Temperament in Adulthood Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder without Bipolar Disorder

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether some temperamental traits would be associated with persistence of attention deficit-hyperacitivty disorder (ADHD) in adulthood independent from bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS: Eighty-one ADHD patients without a comorbid diagnosis of BD were divided into two groups, those with childhood ADHD (n=46), and those with Adulthood ADHD (n=35). The severity of childhood and adulthood ADHD were assessed by using the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-25) and Turgay’s Adult ADD/ADHD Diagnosis and Evaluation Scale (DES). Subjects’ temperamental characteristics were examined using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A). RESULTS: The mean scores of WURS-25 were higher in adult ADHD group than in childhood ADHD group (p < 0.001). Adult ADHD group had significantly higher scores on cyclothymic (p=0.002), irritable (p < 0.0001), and anxious (p=0.042) subscales of TEMPS-A. The scores of WURS-25 in adulthood ADHD group were positively correlated with cyclothymia scores (r=0.366, p=0.033). Total scores of Turgay’s Adult ADD/ADHD DES were positively correlated with cyclothymic (r=0.354, p=0.040), hyperthymic (r=0.380, p=0.026), and irritable (r=0.380, p=0.026) subscale scores. Cychlothymic and irritable temperaments were significantly associated with the severity of adulthood symptoms of ADHD. CONCLUSION: We might suggest that cyclothymic and irritable temperaments would predict the diagnosis of adulthood ADHD independent from BD.

Implantable Neural Probes for Brain-Machine Interfaces – Current Developments and Future Prospects

A Brain-Machine interface (BMI) allows for direct communication between the brain and machines. Neural probes for recording neural signals are among the essential components of a BMI system. In this report, we review research regarding implantable neural probes and their applications to BMIs. We first discuss conventional neural probes such as the tetrode, Utah array, Michigan probe, and electroencephalography (ECoG), following which we cover advancements in next-generation neural probes. These next-generation probes are associated with improvements in electrical properties, mechanical durability, biocompatibility, and offer a high degree of freedom in practical settings. Specifically, we focus on three key topics: (1) novel implantable neural probes that decrease the level of invasiveness without sacrificing performance, (2) multi-modal neural probes that measure both electrical and optical signals, (3) and neural probes developed using advanced materials. Because safety and precision are critical for practical applications of BMI systems, future studies should aim to enhance these properties when developing next-generation neural probes.

Association between the 5-HTTLPR Genotype and Childhood Characteristics in Mood Disorders

OBJECTIVE: The features of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are significantly associated with adult mood disorders. Some genetic factors may be common to both ADHD and mood disorders underlie the association between these two phenotypes. The present study aimed to determine whether a genetic role may be played by the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in the childhood ADHD features of adult patients with mood disorders. METHODS: The present study included 232 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 154 patients with bipolar disorder (BPD), and 1,288 normal controls. Childhood ADHD features were assessed with the Korean version of the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-K). The total score and the scores of three factors (impulsivity, inattention, and mood instability) from the WURS-K were analyzed to determine whether they were associated with the 5-HTTLPR genotype. RESULTS: In the BPD type II group, the 5-HTTLPR genotype was significantly associated with the total score (p=0.029) and the impulsivity factor (p=0.004) on the WURS-K. However, the inattention and mood instability factors were not associated with the 5-HTTLPR genotype. BPD type I, MDD and normal control groups did not exhibit any significant associations between the WURS-K scores and the 5-HTTLPR genotype. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the 5-HTTLPR genotype may play a role in the impulsivity component of childhood ADHD in patients with BPD type II. Because of a small sample size and a single candidate gene, further studies investigating other candidate genes using a larger sample are warranted to determine any common genetic links.

Changing medical students' perception of the evaluation culture: Is it possible? / 보건의료교육평가

Student feedback is a critical component of the teacher-learner cycle. However, there is not a gold standard course or clerkship evaluation form and limited research on the impact of changing the evaluation process. Results from a focus group and pre-implementation feedback survey coupled with best practices in survey design were used to improve all course/clerkship evaluation for academic year 2013-2014. In spring 2014 we asked all subjected students in University of Utah School of Medicine, United States of America to complete the same feedback survey (post-implementation survey). We assessed the evaluation climate with 3 measures on the feedback survey: overall satisfaction with the evaluation process; time students gave effort to the process; and time students used shortcuts. Scores from these measures were compared between 2013 and 2014 with Mann-Whitney U-tests. Response rates were 79% (254) for 2013 and 52% (179) for 2014. Students' overall satisfaction score were significantly higher (more positive) post-implementation compared to pre-implementation (P<0.001). There was no change in the amount of time students gave effort to completing evaluations (P=0.981) and no change for the amount of time they used shortcuts to complete evaluations (P=0.956). We were able to change overall satisfaction with the medical school evaluation culture, but there was no change in the amount of time students gave effort to completing evaluations and times they used shortcuts to complete evaluations. To ensure accurate evaluation results we will need to focus our efforts on time needed to complete course evaluations across all four years.

