PURPOSE: This survey was performed to gather information about the guardians of pediatric oculoplastic patients undergoing certain medical care services in order to recommend improvements in these services. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to guardians of pediatric oculoplastic patients who were admitted for operations to correct epiblepharon and ptosis. Completed questionnaires, which numberd 100, were then analyzed. RESULTS: The results of this survey show that most guardians were the parents of the patient; most had a level of education higher than or equal to junior college graduation; and most were middle-class. The parents themselves had discovered their children's disease and had a great influence on the decision to operate. Most parents took an optimistic view of the results of the operation. The higher the guardians' economic status, the more likely he or she believed that both an ophthalmic and a plastic surgeon could perform oculoplastic operations. Many guardians chose an ophthalmic clinic over a plastic surgery clinic because the likelihood of a satisfactory result is higher and because these diseases are related to visual acuity. Half of the guardians knew that there is an oculoplastic clinic at the department of ophthalmology, and many of them gathered information about oculoplastic surgery from the internet. CONCLUSIONS: Better explanations about oculoplastic diseases and more education about these diseases should be available to the guardians of patients with these diseases. Systematic publicity for the field of oculoplastic surgery is needed urgently, and the availability of accurate information and specialized medical counseling about these diseases on the internet should be increased.
Counseling ; Education ; Humans ; Internet ; Ophthalmology ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Surgery, Plastic ; Visual Acuity

We reported a case of cutaneous focal mucinosis in a 19 year-old male, which occured by multiple nodules on the both dorsa of hands, extensor surface of elbows, intergluteal folds and shins, and responded well to intralesional injection of triamcinolon acetonide. Histopathologically, most of the collagen in the dermis is replaced to homogeneous mucinous material which was confirmed as hyaluronic acid.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Injections, Intralesional ; Male ; Mucinoses* ; Mucins ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze and clarify the meaning of the concept for relocation stress -focusing on patients transferred from an intensive care unit to a general ward. METHODS: This study used Walker and Avant's process of concept analysis. RESULTS: Relocation stress can be defined by these attributes as follows: 1) involuntary decision about relocation, 2) moving from a familiar and safe environment to an unfamiliar one, 3) broken relationship of safety and familiarity, 4) physiological and psychosocial change after relocation. The antecedents of relocation stress consisted of these facts: 1) preparation degrees of transfer from the intensive care unit to a general ward, 2) pertinence of the information related to the transfer process, 3) change of major caregivers, 4) change in numbers of monitoring devices, 5) change in the level of self-care. There are consequences occurring as a result of relocation stress: 1) decrease in patients' quality of life, 2) decrease in coping capacity, 3) loss of control. CONCLUSION: Relocation stress is a core concept in intensive nursing care. Using this concept will contribute to continuity of intensive nursing care.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Caregivers ; Concept Formation ; Humans ; *Intensive Care Units ; *Patient Transfer ; Patients' Rooms ; *Stress, Psychological

The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology of the mandibular symphysis and anterior alveolar and skeletal d relationship under the influence of the rotational growth pattern of mandible in skeletal Class III malocclusion. A total of 86 untreated adult subjects were divided into two groups-forward rotational growth pattern group, backward rotational growth pattern group-according to the suggestion of Skieller et al. The antero-posterior position, vertical relationship, mandibular symphysis and anterior alveolar and skeletal relationship were assessed on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Mandibular symphysis and anterior alveolar and skeletal relationship in each subject were studied and the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Concerning the antero-posterior position, forward rotational growth pattern group showed significantly larger SNA, SNB. Concerning the vertical relationship, all measurements showed statistically significant differences. 2. Forward rotational growth pattern group showed significantly larger IMPA MnAD, backward rotational growth pattern group showed significantly larger MxABH. 3. There was no statistically significant difference in symphysis ratio to mandibular plane between forward and backward rotational growth pattern group. 4. In the correlative analysis of rotational growth pattern of mandible and mandibular symphysis, anterior alveolar of and skeletal relationship, statistically significant correlations in overbite, IMPA, MnAD, symphysis width were showed.
Adult ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Mandible* ; Overbite

