Effects of Gum-chewing on the Recovery of Bowel Motility and Length of Hospital Stay after Surgery for Colorectal Cancer / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a gum-chewing on the recovery of bowel motility and days of hospitalization after surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: This study used a non-equivalent control group and non-synchronized design. Thirty-four patients undergoing abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer were assigned to either gum-chewing group (n=17) or control group (n=17). The patients in the gum-chewing group chewed gum for 10 min three times daily from the first postoperative morning until the day they began oral intake. Outcome variables were time of first flatus, time of first bowel movement, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Gum-chewing was effective in enhancing the first passage of flatus, but was not effective in enhancing time of bowel movement and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Gum-chewing can be utilized as a useful nursing intervention to shorten the time of the first flatus of postoperative colectomy.

A Novel Model for Human Atopic Dermatitis: Application of Repeated DNCB Patch in BALB/c Mice, in Comparison with NC/Nga Mice / 한국실험동물학회지

The various murine models have contributed to the study of human atopic dermatitis (AD). However limitations of the models involve low reproducibility and long time to develop AD. In an attempt to overcome these limitations and establish an atopic dermatitis murine model, we repeated the application of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) patch in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice, which has advantages in reproduction and cost. For the sensitization, a 1 cm2 gauze-attached patch, where 1% or 0.2% DNCB was periodically attached on the back of NC/Nga and BALB/c mice. To estimate how homologous our model was with human atopic dermatitis, clinical, histological and immunological alterations were evaluated. Both strains showed severe atopic dermatitis, increase in subiliac lymph node weight, mast cells, epidermal hyperplasia and serum IgE levels. Though both exhibited a high IL-4/IFN-gamma and IL-4/TNF-beta ratio in the expression of mRNA, the shifting of DNCB-treated BALB/c mice was increased to more than double that of NC/Nga mice. These results suggest that our DNCB patched model using BALB/c mice were more suitable than NC/Nga mice in demonstrating the immune response. We anticipate that our novel model may be successfully used for pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and assessment of therapeutic approaches.

A study of ionic dissociation on various calcium hydroxide pastes using molecular sieving model / 대한치과보존학회지

The purpose of this study was two-fold. First was to evaluate whether the molecular sieving model was appropriate for ionic dissociation experiment. Second was to compare the dissociation of calcium and hydroxyl ions from five types of calcium hydroxide pastes (Pure calcium hydroxide paste, DT temporary dressing(R), Metapaste(R), Chidopex(R), Metapex(R)) in three vehicles (aqueous, viscous and oily) and the antibacterial effect. Each calcium hydroxide pastes was placed into 0.65ml tube with cap and then 15% polyacrylamide gel was placed onto calcium hydroxide pastes. After the gel was hardened, the tubes were filled with tridistilled water (pH 7.14) and closed with cap. The tubes were stored in 37degrees C, 100% incubator. The pH reading and the concentration of calcium ions were taken at 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days. The brain heart infusion agar plates with S. mutans and A. actinomycetemcomitans were used for antibacterial activity test. Middle of agar plate was filled with the calcium hydroxide pastes. The plates were incubated at 37degrees C and observations were made to detect the zones of inhibition. These data were evaluated statistically by use of the analysis of variance and duncan test. The results were as follows. 1. In fresh mixing state, the pH of five types of calcium hydroxide pastes were measured between 12.5 and 12.8. 2. The pH was increased in all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes compared with control group. In 14 days, Pure calcium hydroxide paste (11.45) and DT temporary dressing(R) (11.33) showed highest pH, followed by Metapaste(R) (9.49), Chidopex(R) (8.37) and Metapex(R) (7.59). 3. Calcium was higher in all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes compared with control group. In 14 days, Pure calcium hydroxide paste (137.29 mg%) and DT temporary dressing(R) (124.6 mg%) showed highest value, followed by Metapaste(R) (116.74 mg%), Chidopex(R) (111.84 mg%) and Metapex(R) (60.22 mg%). 4. The zones of bacterial inhibition were seen around all five types of calcium hydroxide pastes. Chidopex(R) and Metapex(R) groups which include iodoform were observed significantly larger zone of inhibition in A. actinomycetemcomitans compared with the other calcium hydroxide groups (p<0.05). However, Metapex(R) showed the least antibacterial effect on S. mutans compared with other groups (p<0.05). The molecular sieving model was found to be acceptable in dissociation experiment of hydroxyl and calcium ions when compared with the previous tooth model study. But this model was not appropriate for the antibacterial test.