Objectives: Dental caries and periodontal disease are infectious and chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of mentha extracts against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans ) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis ). Methods: This activity of mentha extracts were confirmed by the disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and colony forming unit (CFU) assays. Results: S. mutans and P. gingivalis showed the highest antimicrobial activity within the inhibition zones. The antimicrobial activity was interrupted as the MIC and MBC of the herbal extracts against the two bacteria were 1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml, respectively. The antimicrobial effect was determined by the CFU assay. Conclusions Mentha herb extract demonstrated potential antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and P. gingivalis that cause dental caries and periodontal disease.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of gestational age at exposure on the prenatal effects of gamma-radiation. Pregnant ICR mice were exposed to a single dose of 2.0 Gy gamma-radiation at a gestational 2.5 to 15.5 days post-coitus (p.c.). The animals were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation and the fetuses were examined for mortality, growth retardation, change in head size and any other morphological abnormalities. The only demonstrable effect of irradiation during the preimplantation period was an increase in prenatal mortality. Resorptions were maximal on post-exposure day 2.5 after conception. The pre-implantation irradiated embryos which survived did not show any major fetal abnormalities. Small head, growth retardation, cleft palate, dilatation of the cerebral ventricle, dilatation of the renal pelvis and abnormalities of the extremities and tail were prominent after exposure during the organogenesis period, especially on day 11.5 of gestation. Our results indicate that the late period of organogenesis in the mouse is a particularly sensitive phase in terms of the development of the brain, skull and extremities.
Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced/*pathology ; Animals ; Bone and Bones/abnormalities/radiation effects ; Female ; Fetal Death ; *Gamma Rays ; *Gestational Age ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Animal/*radiation effects ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

BACKGROUND: Thalium 201(TI-201) has been a widely applied myocardial perfusion agent for the detection of coronary artery disease. however its low emission energy and long half-life make this agent suboptiomal for the examination of coronary artery disease. To circumvent the physical limitation of TI-201, a group of technetium 99m-labeled isonitril complex has been developed. Our study was done to examine the value of SPECT with 99mTc-HexaMIBI in estimating myocardial perfusion in patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS: We evaluated the sensitivity of SPECT with 99mTc-HexaMIBI in 29 patients with acute myocardial infarction. We also compared the severity and vascular territory of abnormal perfusion on SPECT scanning with severity of coronary artery stenosis, values of serum enzyme and sites in ECG. RESULTS: 1) There were 26 patients(90%) who showed perfusion defect, and 3 patients(10%) who showed normal perfusion in myocardial SPECT. The 3 patients with normal perfusion demonstrated non Q-wave infarction of ECG. 2) Among 23 patients performed coronary argiography, there were 19 patients(82%) who showed positive findings on myocardial SPECT and luminal narrowing above 50% on coronary angiogram, and there were 3 patients(13%) who showed significant coronary artery stenosis in spite of negative myocardial SPECT. 3) The grade of perfusion defect showed no significant difference between groups undergone thrombolytic therapy and groups not undergone thrombolytic therapy. 4) There was good correlation between the site of perfusion defect on SPECT and the site of infarction on ECG. CONCLUSION: We conclude that SPECT with 99mTc-HexaMIBI is a promising non invasive test for simultaneous diagnosis of myocardial infarction and evaluation of perfusion defect.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Perfusion ; Phenobarbital ; Technetium ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify multidimensional factors influencing burnout in intensive care unit(ICU) nurses. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data were collected during February 2016 from a convenience sample of 222 tertiary hospital ICU nurses and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Burnout correlated positively with compassion fatigue (CF)(r=.37, p < .001), and negatively with compassion satisfaction (CS)(r=-.66, p < .001). The regression model explained 57% of the variance in burnout. For individual characteristics in the model, perceived health status (β=-.27, p < .001) and gender (β=.14, p=.028) were the most influential factors for ICU nurses' burnout. In the model with added work-related characteristics, nursing environment (β=-.22, p=.001), perceived health status (β=-.20, p=.001), and satisfaction with department (β=-.19, p=.007) were the most influential factors. Finally, for the model with psychological characteristics added, CS (β=-.56, p < .001) and CF (β=.35, p < .001) were the most influential factors. CONCLUSION: Results reveal that most ICU nurses have a moderate level of CF and a moderate to high level of CS and burnout, and that individual, work-related and psychological factors are relevant in ICU nurses' burnout. Programs or interventions to reduce burnout should be developed taking into account these multidimensional factors.
Compassion Fatigue ; Critical Care ; Empathy ; Intensive Care Units ; Nursing ; Personal Satisfaction ; Psychology ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: To determine the means, medians and reference intervals for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and fT4 (free thyroxine) for each month of gestation and for three trimesters in Korean pregnant women. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 265 pregnant women with singleton gestation. Levels of TSH, fT4 were measured by immunoassay. After exclusion of subjects with positive antimicrosomal autoantibodies, the means, medians and reference intervals based on 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for TSH, fT4 were determined. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 94 women in first trimester, 49 women in second trimester, and 122 women in third trimester. The trimester-specific reference intervals were: TSH (1st trimester: 0.03~2.72, 2nd: 0.27~2.29, and 3rd: 0.03~2.88 mIU/L), fT4 (1st trimester 4.50~19.75, 2nd: 4.70~12.98 and 3rd: 5.07~11.84 pg/mL). fT4 levels were significantly lower in the second and third trimesters. TSH levels were lower in the first trimester than second and third trimester, with gradual elevation in the second and third trimester. CONCLUSION: Levels of TSH, fT4 during pregnancy differ from those in non-pregnant women. Gestational age specific reference intervals will play a cental role in screening and diagnosis of thyroid disorders. Further studies for normal reference ranges during pregnancy are needed to create reference intervals in Korean pregnant women.
Autoantibodies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

OBJECTIVE: The ovine fetus responds to hemorrhage with a 10-20 fold increase in plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration at 24 hr and a return toward normal at 48 hr after the hemorrhage. The objective of the present study was more accurately to compare the magnitude and time course of the plasma EPO response after fetal hemorrhage. METHODS: Chronically catheterized, 12 of late gestation ovine fetus were gradually hemorrhaged 40% of their blood volume over 2 hr (1ml/min). Plasma was sampled for EPO concentration at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36 hr after initiating the hemorrhage were collected at these times. Radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma EPO concentrations. Analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. RESULT: After a slow hemorrhage in the ovine fetus (1ml/min over 2hr), plasma EPO concentration increased significantly at 4hr (2.3 times basal values), reached a maximum at 16 hr (33.3 times basal values), and declined thereafter. CONCLUSION: We studied change in time course of the fetal plasma EPO after slow hemorrhage and recent studies have shown that the fetal kidney, liver and placenta express EPO mRNA. These observation suggest that plasma EPO increase may be mediated by a tissue specific up-regulation of EPO transcription in the fetal kidney, liver and placenta. We have studied change in Epo mRNA expression in various fetal tissue after slow haemorrhage.
Blood Volume ; Catheters ; Erythropoietin* ; Fetus ; Hemorrhage* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Placenta ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; RNA, Messenger ; Sheep ; Up-Regulation

Uterine artery embolization was introduced to arrest post-partum hemorrhage 20 years ago. It has also been used to control severe hemorrhage from uterine gestational trophoblast tumors, carcinoma of the uterus, uterine arteriovenous malformations, and cases of pelvic trauma. More recently, transcatheter uterine artery embolization is a new treatment for uterine leiomyoma. A 33-year old married woman with 2 children had a history of heavy pelvic pain and pressure. Ultrasound and MRI investigation showed a bulky 12 x 10cm submucosal myoma in right lower uterine segment. The both uterine artery embolization was performed via a bilateral femoral artery. We present a case in which successful embolization of the uterine arteries in a woman with submucosal myoma resulted in a subsequent transcervical expulsion of large pieces of the dominant fibroid after 3 month of treatment with a brief review.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Child ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myoma* ; Pelvic Pain ; Trophoblastic Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Artery Embolization* ; Uterine Artery* ; Uterus

The corpus callosum consists of white fibers connecting the cerebral hemispheres. Agenesis of the corpus callosum is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is easily diagnosed in the postnatal period by ultrasound and computed tomographic scan or MRI, but its prenatal sonographic diagnosis is difficult because of fetal head positioning and limiting trans-axial scans. We experienced a case of agenesis of the corpus callusum with chromosomal anomaly. The prenatal sonographic findings are ventricular abnormalities that demonstrated dilatation of lateral ventricles and disproportionate enlargement of the occipital horns, which were suggestive findings for the corpus callosal agenesis. We could confim the diagnosis of the corpus callosal agenesis with chromosome anomaly by postnatal MRI and chromosome analysis.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum* ; Animals ; Cerebrum ; Corpus Callosum ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Head ; Horns ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

Renal agenesis is a disorder characterized by the congenital absence of one or both kidneys due to complete failure of the kidney to form. The syndrome of renal agenesis is severe oligohydramnios, amnion nodosum, flattened face, low-set and floppy ears, and bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia. Bilateral renal agenesis occurs in 0.1 to 0.3 per 1000 births and unilateral involvement occurs in 1 in 500 to 1 in 1300 live births.1,2 Bilateral renal agenesis is an invariably lethal condition, and is associated in more than half of the affected individuals with malformations of the genitourinary tract, cardiovascular system, vertebral bodies or imperforated anus.2 Accurate diagnosis in the mid-trimester permits the parents to allow elective termination. However, the nearly absent amniotic fluid makes an accurate assessment of fetal kidney difficult. We present a case of unilateral renal agenesis with contralateral renal hypoplasia, diagnosed by ultrasonography after amnioinfusion at 21 weeks gestation.
Amnion ; Amniotic Fluid ; Cardiovascular System ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Oligohydramnios ; Parents ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the injection rate affects the spread of spinal anesthesia in cesarean sections. METHODS: Spinal anesthesia was performed on 45 parturients in a cesaren section. Dural puncture was performed in the sitting position with a 27-gauge Whitacre needle. All patients received a mixture of 10 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine and 15 microgram fentanyl. Twenty five (Group I) patients received rapid injections (about 0.2-0.3 ml/sec) and twenty (Group II) received slow injections (about 0.1 ml/sec). Anesthetic levels, time to T4 sensory block, maximal height sensory block and incidence of hypotension were measured. RESULTS: There was significantly rapid T4 sensory block in group I but no differences in maximal height of sensory block and incidence of hypotension between the two groups. CONCLSIONS: We conclude that injection rate (about 0.1-0.3 ml/sec) has a statistically insignificant influence on the maximal height sensory block and incidence of hypotension.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Bupivacaine* ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Needles ; Pregnancy ; Punctures