Emergency medicine and internal medicine trainees' smartphone use in clinical settings in the United States / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: Smartphone technology offers a multitude of applications (apps) that provide a wide range of functions for healthcare professionals. Medical trainees are early adopters of this technology, but how they use smartphones in clinical care remains unclear. Our objective was to further characterize smartphone use by medical trainees at two United States academic institutions, as well as their prior training in the clinical use of smartphones. METHODS: In 2014, we surveyed 347 internal medicine and emergency medicine resident physicians at the University of Utah and Brigham and Women's Hospital about their smartphone use and prior training experiences. Scores (0%-100%) were calculated to assess the frequency of their use of general features (email, text) and patient-specific apps, and the results were compared according to resident level and program using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: A total of 184 residents responded (response rate, 53.0%). The average score for using general features, 14.4/20 (72.2%) was significantly higher than the average score for using patient-specific features and apps, 14.1/44 (33.0%, P<0.001). The average scores for the use of general features, were significantly higher for year 3-4 residents, 15.0/20 (75.1%) than year 1-2 residents, 14.1/20 (70.5%, P=0.035), and for internal medicine residents, 14.9/20 (74.6%) in comparison to emergency medicine residents, 12.9/20 (64.3%, P=0.001). The average score reflecting the use of patient-specific apps was significantly higher for year 3-4 residents, 16.1/44 (36.5%) than for year 1-2 residents, 13.7/44 (31.1%; P=0.044). Only 21.7% of respondents had received prior training in clinical smartphone use. CONCLUSION: Residents used smartphones for general features more frequently than for patient-specific features, but patient-specific use increased with training. Few residents have received prior training in the clinical use of smartphones.

Developing a situational judgment test blueprint for assessing the non-cognitive skills of applicants to the University of Utah School of Medicine, the United States / 보건의료교육평가

PURPOSE: The situational judgment test (SJT) shows promise for assessing the non-cognitive skills of medical school applicants, but has only been used in Europe. Since the admissions processes and education levels of applicants to medical school are different in the United States and in Europe, it is necessary to obtain validity evidence of the SJT based on a sample of United States applicants. METHODS: Ninety SJT items were developed and Kane's validity framework was used to create a test blueprint. A total of 489 applicants selected for assessment/interview day at the University of Utah School of Medicine during the 2014-2015 admissions cycle completed one of five SJTs, which assessed professionalism, coping with pressure, communication, patient focus, and teamwork. Item difficulty, each item's discrimination index, internal consistency, and the categorization of items by two experts were used to create the test blueprint. RESULTS: The majority of item scores were within an acceptable range of difficulty, as measured by the difficulty index (0.50-0.85) and had fair to good discrimination. However, internal consistency was low for each domain, and 63% of items appeared to assess multiple domains. The concordance of categorization between the two educational experts ranged from 24% to 76% across the five domains. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will help medical school admissions departments determine how to begin constructing a SJT. Further testing with a more representative sample is needed to determine if the SJT is a useful assessment tool for measuring the non-cognitive skills of medical school applicants.

Mediating Effect of Depressive Symptoms on the Relationship between Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether depressive symptoms affect the relationship between adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the quality of life (QOL) in Korean soldiers. METHODS: We evaluated past and present symptoms of adult ADHD (the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Scale and the Wender Utah Rating Scale), depression (the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and QOL (the Korean version of the SmithKline Beecham 'Quality of Life' scale) in 131 soldiers during mental health screenings performed by a local mental health center. A structured equation model using AMOS 19.0 was used to evaluate the mediating effect of depression. RESULTS: In our first model (without depressive symptoms), adult ADHD significantly affected QOL (standardized regression weight=-0.51, p<0.01). After depressive symptoms were added to this model, the direct effect of adult ADHD on QOL was not significant (standardized regression weight=0.10, p=0.43). Regarding the indirect effect, adult ADHD significantly affected depression (standardized regression weight=0.78, p<0.01), and depression also affected QOL (standardized regression weight=-0.79, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Through structural equation modeling, the complete mediation model for the influence of depressive symptoms on ADHD and QOL was confirmed. These findings indicated that it might be important to consider comorbidities, such as depression, when adult ADHD is being evaluated.

