We report a case of atrophoderma of Pasini and Pierini in which the characteristic soft atrophic patch with cliffdrop border developed on the neck and two well-demarcated indurated atrophic patches were on both shoulders. We took biopsies from centers and margins of each lesion. Histipathologic findings from atrophic center showed marked dermal atrophy comparing to that from margin of the lesion on the neck, but the atrophic center and margin of the lesion on the shoulder showed morphea-like features without, distinct differences between two.
Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Neck ; Shoulder

Theoretically one might suggest the abdominoplasty can cause respiratory decompensation resulting from musculofascial plication, which reduces the respiratory reserve by decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion. This prospective study was perfomed to evaluate the effect of abdominoplasty and the change of intraoperative Paw on the pulmonary function of 20 consecutive otherwise healthy subjects. The pulmonary function test was performed preoperatively, and repeated 2 months after the operation. Additionally, we monitored intraoperative Paw. Comparison of the pulmonary function test showed a significant decrease(p<0.001) in the mean forced vital capacity(FVC) and the mean forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1) throughout the study period. Postoperatively, the mean FVC decreased by 11.65% and the mean FEV1 decreased by 16.15%. The mean Paw increased by 6.6cmH2O(3-12cmH2O) by musculofascial plication. And we found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 was significantly correlated with intraoperative changing of Paw in abdominoplasty(p<0.001). FVC and FEV1 could be decreased by abdominoplasty due to decreasing intra-abdominal volume and diaphragmatic excursion, but there was no respiratory symptom clinically in all patients 2 months after the operation. In conclusion, We found that the decrease in FVC and FEV1 after 2 months of abdominoplasty was significantly correlated with intraoperative Paw change during operation. The intraoperative Paw was increased to 12 cmH2O without any respiratory symptom in this study. We suggested that the increase in intraoperative Paw less than about 10cmH2O can not affect on respiratory function clinically.
Abdominoplasty* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Function Tests

BACKGROUND: Definite criteria for determining severity of organophosphate poisoning have not been made. Discovery of the third neuromuscular syndrome, the intermediate syndrome, have made it more complicating then ever. Objectives of this study is to determine early prognostic factors of outcome and development of a new treatment algorithm. METHOD: 74 patients admitted to Severance hospital with acute organophosphate poisoning during 5 years were included. We made a protocol concerning the initial consciousness level, QTc interval, PVC, serum cholinesterase, the intermediate syndrome, total hospital, ICU day, length of ventilator support, disposition and have done a study retrospectively. Multiple regression and Chi-square was used as statistical analysis. Significant statistical P-value was 0.05. RESULTS: The total hospital days were prolonged as serum cholinesterase levels were lower, the age was older and mental status graver.(p<.05) The length of ventilatory support was prolonged when patient's serum cholinesterase level was very low, they were unconscious and serum cholinesterase level not recovered to 500 IU/ml within initial 3 days. The intermediate syndrome was significantly related to the prolonged cholinesterase inhibition. CONCLUSION: As an early prognostic factor for the length of ventilatory support in organophosphate poisoning, 1) level of concsiousness and 2) serum cholinesterase level at admission, 3) recovery to more than 500 IU/ml within initial 3 days are useful. Especially when the serum cholinesterase level is not recovered to more than 500 IU/ml within initial 3 days, it is essential to observe closely for the possibility of an intermediate syndrome.
Cholinesterases ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the proximity of the mandibular molar apex to the buccal bone surface in order to provide anatomic information for apical surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 127 mandibular first molars and 153 mandibular second molars were analyzed from 160 patients' records. The distance was measured from the buccal bone surface to the root apex and the apical 3.0 mm on the cross-sectional view of CBCT. RESULTS: The second molar apex and apical 3 mm were located significantly deeper relative to the buccal bone surface compared with the first molar (p < 0.01). For the mandibular second molars, the distance from the buccal bone surface to the root apex was significantly shorter in patients over 70 years of age (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this distance was significantly shorter when the first molar was missing compared to nonmissing cases (p < 0.05). For the mandibular first molars, the distance to the distal root apex of one distal-rooted tooth was significantly greater than the distance to the disto-buccal root apex (p < 0.01). In mandibular second molar, the distance to the apex of C-shaped roots was significantly greater than the distance to the mesial root apex of non-C-shaped roots (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: For apical surgery in mandibular molars, the distance from the buccal bone surface to the apex and apical 3 mm is significantly affected by the location, patient age, an adjacent missing anterior tooth, and root configuration.
Apicoectomy ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Molar* ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: The dipstick methodology is the most fundamental urinalysis but interfered by many factors. We evaluated the effect of semen contamination on the urine dipsticks. METHODS: Thirty-two specimens for semen analysis were enrolled. After semen was directly applied on urine dipsticks, residual samples were diluted in pooled normal urine. Urine dipsticks were performed at each dilution titer. Seminal plasma separated by centrifugation of semen were also tested in the same manner. RESULTS: All semen showed positive results for blood, protein and leukocytes. The intensities of reaction for blood and leukocytes were correlated with sperm concentration. The negative conversion of blood and protein occurred at 1:100, and that of leukocytes occurred at 1:50. Seminal plasma showed nearly the same findings. CONCLUSIONS: Semen contamination of urine may cause false positive reaction especially for blood and protein on the urine dipsticks. It should therefore be considered when assessing unexplained, transient hematuria or proteinuria.
Centrifugation ; False Positive Reactions ; Hematuria ; Leukocytes ; Proteinuria ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Spermatozoa ; Urinalysis

BACKGROUND: Many liver transplant surgeons think that portal vein cold perfusion is essential during liver procurement. However, it may limit the perfusion to the pancreas and small intestine and may lengthen the procedure. If visceral arteries are not ligated, perfusates passing the spleen and the small intestine can eventually cool the liver. Aorta only perfusion is rapid and easy and can be performed with the better perfusion of the pancreas and small intestine than with conventional perfusion. However, it may delay the cooling of the liver. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of aorta only perfusion compared with conventional perfusion as an alternative method for multiorgan procurement. METHODS: Male mongrel dogs of 16-18 kg were used. In the control group (n=5), standard multiorgan procurement method, including portal vein perfusion, was performed. In experimental group (n=4), aorta only perfusion without superior mesenteric artery ligation was performed. An isotonic citrate solution was used as a perfusate. In the control group, a total amount of 800 to 1000 ml of the perfusate was used to each portal vein and aorta perfusion. In the experimental group, 1500 to 2000 ml of the perfusate were infused only to aorta. After donor liver procurement, 200 to 300 ml of the perfusate was added to the portal vein and the hepatic artery at a ratio of 8:2. Core temperature changes of the liver during perfusion with preservation solution were checked at 5-second intervals. Standard orthotopic liver transplantation was performed. Wedge liver biopsies were performed after procurement and 1 hour after reperfusion. A liver function test was performed, and the hematologic features, and the coagulation profiles were measured preoperatively and one hour after reperfusion. In histologic examination, injuries of hepatic vessel endothelia and hepatocytes were evaluated semiquantitatively under light microscopic and electron microscopic exams. RESULTS: A comparion of the two groups showed no differences in operation time, anhepatic time, and ischemic time. The values of the leukocyte count, the hemoglobin, hematocrit, the prothrombin time,the partial thromboplastin time, the total protein/albumin, bilirubin, ALT/AST and alkaline phosphatase were not different between two groups. Falling of liver core temperature during perfusion was slightly delayed in experimental group. However the delayed time was less than 2 minutes until to reach the temperature of 10oC. The histological grading scores of hepatocytes and endothelial damage determined from light microscopic and electron microscopic examinations were not different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between aorta only perfusion group and portal vein perfusion group, including the severity of liver damages. Therefore, liver procurement without in situ portal perfusion may be a reasonable alternative to combined portal and aorta perfusion on the background of rapid procurement and benefit to the pancreas and small intestine procurement.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Bilirubin ; Biopsy ; Citric Acid ; Dogs ; Hematocrit ; Hepatic Artery ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Leukocyte Count ; Ligation ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Pancreas ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Perfusion* ; Portal Vein ; Prothrombin ; Reperfusion ; Spleen ; Tissue Donors

Screw-in effect is one of the unintended phenomena that occurs during the root canal preparation with nickel-titanium rotary files. The aim of this study was to compare the screw-in effect among various nickel-titanium rotary file systems. Six different nickel-titanium rotary instruments (ISO 20/.06 taper) were used: K3(TM) (SybronEndo, Glendora, CA, USA), Mtwo (VDW GmbH, Munchen, Germany), NRT with safe-tip and with active tip (Mani Inc., Shioya-gun, Japan), ProFile(R) (Dentsply-Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and ProTaper(R) (Dentsply-Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). For ProTaper(R), S2 was selected because it has size 20. Root canal instrumentations were done in sixty simulated single-curved resin root canals with a rotational speed of 300 rpm and single pecking motion. A special device was designed to measure the force of screw-in effect. A dynamometer of the device recorded the screw-in force during simulated canal preparation and the recorded data was stored in a computer with designed software (LCV-USE-VS, Lorenz Messtechnik GmbH, Alfdorf, Germany). The data were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple range test for post-hoc test. P value of less than 0.05 was regarded significant. ProTaper(R) produced significantly more screw-in effects than any other instruments in the study (p < 0.001). K3(TM) produced significantly more screw-in effects than Mtwo, and ProFile(R) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference among Mtwo, NRT, and ProFile(R) (p > 0.05), and between NRT with active tip and NRT with safe one neither (p > 0.05). From the result of the present study, it was concluded, therefore, that there seems significant differences of screw-in effect among the tested nickel-titanium rotary instruments. The radial lands and rake angle of nickel-titanium rotary instrument might be the cause of the difference.
Dental Pulp Cavity ; Root Canal Preparation

The objective of this article was to present two nonodontogenic conditions that may mimic odontogenic toothache: trigeminal neuralgia and burning mouth syndrome. Two cases are presented in which one is related to the upper left second premolar and the other is related to the upper left first molar. Both showed pain when chewing. These two cases highlight the complexities involved in diagnosing nonodontogenic toothache. This article demonstrates the importance of having a thorough knowledge of both odontogenic and nonodontogenic toothache, as well as the need for careful evaluation of the nature of the pain and history, clinical and radiographic examinations.
Bicuspid ; Burning Mouth Syndrome ; Hydrazines ; Mastication ; Molar ; Toothache ; Trigeminal Neuralgia

Closure of interdental spaces using proximal build-ups with resin composite is considered to be practical and conservative. However, a comprehensive approach combining two or more treatment modalities may be needed to improve esthetics. This case report describes the management of a patient with multiple diastemas, a peg-shaped lateral incisor and midline deviation in the maxillary anterior area. Direct resin bonding along with orthodontic movement of teeth allows space closure and midline correction, consequently, creating a better esthetic result.
Diastema ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Incisor ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement

Exposing sound structure of a subgingivally fractured tooth using orthodontic extrusion is considered to be a conservative way to re-establish biologic width without sacrificing esthetics or jeopardizing periodontal support of neighboring teeth. When a misaligned tooth is traumatically involved, a more comprehensive approach combining tooth extrusion and re-alignment may be necessary for a successful restorative outcome. This case report describes a successful esthetic management of a patient with complicated crown-root fracture on the maxillary right central incisor and pre-existing malocclusion in the maxillary anterior region. Forced eruption along with re-alignment of teeth by orthodontic movement seems to allow re-positioning of the fracture line to a favorable position and correction of crowding, providing a better esthetic result.
Crowding ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Orthodontic Extrusion* ; Tooth*