OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the radiation safety status of dental care institutions and to contribute to the development of guidelines for radiation protection in dental clinics in order to improve the work environment and reduce the radiation hazard for practitioners. METHODS: The subjects were selected using a convenience sampling. A total of 300 subjects participated in this study, including 150 dental hygienists from dental clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City with radiation-related work experience and 150 dental hygienists who had participated in a seminar hosted by the Korean Dental Insurance Manager Association held on January 17, 2016. For the survey, self-entry questionnaires were used, and the collected data were analyzed by performing a frequency analysis using cross tabulation (χ2-test) and t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The awareness on radiation protection among dental hygienists showed 4.4 out of 5 points, which was high, but the practice of radiation protection was overall poor. For the necessity of developing radiation protection guidelines, 91.9% answered “Yes, it is necessary.”. CONCLUSIONS: The level of radiation protection practiced at dental healthcare centers was much lower than the awareness of it and showed that the requirement of guidelines for radiation protection was high. Therefore, institutional devices require the development and utilization of various types of radiation protection guidelines in order to mitigate radiation risks and improve the work environment.
Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Care ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Hygienists ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Insurance, Dental ; Radiation Protection

BACKGROUND: The sequence method of determining baroreflex sensitivity (BRSSEQ) has been reported to correlate poorly with the phenylephrine method of determining BRS in individuals with attenuated BRS. Inhalation anesthetics are also known to decrease BRS. We therefore assessed the effect of varying the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and R-R interval (RRI) thresholds on BRSSEQ values and compared these results with the BRS obtained by the modified Oxford technique (BRSMODOX). METHODS: The average number of valid sequences and BRSSEQ values were derived by varying the SBP threshold from 0.5 to 2.5 mmHg and the RRI threshold from 1 to 6 ms, and the relation of BRSSEQ values to BRSMODOX values using sequential administration of nitroprusside and phenylephrine was assessed in 40 healthy individuals during sevoflurane anesthesia. RESULTS: Increasing either the SBP thresholds or RRI thresholds resulted in a decrease in the number of valid sequences. As the SBP thresholds were decreased and the RRI thresholds were increased, BRSSEQ values increased. When the SBP threshold exceeded 1 mmHg, no significant correlations were observed between BRSSEQ and BRSMODOX values. Significant correlations between the two methods were observed for an SBP threshold of 0.5 mmHg and RRI thresholds of 1, 2, 3 and 4 ms. Biases between the two methods were 2.1, 2.1, 0.4, and 0.4 ms/mmHg for 0.5 mmHg and 1, 2, 3 and 4 ms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adjusting the SBP threshold to 0.5 mmHg and the RRI threshold to 3 or 4 ms may improve BRSSEQ validity during sevoflurane anesthesia, when compared to BRSMODOX.
Anesthesia* ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; Baroreflex* ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Blood Pressure* ; Nitroprusside ; Phenylephrine

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital* ; Fetal Therapies* ; Lung*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to figure out the correlation of hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of consecutive 380 postmenopausal women (age> or =50, FSH>40IU/L and triglyceride[TG]<400 mg/dl) visiting health promotion center at Samsung Cheil Hospital from March 1997 to July 1998. We measured blood pressure by automatic sphygmomanometer (A & Dco.LTD.TM-2654) and divided them into four groups by blood pressure (Group I:systolic blood pressure[SBP]< 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure[DBP]<80 mmHg, n=87. Group II:SBP 120-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg, n=109. Group III: SBP 140-159 mmHg or DBP 90-99 mmHg, n=127. Group IV: SBP> or =160 mmHg or DBP> or =100 mmHg, n=57). We measured thier body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR). We also measured their levels of glucose, total cholesterol and TG by automatic biochemical analyzer (Hitachi 7150) and HDL cholesterol by direct method using AutoDAIICHI reagent. We calculated LDL cholesterol levels by Friedewald formula. RESULTS: MI, WHR and glucose level of group IV were significantly higher than those of group I. But there were no significant differences among the groups in the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. HDL cholesterol level of group I was statistically higher than that of group IV. TG level and LDL cholesterol/apo B ratio of group IV were significantly higher and lower than those of other groups respectively. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women who had moderate or severe hypertension show the trend toward abdominal obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia. We might have to pay attention to these metabolic abnormalities in postmenopausal women with hypertension.
Apolipoproteins ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Dyslipidemias* ; Female ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Menopause ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Sphygmomanometers ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of commercial plum beverage on the dentin surface that could be exposed to caries, gliopathy, and abrasion to investigate the inhibitory effects of dentin corrosion.METHODS: The experimental beverages were Jeju Samdasoo (Group 1, negative control), Coca-Cola (Group 2, positive control), Chorok Maesil (Group 3), and Chorok Maesil with 3% calcium lactate added (Group 4). The specimens were prepared and divided into 4 groups of 12 each. The pH of the experimental beverages was measured using a pH meter, and specimen surface hardness was assessed according to the Vickers hardness number (VHN). The specimens were immersed in the experimental beverage for 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Then, we obtained the average VHN by measuring surface microhardness. Measures of surface microhardness were compared using the paired t-test before and after 15 minutes of immersion in each of the four beverages. Between-group differences in surface microhardness were compared using one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test after the analysis.RESULTS: After 15 minutes of immersion in the experimental beverages, there was no significant difference in surface microhardness in group 1 (P>0.05). There were significant differences in groups 2, 3, and 4 (P < 0.05). The difference in surface microhardness before and after immersion for 15 minutes was highest in group 3 (−18.1±2.55), followed by group 2 (−13.0±3.53) and group 4 (−7.79±4.47). In group 1, the difference was −1.52±4.30. Moreover, there was a significant difference in each group (P < 0.05). After 10 minutes of immersion, surface microhardness tended to rapidly decrease.CONCLUSIONS: Patients who regularly ingest a commercially available plum drink with low pH should be provided dietary guidance on the risk of dental erosion. Calcium additives should be considered when producing plum beverage products.
Beverages ; Calcium ; Corrosion ; Dentin ; Hardness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Lactic Acid ; Prunus domestica ; Tooth

