Soft denture liners or conditioners may be valuable therapeutic materials. The life of these liners is short and varies, but it can be extended by the use of a mono-poly(polymethyl methacrylate coating material). This study determined whether coating three temporary soft denture liners with mono-poly affected the resiliency of soft liners, and evaluated the ability of mono-poly to prevent water absorption and alcohol loss from the underlying soft liners. 20x12mm cylindrical specimens of Coe-Soft, Soft-Liner, Coe-Comfort soft lining materials were made and divided into two groups of mono-poly uncoated(control) and mono-poly coated specimens. Specimens were immersed in water and compressed on an instron universal testing machine and weighted at initial, 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. resiliency was determined by measuring the energy absorbed by the soft liners when stressed to a specific yield point. Mono-poly coating significantly increased the resiliency of the Soft-Liner, but had no effect on the other soft liners. Among the 3 soft liners, Soft-Liner showed the hightest resiliency and modulus of elasticity. The weight loss in Soft-Liner was the least among the 3 liners, and the weight loss in Coe-Soft was decreased by monopoly coating.
Absorption ; Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Elastic Modulus ; Water ; Weight Loss

We used the fluorophotometry to investigate the corneal epithelial barrier function after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Twenty-five eyes of 21 subjects (13 women, 8 men) underwent PRK to correct rnyopia. Corneal epithelial healing time was measured and corneal epithelial permeability to sodiurn fluorescein was evaluated by fluorophotoinetry at I, 2, and 3 weeks after surgery. The corneal epithelial permeability increased significantly 1 week after surgery and returned to preoperative level 2 weeks after surgery. The permeability differences according to epithelial healing days and corrected diopters were not statistically significant(p>0. 05). These results suggest that PRK delays complete reconstruction of corneal epithelial barrier function. The corneal epithelium regained its functional barrier 2 weeks after PRK in patients, so, at least, during the first 2 weeks, care should be taken to miniinize further epithelial trauma from topical inedication or surgical manipulation.
Epithelium, Corneal ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Fluorophotometry ; Humans ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Permeability ; Photorefractive Keratectomy*

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the scapulothoracic mobilization on subject with lateral epicondylalgia. This was done through lateral slide scapular test, grip strength, visual analogue scale, glenohumeral joint external rotation range of motion. Methods: Before the experiment, Lateral slide scapular test, grip strength, visual analogue scale, glenohumeral joint external rotation range of motion were measured. Scapulothoracic joint mobilization was applied and then measurements were taken again to compared the changes. Results: After applying the scapulothoracic joint mobilization, lateral slide scapular test, grip strength, visual analogue scale, glenohumeral joint external rotation range of motion significantly improved. Conclusion This study found that the scapulothoracic mobilization was effective in improving functional aspects and pain on subject with lateral epicondylalgia. The results suggest that the scapulothoracic joint mobilization is a significant considered intervention method that could be used for subject with lateral epicondylalgia.

Vulvar melanosis (VM) is clinically characterized by asymmetric macules or patches of varying size with a tan to black color and irregular borders. VM is more commonly found among perimenopausal women with a median age of 42 years. The exact pathogenesis of VM is not well understood. The proposed etiological factors for VM include oral contraceptive use, infection with human papillomavirus, and chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Histologic examination can easily differentiate mucosal lentiginosis from melanoma, but VM superimposed on a background of anogenital lichen sclerosus, both clinically and histologically, may mimic malignant melanoma. There have been two cases of VM associated with Dowling-Degos disease in the Korean dermatologic literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of VM associated with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus in the Korean dermatologic literature.

Syringoid eccrine carcinoma (SEC) is a rare cutaneous malignant tumor thought to be derived from eccrine sweat glands. It is usually present in the scalp and face and often occurs in the fourth to seventh decades of life. A 76-year-old female patient visited our department with a 3-year history of a lesion showing a 5×4 cm-sized erythematous firm plaque with ulceration on her right shoulder. Histological findings revealed a tumor consisting of numerous proliferating tubular structures with two layers of basaloid cells with cellular atypia. Some ductal structures showed a tadpole appearance. Based on these findings, the final diagnosis was SEC. The patient was treated with slow Mohs micrographic surgery and a full-thickness skin graft and did not show any recurrence during the follow-up period of 6 months. Herein, we report a very rare case of a 76-year-old woman diagnosed with SEC that developed on the right shoulder.

Vulvar melanosis (VM) is clinically characterized by asymmetric macules or patches of varying size with a tan to black color and irregular borders. VM is more commonly found among perimenopausal women with a median age of 42 years. The exact pathogenesis of VM is not well understood. The proposed etiological factors for VM include oral contraceptive use, infection with human papillomavirus, and chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Histologic examination can easily differentiate mucosal lentiginosis from melanoma, but VM superimposed on a background of anogenital lichen sclerosus, both clinically and histologically, may mimic malignant melanoma. There have been two cases of VM associated with Dowling-Degos disease in the Korean dermatologic literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of VM associated with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus in the Korean dermatologic literature.

Recurrent zoster myelitis is quite rare. We present a previously healthy 27-year-old woman who developed recurrent attacks of myelopathy shortly after the characteristic skin rashes of herpes zoster. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated each lesion in the spinal cord at the same segments as the skin lesions. She had two attacks at opposite sites at the same spinal cord level and complete recovery after being treated with intravenous acyclovir. We suspect that direct invasion of varicella zoster virus was the cause of recurrent myelopathy in our patient.
Adult ; Case Report ; Female ; Herpes Zoster/complications* ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelitis/virology* ; Myelitis/diagnosis ; Recurrence

With the development of electrophysiologic technique, a more detailed topographical organizations of motor cortex, especially hand area have been introduced in animal experiment. To the best our knowledge, in cerebral infarction, only one patient with isolated weakness of intrinsic hand muscles has been reported. We present two patients with cerebral infarction who showed isolated weakness in their intrinsic hand. Patient 1; A 76-year-old woman with coronary artery obstructive disease developed abrupt weakness in flexion of right thumb, index, middle finger and in adduction of thumb. Brain MRI showed a small discrete lesion in the posterior bank of left precentral gyrus. An angiography revealed an occlusion of left central sulcus artery. Prominent thumb adduction weakness was remained 11 days later. Patient 2; A 57-year-old hypertensive man was admitted because of recurrent TIA and decreased grasp power of right hand, especially flexion and adduction of thumb, index finger and middle finger. Brain MRI showed focal lamina necrosis in left precentral gyrus. An angiography revealed an occlusion of left internal carotid artery. Findings in our patients suggest that the similar arrangement of efferent zone for cortical hand area found in monkeys also may exist in human beings.
Aged ; Angiography ; Animal Experimentation ; Arteries ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Fingers ; Hand Strength ; Hand* ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Motor Cortex ; Muscles* ; Necrosis ; Thumb

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Given that only a few studies have focused on the bimodal benefits on objective and subjective outcomes and emphasized the importance of individual data, the present study aimed to measure the bimodal benefits on the objective and subjective outcomes for adults with cochlear implant. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fourteen listeners with bimodal devices were tested on the localization and recognition abilities using environmental sounds, 1-talker, and 2-talker speech materials. The localization ability was measured through an 8-loudspeaker array. For the recognition measures, listeners were asked to repeat the sentences or say the environmental sounds the listeners heard. As a subjective questionnaire, three domains of Korean-version of Speech, Spatial, Qualities of Hearing scale (K-SSQ) were used to explore any relationships between objective and subjective outcomes. RESULTS: Based on the group-mean data, the bimodal hearing enhanced both localization and recognition regardless of test material. However, the inter- and intra-subject variability appeared to be large across test materials for both localization and recognition abilities. Correlation analyses revealed that the relationships were not always consistent between the objective outcomes and the subjective self-reports with bimodal devices. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study supports significant bimodal advantages on localization and recognition measures, yet the large individual variability in bimodal benefits should be considered carefully for the clinical assessment as well as counseling. The discrepant relations between objective and subjective results suggest that the bimodal benefits in traditional localization or recognition measures might not necessarily correspond to the self-reported subjective advantages in everyday listening environments.
Adult ; Cochlear Implants ; Counseling ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Humans

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of basic epidemiological information on bacterial meningitis in children and adults in Korea. Therefore, more research is needed to investigate the causative organisms, clinical manifestations, and prognosis in Korean children and adults. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 148 medical records with final diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was based on culture-positive cases. RESULTS: Out of a total 148 patients, 71 were children and 77 were adults. In the children with community acquired meningitis, infection-related meningitis was the most common predisposing factor (23.3%). In adults, otitis media was the most common (21.7%). There were more frequent seizures in children than adults (38.1%, 17.1%, p<0.05). In community-acquired meningitis, Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common type. However, in nosocomial meningitis, gram-negative bacilli was the most common type. The prognostic factors associated with mortality rate in adults were old age (>50 years), seizure (p<0.05), and mental change (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although a causative organism is not documented, we believe that our study will help to properly treat acute bacterial meningitis in children and adults regardless if it is community acquired or nosomial.
Adult ; Causality ; Child ; Cross Infection ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial* ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; Mortality ; Otitis Media ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures