No abstract available.
Cephalosporins* ; Pneumonia* ; Salicylates*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the fracture toughness of currently available resin cements for zirconia restorations and evaluate the effect of water storage on fracture toughness of those resin cements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-edge notched specimens (3 mm x 6 mm x 25 mm) were prepared from three currently available dual cure resin cements for zirconia restorations (Panavia F 2.0, Clearfil SA luting and Zirconite). Each resin cement was divided into four groups: immersed in distilled water at 37degrees C for 1 (Control group), 30, 90, or 180 days (n=5). Specimens were loaded in three point bending at a cross-head speed of 0.1 mm/s. The maximum load at specimen failure was recorded and the fracture toughness (K(IC)) was calculated. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and multiple comparison Scheffe test (alpha=.05). RESULTS: In control group, the mean KIC was 3.41 +/- 0.64 MN.m(-1.5) for Panavia F, 2.0, 3.07 +/- 0.41 MN.m(-1.5) for Zirconite, 2.58 +/- 0.30 MN.m(-1.5) for Clearfil SA luting respectively, but statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between them. Although a gradual decrease of K(IC) in Panavia F 2.0 and gradual increases of KIC in Clearfil SA luting and Zirconite were observed with storage time, there were no significant differences between immersion time for each cement. CONCLUSION: The resin cements for zirconia restorations exhibit much higher K(IC) values than conventional resin cements. The fracture toughness of resin cement for zirconia restoration would not be affected by water storage.
Immersion ; Resin Cements ; Resins, Synthetic* ; Water*

BACKGROUND: The management of vertiginous patients is a great challenge to emergency physicians. We evaluated the diagnostic value of a diffusion-weighted image(DWI) in differentiating central vertigo from the peripheral vertigo in patients who presented no neurological symptoms other than risk factors for stroke. METHODS: From March 2000 to February 2001, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of 68 patients who visited the emergency department with symptoms of isolated vertigo and who had risk factors for stroke. DWIs, computed tomograms(CT), and medical records were reviewed, and the final diagnose, the DWIs and the CT readings, the risk factors for stroke, and the time it took waiting for a DWI or CT scan were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients, 21(30.8%) had central vertigo: 15 vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attacks(VB-TIA), 4 brain stem infarctions, 1 cerebellar infarction, and 1 cerebellopeduncular infarction. The DWI showed a 28.6% sensitivity, a 97.9% specificity, and an 85.7% positive predictive value in diagnosing central vertigo. It also had a 100% sensitivity in detecting infarctions. CONCLUSION: A DWI had a comparable sensitivity to MRI in detecting central vertigo and small, but potentially, lethal infarctions in our patient population. We recommend clinical application of DWI in the emergency department evaluation of isolated vertigo patients with risk factors for stroke.
Brain Stem Infarctions ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Reading ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertigo*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Gastrointestinal decompression by nasogastric or intestinal tubes developed in 1930s has been the only treatment modality for inoperable intestinal obstruction. We hypothesized that the octreotide, a potent inhibitor of intestinal secretion, has a therapeutic potential in intestinal obstruction. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups. The rats were subjected to complete or partial ileal obstruction. The treated rats received octreotide (100 microgram/kg) while the controls received the same quantity of saline every 12 hours for 24 or 48 hours. After 24 or 48 hours, the volumes of the small bowel contents were measured. The volumes of supernatant and the concentrations of electrolytes in the small bowel contents after centrifugation were also analyzed. The ileal segments proximal to obstruction were harvested, fixed, and stained, and the pathological changes were evaluated with mucosal damage scores. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in the volume and the electrolyte composition of intestinal fluid among the 4 groups. In the 48 hour complete obstruction group, the octreotide-treated rats showed statistically lower mucosal damage scores than the control rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Octreotide exerts mucosal protecting effect on the complete intestinal obstruction rat model.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Agents/*therapeutic use ; Ileal Diseases/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Ileum/pathology ; Intestinal Obstruction/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Octreotide/*therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: In pediatric intubation, it is difficult to select the correct tracheal tube size and proper depth. Children have as many different tube size as they have ages. This study was performed to evaluate the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guideline for intubation in Korean children. METHODS: We studied pediatric patients who were admitted with intubation from 1996 to 2001 at our hospital. We selected 33 Korean patients under 15 years of age for evaluation in this study. Their medical records and chest radiographs were compared. The distance of the tracheal tube tip from the carina on the postintubation chest X-ray was determined. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The depth of tracheal intubation was proper in 12 patients (36.3%), too deep in 16 patients (48.4%) and too shallow in 5 patients (15.1%). The reasons for intubation were respiratory failure (24.2%), mental change (57.6%) and status epilepticus (18.1%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the PALS guideline for tracheal intubation is not suitable for Korean children. Determination of the proper depth of tracheal intubation for Korean children is needed through further study.
Child* ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Medical Records ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Status Epilepticus ; Thorax

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the more prevalent clinical situations encountered by primary care physicians. Thyroid storm is defined as a life-threatening exacerbation of the hyperthyroid state in which there is evidence of decompensation of one or more organ systems. Common precipitants include infection, surgery, diabetic ketoacidosis, vascular accidents, non-compliance with antithyroid medication, and emotional stress, but rarely develop in invasive molar pregnancy. An 18-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of lower abdominal pain and vaginal spotting. She had no previous history of hyperthyroidism. Under the diagnosis of invasive molar pregnancy, dilatation and curettage was performed. However, right after the procedure the patient developed a semi-coma metal status, high grade fever, and tachycardia. Prompt diagnosis of thyroid storm was made and treatment followed immediately. We present a case of thyroid storm and a review of thyroid storm precipitated by invasive molar pregnancy.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation and Curettage* ; Dilatation* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole* ; Hyperthyroidism ; Metrorrhagia ; Molar* ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Pregnancy ; Stress, Psychological ; Tachycardia ; Thyroid Crisis* ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Antispasmodics such as octylonium are widely used to manage irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. However, the efficacy and safety of another antispasmodic, tiropramide, remain uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tiropramide compared with octylonium in patients with IBS. METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority trial, 287 patients with IBS (143 receiving tiropramide and 144 octylonium) were randomly allocated to either tiropramide 100 mg or octylonium 20 mg t.i.d (means 3 times a day) for 4 weeks. Primary endpoint was the mean change of abdominal pain from baseline assessed by visual analogue scales (VAS) score after 4 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints were the changes in abdominal pain from baseline at week 2 and in abdominal discomfort at weeks 2 and 4, using VAS scores, patient-reported symptom improvement including stool frequency and consistency, using symptom diaries, IBS-quality of life (IBS-QoL), and depression and anxiety, at week 4. RESULTS: The VAS scores of abdominal pain at week 4, were significantly decreased in both tiropramide and octylonium groups, but the change from baseline did not differ between the 2 groups (difference,-0.26 mm; 95% CI,-4.33-3.82; P = 0.901). Abdominal pain and discomfort assessed using VAS scores, diaries, and IBS-QoL were also improved by both treatments, and the changes from baseline did not differ. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the 2 groups, and no severe adverse events involving either drug were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Tiropramide is as effective as octylonium in managing abdominal pain in IBS, with a similar safety profile.
Abdominal Pain ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Parasympatholytics ; Weights and Measures

Background/Aims: It remains unclear which maintenance treatment modality is most appropriate for mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).We aimed to compare on-demand treatment with continuous treatment using a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the maintenance treatment for patients with non-erosive GERD or mild erosive esophagitis. Methods: Patients whose GERD symptoms improved after 4 weeks of standard dose PPI treatment were prospectively enrolled at 25 hospitals.Subsequently, the enrolled patients were randomly assigned to either an on-demand or a continuous maintenance treatment group, and followed in an 8-week interval for up to 24 weeks. Results: A total of 304 patients were randomized to maintenance treatment (continuous, n = 151 vs on-demand, n = 153). The primary outcome, the overall proportion of unwillingness to continue the assigned maintenance treatment modality, failed to confirm the noninferiority of on-demand treatment (45.9%) compared to continuous treatment (36.1%). Compared with the on-demand group, the GERD symptom and health-related quality of life scores significantly more improved and the overall satisfaction score was significantly higher in the continuous treatment group, particularly at week 8 and week 16 of maintenance treatment. Work impairment scores were not different in the 2 groups, but the prescription cost was less in the on-demand group. Serum gastrin levels significantly elevated in the continuous treatment group, but not in the on-demand group. Conclusions Continuous treatment seems to be more appropriate for the initial maintenance treatment of non-erosive GERD or mild erosive esophagitis than on-demand treatment. Stepping down to on-demand treatment needs to be considered after a sufficient period of continuous treatment.