No abstract available.
Burns*

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the suitability of using chitosan, poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to control the release of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) from a prototype of controlled release drug device (CRD) for root canal disinfection. Four different prototypes with different formulations were prepared. Group A (n = 12); The device (absorbent paper point) was loaded with CHX as control. Group B (n = 12); same as group A, but the device was coated with chitosan. In Groups C and D, the device was treated in the same way as group A and then coated three times with 5% PMMA (Group C, n = 12), or coated three times with 3% PLGA (Group D, n = 12). The devices were randomly allocated to experimental groups of 12 each. All CRD prototypes were soaked in 3 mL distilled water. The concentrations of CHX were determined using a UV spectrophotometer. The surface characteristics of each prototype were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The result showed that release rate of CHX was the greatest in the non-coated group, followed by the chitosan-coated group, the PLGA-coated group, and the PMMA-coated group (P < 0.05). Pores were observed on the surface of the prototypes that were coated with PLGA and PMMA. When the pore size was smaller, the release rate was lower. This data indicate that polymer coating can control the release rate of CHX from the CRD prototypes.
Chitosan ; Chlorhexidine* ; Dental Pulp Cavity* ; Disinfection* ; Polymers* ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Water

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of reverse geometry lens (RGL) on correction of moderate degree myopia and cornea in patients of moderate-degree myopia. METHODS: 48 eyes of 82 eyes were chosen to wear reverse geometry lens and the remaining 34 eyes were fitted with rigid gas permeable (RGP) lens. The subjects were tested three days, one, two weeks, one, two and three months after fitting the lens. Uncorrected visual acuity, manifested refractive error, corneal thickness and corneal endothelial cell count were evaluated. corneal topography were performed. RESULTS: The uncorrected visual acuity was increased at 0.05 LogMAR after two weeks. and manifested refractive error decreased during the first months, thereafter stabilizing to -0.2 D (diopters). Corneal thickness was 540.4 micrometer and 583.0 micrometer in the center and mid-periphery, decreased to 505.2 micrometer and 572.7 micrometer, respectively, three months after RGL fitting (p<0.05). Endothelial cell count was 2663.5 cells/mm2 and 2541.5 cells/mm2 in the center and mid-periphery, 3 months after RGL fitting and endothelial cell count was not significantly different compared with that of pre-fitting. There was no statistical difference between RGL fitting group and RGP fitting group in the change of corneal endothelial cell count. CONCLUSIONS: RGL was found to be effective in correction of moderate-degree myopia. It had minimal effect on corneal endothelium, in short-term usage, however, the change of corneal thickness suggests that RGL fitting may effect on corneal epithelium and stroma.
Cornea* ; Corneal Topography ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Humans ; Myopia* ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Among the many causes of rotator cuff tears, scapular morphology is associated with the accelerating degenerative process of the rotator cuff. Acromion index (AI) was previously introduced and compared in two populations. METHODS: We enrolled 100 Korean patients diagnosed with full-thickness rotator cuff tears by magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative arthroscopic findings between January and December 2013. Another 100 Korean patients with an intact rotator cuff tendon identified on magnetic resonance imaging and other shoulder diseases, such as frozen shoulder and instability, were enrolled as controls. We retrospectively compared these 100 rotator cuff tear patients (mean age, 63 years) and 100 controls (mean age, 51 years) in this study. Two independent orthopedic surgeons assessed the AI on radiographs. We performed an interobserver reliability test of the AI assessment, and then compared the AI between two groups. RESULTS: The measurement of the AI showed excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.82). The mean AI in the rotator cuff tear group was 0.68 and it was significantly different between groups (p<0.001, 95% confidence interval). The AI was not related to tear size. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the AI was an effective predictive factor for rotator cuff tears in a Korean population.
Acromion* ; Bursitis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Orthopedics ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tears* ; Tendons

BACKGROUND: The relationship between bile duct proliferation and portal fibrosis in obstructive liver diseases remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between hepatic stellate cells (HSC), hepatocytes and bile ductule proliferation in obstructive liver disease using immunoreactivity for alpha-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin), CK7, and CK19. METHODS: We used 20 human tissue samples with hepatic fibrosis due to intrahepatic stones and liver cirrhosis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using the streptavidin-biotin method. RESULTS: Proliferations of bile ductules at the periphery of the hepatic lobules, and diffuse HSC activation in the perisinusoidal spaces were observed in all cases. Immunoreactivity of the hepatocytes for CK7 and CK19 suggested a possible phenotypic transformation into bile duct epithelium during fibrogenesis. Immunohistochemical-analyses of alpha-SMA expression profiles showed that intralobular HSCs and some hepatocytes underwent early phenotypic changes, and that the accumulation of collagen coincides with that of alpha-SMA-labeled myofibroblasts around portal/septal ductular structures. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed the possibility of a phenotypic transformation of hepatocytes into bile ductular epithelium. It is suggested that hepatocytes might play a role in bile ductule proliferation in obstructive liver disease.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Collagen ; Epithelium ; Fibrosis ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Diseases ; Muscles ; Myofibroblasts

PURPOSE: Despite advances in infection control practices, Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) remain a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. This study was undertaken to determine prospectively the incidence of postoperative wound infections in surgical patients and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of wound infections. METHODS: Prospective data on 761 surgical operation patients in the department of surgery at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were collected over a 7 month-period from May 1, to December 31, 2001. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s definitions of surgical wound infections were used. RESULTS: A total of 761 patients were observed over 30 days. The overall incidence of wound infection was 2%. SSIs were significantly associated with the degree of wound contamination (P=0.0004). The infection rate increased as the degree of wound contamination increased from clean (1.4%) through clean-contaminated (1.8%) and contaminated (1.8%), to dirty- infected wound (12.7%). The infection rate was related with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) preoperative assessment score (P=0.00153). There were no SSIs from laparoscopic surgery. The duration of operation was not associated with an increase in wound infections. Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently isolated organisms. Three out of the five (60%) cases of E. faecium were vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and all of three cases of S. aureus were methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the degree of wound contamination is a significant preoperative risk factor for SSI. Many antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and VRE were isolated. Accordingly, infection control practitioners need to consider this risk factor in the design of effective infection control strategies. There should be another safe and feasible option available for the treatment of selective patients.
Bacteria ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cross Infection ; Enterococcus faecium ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Infection Control Practitioners ; Laparoscopy ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies* ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Surgical Wound Infection* ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries