No abstract available.
Nocardia Infections*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Tuberculosis, Laryngeal*

BACKGROUND: Myocardial ischemia is known to depress systolic and diastolic functions for a prolonged period of time. Dobutamine and epinephrine are frequently administered to improve myocardial function during cardiac surgery. The vascular response to vasopressors might be altered by ischemia and reperfusion, since alterations in vascular control mechanisms have been demonstrated even after a short period of ischemia. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of dobutamine and epinephrine on regional and global myocardial functions, coronary blood flow (CBF) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) in normal and stunned myocardium in an open-chest canine model. METHODS: Forty-eight dogs were acutely instrumented under enflurane anesthesia to measure aortic and left ventricular pressures, and pulmonary (cardiac output) and left anterior descending (LAD) blood flows via a Doppler flowmeter, and a subendocardial segment length in the region supplied by the LAD. In series 1, incremental doses of dobutamine (1, 2, 5, 10microgram/kg/min, n = 9) or epinephrine (0.02, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2microgram/kg/min, n = 10) were infused intravenously (IV) for 10 min before (normal) and after 15 min of LAD occlusion and subsequent 1 hr-reperfusion (stunned). In series 2, incremental doses of dobutamine (50, 125, 250, 375 ng/mL of LAD flow, n = 14) or epinephrine (4, 10, 20, 30 ng/mL of LAD flow, n = 15) were infused directly into the LAD (IC) for 3 5 min before (normal) and after myocardial ischemia (stunned). Segment shortening (%SS), as an index of regional myocardial contractility, and the peak segment lengthening rate (dL/dt max), as an index of regional diastolic function, were evaluated. Simultaneous arterial and coronary venous contents of oxygen and lactate were measured to calculate MVO2 and oxygen (EO2) and lactate extraction (Elac) ratios during IV or IC infusions of epinephrine or dobutamine. Effectiveness of metabolic vasodilation was determined from EO2. RESULTS: IV or IC infusions of dobutamine or epinephrine before ischemia resulted in dose-dependent increases in mechanical functions (%SS and dL/dt max) and MVO2. These changes were accompanied by parallel increases in CBF resulting in unaltered EO2 with an infusion of dobutamine, while CBF increased more than MVO2 with epinephrine, resulting in decreased EO2. After the ischemia and reperfusion, %SS and dL/dt max were depressed and Elac was reduced, but similar mechanical responses (%SS and dL/dt max) to both dobutamine & epinephrine were observed. Also, in the stunned myocardium, CBF increased in parallel with mechanical function and MVO2 with either IC or IV dobutamine, resulting in an unaltered EO2. However, IC but not IV epinephrine did not affect EO2, suggesting abolishment of its direct vasodilating effect in stunned myocardium. In addition, IC epinephrine infusion further decreased Elac, while IC dobutamine did not affect it in stunned myocardium. During IV infusions, dobutamine caused a dose-dependent increase in the heart rate but epinephrine did not affect it, despite the comparable increase in cardiac index and mean aortic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that dobutamine and epinephrine exert similar positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in normal and stunned myocardium in dogs. However, epinephrine causes direct coronary vasodilation in normal myocardium, but it does not directly affect coronary vascular tone in stunned myocardium. In addition, epinephrine infusion dose-dependently depresses Elac in stunned myocardium. In contrast, dobutamine affects neither direct coronary vascular tone nor Elac regardless of ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Dobutamine* ; Dogs* ; Enflurane ; Epinephrine* ; Flowmeters ; Heart Rate ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Myocardial Stunning* ; Myocardium ; Oxygen Consumption ; Oxygen* ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vasodilation ; Ventricular Pressure

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the individual and working environment-related factors affecting hypertension among middle-aged and elderly self-employed workers in South Korea. METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis of data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). The study sample included 1,319 middle-aged and elderly self-employed workers who were diagnosed without hypertension and older than 45 years at Wave 1 of the KLoSA. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis using SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: About 20% of the middle-aged and elderly self-employed workers were diagnosed with hypertension within about 8 years from the baseline. the significant predictors of hypertension among the participants were age, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, frequency of health examinations, working hours per week, the presence of regular day off, and the type of job. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged and elderly self-employed workers are vulnerable to work-related health problems. In order to prevent hypertension among self-employed workers, it is necessary to improve the work environment-related factors as well as individual life styles.
Aged* ; Aging* ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Life Style ; Longitudinal Studies* ; Middle Aged ; Statistics as Topic ; Surveys and Questionnaires*

PURPOSE: Computed tomographic(CT), ultrasonographic(US) findings of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas were correlated with pathologic findings for the better understanding of this disease entity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of CT and US of 14 cases of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas was carried out in terms of the margin, internal architecture, caicification and septation, and this was correlated with gross pathologic findings. RESULTS: CT and US findings were well defined round masses consisting of both solid and cystic components. Five cases were cystic, four cases were solid and five cases were mixed. Cystic portion of the tumor represented variable degree of hemorrhagic necrosis. Six cases contained foci of calcification, which were linear, marginal and amorphous. Marginal calcification interfered US examination of the mass in three cases. Internal septurn was demonstrated in four cases on CT, one case on US and three cases on gross specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that calcification and internal septurn were considered as a part of radiologic findings in solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas.
Necrosis ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial* ; Pancreas* ; Retrospective Studies

