This study was to find out whether the rendering screen difference affect to measuring distance in a CAD program according to three types of CAD programs. Materials and methods: The model presented in ISO 12836 for dental scanner evaluation was reduced by 70%. This model was repeatedly scanned 15times using Trios II (3Shape, Denmark). Using the output STL file, 3Shape CAD, inLab 15, and ExoCAD programs were used to measure the horizontal distance (H) and vertical distance (V) between adjacent point angle, and for each experiment, three groups were set according to the CAD program type. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA test and post hoc was performed using Dunnett T3 test. Results: In the horizontal and vertical distance measurement, there was no difference in the average of the measured values between the three groups according to the CAD program (P>.05). Conclusion: There were no effect of the difference in the rendering screen in the horizontal and vertical linear distance measurements of the inlay model on the dental CAD program.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of piroxicam patch(Trast) in rheumatoid arthritis patients with knee joint pain and swelling and to determine the concentration of plasma and synovial fluid following patch application. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with rheumatoid arthritis participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The patients were instructed to apply piroxicam or placebo patch at one knee and re-apply it every other day for 2 weeks. They had washout period for 2 weeks and then applied the other patch for 2 weeks at the same joint. The patients recorded knee joint pain using visual analog scale. Knee joint swelling and tenderness were assessed before and after application of piroxicam and placebo patch. Complete blood count, AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine, joint fluid analysis were also done. Piroxicam concentration in plasma and synovial fluid were measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) after 2 weeks of piroxicam patch application. RESULTS: Knee joint pain improved significantly after the application of piroxicam patch for 2 weeks(visual analog scale, 56. 2+5. 9m vs 48. 2+5. 7mm, p=0. 03 by Wilcoxon signed rank test). There was no significant change in white cell count of synovial fluid, peripheral blood cell count, chemistry, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In terms of adverse effects, mild gastrointesti nal disturbance(8/21 cases, 38%) and local side effects such as pruritus and ery thema(3/21 cases, 14%) were developed, which were insignificant compared with control groups(30%, 15% respectively). Piroxicam concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid after the application of piroxicam patch were 0. 129+0. 04ug/ ml (mean+SE) and 0. 644+0. 202ug/ml respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Piroxicam patch is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for knee joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Mild adverse effects such as gastrointestinal disturbance and local side effects were noted. Piroxicam concentration was higher in synovial fluid than in plasma following the application of piroxicam patch.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cell Count ; Chemistry ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Piroxicam ; Plasma ; Pruritus ; Synovial Fluid ; Visual Analog Scale

We experienced 3 cases of food-borne botulism within a family. They presented with progressive ptosis, dysphonia, dysarthria and limb weakness, which had started about 12 hours after ingestion of vacuum-packed sausage. Two cases progressed to respiratory failure. Botulinum toxin A was detected from the stool sample of one case. Conservative treatment with mechanical ventilation was done and they recovered from respiratory failure over a 30-70 days period. This is the first case report of food-borne botulism in Korea.
Botulinum Toxins ; Botulism* ; Dysarthria ; Dysphonia ; Eating ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency

We experienced three cases of high signal intensity observed by Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in CO2 arc welders of steel-frame manufacturing industry. Case 1 was a 35 years old man who has been an CO2 arc welder for 10 years, admitted a sudden onset of tonic clonic seizure. He complained fever, chilling and myalgia since 3 days before admission. On admission, in the test of manganese exposure indices, manganese concentrations of blood, urine and scalp hair were 5.17 microgram/dL, 22.00 microgram/l and 31.25 ppm respectively. Case 2 was a 35 years old man who has been an CO2 arc welder for 20 years. On admission, He complained fatigue, numbness and weakness of extremities, and decrease of libido. In the test of manganese exposure indices, manganese concentrations of blood, urine and scalp hair were 6.34 microgram/dL, 14.62 microgram/l and 57.87 ppm respectively. In neurologic examination, Palmo-mentis reflex and Myerson sign were observed. Case 3 was a 33 years old man who has been an CO2 arc welder for 16 years. On admission, He complainer loss of appetite, numbness of extremities, fatigue and decrease of attention. In the test of manganese exposure indices, manganese concentrations of blood, urine and scalp hair were 5.14 microgram/dL, 13.79 microgram/l and 50.08 ppm respectively. In neurologic examination, Myerson sign was observed. In brain magnetic resonance imaging, T1WI showed symmetrical high signal intensity in basal ganglia and midbrain of three cases. Authors argued that they were developed by manganese exposure, and we considered that follow up study would be necessary.
Adult ; Appetite ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Extremities ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Libido ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Manganese ; Mesencephalon ; Myalgia ; Neurologic Examination ; Reflex ; Scalp ; Seizures

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a Modified triangular Bobath sling (MTBS) and a MTBS with distal support (MTBSDS) as a new slings and to compare with previous slings in the therapeutic effects of shoulder subluxation in stroke patient. METHOD: Using a simple X-ray with and without slings, the vertical and horizontal distances were measured for 17 stroke patients. MTBS and MTBSDS were compared with 3 conventional slings, which were hemisling, Bobath sling and Extension-type sling, in the effects of correction. The questionaire was used to evaluate preference of patients. RESULTS: In two developed slings, inferior subluxation showed significant correction and lateral displace was less increased than a Bobath sling although it was not statistically significant (p<0.05). MTBS had the preference during non-walking because of comfort and easiness for donning and doffing, whereas MTBSDS had the preference during walking because of reciprocal arm swing and protecting the hemiplegic upper extremity from trauma. CONCLUSION: The results indicated MTBS and MTBSDS were more effective on shoulder subluxation in stroke patients. Further study on the development of slings for decrement of lateral displacement is recommended.
Arm ; Humans ; Shoulder* ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity ; Walking

Acute changes of the bilateral basal ganglia shown in the brain MRI a diabetic uremic patient have been rarely reported. We report a 52-year-old diabetic uremic patient who had neurological disturbances. At admission, axial diffusion-weighted images and T2-weighted images showed high signal intensities in the bilateral basal ganglia, and axial T1-weighted images visualized low signal intensities in same area. The underlying mechanism may be associated with metabolic as well as vascular factors.
Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Uremia

Stress conditions are correlated with tumor growth, progression and metastasis. We hypothesized that stress signals might affect tumor progression via epigenetic control of gene expression and investigated the effects of stress signals on the expression levels of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and the underlying mechanisms of these effects in lung cancer cells. Treatment with isoproterenol (ISO), an analog of the stress signal epinephrine, increased the expression of HDAC6 protein and mRNA in H1299 lung cancer cells. ISO caused the deacetylation of α-tubulin and stimulated cell migration in an HDAC6-dependent manner. HDAC6 expression was increased by treatment with selective activators of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac). ISO activated Rap1 via Epac, and constitutively active Rap1A increased the HDAC6 level; however, the knockdown of Rap1A decreased the 8-(4-cholorophenylthio)-2′-O-methyl-cAMP-induced increase in HDAC6 expression. Both PKA and Rap1A decreased c-Raf activation to inhibit extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Inhibition of ERK caused an increase in HDAC6 expression, and constitutively active MEK1 decreased the ISO-induced HDAC6 expression. We concluded that ISO increases HDAC6 expression via a PKA/Epac/ERK-dependent pathway that stimulates the migration of lung cancer cells. This study suggests that stress signals can stimulate the migration of cancer cells by inducing HDAC6 expression in lung cancer cells.
Cell Movement* ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; Epigenomics ; Epinephrine ; Gene Expression ; Histone Deacetylases* ; Histones* ; Humans* ; Isoproterenol* ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Phosphotransferases ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed in order to investigate the frequency of the TNF2 allele in patients with coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP). METHODS: We compared the genotype distribution of TNFalpha gene promoter polymorphism between 80 CWP patients and 54 healthy controls. RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1. The rare allele TNF2 was significantly more frequent in CWP patients (20.6 %) than in controls (10.2 %). 2. The spontaneous or LPS-induced release of TNFalpha from the peripheral monocytes was slightly increased in the TNF2 group, but these values were not significantly different between groups. 3. In the CWP TNF2 group, the increase of LPS-induced TNFalpha release was significant in comparison with that of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, we suggest that the TNF2 allele is strongly associated with susceptibility to CWP development.
Alleles ; Anthracosis ; Coal* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Monocytes ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: Small uterine cervical tumors are often undetected on MRI, and undetectable tumors are usually regarded as being in their early stages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate morphological factors determining MRI detectability of uterine cervical tumors by comparing detected and undetected tumors using high resolution MRI units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six surgically-proven uterine cervical cancer patients were included in this study. Using a GE Signa 1.5T magnet (GE, U.S.A.) axial T1-weighted MR images and axial, sagittal, and coronal T2-weighted fast spin echo MR images were obtained with a 5 mm thickness/2 mm gap and a 512x256 matrix size. The patients were divided into two groups, tumor-detected and tumor-undetected. Maximal tumor dimension, depth of stromal invasion, and horizontal tumor spread, measured during histopathological examinations, as well as pathological stages, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the tumor-detected group, the pathological stages were IB1 in 25, IB2 in 3, IIA in 10, and IIB in 5 patients; in the tumor-undetected group, the stages were IA1 in 8, IA2 in 2, and IB1 in 13 patients. Maximal tumor dimension, depth of stromal invasion and horizontal tumor spread for tumor-detected and -undetected groups were 27.4 (10-60) mm vs. 10.4 (3-40) mm (p=0.077), 11.1 (3-20) mm vs. 2.3 (0-5) mm (p<0.001), and 26.6 (8-60) mm vs. 10.4 (3-40) mm (p=0.057), respectively. CONCLUSION: Of the criteria studied, depth of stromal invasion is the most important factor in determining tumor detectability on MRI. All tumors in which this depth was more than 5 mm were thus detected; which are undetected on high resolution MRI can be regarded as early-stage tumors (stage IB1).
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: To examine the effect of weight gain during pregnancy and prepregnancy body mass index on infant birth weight in normal term pregnancy. METHODS: We analyzed the weight data from 501 women who were in healthy singleton term pregnancy in a general hospital in Seoul from Jan. 2001 to Jun. 2001. Among the 501 women, 209 women whose data were available to calculate weight gain in every trimester were chosen. To study the effect of maternal weight gain on infant birth weight, multiple regression analysis, controlled for selected covariables, was carried out on the entire sample and on each prepregnancy weight group. RESULTS: In all the subjects both prepregnancy body mass and weight gain significantly influenced birth weight. For the lower and normal BMI, each kilogram of maternal weight gain significantly increased birth weight. CONCLUSION: These observations supports the recent evidence for the association between maternal weight gain and birth weight, but only for woman whose prepregnancy BMI are lower and normal. High maternal prepregnancy BMI did not have any influence of weight gain on birth weight.
Birth Weight* ; Body Mass Index* ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant* ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Seoul ; Weight Gain*