Recently, various implant cylinders were supplied, especially received gold cylinders, cast cylinders produced from premade gold and plastic cylinders and plastic cylinders. This study measured and compared precise fit produced when using conventional gold and plastic cylinders. The comparative fit of lapped and non-lapped castings made from plastic pattern was examined. The implant/abutment interface fit was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) for each of four cylinders. The following results were obtained: 1. The case of plastic cylinder showed 9.67+/-1.50micrometer gap Steri-Oss fixture was connected. 2. The case oflapped casting made from plastic cylinder showed 3.01+/-2.81micrometer gap when Steri-Oss fixture was connected. 3. The case of gold/plastic cylinder showed 9.80+/-1.68micrometer gap when Steri-Oss fixture was connected. 4. The case of gold cylinder showed 5.47+/-2.43micrometer gap when Steri-Oss fixture was connected. 5. In case of each cylinder which was connected with Steri-Oss fixture, the size of gap was showed less in the order of the case of gold/plastic cylinder, the case of plastic cylinder, the case of gold cylinder and the case of lapped casting made from plastic cylinder. As results of this study, the use of premade gold cylinder offers an advantage over plastic patterns in precise fit. When plastic patterns are used, polishing of implant cylinder components should provide precise fit.
Plastics* ; Prostheses and Implants*

No abstract available.
Depression*

The purpose of this study was to compare the casting problem and corrosion behavior in two types of HL Hexed abutments of the Steri-Oss system : gold/plastic coping and gold coping. The anodic Polarization behavior, the galvanic corrosion between abutments and Type III gold alloys, before and after casting were analyzed, and the crevice corrosion of casting samples was analyzed with the CPPT test and the SEM. The results are as follows ; 1. Anodic polarization behavior of samples ; Before casting, gold/plastic coping and gold coping was shown to have a similar corrosion patterns. TypeIII casting gold alloy was shown to have a lower corrosion potential and passivation film. Corrosion potential of the case of gold/plastic coping after casting was higher than that of gold coping, but the region of passivation film for gold/plastic coping was smaller than that of gold coping. 2. Galvanic corrosion behavior of samples ; Contact current density between casting gold alloys and gold/plastic before casting was higher than that between gold coping and casting gold alloy. Galvanic corrosion of samples after casting was shown to have similar contact current density. 3. Crevice corrosion behavior of samples ; Crevice corrosion resistance of casting sample using gold coping was lower than that of casting sample using gold/plastic coping, and a severe corrosion pattern was observed at the abutment-casting gold alloy interface by the SEM.
Alloys* ; Corrosion* ; Gold Alloys

No abstract available.
Animals ; Carcinogenesis* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted this study to investigate the safety and efficacy of decompressive surgery alone in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly population. METHODS: All charts and records of 323 patients aged 65 years or older who underwent lumbar spinal decompressive surgery without fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis in the period from September 2003 to August 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 323 patients were identified. Mean age among patients were 72.6years. 197 patients(60.9%) underwent wide decompression, 95 patients(29.4%) had microscopic partial decompression, and 31 patients(9.5%) underwent bilateral decompression via unilateral approach. Perioperative morbidity seen was among 16 patients(4.9%). There were 5 patients(1.5%) reoperated for hematoma formation. Another 5 patients(1.5%) developed wound infection. Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) leakage were noted among 3 patients(0.9%). 2 patients(0.6%) had urinary difficulty, and Steven Johnson syndrome developed in one patient(0.3 %). Clinical outcome was evaluated using Macnab's classification. 40 patients(12.4%) had excellent results, 241 patients(74.8%) had good results, 34 patients(10.3%) had fair results and 8 patients(2.5%) had poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Decompressive laminectomy alone is a relatively safe and effective treatment option for the elderly.
Aged ; Decompression ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Spinal Stenosis ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Hysterectomy*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Portable devices for measuring peak expiratory flow(PEF) are now of proved value in the diagnosis and management of asthma and many lightweight PEF meters have become available. However, it is necessary to determine whether peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) measurements measured with peak flowmeters is accurate and reproducible for clinical application. The aim of the present study is to define accuracy, agreement, and precision of mini-Wright peak flow meter(MPFM) against standard pneumotachygraph. METHODS: The lung function tests by standard pneumotachygraph and PEFR measurement by MPFM were performed in a random order for 2 hours in 22 normal and 17 asthmatic subjects and also were performed for 3 successive days in 22 normals. RESULTS: The PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly related to the PEFR and FEV1 measured with standard pneumotachygraph in normal and asthmatics(for PEFR, r=0.92 p<0.001; for FEV1, r=0.78 ; p<0.001). The accuracy of MPFM was within 10%(limits of accuracy recommeded by NAEP) in all the subjects or 22 normal, mean difference from standard pneumotachygraph being I 6.5L/min(percentage of difference being 2.90%) or 1 0.6L/min(percentage of difference being 1.75%), respectively. According to the method proposed by Bland and Altman, the 95% limits of the distribution of differences between MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph after correction of PEFR using our regression equation were +38.2 and -71.5L/min in all the subjects or -20.49~ + 9.49L/min in 22 normal and was similar to the intraindividual agreements for 3 successive days in normal. There was no statistically significant difference of PEFR measured with MPFM and standard pneumotachygraph among three days(p>0.05) and the coefficient of variation(2.4 1.2%) of PEFR measured with MPFM was significantly lower than that( 5.2 3.5%) with standard pneurnotachygraph in normal (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the MPFM was as accurate and reproducible as standard pneumotachygraph for monitoring of PEFR in the asthmatic subjects.
Asthma ; Diagnosis ; Flowmeters ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Respiratory Function Tests

Embolization of the closure device is a rare but potentially fatal complication of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. We report a case of 45-year-old woman who underwent ASD device closure with 32 mm Amplatzer device, which was embolized to the pulmonary artery without symptom one day after successful device implantation.
Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Septal Occluder Device

BACKGROUND: Blunted perception of dyspnea, which may be related to the increased mortality, has been demonstrated in patients with a history of near-fatal asthma and in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the perception of dyspnea and the severity of asthma. METHOD: Baseline spirometry and Borg score change(A Borg score) during breathing through an inspiratory muscle trainer were measured in 27 consecutive asthma patients and 11 normal subjects. RESULTS: The baseline Borg score was negatively related to FEV1 A Borg score was significantly lower in asthmatics than in controls at high level of loads. A Borg score was lower in severe asthma than in mild asthma. A Borg score was positively related to the baseline FEV1. Seventy-five percent of severe asthma, 62.5% of moderate one, and 9.1% of mild one showed impaired dyspnea perception. Dyspnea perception was related to age(r, = -0.49, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Three quarters of patients with severe asthma showed impaired dyspnea perception to inspiratory resistive load. Dyspnea perception was related to asthma severity and age.
Aged ; Asthma ; Dyspnea* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Respiration ; Spirometry