Temperamental Characteristics in Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Comparison with Bipolar Disorder and Healthy Control Groups

OBJECTIVE: To date, the affective temperamental characteristics of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not been studied. The aim of this study is to explore those temperamental characteristics for adults diagnosed with ADHD as measured by the TEMPS-A and then to compare those results with results for individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) and with healthy controls. METHODS: Forty adults with ADHD, 40 patients with BD, and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The groups were matched by age and gender. All patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID I), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Wender Utah Rating Scale. Subjects' temperamental characteristics were examined using the Turkish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A). RESULTS: Ten subjects (25%) in the ADHD group and 15 subjects (30%) in the bipolar group had at least one dominant temperament. There was no identifiable dominant temperament in the control group. Compared to the control group, the ADHD group scored higher than other groups on all domains of the TEMPS-A: depressive cyclothymic, irritable and anxious. However, the hyperthymic domain was not higher for this group. Adults with ADHD scored higher on the irritable temperament scale as compared to the BD group. The ADHD and BD groups had similar mean scores for each of the other four temperaments. CONCLUSION: The adults diagnosed with ADHD in this study had different temperamental characteristics from the control group, and these temperamental characteristics were similar to those of the bipolar patients. Recognizing the role of temperamental characteristics in adults with ADHD may increase our understanding of ADHD.

Effect of Symptoms of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Korean Conscripts

OBJECTIVE: This study is conducted to investigate the effect of symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among 224 conscripts during 5 weeks of military basic training. METHODS: Total number of subject is 224 conscripts. We evaluated past and present symptoms of ADHD with Korean-Wender Utah rating scale (K-WURS) and Korean adult attention -deficit/hyperactivity disorder scale (K-AADHDS) and stress and symptoms of PTSD with Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-K (BEPSI-K), the Korean version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-K) on 1 week and 5 weeks later of basic military training. Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate risk factors of PTSD using SPSS program and Path analysis also was used to find relationship between past and present ADHD and PTSD simultaneously using AMOS program. RESULTS: Present symptoms of ADHD (OR=1.145, CI=1.054-1.245, p=0.001) and Past symptoms of ADHD (OR=1.049, CI=1.005-1.095, p=0.028) were significant risk factor of PTSD symptoms on 1st week of basic military training. The symptoms of PTSD on fist week was also significant risk factor of PTSD after 5weeks of basic military training (OR=1.073, CI=1.020-1.129, p=0.006). Using path analysis, we could found confirm these relations between past and present ADHD symptoms and symptoms of PTSD. CONCLUSION: The result suggests that past and present symptoms of ADHD are the risk factor of symptoms of PTSD on first week. And the symptoms of PTSD on first week are also risk factor of PTSD symptoms on last weeks in Korean conscripts. The symptoms of ADHD might make an important role in vulnerability of the symptoms of PTSD in Korean conscripts.

Childhood Attention Deficit in the Patients with Bipolar Disorder and CHRNA7 Gene Polymorphisms / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: Patients with bipolar disorder have attention deficit during even euthymic status. Bipolar disorder patients showed more childhood attention deficit and other ADHD like feature. Alpha 7 nicotinic receptor (CHRNA7) gene has been known to play roles in attention and sensory gating, and association between CHRNA7 gene and bipolar disorder has been reported. Therefore, we investigated a possible association between childhood attention deficit of bipolar disorder and CHRNA7 gene polymorphisms. METHODS: We included 122 patients with bipolar disorder (89 subjects of bipolar disorder type I, 33 subjects of bipolar disorder type II). Childhood attention deficit was measured by Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Factor analysis was done for WURS to extract inattention factor from childhood ADHD like feature. Three factors were extracted: Impulsivity, Inattention, and Mood instability. All subjects were ethnically Korean. Genotyping was done for three intronic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) of CHRNA7 gene: rs2337506 (A/G), rs6494223 (C/T), and rs12916879 (A/G). Analysis of association was done by UNPHASED version 3.1.4, a free software for genetic statistics. RESULTS: Genetic association tests found no association between factor score of inattention and any SNP or combination of SNPs of CHRNA7. Positive association between WURS total score and SNP rs6494223 (p=0.043), factor score of impulsivity and SNP rs2337506 (p=0.038) as well as SNP rs6494223 (p=0.043) was revealed. These positive associations were survived after 1,000 permutation tests. Combination of SNPs association tests performed for total WURS and factor scores could not find any significant association. CONCLUSION: We could not find association between CHRNA7 gene and childhood attention deficit in bipolar disorder. However, we found CHRNA7 gene involved in childhood impulsivity of bipolar disorder, another ADHD like feature. Further studies with larger sample and denser polymorphisms are necessary to clarify genetic role of CHRNA7 in attention and impulsivity of bipolar disorder.

