BACKGROUND: This study aimed to empirically investigate the determinants on oxygen free radical degree which causes biological damage focusing on smoking habit and health behaviors in daily life. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were adult males who submitted free radical tests among the examinees of the comprehensive medical testings at an university hospital in Suwon from 2008 to 2010. Total 497 samples were used in analyses for clarifying the relations of free radical degree to age, smoking, obesity, and other health behaviors. RESULTS: First, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.164 as the age group increases (P<0.05). Second, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.547 as the smoking habit increases (P<0.001). Third, the degree of oxygen free radical increases by 0.087 as the exposure to hazardous factors in workplace increases (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study imply that the smoking habit has more great influence on the increase of oxygen free radical in body than any other health behaviors. The causality of free radical to smoking and health behavior was not identified due to the limit of the cross-sectional study so it needs to be studied prospectively in the future.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Free Radicals ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Oxygen ; Smoke ; Smoking

Generalized granuloma annulare is manifested by numerous, symrnetrical, shiny, normal-skin colored, discrete or confluent, papular eruption on the sunexposed areas, mostly in females of past middle age. Up to date, a variety of therapeutic approaches have been tried with inconsistent results. Recently several agents have been reported to be inconsistent results. Recently several agents have reported to be effective in the treatment of genealizecl granuloma annulare. Of these, dapsone has been used with favorable respones. The fact dapsone can inhibit the lysosomal enzyme release and the mononuclear cell-rnediated rnyeloperoxidase cytotaxicity would account for its effect in granuloma annulare even in part. We observed a case of generalized granulare in a 49-year old man, who had had numerous normal-skin colored or faintly violaceous, flattopped papular eruption on the sun-exposed areas for 3 years. He was treated successfully with dapsone 100mg a day for about 22 months.
Dapsone* ; Female ; Granuloma Annulare ; Humans ; Middle Aged

We herein report a case of gout, who was a 45-year-old man and had had multiple various-sized papules or tophi on the helices of ears, hands, elbows, knees, ankles and feet for 10 years. Histopathologic findings of the large tophus of right knee revealed the typical pattern of gout with needle-shaped urate crystal. The phenomenon of iransepidermal elimination was observed in serial sections of histologic speeirnerls, The nsrrow transepidermal channel, lined by pseudoepitheliomstous lips bilaterally, was Eilled with the cellular debris and urate crystal fragments and cornmunicated direotly with the upper dermis. Presumably, transepidermal elirnination in gouty tophus may be the phenomenon whieh could be found rnore commonly than the scarcity of literature.
Ankle ; Dermis ; Ear ; Elbow ; Foot ; Gout ; Hand ; Humans ; Knee ; Lip ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid

The radiological findings of various cervical spine fractures were analized on the basis of J.Harrisclassification. It appears to be important for the radiologist to be familiar with radiographic findings ofcervical spine fractures, particularly those of unstable fractures which can result in serious medical problems ifimproperly handled in the department of radiology. 68 cases of cervial spine fracures were analized. The resultsare as follows; 1. Stable and unstable fracures were about equal in incedence. 2. Anterior subluxation accountsfor 43.4% of stable fractures, 19% of all fractures. 3. Bilateral interfacetal dislocation accounts for 51.1% ofunstable fractures, 255 of all fractures. 4. Associated fracture were involved in skull, scapula, mandible andfemur. 5. About 80% of the patients is in third through fifth decade.
Dislocations ; Humans ; Mandible ; Scapula ; Skull ; Spine

No abstract available.

Computer densitometry using MATLAB 4.2b [The MathWorks, Inc.] was developed for the quantitiative measurement of diffuse retinal nerve fiber layer [RNFL] atrophy. Intra- and inter-operator reliability and clinical validity of densitometry were evaluated. Twenty-one RNFL photographs of 21 patients that show varying degrees of atrophy underwent computer densitometry by two operators on two separate occasions. And the association between RNFL measurements and retinal sensitivity was investigated. Coefficient of variation in the densitometric measurements was 1.2~5.4%. Intra-and inter-oprator reliabilities were excellent [Pearsons correlation coefficient > 0.96, p=0.00]. The agreement between total density variations in the upper and lower ninety degrees along the circle of 1.5 and 2.5 times optic disc radius and retinal sensitivity of Humphrey C30-2 visual field was moderate [Spearmans correlation coefficient=0.52 -0.54, p=0.00]. Computer densitometry of RNFL photographs provides objective and quantitative measurement of diffuse RNFL atrophy.
Atrophy ; Densitometry* ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers* ; Radius ; Retinaldehyde* ; Visual Fields

Cowden's syndrome is a harmatomatous polyposis syndrome with characteristic mucocutaneous lesions and among the spectra of clinical disorders that has been attributed to germline mutations in the PTEN gene. Although Cowden's syndrome has rarely been reported, immunologic studies have revealed that patients with this syndrome have humoral and/or cellular immune abnormalities. We recently identified a 21-year-old woman with Cowden's syndrome who was diagnosed with candida esophagitis without a history of diabetes, carcinoma, or steroid therapy. We report the immunologic status of this patient and the relationship with candida esophagitis on the basis of a literature review.
Candida ; Esophagitis ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple ; Humans ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Hypertension, Renovascular*

PURPOSE: Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) occurs rarely in children, but its incidences are increasing due to frequent antibiotic use. We investigated the incidence and clinical characteristics of PMC accompanied by bacterial enteritis-like symptoms in children. METHODS: Between November 2003 and July 2007 at the Department of Pediatrics, Dongsan Medical Center, we analyzed the medical records of consecutive patients who received antibiotics in the past 1 month, developed bacterial enteritis-like symptoms, and were diagnosed with PMC based on sigmoidoscopy examination and histological findings. RESULTS: Among 22 patients who underwent sigmoidoscopy and biopsy examinations, 11 (50%) were diagnosed with PMC. These 11 patients were aged 2 months-12 years, among whom 5 patients (45.5%) were less than 1 year old. The clinical symptoms were bloody diarrhea (28.6%), abdominal pain or colic (28.6%), watery or mucoid diarrhea (23.8%), vomiting (9.5%), and fever (9.5%). The antibiotics used were penicillins (55.6%), macrolides (27.8%), cephalosporins (11.1%), and aminoglycosides (5.6%). The period of antibiotic use was 3-14 days. The interval between the initial antibiotic exposure and the onset of symptoms was 5-21 days. The results of stool examination of all patients were negative for Clostridium difficile toxin A. Patient distribution according to the degree of PMC was as follows: grade I, 18.2% (2 cases); grade II, 27.3% (3); grade III, 36.4% (4); and grade IV, 18.2% (2). PMC did not recur in any case. CONCLUSION: PMC is not a rare disease in children. If pediatric patients receiving antibiotics manifest symptoms like bacterial enteritis, PMC should be suspected. Endoscopy and biopsy should be applied as aggressive diagnostic approaches to detect this condition.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Toxins ; Biopsy ; Cephalosporins ; Child ; Clostridium difficile ; Colic ; Diarrhea ; Endoscopy ; Enteritis ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Enterotoxins ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macrolides ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Penicillins ; Rare Diseases ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Vomiting

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Use of fiber composite technology as well as development of nonmetal implant prosthesis solved many problems due to metal alloy substructure such as corrosion, toxicity, difficult casting, expensiveness and esthetic limit. After clinical and laboratory test, we could find out that fiber-reinforced composite prostheses have good mechanical properties and FRC can make metal-free implant prostheses successful. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the flexural strength of implant fixed prosthesis using fiber reinforced composite. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 2-implant fixture were placed in second premolar and second molar area in edentulous mandibular model, and their abutments were placed, and bridge prostheses using gold, PFG, Tescera, and Targis Vectris were fabricated. Tescera was made in 5 different designs with different supplements. Group I was composed by 3 bars with diameter 1.0mm and 5 meshes, 2 bars and 5 meshes for Group II, 1 bar and 5 meshes for Group III, and only 5 meshes were used for Group IV. And Group V is composed by only 3 bars. Resin (Tescera) facing was made to buccal part of pontic of gold bridge. All of gold and PFG bridges were made on one model, 5 Targis Vectris bridges were also made on one model, and 25 Tescera bridges were made on 3 models. Each bridge was attached to the test model by temporary cement and shallow depression was formed near central fossa of the bridge pontic to let 5 mm metal ball not move. Flexual strength was marked in graph by INSTRON. RESULTS: The results of the study are as follows. The initial crack strength was the highest on PFG, and in order of gold bridge, Tescera I, Tescera II, Targis vectris, Tescera IV, Tescera III, and Tescera V. The maximum strength was the highest on gold bridge, and in order of PFG, Tescera I, Tescera IV, Tescera II, Targis vectris, Tescera III, and Tescera V. CONCLUSIONS: The following conclusions were drawn from the results of this study. 1. Flextural strength of implant prosthesis using fiber reinforced composite was higher than average posterior occlusal force. 2. In initial crack strength, Tescera I was stronger than Tescera V, and weaker than PFG. 3. Kinds and number of auxillary components had an effect on maximum strength, and maximum strength was increased as number of auxillary components increased. 4. Maximum strength of Tescera I was higher than Targis vectris, and lower than PFG.
Alloys ; Bicuspid ; Bite Force ; Corrosion ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Depression ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Molar ; Prostheses and Implants*