For the improvement of denture fitness of changed residual ridge, denture liner can be used. Denture liner should be very stable physically in various environments of the mouth as well as be bonded strongly with denture resin. In this study, the specimens bonded with four kinds of soft denture liner and three kinds of hard denture liner were used to test the physical properties of the liners. All experimental groups were stored in 37+/-1degrees C distilled water for 24hours, followed by thermocycling between 15degrees C and 45degrees C with 15 second dwell time. 1000, 2000, 3000 cycles of thermocycling were excuted and physical properties were measured by Instron Universal Testing Machine. The obtained results were as follows: 1. In tensile bond test of soft liners, it was shown that both of Molloplast-B(R) specimens before and after thermocycling had the highest tensile strength, and in case of hard liners, Dura-liner II(R)speimen had the highest tensile strength before and after thermocycling. Depending on thermocycling, Soft-Relining(R), Denture-Relining(R),Molloplast-B(R), Coe-soft(R) and Kooliner(R) specimen showed significant difference(p<0.05). 2. In strain test of soft liners, it was shown that Molloplast-B(R) specimen before thermocycling and the Coe-soft(R) after thermocycling showed highest results, and in case of hard liners, the Dura-Liner II(R) speimen before and after thermocycling had the highest result. Depending on thermocycling. Denture-Relinig(R). Molloplast-B(R) and Dura-Lner II(R) specimen showed significant difference(p<0.05). 3. In Maximum distance test of soft liners, the Molloplast-B(R) specimen before thermocycling and the Coe-soft(R) after thermocycling showed highest results, and in case of hard liners, the Dura-Liner II(R) specimen before and after thermocycling showed highest results. Depending on thermocycling, Denture-Relining(R), Molloplast-B(R) specimens showed significant difference(p<0.05). 4.In elasticity test of soft liners , the Molloplast-B(R) specimen before and after thermocycling showed highest results, and in case of hard liners, the Dura-Liner II(R) specimen before thermocycling and the Tokuso-Rebase (R) after thermocycling showed highest results. Depending on thermocycling, Soft-Relining(R) , Molloplast-B(R) specimens showed significant difference(p<0.05).
Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Elasticity ; Mouth ; Tensile Strength ; Water

The purpose of this study is to observe histopathologic changes in the bilateral craniomandibular joints after allowing 6 weeks of consolidation by varying the amount of distraction in rabbit mandible. Eight rabbits weighing about 2 to 3kg were used. After corticotomy was performed on the left mandibular body between the first premolar and the second premolar region, a unilateral fixation device was placed. Then, a 7-day period was allowed without distraction of the device. The mandible was lengthened 0.5mm/day. Corticotomy and lengthening of mandible were not performed in control group. After the completion of the lengthening process, a 6-week-consolidation period was allowed. Then, the rabbits were sacrificed, and histologic examination of the craniomandibular joints was performed. Proliferative changes were observed in the craniomandibular joints in all groups. With the increasing amount of distraction, hypertrophy of the cartilage layer became more severe, bone formed was dense and enchondral ossification was clearly shown in subchondral bone. Hypertrophy of the cartilage layer was also seen in the non-distracted side as the distracted side in the experimental group. These results indicate that when physical force is applied constantly to joints, the proliferation of articular cartilage and bone formation are present. When more than 6 weeks of consolidation period is allowed at the time of performing distraction for more than 5mm, articular changes, especially, in the contralateral side should also be noted.
Bicuspid ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Hypertrophy ; Joints* ; Mandible ; Osteogenesis ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Rabbits*

Since the concept of osseointegration was introduced by Branemark of Sweden, dental implants have been used for various dental prosthetic treatments. The survival rate of dental implant is likely to be closely related to the total biomechanical role of each component of implant system. The use of interchangeable component is very attractive for dental practitioners because such an approach would save treatment cost, flexibility of prosthetic treatment options as well as conveniences. Therefore, the use of interchangeable implant system has been increasing without scientific assessment of safety and efficacy of various interchangeable implant system. The purpose of this study, therefore, were to compare the geometric characteristic of four interchangeable dental implant screws and the loosening torque of these screws. Four types of dental implant screws tested in this study were Nobelpharma, 3i, Impla-med, Restore. Four screws each of the test specimens were subjected for scanning electron microscopic examinations under the same condition and a 35x magnified standard SEM picture was objected from each test specimen using JSM-5200 scanning microscope. From each of the SEM pictures, eight parameters, i.e., diameter of screw head, screw length, thread pitch, major diameter, neck diameter, neck length, crest width and root width were determined using a caliper. The measurement for each parameters were then corrected for their magnification factor. The loosening torque were also determined by using a torque gauge. All of the measurements were statistically analyzed by ANOVA test and multiple range test. Statistical significance was set in advance at the probability level of less than 0.05. All analyses were done with SPSS software for the personal computer. The conclusion obtained from this studies were summarized as the following; 1. No statistically significances were noted in the thread pitch, and crest width in the four screws, and in the case of major diameter, the Impla-med screw was significantly smaller than the other three screws (p<0.05). Therefore, four implant bolts could be physically inserted in a abutment nuts. 2. The diameter of screw head was decreased in the order of Restore, 3i, Nobelpharma, Impla-med screws and the length of screws were decreased in the order of 3i, Restore, Nobelpharma and Impla-med. The diameter of neck was decreased in the order of Impla-med, Restore, Nobelpharma, 3i screws. The differences of each of these parameters were statistically significant (p<0.05). The width of root of screws were decreased in the order of Nobelpharma, Impla-med, Restore and 3i. The differences among Nobelpharma and Impla-med, Restore and 3i were statistically significant (p<0.05). 3. When the screws were loosening 1, 3, 4 and 5 times, the loosening torque for Impla-med and 3i screws were significantly higher than that of Nobelpharma or Restore screws (p<0.05). However, when statistically smaller than that of 3i, Restore or Nobelpharma screws (p<0.05).
Dental Implants ; Head ; Health Care Costs ; Microcomputers ; Neck ; Nuts ; Osseointegration ; Pliability ; Survival Rate ; Sweden ; Torque

No abstract avaiable.
Glucose* ; Homeostasis*

PURPOSE: To investigate the distribution of bacterial keratitis isolates and the shifting trends of in vitro antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates for inpatients with bacterial keratitis. METHODS: Three hundred ninety-two bacterial isolates with 366 positive culture cases from consecutive corneal scrapes of 988 clinically diagnosed bacterial keratitis inpatients hospitalized at Yeungnam University Hospital between January 1998 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The bacteriological profiles and in vitro resistance were evaluated in the first and second six-year periods. RESULTS: The percentage of positive cultures was 37.0% (366/988). The commonly isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms were S. epidermidis (98; 25.0%) and P. aeruginosa (41; 10.5%), respectively. The ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative isolates was 1.24:1. The Gram-positive isolates significantly decreased compared to the Gram-negative isolates in the last six-year period (45.3% versus 54.7%, respectively) relative to those in the first six-year period (66.1% versus 33.9%, respectively). S. epidermidis and S. aureus decreased, and E. cloacae, S. marcescens, and S. maltophilia increased in the last six-year period. The resistance of fluoroquinolone to the Gram-positive isolates, though not statistically significant, tended to increase to 34.1% from 21.5% (p=0.061), and the methicillin-resistant S. aureus tended to increase to 54.2% from 30.0% (p=0.055). CONCLUSIONS: S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa were the most common bacterial keratitis isolates in Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates. The Gram-positive isolates tended to decrease, though the Gram-negative organisms tended to increase in the last six-year period compared to the first six-year period. Empirical antibiotic selection should be based on local susceptibility patterns and distribution of bacterial isolates.
Cloaca ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Keratitis ; Methicillin Resistance ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence and characteristics of language disorders in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to understand the differences of language disorder according to the degree and lesion of brain damage and the outcomes after proper language training programs. METHOD: The subjects were 24 adult TBI patients. Seventeen patients with language disorder were examined with language disorder screening test. The characteristics of the language disorders were evaluated according to the degree and lesion site of the brain injury. Prognosis of the language disorders was studied. The tests were performed at the initiation and termination of the language treatment program. RESULTS: The incidence of language disorders was 91.7%. At the initial evaluation, all items showed a low rate of correct response, but at the final evaluation, the statistically significant improvement was noted in all items. There was no difference between moderate and severe brain damages at final evaluation. Focal lesion group revealed higher rate of correct response than diffuse lesion group on comprehension, expression, reading, and calculation at final evaluation. CONCLUSION: The TBI patients showed diffuse language dysfunction on fluency, comprehension, expression, reading, writing, and calculation. But the majority of these patients showed satisfactory recovery, especially the focal brain lesion showed the better outcome. These patients with focal lesion were needed precise language evaluation and more intensive language treatment program.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Comprehension ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Incidence ; Language Disorders* ; Language Therapy ; Mass Screening ; Prognosis ; Writing

