This study helps to clarify conflicting reports by comparing the physical properties and accuracy of complete denture processed by the pack and press technique, continuous-pressure injection technique(SR-Ivocap system) and Mark press technique. The 6 different specimens have been evaluated using the SEM, Impact test, DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and DMTA(Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis). Each sample was made of SR-Ivocap resin and QC-20 resin by different processing methods. The results were as follows ; 1. As the result of the observation on the fracture surface of resin by use of SEM, sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method showed the most homogeneous structure. This is why molecules in SR-Ivocap resin have no orientation. 2. As the result of the Impact test in order to measure the deformity, fracture energy and impact resistance of resin, the samples with QC-20 acrylic resin and SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method were exellent. 3. In consequence of measuring alpha-glass transition temperature by use of DSC on the basis of temperature change, the glass transition temperatures of sample QC-20 resin cured by pack and press method and sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method were very similar. Thus volumetric stability could not be evaluated only by glass transition temperature. 4. In comparing volumetric stability data by DMTA, the glass transition temperature(Tg) showed 137.88degrees C at sample QC-20 resin cured by pack and press method and 139.78degrees C at sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method. Therefore sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method seems to be superior to sample QC-20 resin cured by pack and press method in the dimensional stability at high temperature. 5. In comparing storage modulus data by DMTA, the storage modulus of sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method was higher than that of sample QC-20 resin cured by pack and press method. So, sample SR-Ivocap resin cured by continuous pressure injection method seems to be superior to sample QC-20 resin cured by pack and press method in impact strength.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Denture, Complete ; Glass ; Transition Temperature

Recently, percutaneous epidural neuroplasty has become widely used to treat radicular pain caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated intervertebral disc. A 19-year-old female patient suffering from left radicular pain caused by an L4-L5 intervertebral disc herniation underwent percutaneous epidural neuroplasty of the left L5 nerve root using a Racz catheter. After the procedure, the patient complained of acute motor weakness in the right lower leg, on the opposite site to where the neuroplasty was conducted. Emergency surgery was performed, and swelling of the right L5 nerve root was discovered. The patient recovered her motor and sensory functions immediately after the surgery. Theoretically, the injection of a large volume of fluid in a patient with severe spinal stenosis during epidural neuroplasty can increase the pressure on the opposite side of the epidural space, which may cause injury of the opposite nerve by barotrauma from a closed compartment. Practitioners should be aware of this potential complication.
Barotrauma ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Emergencies ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Sensation ; Spinal Stenosis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency(RF) catheter ablation has rapidly emerged as the treatment of choice for symptomatic reentrant arrythmia associated with accessory pathway or atrioventricular node conduction. Rarely RF catheter ablation therapy can produce the cardiac perforation, ventricular function insufficiency and arrythmia. So, the purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the RF energy and muscle injury. METHODS: Bovine skeletal muscle was immersed in normal saline, and the entire chamber was heated to 36-37degrees C by water bath. The 4mm tip 7 Fr electrode catheter was placed horizontally on the skeletal muscle surface withoup pressure. RF energy was delicered to tissue for the pulse duration of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 seconds and voltage of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45volt and total 432 lesions were produced. Horizontal, vertical lesion diameters and depths were measured, and the area and volume of lesion were calculated. RESULTS: Increasing voltage and duration of RF increased the horizontal and vertical diameter, depth, area and volume of lesion(p<0.0001). The RF pulse duration and voltages made lesion below 5mm depth were 45volt applied dbelow 20seconds, 40volt applied below 25seconds, 35volt applied below 32seconds, 30volt applied below 38seconds, 25volt applied during any duation of time. CONCLUSION: So, for prevention of undesirable tissue damage, the adequate pulse duration and voltage of RF must to be delivered to tissue.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Node ; Baths ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Electrodes ; Hot Temperature ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Ventricular Function ; Water

Hydrops fetalis is diagnosed when abnormal fluid collections are manifest in two or more fetal compartments, including abdominal ascites, pleural effusions, pericardial effusions, skin edema, polyhydroamniosis and placental edema. Although fetal hydrops was hystorically most commonly associated with Rh blood group isoimmunization, the availability of Rh immunoglobulin has increased the proportion of fetuses affected due to nonimmune etiologies. We have experienced a case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis at 32 weeks of gestation in a 27-year-old woman and reported that with brief review of related literatures.
Adult ; Ascites ; Edema ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis* ; Immunoglobulins ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Pregnancy ; Skin

Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Recurrence

Typhlitis is a necrotizing enterocolitis of the cecum, ascending colon and terminal ileum. Typhlits has been reported in the severely neutropenic patients and likely results from a combination of neutropenia and defects in the bowel mucosa related to cytotoxic chemotherapy. This disease is most common in patients with leukemia who have undergone intensive myeloablative chemotherapy. Presumptive diagnostic criteria for typhlitis include fever, abdominal pain and tenderness, and radiologic evidence of right-sided colonic inflammation in patients with neutropenia. Recently, this disease is also reported in patients with solid tumor due to increasing challenges of high dose chemotherapy. We report a case of typhlitis developed in the circumstance of neutropenia induced by chemotherapy in a patient with malignant testicular tumor.
Abdominal Pain ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Drug Therapy* ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Fever ; Humans ; Ileum ; Inflammation ; Leukemia ; Mucous Membrane ; Neutropenia ; Typhlitis*

Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia was developed in the 45-year-old man whose anterior mediastinal growing mass, which was proved later as the invasive thymoma, had been found 4 years ago. The hemoglobin level was 6.2g/dl and both the direct and indirect Coombs' tests were positive. Prompt remission of the hemolytic anemia was achieved by thymectomy combined with corticosteroid therapy. Two months after the discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy his hemolytic anemia was recurred. The patient currently has been followed up for 8 months with no signs of local recurrence or hemolytic anemia and he is still receiving 15 mg of perdnisolone daily.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Coombs Test ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma*

BACKGROUND: Investigation of the factors affecting blood donation practice is essential to develop the ways of making blood donation campaign, as well as efficient and facilitating blood donation practice. A few studies has been made concerning the factors affecting blood donation in Korea. METHODS: 637 participants were examined using self-administered questionnaires including demographic variables, experience, knowledge and attitude for blood donation and others. RESULTS: 51.5% of participants had experienced the blood donation. Students who donated blood in high school days showed tendency to donate blood more than those who didn t donate blood in high school days. Students who had more knowledge and desirable attitude about blood donation experienced more blood donations. CONCLUSION: It is necessary for adolescents to take the opportunity of blood donation. It is important to clarify factors affecting blood donation practice and to encourage the public education and campaign which enable public has accurate knowledge and positive attitude about blood donation.
Adolescent ; Blood Donors* ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension(SIH) is a rare condition presented with cardinal postural headache and low CSF pressure. The authors describe the characteristic clinical features, imaging findings, and treatment methods in the patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. METHODS: Between May 1994 and Aug. 2001, eight patients were diagnosed with spontaneous intracranial hypotension based on characteristic radiologic and clinical findings in our department. All cases were shown diffuse meningeal enhancement(DME) on magnetic resonance(MR) image. Two cases had subdural hematoma. RESULTS: The most characteristic feature on Brain MR image is DME with/without subdural fluid collection. Radionuclide image reveals direct leaking point and rapid appearance of urinary bladder activity. Direct leaking points were detected in all four cases who performed radioisotope study. Autologous epidural blood patches were applied to four cases, and all of them were improved without complication. Among four patients treated with conservative method, three were improved, but one patient was died of spontaneous chronic subdural hematoma. CONCLUSION: We suggest that 1) meticulous studies need to be performed aggressively if SIH is diagnosed clinically and radiologically, 2) the most effective study may be radioisotope study, and 3) if leaking point is found, aggressive management such as autologous epidural blood patches is recommended.
Blood Patch, Epidural ; Brain ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic ; Humans ; Intracranial Hypotension* ; Urinary Bladder

Tricuspid valve endocarditis accounts for 5% to 10% of cases of infective endocarditis. It commonly occurs in intravenous drug abusers, intravenous catheters, alcoholism, immune deficiency and genital sepsis. But right sided infective endocarditis without predisposing factor is very rare. S. aureus is the usual pathogen. We experienced a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a 32 year old female with vegetation in a non drug addict without underlying cardiac disease. The vegetation on the septal cusp of tricuspid valve and tricuspid regurgitation were found by TTE & TEE. S. aureus was identified in 4 bottles of blood cultures. The diagnosis was delayed because the cardiac manifestations of the disease were subtle, and pleuropulmonary manifestations predominant. So we report a case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non drug addict without underlying cardiac disease with a review of literature.
Adult ; Alcoholism ; Catheters ; Causality ; Diagnosis ; Drug Users ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Heart Diseases* ; Humans ; Sepsis ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve*