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 assess the relative effectiveness of three injections methods suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) alone, intra-articular steroid injection (IAI) alone, or both-on relief of hemiplegic shoulder pain. METHODS: We recruited 30 patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain after stroke. SSNB was performed in 10 patients, IAI in 10 patients, and a combination of two injections in 10 patients. All were ultrasonography guided. Each patient's maximum passive range of motion (ROM) in the shoulder was measured, and the pain intensity level was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Repeated measures were performed on pre-injection, and after injection at 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests. RESULTS: All variables that were repeatedly measured showed significant differences in shoulder ROM with time (p<0.05), but there was no difference according injection method. In addition, VAS was statistically significantly different with time, but there was no difference by injection method. Pain significantly decreased until a week after injection, but pain after a month was relatively increased. However, pain was decreased compared to pre-injection. CONCLUSION: The three injection methods significantly improved shoulder ROM and pain with time, but no statistically significant difference was found between them.
Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Nerve Block* ; Pilot Projects* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain* ; Stroke ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative effectiveness of three injections methods suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) alone, intra-articular steroid injection (IAI) alone, or both-on relief of hemiplegic shoulder pain. METHODS: We recruited 30 patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain after stroke. SSNB was performed in 10 patients, IAI in 10 patients, and a combination of two injections in 10 patients. All were ultrasonography guided. Each patient's maximum passive range of motion (ROM) in the shoulder was measured, and the pain intensity level was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Repeated measures were performed on pre-injection, and after injection at 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests. RESULTS: All variables that were repeatedly measured showed significant differences in shoulder ROM with time (p<0.05), but there was no difference according injection method. In addition, VAS was statistically significantly different with time, but there was no difference by injection method. Pain significantly decreased until a week after injection, but pain after a month was relatively increased. However, pain was decreased compared to pre-injection. CONCLUSION: The three injection methods significantly improved shoulder ROM and pain with time, but no statistically significant difference was found between them.
Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Nerve Block* ; Pilot Projects* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain* ; Stroke ; Ultrasonography

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*