Trends in outpatient breast cancer surgery among Medicare fee-for-service patients in the United States from 1993 to 2002 / 癌症

The practice of outpatient breast cancer surgery has been controversial in the United States. This study aimed to update time trends and geographic variation in outpatient breast cancer surgery among elderly Medicare fee-for-service women in the United States. Using the 1993-2002 linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare claims data and the Area Resource Files, we identified 2 study samples, including the women whose breast cancers were the first-ever-diagnosed cancer at age 65 years or older from 9 regions continuously covered by the SEER registries since 1993. The first sample included the women receiving unilateral mastectomy for stage 0-IV cancer; the second included the women receiving the breast-conserving surgery with lymph node dissection (BCS/LND) for stage 0-II cancer. The proportions of patients receiving outpatient surgery increased from 3.2% to 19.4% for mastectomy and from 48.9% to 77.8% for BCS/LND from 1993 to 2002. We observed substantial geographic variation in the average proportion of the patients receiving outpatient surgery in the studied areas across the 10-year period, ranging from 3.9% in Connecticut to 27.2% in Utah for mastectomy and from 54.7% in Hawaii to 78.1% in Seattle, Washington, for BCS/LND. As the popularity of outpatient breast cancer surgery continues to grow, more evidence-based analyses related to quality and outcomes of outpatient breast cancer surgery among various populations are needed in order to facilitate the public debates about state and federal mandated health benefit legislations.

Measurement of White-to-White Diameter and Anterior Chamber Depth by Dual Scheimpflug Camera

PURPOSE: To estimate the horizontal and vertical white-to-white diameters (WTW) and anterior chamber depths (ACD) with a dual Scheimpflug camera (GALILEI(TM), Ziemer, Switzerland) and to compare the estimates measured by a measuring caliper and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM PlusTM, Paradigm Inc., Utah, USA) in normal subjects. METHODS: Forty-four eyes of 23 subjects were evaluated. Corneal diameter as measured by GALILEI was directly compared with the white-to-white diameter (WTW) measured by a caliper and the correlation with ciliary sulcus diameter (STS) by UBM was evaluated. The anterior chamber depth (ACD) as measured by GALILEI(TM) was compared with the estimates measured by UBM. RESULTS: The horizontal and vertical diameters of WTW by GALILEI were not significantly different from the measurements taken by calipers (p>0.05, p>0.05, respectively), and there were no correlations between the measurements (r=-0.074, p>0.05 at 180degrees r=0.297, p>0.05 at 90degrees, respectively). The estimates by GALILEI did not correlate with those measured with UBM (r=-0.006, p>0.05 at 180degrees r=-0.222, p>0.05 at 90degrees, respectively). However, the mean ACD by GALILEI was deeper than thatby UBM (p<0.01), and the measurements correlated strongly with each other (r=0.760; p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The mean WTW measured by GALILEI was not significantly different from the measurements taken by calipers and the measurements did not correlate with each other. There was also no correlation with the measurementsby GALILEI and UBM. ACD by GALILEI was measured to be deeper those that by UBM.

A cross-racial analysis on the susceptible gene polymorphisms of salt-sensitive hypertension / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the genetic distributions of salt-sensitivity of four ethnic populations in Hapmap database.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The frequencies data (395 subjects) of salt-sensitivity polymorphisms (AGT/M235T, ACE/ID, CYP11B2/C-344T, ADDI/Gly460Trp, GNB3/C825 and CYP3A5/A6986G)of Utah residents with ancestry from northern and western Europe (CEU), Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB), Japanese in Tokyo (JPT) and Yoruba mother-father-child trios in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI) were obtained from International HapMap Project. The good-fit χ(2) test was performed to test whether the frequencies of each genotype reached Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The differences of the genotype and allele distribution and trend analysis were detected via χ(2) test. Furthermore, multiple comparisons between two populations were analyzed by Lancaster's partition of chi-squares.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences of each genotype distribution among four ethnic populations (P < 0.05). The distribution of genotype frequencies and susceptible allele frequencies of salt sensitive candidate genes were similar between CHB and JPT. Excepted for GNB3/825T allele (38.8% vs.34.4%, P = 0.521), susceptible allele frequencies in AGT/235T (79.2% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.001), ACE/I (56.5% vs. 43.5%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-344T (74.1% vs. 56.7%, P = 0.001), ADDI/460Trp (51.8% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/A6986 (30.1% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in CHB than in CEU. There distribution of ADDI/460Trp allele was significant lower in YRI (4%) than in CHB (51.8%, P < 0.001). However frequencies of AGT/235T, CYP11B2/-334T, GNB3/825T and CYP3A5/6986A in CHB were significantly lower than those in YRI (P < 0.05). Trend analyses showed significantly increased trend in AGT/235T (41.2% < 79.2% < 92.0%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-334T (56.7% < 74.1% < 84.8%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/6986A (3.6% < 30.1% < 84.5%, P < 0.001) in CEU, CHB and YRI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are significant discrepancy of salt-sensitivity variant distributions among four ethnic populations in Hapmap database. The frequencies of the susceptible polymorphisms related to salt-sensitivity in Beijing Han population was similar with JPT, higher than in CEU but lower than in YRI, suggesting high salt-sensitive and risk for hypertension in Beijing Han population. Prevention and individual therapy for high-risk population will help to reduce the prevalence of salt-sensitive hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.</p>

