibitor (ilomastat) subconjunctival injection group (n = 5). Slit lamp examination with Seidel testing, pachymetry, and specular microscopy was performed preoperatively and postoperatively. The conjunctiva and ciliary body toxicity were evaluated with scores according to the pathologic grading systems. Electron microscopy was used to examine the structural changes in cornea, conjunctiva, and ciliary body. In the ilomastat-treated group, there was no statistically significant change in central corneal thickness preoperatively and at 28 days postoperatively (P = 0.655). There were also no significant changes in specular microscopy findings over the duration of the study in the ilomastat-treated group. The conjunctival toxicity score was 1 in the control group, 1.5 in the ilomastat-treated group, and 2 in the MMC-treated group. When assessing ciliary body toxicity scores, the ilomastat-treated group score was 0.5 and the MMC-treated group score was 1.5. Transmission electron microscopy did not show structural changes in the cornea and ciliary body whereas the structural changes were noticed in MMC group. A single subconjunctival injection of MMP inhibitor during the experimental trabeculectomy showed a less toxic affect in the rabbit cornea, conjunctiva, and ciliary body compared to MMC.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic simple prostatectomy was recently developed to treat voluminous benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We describe the surgical technique and assess the feasibility of laparoscopic simple prostatectomy through our early experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 11 patients who underwent laparoscopic simple prostatectomy between March 2008 and January 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were limited to the patients who satisfied the following conditions: prostate volume was at least 75 g, acute urinary retention repeatedly occurred or maximal flow rate (Qmax) was at most 10 ml/s, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was at least 12. The surgery was performed by the laparoscopic extraperitoneal approach with a transcapsular route. Feasibility was assessed by objective operative parameters (reconversion, operating time, and blood loss) and perioperative complications. Data on short-term follow-up were also available. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70.6 years. Mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume were 6.1 ng/ml and 109.3 cc, respectively. Mean operation time was 191.9 minutes and estimated blood loss was 390.9 cc. The resected adenoma weighed on average 72.4 g. No conversion to open surgery was required. Mean preoperative IPSS and quality of life (QoL) scores were 26.86 and 4.86. Mean Qmax, measured before the surgery, was 4.5 ml/s and residual urine was 106 ml. Mean postoperative IPSS and QoL scores were 4.2 and 1.5. After the surgery, mean Qmax was 15.5 ml/s and residual urine was 24.1 ml. CONCLUSIONS: In the case of voluminous BPH, laparoscopic retropubic simple prostatectomy is expected to be a useful treatment on the condition that the learning curve can be overcome with clinical experience.
Adenoma ; Conversion to Open Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Learning Curve ; Medical Records ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Retention

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of total thyroidectomy performed with the Ligasure™ system, Harmonic™ scalpel, and the conventional clampand-tie technique. METHODS: Between November 2006 and July 2009, the data were retrospectively collected from 600 consecutive total thyroidectomies by one surgeon. All cases were divided into 3 groups based on the method of hemostasis: classic group patients (n=200) underwent total thyroidectomy with the conventional clamp-and-tie technique Ligasure group patients (n=200) underwent total thyroidectomy with the Ligasure™ system (electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing system) and the Harmonic group patients (n=200) underwent total thyroidectomy with a Harmonic™ scalpel (ultrasonic cutting and coagulating surgical device). We compared the clinical outcomes with respect to the operative time, amount and duration of drainage, hospital stay, and post-operative complications. RESULTS: The three groups were similar with respect to clinical and demographic characteristics, with the exception of invasiveness. The mean operative time of the Harmonic group was significantly shorter than the other 2 groups (P<0.001) specifically, 75 min in the Harmonic group, 87 min in the Ligasure group, and 120 min in the classic group. The amount of drainage in the Harmonic group was greater than the other groups (P<0.001). Similarly, the duration of drainage and hospital stay of the Harmonic group were longer than the other groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Hemostasis during thyroidectomy by the Harmonic™ scalpel or Ligasure™ system was safe and timesaving. Therefore, the Harmonic™ scalpel and Ligasure™ system will be available for thyroid surgery as alternative techniques for the clamp-and-tie technique.
Drainage ; Hemostasis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Methods ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroidectomy