The purpose of this study was to measure the polymerization shrinkage and hygroscopic expansion of resin-based temporary filling materials and to evaluate microleakage at the interface between the materials and cavity wall. Five resin-based temporary filing materials were investigated: Fermit (Vivadent), Quicks (Dentkist), Provifil (Promedica), Spacer (Vericom), Clip (Voco). Caviton (GC) was also included for comparison. Polymerization shrinkage of five resin-based temporary filling materials was measured using the bonded disc method. For the measurement of hygroscopic expansion, the discs of six cured temporary filling materials were immersed in saline and a LVDT displacement sensor was used to measure the expansion for 7 days. For estimating of microleakage, Class I cavities were prepared on 120 extracted human molars and randomly assigned to 6 groups of 20 each. The cavities in each group were filled with six temporary filling materials. All specimens were submitted to 1000 thermo-cycles, with temperature varying from 5degrees C/55degrees C. Microleakage was determined using a dye penetration test. The results were as follows: 1. Fermit had significantly less polymerization shrinkage than the other resin-based temporary filling materials. Fermit (0.22 %) < Spacer (0.38 %) < Quicks (0.64 %), Provifil (0.67 %), Clip (0.67 %) 2. Resin-based temporary filling materials showed 0.43 - 1.1 % expansion in 7 days. 3. Fermit showed the greatest leakage, while Quicks exhibited the least leakage. 4. There are no correlation between polymerization shrinkage or hygroscopic expansion and microleakage of resin-based temporary filling materials.
Calcium Sulfate ; Dental Cements ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Humans ; Molar ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; Vinyl Compounds ; Zinc Oxide

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-beta (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-kappa B nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-kappaB activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-kappaB activation.
Brazil ; China ; Clerodendrum ; Erigeron ; Flavonoids ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; Kidney ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases* ; Plants ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Intracranial aspergillosis is a rare pathologic condition, difficult to treat and often fatal, which generally affects immuosuppressed patients. A case of brain abscess secondary to pulmonary localization in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a favorable outcome is described. A 4-year-old boy diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was induced with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, L-asparaginase and dexamethasone. On the second week of induction chemotherapy, he suffered febrile neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count below 100). Blood and sputum culture disclosed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus, and chest X-ray examination showed thin-walled cavitation of infiltrates compatible with aspergilloma. The patient was treated with amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) and with G-CSF for neutropenia. Fever subsided a few days later and complete hematologic remission was attained on the sixth hospital week, during which antifungal treatment with amphotericin B was continued. Repeated blood and sputum cultures were sterile. On the fifty-sixth hospital day, the patient suffered from afebrile tonic seizure with right side weakness. CT scan of the brain showed multiple well-circumscribed, rim-enhancing round lesions in right frontal lobe and bilateral parieto-occipital area causing gross edema and displacement of the central structures. Itraconazole was added from eightieth hospital day and supportive care was provided for brain edema. After 2 weeks, there was marked clinical improvement, and the pulmonary aspergilloma had completely regressed on follow-up chest X-ray at the sixty-fifth hospital day. Follow-up brain CT scan at the sixty-eighth hospital day showed marked decrease in size, thickness of abscess wall, and brain edema. Patient also attained neurologic improvement. Amphotericin B therapy was continued for 9 weeks (cumulative dose 908 mg, 58 mg/kg) without discer-nable side effects and the patient was discharged on the ninety-sixth hospital day with improved condition. 6 months after detection of brain abscess, magnetic resonance image of the brain showed resolution of all brain lesions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case survived CNS aspergillosis in an immunocompromised setting in Korea which was successfully treated with medical therapy only. We present a case report with a brief review.
Abscess ; Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Brain ; Brain Abscess ; Brain Edema ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclophosphamide ; Daunorubicin ; Dexamethasone ; Edema ; Febrile Neutropenia ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Lobe ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Itraconazole ; Korea ; Male ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophils ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Seizures ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vincristine

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of clinical and serological variables of SLE on pregnancy outcome and to analyze the effects of pregnancy on the disease course of SLE. METHODS: We studied retrospectively about 91 pregnancies in 41 female patients with SLE, who had visted to Kangnam St Mary Hospital from January,1990 to May,1996. We divided the patients into two groups, who had been pregnant before SLE was established versus who were pregnant after SLE had been established. We considered the former as control group. We compared the fetal or maternal outcomes after divided the latter into subgroups according to our purposes such as cases with lupus flare versus without lupus flare, autoantibody (+) cases versus (-) cases, cases with renal disease versus without renal disease. RESULTS: The rate of fetal loss, prematurity was 19. 7%, 46. 9% respectively in 63 cases of 32 patients who were pregnant after SLE had been estabished. The number of pregnancy loss and premature delivery was higher in pregnancy after SLE was established than before SLE was established. Lupus flare was associated with the positivity of antibody to ds DNA and negativity of antibody to Ro. The frequency of fetal loss was higher in pregnancies of antiphospholipid (+) women than those of antiphospholipid (-) women. Pregnancy with renal involvement was associated with short duration of gestation and small body weight of neonate. CONCLUSION: Lupus pregnancy remains highly risky from a maternal standpoint in terms of increased lupus activity and from fetal outcome standpoint in terms of fetal loss and preterm birth, especially in the antiphosphospholid positive mother.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Body Weight ; DNA ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: In most cases, myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) transforms into a more aggressive state or acute myelogenous leukemia; it's prognosis is very poor. It is believed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) is the only curative treatment of MDS, but available data in children are very sparse. In this report, the short term outcome of HSCT in childhood MDS was analyzed. METHODS: Ten children with MDS(CMMoL 5, RAEB 3, RAEBt 2) underwent HSCT(HLA- matched sibling transplantation 4, HLA-matched unrelated transplantation 4, cord blood transplantation 1, HLA-mismatched familial transplantation 1) between November 1995 and January 2001 at St. Mary's Hospital. Median follow-up duration was 11 months. RESULTS: Engraftment was successful in all cases and 8 patients are alive without disease. Three cases of VOD were observed and improved without complication. Four cases of grade II and 1 case of grade III acute GVHD were observed and well controlled with treatment. Three patients relapsed after transplantation. One patient is alive without disease after cytoreduction with allogenic stem cell rescue and 2 patients died of relapse. CONCLUSION: HSCT is a curative strategy of MDS and the survival rate is relatively higher than that of adults. But there is an obvious need for more studies because of the small number of patients and the short duration of the follow-up.
Adult ; Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts ; Child ; Fetal Blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of blood contact and tooth mobility on volumetric changes of calcium silicate-based root-end filling materials using a micro-CT. Three calcium silicate-based materials (ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, and RetroMTA) were used in this study. Seventy-two extracted human single-rooted premolars were obturated with gutta percha. Root-end resection and root-end preparation were performed. After root-end filling with tested materials, the tooth specimens were immersed in saline or blood for 5 days in a 37 ℃ incubator (n=8). The tooth specimens were mounted in a chewing simulator to simulate tooth mobility with a force of 30 N and 20,000 cycles. Micro-CT scans were performed immediately after root-end filling and after exposure to storage media or simulation of tooth mobility. The volume loss (%) was obtained from difference in the percentage of defects of materials between first and second micro-CT scans. Apical volume loss (%; volume loss from resected surface to 1 mm from the surface) was calculated for tooth mobility simulating groups. Biodentine showed larger total volume loss than ProRoot MTA and RetroMTA in saline and blood. ProRoot MTA had smaller total volume loss in blood than in saline. Under the condition simulating tooth mobility, total volume loss was similar among materials, and apical volume loss of Biodentine was larger than that of RetroMTA. In conclusion, ProRoot MTA or Retro MTA is recommended in clinical situation of intentional replantation where tooth mobility or direct contact with blood may occur.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, there has been a growing enthusiasm in biological approach to personality; the identification of genes responsible for particular personality traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the 5-HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism and personality traits. METHODS: We recruited 218 normal subjects. The Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used to assess personality traits. From blood samples taken from the subjects, DNA was isolated using standard techniques and the HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism was genotyped by means of polymerase chain reaction and Homogeneous MassEXTEND method. We classified the subject into the GG, CG, and GG groups according to their genotypes. The differences in the temperament factors of the TCI between homozygote group (GG+CC genotype) and heterozygote group (CG genotype) were tested. RESULTS: The heterozygote group had significantly lower Harm avoidance (HA) scores and higher Self-directedness scores (SD) than the homozygote group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found some associations between the 5-HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism and the personality dimension HA and SD in a normal population.
DNA ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B* ; Temperament

Malignant melanoma is a very rare disease in children. There is an increased risk for the development of malignant melanoma in patient with giant congenital melanocytic nevus. The manifestations of distant metastases in malignant melanoma commonly indicate a poor prognosis. First line treatment of malignant melanoma is excision, but when associated with giant congenital melanocytic nevus, excision is very difficult due to the site and the size of the lesions. However, malignant melanoma is not sensitive to chemotherapy, but a child is more sensitive than an adult. We report a case of unresectable childhood malignant melanoma associated with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus in a 3 year-old female treated with chemotherapy.
Adult ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Prognosis ; Rare Diseases

Pulmonary embolism is not a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with or without malignancies. Pulmonary embolism should be ruled out when sudden tachypnea and pulmonary hypertension develop in leukemic children, and chest radiograph shows no or minimal abnormalities. A 14-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was admitted due to neutropenic fever and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography and ventilation/perfusion scan showed pulmonary embolism, and embolectomy revealed aspergillosis. Invasive aspergillosis is the major opportunistic fungal pathogen in neutropenic patient and an important cause of death. The critical elements of successful management of invasive aspergillosis complicating neutropenia and pulmonary embolism are early diagnosis, initiation of aggressive doses of amphotericin B, reversal of immune suppression and feasible surgical resection of the lesions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of pulmonary embolism caused by Aspergillus in an immunocompromised setting in Korea and we present a case report with a brief review.
Adolescent ; Amphotericin B ; Aspergillosis ; Aspergillus* ; Cause of Death ; Child* ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Embolectomy ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Korea ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tachypnea ; Thorax