OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of intraoral temperature changes on the orthodontic force level of a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy wire. METHODS: Nickel-titanium archwires of 0.016" x 0.022" thickness were tested with a three point bending test setup, and temperature changes were applied. The force level changes according to temperature changes were measured at a 1.5 mm deflection during the loading phase and a 1.5 mm deflection during the unloading phase from a deflection to 3.1 mm. Ten cycles of thermal cycling from baseline (37 degrees C) to cold (20 degrees C) or hot (50 degrees C) temperature were applied. RESULTS: After thermal cycling, the force level during the loading phase decreased and the force level during the unloading phase increased even after the temperature was changed to the initial 37 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the orthodontic force level can not return to the initial force level after temperature changes. When applying superelastic nickel-titanium archwires, we must consider that a lighter force than the loading force and a heavier force than the unloading force will be applied after intraoral temperature changes caused by eating and drinking.
Alloys ; Drinking ; Eating

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe technological development, caring attributes and professional self-concept as perceived by nurses in YanBian. METHOD: Data were collected using an instrument containing 137 Likert items was administered to 477 RN's working in general hospitals in YanBian. The instrument contained sections which examined technological influences questionnaire(TIQ), caring attributes questionnaire(CAQ), and professional self-concept nursing inventory(PSCNI). RESULT: Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed by marital status and position. Married, working special ward nurses reported a higher TIQ score than that of unmarried and working general ward and OPD. PSCNI and CAQ score of head or supervisor nurses were higher than that of staff nurses. Subjects revealed very low score of CAQ, while PSCNI score was higher than that of other Asian countries such as Korea, Beijing China, HongKong China and Japan as proved in former study. CONCLUSION: Useful information for educators and nurse administrators is provided from this results. Further study needs to be done to discuss in the light of cultural and environmental differences between YanBian(Korean-Chinese) and Korean nurses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study were to examine the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in preeclamtic patients and to evaluate the protective effects of estrogen and progesterone against lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) induced cell death in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: We analysed the serum level of estradiol, estriol, progesterone, oxidized LDL in patients with preeclampsia and control. We used LPC to induce cell death in HUVECs. For cytotoxic assay, we did LDL assay for cell death and Resazurin assay for cell viability. HUVECs were exposed to various concentrations of LPC, LPC+estrogen, LPC+progesterone and we did cytotoxic assay. RESULTS: The serum estradiol, estriol were lower in the preeclamptic patients (P<0.05). Oxidized LDL were higher in the preeclamptic patients(P<0.05). LPC induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner. Estrogen or progesterone inhibited LPC-induced cell death in a concentration-dependant manner (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Estrogen and progesterone attenuated LPC-induced cytotoxicity. The results suggest that Oxidized LDL induced endothelial damage in preeclampsia may be induced by low serum estradiol, estriol and progesterone levels and prevented by estrogen and progesterone addition.
Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Estradiol ; Estriol ; Estrogens* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Progesterone*

Pregestational diabetes is a well-known risk factor for perinatal mortality, and regarded as an important cause of stillbirth. Unfortunately, more than half of stillbirths remain unexplained. Nevertheless, there is no consensus regarding the optimal timing and content of antepartum testing in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. A 32-year-old primigravida presented with diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy. Antenatal fetal surveillance tests including nonstress test, biophysical profile, and Doppler waveforms of umbilical arteries were performed twice weekly, beginning at 32 weeks gestation. At 37(+4) weeks' gestation, a discrepancy in the surveillance test results arose when reversed end-diastolic flow in the umbilical arteries was seen, despite a reactive nonstress test. A male baby was delivered by cesarean section. The umbilical arterial pH at delivery was 7.171. Antenatal fetal surveillance in pregnancies complicated by diabetes should include evaluation of Doppler waveforms in the umbilical vessels, regardless of the presence or absence of maternal vasculopathy.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Consensus ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Perinatal Mortality ; Pregnancy* ; Risk Factors ; Stillbirth ; Umbilical Arteries*

