The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of tea tree oil in denture cleaners. A self-curing denture resin was used to make the experimental specimen (12 mm×2 mm). A saline solution was used as the control. To observe surface changes after cleaning, the microhardness and color of the experimental specimen's surface were analyzed. For the antibacterial activity test, Candida albicans was used. The microhardness and color of the surface remained unchanged after cleaning. The result of the antibacterial activity test revealed that the tea tree oil-containing solutions had a more enhanced antibacterial effect than did the saline solution. Therefore, these results suggest that the tea tree oil-containing solution is a promising denture cleaners.
Candida albicans ; Dentures* ; Sodium Chloride ; Tea Tree Oil ; Tea* ; Trees*

The case of a 23-year-old female treated with aggressive high-dose therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma is reported. A positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan after completion of chemotherapy revealed a residual hypermetabolic lesion in the right pelvic cavity. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging scan showed circumferential wall thickening at the tip of the appendix. A laparoscopic exploration and appendectomy were performed, and a pathologic examination of the resected appendix revealed xanthogranulomatous appendicitis. This is a rare case of a xanthogranulomatous appendicitis mimicking remnant Burkitt's lymphoma after completion of chemotherapy.
Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Young Adult

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and increase of serum parathyroid hormone in association with unique clinical features. We recently experienced a typical PHP type Ia patient who presented with recurrent seizure and muscle spasms and electroencephalogram (EEG) showed generalized spike-and-wave discharges. With the correction of hypocalcemia, seizures did not recur and epileptiform discharges disappeared. We suggest that the possibility of PHP should be considered in patients with seizures showing hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia.
Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Hyperphosphatemia ; Hypocalcemia ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism ; Seizures ; Spasm

Laryngeal dysfunction, previously referred to as vocal cord dysfunction or paradoxical vocal cord movement, is characterized by inappropriate, transient, and reversible narrowing of the larynx in response to external triggers, without any structural or neurological defects. This condition can manifest in various clinical ways and can be mistaken for other respiratory diseases, such as asthma. It is crucial to accurately recognize and diagnose laryngeal dysfunction to ensure the provision of appropriate treatment. Laryngoscopy with provocation, which is a standard tool for the diagnosis of laryngeal dysfunction, has been designated as a new medical technology in Korea in July 2022. In this review, we discuss the concept, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of laryngeal dysfunction as well as introduce the diagnostic procedure using laryngoscopy with provocation.

OBJECTIVES: Based on individual and environmental characteristics of low-income children, we developed a nutrition education program for school-aged children from low-income families according to effective use in social welfare centers. METHODS: We conducted in-depth group interviews to assess program needs in 28 participants, 10 low-income school-aged children and 9 of their care givers, 9 social workers and 9 care-givers. Theoretical backgrounds of our program were heath belief model and social cognitive theory considering motivation, action and environment characteristics. RESULTS: Based on the findings of this qualitative study, we developed major program themes and contents. Five selected key themes were 'balanced diet', 'processed food', 'food hygiene and safety', 'Korean healthy traditional diet', and 'family cooking' to induce changes in dietary behaviors. Main findings of in-depth group interviews included 'child's active participation', 'simple and easy to understand messages', and 'environmental constraints' such as a lack of child care at home, limited budget of social welfare centers, and less qualified educators for nutrition and health. Each lesson was constructed as a 1-hour program particularly emphasizing activity-based programs, including cooking and teamwork exercises. Program contents in each session consisted of activities that could induce outcome and value expectations, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and barriers and cues to actions regarding diet behavior. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a nutrition education programthat is rarely available for low-income children in Korea, considering theoretical bases. Further studies are needed to validate our program.
Budgets ; Caregivers ; Child Care ; Child* ; Cooking ; Cues ; Diet ; Education* ; Exercise ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Motivation ; Qualitative Research ; Social Welfare ; Social Workers

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the efficacy and the safety of venlafaxine extended release (venlafaxine-XR), and its effect on the quality of life in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. METHODS: Fifty three patients who had generalized anxiety disorder were recruited for this study. They showed scores of 18 or higher on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA) and did not have major depression. They were scheduled to be examined 5 times (at baseline, 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks) and took venlafaxine-XR for 24 weeks with a flexible dosing schedule. The primary efficacy variables were the response and remission rates (response: more than 50% reduction from baseline in HAMA total score ; remission: HAMA total score< or =7). Other variables were the Hamilton Ratng Scale for Depression, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Sheehan Disabilities Scale (SDS), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF). Also, the evaluation on adverse effects was performed. RESULTS: The number of patients who completed 24 weeks of treatment was 32 (60.4%). Twenty one patients who were dropped out included 8 patients with intolerable adverse effects and 7 patients with unsatisfactory treatment response. Response/remission rates were 43.4/32.1% in the last-observation-carried-forward methods and 71.9/53.1% in the observed case data. Treatment with venlafaxine-XR improved anxiety and depressive symptoms during 24 weeks on all efficacy measures. By a completed patient analysis, venlafaxine-XR also significantly improved the disability scores on SDS and the quality of life scores on WHOQOL-BREF. In this study, nausea, palpitation, and severe tremor were common reasons of venlafaxine-XR discontinuation in GAD patients, but any serious adverse effect did not occur. CONCLUSION: Treatment with venlafaxine-XR was effective and well-tolerated for the patients with GAD, and also improved quality of life in the GAD patients.
Anxiety Disorders* ; Anxiety* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Depression ; Humans ; Nausea ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Tremor ; World Health Organization ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate clinical effect of paroxetine treatment and to explore psychological predictors of treatment response. METHODS: Patients (n=26) who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were treated by paroxetine for 12 weeks. We assessed symptom improvement using Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and clinical characteristics using Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Anxious Thoughts and Tendencies (AT & T), Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire (ACQ), Body Sensation Questionnaire (BSQ), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). T-test, correlation analysis, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: Panic patients showed significant improvement in severity of illness and each clinical characteristic after 12 weeks of paroxetine treatment. There were significant correlations among severity of illness, anxiety, and depression, and subjective severity was related with catastrophic thoughts. The more catastrophic thoughts and the higher sensitivity of body sensation, Patients had the worse symptom improvement they shorved. Multiple regression analysis showed that catastrophic thought related to agoraphobia was the best predictor of symptom improvement (22%). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that short-term treatment of paroxetine is effective in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, and that catastrophic thought could be a predictor of poor treatment response. Thus cognitive intervention on catastrohic thoughts may play an important role in symptom improvement in panic disorder.
Agoraphobia ; Anxiety ; Cognition ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Panic Disorder* ; Panic* ; Paroxetine* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sensation

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder mediated by autoantibodies and immune complexes that exhibit a range of symptoms. Although thirty-five to forty percent of patients with SLE show signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal involvement, acute pancreatitis is an uncommon complication of SLE, and SLE presenting with acute pancreatitis is extremely rare. We report a case of a 28-year-old female SLE patient who initially presented with acute abdominal pain and elevated pancreatic enzyme levels. The patient was diagnosed clinically with acute pancreatitis and then with SLE after further investigations. Her condition improved after high dose steroid therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Autoantibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Pancreatitis

A presumptive diagnosis of bone metastasis can be easily made when a patient with a history of colorectal cancer develops bone lesions that are seen on follow-up imaging. In this case report, we describe a patient whose multiple bone lesions were wrongly attributed to a recurrence of rectal cancer rather than being identified as multiple myeloma lesions. When clinicians detect new, abnormal, bony lesions in a patient with a previous history of cancer, they should consider diseases such as multiple myeloma in their differential diagnosis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem ic inflammatory disorder mediated by autoantibodies and immune complexes that manifests with a variety of symptoms. Lupus enteritis is a serious complication of SLE and carries a high mortality rate, however the diagnosis is not easy for there are no specific clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. Lupus enteritis usually involves the mesenteric arteries causing ischemic changes of the small and large bowels, and yet rarely involves the rectum. Here, we report a case of a 26-year-old female lupus enteritis patient who presented with atypical abdominal pain. Early diagnosis was made by abdominal pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, which showed extensive involvement of lupus enteritis from proximal small bowel to rectum. She recovered after being treated with high dose steroid therapy.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Autoantibodies ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Enteritis* ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mesenteric Arteries ; Mortality ; Rectum*