With the advances of digital scanning technology in dentistry, the interests in facial scanning in orthodontics have increased.There are many different manufacturers of facial scanners marketing to the dental practice. How do you know which one will work best for you? What questions should you be asking? We suggest a clinical guideline which may help you make an informed decision when choosing facial scanners. The characteristics of 7 facial scanners were discussed in this article. Here are some considerations for choosing a facial scanner. *Accuracy: For facial scanners to be of real value, having an appropriate camera resolution is necessary to achieve more accurate facial image representation. For orthodontic application, the scanner must create an accurate representation of an entire face. *Ease of Use: Scanner-related issues that impact their ease of use include type of light; scan type; scan time; file type generated by the scanner; unit size and foot print; and acceptance of scans by third-party providers. *Cost: Most of the expenses associated with facial scanning involve the fixed cost of purchase and maintenance. Other expenses include technical support, warranty costs, transmission fees, and supply costs. This article suggests a clinical guideline to make the right choice for facial scanner in orthodontics.

Objective: To compare the clinical and radiological features of various etiologies of chronic diffuse lacrimal gland enlargement. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 91 consecutive patients who underwent surgical biopsy for chronic diffuse lacrimal gland enlargement and were diagnosed with non-specific dacryoadenitis (DA) (n = 42), immunoglobulin G4-related dacryoadenitis (IgG4-RD) (n = 33), and lymphoma (n = 16). Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, and CT imaging findings (n = 73) and MRI (n = 43) were collected. The following radiologic features of lacrimal gland enlargement were evaluated: size, unilaterality, wedge sign, angle with the orbital wall, heterogeneity, signal intensity, degree of enhancement, patterns of dynamic contrast-enhanced, and apparent diffusion coefficient value. Radiological features outside the lacrimal glands, such as extra-lacrimal orbital involvement and extra-orbital head and neck involvement, were also evaluated. The clinical and radiological findings were compared among the three diseases. Results: Compared to the DA and IgG4-RD groups, the lymphoma group was significantly older (mean 59.9 vs. 46.0 and 49.4 years, respectively; p = 0.001) and had a higher frequency of unilateral involvement (62.5% vs. 31.0% and 15.2%, respectively;p = 0.004). Compared to the IgG4-RD and lymphoma groups, the DA group had significantly smaller lacrimal glands (2.3 vs. 2.8 and 3.3 cm, respectively; p < 0.001) and a lower proportion of cases with a wedge sign (54.8% vs. 84.8% and 87.5%, respectively; p = 0.005). The IgG4-RD group showed more frequent involvement of the extra-orbital head and neck structures, including the infraorbital nerve (36.4%), paranasal sinus (72.7%), and salivary gland (58.6%) compared to the DA and lymphoma groups (4.8%–28.6%) (all p < 0.005). Conclusion Patient age, unilaterality, lacrimal gland size, wedge sign, and extra-orbital head and neck involvement differed significantly different between lymphoma, DA, and IgG4-RD. Our results will be useful for the differential diagnosis and proper management of chronic lacrimal gland enlargement.

In response to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an online laboratory surveillance system was established to monitor severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) testing capacities and results. SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR testing data were collected from 97 clinical laboratories, including 84 medical institutions and 13 independent clinical laboratories in Korea. We assessed the testing capacities to utilize SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR based on surveillance data obtained from February 7th to June 4th, 2020 and evaluated positive result characteristics according to the reagents used and sample types. A total of 1,890,319 SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR testing were performed, 2.3% of which were positive. Strong correlations were observed between the envelope (E ) gene and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp )ucleocapsid (N ) genes threshold cycle (Ct) values for each reagent. No statistically significant differences in gene Ct values were observed between the paired upper and lower respiratory tract samples, except in the N gene for nasopharyngeal swab and sputum samples. Our study showed that clinical laboratories in Korea have rapidly expanded their testing capacities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, with a peak daily capacity of 34,193 tests. Rapid expansion in testing capacity is a critical component of the national response to the ongoing pandemic.

PURPOSE: To report a case of non-glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect associated with paravascular inner retinal defect (PIRD) in a patient with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM).CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old male who was diagnosed with ERM in his right eye and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in his left eye visited our clinic. His intraocular pressure was 14 mmHg in both eyes while using topical hypotensive medications in both eyes. His right eye showed no glaucomatous change of the optic disc head, and also no glaucomatous visual field defect on standard automated perimetry. Red-free fundus photography and swept-source optical coherence tomography showed an ERM and wedge-shaped RNFL defect starting from the PIRD, not the optic disc head. He was diagnosed with non-glaucomatous RNFL defect in the right eye and was told to stop using topical hypotensive medication for the right eye. After 2 years of discontinuing the medication, the IOP was within the normal range, the RNFL defect showed no progression, and the visual field remained stationary.CONCLUSIONS: A non-glaucomatous RNFL defect can develop in association with PIRD in patients with idiopathic ERM. Examinations for PIRD as well as evaluation of the optic disc head are therefore necessary in patients with ERM and RNFL defect.
Aged ; Epiretinal Membrane ; Glaucoma ; Head ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; Photography ; Reference Values ; Retinaldehyde ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to organize the history of Korean Mothersafe, a professional teratology information center. Throughout its domestic and international activities, Mothersafe has firm role to write journals and books, to provide counseling, to run educational courses on maternal and fetal toxicology, and so on. This paper delineates the achievements in last ten years and discusses the vision of Mothersafe. METHODS: In order to formulate the accomplishments of Korean Mothersafe, the volume of counseling calls are carefully reviewed by their contents, counselees, and the consultation results, etc. Textbooks and journals based on the data from Mothersafe are evaluated. Other roles of the Mothersafe, such as hosting symposium and running public programs are also noted. RESULTS: Korean Mothersafe provided 76,555 counseling to 45,933 expectant women and 30,622 breast-feeding women. The database has total 52,130 enrollments from 2010 to 2019. A total of 33 papers are published regarding medication, alcohol, smoking, radiation, etc. A specialized book on maternal-fetal toxicology was published and teratology part of obstetrics textbook was updated. Education programs and symposiums were held and primary care programs for expectant parents are run by Mothersafe. CONCLUSION Korean Mothersafe has contributed to safe environments for numerous pregnant and breast-feeding women regarding medication, drinking, smoking, and other hazardous substances. The huge database provided evidence for researches, textbooks and seminars, etc. Korean Mothersafe is now facing a new challenge to go forward through social dynamics with many issues regarding prevention and continuance of pregnancy, abortion, and so on.

PURPOSE: Although there are over 40,000 licensed radiological technologists (RTs) in Korea, job competency standards have yet to be defined. This study aims to clarify the job competency of Korean RTs. METHODS: A task force team of 11 professional RTs were recruited in order to analyze the job competency of domestic and international RTs. A draft for the job competency of Korean RTs was prepared. A survey was then conducted sampling RTs and the attitudes of their competencies were recorded from May 21 to July 30, 2016. RESULTS: We identified five modules of professionalism, patient management, health and safety, operation of equipment, and procedure management and 131 detailed job competencies for RTs in Korea. “Health and safety” had the highest average score and “professionalism” had the lowest average score for both job performance and importance. The content validity ratios for the 131 subcompetencies were mostly valid. CONCLUSION: Establishment of standard guidelines for RT job competency for multidisciplinary healthcare at medical institutions may be possible based on our results, which will help educators of RT training institutions to clarify their training and education.
Advisory Committees ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Humans ; Korea* ; Licensure ; Professionalism ; Republic of Korea ; Specialization* ; Technology, Radiologic ; Work Performance

BACKGROUND: Cleanroom air is extremely dry, as it is maintained within 1 % of relative humidity. Few studies have assessed the dermatologic life quality of workers in ultralow-humidity environments. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the dermatologic life quality of cleanroom workers using the Skindex-29, compared to those of non-cleanroom workers. METHODS: Study participants were 501 cleanroom workers and 157 non-cleanroom workers from a secondary battery factory, who underwent an employee health examination at a single university hospital from September 2014 to September 2015. Results of the self-administered Skindex-29, and McMonnies questionnaire were analyzed. Other information and disease history were also collected during physician's medical examination. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The Skindex-29 score was significantly higher in cleanroom workers than in non-cleanroom workers for all domains, Symptom (16.0 ± 15.9 vs. 6.3 ± 10.2, p < 0.001), Emotion (11.3 ± 17.4 vs. 2.5 ± 7.4, p < 0.001), Function (5.2 ± 11.1 vs. 1.6 ± 4.0, p < 0.001), and Overall (10.8 ± 13.4 vs. 3.5 ± 6.2, p < 0.001). The Skindex-29 score of cleanroom workers was similar to that of patients with skin diseases such as psoriasis, other dermatitis, corns, alopecia etc. Among the cleanroom workers, 37 workers had one or more skin diseases. Among the risk factors, ‘working at cleanroom’, ‘possessing skin disease’ and ‘McMonnies score’ had significant strong correlations with Skindex-29 score, meanwhile age, sex, smoking, drinking and exercise had weak correlations with it.‘Working at cleanroom’ and ‘possessing skin disease’ had highest odds ratios with overall 14.0 (C.I.: 5.9–33.1) and 13.4 (C.I.: 4.5–29.2), and the lowest odds ratios with function domain 3.5(C.I.: 1.7–7.1) and 4.5(C.I.: 2.1–9.5), respectively. The McMonnies score had the highest odds ratio with overall, 6.9(C.I.: 4.5–10.8) and lowest odd ratio with emotion domain 4.2 (C.I.: 2.7–6.4). CONCLUSIONS: Dermatologic life quality among cleanroom workers in the secondary battery factory is shown to be lower than that among non-cleanroom workers in this study. The study suggests that the Skindex-29 may provide helpful information on the dermatologic life quality of cleanroom workers. Therefore, regarding evaluation of dermatologic life quality using Skindex-29, preventive care is necessary for cleanroom workers in ultralow humidity environment.
Alopecia ; Callosities ; Dermatitis ; Drinking ; Humans ; Humidity ; Logistic Models ; Occupational Health ; Odds Ratio ; Psoriasis ; Quality of Life* ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Zea mays

Two external quality assessment (EQA) trials of conventional newborn screening tests for phenylketonuria, galactosemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, and congenital hypothyroidism, as well as newborn screening tests using tandem mass spectrometry, were performed in 2015. A total of 44 specimens in the form of dried blood spots were distributed to 16 laboratories and the response rate of these laboratories was 100%. The mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, median, and cut-offs were evaluated for each analyte in the newborn screening tests. Two EQA trials for the analyses of methylmalonic acid, vanillylmandelic acid, catecholamines, metanephrines, organic acids, and amino acids were also performed. A well-designed EQA program and continuous education would improve the performance of biochemical genetics tests.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Amino Acids ; Catecholamines ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Education ; Galactosemias ; Homocystinuria ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; Mass Screening ; Methylmalonic Acid ; Molecular Biology* ; Phenylketonurias ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vanilmandelic Acid

Two trials of external quality assessment (EQA) of conventional newborn screening tests for phenylketonuria, galactosaemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, and congenital hypothyroidism, as well as newborn screening tests were performed using tandem mass spectrometry in 2014. A total of 39 specimens in the form of dried blood spots were distributed to 16 laboratories and the response rate of these laboratories was 100%. Screening tests for phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism did not meet the accepted performance criteria in some laboratories. The mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, median, and cut-offs were evaluated for each analyte in the newborn screening tests. Two trials of EQA for the analyses of methylmalonic acid, vanillylmandelic acid, catecholamines, metanephrines, organic acids, and amino acids were also performed. A well-designed EQA program and continuous education would improve the performance of biochemical genetic testing.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Amino Acids ; Catecholamines ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; Education ; Homocystinuria ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; Mass Screening ; Methylmalonic Acid ; Molecular Biology* ; Phenylketonurias ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vanilmandelic Acid

BACKGROUND: Prolonged mechanical ventilation after liver transplantation has been associated with deleterious clinical outcomes, so early tracheal extubation posttransplant is now increasing. However, there is no universal clinical criterion for predicting early extubation in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We investigated specific predictors of early extubation after LDLT. METHODS: Perioperative data of adult patients undergoing LDLT were reviewed. "Early" extubation was defined as tracheal extubation in the operating room or intensive care unit (ICU) within 1 h posttransplant, and we divided patients into early extubation (EX) and non-EX groups. Potentially significant (P < 0.10) perioperative variables from univariate analyses were entered into multivariate logistic regression analyses. Individual cut-offs of the predictors were calculated by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis. RESULTS: Of 107 patients, 66 (61.7%) were extubated early after LDLT. Patients in the EX group showed shorter stays in the hospital and ICU and lower incidences of reoperation, infection, and vascular thrombosis. Preoperatively, model for end-stage liver disease score, lung disease, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and intraoperatively, surgical time, transfusion of packed red blood cell (PRBC), urine output, vasopressors, and last measured serum lactate were associated with early extubation (P < 0.05). After multivariate analysis, only PRBC transfusion of < or = 7.0 units and last serum lactate of < or = 8.2 mmol/L were selected as predictors of early extubation after LDLT (AUC 0.865). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative serum lactate and blood transfusion were predictors of posttransplant early extubation. Aggressive efforts to ameliorate intraoperative circulatory issues would facilitate successful early extubation after LDLT.
Adult ; Airway Extubation* ; Ascites ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Lactic Acid ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Living Donors ; Logistic Models ; Lung Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Operating Rooms ; Operative Time ; Reoperation ; Respiration, Artificial ; ROC Curve ; Thrombosis