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that is based on the presence of non-caseating granulomas. Sarcoidosis commonly involves the lungs, skin, and eyes. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in sarcoidosis is uncommon. Gastrointestinal tract sarcoidosis commonly occurs subclinically, with clinical manifestations present in only 0.1-0.9% of patients with the disease. There are rare case reports of an individual with symptomatic gastrointestinal sarcoidosis. In Korea, gastrointestinal sarcoidosis without pulmonary involvement has not been reported previously. Here, we describe a case of gastrointestinal sarcoidosis in a 37-year-old male with symptoms of weight loss, fever, and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed based on the presence of non-caseating epithelioid granulomas in the stomach, duodenum, and colon by multiple biopsies.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Duodenum ; Fever ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Sarcoidosis* ; Skin ; Stomach ; Weight Loss

About half of all cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCMP) have a positive family history. All first-degree relatives of patients with HCMP should be screened with echocardiography. The prenatal diagnosis of abnormal septal hypertrophy in fetuses of mothers with HCMP has not yet been documented. We report a prenatal diagnosis in a case of familial HCMP by ultrasonography which was confirmed by autopsy. Fetal echocardiography provides a valuable aid in diagnosis of familial HCMP.
Autopsy ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic, Familial* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mothers ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

We report a 55-year-old female patient who presented with no P waves but with a wide QRS complex escape rhythm at 44 beats/min and prolonged QTc of 0.55 seconds on ECG. The patient had recurrence of ventricular fibrillations and loss of consciousness, and underwent defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) several times because of cardiac arrest. The transthoracic echocardiography showed dilated cardiomyopathy and enlargement of both atria. The Doppler echocardiography documented the absence of A wave in the tricuspid and mitral valve flow. An electrophysiologic study demonstrated electrical inactivity in the right and left atria. Atrial pacing with maximum output did not capture the atria. These findings together with her electrocardiographic finding indicated atrial standstill. Sudden cardiac death was her first clinical manifestation of ventricular arrhythmia. The patient remained asymptomatic after receiving a single chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) with VVI pacemaker function.
Bradycardia/*diagnosis/*therapy ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/*therapy ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; *Defibrillators, Implantable ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Fibrillation/diagnosis/therapy

Cardiac beriberi is caused by thiamine deficiency. Shoshin beriberi is a rare and fulminant form of cardiac beriberi characterized by hypotension, high output heart failure, lactic acidosis and anuria. Without early recognition and immediate treatment, most of these patients will be fatal. Therefore clinical diagnosis of shoshin beriberi is most important in emergency situation. We report a case of shoshin beriberi with clinical features mimicking acute coronary syndrome. Fifty year old male patient with chronic alcoholism was presented with shock, hypoxia, right heart failure and severe acidosis. Electrocardiogram showed abnormal Q in V1-3 and mild ST elevation and level of troponin I was slightly elevated. All manifestations including lactic acidosis were dramatically subsided in 18 hours by thiamine infusion. Even in developed country, shoshin beriberi can be occurred in patients with malnutrition and/or chronic alcoholism and should be differentiated with acute coronary syndrome.
Acidosis ; Acidosis, Lactic ; Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Alcoholism ; Anoxia ; Anuria ; Beriberi* ; Developed Countries ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Shock* ; Thiamine ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Troponin I

The clinical significance of prolonged PR interval has not been evaluated in patients with frequent premature atrial contractions (PACs). We investigated whether prolonged PR interval could predict new occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with frequent PACs. We retrospectively analyzed 684 patients with frequent PACs (> 100 PACs/day) who performed repeated 24-hour Holter monitoring. Prolonged PR interval was defined as longer than 200 msec. Among 684 patients, 626 patients had normal PR intervals (group A) and 58 patients had prolonged PR intervals (group B). After a mean follow-up of 59.3 months, 14 patients (24.1%) in group B developed AF compared to 50 patients (8.0%) in group A (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that prolonged PR interval (hazard ratio [HR], 1.950; 95% CI, 1.029-3.698; P = 0.041), age (HR, 1.033; 95% CI, 1.006-1.060; P = 0.015), and left atrial (LA) dimension (HR, 1.061; 95% CI, 1.012-1.112; P = 0.015) were associated with AF occurrence. Prolonged PR interval, advanced age, and enlarged LA dimension are independent risk factors of AF occurrence in patients with frequent PACs.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Area Under Curve ; Atrial Fibrillation/*diagnosis/etiology/mortality ; Atrial Premature Complexes/complications/*diagnosis ; *Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart/diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Proportional Hazards Models ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors