BACKGROUND: Epithelial tumor cells with a CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) immunoprofile may have the ability to cause breast cancer. We studied these cells and their clinicopathological significance. METHODS: The clinicopathologic findings of 100 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cases and 45 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases were reviewed. CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells were identified by immunohistochemistry, and their clinicopathological implications in IDC and DCIS were analyzed. RESULTS: IDC with a high prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells was significantly associated with larger mass, higher grade, estrogen receptor (ER) negativity, and tumor cells with a higher frequency of metastasis. The proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in IDC, and its DCIS components was not significantly different, whereas the proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells was higher in DCIS than in the DCIS component of IDC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IDC with a high prevalence of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells might correlate with aggressive features, such as ER and higher grades. Moreover, the proportion of CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) tumor cells in the DCIS components of IDC and DCIS might harbor different biology, which may lead to differences in cancer progression and early carcinogenesis.
Antigens, CD24 ; Antigens, CD44 ; Biology ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Estrogens ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; Prevalence

To determine the actual axial length of the pseudophakic eye, we mea-sured the axial length using ultrasound before and after cataract surgery in 157 eyes of 97 patient.The measured axial length of the pseudophakic eye with silicone or acrylic intraocular lens was longer than the axial length measured before operation.There was linear correlation between axial length measured before and after operation in cases of PMMA, silicone, or acrylic intraocular lens.The axial length corrected with ultrasonic velocity and central thickness of the intraocular lens was approximate to the mea-sure before operaion.So, we concluded that axial length is not actually elongated after operation and the exact axial length may be obtained by correcting the measured axial length of the pseudophakic eye using ultra-sonic velocity and central thickness of the intraocular lens.
Cataract ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Silicones ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: Previous epidemiological studies about oxidative stress and depression are limited by hospital-based case-control design, single-time measurements of oxidative stress biomarkers, and the small number of study participants. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the association between biomarker of oxidative stress and depressive symptom scores using repeatedly measured panel data from a community-dwelling elderly population. METHODS: From 2008 to 2010, a total of 478 elderly participants residing in Seoul, Korea, were evaluated three times. Participants underwent the Korean version of the Short Form Generic Depression Scale (SGDS-K) test for screening depression, and urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured as an oxidative stress biomarker. We used a generalized estimating equation with a compound symmetry covariance structure to estimate the effects of oxidative stress on depressive symptom scores. RESULTS: A two-fold increase in urinary MDA concentration was significantly associated with a 33.88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.59% to 47.42%) increase in total SGDS-K scores. In subgroup analyses by gender, a two-fold increase in urinary MDA concentration was significantly associated with increased SGDS-K scores in both men and women (men: 30.88%; 95% CI, 10.24% to 55.37%; women: 34.77%; 95% CI, 20.09% to 51.25%). In bivariate analysis after an SGDS-K score ≥8 was defined as depression, the third and the fourth urinary MDA quartiles showed a significantly increased odds ratio(OR) of depression compared to the lowest urinary MDA quartile (third quartile OR, 6.51; 95% CI, 1.77 to 24.00; fourth quartile OR, 7.11; 95% CI, 1.99 to 25.42). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a significant association between oxidative stress and depressive symptoms in the elderly population.
Aged* ; Biomarkers ; Case-Control Studies ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Mass Screening ; Oxidative Stress* ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide an anatomical reference for cortical bone and soft tissue thickness, and the attached gingiva width in the mandible. METHODS: Fifteen males and fifteen females participated in this study. An acrylic template was fabricated and the radiopaque markers were bonded on the estimated alveolar crest to take measurements of the hard and soft tissue thickness at the same locations. CT images were taken in samples wearing an acrylic template. Cortical bone and soft tissue thickness were measured at 2, 4, 6 and 8 mm from the alveolar crest in interradicular spaces from central incisor to first permanent molar. The attached gingival width was calibrated. RESULTS: Cortical bone thickness was 1.33 +/- 0.38 mm and soft tissue thickness was 1.49 +/- 0.54 mm. Cortical bone thickness was increased in the posterior area, while it was not the case for the soft tissue thickness. In addition, the total thickness was 2.82 +/- 0.70. The attached gingival width was wider in the anterior area compared to that in posterior area. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the attached gingiva width should be considered upon placement of mini-implants in the mandibular posterior area for orthodontic anchorage.
Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Female ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Mandible* ; Molar

No abstract available.
Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunoglobulins*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the skeletal, dental, and soft-tissue treatment effects of nonextraction therapy using the modified C-palatal plate (MCPP) to those of premolar extraction (PE) treatment in adult patients with Class II malocclusion. METHODS: Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalographs of 40 adult patients with Class II malocclusion were retrospectively analyzed. The MCPP group comprised 20 patients treated with total arch distalization of the maxillary arch while the PE group comprised 20 patients treated with four PE. Fifty-eight linear and angular measurements were analyzed to assess the changes before and after treatment. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and multivariate analysis of variance were performed to evaluate the treatment effects within and between the two groups. RESULTS: The MCPP group presented 3.4 mm of retraction, 1.0 mm of extrusion, and 7.3° lingual inclination of the maxillary central incisor. In comparison, the PE group displayed greater amount of maxillary central incisor retraction and retroclination, mandibular incisor retraction, and upper lip retraction (5.3 mm, 14.8°, 5.1 mm, and 2.0 mm, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). In addition, the MCPP group showed 4.0 mm of distalization and 1.3 mm of intrusion with 2.9° distal tipping of the maxillary first molars. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the MCPP is an effective distalization appliance in the maxillary arch. The amount of incisor retraction, however, was significantly higher in the PE group. Therefore, four PE may be recommended when greater improvement of incisor position and soft-tissue profile is required.
Adult ; Bicuspid* ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip ; Malocclusion ; Molar ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Numerous studies have revealed the adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to particulate matter less than 10 mum in aerodynamic diameter (PM10). The aim of the present study was to examine the spatial distribution of PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality and to investigate the spatial correlation between PM10 and cardiovascular mortality using spatial scan statistic (SaTScan) and a regression model. METHODS: From 2008 to 2010, the spatial distribution of PM10 in the Seoul metropolitan area was examined via kriging. In addition, a group of cardiovascular mortality cases was analyzed using SaTScan-based cluster exploration. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to investigate the correlation between PM10 concentrations and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: An examination of the regional distribution of the cardiovascular mortality was higher in provincial districts (gu) belonging to Incheon and the northern part of Gyeonggido than in other regions. In a comparison of PM10 concentrations and mortality cluster (MC) regions, all those belonging to MC 1 and MC 2 were found to belong to particulate matter (PM) 1 and PM 2 with high concentrations of air pollutants. In addition, the GWR showed that PM10 has a statistically significant relation to cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: To investigate the relation between air pollution and health impact, spatial analyses can be utilized based on kriging, cluster exploration, and GWR for a more systematic and quantitative analysis. It has been proven that cardiovascular mortality is spatially related to the concentration of PM10.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Gyeonggi-do ; Incheon ; Mortality* ; Particulate Matter ; Seoul ; Spatial Analysis*

PURPOSE: It is generally accepted that the air pollution can cause acute respiratory diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the increase in the level of air pollutants and hospital visits for pediatric respiratory diseases in Incheon city. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients who visited the outpatient department(OPD) of Inha University Hospital for respiratory diseases(such as bronchial asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and URI) from January 1 to December 31 1997. We converted the data into an average per day that included meteorologic data of air pollution(such as O3, CO, SO2, NO2, and PM10) and weather data(such as atmospheric temperature, relative humidity) in three different places in Incheon city. We used a Poisson distribution, selecting a lowess statistics model. We also used the S-PLUS statistics program. RESULTS: Ozone(O3), CO, and SO2 were all found to have significant associations with the OPD visits for pediatric respiratory diseases. After meteorologic variables(such as CO, SO2, NO2, PM10, atmospheric temperature, and relative humidity) controlled, we determined the relative risk between the increase in the OPD visits for respiratory diseases and every 0.01 ppm increase in O3. The relative risk was 1.16 and the 95% confidence intervals were 1.12-1.20. CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between the incidence of pediatric respiratory diseases and the increase in the level of air pollutants, especially O3, CO, and SO2 in Incheon city. Further studies on the effects of continuous daily exposure to low or ambient levels of air pollutants are needed.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution* ; Asthma ; Bronchiolitis ; Bronchitis ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Weather

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide clinical guidelines to indicate the best location for mini-implants as it relates to the cortical bone thickness and root proximity. METHODS: CT images from 14 men and 14 women were used to evaluate the buccal interradicular cortical bone thickness and root proximity from mesial to the central incisor to the 2nd molar. Cortical bone thickness was measured at 4 different angles including 0degrees, 15degrees, 30degrees, and 45degrees. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in cortical bone thickness between the second premolar/ first permanent molar site, central incisor/central incisor site, between the first/second permanent molar site and in the anterior region. A statistically significant difference in cortical bone thickness was also found when the angulation of placement was increased except for the 2 mm level from the alveolar crest. Interradicular spaces at the 1st/2nd premolar, 2nd premolar/1st permanent molar and 1st/2nd permanent molar sites are considered to be wide enough for mini-implant placement without root damage. CONCLUSIONS: Given the limits of this study, mini-implants for orthodontic anchorage may be well placed at the 4 and 6 mm level from the alveolar crest in the posterior region with a 30degrees and 45degrees angulation upon placement.
Bicuspid ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Molar

Purpose: To investigate the effects of simultaneous soft and hard tissue augmentation and the addition of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) on regenerative outcomes. Materials and Methods: In five mongrel dogs, chronic ridge defects were established in both mandibles. Six implants were placed in the mandible, producing buccal dehiscence defects. The implants were randomly allocated to one of the following groups: 1) control: no treatment; 2) GBR: guided bone regeneration (GBR) only; 3) GBR/PDRN: GBR+PDRN application to bone substitute particles; 4) GBR/CTG: GBR+connective tissue grafting (CTG);5) GBR/VCMX: GBR+soft tissue augmentation using volume stable collagen matrix (VCMX); and 6) group GBR/VCMX/ PDRN: GBR+VCMX soaked with PDRN. The healing abutments were connected to the implants to provide additional room for tissue regeneration. Submerged healing was achieved. The animals were euthanized after four months. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were then performed. Results: Healing abutments were gradually exposed during the healing period. Histologically, minimal new bone formation was observed in the dehiscence defects. No specific differences were found between the groups regarding collagen fiber orientation and density in the augmented area. No traces of CTG or VCMX were detected. Histomorphometrically, the mean tissue thickness was greater in the control group than in the other groups above the implant shoulder (IS). Below the IS level, the CTG and PDRN groups exhibited more favorable tissue thickness than the other groups. Conclusion Failure of submerged healing after tissue augmentation deteriorated the tissue contour. PDRN appears to have a positive effect on soft tissues.