Transvaginal cervical cerclage for the prevention of pregnancy loss in patients with cervical incompetence is well accepted. However, there is a small subject of patients with incompetence of cervix, congenital or surgical shortening of the cervix, previously failed transvaginal cerclage and deep cervical damage or tears in the fornices. We experienced a case of the transabdominal cervical cerclage. 'Ihe patient had a past history of deep cervical laceration due to vaginal delivery. Therefore, we present here a surgical technique of transabdominal cerdage and report it with brief review of literatures.
Cerclage, Cervical ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Pregnancy

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant screw loosening remains a problem in implant prosthodontics. Some abutment screws with treated surfaces were introduced to prevent screw loosening and to increase preload. DLC(Diamond Like Carbon) film has similar properties on hardness, wear resistance, chemical stability, biocompatibility as real diamond materials. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lubricant layer on abutment screw and to discriminate more effective method between soft lubricant and hard lubricant to prevent screw loosening. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, 1mum thickness DLC was used as protective, lubricating layer of titanium screws and 3 times removal torque was measured on the abutment screws to investigate the difference in 10 coated and 10 non-coated abutment screws. RESULTS: The results indicated that the implants with DLC coating group were not more resistant to the applied force in screw loosening. At 32Ncm, the 3 times removal torque in DLC group were 27.7+/-2.89, 25.85+/-2.35 and 26.2+/-2.57. The removal torque in no-coated abutment screws were 27.85+/-4.23, 27.35+/-2.81 and 27.9+/-2.31, respectively. CONCLUSION: The lubricant layer used in this study was Diamond Like Carbon(DLC) and it have a properties of hard and stable layer. The DLC coating layer was hard enough to prevent distortion of screws in the repeated unscrewing procedure in clinical situation. The reduced friction coefficient in hard DLC layer was not effective to prevent screw loosening.
Carbon* ; Diamond* ; Friction ; Hardness ; Prosthodontics ; Titanium* ; Torque*

The central giant cell granuloma is a benign tumor seen generally in the mandible, but rarely in other cranial bones. Herein, we present a 51-year-old man with central giant cell granuloma in the right zygomatic bone. Physical and radiologic examinations of the central giant cell granuloma in the zygomatic bone showed that specific and preoperative diagnosis is usually difficult. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility that central giant cell granuloma may occur in the zygomatic bone mimicking other more frequently observed lesions.
Diagnosis ; Giant Cells* ; Granuloma, Giant Cell* ; Humans ; Mandible ; Middle Aged ; Zygoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of reperfusion therapy in the acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the recovery of myocardial perfusion in infarct tissue, as well as the restoration of epicardial blood flow. ST segment resolution on the ECG is an index, which represents adequate myocardial tissue perfusion following treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with acute STEMI, arriving within 12 hours of the onset of symptom underwent either thrombolysis (n=40) or primary stenting (n=51) were used for this study. ST segments on the ECG were measured with hand-held electronic callipers and the results were analysed by a single observer. RESULTS: Thrombolysis therapy was started earlier than primary stenting, although this was not statistically significant (311+/-171 minutes vs 399+/-251 minutes, p=0.61). After treatment, thrombolysis achieved a higher rate of complete ST segment resolution (>or=70%) compared to primary stenting (20/40;50.0% vs 13/51;25.4%, p=0.016). However, when the data was corrected for time, the difference between the two modalities was not significant (p=0.119). ST segment resolution varied significantly (p=0.026) according to treatment time, regardless of treatment modality. At the 6 month follow up, patients with complete ST segment resolution had a lower rate of major cardiac event (2.1% vs 13.8% p=0.094). CONCLUSION: In this study, thrombolysis achieved a higher rate of complete ST resolution compared with primary stenting in acute STEMI. By ad hoc analysis, this result was attributed to the difference in treatment time between the two groups, suggesting successful tissue reperfusion in acute STEMI is determined primarily by the rapidity, rather than the type, of treatment.
Angioplasty ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Perfusion* ; Reperfusion ; Stents* ; Thrombolytic Therapy

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical usefulness of the pressure phosphene tonometer (Proview(R)) compared with the Goldmann applanation tonometer. METHODS: Ninety four eyes of 50 patients, aged from 3rd decade to 6th decade and with intraocular pressure (IOP) ranging from 9 to 21 mmHg, were measured by Proview(R) 5 times each. The average of these values was compared with the value measured with the Goldmann applanation tonometer. Twenty eyes of 10 patients, aged from 3rd decade to 4th decade, were trained repeatedly and measured again by the same method after 1 month. RESULTS: IOP measured by Proview(R) was statistically higher than that with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (p<0.05). The difference between the two measurements for patients in their 5th and 6th decades was more than in their 3rd and 4th decades. Nevertheless, the measurement difference decreased and the correlation coefficient increased between the devices in the repeatedly trained group (r=0.923). CONCLUSIONS: In measuring IOP, the pressure phosphene tonometer (Proview(R)) is not suitable in elderly or newly adapted patients, but it provides significant values in young and repeatedly trained group.
Aged ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Phosphenes*

BACKGROUND: The exact role of aerobic bacteria in the pathogenesis of acne remains controversial but several reports showed that these microorganisms were important in the development of acne lesions and affected the severity of acne by being involved in the inflammatory process. There were several attempts to improve and prevent the acne lesions by using soap or cosmetics containing anti-microbial agents. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the sebum secretion rates and the number of aerobic bacteria in acne patients after 4 weeks trial of RT cream containing 0.1% tea-tree oil and 0.01% Ramulus mori extract. METHODS: We studied 10 normal controls and 20 acne patients. Sebum secretion was measured by Sebumeter. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing numbers of non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions. Aerobic bacteria was also cultured from control group and acne patients group before and after RT cream use. RESULTS: Sebum secretion rates in acne patients were higher than those in control, but not statistically significant. Total number of aerobic bacteria in acne patients was higher than that in control (p<0.05). The aerobic bacteria consisted of coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus sp., S. aureus in both acne patients and control. After 4 weeks, the number of inflammatory lesions had decreased (p<0.05%). In addition, the number of aerobic bacteria showed the tendency of decrease after RT cream use. CONCLUSION: RT cream consisting of 0.1% tea tree oil and 0.01% Ramulus mori extract was found to be effective and safe for acne patients with especially inflammatory lesions.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Coagulase ; Humans ; Sebum ; Skin* ; Soaps ; Staphylococcus ; Streptococcus ; Tea Tree Oil* ; Tea*

Background: Sore throat and hoarseness frequently occur following general anesthesia with tracheal intubation and are effectively reduced when dexamethasone is used prophylactically. Alchemilla vulgaris in glycerine (Neo Mucosal Activator®) suppresses inflammatory response, possibly relieving sore throat. Methods: We enrolled 94 patients (age ≥ 18 years) scheduled for thoracic surgery using double-lumen tube intubation. Before intubation, 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone was administered intravenously and 2 ml of normal saline was sprayed into the oropharyngeal cavity (Group D; n = 45), or 0.04 ml/kg normal saline was administered intravenously and 1 g of Neo Mucosal Activator® mixed with 1 ml of normal saline was sprayed into the oropharyngeal cavity (Group N; n = 43), in a double blind and prospectively randomized manner. Postoperative sore throat and hoarseness were recorded using a numeral rating scale and a 4-point scale to detect a change in voice quality following tracheal extubation (at 1, 6, and 24 h). The primary outcome was the incidence of sore throat at 24 h following surgery. The secondary outcomes were incidence and severity of sore throat and hoarseness. Results: There were no significant differences in the incidence of sore throat at 24 h following surgery (57.8% vs. 46.5%; P = 0.290) or in the incidence and intensity of sore throat and hoarseness at 1, 6, and 24 h following surgery between the groups. Conclusions A. vulgaris in glycerine did not significantly differ from dexamethasone for preventing sore throat and hoarseness owing to intubation.

Background: Only a few studies have evaluated the differences between varying concentrations of a fixed dose of local anesthetics. This study was conducted to compare the effects of two different concentrations of a fixed dose of ropivacaine used in ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 62 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided interscalene block with 75 mg of ropivacaine at one of two concentrations: 0.75% (10 ml; group C) or 0.375% (20 ml; group V). Time to onset of sensory blockade, degree of blockade, pulmonary function changes, analgesic duration of the interscalene block, postoperative opioid requirement within 24 h, postoperative pain scores, satisfaction, and incidence of complications were recorded. Results: Although the time to onset of sensory blockade was shorter for group C (P = 0.015), successful blockade was achieved at 30 min after the interscalene block in both groups. The analgesic duration of the interscalene block was not significantly different between the groups. The amount of opioid used within 24 h after surgery was significantly reduced for group V compared with group C (P = 0.016). The rest of the parameters did not show any significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion Compared with 10 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine, interscalene block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine could be effective for the reduction of postoperative opioid requirement within 24 h after surgery despite it might not prolong the analgesic duration.

Background: Only a few studies have evaluated the differences between varying concentrations of a fixed dose of local anesthetics. This study was conducted to compare the effects of two different concentrations of a fixed dose of ropivacaine used in ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 62 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided interscalene block with 75 mg of ropivacaine at one of two concentrations: 0.75% (10 ml; group C) or 0.375% (20 ml; group V). Time to onset of sensory blockade, degree of blockade, pulmonary function changes, analgesic duration of the interscalene block, postoperative opioid requirement within 24 h, postoperative pain scores, satisfaction, and incidence of complications were recorded. Results: Although the time to onset of sensory blockade was shorter for group C (P = 0.015), successful blockade was achieved at 30 min after the interscalene block in both groups. The analgesic duration of the interscalene block was not significantly different between the groups. The amount of opioid used within 24 h after surgery was significantly reduced for group V compared with group C (P = 0.016). The rest of the parameters did not show any significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion Compared with 10 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine, interscalene block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine could be effective for the reduction of postoperative opioid requirement within 24 h after surgery despite it might not prolong the analgesic duration.

Background: Sore throat and hoarseness frequently occur following general anesthesia with tracheal intubation and are effectively reduced when dexamethasone is used prophylactically. Alchemilla vulgaris in glycerine (Neo Mucosal Activator®) suppresses inflammatory response, possibly relieving sore throat. Methods: We enrolled 94 patients (age ≥ 18 years) scheduled for thoracic surgery using double-lumen tube intubation. Before intubation, 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone was administered intravenously and 2 ml of normal saline was sprayed into the oropharyngeal cavity (Group D; n = 45), or 0.04 ml/kg normal saline was administered intravenously and 1 g of Neo Mucosal Activator® mixed with 1 ml of normal saline was sprayed into the oropharyngeal cavity (Group N; n = 43), in a double blind and prospectively randomized manner. Postoperative sore throat and hoarseness were recorded using a numeral rating scale and a 4-point scale to detect a change in voice quality following tracheal extubation (at 1, 6, and 24 h). The primary outcome was the incidence of sore throat at 24 h following surgery. The secondary outcomes were incidence and severity of sore throat and hoarseness. Results: There were no significant differences in the incidence of sore throat at 24 h following surgery (57.8% vs. 46.5%; P = 0.290) or in the incidence and intensity of sore throat and hoarseness at 1, 6, and 24 h following surgery between the groups. Conclusions A. vulgaris in glycerine did not significantly differ from dexamethasone for preventing sore throat and hoarseness owing to intubation.