No abstract available.
Animals ; Astrocytes* ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-12* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Interleukin-2* ; Interleukin-6* ; Melanoma* ; Mice* ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

No abstract available.
Appointments and Schedules*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness of Ni-Cr-Be alloy(Verabond ~, Aalba Dent Inc. USA) according to electrolyte concentration and etching time. Total of 150 metal specimens (12x 10 X 1.5mm) composed of 5 polisded specimens, 5 sandblasted specimens, 140 etched specimens were prepared. Etched groups were divided into 28 groups by the HC1O4 con= centrations(10, 30, 50, 70%) and etching times(15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 seconds). The mean surface roughness(Ra) and the etching depth were measured with Optical 3-dimensional surface roughness measuring machine(Accura 1500M, Intek Engineering Co., Korea) and observed under SEM. The results obtaind were as follows 1. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth were affected by the order of etching time, electrolyte concentration, and their interaction (NO.05) . 2. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth were increased with etching time in 10%, 30% electrolyte concentrations, but they had no significant difference with etching time in 70%(P<0.05). 3. Surface roughness(Ra) and etching depth decreased in the order of 30, 10, 50, 70% electrolyte concentrations from 120 seconds etching time(p<0.05). 4. The remarkable morphologic changes in etched surface were observed along the grain boundaries in 15, 30 seconds of 10%, 30% concentrations and the morphologic changes could be denoted in the grains themselves as well as along the boundaries with the lapse of time. Even though the noticeable morphologic changes also took place in etched surface with 50% concentration, the degree of changes were less than that of changes with 10%, 30%. However, there were little morphologic changes with 70% concentration regardless of etching time. 5. Surface roughness(Ra) of sandblasting group with 50um A1203 had no significant difference with 30%-30 seconds etched group(p<0.05).
Alloys* ; Edible Grain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between the degree of enophthalmos and the volume of herniated orbital tissue measured from computed tomography scan in the isolated blowout fractures of orbital wall. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In this retrospective study, 100 patients with isolated blowout fractures were evaluated. We classified them into 4 groups according to the site of fracture (medial and inferior) and the presence of symptoms like diplopia and limitation of ocular motility, which needs an operation. The volume of orbit and herniated orbital tissue has been measured by computed tomography scans using three-dimensional reconstruction technique, and the degree of enophthalmos was evaluated with Hertel's ophthalmometer. We compared the volume from which we got from the computed tomography scan, the degree of enophthalmos and the presence of symptoms to figure out the mutual relation between the groups. RESULTS: In the case of medial blowout fracture group, the volume of herniated orbital tissues increased significantly with the presence of symptoms and was in proportion to the extent of enophthalmos (p<0.05). The volume expansion of orbit associated with 2 mm of enophthalmos as calculated by the regression curve was 3.1 ml or 12.8 % in the no-symptoms groups. Finally, in the case of inferior blowout fracture group, there was no evidence of mutual relation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that surgical intervention is required even though there isn't any symptom for medial blowout fractures, especially when the orbit volume is more than 12.8%. In cases of inferior blowout fractures, a close follow-up is needed even though the extent of fracture is small.
Diplopia ; Enophthalmos ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Orbit ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Bone loss after liver transplant (LT) is a long-term problem associated with an increased morbidity due to pathologic fractures. We reviewed our management of post-LT bone loss. METHODS: We collected retrospective data from 82 adult LT recipients between January 2006 and December 2009 who had preoperative and postoperative (12 to 24 months) bone mineral density (BMD) data measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was decreased in 52 out of 82 patients before LT. These patients were managed with calcium plus alendronate, calcium only, or no treatment. We compared the efficacy of these three modalities and the factors influencing BMD changes and investigated the incidence of pathologic fractures. RESULTS: In decreased BMD patients (n=52), the postoperative spinal BMD was increased with all three treatment modalities. A more significant increase was found with ALN treatment (+0.103) compared to NO treatment (+0.029) (P-value: 0.016). However, femoral BMD decreased despite ALN treatment. Alendronate use was a significant factor for post-LT spinal BMD improvement in the univariate and multivariate analysis. There were significant newly-developed pathologic fractures after LT especially in osteoporotic patients (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly alendronate with daily calcium may be helpful for the spinal bone mineral protection in preoperative patients with decreased BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Alendronate ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Bone loss after liver transplant (LT) is a long-term problem associated with an increased morbidity due to pathologic fractures. We reviewed our management of post-LT bone loss. METHODS: We collected retrospective data from 82 adult LT recipients between January 2006 and December 2009 who had preoperative and postoperative (12 to 24 months) bone mineral density (BMD) data measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was decreased in 52 out of 82 patients before LT. These patients were managed with calcium plus alendronate, calcium only, or no treatment. We compared the efficacy of these three modalities and the factors influencing BMD changes and investigated the incidence of pathologic fractures. RESULTS: In decreased BMD patients (n=52), the postoperative spinal BMD was increased with all three treatment modalities. A more significant increase was found with ALN treatment (+0.103) compared to NO treatment (+0.029) (P-value: 0.016). However, femoral BMD decreased despite ALN treatment. Alendronate use was a significant factor for post-LT spinal BMD improvement in the univariate and multivariate analysis. There were significant newly-developed pathologic fractures after LT especially in osteoporotic patients (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Weekly alendronate with daily calcium may be helpful for the spinal bone mineral protection in preoperative patients with decreased BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Alendronate ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

Antithrombin III deficiency is an autosomal dominant disorder, which is manifested by recurrent venous thromboembolisms, such as: deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism, but arterial embolisms are very rare. We report a case of a patient with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency, manifested by myocardial infarction and deep vein thrombosis.
Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Embolism ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patterns of dysphagia were associated with the location of the brain lesion and clinical factors in subacute stroke patients. METHOD: One hundred and seventy-eight first-ever subacute stroke patients who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) from January 2006 to April 2012 were enrolled in the present study. Swallowing-related parameters were assessed by VFSS. The location of brain lesions were classified into the cortical, subcortical, and brain stem. The degree of cognitive impairment and the independency of activities of daily living were assessed by the Korean version of mini-mental status examination and Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI). Aphasia and hemineglect were assessed by Korean version of Western aphasia battery and line bisection test. These data were collected via retrospective chart review. RESULTS: A reduced laryngeal elevation and prolonged pharyngeal delay time were associated with brain stem lesion. Other swallowing parameters were not associated with lesion topology. Pyriform sinus residue was associated with the presence of aphasia and low K-MBI scores. Prolonged pharyngeal delay time was associated with the patient's age, type of stroke and brain stem lesion. CONCLUSION: Pyriform sinus residue was associated with clinical factors such as aphasia and K-MBI scores rather than with the location of brain lesion. However, reduced laryngeal elevation and prolonged pharyngeal delay time were predominant in brain stem lesions.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aphasia ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Deglutition* ; Humans ; Pyriform Sinus ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke*

PURPOSE: To report the removal of subtenon triamcinolone precipitates in patients with refractory steroid-induced glaucoma following subtenon triamcinolone injection. CASE SUMMARY: A 72-year-old male patient with diabetic retinopathy had cystoid macular edema in the right eye. The patient received a posterior subtenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide and developed intractable glaucoma one month after the injection in the right eye. Corticosteroid-deposit was excised three month after the injection. The intraocular pressure decreased to normal within one month after surgery and remained normal for seven months after surgery. A 42-year-old man with bilateral chronic recurrent anterior uveitis received a posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection in both eyes. The patient developed refractory steroid-induced glaucoma one month after the injection in the right eye. Corticosteroid-deposit was excised six months after the injection in the right eye. The patient's intraocular pressure decreased to normal within two weeks after surgery and remained normal. Light microscopy showed a fibrous capsule encapsulating an amorphous whitish material. The excised specimen with polarized light showed birefringence of triamcinolone crystals within an encapsulated cyst. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of subtenon triamcinolone acetonide precipitate may facilitate the management of patients developing increased intraocular pressure unresponsive to maximum tolerable medical therapy and should be considered before performing glaucoma filtration surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Birefringence ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Eye ; Filtering Surgery ; Glaucoma ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Light ; Macular Edema ; Male ; Microscopy ; Triamcinolone ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; Uveitis, Anterior

OBJECTIVES: The Korean government in January 2006 instigated an exemption policy for hospitalized children under the age of six years old. This study examines how this policy affected the utilization of medical care in Korea. METHODS: A total of 1,513,797 claim records from the Health Insurance Review Agency were analyzed by complete enumeration methods. The changes of medical utilization were compared from 2005 to 2006. In addition, the changes of medical utilization between 2004 and 2005 were compared as a pseudocontrol group. RESULTS: The admission rate increased 1.14-fold from 15.20% in 2004 to 17.32% in 2005, and this further increased 1.08-fold to 18.65% in 2006. The increase of patients with a common cold (1.2-fold) was higher than that of both the general patients (1.08-fold) and the patients with the top 10 fatal diseases (0.91-fold). The average length of stay per case for clinics showed the highest increase rates (1.06-fold). The rates of patients with the common cold showed a higher increase (1.05-fold) than that of the general patients. The average medical expense per case was increased by 1.10-fold from 2005 to 2006, which was higher than that from 2004 to 2005 (1.04-fold). The increase rate for patients with the common cold was higher at 1.18-fold than that of the general patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cost exemption policy has especially led to an increase in the utilization of clinics and the utilization by patients with a common cold.
Child, Preschool ; Cost Sharing/*legislation & jurisprudence ; *Health Policy ; Health Services/*utilization ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Insurance Claim Review ; Korea ; Length of Stay