PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dimensional stability of splinting material on the accuracy of master casts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stainless steel metal model with 6 implants embedded was used as a master model. Implant level impressions were made after square impression copings were splinted using 5 different techniques as follows. (1) Splinted with autopolymerizing resin and sectioned, reconnected to compensate polymerization shrinkage before the impression procedure. (2) Splinted with autopolymerizing resin just before impression procedure. (3) Primary impression made with impression plaster and secondary impression were made over with polyether impression material. (4) Splinted with impression plaster. (5) Splinted with VPS bite registration material. From master model, 5 impressions and 5 experimental casts, total 25 casts were made for each of 5 splinting methods. The distortion values of each splinting methods were measured using coordinate measuring machine, capable of recordings in the x-, y-, z-axes. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a confidence level of 95% was used to evaluate the data and Tukey's studentized range test was used to determine significant differences between the groups. RESULTS: Group 1 showed best accuracy followed by Group 3 & 4. Group 2 and 5 showed relatively larger distortion value than other groups. No significant difference was found between group 3, 4, 5 in x-axis, group 2, 3, 4 in y-axis and group 1, 3, 4, 5 in z-axis (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Both Splinting impression copings with autopolymerizing resin following compensation of polymerization shrinkage and splinting method with impression plaster can enhance the accuracy of master cast and impression plaster can be used simple and effective splinting material for implant impression procedure.
Compensation and Redress ; Humans ; Jaw Relation Record ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Splints ; Stainless Steel

In search of the effect of air pollution on the eye, the authors examined ocular symptoms and diseases in both an urban(Seoul) and two rural populations (Suwon and Changsung). The Prevalence rate of ocular symptoms and diseases between 109 occupational drivers of more than 3 years career in Seoul area which is one of the air polluted urban areas and 150 populations in the two different rural areas as a control group were compared. The prevalence rate of ocular symptoms was 89% in Seoul, 10% in Suwon and 23% in Changsung area, and those of ocular diseases were 35%, 6% and 10% in the same areas, respectively. The prevalence rate of ocular symptoms and diseases is respectively 3 to 4 times more prevalent in occupational drivers than in the control groups. Many other etiologic factors such as occupation, labor condition, environmental stress or different way of living may influence the prevalence rate between the two groups, however, it would be presumed that the main causative factor to cause ocular symptoms and diseases is probably due to air pollution.
Air Pollution ; Gyeonggi-do ; Occupations ; Prevalence* ; Rural Population* ; Seoul

Authors experienced five different cases of keratitis such as metaherpetic keratitis, bullous keratitis, chemical keratitis and superficial punctate keratitis have been markedly improved by subconjunctival injection of Tathion (30-50mg), a glutathion prepartion. All cases showed remarkable improvement with better visual acuity following the treatment. Especially it was another choice of treatment in persisting case of metaherpetic keratitis with parenchymal infiltration. No side effects have been observed during this procedure.
Keratitis* ; Visual Acuity

Among the precancerous lesions, dysplasia of the uterine cervix and adenoma of the colon have been widely studied in terms of genetic alterations. However, little has been performed regarding phenotypic alterations of the precancerous lesions. We investigated the relationship among cellular proliferation, clonality, immortality and histopathologic grading of the squamous epithelial lesions of the uterine cervix. Proliferation index (PI) was calculated based on the ratio of the epithelial cells positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen to the total epithelial cells. Clonality was assayed by X-linked HUMARA polymorphism. For immortality assay, PCR-based TRAP (telomeric repeat amplification protocol) was done and telomerase processivity was calculated by comparison with the positive control. PI increased gradually as the lesions advanced from dysplasia to invasive carcinoma. Among informative case, all of the carcinoma in situ showed monoclonal pattern (7 of 7). Among invasive squamous cell carcinoma, 6 cases showed monoclonal pattern and 2 cases polyclonal pattern. TRAP reaction was positive in 92.6% (25 of 27) of dysplasia (high grade: 14 of 15; low grade: 11 of 12), 95.0% (19 of 20) of carcinoma in situ, 100% (9 of 9) of microinvasive carcinoma, and 92.9% (13 of 14) of invasive carcinoma. It was also positive in 12 of 12 samples of chronic cervicitis or squamous metaplasia near the lesions of dysplasia. There was no difference in TRAP positivity among the dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma, whereas telomerase processivity showed significant correlation. These results suggest that proliferative activity and telomerase processivity may be progressive events in oncogenesis, although telomerase activation may be an early event.
Adenoma ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Proliferation ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Metaplasia ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Telomerase ; Uterine Cervicitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anatomical knowledge of microsurgical anatomy of the perigeniculate ganglion area is essential to the exploration of the facial nerve via translabyrinthine approach or middle fossa approach. This study was designed to investigate the surgical anatomy of the perigeniculate ganglion area of the facial nerve in view of translabyrinthine and middle fossa approach. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We dissected 15 human cadaveric temporal bones under a microscope and measured the lengths of the proximal part of tympanic segment, the labyrinthine segment, and the angle between the tympanic segment and the labyrinthine segment in the view of translabyrinthine approach. We dissected 20 human temporal bones under a microscope using a middle fossa approach, and measured the angle between the lines drawn from the malleus head to the vertical crest and from the malleus head to the geniculate ganglion, and the distance from the malleus head to the geniculate ganglion. RESULTS: The distance of facial nerve from the cochleariform process to the geniculate ganglion was 3.8+/-0.7 mm. The length of the labyrinthine segment of facial nerve was 4+/-0.8 mm. The angle between the tympanic segment and the labyrinthine segment in the view of translabyrinthine approach was 26+/-5degrees. The angles between the lines drawn from the malleus head to the vertical crest and from the malleus head to the geniculate ganglion, and the distance from the malleus head to the geniculate ganglion were found to be 23+/-2degreesand 6.5+/-0.3 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Precise knowledge about the microsurgical anatomy of the perigeniculate ganglion area of facial nerve is imperative for facial nerve decompression by a translabyrinthine and middle fossa approach.
Cadaver ; Cranial Fossa, Middle ; Decompression ; Facial Nerve* ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Geniculate Ganglion ; Head ; Humans ; Malleus ; Temporal Bone

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the nystagmus of totally unilateral vestibular function loss on galvanic vestibular stimulation and the diagnostic value of galvanic vestibular stimulation. Additionally we wanted to evaluate which portions may be stimulated by galvanic vestibular stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the three parameters of galvanic stimulation in fourteen patients with totally unilateral vestibular function loss, 1)spontaneous nystagmus, 2)galvanic stimulating nystagmus, 3)Post galvanic stimulating nystagmus through 3-dimensional video-oculography technique. RESULTS: When negative electrode was attached to the intact side, The nystagmus on galvanic vestibular stimulation was directed to the negative electrode side in all patients and post galvanic stimulating nystagmus was directed to the opposite side but on functional loss side, we couldn't detect any nystagmus on galvanic vestibular stimulation and in 10 patients, post galvanic stimulating nystagmus was observed and directed to the intact side. CONCLUSIONS: Galvanic vestibular stimulation is very useful for evaluating the vestibular function and for diagnosing the vestibular disease.
Electrodes ; Humans ; Vestibular Diseases

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Serine/Threonine Kinase 39 (STK39) and hypertension has been reported, the prior studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between rs3754777 and rs6749447, the two SNPs of STK39, and hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors in Koreans, residing in the Republic of Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 238 hypertensive patients and 260 controls. The associations between genotype and haplotype combination and hypertension were examined. In addition, possible SNP-related differences in the adjusted blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant association between the two SNPs and hypertension. However, the carriers of AA genotype of rs3754777 showed lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels, particularly in females. Genotype of rs6749447 was associated with the waist circumference, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, only in gender-stratified analysis. The effects of haplotype combinations on risk factors were compatible with genotype effects of each SNP. CONCLUSION: Associations between the two SNPs of STK39, rs3754777 and rs6749447, and hypertension were not significant. However, the two SNPs showed genotype-related differences in blood glucose, lipids, and waist circumference, especially in women. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect of STK39 variants in these cardiovascular risk factors.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Genotype ; Glucose ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: This study set out to investigate the safety and efficacy of doxazosin treatment in symptomatic patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 237 male patients aged 50 or over with clinical evidence of BPH were enrolled into this 12-week, open, baseline-controlled, dose-response study. A run-in period of 2 weeks placebo treatment was followed by 10 weeks of doxazosin treatment. The initial dose was 1mg per day which, at 2-week intervals, could have been titrated up to 2, 4, or 8mg per day. Efficacy, in terms of International Prostate Symptom Score(I-PSS) and blood pressure(BP), was assessed from Week 6 onwards. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients(mean age 65.3 years) completed the study, with the most common reason for withdrawal being lost to follow-up(35 cases); four patients were withdrawn due to adverse events. Mean I-PSS score was reduced by 48.8%(from 21.5 at baseline to 11 at completion). Subset analysis of normo- or hypertensive patients showed that in the 26 hypertensive patients mean systolic BP was reduced by 12.3%(-19mmHg) and mean diastolic BP by 13.7%(-14mmHg), whereas in normotensive patients the reductions were 4.0%(-5mmHg) and 1.9%(-1.5mmHg), respectively. No differences in I-PSS improvements were seen between these two groups. The effects of age were also investigated and showed no significant differences in the changes in blood pressure for older patients(> or =65 years; n=91 ) compared with younger patients(7.5/5.8mmHg compared with 6.5/5.0mmHg). There were no differences in I-PSS improvement. Twenty eight adverse events were reported by 16 patients, the most commomly reported events being dizziness, postural hypotension, and headache. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness and safety of doxazosin in the treatment of BPH was confirmed in this Korean population, with significant improvements in I-PSS regardless of patient age and blood pressure at baseline. The baseline I-PSS was higher than is commonly seen in European populations, indicating a greater disease severity.
Blood Pressure ; Dizziness ; Doxazosin* ; Headache ; Humans ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Korea ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia*

In patient with severe adhesion between lung and aorta, there is some limitation in approaching the distal arch or descending thoracic aorta through the usual left thoracotomy. We report a case of a successfully managed distal arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm through the median sternotomy without any manipulations of the lung in a 66 year old man who presented hemoptysis.
Aged ; Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Sternotomy* ; Thoracotomy