For determining the distribution of specific IgE and IgG-subclass antibodies and their role in allergic disorders, we measured the serum levels of specific IgG-subclass and IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) on 60 atopic children, aged between 8 to 12. All of them had positive skin test to Df, and was grouped into three: children with asthma only (group 1), with rhinitis (group 2), and with them together (group 3). Every data were compared with that of 47 nomal children. ELISA (for IgG and IgG-subclass) and RIA (for IgE) were used. The results are as following. 1) Specific IgE-antibody is significantly higher in all three allergic groups, compared with normal control group. But there was no significant difference between three allergy groups. 2) Specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2 IgG4-antibodies were higher than those in normal control group, but IgG3 was not significant. IgG1 and IgG2 were elevated particularly in patients with asthma and rhintis, but IgG4 was elevated in asthma group. 3) The linear correlation between specific IgE and IgG1-antibody was significant (r=0.286), but IgG4 did not have this correlation with IgE. In conclusion, the levels of specific IgE is essential for the diagnosis of allergies, and IgG1 and IgG4 seem to participate in allergic reactions with a different mechanism.
Antibodies ; Asthma ; Child* ; Dermatophagoides farinae* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nutrition counseling and exercise could be beneficial to patients with acquired cardiac disease (ACD). Twenty-five ACD patients participated in this program, which was based on guidelines for serum lipid management. To measure the effects of the nutrition counseling and exercise education, outpatients with ACD were selected and randomly assigned to three groups which were a control group, a diet only group and a diet and exercise group. Nine diet only group patients and nine diet and exercise group patients received nutrition counseling or nutrition counseling and exercise education every other week. Patients who served as a non counseled control group did not receive any counseling during the same study period. Various markers of disease risk, including lifestyle, anthropometric indices, eating behaviors, and serum lipid levels were measured before and after the program. The program lasted up to 12 weeks, depending on the individuals involved. Database management and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 7.5 software. As a result, BMI and %IBW showed decreased trends in the diet only and the diet and exercise group. Food habit scores were significantly increased in the diet only group and the frequency of saturated fatty acid, dietary cholesterol, salty food and instant food intake were decreased in the diet only group. Comparisons of the daily nutrient intakes of the groups showed their total calorie, carbohydrate and protein intake had decreased significantly, and also the total fat and dietary cholesterol intake had decreased in the nutrition counseling group. The serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol decreased after 12 weeks in the nutrition counseling group. The diet and exercise group showed less interest in diet control than the diet only group. These results show that a well-planned nutrition counseling program would reduce the risks of ACD and cardiovascular disease and help to care such diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; Counseling* ; Diet ; Eating ; Education ; Feeding Behavior ; Food Habits ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Life Style ; Outpatients

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of speed sintering on flexural strength, density, and linear shrinkage of monolithic zirconia. Four hundred Ø18.7×1.7-mm presintered zirconia specimens were divided into 8 groups (n=50) based on the sintering times (speed (60, 90, and 120 min) or normal (540 min)) and temperatures (1400, 1450, 1500, and 1550 ℃). The mechanical properties (Vickers hardness, biaxial flexural strength, and fracture toughness) and physical properties (linear shrinkage, density, and porosity) were examined. The crystallite size of zirconia was calculated using scherer’s formula. The mechanical properties (biaxial flexural strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness) of all specimens increased with increasing sintering times and temperatures. The biaxial flexural strength of the SS groups sintered 1500 ℃ and 1550 ℃ with 120 min showed similar value compared with NS groups. The SS 120 and NS groups showed similar the linear shrinkage percentages at all temperatures. The porosity decreased with increasing sintering times and temperatures in all specimens.The sintered and relative density and the average crystallite size increased with increasing sintering times and temperatures in all specimens. The average crystallite size ranged from 70.1 nm to 129.8 nm. XRD analysis showed the presence of a tetragonal metastable phase in all groups before and after sintering. The biaxial flexural strength values under speed sintering (1500 ℃ and 1550 ℃, 120 min) were similar to those of normal sintering groups.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of polymerization conditions on the flexural strength and transparency of orthodontic acrylic resin. Materials and methods: The specimens were prepared by applying pressure of 1 bar, 2 bar and 4 bar in air, room temperature water, 50℃ water and 70℃ water. The flexural strength of each specimen was measured using a universal testing machine and the translucency parameter (TP) was calculated by measuring the CIE L*a*b* value of each specimen using a spectrophotometer. The flexural strength of orthodontic acrylic resin was the highest in water at 50℃, and the flexural strength was significantly lower in the order of 70℃ water, room temperature water and air (P < 0.01). As the pressure increased, the flexural strength of orthodontic acrylic resin did not show any significant difference (P>0.05). The transparency of orthodontic acrylic resin showed the highest value in air and was significantly lower in the order of room temperature, 50℃ water and 70℃ water (P < 0.001). The transparency of orthodontic acrylic resin did not show any significant difference with increasing pressure (P>0.05). Within the limits of this study, the flexural strength and transparency of the orthodontic acrylic resin differ according to polymerization conditions, but there is no difference according to the pressure.
Polymerization ; Polymers ; Water

Twenty five patients with tumors of the brain stem were treated with radiotherapy between 1979 and 1987. Histological diagnosis could be obtained in 6 cases, and other 19 patients were diagnosed by neurologic findings and CT or MRI. Eighteen patients were treated by radical radiotherapy and 6 patients received both operation and radiotherapy, while 1 patient received chemotherapy after radiotherapy. Total dose ranged from 50 Gy to 55 Gy. By an clinical scoring scale at 2 months after radiotherapy, no complete response was obtained, but 16 cases achieved partial response, 2 cases were stable, and 4 cases were deteriorated. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 36%. Age, performance status at diagnosis, degree of cranial nerve involvement, CT pattern of post-contrast enhancement, and clinical response by scoring scale were correlated with survival.
Brain Stem Neoplasms* ; Brain Stem* ; Brain* ; Cranial Nerves ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hardness and optical properties of dental zirconia in accordance to sintering condition and aging. 10.0 mm×10.0 mm×1.5 mm zirconia specimens were prepared using Luxen Enamel E2.According to aging, zirconia specimens were sintered under fifteen different conditions. Specimens were divided into six subgroup and sintered with various durations (4 h, 5 h, 6 h, 7 h, and 12 h) at the various maximum temperature (1,500℃, 1,530℃, and 1,560℃). The hardness was measured four times per specimen using a Micro Vickers hardness tester, CIE L * , a * , b * values of each specimen were measured using a spectrophotometer and the TP values were calculated for translucency comparison.In the specimen with aging, there was a difference in hardness according to the sintering temperature, but there was no difference in hardness according to the sintering time. In the specimen with aging, as sintering temperature increased, CIE L * , a * , b * values decreased, resulting in a decrease in brightness and tendency of green and blue trends. In the specimen with aging, there was no change in L * value with decreasing sintering time and as sintering time decreased, CIE a * , b * values decreased, resulting in tendency of green and blue. In the specimen with aging, even if the sintering time decreases from 12 hours to 5 hours, there was no reduce in TP values.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of hardness and optical properties of dental zirconia in accordance to sintering condition and aging. 10.0 mm×10.0 mm×1.5 mm zirconia specimens were prepared using Luxen Enamel E2.According to aging, zirconia specimens were sintered under fifteen different conditions. Specimens were divided into six subgroup and sintered with various durations (4 h, 5 h, 6 h, 7 h, and 12 h) at the various maximum temperature (1,500℃, 1,530℃, and 1,560℃). The hardness was measured four times per specimen using a Micro Vickers hardness tester, CIE L * , a * , b * values of each specimen were measured using a spectrophotometer and the TP values were calculated for translucency comparison.In the specimen with aging, there was a difference in hardness according to the sintering temperature, but there was no difference in hardness according to the sintering time. In the specimen with aging, as sintering temperature increased, CIE L * , a * , b * values decreased, resulting in a decrease in brightness and tendency of green and blue trends. In the specimen with aging, there was no change in L * value with decreasing sintering time and as sintering time decreased, CIE a * , b * values decreased, resulting in tendency of green and blue. In the specimen with aging, even if the sintering time decreases from 12 hours to 5 hours, there was no reduce in TP values.

Translucent monolithic zirconia is widely used because it has continuously enhanced color and translucency. However, when translucent monolithic zirconia are used for esthetic zone like anterior, it has problem to be exposed to color of titanium abutment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of coloring and cementing of translucent zirconia on the color masking of titanium abutments. The CIE L*, a*, and b* values were measured using a spectrophotometer in three subgroups after coloring with A2 colorant and white opaque colorant, and the color difference and translucency of each group were analyzed. In the A2 colorant application group, the color difference (ΔE* ) between zirconia and zirconia on titanium abutments was not clinically acceptable (ΔE* > 3.3). In the white opaque group and the white opaque plus A2 colorant group, the color difference (ΔE* ) between zirconia and zirconia on titanium abutments was clinically acceptable (1<ΔE* <3.3). The translucency of zirconia was significantly affected by the coloring treatment (P<.001). The Pearson correlation between color difference and translucency parameters was high (r=0.982, R2 =0.965). The white coloring treatment to translucent zirconia affected masking of titanium abutment. The combination of A2 colorant and white opaque colorant increased the color masking effect of titanium abutments and achieved a shade similar to natural teeth. Resin cement adhesion to translucent zirconia did not affect the color masking of titanium zirconia. As the zirconia translucency increases, it had less of an effect on the titanium abutment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphologic differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ductal breast tumors, as seen on US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US findings in 29 pathologically proven cases of ductal breast tumor were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were female and their mean age was 42 years. Nineteen tumors were benign and ten were malignant, and all ductal or cystic lesions showed solid masses. According to the location of the mural nodule, we classified the sonographic appearance of these tumors into three types : intraductal, intracystic and amorphic. The intraductal type was divided into three subtypes: incompletely obstructive, completely obstructive and multiple mural nodules. For the intracystic type, too, three subtypes were designated : the intracystic mural nodule (mural cyst), intracystic mural nodule with the duct (mural cyst+duct) and intracystic multiple mural nodules. The amorphic type is defined as an atypical ductal tumor with the mural nodule extending into adjacent parenchyma. RESULTS: The margin of the duct or cyst was smooth in 68.4% of benign, and irregular in 90% of malignant ductal tumors. Internal echogeneity of the duct or cyst usually showed homogeneity in both benign and malignant tumors. 73.7% of tumors connecting the duct were benign and 50% were malignant. In benign tumors, 52.6% of mural nodule had an irregular margin, while in malignant tumors, the corresponding proportion was 100% ; both types usually showed heterogeneous hypoechogeneity. Among benign tumors, the most common morphologic type was the intraductal incompletely obstructive subtype (36.8%) ; among those that were malignant, the amorphic type was most common, accounting for 40% of tumors. No amorphic type was benign and no incompletely obstructive subtype was malignant. CONCLUSION: When ductal breast tumors are morphologically classified on the basis of sonographic findings, the intraductal incompletely obstructive subtype suggests benignancy, and the amorphic type, malignancy. The morphologic classification of ductal breast tumors based on sonography is therefore useful for the differential diagnosis of benignancy and malignancy.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Classification* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to reevaluate the prognostic factors by investigating the clinical and biological parameters concerned malignant gestational trophoblastic tumor in patients with hydatidiform mole. METHODS: From March 1995 to February 2000, 41 patients admitted to department of the Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine who were diagnosed with pathologically-proven gestational trophoblastic disease were selected. Parameters such as age, gravida, parity, presence of theca lutein cyst, ratio of uterine size to gestational age, hCG level, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction were compared between malignant gestational trophoblastic tumor group and spontaneous remission group. RESULTS: Considering the clinical prognostic factors, the patients were divided into two age groups; the first group consisted of those older than 40 years of age and the second control group consisted of those under 40. The number of patients older than 40 in the spontaneous remission group and malignant gestational trophoblastic tumor group were 4(15.4%) and 7(46.7%), respectively, showing a significantly higher number in the group over 40years. Other parameters such as gravida, parity, presence of theca lutein cyst, ratio of uterine size to gestational age, hCG level, DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The progression rate from hydatidiform mole to malignant gestational trophoblastic tumor was significantly higher in patients over 40 years of age. Therefore, more aggressive therapeutic approach should be considered in such patients.
DNA ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Lutein ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Ploidies ; Pregnancy ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms* ; Trophoblasts*