Acute tubular necrosis has been rarely reported as a complication of typhoid fever in the literature. We experienced four cases of acute tubular necrosis associated with typhoid fever in children. Patients showed significant titer of widal reaction associated with acute renal failure and one of them rised in 2 months after onset of clinical symptoms. Renal biopsy findings were compatible with acute tubular necrosis and immune complexes were not deposited in the glomeruli. Clinical and urinary findings were normalized by hemodialysis and antibiotic therapies. In conclusion, close longterm follow up of widal titer is mandatory in acute tubular necrosis, especially when associated with high fever.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biopsy ; Child ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Necrosis* ; Renal Dialysis ; Typhoid Fever*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of cheap tinted contact lenses on corneal swelling and ocular surface inflammation, compared to hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses. METHODS: Forty eyes of 20 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups. Two types of tinted contact lenses, hydrogel lenses, and silicone hydrogel lenses were each applied to 10 rabbit eyes. Corneal thickness and tear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear, and the inflammation of ocular surface was scored at 4 days after contact lens wear. The internal surface of the cheap tinted lens was examined with a scanning electron microscope to compare the surface quality between the tinted and non-tinted area. RESULTS: Although the corneal swelling of the silicone hydrogel lens group was significantly lower than the other 3 lens groups after contact lens wear (p<0.01), the common hydrogel lens group was not different from the 2 tinted contact lens groups (p>0.1). Tear LDH activity at 1 and 4 days after contact lens wear showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (p>0.29). The scores of ocular surface inflammation in the 2 tinted contact lens groups were greater than the hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lens groups (p=0.03). The scanning electron microscope revealed the internal surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens was coarse and irregular though the surface of the non-tinted area was relatively smooth. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding corneal swelling and tear LDH activity, the cheap tinted contact lenses used in Korea were not significantly different from the common hydrogel contact lenses. However, tinted contact lenses showed a greater tendency to provoke ocular surface inflammation than other lenses. The coarse and irregular surface of the tinted area in the tinted contact lens appears to play a role in provoking severe ocular surface inflammation.
Contact Lenses ; Electrons ; Eye ; Hydrogel ; Inflammation ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Rabbits ; Silicones

Experinece in the management of 74 patients with delayed traumatic intracranial hemorrhage(DTICH) of 474 head injury from January 1996 to December 1996 is poresented with emphasis on the incidence, occurring time, risk factors and outcome. The incidence of DTICH was 15.6% of all hospitalized head-injury patients. After an injury, every patient had an immediate computerized tomography(CT) scan to diagnose intracranial pathology and then CT follow-up was carried out according to intial CT finding and reurological deficit. The lesion was almost occurred in patients with initial abnormal CT finding(85.1%). 82.4% of DTICH were noted within 72 hours after injury. The delayed epidural hematoma and intracerebral hemorrhage were almost noted in first 72 hours(>90%), but the delayed subdural hemorrhage was found after a time interval varying from 6 hours to 10 days. So we strongly recommend CT follow-up in 4-8hour, 24-72hour, and then 7th day after head injury, especially in patients with initial abnormal CT findings. The risk factor of the delayed lesion was not hypotension, hypoxia, and consciousness level, but age of patients and the initial CT finding. The development of DTICH was not heralded by neurological deterioration. The prognosis of DTICH was not worse than non-DTICH. The patient with delayed subdural hemorrhage was better than the patient with non-delayed lesion(including hemorrhage and normal CT finding).
Anoxia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Consciousness ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: Hearing loss disrupts the balance of auditory-somatosensory inputs in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of the brainstem, which has been suggested to be a mechanism of tinnitus. This disruption results from maladaptive auditory-somatosensory plasticity, which is a form of axonal sprouting. Axonal sprouting is promoted by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, which can be inhibited by losartan. We investigated whether losartan prevents maladaptive auditory-somatosensory plasticity after hearing loss. METHODS: The study consisted of two stages: determining the time course of auditory-somatosensory plasticity following hearing loss and preventing auditory-somatosensory plasticity using losartan. In the first stage, rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group that underwent a sham operation and a deaf group that underwent cochlea ablation on the left side. CNs were harvested 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. In the second stage, rats were randomly divided into either a saline group that underwent cochlear ablation on the left side and received normal saline or a losartan group that underwent cochlear ablation on the left side and received losartan. CNs were harvested 2 weeks after surgery. Hearing was estimated with auditory brainstem responses (ABRs). Western blotting was performed for vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), reflecting auditory input; vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2), reflecting somatosensory input; growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), reflecting axonal sprouting; and p-Smad2/3. RESULTS: Baseline ABR thresholds before surgery ranged from 20 to 35 dB sound pressure level. After cochlear ablation, ABR thresholds were higher than 80 dB. In the first experiment, VGLUT2/VGLUT1 ratios did not differ significantly between the control and deaf groups 1 week after surgery. At 2 weeks after surgery, the deaf group had a significantly higher VGLUT2/VGLUT1 ratio compared to the control group. In the second experiment, the losartan group had a significantly lower VGLUT2/VGLUT1 ratio along with significantly lower p-Smad3 and GAP-43 levels compared to the saline group. CONCLUSION: Losartan might prevent axonal sprouting after hearing loss by blocking TGF-β signaling thereby preventing maladaptive auditory-somatosensory plasticity.
Animals ; Axons ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Stem ; Cochlea ; Cochlear Nucleus ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; GAP-43 Protein ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing ; Losartan ; Plastics ; Rats ; Tinnitus ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 ; Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2

Automobile airbags have been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in the event of a vehicle crash; however, new problems have been identified. Among these problems, direct injury from the airbag itself has become a serious concern. This suggests that an airbag itself may not be safe. Burn injury from airbags accounts for about 7.8% of all injuries caused by vehicle crashes. There are three types of burn injuries from airbags: Thermal, chemical, and frictional. Moreover, there are three subtypes within the category of thermal airbag burn, as identified by Tsunetuki in 2003. Herein, we review a case of an airbag burn and report a unique burn case on ‘an upper extremity’, including both thermal and frictional burns.
Air Bags* ; Automobiles ; Burns* ; Friction ; Hot Temperature ; Mortality ; Upper Extremity*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although zirconium oxide ceramics are more and more commonly used in restorative dentistry, for many clinical applications only limited data can be found in the literature. However, it is quite clear that hydrofluoric acid etching is impossible with zirconia ceramics. Therefore, other bonding techniques are required in order to lute these materials adhesively. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of surface treatments on shear bond strengths between two resin cements and a zirconia ceramic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental industrially manufactured yttrium-oxide-partially-stabilized zirconia ceramic discs (Adens, Korea) were used for this study. The ceramic specimens divided into five experimental groups and a control group (as received). Five surface treatments were studied. 1) sandblasting with 110 micrometer Al2O3 at 3 bars pressure 13 seconds at a distance of 10mm, 2) flame-treated with the Silano-Pen for 5 s/cm2, 3) grinding with a diamond bur, 4) sandblasting + Silano-Pen treatment, 5) diamond bur preparation+ Silano-Pen treatment. Acrylic plastic tube (5 mm in height and 3 mm in diameter) were filled with composite to fabricate composite cylinders. The composite cylinders were bonded to the ceramic specimens with either Superbond C & B or Panavia F resin luting agents. All cemented specimens were tested under shear loading until fracture on universal testing machine at a crosshead speed 1mm/min, the maximum load at fracture was recorded. Shear bond strength data were analyzed with oneway analysis of variance and Tukey HSD tests (p<.05). Treated ceramic surfaces and fracture surfaces after shear testing were examined morphologically using scanning electron microscope. Results: Ceramic surface treatment with Silano-Pen after sandblasting improved the bond strength of Superbond C & B resin cement. Superbond CandB resin cement at Silano-Pen after sandblasting(27.4 +/- 3.8 MPa) showed statistically higher shear bond strength than the others. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study, Superbond C & B resin cement are suitable for cementation of zirconia ceramics and flame-treated with the Silano-Pen after sandblasting is required to enhance the bond strength.
Cementation ; Ceramics* ; Dental Cements ; Dental Instruments ; Dentistry ; Hydrofluoric Acid ; Plastics ; Resin Cements* ; Zirconium

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency(TI) is a relatively uncommon disorder. We experienced a case in which traumatic TI was suspected by history and the diagnosis was confirmed nonivasively by 2-D echocardiography with Doppler technique. Tricuspid valve in this case showed flail anterior leaflet during systole and Doppler echocardiography demonstrated the presence of tricuspid insufficiency.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Systole ; Tricuspid Valve

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of neonatal nucleated red blood cell counts (nRBC) as an independent predictor of fetal hypoxia and perinatal outcome in severe preeclampsia. METHODS: One hundred thirty eight patients with severe preeclampsia were studied. Umbilical artery Dopppler velocimetry was performed in all patients, and were divided into two groups, the control group with present umbilical artery end diastolic velocity, and the case group with absent or reversed velocity. The patients were also separately grouped as another control (n=58), acute (n=19), and chronic hypoxia (n=55) according to abnormal Doppler findings, presence of oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and pattern of fetal heart rate tracings during labor. At delivery, the umbilical cord blood was collected and the levels of nRBC per 100 WBC were measured from the samples along with blood gas analysis. The results were compared between the control and acute groups, and chronic hypoxic fetus. Correlation with perinatal outcomes was also evaluated. Student's t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Those with absent or reversed end diastolic velocity did not have significantly greater nRBC counts, but had lower platelet counts (p=0.02), lower pO2 (p=0.005), and higher pCO2 saturation levels (p=0.01). There were no significant differences with regard to nRBC counts among the control, acute, and chronic hypoxia groups. Elevated nRBC counts were significantly associated with neonatal intensive care unit stay of more than 28 days (p=0.013), respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.003), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, or sepsis (p=0.041). CONCLUSION: nRBC counts did not show significant difference according to umbilical artery Doppler velocity. Also we could not find any difference between the control, acute, and chronic hypoxic group, suggesting that nRBC counts does not correlate with both hypoxic status, or duration of hypoxia. Correlation with elevated nRBC counts and neonatal intensive care unit stay of more than 28 days, respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, and sepsis was observed. However, the overlapping results and the wide range of nRBC counts according to the complications limits its role as a predictor of poor perinatal outcome.
Anoxia ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Fetal Hypoxia* ; Fetus ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Oligohydramnios ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Rheology ; Sepsis ; Umbilical Arteries

Behcet's disease is a chronic polysymptomatic disease of recurrent systemic vasculitis. The etiology remains unclear. This disease affects several organs of the body concurrently or consecutively and sometimes has a serious outcome, depending upon the system involved. Though gastrointestinal symptoms are relatively common in Behcet's disease, ulcerative change of the intestine is infrequent. The most common sites for the intestinal Behcet's disease are terminal ileum and cecum. Only a few literatures report the esophageal ulcers in Behcet's disease. We describe 2 cases of Behcet's disease who have multiple ulcers in esophagus and terminal ileum. Esophageal ulcers have improved with low-dose prednisolone, colchicine and sulfasalazine in these patients.
Cecum ; Colchicine ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Intestines ; Prednisolone ; Sulfasalazine ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Ulcer*

Hip subluxation and dislocation are common orthopaedic problems in children with cerebral palsy. Selective posterior rhizotomy(SPR) is a neurologic procedure aimed in reducing spasticity. Several recent studies have indicated a decrease in spasticity and functional improvement after SPR, and also decrease the tendency toward hip subluxation in children with cerebral palsy. This is a retrospective study to examine whether SPR halts hip subluxation. Between May 1994 and July 1996, 22 children below age of 5 underwent SPR. Twenty children were spastic diplegic types and 2 were mixed type and quadriplegic type respectively. Approximately 50-80% of L2-Sl level dorsal roots was cut, and 13 children had 50% of both Ll roots cut. Migration percentage score (MP) was used to determine progression of hip subluxation during the follow up period (12 36 mos.; Average 15 mos.). Of the total 44 hips in 22 patients, 45.5% (20 hips) improved, 34% (15 hips) remained unchanged, and 20.5% (9 hips) were worsened after SPR. Radiographic stability was achieved in 79.5%. Ll root cut rate (Ll SPR) was 55.5% for improved hips, 67% for unchanged hips, and 50% for worsened hips. Two patients had undergone orthopaedic procedure for progressive hip migration. Most patients experienced postoperative hip stability after SPR, but 20.5% were worsened and 2 patients had orthopaedic procedure. Also it is unlikely that Ll root involvement prevents progression of hip migration.
Cerebral Palsy* ; Child ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip* ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhizotomy* ; Spinal Nerve Roots