The first phase of this study was limited to the relation of the retinal arteries to the quadrants of the optic disk. After examination of hundreds of normal eyegrounds, it became apparent that there are several definite and easily recognizable variations in the distribution of the vessels as they emerge from the optic nerve head. The classification is made by dividing the surface of the nerve head into four quadrants, i.e., the upper and lower nasal and the upper and lower temporal. Since there are four main branches of the retinal artery, namely, the superior and inferior temporal and the superior and inferior nasal, there are nine possible variations in the distribution of these vessels over the surface of the optic nerve head.
Classification* ; Head ; Optic Disk* ; Retinal Artery*

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: In order to increase preload with reducing the friction coefficient, abutment screws coated with pure gold and Teflon as dry lubricant coatings have been introduced. But the reported data indicate that if screw repeated tightening and loosening cycle, an efficiency of increasing preload was decreased by screw surface wearing off. PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the influence of tungsten carbide/carbon coating, which has superior hardness and frictional wear resistance, on the preload of abutment screws and the stability of coating surface after repeated closures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The rotational values of abutment screws and the compressive forces between abutment and fixture were measured in implant systems with three different joint connections, one external butt joint and two internal cones. Moreover, the stability and the alteration of coating surface were examined by comparison of the compressive force and the removable torque values during 10 consecutive trials, observation with scanning electron microscope and analyzed the elemental composition with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1. Application of coating resulted in significant increase of compressive force in all implant systems(P<.05). The increasing rate of compressive force by coating in external butt joint was greater than those in internal cones(P<.05). 2. Coated screw showed the significant additional rotation compared to non-coated screw in all implant systems(P<.05). There were no significant differences in the increasing rate of rotation among implant systems(P>.05). 3. Removable torque values were greater with non-coated screw than that with coated screw (P<.05). 4. Coated screw showed insignificant variations in the compressive forces during 10 consecutive trials(P>.05). 5. After repeated trials, the surface layer of coated screw was maintained relatively well. However, surface wearing and irregular titanium fragments were found in non-coated screw.
Friction ; Hardness ; Joints ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Titanium ; Torque ; Tungsten*

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a condition in which the ovarian functions of hormone production and oocyte development become impaired before the typical age for menopause. POF and early menopause are present in a broad spectrum of gonad dysgenesis, from a complete cessation of ovarian function to an intermittent follicle maturation failure. Actually POF has been identified as a genetic entity (especially chromosome X), but data on genetic factors of premature menopause are limited. Until now, several cases revealed that inactivation of X chromosomes has an effect on ages of premature menopause and females with balanced or unbalanced X-autosome translocations can have several reproductive problems. On the other hand, there have been a few data that was caused by autosome-autosome translocation can lead. Therefore we report a relevant case of POF with translocation between chromosomes 1 and 4. She had her first menstrual period at the age of 12, and after 7 years she stopped menstruation. Chromosomal analysis showed 46, XX, t (1;4) (p22.3;q31.3). While evaluating this rare case, we could review various causes (especially genetic factors) of POF. To remind clinicians about this disease, we report a case of POF caused by autosome-autosome translocation with a literature review.
Female ; Gonads ; Hand ; Humans ; Menopause ; Menopause, Premature* ; Menstruation ; Oocytes ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; X Chromosome

A hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare primary malignant neoplasm, which accounts for only 2% of all primary hepatic tumors. The prognosis of a hepatic angiosarcoma is very poor, and most patients die within a year of the initial diagnosis. We report a case of a hepatic angiosarcoma in a 57-year-old man. Although a dynamic CT had suggested a carvenous hemangioma 12 months earlier, the tumor size increased and spontaneously ruptured, so surgical resection was mandatory. A pathological examination, including immunohistochemical studies, showed positive staining for CD34 and Factor VIII, which confirmed the diagnosis of an angiosarcoma. Although dynamic CT is an excellent modality for the diagnosis of a cavernous hemangioma of the liver, hepatic angiosarcomas should be ruled out in selected cases, because they may present with very similar CT findings to benign hemangioma.
Diagnosis ; Factor VIII ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Rupture, Spontaneous

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Loosening or fracture of the abutment screw is one of the common problems related to the dental implant. Generally, in order to make the screw joint stable, the preload generated by tightening torque needs to be increased within the elastic limit of the screw. However, additional tensile forces can produce the plastic deformation of abutment screw when functional loads are superimposed on preload stresses, and they can elicit loosening or fracture of the abutment screw. Therefore, it is necessary to find the optimum tightening torque that maximizes a fatigue life and simultaneously offer a reasonable degree of protection against loosening. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present the influence of tightening torque on the implant-abutment screw joint stability with the 3 dimensional finite element analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, the finite element model of the implant system with external butt joint connection was designed and verified by comparison with additional theoretical and experimental results. Four different amount of tightening torques (10, 20, 30 and 40 Ncm) and the external loading (250 N, 30degrees C) were applied to the model, and the equivalent stress distributions and the gap distances were calculated according to each tightening torque and the result was analyzed. RESULTS: Within the limitation of this study, the following results were drawn; 1) There was the proportional relation between the tightening torque and the preload. 2) In case of applying only the tightening torque, the maximum stress was found at the screw neck. 3) The maximum stress was also shown at the screw neck under the external loading condition. However in case of applying 10 Ncm tightening torque, it was found at the undersurface of the screw head. 4) The joint opening was observed under the external loading in case of applying 10 Ncm and 20 Ncm of tightening torque. 5) When the tightening torque was applied at 40 Ncm, under the external loading the maximum stress exceeded the allowable stress value of the titanium alloy. CONCLUSION: Implant abutment screw must have a proper tightening torque that will be able to maintain joint stability of fixture and abutment.
Alloys ; Dental Implants ; Fatigue ; Finite Element Analysis ; Head ; Joints ; Neck ; Plastics ; Titanium ; Torque