Although many techniques are available to assess enamel erosion in vitro, a simple, non-destructive method with sufficient sensitivity for quantifying dental erosion is required. This study characterized the bovine dental enamel erosion induced by various acidic beverages in vitro using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Deionized water (control) and 10 acidic beverages were selected to study erosion, and the pH and neutralizable acidity were measured. Bovine anterior teeth (110) were polished with up to 1 200-grit silicon carbide paper to produce flat enamel surfaces, which were then immersed in 20 mL of the beverages for 30 min at 37 °C. The degree of erosion was evaluated using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Vickers’ microhardness measurements. The spectra obtained were interpreted in two ways that focused on the ν1, ν3 phosphate contour: the ratio of the height amplitude of ν3 PO4 to that of ν1 PO4 (Method 1) and the shift of the ν3 PO4 peak to a higher wavenumber (Method 2). The percentage changes in microhardness after the erosion treatments were primarily affected by the pH of the immersion media. Regression analyses revealed highly significant correlations between the surface hardness change and the degree of erosion, as detected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy (Po0.001). Method 1 was the most sensitive to these changes, followed by surface hardness change measurements and Method 2. This study suggests that ATRFTIR spectroscopy is potentially advantageous over the microhardness test as a simple, non-destructive, sensitive technique for the quantification of enamel erosion.

BACKGROUND: A reproducible animal model of liver cirrhosis by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is highly desirable for metabolic and therapeutic studies. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the neuromuscular blockade of rocuronium in CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis in rabbits. METHODS: Cirrhosis was induced by CCl4 treatment for 11 weeks. Rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups; control group: corn oil 0.5 ml/kg/2 days IM; study group: CCl4 0.5 ml/kg/2 days mixed 1 : 1 with corn oil IM. In the first study, the dose-response relations of rocuronium were studied in twenty rabbits. In the second study, time course of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg in twenty rabbits was evaluated in each groups. Three fragments of each liver lobe at the end of the experimental period were collected and performed the histological examination. RESULTS: Eleven-week CCl4 treatment resulted in liver cirrhosis, and increased AST and ALT compared with controls. In the first study, the calculated ED95 was 86.7 +/- 8.7microgram/kg and 132.4 +/- 9.1microgram/kg, respectively, in control and study group (P<0.0001). In the second study, the recovery times after rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg in study group were significantly prolonged than those in control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The model described in the present study was successful in producing liver cirrhosis used by CCl4 for 11 weeks in rabbits. Rocuronium has a decreased potency, and a prolonged duration of action in CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis in rabbits.
Carbon Tetrachloride* ; Carbon* ; Corn Oil ; Fibrosis ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Models, Animal ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Rabbits* ; Time and Motion Studies

A pathologic rupture of the flexor pollicis longus tendon secondary to Kienbock disease is extremely rare with only three cases being reported in the literature. We encountered a case of a pathological rupture of the flexor pollicis longus tendon secondary to longstanding Kienbock disease. The treatment included tendon ball insertion after excising the collapsed lunate and a flexor pollicis longus tendon reconstruction with autogenous palmaris longus tendons. Satisfactory results with a restoration of the active motion of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb, maintenance of the preoperative active range of motion of the wrist and markedly reduced pain was achieved after a one year follow up. We describe this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Follow-Up Studies ; Joints ; Osteonecrosis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rupture* ; Tendons* ; Thumb ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Eclampsia* ; Female ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: Renal size is an important indicator to determine adequate organ growth in children. The aim of this study was to estimate renal size with Technesium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan and propose a simple formula for predicting renal length in normal Korean children. METHODS: This study included 346 children (148 boys and 198 girls; age range, 1 month to 17 years) in whom renal length was measured using the DMSA scan. Patients with anatomical renal abnormalities or acute pyelonephritis were excluded. Children were divided into two groups: 214 children (61.8%) were less than a year old (group 1) and 132 (38.2%) were > or =1 year (group 2). RESULTS: Renal length was larger on the left side than the right side, and there was no significant gender-related difference in renal length. We propose the following formula for renal length based on the analysis of the 346 children in our study: the formula was as follows: 4.682xage (month)0.137, R2=0.780. In group 1, the formula was renal length (cm)=0.127xage (month)+5.144, R2=0.354, and in group 2, the formula was 0.334xage (year)+6.477, R2=0.829. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to establish simple formulae in infants (R2=0.354). Therefore, further studies including relevant variables are needed for this age group. We proposed formulae to estimate renal length in Korean children over 1 year of age by using the DMSA scan.
Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney* ; Pyelonephritis ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Succimer*

Pregnancy causes alterations in bile compositions and, an increased incidence of cholelithiasis and the complications related to it. This often requires endoscopic interventions such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but the radiation exposure during the ERCP may be harmful to the fetus. We report here on a case of successful ERCP and therapeutic endoscopic intervention without fluoroscopic guidance for a pregnant woman with common bile duct stone that was complicating her biliary pancreatitis.
Bile ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholelithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pancreatitis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women

PURPOSE: We used MRI to evaluate the morphological relationship of the femoral head and acetabulum with changes of hip position in LCP disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MRIs of 35 patients (17 pillar B, 18 pillar C; mean age: 7.8 years old) were reviewed in neutral, abduction, abduction-internal rotation, abduction-internal rotation-flexion, and adduction positions. The measurements included epiphyseal extrusion index (EEI), head coverage (HC), and medial gap ratio (MGR). The congruence of the hip joint and adjacent soft tissue changes were also studied. RESULTS: Decreased EEI and increased HC in both pillar B and C from neutral to the abduction and abduction- internal rotation positions were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, in decreased MGR, statistical significance was seen only in pillar B. The increase of MGR in pillar C, from neutral to adduction, did not show statistical significance due to the tension of the soft tissues lying lateral to the hip joint. CONCLUSION: This study supports the basic concept of containment treatment in pillar B and suggests a rationale for valgus femoral osteotomy in cases of pillar C with hinge abduction.
Acetabulum* ; Containment of Biohazards ; Deception ; Head* ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Osteotomy

A Pancreaticobiliary fistula is a rare complication of acute necrotizing pancreatitis or pancreatic abscess. One case is herein reported of pancreaticobiliary fistula that was found following removal of pancreatic duct stones by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and endoscopic sphincterotomy. The patient was a 53-year old woman who was admitted with epigastric pain and fever. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography revealed multiple stones in the main pancreatic duct. Pus from the pancreatic duct was drained through the major papilla during cannulation. On balloon cholangiogram obtained after removal of the stones, a direct fistulous connection between the main pancreatic duct and distal common bile duct was noted. It is speculated that pancreatic abscess or mechanical compression of pancreatic duct stones may contribute to the destruction of the intrapancreatic bile duct, which leads to the formation of a pancreaticobiliary fistula.
Abscess ; Bile Ducts ; Catheterization ; Common Bile Duct ; Female ; Fever ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Suppuration

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of multiple dose methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy approved as a primary treatment of ectopic pregnancy in suspected medical treatment failure of ectopic pregnancy. METHODS: This study included 77 hemodynamically stable high risk ectopic pregnants diagnosed from January 1995 to June 2000 at department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sanggye Paik hospital, Inje university. High risk criteria of our study were adnexal ectopic mass 3.5 cm or serum-hCG 4,000 mIU/ml or presence of fetal heart beat(FHB) or presence of peritoneal fluid and fresh blood on culdocentesis. Statistics were analyzed with 2-test, Student t-test and odds ratio of each risk factors. RESULTS: The response rate of multiple dose MTX chemotherapy was 85.7%(66/70). There was no statistically difference of risk factors between success and failure group except fetal heart beat. Among 11 failure patients, there were 3 patients with adnexal ectopic mass 3.5 cm (odds ratio=1.4, 0.3~5.7), 3 patients with presence of FHB, 7 patients with presence of peritoneal fluid(odds ratio=1.0, 0.3~3.8), 8 patients with serum-hCG 4,000 mIU/ml (odds ratio=2.8, 0.7~11.6). CONCLUSION: There results suggest that multiple dose MTX chemotherapy can be treated regardless of ectopic mass size, presence of pretoneal fluid, serum beta-hCG level. But we must pay attention to treat ectopic pregnancy with presence of fetal heart beat.
Ascitic Fluid ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Fetal Heart ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Methotrexate* ; Obstetrics ; Odds Ratio ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure

Fetal intussusception is not common and the underlying mechanism triggering the event is not known at present. There are few reports of successful diagnosis in fetus with prenatal ultrasongraphy. It may be detected by meconium peritonitis. Meconium peritonitis is a nonbacterial foreign body reaction or chemical inflammation by intestinal perforation result from intestianl atresia, intussusception and fetal bowel obstruction. Recently we experienced a 33+1 weeks of gestational fetus with fetal intussusception who had prenatal ultrasonographic detection with meconium peritonitis, and the infant was underwent postnatal laparotomy. We present this case with a brief review of literature.
Diagnosis ; Fetus ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intussusception* ; Laparotomy ; Meconium ; Peritonitis ; Prenatal Diagnosis*