OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the hard palate between Korean adults with and without mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) data. METHODS: The protocol for the two-dimensional (2D) and 3D mathematical modeling was established by analyzing CBCT images of 30 adults with OSA and 30 matched controls without OSA, using MIMICS software. The linear and angular measurements were also determined using this software. The measurements were repeated for 30 palates, by the same operator, to assess reliability. RESULTS: The palates of OSA patients were higher in the posterior part and narrower in the anterior-superior part than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The nasal cavities of patients with OSA were narrower (p < 0.05) than those of controls. The increasing angle of the first molar palatal root is a compensation of the upper dental arch to improve occlusion. However, for most palatal measurements, there were no significant differences between the OSA and control groups (p > 0.05). The results of 2D and 3D mathematical models were consistent for linear and angular measurements, indicating that 2D and 3D mathematical modeling of the palate is a reliable methodology. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is a multifactorial disease; the palates of adults with mild-to-moderate OSA do not have specific morphological features distinct from those of healthy controls.
Adult* ; Compensation and Redress ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Arch ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Molar ; Nasal Cavity ; Palate ; Palate, Hard* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

No abstract available.
DNA* ; Flow Cytometry* ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Planned endoscopic submucosal dissection with snaring (ESD-S) is thought to shorten operating time spent on submucosal dissection, but may lead to uncertainty of en bloc resection or to a possible increase in tumor-positive margins. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the feasibility of ESD-S as a planned procedure for gastric adenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 99 patients who underwent ESD-S or ESD for gastric adenoma between May 2011 and May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the differences between the ESD-S and the ESD groups, focusing on rates of en bloc resection and pathologic complete resection, mean operation time, and complications. RESULTS: The mean operation time was significantly lower in the ESD-S group than in the ESD group (19.9+/-11.2 vs. 33.8+/-19.9, P=0.012). Cases with an operation time under 30 minutes were more frequent in the ESD-S group (88.9% vs. 48.1%, OR=8.615, 95% CI=2.949~25.168). There were no significant differences in en bloc resection, histologic complete resection, or complication rates between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: ESD-S has a time advantage over ESD with a comparable compete resection rate. ESD-S can be considered a planned method for available early gastric adenoma.
Adenoma* ; Endoscopy ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins* ; Uncertainty

Clear thermoplastic retainers have been widely used in daily orthodontics; however, they have inherent limitations associated with thermoplastic polymer materials such as dimensional instability, low strength, and poor wear resistance. To solve these problems, we developed a new type of clear orthodontic retainer that incorporates multi-layer hybrid materials. It consists of three layers; an outer polyethylenterephthalate glycol modified (PETG) hard-type polymer, a middle thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) soft-type polymer, and an inner reinforced resin core. The resin core improves wear resistance and mechanical strength, which prevent unwanted distortion of the bucco-palatal wall of the retainer. The TPU layer absorbs impact and the PETG layer has good formability, optical qualities, fatigue resistance, and dimensional stability, which contributes to increased support from the mandibular dentition, and helps maintain the archform. This new type of vacuum-formed retainer showed improved mechanical strength and rate of water absorption.
Absorption ; Dentition ; Fatigue ; Orthodontic Retainers* ; Orthodontics ; Polymers ; Polyurethanes ; Water

BACKGROUND: V. vulnificus infection is found between May and October when the man who has hepatic disorder or immunity disorder eats raw shellfish and it causes the systemic symptoms such as sudden fever, chilling, shock and stupor and local skin lesions like blob and necrosis. This disease has 46~61% of fatality rate in spite of intensive treatment. This study conducts the examination of history, epidemic study, ingesting raw fish and bacteriologic investigation in the patients with similar clinical symptoms to the above and examines the diagnostic correlations. METHOD: It is conducted with 31 cases who admitted at emergency medical center of Chosun University Hospital from May of 1995 to September of 1998 and are suspected to have V. vulnificus infection. It analyze bacteriologic examination, the survey of residence, eating raw shellfish, hepatic disorder, alcohol drinking habits and skin lesion. RESULTS: 1)the rate of male and female is 15.5:1 and in the age, 18 cases are in fifties, seven ale in fifties and six are over sixties. 2) Clinically, V. vulnificus is detected in 20 of 31 cases which is suspected to have V. vulnificus i18c1ion and it is not detected in 5 cases. Other bacteria are detected in 6 cases and they include staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas species, beta hemotytic streptococcus and E-coil. 3) In local distribution, Kohung has 10 cases, Shinan and Mokpo have six, Haenam and Kangjin have aye, Yongkwang and Muan have five, Naju and Yongam have five and Kwangju has one. 4) Eating fishes and raw shellfishes is found in 31 cases. In the kind of shellfishes, eating raw clam is 10 cases, raw thin-shelled surf calm is 8 cases, raw oyster is 5 cases and sliced raw fish is 4 cases and pickled sea floods ate 4 cases. 5) The cases with hepatic disorder are 23 and 15 Gases with heavy alcohol dunking Carrier are included. The cases with Diabetic Mellitus are four and those with pulmonary tuberculosis are two. Two cases have not basal diseases. 6) On the opinion of skin lesion, 20 cases show vesicular necrosis, 7 cases have dendriform erythema, 3 cases have papule and one case doesn't show clear skin lesion. CONCLUSION: When V. vulnificus infection is detected, it is fatal and those who have hepatic disorder or heavy alcohol drinking habit must avoid eating fishes and shellfishes raw in summer. It is important to have emergency treatment for the patient whose V. vulnificus infection is suspected. It is considered that the administration of initial antibiotics is effective by generalizing the clinical symptom, epidemic opinion and patient history even before the results of bacteriologic confirmed.
Alcohol Drinking ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Bivalvia ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Emergency Treatment ; Erythema ; Female ; Fever ; Fishes ; Floods ; Gases ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Necrosis ; Ostreidae ; Pseudomonas ; Shellfish ; Shock ; Skin ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus ; Stupor ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between endothelial cell loss rate at one week, one month, three months, and six months after penetrating keratoplasty and clinical factors including recipient age, donor age, preoperative endothelial cell densities of the donors and preoperative diagnoses of the recipients. Among the 70 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at Chonbuk University Hospital from December 1996 to January 1999, 30 eyes of 30 patients that showed reasonable endothelial resolution by non-contact specular microscopy during the follow up period of 6 months were chosen and evaluated.The cell density decreased continuously during the observation period. Endothelial cell loss rate averaged 11.5%at one week, 19.0% at one month, 25.0%at three months and 30.0%at six months after penetrating keratoplasty. Endothelial cell loss rate showed no significant correlation with donor age, recipient age, preoperative cell density at any examination period[r+/-0.4, p0.05]. Preoperative endothelial cell density showed significant correlation with postoperative endothelial cell density at each examination period[r0.7, p<0.05]. The rate of endothelial loss in the keratoconus group was significantly lower than those of bullous keratopathy or corneal leukoma groups at three months after penetrating keratoplasty[Wilcoxon test, p<0.05].
Cell Count ; Corneal Opacity ; Diagnosis ; Endothelial Cells* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Keratoconus ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating* ; Microscopy ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features, clinical course, and treatment outcomes after laser photocoagulation in infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina. METHODS: Six patients (12 eyes) with APROP and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve eyes of six infants were included and were treated with laser photocoagulation for avascular retina and for capillary-free zones in vascularized retina, except for the posterior pole, and fundus findings were photographically-documented in sequence. In addition, anatomic and visual outcomes were evaluated with complications of APROP. RESULTS: Among all of the consecutive infants with APROP, capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were demonstrated in 24% of the infants. All of the infants were >27 weeks of gestation age and had birth weights >1,000 g. After laser treatment, 7 eyes (58.3%) had favorable outcomes, and late capillary filling in capillary-free zones of vascularized retina were noted, however 4 eyes (33.3%) progressed to retinal detachment and 1 eye (8.3%) was complicated by a retinal fold-distorting posterior pole. The visual outcomes were associated with anatomic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic outcomes in infants with APROP who had capillary-free zones were comparable to previously reported infants with APROP. The late capillary filling of capillary-free zones in vascularized retina was noted, and angiogenesis was considered to be involved. This process toward normal capillary formation or neovascularization in APROP, might determine its outcome.
Capillaries/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Male ; Retina/*pathology/surgery ; Retinal Vessels/*pathology/surgery ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/*pathology/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features, clinical course, and treatment outcomes after laser photocoagulation in infants with aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina. METHODS: Six patients (12 eyes) with APROP and capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve eyes of six infants were included and were treated with laser photocoagulation for avascular retina and for capillary-free zones in vascularized retina, except for the posterior pole, and fundus findings were photographically-documented in sequence. In addition, anatomic and visual outcomes were evaluated with complications of APROP. RESULTS: Among all of the consecutive infants with APROP, capillary-free zones in vascularized retina were demonstrated in 24% of the infants. All of the infants were >27 weeks of gestation age and had birth weights >1,000 g. After laser treatment, 7 eyes (58.3%) had favorable outcomes, and late capillary filling in capillary-free zones of vascularized retina were noted, however 4 eyes (33.3%) progressed to retinal detachment and 1 eye (8.3%) was complicated by a retinal fold-distorting posterior pole. The visual outcomes were associated with anatomic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomic outcomes in infants with APROP who had capillary-free zones were comparable to previously reported infants with APROP. The late capillary filling of capillary-free zones in vascularized retina was noted, and angiogenesis was considered to be involved. This process toward normal capillary formation or neovascularization in APROP, might determine its outcome.
Capillaries/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Male ; Retina/*pathology/surgery ; Retinal Vessels/*pathology/surgery ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/*pathology/*surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of day hospital care in hospitalized schizophrenic patients in terms of treatment adherence and treatment outcomes. METHODS: Among schizophrenic patients hospitalized between 2011 and 2012, 23 day hospital care patients and 40 control subjects were included in the study. All candidates underwent Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Drug Attitude Inventory, WHO Quality of Life scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale when their symptoms were stabilized during hospitalization, and after being discharged, 23 patients received day hospital care for two months and then changed to out-patient care while 40 patients received out-patient care immediately after discharge. At the point of two months of out-patient care, the treatment adherence of the two groups was evaluated ; tracking observation was performed until February, 2013, and survival rates were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Treatment adherence was higher in the day hospital care group than in the control group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a higher survival rate for the day hospital care group compared to the control group. Levels of cognitive insight and quality of life were higher after day hospital care than before day hospital care in the day hospital care group. CONCLUSION: Through the study, it was confirmed that when hospitalized schizophrenic patients receive continuous day hospital care after being discharged, they receive further out patient care more faithfully. The study is considered to aid in the understanding regarding schizophrenic patients' treatment adherence issues and improvement of treatment outcomes.
Hospitalization ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Patient Care ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Schizophrenia ; Survival Rate ; Track and Field ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common, serious complication in rhabdomyolysis patients. Early recognition and adequate therapy in rhabdomyolysis-related AKI are essential to reducing mortality. However, existing biomarkers, such as plasma creatinine, have several limitations for early detection of AKI. Novel parameters have recently been studied for greater reliability in prediction and staging of AKI in critically ill patients in the emergency department. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of certain parameters for early prediction and staging of AKI in adults with acute non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. METHODS: Eighty eight patients with adult non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis, who were admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (ICU) from Dec 2013 to Nov 2014, were enrolled in this observational cohort study. AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Diagnostic characteristics of initial laboratory parameters were analyzed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Of the 88 patients, 60 patients (68.2%) developed AKI during the ICU stay. The ROC curve for plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) showed the highest sensitivity (81.7%) and specificity (78.6%) among initial parameters. In pairwise comparison, the areas under the curve (AUCs) for plasma NGAL and serum creatinine were 0.868 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.779-0.931) and 0.765 (95% CI: 0.662-0.849), respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in both (p=0.047). Plasma NGAL levels increased significantly as the stage of AKI progressed, using AKIN criteria (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma NGAL can be a reliable parameter for early prediction and approximate staging of AKI in adult non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis in the emergency department.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies ; Creatinine ; Critical Illness ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lipocalins ; Mortality ; Neutrophils ; Plasma ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity