Recently, mini-implant is popular in the orthodontic treatment due to its simplicity and convenient surgical procedure. The objective of this study is to provide the anatomical guideline for mini-implant placement by analysing the cortical bone thickness in Korean. Hemi-sections of sixteen maxillae and twenty-two mandibles with normal teeth were used. Interdental areas between the 1st premolar and the 2nd premolar (Group 1), the 2nd premolar and the 1st molar (Gruop 2), and the 1st molar and the 2nd molar (Group 3) were sectioned and then scanned. After setting the axis of teeth, the cortical bone thickness was measured at the distance of 2 mm, 4mm, 6 mm, and 8 mm from alveolar crest. The mean thickness of cortical bone in the maxilla according to distance from alveolar crest was 1.30 +/- 0.63 mm (2 mm), 1.49 +/- 0.62 mm (4mm), 1.72 +/- 0.64 mm (6mm), and 1.90 +/- 0.90 mm (8 mm) at the buccal side and 1.33 +/- 0.47 mm, 1.31 +/- 0.45 mm, 1.37 +/- 0.55 mm, and 1.39 +/- 0.58 mm at the palatal side. In the mandible, that was 3.14 +/- 1.71 mm, 4.31 +/- 2.22 mm, 4.23 +/- 1.94 mm, and 4.30 +/- 1.57 mm at the buccal side and 1.98 +/- 0.88 mm, 2.79 +/- 1.01 mm, 3.35 +/- 1.27 mm, and 3.93 +/- 1.38 mm at the lingual side. The buccal cortical bone thickness in the maxilla was decreased from Group 1 to Group 3, while the thickness of palatal side was no change. In the mandible, it did not show a tendency at the buccal side and it was decreased from Group 1 to Group 3 without significant difference at the lingual side. Therefore, the buccal side of the Group 1 and Group 2 in both the maxilla and mandible seems to be the most appropriate site for a mini-implant placement with taking the stability and retention.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bicuspid ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Retention (Psychology) ; Tooth

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a rare digestive syndrome characterized by symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction in the absence of mechanical obstruction. A 48-year-old female presented at our facility with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Simple abdominal radiography revealed small bowel gas and ileus. Computed tomography also revealed a dilated small bowel, but there was no evidence of mechanical obstruction. Esophageal function was decreased based on high-resolution manometry and the gastric emptying time was prolonged on a gastric emptying scan. The patient recovered with conservative treatment. We report a case of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction with esophageal and gastric dysfunction.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Gastric Emptying ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Manometry ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Sleep is an essential restorative physiologic phenomenon. Impaired sleep results in significant negative effect to the health. Symptoms like sleep initiation difficulty, frequent awakening, severe snoring have related to poor sleep quality. We studied frequency and compared the characteristics of common sleep disorders at family practice. METHODS: We surveyed patients over 18 years of age and their guardians who visited 16 familial practices for 6 days. We investigated sleep characteristics, frequency of sleep disorder and associated factors by questionnaires and analyzed by frequency analysis, Spearman's correlation coefficient, multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: We enrolled 1,117 participants. Older participants were more likely to report early sleep onset and off time, short sleep duration. Mean number of awakening during a typical night is 1.69. Female complained difficulties in initiation and maintenance of sleep more than male. A total of 32.5% had these insomnia symptoms and related to hypertension, stroke, stress, arthralgia, depression, urological disorder. 31.1% had excessive daytime sleepiness, related to stress, arthralgia, depression. Loud snoring and gasp for breath showed positive correlation between male, high BMI. Disrupted sleep over 3 times was related to old age, female, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, stress, arthralgia, depression. Restless leg syndrome were high in elderly, high BMI, stress, arthralgia and depression. CONCLUSION: About one in three who visit in primary medical practice have sleep disorder symptoms like insomnia, daytime fatigue, snoring. 3% of them have gasp for breath, 8% have restless leg syndrome.
Aged ; Arthralgia ; Depression ; Family Practice ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leg ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Snoring ; Stroke

We evaluated the therapeutic effects of tamsulosin for women with non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. Women who had voiding dysfunctions for at least 3 months were included. Inclusion criteria were age > or =18 yr, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of > or =15, and maximum flow rate (Q(max)) of > or =12 mL/sec and/or postvoid residuals (PVR) of > or =150 mL. Patients with neurogenic voiding dysfunction or anatomical bladder outlet obstruction were excluded. All patients were classified according to the Blaivas-Groutz nomogram as having no or mild obstruction (group A) or moderate or severe obstruction (group B). After 8 weeks of treatment, treatment outcomes and adverse effects were evaluated. One hundred and six patients were evaluable (70 in group A, 36 in group B). After treatments, mean IPSS, bother scores, Q(max), PVR, diurnal and nocturnal micturition frequencies and scored form of the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire (BFLUTS-SF) were changed significantly. Eighty-nine patients (84%) reported that the treatment was beneficial. The proportion of patients reported that their bladder symptoms caused "moderate to many severe problems" were significantly decreased. No significant difference were observed between the groups in terms of IPSS, bother score, Q(max), PVR, micturition frequency, and BFLUTS-SF changes. Adverse effects related to medication were dizziness (n=3), de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (n=3), aggravation of underlying SUI (n=1), fatigue (n=1). Tamsulosin was found to be effective in female patients with voiding dysfunction regardless of obstruction grade.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sulfonamides/adverse effects/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination Disorders/*drug therapy

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the histological composition of the prostate, preoperative clinical parameters, and the results of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 61 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who had undergone TURP were enrolled retrospectively. Slides were surveyed for relative areas (%) of glandular epithelium (GE), stroma (ST), and smooth muscle (SM) in stroma by performing immunohistochemistry, and the mean outcomes were calculated with a computer-assisted image analyzer (x200). RESULTS: Total prostate volume was less than 40 ml in 19 patients (group 1), 40 to 80 ml in 23 patients (group 2), and more than 80 ml in 19 patients (group 3). The percentage of SM was significantly greater in group 1 (29.5+/-4.2%) than in group 3 (23.7+/-3.2%), but GE and ST did not differ significantly. AG number was significantly higher in group 3 than in the other groups but did not correlate with SM. Improvements in International Prostate Symptom Score, which were similar in each group, were positively correlated with SM. CONCLUSIONS: SM in prostate adenoma is increased in men with a small prostate and may play an important role in lower urinary tract symptoms in small BPH
Adenoma ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Urinary Tract ; Urodynamics

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyse the epidemiologic characteristics of burn in the elderly and to discusses a possible prevention program for this population. METHODS: A retrospective review of all medical records of elderly patients (above 60 years old) admitted with burns to the burn center of the Hanil General Hospital from January 1996 to December 2007 was carried out. Patient demographics, etiology, extent, and type of burn, seasonal variation, and mortality rates were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 537 elderly patients (mean age of 69.8 years, median age of 68 years, range 60~97 years) was admitted. The gender ratio of the patients was 1:.5 with 217 men and 320 women. The most common causes were scald burn (44.9%) and flame burn (35.4%). The average total body area burned was 13.5% (range 0~95%). Twenty six patients (4.8%) died. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients, scald burns are more common in women but flame burns are more common in men. The mortality rate is higher in flame burns and men
Aged ; Burn Units ; Burns ; Demography ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

The midpalatal suture area and maxillary interdental area are suitable site for the placement of orthodontic mini-implant. The purpose of this study was to provide a guideline to indicate the best location for mini-implant placement as it relates to the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone. Fifteen maxilla from 15 cadavers were cut in midsagittal plane and buccopalatal plane to measure the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone of midpalatal and maxillary posterior interdental areas. Sectioned samples were scanned and the thickness was measured. The thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone were measured at 6 points from the interdental papilla with 5-mm intervals in the mid-sagittal section. And, the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone were also measured at 5 points from the alveolar crest with 1-mm intervals in the buccopalatal section. The mean and standard deviation of the measurement were calculated. Soft tissue thickness at the midpalatal suture area was 1.46 mm at 15 mm from the interdental papilla and remained uniformly thick posterior to this point, and steeply increased at 35 mm area posteriorly. Cortical bone thickness were greatest (2.13 mm) at 20 mm from the interdental papilla and remained uniformly thick posterior to this point, and decreased at 30 mm area posteriorly. Palatal soft tissues thickness in all groups was thinnest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and gradually increased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Cortical bone thickness in all groups was thickest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and slightly decreased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Buccal soft tissue thickness in all groups was thickest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and gradually decreased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Cortical bone thickness in all groups was thinnest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and slightly increased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Soft tissue thicknesses were greater on the palatal side than on the buccal side. Cortical bone thicknesses of the buccal side were thicker than the palatal side. These results provide anatomical data of soft tissue and cortical bone thickness to assist in the determination of safe location for the mini-implant placement in the midpalatal and maxillary interdental areas.
Cadaver ; Gingiva ; Maxilla ; Sutures

