BACKGROUND: The growth of elderly population increased the need for oral health care. Elderly patients with poor teeth alignment needs more attention with orthodontic treatment METHODS: Elderly patients visiting department of orthodontics, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital between 2000-2004 were treated with fixed appliances in one or both dental arches. Treatment plans were different from than that of younger patients and included uncommon and strategic removals of teeth and prosthesis. RESULTS: There was decrease in orthodontic treatment forces with increasing age, and the observation made from this study was favorable in the patients' as well as in the orthodontist's, point of view. It was possible to move the remaining teeth considerably, and the retention was made with various fixed appliances. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment is not limited by patient age. However, it is wise not to extend treatment goals too far beyond the patients' objective needs
Aged* ; Dental Arch ; Heart ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Orthodontics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth

No abstract available.
Hyperplasia

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that IFN-gamma producing T cell responses induced by the combined therapy of DNA vaccine and lamivudine for one year are important for the induction of sustained virological response (SVR). However, IFN-gamma production is not sufficient to predict sustained viremia control in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers treated. METHODS: Twelve CHB carriers were intramuscularly immunized 12 times at a 4-week interval with 8 mg of HBV DNA vaccine during the standard lamivudine treatment (100 mg/daily/1 year). The level of cytokines during and after the combined therapy in plasma of all 12 CHB carriers treated was determined by each ELISA kit. Six out of 12 CHB carriers revisited the clinic, and their HBV DNA levels were examined. RESULTS: The combined therapy increased plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio during the treatment (baseline vs. peak level: 41.8+/-8.3 vs. 163.1+/-29.2 pg/ml; p<0.01 and 0.96+/-0.25 vs. 3.58+/-0.86; p<0.01, espectively), and the peak level of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio was evoked at 6 to 10 months during the combined therapy. In particular, CHB carriers with SVR had two and three-fold higher level of the peak plasma IL-12 and plasma IL-12/p40 ratio than non-virological responders (NVRs), respectively (218.0+/-41.4 vs. 108.1+/-28.6 pg/ml; p=0.09 and 5.35+/-1.38 vs. 1.80+/-0.29; p<0.05, respectively), while p40 level was consistent during the combined therapy. In addition, there was no significant temporal correlation between the peak IL-12/p40 ratio and the elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in this study, contrast to IFN-alpha therapy which induced peak IL-12 level following ALT flares. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combined therapy induces the increase of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio, which are associated with long-term SVR in CHB carriers.
Alanine Transaminase ; Corynebacterium ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Interleukin-12 ; Lamivudine ; Plasma ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that IFN-gamma producing T cell responses induced by the combined therapy of DNA vaccine and lamivudine for one year are important for the induction of sustained virological response (SVR). However, IFN-gamma production is not sufficient to predict sustained viremia control in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers treated. METHODS: Twelve CHB carriers were intramuscularly immunized 12 times at a 4-week interval with 8 mg of HBV DNA vaccine during the standard lamivudine treatment (100 mg/daily/1 year). The level of cytokines during and after the combined therapy in plasma of all 12 CHB carriers treated was determined by each ELISA kit. Six out of 12 CHB carriers revisited the clinic, and their HBV DNA levels were examined. RESULTS: The combined therapy increased plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio during the treatment (baseline vs. peak level: 41.8+/-8.3 vs. 163.1+/-29.2 pg/ml; p<0.01 and 0.96+/-0.25 vs. 3.58+/-0.86; p<0.01, espectively), and the peak level of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio was evoked at 6 to 10 months during the combined therapy. In particular, CHB carriers with SVR had two and three-fold higher level of the peak plasma IL-12 and plasma IL-12/p40 ratio than non-virological responders (NVRs), respectively (218.0+/-41.4 vs. 108.1+/-28.6 pg/ml; p=0.09 and 5.35+/-1.38 vs. 1.80+/-0.29; p<0.05, respectively), while p40 level was consistent during the combined therapy. In addition, there was no significant temporal correlation between the peak IL-12/p40 ratio and the elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in this study, contrast to IFN-alpha therapy which induced peak IL-12 level following ALT flares. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combined therapy induces the increase of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio, which are associated with long-term SVR in CHB carriers.
Alanine Transaminase ; Corynebacterium ; Cytokines ; DNA ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Interleukin-12 ; Lamivudine ; Plasma ; Viremia

STUDY OBJECTIVE: determine the level of medical care required for mass gatherings and describe the types of medical problems encountered in a religious mass gathered ceremony. DESIGN: Standard charts and a four-tiered triage system(minor, moderate, urgent, and emergent) were developed before the event. The triage system was applied to each chart retrospectively by a single emergency physician. SETTING: Medical staff(10 physicians,13 nurses,1 pharmacist, and 54 first-aid attendants) were based in 8 advanced life support (ALS) clinics. INTERVENTIONS: First-aid attendants referred patients to the clinics, where nurses conducted initial assessments and referred patients to physicians at the venue. Three ambulances were stationed at the venues. RESULT: 22 trauma patients were developed and 183 medical complaints were encountered. Only 7 urgent medical problems were encountered.
Ambulances ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Pharmacists ; Retrospective Studies ; Triage

Although the global prevalence of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is decreasing, PUD is still one of the most common upper gastrointestinal diseases in the world due to Helicobacter pylori infection and increased use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In Korea, the prevalence of H. pylori infection is also declining, but it is still the major cause of PUD. The outcomes of H. pylori infection are caused by imbalances between bacterial virulence factors, host factors, and environmental influences. In this review, we describe the prevalence trends of H. pylori infection in Korea, the mechanism of H. pylori infection-related PUD, and treatment strategies.
Epidemiology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Korea ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Prevalence ; Virulence Factors

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously called Churg-Strauss syndrome, is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis, accompanied by asthma, hypereosinophilia, nonfixed pulmonary infiltrates, and sinusitis. Peripheral neuropathy is common in patients with EGPA; however, a few cases of EGPA with central nervous system (CNS) involvement have been reported. A 45-year-old female referred for right side weakness and posterior neck pain was diagnosed as EGPA with subarachnoid hemorrhage and mononeuritis multiplex. She was effectively treated with a high dose glucocorticoid, cyclophosphamide, and intravenous immunoglobulin. EGPA with CNS involvement is uncommon and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore more rapid and accurate diagnostic evaluation may be required. EGPA should be considered in patients with neurological symptoms and hypereosinophilia.
Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; Asthma ; Central Nervous System ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; Cyclophosphamide ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Middle Aged ; Mononeuropathies* ; Mortality ; Neck Pain ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sinusitis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* ; Vasculitis

This study is to develop M.D.-Ph.D. program of medical school in Korea. The authors examined the related literature focusing on the current status and problems of training biomedical scientists. Next step was to make a collection of data related to American M.D.-Ph.D. program. The search for the materials was made through February 2000. The developed M.D.-Ph.D. program was modified and revised by the experts in the area and through public speech. The results of the study are as follows; first, the validity of M.D.-Ph.D. program was convicted by the need of interdisciplinary study, social needs, current problems of medical education and financial problems. Second, the development M.D.-Ph.D. program consists of educational period, admission procedure, entree examination, curriculum and its administration, degrees, school registration management, medical license examination, grants and problems related to military service. The expectations of the results are; first, M.D.-Ph.D. program will make Korea one of the leading countries in biomedical scientists and medical knowledge, and will activate the interdisciplinary research. Second, M.D.-Ph.D. program will facilitate to revise the educational problems of graduate school of medicine and medical schools.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Financing, Organized ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Studies ; Korea ; Licensure ; Military Personnel ; Schools, Medical

Hyperthyroidism is usually caused by multinodular diffuse enlargement of the gland in Graves disease and can be associated with pregnancy. Ideally, appropriate medical therapy establishes a euthyroid state prior to anesthesia. However, if emergency surgery becomes necessary in an unprepared patient, the anesthesiologist must avoid situations that may exacerbate the disease and should prevent thyroid storm during perianesthetic period. In this case, a 26 years old female with poorly controlled thyrotoxicosis was scheduled for emergency Cesarean-section. The patient was successfully managed by epidural anesthesia and discharged uneventfully at the 9th postoperative day.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Cesarean Section* ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Pregnancy ; Thyroid Crisis ; Thyrotoxicosis

Ureteritis cystica is one of the cystic diseases formed in the mucosa or submucosa of the renal pelvic, ureter and bladder by chronic inflammation or irritation. A rare case of ureteritis cystica confirmed by ureteroscopy is presented with review of the literatures.
Inflammation ; Mucous Membrane ; Ureter* ; Ureteroscopy ; Urinary Bladder