Digora system is an intraoral indirect digital radiography system utilizing storage phosphor image plate. It has wide dynamic range which allows it to decrease the patient's exposure time and may increase diagnostic ability through image processing (such as edge enhancement, grey scale conversion, brightness change, and contrast enhancement). And also, it can transmit and storage image information. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of artificial proximal caries between Conventional radiograph and Digora images(unenhanced image, brightness & contrast controlled image, and edge enhanced image). ROC(Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis, paired t-tests, and F-tests were done for the statistical evaluation of detectability. The following results were acquired: 1. In Grade I lesions, the mean ROC areas of Conventional radiograph, Digora unenhanced image, Digora controlled image, and Digora edge enhanced image were 0.953, 0.933, 0.965, 0.978 (p>0.05). 2. In Grade II lesions, the mean ROC areas of Conventional radiograph, Digora unenhanced image, Digora controlled image, and Digora edge enhanced image were 0.969, 0.964, 0.988, 0.994. Among theses areas, there was just statistical significance between Diagnostic abilities of Digora edge enhanced image and Conventional radiograph(p<0.05). 3.In the Interobserver variability, the ROC curve areas of Digora edge enhanced image was lowerest in these areas, regardless of the Carious lesion depths. In conclusion, intraoral indirect digital system, Digora system, has the potential possibility as an alternative of Conventional radiograph in the diagnosis of proximal caries.
Dental Caries ; Diagnosis ; Observer Variation ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography ; Radiography, Dental, Digital ; ROC Curve

Under the assumption that people go through stages in making dietary behavior change, this study was attempted to apply the stages of a change model for fat intake by examining the associations of social psychological variables with stages of change in dietary fat reduction. Derived from social psychological theories, 10 social psychological variables on motivational beliefs(6), social influence(3) and self-efficacy(1) related specifically to selecting every day diets low in fat were constructed. Fat and energy intakes were assessed by a short form semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The associations of stages of change with motivational beliefs, social influence, and self-efficacy variables and energy and fat intakes were assessed in 333 female adults from large cities in Korea. Dietary stage groups differed significantly on most of the social psychological variables in ways predicted by theory. Motivational factors that lead to a psychological state of readiness to take action were important in the early stages of the dietary change process. Social influences were more important in the stages as people decide to take action. Self efficacy and motivational beliefs, particularly, reduction of perceived barriers were important in maintaining fat reduction behavior. The results of our study indicate differences in stages of change in fat reduction behavior in terms of nutrient intakes and social psychological correlates and suggests that adding a time dimension to social psychological models increases our understanding of dietary change, which assist us in designing nutrition education interventions that are more appropriately targeted by stage of change.
Adult* ; Diet ; Dietary Fats ; Education ; Female* ; Humans ; Korea ; Models, Psychological ; Psychological Theory ; Self Efficacy ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A 12-year-old female with histiocytosis X accompanied by autoimmune hemolytic anemia. During the episode of hemolysis, the hemoglobin level fell to 5.2 g/dL. The direct antiglobulin test was weakly positive. The anti-C and anti-e were identified in her serum. The Rh subgroup of her family(father, mother and brother) including the patient, were all same as DCe. The antibodies which showed anti-C and anti-e specificity were confirmed autoanti-Ce(non-separable) using the serum absorbed with various known Rh phenotyped RBCs. Two packed RBCs phenotyped as DeE were transfused for correction of anemia. Acute and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions were not noted after transfusion. Identification of blood group specific autoantibodies may be benificial in such case for blood transfusion.
Anemia ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Transfusion ; Child ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Hemolysis ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans ; Mothers ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Orthognathic Surgery ; Tooth

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm. It occurs most commonly in the deep tissue of the extremity, particularly in the anterior aspect of the thigh. It usually presents as a slow-growing, painless mass with little functional impairment. Because of the relative lack of symptoms, it may be easily overlooked. The course of the disease tends to be long but unrelenting, and local recurrences are frequent. There were no lifetime cures in the reported cases. This tumor is relatively unknown to orthopaedic surgeons, and a wider knowledge of its characteristics may lead to its more frequent recognization, Recently, two cases of alveolar soft-part sarcoma were encountered on the orthopaedic department of Dong-kang Hospital, Ulsan. In case 1, the tumor was found in the vastus lateralis muscle; and in case 2, vastus intermedius muscle. The authors will present these cases in detail to provide a glance at this very rare but more frequently recognizable tumor, the alveolar soft-part sarcorna.
Extremities ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part ; Surgeons ; Thigh ; Ulsan

We report a case of an intravascular hemolytic reaction attributable to anti-Jk(b) antibodies that were not detected using an enzyme phase antibody identification test. A 61-year-old male who had received two units of red blood cells was admitted to the emergency room because his urine was dark. LISS/Coombs gel column agglutination tests suggested the presence of anti-Jk(b) and anti-E antibodies. However, his serum was negative for the Jk(b) antigen when an enzyme phase test was performed. A positive reaction was evident, however, when EDTA-treated plasma was tested; this excluded any possible complement-mediated reaction. The patient was diagnosed with an intravascular hemolytic transfusion reaction, caused by anti-Jk(b), and was later discharged without specific complications after receiving antigen-negative blood transfusions.
Agglutination Tests ; Antibodies ; Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Blood Transfusion ; Edetic Acid ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Kidd Blood-Group System ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma

BACKGROUND: In these days the metabolic syndrome threatens many people of Korea. Several studies have suggested that the dietary habits are associated with the risk of the metabolic syndrome. The purpose of this study was to find out relations between the components of the metabolic syndrome and the dietary habits. METHODS: The subjects of this study included 1,005 non-smoking premenopausal females aged from 20 to 49 years old who visited the health promotion center of a university hospital. Dietary questionnaire was composed of dietary habits and specific food intake frequency during the past 3 months. RESULTS: The subjects who had more than one metabolic components were 361 (36%), and those who had the metabolic syndrome was 35 (3.5%). After multivariate logistic analysis adjusted with age, BMI, smoking status, alcohol intake, and exercise, the abdominal obesity risk was significantly increased in those who had irregular meals (P for trend= 0.049), skip meals (P for trend=0.050), faster meal time (P=0.017), and intake of saturated fat more frequently (P=0.043). The abdominal obesity risk was significantly increased in those who overate or binged eating 7gt; or =3 times/week than <1 time/week {OR (95% CI), 2.49 (1.07~5.80)}, intake fruit <1 time/week than 6~7 times/week {OR (95% CI), 4.46 (1.20~16.54)}. A risk for high blood pressure was significantly increased in those who had breakfast 1~2 times/week than those had it 6~7 times/week {OR (95% CI), 1.91 (1.07~3.42)}. The risk for impaired fasting glucose was significantly increased in those had breakfast <1 time/week than those who had 6~7 times/week {OR (95% CI), 2.27 (1.20~4.28), P for trend=0.018}. CONCLUSION: There was a correlation between dietary habits and metabolic syndrome components. Among the dietary habits, irregular meals, skipping breakfast, skipping meals, fast meal time, overeating or binge eating tendency, low intake of fruits and high intake of saturated fat were associated with the risk of the metabolic syndrome components.
Aged ; Breakfast ; Bulimia ; Eating ; Fasting ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Meals ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Platelet refractoriness has been reported to occur in 30-70% of multitransfused patients. This can result by either immune or nonimmune mechanisms. The predominant immune cause of platelet refractoriness is alloimmunization to HLA class I antigens. Recently, acid-treated platelets have been used in a few patients with platelet refractoriness due to HLA alloantibodies. However, the effect of acid-treated platelets has not been consistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo survival of acid-treated, HLA-eluted platelets in HLA-immunized rabbits. METHODS: For in vivo survival test, 14 New Zealand White rabbits were studied. Four rabbits were in the nonimmunized control and 10 were immunized by weekly transfusions of human pooled platelets for six weeks. The HLA-immunized group was separated into two groups with transfusion of acid-treated platelets and untreated platelets. The survival of transfused platelets in rabbits with immunization and control group was estimated by a flow cytometer using FITC-labeled anti-CD42a. We also examined the HLA re-expression in acid-treated platelets due to regeneration and adsorption of HLA from human plasma. RESLUTS: The half-life of untreated platelets in nonimmunized rabbits was 11.8 +/- 3.7 hr. The half-life of acid-treated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was 9.5 +/- 5.5 hr and the half-life of untreated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was 5.9 +/- 2.9 hr. The difference between untreated platelets in the nonimmunized control group and acid-treated platelets in rabbits with HLA antibodies was statistically insignificant (p=0.221). Re-expression of HLA-A,B,C by endogenous resynthesis occurred continuously, and after 24 hrs it reached 84% of pre-elution level. Adsorption of HLA antigens from human plasma was completed within four hrs. CONCLUSIONS: Acid-treated, HLA-eluted platelets may be applicable for the patients with refractoriness to platelet transfusion, especially, in case of unavailability of HLA-compatible donors and fatal bleeding such as intracranial hemorrhage and pulmonary hemorrhage. However, the post-transfusion increment of the platelet count could not be maintained over 24 hrs because of the endogenous resynthesis of HLA antigens.
Adsorption ; Antibodies ; Blood Platelets ; Half-Life ; Hemorrhage ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; HLA Antigens ; Humans ; Immunization ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Isoantibodies ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; Rabbits* ; Regeneration ; Tissue Donors

OBJECTIVE: Despite the good prognosis of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), a few BOT patients experience the relapse of disease, either borderline or malignant. However, the risk of recurrence of BOTs is somewhat controversial. We intended to find out the specific characteristics and prognosis of the recurrence of BOTs. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2012, 130 women were diagnosed with BOTs at a single institution. Eleven patients diagnosed and treated for the recurrence of BOTs including seven cancerous and four borderline relapses were included for the analysis in this retrospective study. Clinicopathological characteristics and surgical procedures as well as follow-up data with overall survival were assessed. Statistical analyses was performed using the chi2 test, t-test and log-rank test with Cox regression. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients with mean follow-up of 65.8 months were evaluated, of whom half were below 40 years old at their first diagnosis of BOTs. Among 11 recurrent cases (8.5%), 7 cancerous transformations (5.4%) and 4 borderline recurrences (3.1%) were detected with median time of 6 and 71 months after the primary surgery, respectively. Nine out of 11 recurrences were happened at their equal or below 40-years-old age at the primary diagnosis (P=0.027). Also, all 7 cancerous relapses arose from premenopausal women of median age of 35 years old. Twenty (15%) patients had laparoscopic surgery and they were all treated conservatively. Among those 20, 5 were suffered from relapse of BOTs and laparoscopic approach was proved to be a significant risk factor for disease relapse in our study (P=0.013). Although laparoscopic surgery was revealed had meaningful influence on disease free survival (P=0.024), it was not significant on overall survival (P=0.226). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic conservative surgery for BOTs can be accepted under close follow-ups. And younger patients should be followed for long period to evaluate recurrence.
Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Humans