BACKGROUND: Consultation and referral are important characteristics of modern medicine which has become more segmented and more specialized. In particular, they give essential value to family practitioners to coordinate patients accordingly for proper care. This study analyzed the referred patients in family practices under Cheonan practice based-research network (CPBRN). METHODS: The data was collected via questionnaire in ten family clinics under CPBRN system during the four weeks from June 15, 2006 to July 12, 2006. RESULTS: The total number of referred cases was 103 (0.7%) out of a total of 14,466 office visits. Among the total, 68.9% of referred cases was physician-drived and 31.1% was patient-requested. The reason for referral were 'to get a second opinion of specialist' (34), 'high severity' (20), 'lack of examination tool' (18), 'lack of skill' (10) and 'no response to treatment' (2) in physician-drived cases, whereas in patient-requested cases, they were 'request for advanced hospital' (26) and 'want to meet specialist' (2). The patients were referred to tertiary hospital in 66.7%, secondary hospital in 15.9%, and other specialists of primary setting in 10.1%. Overall, 66.7% of the referred hospital was located in the city area. The main health problems of referred patients was divided into 'gastrointestinal' (17.5%), 'musculoskeletal' (13.6%), 'dermatology' (10.7%) and so on. The speciality consulting physicians were 'internal medicine' (34%), 'pediatrics' (13.6%), and 'orthopedic surgery' (10.7%) specialists. CONCLUSION: The referral rate of family practice in Korea was 0.7%. The main reason for referral was 'to get a secondary opinion of a specialist'. The most common referral problem was 'gastrointestinal'. 'Internal medicine' was the most frequently consulted specialty.
Chungcheongnam-do* ; Family Practice ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Korea ; Office Visits ; Referral and Consultation* ; Specialization ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Consultation and referral are important characteristics of modern medicine which has become more segmented and more specialized. In particular, they give essential value to family practitioners to coordinate patients accordingly for proper care. This study analyzed the referred patients in family practices under Cheonan practice based-research network (CPBRN). METHODS: The data was collected via questionnaire in ten family clinics under CPBRN system during the four weeks from June 15, 2006 to July 12, 2006. RESULTS: The total number of referred cases was 103 (0.7%) out of a total of 14,466 office visits. Among the total, 68.9% of referred cases was physician-drived and 31.1% was patient-requested. The reason for referral were 'to get a second opinion of specialist' (34), 'high severity' (20), 'lack of examination tool' (18), 'lack of skill' (10) and 'no response to treatment' (2) in physician-drived cases, whereas in patient-requested cases, they were 'request for advanced hospital' (26) and 'want to meet specialist' (2). The patients were referred to tertiary hospital in 66.7%, secondary hospital in 15.9%, and other specialists of primary setting in 10.1%. Overall, 66.7% of the referred hospital was located in the city area. The main health problems of referred patients was divided into 'gastrointestinal' (17.5%), 'musculoskeletal' (13.6%), 'dermatology' (10.7%) and so on. The speciality consulting physicians were 'internal medicine' (34%), 'pediatrics' (13.6%), and 'orthopedic surgery' (10.7%) specialists. CONCLUSION: The referral rate of family practice in Korea was 0.7%. The main reason for referral was 'to get a secondary opinion of a specialist'. The most common referral problem was 'gastrointestinal'. 'Internal medicine' was the most frequently consulted specialty.
Chungcheongnam-do* ; Family Practice ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Korea ; Office Visits ; Referral and Consultation* ; Specialization ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Surveys and Questionnaires

NFI-C null mice demonstrate aberrant odontoblast differentiation and abnormal dentin formation, and thus develop molars lacking roots. However, other tissues and organs in the body including ameloblasts appear to be unaffected. Abnormal dentin in NFI-C null mice shares morphological similarities to the osteodentin that is formed in dental caries. However, little is known about the relationship between NFI-C and osteodentin formation. In this study, to elucidate the molecular characteristics of abnormal odontoblast in NFI-C null mice, we examined the levels of Ask-1, Cdc-2, Smad2/3, and TGF-betaR1 in cell culture and tissue sections from NFI-C null mice using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. NFI-C protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of normal odontoblasts in vitro. Ask-1 and Cdc-2 proteins were shown in the perinuclear cytoplasm of both normal and NFI-C null mice. There were no differences in the pattern of production of Ask-1 and Cdc-2 proteins between normal and NFI-C null mice. Smad2/3 was not found in the odontoblast and subodontoblastic cells of the normal mice, whereas NFI-C null mice showed Smad2/3 immunoreactivity in the odontoblasts and subodontoblastic cells of the tooth pulp. TGF-betaR1 was weakly immunopositive in the odontoblast and subodontoblastic cells of normal mice, whereas it was detected strongly in the subodontoblastic cells of the NFI-C null mice. These results suggest that disruption of NFI-C increased the expression of Smad2/3 and TGF-betaR1 in developing odontoblasts and consequently caused abnormal dentin formation, similar to osteodentin.
Ameloblasts ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cytoplasm ; Dental Caries ; Dentin ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Molar ; Odontoblasts ; Tooth