At the finishing stage, the use of asymmetric elastics to treat mild skeletal and dental midline discrepancies often creates several side effects such as canted occlusal plane, tipped incisors and anesthetic results. This report presents the clinical cases with midline discrepancies, following a differential diagnosis, optimal mechanics, and considerations in treatment. Differential diagnosis and treatment mechanics with three-piece basal archwire can obtain predictable midline correction with minimal side effects.
Dental Occlusion ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mechanics

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a new convolutional neural network-based deep learning (DL) technique for automated brain tissue segmentation from computed tomographic (CT) scans and to evaluate its performance in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived segmentations. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study collected paired CT and MRI data from 199 healthy individuals across two institutions. The data were divided into a training set (n = 100) and an internal test set (n = 50) from one institution, with additional datasets (n = 49) from the second institution for external validation. Ground truth masks for gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were generated from T1-weighted MR images. A U-Net-based DL model was trained for each of the three brain regions, with a perceptual loss computed from VGG19. Model performance was evaluated by calculating continuous Dice coefficient (cDice), intersection-over-union (IOU), and 95th percentile Hausdorff distance (HD95). Volumetric estimates from CT-based segmentations were compared with MRI-derived volumes using the coefficient of determination (R2 ), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The DL network trained with the perceptual loss showed superior performance, compared with that trained without the perceptual loss. In internal tests, evaluation scores (without perceptual loss vs. with perceptual loss) were: cDice = 0.717 vs. 0.765 and HD95 = 6.641 mm vs. 6.314 mm in GM; cDice = 0.730 vs. 0.767 and HD95 = 5.841 mm vs. 5.644 mm in WM; and cDice = 0.600 vs. 0.630 and HD95 = 5.641 mm vs. 5.362 mm in CSF, respectively. Volumetric analyses revealed strong agreement between MRI-derived ground truth and CT-based segmentations with R2 = 0.83/0.90 and 0.85/0.87, and ICC = 0.91/0.94 and 0.92/0.93 for GM and WM, respectively, in internal/external tests. Conclusion The proposed DL method, enhanced with perceptual loss, improves brain tissue segmentation from CT images. This approach shows promise as an alternative to MRIbased segmentation.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a new convolutional neural network-based deep learning (DL) technique for automated brain tissue segmentation from computed tomographic (CT) scans and to evaluate its performance in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived segmentations. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study collected paired CT and MRI data from 199 healthy individuals across two institutions. The data were divided into a training set (n = 100) and an internal test set (n = 50) from one institution, with additional datasets (n = 49) from the second institution for external validation. Ground truth masks for gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were generated from T1-weighted MR images. A U-Net-based DL model was trained for each of the three brain regions, with a perceptual loss computed from VGG19. Model performance was evaluated by calculating continuous Dice coefficient (cDice), intersection-over-union (IOU), and 95th percentile Hausdorff distance (HD95). Volumetric estimates from CT-based segmentations were compared with MRI-derived volumes using the coefficient of determination (R2 ), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The DL network trained with the perceptual loss showed superior performance, compared with that trained without the perceptual loss. In internal tests, evaluation scores (without perceptual loss vs. with perceptual loss) were: cDice = 0.717 vs. 0.765 and HD95 = 6.641 mm vs. 6.314 mm in GM; cDice = 0.730 vs. 0.767 and HD95 = 5.841 mm vs. 5.644 mm in WM; and cDice = 0.600 vs. 0.630 and HD95 = 5.641 mm vs. 5.362 mm in CSF, respectively. Volumetric analyses revealed strong agreement between MRI-derived ground truth and CT-based segmentations with R2 = 0.83/0.90 and 0.85/0.87, and ICC = 0.91/0.94 and 0.92/0.93 for GM and WM, respectively, in internal/external tests. Conclusion The proposed DL method, enhanced with perceptual loss, improves brain tissue segmentation from CT images. This approach shows promise as an alternative to MRIbased segmentation.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a new convolutional neural network-based deep learning (DL) technique for automated brain tissue segmentation from computed tomographic (CT) scans and to evaluate its performance in comparison to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived segmentations. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study collected paired CT and MRI data from 199 healthy individuals across two institutions. The data were divided into a training set (n = 100) and an internal test set (n = 50) from one institution, with additional datasets (n = 49) from the second institution for external validation. Ground truth masks for gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were generated from T1-weighted MR images. A U-Net-based DL model was trained for each of the three brain regions, with a perceptual loss computed from VGG19. Model performance was evaluated by calculating continuous Dice coefficient (cDice), intersection-over-union (IOU), and 95th percentile Hausdorff distance (HD95). Volumetric estimates from CT-based segmentations were compared with MRI-derived volumes using the coefficient of determination (R2 ), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: The DL network trained with the perceptual loss showed superior performance, compared with that trained without the perceptual loss. In internal tests, evaluation scores (without perceptual loss vs. with perceptual loss) were: cDice = 0.717 vs. 0.765 and HD95 = 6.641 mm vs. 6.314 mm in GM; cDice = 0.730 vs. 0.767 and HD95 = 5.841 mm vs. 5.644 mm in WM; and cDice = 0.600 vs. 0.630 and HD95 = 5.641 mm vs. 5.362 mm in CSF, respectively. Volumetric analyses revealed strong agreement between MRI-derived ground truth and CT-based segmentations with R2 = 0.83/0.90 and 0.85/0.87, and ICC = 0.91/0.94 and 0.92/0.93 for GM and WM, respectively, in internal/external tests. Conclusion The proposed DL method, enhanced with perceptual loss, improves brain tissue segmentation from CT images. This approach shows promise as an alternative to MRIbased segmentation.

PURPOSE: Placenta growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. PlGF is implicated in several pathologic processes, including the growth and spread of cancer and tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and the clinical implications of PlGF in colorectal cancer. METHODS: In order to ascertain the clinical significance of PlGF expression in colorectal cancer, the researcher analyzed the expression pattern of PlGF by using an immunohistochemical method and attempted to establish if a relationship existed between PlGF expression and microvessel density (MVD), and subsequently between PlGF expression and the predicted prognosis. A total of 83 patients with colorectal cancer were included for immunohistochemical staining. Clinicopathological characteristics were defined according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) criteria of the Union for International Cancer Control. Clinicopathologic factors, such as age, sex, histological types of tumors, tumor cell grade, TNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph-node metastasis, were reviewed. RESULTS: In this study, the PlGF protein expression level was significantly correlated with MVD, patient survival, and clinicopathological factors such as lymph-node metastasis, TNM staging, lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion. CONCLUSION: PlGF may be an important angiogenic factor in human colorectal cancer, and in this study, PlGF expression level was significantly correlated with positive lymph-node metastases, tumor stage, and patient survival. These findings suggest that PlGF expression correlates with disease progression and may be used as a prognostic marker for colorectal cancer.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pathologic Processes ; Placenta ; Pregnancy Proteins ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) can induce alterations in blood viscoelasticity and cause red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of pump flow pulsatility on blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation. METHODS: Mongrel dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: a nonpulsatile pump group (n=6) or a pulsatile pump group (n=6). After ECC was started at a pump flow rate of 80 mL/kg/min, cardiac fibrillation was induced. Blood sampling was performed before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after ECC commencement. To eliminate bias induced by hematocrit and plasma, all blood samples were adjusted to a hematocrit of 45% using baseline plasma. Blood viscoelasticity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, arterial blood gas analysis, central venous O2 saturation, and lactate were measured. RESULTS: The blood viscosity and aggregation index decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC and then remained low during ECC in both groups, but blood elasticity did not change during ECC. Blood viscosity, blood elasticity, plasma viscosity, and the aggregation index were not significantly different in the groups at any time. Hematocrit decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC in both groups due to dilution by the priming solution used. CONCLUSION: After ECC, blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation were not different in the pulsatile and nonpulsatile groups in the adult dog model. Furthermore, pulsatile flow did not have a more harmful effect on blood viscoelasticity or RBC aggregation than nonpulsatile flow.
Adult ; Animals ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Viscosity ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Dogs ; Elasticity ; Erythrocytes* ; Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Plasma ; Pulsatile Flow ; Viscosity