The use of pure titanium and titanium alloys have been increased recently in fixed, removable prosthodontics and implant fields as a framework. But when they were used for superstructures of implant of metal framework of removable prosthesis, welding is necessary to reconnect the fracture site to control the casting distortions. To overcome the difficulties in soldering the titanium due to high oxidation property, much effort have been devoted. In this study, some of mechanical properties were compared between pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy by usingl aser welding, electron beam welding technique and tungsten arc welding. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and microhardness were measured. And, in order to compare the effect of welding site and surrounding metal tissue according to the welding condition, SEM photographs were taken an element distribution was observed by Wave Dispersion Spectroscopy. Through analyses of the data, following results were obtained; 1. In items such as tensile strength, yield strength and elongation according to the welding techniques of pure titanium, only tungsten arc welded group showed significant lower value than other groups(P<0.05). 2. In items such as tensile strength and yield strength according to the welding techniques of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, control group and tungsten arc welded group showed significant difference among all the groups(P<0.05). 3. Ti-6Al-4V alloy exhibited significantly greater elongation than control group when the laser welding method and electron beam welding method were used, and elongation showed increasing tendency. 4. Pure titanium specimens exhibited increasing tendency of microhardness regardless of the welding technique applied, and especially tungsten arc welded group demonstrated a great increase of microhardness than parent metal. 5. There was no hardness change in laser welded group and electron bean welded group of Ti-6Al-4V ally, but in tungsten arc welded group, hardness changed greatly from parent metal to weld seam. 6. Through the metallographic examination and scanning electron microscopy, laser welding caused central fusion and recristallizations were formed and tungsten arc welding caused localized fusion to 0.3-0.7mm from the surface.
Alloys ; Hardness ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Parents ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Spectrum Analysis ; Tensile Strength ; Titanium* ; Tungsten ; Welding*

Historically, German chamomile (GC) oil has been used for treatment of skin disorders. BALB/c mice were sensitized twice a week with 100 microL of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and challenged twice the following week with 100 microliter of 0.2% DNCB for atopic dermatitis induction. Thereafter, 3% GC oil was applied daily (70 microliter, 6 times week) on the dorsal skin for 4 weeks. Saline or jojoba oil was used for the control mice. Blood was collected after second DNCB challenge, and at 2 and 4 weeks after initiating oil application. Serum IgE levels were significantly lowered in the GC oil application group at the end of the 4-week application period. The GC oil application for 4 weeks resulted in reduction in serum IgG1 level compared with that after 2-week application. The GC oil application group showed a significantly lower serum histamine level than the control group 2 weeks after oil application. Scratching frequency of the GC oil application group was significantly lower than either control groups. This study is to demonstrate GC oil's immunoregulatory potential for alleviating atopic dermatitis through influencing of Th2 cell activation.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; Chamomile/*immunology ; Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy/*immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Histamine/blood ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Interleukin-4/analysis ; Male ; Matricaria/*immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phytotherapy/*methods ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Th2 Cells/*immunology

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Bronchial asthma often develops in atopic dermatitis children. Allergen sensitization may affect the frequency of asthma in preschool atopic dermatitis children. So, we performed this study to know the relationship between allergen sensitization and the frequency of asthma in preschool atopic dermatitis children. METHODS: Three-hundred twelve of the children with atopic dermatitis in preschool aged children were divided into 3 groups; Allergens ; Asthma* ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Pyroglyphidae

Hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of infancy. Fifteen to 30% of these patients have multiple hemangiomas. Diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis (DNH) is a disease that often has a fatal outcome if left untreated, and is characterized by multiple cutaneous and visceral hemangiomas. Corticosteroids are the commonly accepted first line treatment, but if no effect is seen, further treatment is required such as interferon, surgical excision, embolization and radiotherapy. Interferon is effective, but the neurologic sequela including spastic diplegia can be a complication. We experienced a case of DHN in a neonate. In this case, the baby presented with multiple cutaneous and visceral hemangiomas with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) that included thrombocytopenia and consumptive coagulophthy. The baby was successfully treated with vincristine after the failure of steroid therapy.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Cerebral Palsy ; Fatal Outcome ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interferons ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; Prednisolone* ; Radiotherapy ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vincristine*

The term myotubular myopathy (MTM) implies a maturational arrest of fetal muscle during the myotubular stage of development at 8-15 weeks of gestation. Characteristic muscle histopathology consists of small hypotrophic muscle fibers with centrally placed nuclei and a surrounding clear area devoid of myofibrils. X-linked recessive inheritance is the most common trait. Autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant forms are less frequently reported. The clinical diagnostic criterion for X-linked MTM has relied on a positive family history and the demonstration of the presence of characteristic biopsy findings from affected male subjects. Additional features may include perinatal onset, severe hypotonia, respiratory failure, dysphagia, thin ribs, contractures of the hips or knees, puffy eyelids and ophthalmoplegia. The prognosis is often fatal, and most patients die within the first year of life from respiratory failure. The authors report a case of presumed X-linked MTM with severe hypotonia, muscle weakness and respiratory failure at birth.
Biopsy ; Contracture ; Deglutition Disorders ; Eyelids ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Myofibrils ; Myopathies, Structural, Congenital* ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Ribs ; Wills

The reconstruction of soft tissue defects on the leg remains a difficult challenge for plastic surgeons. If the defect is large and complicated by bone or joint defects, and excellent result can be obtained with free tissue transfer. In cases with no bony problem, no severe osteomyelitis and small medium-sized defects local flap is more acceptable than free tissue transfer because of its simple onestage and reliable operation. Fasciocutaneous turnover flaps revolve around the lack of criteria for safely designing these random pattern flaps as well as the risk of donorsite problems. Vertically-based deep fascia turnover flaps nourished by the subfascial plexus within deep fascia were used successfully for reconstruction of the leg in 5 patients. A vertically-based deep fascia turnover flap consists of deep fascia of the leg and its subfascial and epifascial plexus. As musculofascial, septofascial and periosteofascial branches these contribute to a richly anastomosing vascular network within deep fascia. Unlike adipofascial turnover flaps, the transversely-oriented deep fascia turnover flap keeps its subcutaneous layer with its intact vascular plexus so that the overlying skin is adequately perfused, even in patients with sizable flaps or extremely thin skin. Between March 1998 and February 1999, five cases underwent this procedure to reconstruct soft tissue defect on the leg. The advantages of this method are fast, safelyelevated preservation of the superficial vascular plexus, thus preserving the shape of the leg minimizing donor site scar and hypertrophy.
Cicatrix ; Fascia* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Joints ; Leg* ; Osteomyelitis ; Skin ; Tissue Donors

Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of pneumonia in school-age children and young adults. The clinical courses are usually mild but recently, severe cases were reported such as lung abscess, Swyer-James syndrome and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Spontaneous pneumothorax associated with M. pneumoniae infection is rare. Carlisle reported a 6-year-old patient with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax associated with M. pneumoniae infection and Koura also reported a 18-year-old girl with repeated. M. pneumoniae pneumonia with recurrent pneumothorax. We experienced bilateral spontaneous tension pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema associated with M. pneumoniae infection in a 6-year-old boy who presented with dyspnea, chest pain, and neck swelling. We reported it as the first case in Korea.
Adolescent ; Chest Pain ; Child ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Abscess ; Lung, Hyperlucent ; Male ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Neck ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Pneumothorax* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To identify clinical and laboratory features of atypical Kawasaki disease(KD), and to develop criteria for early diagnosis of atypical KD patients. METHODS: All patients with KD treated at our hospital from January 1998 to June 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among a total of 167 patients, 28(16.8%) were atypical KD of which seven(25%) were infants. Among the five cardinal symptoms, oral mucosal change(96.4%) occurred most frequently, followed by conjuntivitis(57.1%) and rash(46.4%). Most notable laboratory findings were anemia, and increased erythrocyte sedementation rate(ESR) or C-reactive protein(CRP). Coronary artery abnormalities developed in seven(25.8%) atypical KD patients, compared with 14.4% in typical KD patients. We considered oral mucosal change as major criterion, and conjunctivitis, rash, hematocrit <35% and ESR >30 mm/hr or CRP >3.1 mg/dL as minor criteria. Proposed modification in diagnostic criteria for atypical KD include fever of >or=5 days;major criterion+>or=2 minor criteria, or fever of >or=5 days+4 minor criteria. CONCLUSION: The modified diagnostic criteria has yielded a sensitivity 89.3%. Our diagnostic criteria may be used for early diagnosis of atypical KD.
Anemia ; Conjunctivitis ; Coronary Vessels ; Early Diagnosis ; Erythrocytes ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Infant ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the rehabilitation effects between aquatic physiotherapy and land-based physiotherapy after total knee arthroplasty. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The study was performed by patients with TKA caused by knee OA. The participants were divided into two groups based on random sampling method. One group received aquatic physiotherapy while the other received land-base physiotherapy. Each physiotherapy program lasted 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 1 week starting a week after the operation. Pertinent indicators, knee extensor strength, knee flexor strength, walking speed, knee circumference, WOMAC index and Visual analogue scale were recorded before and after the physiotherapy programs, 1 week, 2weeks and 6 weeks after the operation. RESULTS: The aquatic physiotherapy group showed statistically significant improvements in knees circumference and VAS scores, compared to the land-based physiotherapy group between 1week and 2 weeks after the operation, whereas no statistical differences were found in Knee extensor strength, knee flexor strength, walking speed and WOMAC index. CONCLUSION: The aquatic physiotherapy group showed statistically significant improvements in knee circumference and VAS scores compared to the land-based physiotherapy group between 1 and 2 weeks after the operation. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. We were able to conclude that aquatic physiotherapy is an alternative rehabilitation program for patients with TKA.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Humans ; Knee ; Walking