Chitosan has been known as a wound healing agent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility and guided bone regenerative effect of chitosan and chitosan-cellulose membranes. The effects of chitosan and chitosan-cellulose membranes on the growth and survival of human periodontal ligament cells were examined by rapid colorimetric MTT(tetrazolium) assay, and the tissue response and resorption pattern were observed by implanting the membranes into the subcutaneous tissue of the back of rats for 6 weeks. To evaluate the guided bone regenerative potential of membranes, the amount of newly formed bone in the rat calvarial defects(8mm in diameter) was measured by histomorphometry and radiomorphometry 1,2 and 4 weeks after implantation of membranes. Chitosan and chitosan-cellulose membranes showed no adverse effect on the growth and survival of human periodontal ligament cells. When membranes were subcutaneously implanted, inflammatory reaction was observed at 1 week and which gradually subsided 2 weeks after implantation. Membranes remained intact throughout the experimental period of 6 weeks. Radiomorphometric analysis of the craniotomy sites revealed that chitosan and chitosan-cellulose membrane implanted sites showed increased radiopacity over control. Statistically significant differences with control were found in chitosan-cellulose membrane implanted group at 2 and 4 weeks, and chitosan membrane implanted group at 4 weeks(P<0.05). Histomorphometric data indicated a pattern of osseous healing similar to radiomorphometric analysis. There was a statistically significant difference between control and chitosan-cellulose membrane implanted group at 4 weeks(P<0.05). These results implicate that chitosan and chitosan-cellulose membrane might be useful for guided bone regeneration.
Humans ; Rats ; Animals

PURPOSE: The aim of this report is to investigate the efficacy of anorganic bovine bone xenograft(Bio-Oss(R) ) at maxillary sinus floor augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two male patients who missed maxillary posterior teeth were included. They were performed maxillary sinus floor augmentation using anorganic bovine bone xenograft(Bio-Oss(R) ). After 10 or 13 months, the regenerated tissues were harvested using trephine drills with 2 or 4mm diameter and non-decalcified specimens were made. The specimens were examined histologically and histomorphometrically to investigate graft resorption and new bone formation. RESULTS: Newly formed bone was in contact with Bio-Oss(R) particles directly without any gap between the bone and the particles. The proportions of newly formed bone were 23.4~25.3% in patient 1(Pt.1) and 28.8% in patient 2(Pt.2). And the proportions of remained Bio-Oss(R) were 29.7~30.2% in Pt.1 and 29.2% in Pt.2. The fixtures installed at augmented area showed good stability and the augmented bone height was maintained well. CONCLUSION: Anorganic bovine bone xenograft(Bio-Oss(R) ) has high osteoconductivity and helps new bone formation, so that it can be used in maxillary sinus floor augmentation.
Humans ; Male ; Mandrillus ; Maxillary Sinus ; Osteogenesis ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Tooth ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how the usage of topical steroid agents affects skin barrier function. OBJECTIVE: In order to follow up on previous research into this topic, we sought to investigate the effects of a 3-week application of topical mometasone cream on the alteration of skin barrier function. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who had been clinically diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis were enrolled. Topical mometasone cream was applied to the skin lesions. Clinical symptoms, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), corneometer unit, and pH value were measured on the initial visit, 1 week after treatment, and 3 weeks after treatment, and their values were compared. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms showed improvement after topical mometasone cream was applied (p<0.05), but changes in TEWL, corneometer units, and pH values failed to show statistical significance (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that treatment with topical mometasone cream for 3 weeks has no effect on skin barrier function. We believe that this research will help determine the optimal duration and dosage of topical steroid agents used for treating allergic contact dermatitis.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Skin* ; Mometasone Furoate

PURPOSE: Axillary lymph node metastasis is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. Previous reports show differences that clinicopathologic factors influence the systemic recurrence and survival in axillary lymph node negative breast cancer. Thus, we have attempted to determine the prognostic factors influence on the systemic recurrence and survival in axillary lymph node negative breast cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1,351 node negative breast cancer patients who underwent curative surgery to determine the prognostic factors such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), family history, bilateral breast cancer, operation method, tumor size, stage, histologic grade, number of resected lymph nodes, hormone receptor status, overexpression of p53 and c-erbB2, and adjuvant therapy that influence the systemic recurrence and 10-year-distant relapse-free survival. RESULTS: Systemic recurrence occurred in 58 patients (4.3%) during 53.3 months median follow up period. The tumor size (P=0.001), stage (P=0.005), histologic grade (P=0.049). ER (P=0.028), PR (P=0.002), overexpression of p53 (P=0.001) and bilateral breast cancer (P=0.043) were statistically significant factors that influenced the systemic recurrence. In multivariate analysis, only tumor size was associated with the systemic recurrence (P=0.003). Tumor size (P=0.004), histologic grade (P=0.035), ER (P=0.046), PR (P=0.001) and bilateral cancer (P=0.003) were statistically significant factors that influenced 10-year-distant relapse-free survival. CONCLUSION: The larger tumor size was determined to be an independent prognostic value in axillary lymph node negative breast cancer.
Body Mass Index ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Jugular bulb diverticulum (JBD) is a rarely reported vascular anomaly, which is an extraluminal outpouching from the jugular bulb. Especially, there exists a lack of reported cases involving JBD encroaching the internal auditory canal (IAC) in Korea. Subjects with JBD may be asymptomatic or have variable symptoms based on its location and size. In this article, we report a unique case of JBD eroding into the IAC that was presented as sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vertigo.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Diverticulum ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Korea ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an audible cracking sound during shoulder manipulation following distention arthrography is clinically significant in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. METHODS: A total of 48 patients (31 women, 17 men) with primary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder completed the study. All participants underwent C-arm-guided arthrographic distention of the glenohumeral joint with injections of a corticosteroid and normal saline. After distention, we performed flexion and abduction manipulation of the shoulder. The patients were grouped into sound and non-sound groups based on the presence or absence, respectively, of an audible cracking sound during manipulation. We assessed shoulder pain and disability based on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and passive range of motion (ROM) measurements (flexion, abduction, internal and external rotation) before the procedure and again at 3 weeks and at 6 weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups: 21 were included in the sound group and 27 in the non-sound group. In both groups, the results of the NRS, SPADI, and ROM assessments showed statistically significant improvements at both 3 and 6 weeks after the procedure. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups except with respect to external rotation at 6 weeks, at which time the sound group showed a significant improvement in external rotation when compared with the non-sound group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings showed that manipulation following distention arthrography was effective in decreasing pain and increasing shoulder range of motion. In addition, the presence of an audible cracking sound during manipulation, especially on external rotation, was associated with better shoulder range of motion.
Adhesives* ; Arthrography* ; Bursitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

The interlocking nail is used as a valuable method in treating humerus shaft fracture because of the merit, including relatively simple procedure, one of the most stable fixation methods, and allowing early ROM excericise and low complication. Fourteen pateints with humerus shaft fractures were treated using interlocking nail at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Paik Hospital from Jan.1993 to Oct.1994. l. Among the 14 pateints, average age was 34.8 years and 9 cases were male and the most common cause of injury was traffic accident. 2. Associated injury including 3 cases of ipsilateral scapular fracture, I case of ipsilateral clavicle fracture, and 1 case of brachial plexus injury, and 1 case of radial nerve injury. 3. The mean duration of the radiologic bone union was 8.6 weeks. 4. There was no serious post operative complication such as non-union, infection, bending or rotational deformity at fracture site, impingement syndrome, metal failure of the nail or interlocking screws. 5. To prevent the impingement syndrom and rotator cuff injury, we countersinked the proximal end of the nail into the humeral head and minimized skin incision.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brachial Plexus ; Clavicle ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus ; Male ; Methods ; Radial Nerve ; Rotator Cuff ; Skin ; Tibia

PURPOSE: The aerosol generated by ultrasonic scaler can contain bacteria or virus which can penetrate into body through respiratory systems of dentists, dental hygienist or patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate as preoperative mouthrinse or lavage for ultrasonic scaler on the reduction of viable organisms in aerosol produced during periodontal treatment using ultrasonic scaler. METHODS: 30 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were included and divided into 3 groups: Control (no preoperative mouthrinse and tap water as lavage), CHG (preoperative mouthrinse with 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate and tap water as lavage), CHL (no reoperative mouthrinse and 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate as lavage). Each patient received scaling or subgingival curettage for 30 min. In CHG group, mouthrinse with chlorhexidine digluconate was performed for 1 min. before treatment. Before, during and after scaling or subgingival curettage, air sampling was performed for 7 min. each (1000 L/7 min.) with trypticase-soy agar plate. Agar plates were incubated in 37degrees C aerobically. The numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) were counted and compared. RESULTS: The numbers of CFUs of the samples obtained during treatment were 97+/-14.0 in control, 73.1+/-14.9 in CHG group and 44.5+/-9.0 in CHL group. The difference among the 3 groups was determined to be statistically significant (one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction, p-value: 0.0003). In contrast, the numbers of CFU of samples obtained before and after treatment were not significantly different among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorhexidine digluconate used as preoperative mouthrinse or lavage for ultrasonic scaler can reduce the microorganisms in aerosol produced during periodontal treatment using ultrasonic scaler. Less number of microorganisms were detected when chlorhexidine was used as lavage for ultrasonic scaler.
Aerosols ; Agar ; Bacteria ; Chlorhexidine ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Hygienists ; Dentists ; Humans ; Respiratory System ; Stem Cells ; Subgingival Curettage ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; Ultrasonics ; Viruses ; Water

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum is difficult and delayed because it presents with various clinical symptoms. We evaluated clinical, imaging and pathologic findings of Meckel's diverticulum to facilitate detection of Meckel's diverticulum in children. METHODS: Review of clinical, imaging, surgical and pathological findings in 10 children aged 7 days to 14 years with Meckel's diverticulum during an 8-year period, 1993-2001, at Ewha Womans University Hospital was undertaken. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2.3 : 1. The chief complaint was painless lower gastrointestinal(GI) bleeding; others were abdominal pain, abdominal distention and vomiting, in order of frequency. The diagonsis before surgery were Meckel's diverticulum in 5 patients, non-reducible intussusception in 3 patients and intestinal obstruction in 2 patients. The diverticulum was located between 35 cm to 70 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The length of the diverticulum ranged from 4 cm to 12 cm and 80% of it was within 5 cm. A Meckel scan(99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy) after cimetidine administration was done in 6 cases. All 5 cases that presented with lower GI bleeding had ectopic gastric mucosa confirmed on pathology. Out of 5 cases of ectopic gastric mucosa, only 4 cases were positive on the Meckel's scan. CONCLUSION: In cases of unexplained GI bleeding, obstruction, or inflammation diagnostic workup should be carried out to rule out Meckel's diverticulum. Laparoscopy, high resolution ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen may be indicated in the assessment of pediatric patient with lower GI bleeding, especially in patients with suspected bleeding from Meckel's diverticulum showing negative Meckel's scan.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Child ; Cimetidine ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulum ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ileocecal Valve ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum* ; Pathology ; Ultrasonography ; Vomiting