PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to determine whether late preterm infants from normal oral GTT (glucose tolerance test) but positive GCT (glucose challenge test) mothers are associated with adverse postnatal outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed from singleton infants who were born at 34(+0)-36(+6) weeks between January 2008 and December 2012 and prenatally checked at CHA Gangnam Medical Center. Infants were categorized into three groups according to the results of 50 g oral GCT and 100 g oral GTT; NG group (normal glucose tolerance group, n=603) vs. GIG group (gestational impaired glucose tolerance group; infants of normal oral GTT but positive GCT mothers, n=77) vs. GDM group (gestational diabetes group, n=52). Neonatal outcomes were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: GIG group showed significantly increased incidence of jaundice compared to NG group (9.6% vs. 19.5%, P=0.031). The number of old mothers (> or =35 years at delivery) was significantly higher in GIG group compared to NG group (27.5% vs. 33.8%, P=0.006). After stratification by maternal age, GIG group showed significantly increased respiratory diseases compared to NG group (44% vs. 65.4%, P=0.04). Hypocalcemia and feeding problem increased across the groups (NG vs. GIG vs. GDM; 13.3% vs. 26.9% vs. 32.0%, P= 0.024; 6.0% vs. 11.5% vs. 20.0%, P=0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Late preterm infants of normal oral GTT but positive GCT mothers, especially in older mother, have increased risk of postnatal morbidities such as respiratory distress, jaundice, hypocalcemia or feeding intolerance. Thus, careful follow up may be needed in this group since antepartum period.
Diabetes, Gestational* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Jaundice ; Mass Screening* ; Maternal Age ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

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PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the frequency of different classes of partial edentulism and the most frequently used design components of conventional removable partial dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 63 patients who were treated with removable partial denture in Kyungpook National University hospital for 2003 - 2006 were selected. A total of 76 removable partial denture frameworks were investigated. Kennedy classification was used to identify the class of partial edentulism. RESULTS: Results indicated that Kennedy class I removable partial dentures were the most frequently constructed. Most patients'cases were designed without modification areas. CONCLUSION: The most common type of direct retainer were the RPI clasp and RPA clasp in both maxilla and mandible. Lingual bar, linguoplate and anterior posterior palatal straps were the more frequently used mandibular and maxillary major connectors respectively. We did not have any case about Kennedy class IV patients.
Denture, Partial, Removable ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla

Background: This study aimed to analyze the prehospital process and reperfusion therapy process of acute ischemic stroke in Busan metropolitan area and examine the impact of living arrangement on the early management and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: The patients who diagnosed with AIS and received reperfusion therapy at the Busan Regional Cardiovascular Center between September 2020 and May 2023 were selected. We investigated the patients’ hospital arrival time (onset to door time) and utilization of 119 emergency ambulance services. Additionally, various time matrices related to reperfusion therapy after hospital were examined, along with the functional outcome at the 90-day after treatment. Results: Among the 753 AIS patients who underwent reperfusion therapy, 166 individuals (22.1%) were living alone. AIS patients living alone experienced significant delays in symptom detection (p<0.05) and hospital arrival compared to AIS patients with cohabitants (370.1 minutes vs. 210.2 minutes, p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of 119 ambulance utilization and time metrics related with the reperfusion therapy. Independent predictors of prognosis in AIS patients were found to be age above 70, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, tissue plasminogen activator, living alone (odds ratio [OR], 1.785; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.155–2.760) and interhospital transfer (OR, 1.898; 95% CI, 1.152–3.127). Delay in identification of AIS was shown significant correlation (OR, 2.440; 95% CI, 1.070–5.561) at living alone patients. Conclusion This study revealed that AIS patients living alone in the Busan metropolitan region, requiring endovascular treatment, face challenges in the pre-hospital phase, which significantly impact their prognosis.

BACKGROUND: We studied the hemodynamic changes associated with steep Trendelenburg position and prolonged pneumoperitoneum during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in elderly patients with cardiac diseases. METHODS: Hemodynamic variables were measured at baseline supine position, at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h during CO2 insufflation in post-Trendelenburg position, and after deflation in the supine position. RESULTS: In comparison with normal subjects, the cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance index of patients with cardiac diseases were significantly affected by the Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.001). However, other variables of heart rate, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were not differed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that attention should be paid to maintain adequate hemodynamic status during prolonged pneumoperitoneum in the Trendelenburg position, and which is unfeasible in patients with severe heart failure and unstable angina.
Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; Arterial Pressure ; Central Venous Pressure ; Head-Down Tilt ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prostatectomy ; Supine Position ; Vascular Resistance

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of embryo retention (ER) in the transfer catheter following embryo transfer (ET) in blastocyst transfer and investigate whether retransferring retained embryos has an impact on reproductive outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-ET. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 1,131 blastocyst transfers, which comprised 223 single blastocyst transfer (SBT) and 908 double blastocyst transfer (DBT) cycles. Each SBT and DBT group was classified depending on whether ET was performed without retained embryos in the catheter during the first attempt (without-ER group) or whether any retained embryos were found following ET (ER group) for the purpose of comparing reproductive outcomes in a homogenous population. RESULTS: The overall incidence of finding retained embryos was 2.8% (32/1,131). There were no retained embryos in SBT cycles. In DBT cycles, implantation rates (30.0% vs. 26.6%), positive β-hCG rates (57.2% vs. 56.2%), clinical pregnancy rates (45.3% vs. 46.9%), and live birth rates (38.9% vs. 43.8%) were not significantly different between the without-ER and ER groups. There were no significant differences in the mean birth weight (g) 2,928.4±631.8 vs. 2,948.7±497.8 and the mean gestational age at birth (269.3±17.2 days vs. 264.2±25.7 days). A total of nine cases of congenital birth defects were found in this study population. Eight were observed in the without-ER group and one in the ER group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that retransfer of retained embryos does not have any adverse impact on reproductive outcomes in blastocyst transfer cycles. Furthermore, our results support finding that SBT might be advantageous for decreasing the incidence of retained embryos in catheters.
Birth Weight ; Blastocyst* ; Catheters ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Incidence ; Live Birth ; Parturition ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate dose effects of ephedrine pretreatment on the onset time and intubating conditions after cisatracurium administration. METHODS: A total of 140 adult patients were randomized into 4 groups to receive either 30 microg/kg ephedrine (Group 30, n = 35), 70 microg/kg ephedrine (Group 70, n = 35), 110 microg/kg ephedrine (Group 110, n = 35), 3 ml normal saline (Group C, n = 35) as pretreatment given 30 s before anesthetic induction. Neuromuscular block was achieved with 0.15 mg/kg cisatracurium, evaluated accelomyographically with train-of-four stimulation. An anesthesiologist blinded to patient grouping assessed the intubating conditions 1.5 min after cisatracurium administration. RESULTS: An onset time of 70 s was obtained in the ephedrine groups (Group 30: 155.4 +/- 44.7 s, Group 70: 152.6 +/- 40.3 s, Group 110: 151.2 +/- 51.6 s) compared to Group C (224.6 +/- 56.9 s) after 0.15 mg/kg of cisatracurium (P < 0.001). Ephedrine doses of either 70 or 110 microg/kg for pretreatment significantly improved intubating conditions (P < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at 1 min after tracheal intubation were significantly increased than other times in all groups (P < 0.001), with no differences among the groups. However, 5 patients in Group 110 experienced marked hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure: > 200/100 mmHg) 1 min after tracheal intubation with no patients in other groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pre-treatment with ephedrine 70 microg/kg improved intubating conditions 1.5 min after cisatracurium administration and facilitated the onset of neuromuscular block (70 s) without adverse hemodynamic effects.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Ephedrine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intubation ; Neuromuscular Blockade

BACKGROUND: The heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in cellular protection mechanisms against physical or chemical stresses. In this study scFv antibodies specific for human HSP70.1 were isolated from a semi-synthetic human scFv library with the ultimate goal of developing anti-HSP70.1 intracellular antibody (intrabody) that may offer an attractive alternative to gene targeting to study the function of the protein in cells. METHODS: A semi-synthetic human scFv display library (5 X 10(8) size) was constructed using pCANTAB-5E vector and the selection of the library against bacterially expressed recombinant human HSP70.1 was attempted by panning. RESULTS: Three positive clones specific for recombinant HSP70.1 were identified. All three clones used V(H) subgroup III. On the other hand, V(L) of two clones belonged to the kappa light chain subgroup I, but the other utilized V(k) subgroup IV Interestingly, these scFv molecules specifically reacted to the recombinant HSP70.1, yet failed to recognize native HSP70 induced in U937 human monocytic cells by heat treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that affinity selection of an scFv phage display library using recombinant antigens produced in E. coli might not guarantee the isolation of scFv antibody molecules specific for a native form of the antigen. Therefore, the source of target antigens needs to be chosen carefully in order to isolate biofunctional antibody molecules.
Bacteriophages ; Clone Cells ; Gene Targeting ; Hand ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Hot Temperature* ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Humans* ; Single-Chain Antibodies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes of gait patterns during crossing obstacles of different heights in hemiplegic stroke patients and to compare gait characteristics with those of healthy control subjects. METHOD: Subjects were 13 hemiplegic stroke patients and 9 age-matched healthy adults. Subjects stepped over obstacles with each height of 3, 8 and 13 cm. The three- dimensional gait analysis was performed. Temporospatial, kinematic and kinetic parameters were measured in both lead and trail limb. The pre- and post-obstacle distance, pre- and post-obstacle swing time and toe clearance were also measured. RESULTS: With increase in height of obstacles, ratio of single limb support time, angle of hip, knee flexion in swing phase and hip extensor moment increased in both lead and trail limbs. In the lead limb, post-obstacle distance and toe clearance also increased (p<0.05). Compared with control groups, the angle of knee flexion, hip extensor and hip flexor moment and pre- and post-obstacle distance decreased significantly in the lead limb of hemiplegic patients (p<0.05). In the trail limb of hemiplegic patients, the angle of hip flexion, hip flexor moment and post-obstacle distance decreased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Understanding strategies for adequate control and coordination of the swing limb during crossing obstacles may be the basis for the safe training of obstacle crossing in hemiplegic stroke patients.
Adult ; Extremities ; Gait ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Stroke ; Toes

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of achievement of anterior tooth movement using a thermoplastic clear aligner by superimposing pretreatment, setup, and post-treatment models and to analyze the factors that influence it. Materials and Methods: Forty patients who underwent clear aligner treatment at the Department of Orthodontics were included in the study. The pretreatment, setup, and post-treatment models were superimposed, and the achievement rates were evaluated. We analyzed the factors that caused changes in achievement rate on each condition.Result: The average achievement rate of total tooth movement was 57.65%. Mesiodistal and anteroposterior displacements were achieved better than vertical displacement and rotation. In each displacement, posterior, mesial, and extrusive movements were better achieved than the rotation. Spacing was better corrected than crowding, especially in the mesiodistal direction. Most of the tooth movements were achieved better when using 3-step thicknesses of aligners were used. Conclusion The treatment results of clear aligners may differ depending on the type of tooth movement, age and other treatment conditions. Clinicians should consider unfavorable conditions based on the results of this study.