To assess prophylatic antibiotic usage and the value of an intraoperative bile culture in biliary tract surgery, intraoperative bile cultures were taken in 276 biliary surgical patients during the period from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 1995. The results of bile culture, the isolation of organisms, susceptibility of the microorganisms to antibiotics, and the relationship between a positive culture and postoperative complications were analyzed. The positive culture rate was 56.5%, and the highest culture rate(100%) was seen in patients with combined stones in the gallbladder, the common bile duct and the intrahepatic duct. The most common gram negative microorganism was E. coli(44%), and Enterococcus was the most common among the gram positive microorganisms. The effective antibiotics for gram negative organisms were Amikacin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, and Chloramphenicol; for gram positive organisms, they were Amikacin, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, and Tobramycin in order of effectiveness. The frequency of wound infection was larger in positive cultures(11.5%) than in negative cultures (2.5%), and the risk factors for positive cultures were old age, obstructive jaundice, a high serum SGOT/SGPT level, and previous biliary tract surgery. In conclusion, we recommend that prophylactic antibiotic treatment be done during the perioperative period for old patients with leukocytosis, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, or a history previous biliary tract surgery. Antibiotic prophylaxis in biliary tract surgery reduces postoperative infectious complications.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis* ; Bile* ; Biliary Tract* ; Chloramphenicol ; Cholangitis ; Common Bile Duct ; Enterococcus ; Gallbladder ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; Leukocytosis ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Tetracycline ; Tobramycin ; Wound Infection

Perfusion disorder of the optic nerve head has been thought to be one of the risk factors glaucoma and studies on optic nerve perfusion have been performed recently. Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter(HRF: Heidelberg Engineering GbmH, heidelberg, Germany) is known to be useful in the evaluation of retinal and optic nerve head microcirculation. The objective of this study is to present the changes of retinal and optic nerve head blood flow with regard to the age in normal subjects, thus providing the reference values of retinal and optic nerve head microcirculation. Twenty subjects of each decade from third to eighth, total 120 were included in this study. Microcirculations were measured by HRF at nasal and temporal juxtapapillary retina, nasal and temporal neuroretinal rim, and optic cup area. The mean flow was measured to be 385.14 at temporal neuroretinal rim, 432.62 at nasal neuroretinal rim, and 157.12 at optic cup area. Student`s t-test revealed that there was o significant difference in flow between nasal and temporal neuroretinal rim(0.45), and between nasal and temporal juxtapapillary retina(p=0.36). Pearson`s correlation analysis revealed significant linear inverse relationship between the age and flow at neuroretinal rim(NRR) and juxtapapillary retina(JPR)(correlation coefficient r=-0.83, p=0.034 for NRR and r=-0.87, p=0.012 for JPR), but not at optic cup(r=-0.62, p=0.13).
Glaucoma ; Microcirculation* ; Optic Disk ; Optic Nerve* ; Perfusion ; Reference Values ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde* ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been a few national population-based epidemiological studies of myasthenia gravis (MG) with wide variation of incidence and prevalence rates worldwide. Herein we report the first nationwide population-based epidemiological study of MG in Korea. METHODS: We attempted to estimate the incidence and prevalence rates of MG using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database for 2010 to 2013. Cases with MG were defined as those having claim records with a principal diagnosis of MG and the prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids and azathioprine within 2 years after the diagnosis. The year 2010 was set as a washout period, such that patients were defined as incident cases if their first records of MG were observed in 2011. RESULTS: In 2011 there were 1,236 incident cases, and the standardized incidence rate was 2.44 per 100,000 person-years. The standardized prevalence rates were 9.67 and 10.66 per 100,000 persons in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The incidence and prevalence rates peaked in the elderly population aged 60 to 69 years for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest national population-based epidemiological studies of MG, and it has confirmed the high incidence and prevalence rates of MG in the elderly population of South Korea.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Azathioprine ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence* ; Korea* ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; National Health Programs* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence*

PURPOSE: To report clinical manifestations including neurocutaneous and ocular findings and to evaluate outcomes of trabeculectomy in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome. METHODS: The medical records of 10 eyes of 8 glaucoma patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome who were followed up for at least 1 year after trabeculectomy were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed neurocutaneous and ocular findings, cumulative surgical success rates, and complications in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome. RESULTS: The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 12.6 +/- 13.0 years and mean follow-up period was 71.6 +/- 81.8 months. All patients showed various clinical findings including facial hemangioma (8 patients), seizure (6 patients), intracranial lesion (6 patients), developmental delay (4 patients), conjunctival/episcleral hemangioma (4 eyes), and choroidal hemangioma (4 eyes). Postoperative success was achieved in 8 out of 10 eyes (80.0%). Postoperatively, serous retinal detachment occurred in 2 out of 4 eyes with preoperative diffuse choroidal hemangioma. CONCLUSIONS: Management of glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome requires multidisciplinary treatment because of systemic involvement. Trabeculectomy appears to be an effective and relatively safe surgical option for glaucoma associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome. However, serious complications such as serous retinal detachment should be considered when planning trabeculectomy for patients with diffuse choroidal hemangioma.
Choroid ; Follow-Up Studies ; General Surgery ; Glaucoma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Retinal Detachment ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome* ; Trabeculectomy