No abstract available.
Echocardiography* ; Endocarditis*

We studied the association of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness with general characteristics, exposure concentration, respiratory symptoms, chest x-ray findings, past histories and pulmonary function. We determined bronchial hyperresponsiveness by methacholine challenge test. And we conducted a respiratory symptom questionnaire and performed spirometry on 111 workers occupationally exposed to isocyanates in various industries. About 21.6% of subjects had bronchial hyperresponsiveness. No significant differences were observed between the hyperresponsive and non-responsive group with respect to age, sex, employment period, height, and smoking histories cough and breathlessness were significantly associated with the bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The hyperresponsive group had more experience of bronchitis and asthma in the past than the non-responsive group. The lower FEV1 and FEV1 % were closely related with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial hyperrespoosiveness seems to be associated with some of respiratory symptoms, past histories and pulmonary function parameters in workers exposed to isocyanates.
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Employment ; Isocyanates* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the characteristics of psychiatric inpatients in mental health related facilities and community mental health services-utilizing patients by diverse factors in Korea. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent via mail to 140 standard mental health centers from October to December of 2008. 64 facilities responded and data of 461 mentally disabled who are registered at and utilize the services of these mental health centers were analyzed. T-test and cross-analysis were performed to determine the differences in the averages of the variables and the discrepancy in ratios, respectively. RESULTS: Differences between long-term psychiatric inpatients and community mental health services-utilizing patients were seen in characteristics such as gender, age, type of medical coverage, family support systems, diagnosis, age of onset, duration of hospitalization, community-dwelling period, and clinical symptoms and functions. It was significantly short in length of stay in facilities in users of community mental health services with comparison to institutionalized patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that invigoration of community mental health services is an alternative that can help deter long-term hospitalization.
Age of Onset ; Community Mental Health Services* ; Diagnosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Mental Health* ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate hearing impairment judgement and to investigate the differences in various diagnostic criteria for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among workers who required for close observation (C). METHODS: Out of 731,029 workers who had taken the specific periodic health examination in 1994, we used the audiometric data on 37,999 workers (C) eliminating the employees who had previous otologic problems. Many investigators have being using different criteria for the evaluation of hearing impairment. In this study, we used the criteria of early (1989-1994), current, compensation for NIHL in Korea, 2-, 3-, 4-divided classification and hearing loss at 4,000 Hz and compared the evaluation results. RESULTS: The prevalences of C and workers who had occupational disease (D1) diagnosed for NIHL were 11.1 % and 0.44 %. There were significant difference in the prevalences of C and D1 depending on different province of Korea. Pure tone averages (PTAs) were not appropriately applied in their evaluation. 97% of workers whom we studied on were below the level of mild hearing loss judged by ISO standard. However, there were wide variations in the prevalence rate of mild hearing loss by diagnostic criteria. Thus, there were different judgements in determining the degree of NIHL depending on which diagnostic criteria were utilized. PTAs were found 20.54 (Rt) and 20.74 (Lt) when the method of 3-divided classification was applied for audiometric data. The degree of hearing impairment of the left ear was more severe than that of right ear. The prevalence of normal hearing threshold below 20 dB was 75.4% and the range of difference in both ear was below 10 dB. Right sided hearing threshold levels were 21.08 dB (500 Hz), 18.44 dB (1,000 Hz), 22.09 (2,000 Hz) and 52.36 dB (4,000 Hz). There was typical high frequency loss (C5-dip at 4,000 Hz) above 30 - 40 dB in normal hearing level. The increasing trend in hearing threshold level was gradually decreased by the increase of PTAs. The difference between PTAs and threshold at 4,000 Hz was about 10 dB. CONCLUSIONS: We could found that PTAs in the previous examination were not appropriately evaluated. This study revealed that they did not use unique criteria for managing the workers of NIHL. For the prevention of NIHL, it was found that the quality control on diagnosis and comprehensive management program were required, especially for those of hearing loss (C).
Classification ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Korea* ; Occupational Diseases ; Prevalence ; Quality Control ; Research Personnel

PURPOSE: We evaluated the early outcomes of Gortex patch sling operation in the management of women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency(ISD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 women underwent Gortex patch sling operation to treat genuine stress urinary incontinence and all patients had ISD. Patients were interviewed by telephone for incontinence, self-catheterization, and voiding symptoms at a mean of 16.6 months(range 6-35) after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54.2 years and mean parity was 2. Mean operation time was 55 minutes(range 45-90) and mean duration of postoperative catheterization was 7.0 days(range 5-12). Success rate(complete dry) was 90% and de novo urge incontinence occurred in 3(15%). CONCLUSIONS: Gortex patch sling operation is a safe, simple and effective procedure for the treatment of stress incontinence due to ISD. However, further follow-up of longterm results is needed.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Parity ; Telephone ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge

The present study evaluates the effects of calcium sulfate and DFDB on alveolar bone regeneration and cementum formation and connective tissue adhesion in intrabony angulated 1 wall defects of dogs. Four millimeter-deep angulated one-wall intrabony defects were surgically created in the mesial & distal aspects of premolars and with flap operaion alone(control group), with calcium sulfate(experimental group 1), with composit graft of 50% calcium sulfate and 50% DFDB(experimental group 2), with DFDB alone(experimental group 3). Histologic analysis following 8 weeks of healing revealed the following results: 1. The lengths of connective tissue adhesion was 1.05+/-0.48mm in the control, 1.30+/-0.67mm in the test group I, 0.97+/-0.22mm in the test group II and 0.93+/-0.15mm in the test group III. There was no statistical significance between control and all experimental groups. 2. Changes in alveolar bone level was 0.97+/-0.27mm in the control group, 1.45+/-0.42mm in the test group I, 2.00+/-0.33mm in the test group II , 1.88+/-0.34mm in the test group III. There was no statistically significant difference between control and experimental group I. There was a statistically significant difference between the control and experimental group II,III.(p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between all experimental group. 3. Cementum formation was 1.13+/-0.17mm in the control, 1.78+/-0.31mm in the test group I, 2.17+/-0.38mm in the test group II, 2.15+/-0.47mm in the test group III with statistically significant differences between control group and all experimental group(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant differences between all experimental group. These results suggest that the use of composit graft of 50% calcium sulfate and 50% DFDB and DFDB alone in angulated 1 wall intrabony defects has little effects on connective tissue adhesion, but has significant effects on new bone and new cementum formations.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Connective Tissue ; Dental Cementum ; Dogs* ; Transplants*

Numerous bone graft materials have been used in Periodontics, in an attempt to reach the main goal of periodontal therapy, i.e. the regeneration of periodontal tissue lost due to destructive periodontal diseases. The present study investigates the effect of composite graft of DFDB and Calcium sulfate with and without Calcium sulfate barrier in Periodontal 1-wall intrabony defects in dogs. Following the initiation of general anesthesia by I.V. administration of 40mg/Kg of Pentobabital, second premolar was extracted and full thickness flap elevated. The crown portion of premolars was removed. Exposed root canals were sealed with Caviton and covered completely with flap. After the healing period of 8 weeks, the surgical sites were re-opened and 1-wall intrabony defects were created, and treated with flap operation alone(control group), with composit graft of 80% DFDB and 20% Calcium sulfate(Experimental group 1), with composite graft of DFDB and calcium sulfate with calcium sulfate membrane(Experimental group 2). Healing response was histologically observed after 8 weeks and the results were as follows: 1. New bone formation was 70 % in the control group, 93 % in the Experimental group I, 89 % in the Experimental group II. There was a no differences between Experimental groups. 2. New cementum formation was not significantly different between control and two Experimental groups. 3. The length of connective tissue adhesion was 30 % in the control, 7% in the Experimental group I and 11 % in the Experimental group II. 4. After 8weeks, calcium sulfate was completely resorbed, while DFDB particle remained. These results suggest that the use of composite graft of allogenic DFDB and Calcium sulfate with and without Calcium sulfate barrier in periodontal 1 wall intrabony defects have little effect on connective tissue adhesion, but has beneficial effect on new alveolar bone and new cementum formation, and prevent downgrowth of epithelium and connective tissue effectively.
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Bicuspid ; Calcium Sulfate* ; Calcium* ; Connective Tissue ; Crowns ; Dental Cementum ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Dogs* ; Epithelium ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontics ; Regeneration ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: Implant survival rates using a bone-added osteotome sinus floor elevation (BAOSFE) procedure with simultaneous placement of a non-submerged sand blasted with large grit and acid etched (SLA) implant are well documented at sites where native bone height is less than 5 mm. This study evaluated the clinical results of non-submerged SLA Straumann implants placed at the time of the BAOSFE procedure at sites where native bone height was less than 4 mm. Changes in graft height after the BAOSFE procedure were also assessed using radiographs for 5 years after the implant procedure. METHODS: The BAOSFE procedure was performed on 4 patients with atrophic posterior maxillas with simultaneous placement of 7 non-submerged SLA implants. At least 7 standardized radiographs were obtained from each patient as follows: before surgery, immediately after implant placement, 6 months after surgery, every year for the next 3 years, and after more than 5 years had passed. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed at every visit. Radiographic changes in graft height were calculated with respect to the implant's known length and the original sinus height. RESULTS: All implants were stable functionally, as well as clinically and radiographically, during the follow-up. Most of the radiographic reduction in the grafted bone height occurred in the first 2 years; reduction after 2 years was slight. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous placement of non-submerged SLA implants using the BAOSFE procedure is a feasible treatment option for patients with severe atrophic posterior maxillas. However, the grafted bone height is reduced during the healing period, and patients must be selected with care.
Dental Implantation ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Silicon Dioxide ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Melanosis coli is the brownish black discoloration of the colon due to accumulation of pigment containing macrophages in lamina propria. The nature and source of this pigment is controversial but many studies have suggested that the pigment is related to lipofuscin. Melanosis coli has been reported to be closely associated with prolonged administration of anthraquinone purgatives. But this condition is sometimes associated with colonic polyp colon cancer, rediation therapy or non-anthraquinone purgatives administration. Moreover the fact that melanosis coli could be found in subjects who never used purgatives suggested that, even though chronic consumption of anthraquinone purgatives seems to play a major role, other factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of melanosis coli. We presented a case of melanosis Coli in a 47-year-old female with history of rectal instillation of petroleum for control of hemorrhoids.
Administration, Rectal* ; Cathartics ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonic Polyps ; Female ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Macrophages ; Melanosis* ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Petroleum*

The gastric adenoma, which is also called as borderline epithelial lesion, dysplasia, atypical epithelial lesion, is occasionally encoutered during gastroscopy, but the natural history of a gastric adenoma has not been clarified in view of the pre-melignant potential. In Korea, there has been few report for its gastroscopic feature, gastroscopic diagnostic accuracy, or loag-term clinical follow-up yet. (continue...)
Adenoma* ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Gastroscopy ; Korea ; Natural History