STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Glass fiber post is one of recent developments to accommodate esthetic restoration for endodontically treated teeth. This has many advantages over conventional post system in physical properties, esthetic factor, risk of root and restoration fracture, adhesion to core, radiopacity, removal and retrievabilty, biocompatibility and chemical stability. PURPOSE: This in vitro study was to evaluate the most suitable type of resin core for the glass fiber post through surveying the fracture modes and the maximum load that fractures the tooth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 sound maxillary premolars restored with glass fiber posts(ParaPost(R) Fiber White) and different types of resin cores(ParaCore, Z100(TM), Rebilda(R) and Admira(R)) were prepared and loaded to faiure in a universal test machine. The maximum fracture load and fracture mode were investigated in the specimens that were restored with resin and those of metal cast and core. With the data, Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to validate the significance between the test groups, and Tukey's studentized range test was used to check if there is any significant statistical difference between each test group. Every analysis was approved with 95% reliance. RESULTS: On measuring the maximum fracture load of teeth specimens, there was a significant difference between the maximum fracture loads of the tooth specimens. ParaCore showed the highest mean maximum fracture load followed by Z100(TM). And, the distribution of fracture mode of tooth specimens showed generally Type D, the three parted fracture of the core around the post was mostly seen(62.5%), and specifically, ParaCore showed 90% and Z100(TM) showed 100% Type D fracture. CONCLUSION. Referring to the values of maximum fracture load and mean compressive fracture load, ParaCore and Z100(TM) had high values and are recommended as tooth colored resin core material for glass fiber post. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study was carried out intending to be of aid in selecting the appropriate resin core for the glass fiber post. The dual cure type composite resin ParaCore and light cure type composite resin Z100(TM) have good properties and are recommended as tooth colored resin core material for glass fiber post.
Bicuspid ; Glass* ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Tooth

Acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction may result from chronic infection, lacrimal stones, anatomical variations such as aberrant ethmoid cells, facial fractures, or complications following nasal surgery. In Korea, there has been no reported case of secondary nasolacrimal duct obstruction due to a retention cyst in the lacrimal sac. Recently, the authors encountered a 65-year-old female patient who presented with epiphora, was diagnosed with a lacrimal sac retention cyst, and was successfully treated with endoscopic marsupialization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common peripheral vestibular disorders. It constitutes the most common vestibular disorder in the elderly with vertigo. Purpose of this study to assess the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of BPPV in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 380 patients above age 60 who were treated for BPPV. Collated data of the elderly BPPV patients in terms of involved canals, number of canalith repositioning procedures and their underlying disease were analyzed and compared with the data of national health report in 2008 that represented the general population. RESULTS: Number of BPPV patients was increased along with age. Three hundred and eighty patients (44.9%) of 847 BPPV patients were over 60. Most commonly involved canal was posterior semicircular canal. Lateral semicircular canal was involved much more frequently (46.8%) compared with previous reports. Along the age, involvement of lateral semicircular canal, frequency of multiple canal involvement and cupulolithiasis increased. In patients older than 60, treatment response was worse than younger ages. More canalith reposition procedures were needed in the elderly than younger patients with BPPV. Between patients with BPPV and normal population, no difference was found in prevalence of co-morbities, such as diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, other otologic disease, and psychiatric disease. CONCLUSION: We suggest that more careful diagnosis and intervention should be considered in BPPV of old age due to its complicated natures and lower treatment response.
Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Ear Diseases ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prevalence ; Semicircular Canals ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertigo

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of T2-weighted oblique coronal MR imaging (T2OCI) in the differential diagnosis of complete and partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients with ACL tear (16 complete and 17 partial tears), comfirmed by arthroscopy, were included in this study. Conventional MR imaging and T2OCI were performed, and the findings were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in terms of continuity, shape, axis and internal signal intensity of the ligament. Each finding was tested if there were stastistically significant differences in its prevalence between partial and complete tears. The diagnostic accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging in the detection of partial and complete tears of the ACL were compared. RESULTS: Conventional MR imaging revealed no statistically significant finding for differential diagnosis of complete and partial ACL tears. The reliable and statistically significant (p<0.001) findings of T2OCI were complete discontinuity of the ligament in cases involving complete ACL tears (14 of 16 complete tears and 2 of 17 partial tears) and the preservation of the band form for partial ACL tears (2 of 16 complete tears and 15 of 17 partial tears). The accuracy of T2OCI and conventional MR imaging was 88% and 70%, respectively. CONCLUSION: When ACL injury is vague on conventional MR images, a modality which is more useful in the differential diagnosis of partial and complete tears of the ACL, and in predicting the site of a tear, is T2-weighted oblique coronal imaging.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Hemodynamics* ; Hepatocytes* ; Ischemia* ; Liver* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator* ; Verapamil*

Cordyceps bassiana is one of Cordyceps species with anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-angiogenic, and anti-nociceptive activities. This mushroom has recently demonstrated to have an ability to reduce 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis symptoms in NC/Nga mice. In this study, we further examined phytochemical properties of this mushroom by column chromatography and HPLC analysis. By chromatographic separation and spectroscopic analysis, 8 compounds, such as 1,9-dimethylguanine (1), adenosine (2), uridine (3), nicotinamide (4), 3-methyluracil (5), 1,7-dimethylxanthine (6), nudifloric acid (7), and mannitol (8) were identified from 6 different fractions and 4 more subfractions. Through evaluation of their anti-inflammatory activities using reporter gene assay and mRNA analysis, compound 1 was found to block luciferase activity induced by NF-κB and AP-1, suppress the mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Therefore, our data strongly suggests that compound 1 acts as one of major principles in Cordyceps bassiana with anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic dermatitis activities.
Adenosine ; Agaricales ; Animals ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cordyceps* ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Fruit* ; Genes, Reporter ; Luciferases ; Mannitol ; Mice ; Niacinamide ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uridine

No abstract available.

A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with cancer of the ascending colon along with retroperitoneal lymph node and peritoneal metastases. After six cycles of palliative chemotherapy, he presented with acute-onset jaundice. Imaging examinations did not show abnormal liver findings other than a periportal linear hypoattenuating area, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed a tight stricture of the proximal common bile duct. Total bilirubin continued to increase after endoscopic sphincterotomy and biliary stent insertion. Blind liver biopsy revealed tumor infiltration along liver lymphatics, but ruled out tumor involvement of hepatic parenchyma and sinusoids. Tumor cells were predominantly confined to within the lymphatic vessels and were not observed in the arteries or veins. Although one loading dose of cetuximab and two fractions of palliative radiotherapy were administered, the patient succumbed to acute liver injury 30 days after the development of jaundice.
Arteries ; Bilirubin ; Biopsy ; Cetuximab ; Cholangiography ; Colon* ; Colon, Ascending ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Common Bile Duct ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Liver* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiotherapy ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Stents ; Veins

STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM: Many denture wearers occasionally use denture adhesives to improve denture retention, stability and chewing efficiency. An ideal denture adhesive is nontoxic, non-irritating, and provides comfort to the oral mucosa. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and adhesive properties of a selected denture adhesive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To test cytotoxicity of the selected denture adhesive, mouse fibroblast cells were used in MTT testing. Cytotoxicity was examined according to the concentration of the denture adhesive and incubated for 1 to 4 days. To examine adhesive property, a denture base was fabricated on an edentulous dentiform. The adhesive was applied to the denture base, then tensile bond strength was measured, to evaluate the change in retention during 3 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 1. 1% and 2% concentration denture adhesive cream had no cytotoxicity. 2. The tensile bond strength of the group with both denture adhesive and artificial saliva was significantly higher than that of the group with only denture adhesive (P < .05). The tensile bond strength of the group with denture adhesive was significantly higher than that of with only artificial saliva (P < .05). 3. The tensile bond strength had no significant change during 1 hour, and then gradually decreased. After 1 day, it decrease to half. Within the limitation of this study, the tested denture adhesive had no cytotoxicilty and was effective in improving denture retention. The adhesive strength began to continuously decrease after 1 hour and it decreased to half at 1 day after application.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Dental Restoration Wear ; Denture Bases ; Denture Retention ; Dentures ; Fibroblasts ; Mastication ; Mice ; Mouth Mucosa ; Retention (Psychology) ; Saliva, Artificial

No abstract available.
Humans ; Listeria* ; Meningitis, Listeria*