OBJECTIVE: To determine if neurofilament (NF) is expressed in the endometrium and the lesions of myomas and adenomyosis, and to determine their correlation. METHODS: Histologic sections were prepared from hysterectomies performed on women with adenomyosis (n=21), uterine myoma (n=31), and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix. Full-thickness uterine paraffin blocks, which included the endometrium and myometrium histologic sections, were stained immunohistochemically using the antibodies for monoclonal mouse antihuman NF protein. RESULTS: NF-positive cells were found in the endometrium and myometrium in 11 women with myoma and in 7 with adenomyosis, but not in patients with carcinoma in situ of uterine cervix, although the difference was statistically not significant. There was no significant difference between the existence of NF-positive cells and menstrual pain or phases. The NF-positive nerve fibers were in direct contact with the lesions in nine cases (29.0%) of myoma and in five cases (23.8%) of adenomyosis. It was analyzed if there was a statistical significance between the existence of NF positive cells in the endometrium and the expression of NF-positive cells in the uterine myoma/adenomyosis lesions. When NF-positive cell were detected in the myoma lesions, the incidence of NF-positive nerve cells in the eutopic endometrium was significantly high. When NF-positive cell were detected in the basal layer, the incidence of NF-positive nerve cells in the myoma lesions and adenomyosis lesions was significantly high. CONCLUSION: We assume that NF-positive cells in the endometrium and the myoma and adenomyosis lesions might play a role in pathogenesis. Therefore, more studies may be needed on the mechanisms of nerve fiber growth in estrogen-dependent diseases.
Adenomyosis* ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Cervix Uteri ; Dysmenorrhea ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma* ; Mice ; Myoma ; Myometrium ; Nerve Fibers ; Neurons ; Paraffin

Background: In February 2020, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was reported in fitness centers in Cheonan, Korea. Methods: From February 24 to March 13, an epidemiological investigation was conducted on the fitness center outbreak. All those who were screened were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Contacts were traced and self-isolated for 14 days. We determined the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and estimated the time-dependent reproduction number to assess the transmission dynamics of the infection. Results: A total of 116 cases were confirmed, and 1,687 contacts were traced. The source cases were 8 Zumba instructors who led aerobics classes in 10 fitness centers, and had the largest average number of contacts. A total of 57 Zumba class participants, 37 of their family members, and 14 other contacts were confirmed as cases. The attack rate was 7.3%. The contacts at Zumba classes and homes had a higher attack rate than other contacts. The mean serial interval (± standard deviation) were estimated to be 5.2 (± 3.8) days. The time-dependent reproduction number was estimated to be 6.1 at the beginning of the outbreak, but it dropped to less than 1, 2 days after the epidemiological investigation was launched. Conclusion The results suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak was effectively contained with rigorous contact tracing, isolating, and testing in combination with social distancing without a lock-down.

Pernicious anemia is the frequent cause of megaloblastic anemia, and it is the result of a vitamin B12 deficiency due to the decrease or absence of intrinsic factor (IF) because of gastric mucosa atrophy or autoimmune destruction of IF-producing parietal cells. With the existence of a severe gastric atrophy, there is a decreased in acid and IF production and a further change in vitamin B12 absorption. Mercury is ubiquitous in nature and exists in 3 forms, elemental mercury, inorganic salts and organic compounds. Organic forms, specifically methyl mercury, are the most toxic of the 3 classes of mercurials. Methyl mercury exerts its most devastating effect on the central nervous system by causing psychiatric disturbances, ataxia, visual loss, hearing loss, and neuropathy. We report a case of mercury intoxication associated with pernicious anemia. The 77 years old patient was referred to Yeungnam University Hospital for tongue pain, somatitis, headache and aggressive behavior. He had taken an unevaluated medicine for a long time. After clinical evaluation, this case was diagnosed as a pernicious anemia and the unevaluated medicine was made up of mercury. After the administration of D-penicillamine and intramuscular injection of BAL and cobalamine, clinical symptoms and aggressive behavior were improved as well as laboratory findings.
Absorption ; Aged ; Anemia, Megaloblastic ; Anemia, Pernicious* ; Ataxia ; Atrophy ; Central Nervous System ; Gastric Mucosa ; Headache ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Intrinsic Factor ; Penicillamine ; Rabeprazole ; Salts ; Tongue ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

A 17-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of dizziness and mild dyspnea. He had a history of partial thyroidectomy due to benign mass when he was 10 year-old. His conjunctiva was anemic and acral keratosis was noted. He had a goiter and a previous surgical scar on the anterior neck just below the thyroid cartilage. Blood counts were as follows; Hb was 4.3 g/dL, WBC 5,500/mm3, PLT 366,000/ mm3. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy showed esophageal acanthosis and numerous variable sized polyps in the stomach, duodenum and colon. The small bowel series showed numerous polypoid lesions in the entire small bowel. Gastric polyps revealed hamartoma and colon polyps revealed inflammatory polyp with lymphoid hyperplasia by pathologic examination. Thyroid ultrasonograph showed multiple nodules and cysts and I131 scintigraphy showed multiple cold and hot nodules in his remnant thyroid gland. We diagnosed the patient as Cowden's syndrome.
Adolescent ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Conjunctiva ; Dizziness ; Duodenum ; Dyspnea ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Goiter ; Hamartoma ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Keratosis ; Neck ; Polyps ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Stomach ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy

PURPOSE: TPN has been widely used to treat nutritional depletion since the late 1960s. However, many metabolic complications may occur as a result of parenteral feeding. Among these, hepatic complications has received increasing attention. A retrospective review of liver function abnormalities in adult patients who underwent TPN was done to determine the frequency and magnitude of the abnormalities in a liver function test. METHODS: From January 2001 to Jun 2001, 160 adult patient receiving TPN were reviewed. Of these, 111 had a malignant disease and 49 had a benign disease. The duration of TPN therapy ranged from 5 days to 52 days, with a mean duration of 14 days. Abnormalities of liver function test were defined as a value greater than the upper normal limit. Forty cases of gastric cancer were analyzed to determine the risk factors that contribute to abnormal liver function in individual patients receiving TPN. RESULTS: Abnormalities of the liver function test appeared after 6~7 days of therapy. Increases in the ALP levels were noted in 34 out of 93 patients (37.6%), in the AST levels in 42 out of 116 patients (36.2%), in the ALT levels in 54 out of 125 patients (43.2%), in the LDH levels in 20 out of 72 patients (27.8%), in the gamma-GTP levels in 44 out of 81 patients (54.3%), and in the bilirubin levels in 30 out of 126 patients (23.8%). The serum ALP level rose to 1.6 times upper the limit of normal; AST, 1.7 times; ALT, 2.0 times; LDH, 1.2 times; gamma-GTP, 2.4 times; bilirubin, 2.4 times. gamma-GTP value was most sensitive. In 40 gastric cancers, factors as age, the amount of TPN solution, the duration of TPN, intraoperative chemotherapy, transfusion, and postoperative infection were investigated. However, no association with TPN-associated liver function abnormalities was found. CONCLUSION: The incidences of an abnormal liver function during TPN were 23.8~54.3%. However, the liver function abnormalities that developed during short term-TPN were reversible and not serious.
Adult ; Bilirubin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver* ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of radiologic findings in children with suspected foreign body aspiration. METHODS: A retrospective medical chart review was done on 32 children with suspected foreign bodies in terms of age, sex, symptoms, signs, bronchographic findings, and type and location of foreign bodies. The diagnostic value of radiography was analyzed: 29 with chest anteroposterior (AP) or posteroanterior (PA) view, 23 with chest lateral decubitus view, 27 with chest computed tomography (CT), 29 with chest AP, PA or chest lateral decubitus view, and 25 with bronchoscopy. RESULTS: As a measure for detecting foreign body aspiration, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of radiologic findings were: chest AP or PA view, 50%, 100%, 100%, 29.4%, and 58.6%, respectively; chest lateral decubitus view, 57.9%, 50.0%, 84.6%, 20.0%, and 56.5%, respectively; chest AP, PA or chest lateral decubitus view, 69.6%, 66.7%, 88.8%, 36.4%, and 69.0%, respectively; and chest CT, 100.0%, 85.7%, 95.2%, 100.0%, and 96.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is clinical benefit to take chest radiographs to diagnose foreign body aspiration. However, based on the results of this study, it may be not necessary to take chest lateral decubitus to diagnose foreign body aspiration. If chest radiographs show unilateral hyperinflation, foreign body aspiration can be diagnosed. In cases of normal chest radiography and history of a witnessed choking episode combined with positive signs, the diagnosis of airway foreign body aspiration should be made by using chest CT.
Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoscopy ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed