No abstract available in English.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR imaging findings of ankylosing spondylitis involving the thoracolumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed MR imaging findings in ten patients with ankylosing spondylitisinvolving the thoracolumbar spine. All were male and ranged in age from 24 to 47 (mean, 33)years. MR images wereobtained using a 1.5T imager, and signal intensity changes of vertebral bodies were evaluated on sagittal T1- andT2-weighted images. Plain radiographic findings were also evaluated. RESULTS: On T1-weighted images, five casesshowed focal high-, two cases low-, two cases high- and low-, and one case iso-signal intensities at the cornersand/or along the anterior borders of the vertebral bodies. On T2-weighted images, seven cases showed focal high-and three, iso-signal intensities in those areas of the vertebral bodies. In one case which showed focal highsignal intensity on T1-weighted images and iso-signal intensity on T2-weighted images, multiple Schmorl's nodeswere seen in thoracolumbar spines. In all cases, signal intensity changes were more prominent in anterior portionsof the vertebral bodies. The shapes of abnormal signal intensities were vertical wedge, vertical band, and rounddot. Plain radiographs showed bamboo spine in three cases, squaring and focal sclerosis of vertebral bodies intwo, focal syndesmophyte in one, Schmorl's node in one, and no abnormal findings in three. CONCLUSION: Characteristic MR imaging findings of ankylosing spondylitis involving the thoracolumbar vertebral bodies werefocal signal intensity changes at the corners and along the anterior borders of the vertebral bodies.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Spine* ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing*

Soft-tissue expansion is a new surgical technique of providing donor tissue in modern reconstructive surgery. This technique provides a quantity of tissue of similar color, texture, and hair-bearing qualities for reconstruction of adjacent defects. It is known that the expanded skin shows several constant histologic changes including the increase in collagen fibers and vascularity within dermis, and thinning of subcutaneous tissue and dermis. In this study, the author observed serial histologic changes of rabbit skin induced by progressive tissue expansion up to excessive expansion of 6 times. The results are as follows: 1. Changes in the thickness of the epidermis was minimal until 3 times of expansion, but slight thinning was observed at excessive expansion state. 2. The thickness of the dermis was progressively decreased, and collagen fibers in the dermis was rapidly increased in early phase of expansion. 3. The vascularity in the dermis was also progressively increased. 4. The skin appendages showed no structural changes even in excessive expansion. 5. The panniculus carnosus showed no atrophic changes and the thickness was maintained in excessive expansion.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Skin* ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Expansion*

No abstract available.
Humans*

Perfluorocarbon liquids have been shown to be a useful intraoperative adjunct in managing complicated retinal detachment. To prove the effectiveness of intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquid and the improvement of surgical and functional outcomes, we retrospcetively evaluated the clinical results of the patients[13 eyes]who had retinal detachment complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy [over PVR Grade C4, C4 :7 eyes, C5 :6 eyes]. We performed standard 3-port pars plana vitrectomy in all eyes included in this study.Perfluorodecalin[DK-line]was used as a shortterm vitreous substitute intraoperatively and removed before the end of the surgery. The mean follow-up period was 15 months.Anatomical success rate was 86%[6 eyes]in Grade C4, 67%[4 eyes]in Grade C5, Visual acuity was over 5/200 in one eye[8%]and there was improvement in 5 eyes[40%] although it was below 5/200. Consequently, we could easily manage the retinal detachment with PVR with help of intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquid and could improve the postoperative surgical and visual outcomes.
Follow-Up Studies ; Retinal Detachment ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative*

Recently, the aging society is facing with the rapid increase of chronic diseases. Despite the advanced medical technology, chronic diseases have not comprehensively managed yet. In the modern society, many people have to spend their extended life span suffering from chronic diseases and disabilities, and also a huge medical cost has emerged as a serious social problem. With IT improvement, u-health system has been developed to link home and medical service systems by arranging medical data, decision making and medical guidelines for various situations. It can promote the therapeutic compliance for the patients with chronic diseases. And also for the medical service providers, it can provide useful data to make an accurate medical decision. As we know, the chronic disease is caused by inactivity and the management of chronic disease requires the modification of inactive life style. U-health medical fitness system can not only prescribe proper activity to control the chronic disease but also it can monitor the patients' physical activity in everyday life. By the successful management of chronic diseases based on u-health system, we want to achieve the expansion of disease-free and disability-free life expectancy and a solution to reduce the burden of medical expenses in modern society eventually.
Aging ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; Carbonates ; Chronic Disease ; Compliance ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Life Style ; Motor Activity ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Social Problems ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
beta-Endorphin* ; Exercise* ; Pain Threshold* ; Plasma*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A difficulty in achieving a passive-fitting prosthesis can be overcome by individual crown restoation of multiple implants. But individualized crown has another difficulty in control of contact tightness and stress distribution. PURPOSE: This in vitro study is to evaluate the stress distribution and the magnitude in the supporting tissues around Endopore implants with different crown lengths, interproximal contact tightness, and the splinting effects. MATERIAL & METHODS: Three Endopore implants(4.1*9 mm) were placed in the mandibular posterior edentulous area distal to the canine and photoelastic model was made with PL-2 resin(Measurements Group, Raleigh, USA). Restorations were fabricated in two crown lengths: 9, 13 mm. For non-splinted restorations, individual crowns were fabricated on three custom-milled titanium abutments. After the units were cemented, 4 levels of interproximal contact tightness were evaluated: open, ideal(8 micrometershim stock drags without tearing), medium(40 micrometer), and heavy(80 micrometer). For splinted restorations, 3-unit fixed partial dentures were fabricated. This study was examined under simulated non-loaded and loaded conditions(6.8 kg). Photoelastic stress analysis was carried out to measure the fringe order around the implant supporting structure. RESULTS: 1. When restorations were not splinted, the more interproximal contact tightness was increased among the three implants, the more stress was shown in the cervical region of each implant. When crown length was increased, stresses tended to increase in the apex of implants but there were little differences in stress fringes. 2. When nonsplinted restorations were loaded on the first or third implant, stresses were increased in the apex and cervical region of loaded implant. Regardless of interproximal contact tightness level, stresses were not distributed among the three implants. But with tighter interproximal contact, stresses were increased in the cervical region of loaded first or third implant. 3. When the nonsplinted restorations were not loaded, there were little stresses on the supporting structure of implants, but low level stresses were shown in the splinted restorations even after sectioning and soldering. 4. With splinted restorations, there were little differences in stresses between different crown lengths. When splinted restorations were loaded, stresses were increased slightly on the loaded implant, but relatively even stress distribution occurred among the three implants. CONCLUSIONS: Splinting the crowns of adjacent implants is recommended for Endopore implants under the overloading situation.
Crowns* ; Denture, Partial, Fixed* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Splints* ; Titanium

A 69-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of flu-like symptoms and fatigue for 2 weeks. Computed tomography revealed ground glass opacity and consolidation in both the lungs as well as pleural effusion. The patient was diagnosed with pneumonia and was hospitalized. At the time of hospitalization, he complained of shortness of breath and coughed-up blood-tinged sputum. Two days after admission, he died suddenly. An autopsy was performed; cardiomegaly was noted, and further examination revealed that the aortic valve had been destroyed by multiple, irregular vegetations. Herein, we report an autopsy case of infective endocarditis with a review of the relevant literatures.
Aged ; Aortic Valve ; Autopsy* ; Cardiomegaly ; Dyspnea ; Endocarditis* ; Fatigue ; Glass ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Sputum

Both death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are used as proof of death. These certificates sometimes contain erroneous information but how frequently they do so is unknown. In particular, only a few studies have measured the accuracy of the cause and manner of death on Korea death documents. In this study, we compared the cause and manner of death on both kinds of certificates with those on autopsy reports to determine the frequency of errors, and to identify way to improve the accuracy of these certificates. In 2012, 528 autopsies were requested of out institute, and certificates were submitted in 241 of the cases. The manner of death was classified as natural, unnatural, or unknown. The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the death certificate in 37 of 63 cases (58.7%), and the manner of death matched in 40 of 63 cases (63.5%). The cause of death in the autopsy report matched that on the postmortem examination certificate in 62 of 178 cases (34.8%), and the manner of death matched in 74 of 178 cases (41.6%). Death certificates and postmortem examination certificates are important documents. We identified many incorrect reports of causes and manners of death on both kinds of documents, especially the postmortem death certificates. These inaccuracies are presumably due to a lack of forensic information and education, as well as lack of interest on the part of medical doctors.
Autopsy* ; Cause of Death ; Death Certificates* ; Education ; Korea