Flexural strength of various kinds of the resin bridges fabricated with 3D printing

PURPOSE: Manufacturing with AM (Additive manufacturing) technique has many advantages; but, due to insufficient study in the area, it is not being widely used in the general clinic. In this study, differences of flexural strength among various materials of 3 unit fixed dental prosthesis were analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A metal jig for specimens that had a 3-unit-fixed dental prosthesis figure were fabricated. The jigs were made appropriately to the specifications of the specimens. Three different kinds of materials of specimens which were NC (mathacrylic esther based), DP-1 (Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate type oligomer based), and DT-1 (urethane acrylate based) were printed with DLP machine. Five specimens for each kind of material were printed with an angle of 30° from the horizontal surface. The specimens were placed on the jig and the flexural strength was measured and recorded using Universal testing machine. The recorded data was analyzed in SPSS using One-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD to determine the significance of the differences of flexural strength among the groups. RESULTS: The flexural strengths of each group were the followings: NC, 1119 ± 305 N; DP-1, 619 ± 150 N; DT-1, 413 ± 65 N. Using One-way ANOVA and Tukey Honestly Significant Difference test, significant difference was found between NC and the other groups (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher flexural strength was shown in 3-unit-fixed dental prosthesis that were 3D printed using a DLP machine with NC material.

Current of Traditional Medicine in Japan and Korea / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The Japan Society for Oriental Medicine, and The Korean Oriental Medical Society, organizations representing traditional medicine in both countries, concluded a convention of scientific exchange and held a formal signing ceremony on March 29, 2009. Taking this opportunity, the presidents of both societies gave commemorative lectures on behalf of their organizations.<br>1) Korean president Kim spoke of an original medical tradition differing from that in China, having existed before the time of Christ. He raised <I>yomogi</I> and garlic as examples of herbs not described in Shennong's <I>Classic of Materia Medica</I>. He told how traditional medicine exchange was already active between China, Korea and Japan, during China's Three Kingdoms period, and how after the <I>Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine</I> was published, traditional Korean medicine took root with the common people, and the concept of Four Constitution Medicine was created. Kim then spoke of how western medicine was introduced in 1876, and how a dual medical system has since developed in his country.<br>2) President Ishino told of how Kampo medicine originated from China, and how in particular, it was Japanized during the Edo period. He spoke of how its characteristic feature is a focus on “practice” rather than “theory”, which eliminates idealism, places more emphasis on positivism, and has led to the development of fukushin, or abdominal diagnosis. He explained the history of Kampo medicine in great detail, and spoke of how after the medical system was reformed in the Meiji era, Japanese medicine became western based. He then explained how after entering the Showa era, Kampo medicine was revived, and is now well-established and integrated with western medicine.

Implantation of an Intrathecal Drug Administration System : A report of two cases

Opioids profoundly inhibit evoked discharges of spinal nociceptive neurons, thereby inhibiting the transmission of pain. Intrathecal administration of opioids using implantable continuous infusion systems is an effective method of pain relief when other treatments have failed, as well as for patients with adequate analgesia on high dose therapy that produces unacceptable side effects. We report two cases of intrathecal pump implantation performed in patients suffering from intractable chronic pain. A test dose of 3 mg morphine was injected into the epidural space. No side effects were noted and patients experienced considerable pain relief. Implantation was performed one day after the test. The initial intrathecal morphine delivery dose was half of the equivalent dose of daily oral intake opioids and the infusion rate was increased gradually under close observation for opioid side effects. Two days post-implantation, both patients were discharged without any complications.

General anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with Kennedy's disease: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Kennedy's disease is a rare lower motor neuron disease affecting the limbs and bulbar musculature. Regional anesthesia is generally the recommended anesthetic technique in patients with Kennedy's disease because of bulbar involvement and airway clearing disturbance. We administered general anesthesia in a patient with Kennedy's disease who was undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We closely monitored the degree of neuromuscular blockade throughout the operation and injected atracurium on demand. There was no exacerbation of neurologic signs or symptoms postoperatively. Therefore, we report the successful administration of general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with Kennedy's disease.

Comparison of Intrathecal Bupivacaine- Alfentanil and Bupivacaine-Fentanyl in Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section

BACKGROUND: Additive opioids in spinal anesthesia of cesarean section decrease the dose of local anesthetics and increase the quality of anesthesia. There were comparative studies about morphine, fentanyl, and sufentanil as an additive opioid in spinal anesthesia of cesarean section, but few studies about alfentanil. In this study we compared the effect of alfentanil with fentanyl as an additive opioid in spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. METHODS: Sixty nine pregnant women, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I-II, who were scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were randomly allocated into two groups: group F received 8 mg (1.6 ml) of bupivacaine and 15microg of fentanyl (0.3 ml) intrathecally, and group A received 8 mg of bupivacaine and 150microg of alfentanil (0.3 ml). Sensory block defined by pin-prick, intraoperative patient satisfaction for analgesia by visual analogue scale (VAS), blood pressure, and side effects were assessed. Apgar score and umbilical arterial blood gas analysis were also assessed. RESULTS: The analgesic effect of alfentanil was as good as fentanyl and VAS for satisfaction was 97.1 +/- 7.6 and 96.5 +/- 8.0 each. Time to achieve anesthetic level of T6 (6.2 vs 6.7 min), maximal block level (T3.7 vs T3.8), lowest blood pressure during the operation (60.0 vs 61.0 mmHg), duration of analgesia (77.2 vs 70.0 min), and fetal assessment were not different from those of group F, either. The incidence of nausea during operation was 48.6% in group F and 26.4% in group A (P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of alfentanil is comparable to fentanyl in analgesia, maternal and fetal effects in spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.

Biochemical Analysis of Inter-Connection between Types of Nuclear Opacity, Oxidative Stress and Glycation in Cataractous Lens

PURPOSE: To elucidate the inter-connection between lens nuclear opacity and its proposed two main factors, which are oxidative stress and glycation reaction initiated with sugars and proteins. METHODS: We have collected clinical samples after cataract surgery from 57 patients during 3 month period. We also classified these samples into three groups as initial, intermediate and advanced stages, and performed the biochemical assays for measurements of glutathione(GSH) and advanced glycation end products(AGEs). RESULTS: It showed that the concentrations of GSH in lens soluble proteins were 0.022+/-0.019, 0.017+/-0.011, and 0.011+/-0.010 nmoles/mg lens protein in initial stage, intermediate stage and advanced stage, respectively. Fluorophore formation(Ex370/Em440), which has been reported to represent general AGEs formation, was positively correlated with nuclear opacity showing that 108.8+/-48.3, 174.7+/-116.9, and 188.2+/-130.6 Fluorescence Unit(F.U.) in initial stage, intermediate stage and advanced stage, respectively. Likewise, a marker for AGEs, pentosidine-related fluorophore(Ex335/Em385) was increased with nuclear opacity(67.0+/-30.8, 75.5+/-36.4, and 80.4+/-41.7 F.U. in initial stage, intermediate stage and advanced stage, respectively), although significant differences existed between groups. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that there are clear inter-connection between lens nuclear opacity, oxidative stress and the formation of general AGEs compared with pentosidine, and suggested that therapy using antioxidants, chelating agents, or glycation inhibitors could be beneficial in delaying nuclear cataractogenesis.