Impairment Rating Ambiguity in the United States: The Utah Impairment Guides for Calculating Workers' Compensation Impairments

Since the implementation of workers' compensation, accurately and consistently rating impairment has been a concern for the employee and employer, as well as rating physicians. In an attempt to standardize and classify impairments, the American Medical Association (AMA) publishes the AMA Guides ("Guides"), and recently published its 6th edition of the AMA Guides. Common critiques of the AMA Guides 6th edition are that they are too complex, lacking in evidence-based methods, and rarely yield consistent ratings. Many states mandate use of some edition of the AMA Guides, but few states are adopting the current edition due to the increasing difficulty and frustration with their implementation. A clearer, simpler approach is needed. Some states have begun to develop their own supplemental guides to combat problems in complexity and validity. Likewise studies in Korea show that past methods for rating impairment are outdated and inconsistent, and call for measures to adapt current methods to Korea's specific needs. The Utah Supplemental Guides to the AMA Guides have been effective in increasing consistency in rating impairment. It is estimated that litigation of permanent impairment has fallen below 1% and Utah is now one of the least costly states for obtaining workers' compensation insurance, while maintaining a medical fee schedule above the national average. Utah's guides serve as a model for national or international impairment guides.

Ultrasound Biomicroscopic Assessment of the Changes in Angle Relationships after Laser Iridotomy in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma

PURPOSE: To identify the essential morphologic characteristics concerned with angle closure in chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and to assess the changes in quantified values for angle relationships after laser iridotomy (LI) in them using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). METHODS: Anterior segment imaging and quantitative assessment of angle relationships were obtained in 25 eyes of 25 patients with chronic PACG using UBM (UBM plus2000 system, Paradigm(R) Inc., Utah, USA) before and 2 weeks after LI. RESULTS: The mean anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber angle (ACA), angle-opening distance (AOD500), and trabecular-iris distance (TID) were 2.16 mm, 12.73 degrees, 0.128 mm, and 0.101 mm, respectively. All our results were significantly smaller than previously reported quantified values in normal adult. In comparison between before and after LI, ACD and iris thickness (IT) did not change significantly, whereas ACA, AOD500, AOD250, and TID all significantly increased after LI. CONCLUSIONS: Using UBM, we identified the essential morphologic characteristics concerned with angle closure in chronic PACG and quantitatively demonstrated the result of treatment based on the changes of angle relationships after LI.

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM plus, model P45, Paradigm(R)): Intraobserver Reproducibility and Agreement of Measurements

PURPOSE: To evaluate intraobserver reproducibility of measurements in images obtained by the ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM plus, model P45, Paradigm(R), Inc., Utah, USA) and estimate the agreement of measurements by ultrasound biomicroscopy and A-scan ultrasound (model P37, Paradigm(R), Inc., Utah, USA). METHODS: The anterior segment images of fifteen normal patients were obtained twice by single examiner. Six different parameters were measured in each image. Among the parameters, anterior chamber depth was compared with that measured by A-scan ultrasound. RESULTS: The intraobserver reproducibility was high for all six parameters that includes central corneal thickness (coefficient of variation (%) 2.80), anterior chamber depth (coefficient of variation (%) 1.20), anterior chamber angle (coefficient of variation (%) 4.01), scleral thickness (coefficient of variation (%) 4.28), trabecular meshwork-iris distance (coefficient of variation (%) 6.09) and angle opening distance (AOD500, coefficient of variation (%) 6.09). The correlation between ultrasound biomicroscopy and A-scan ultrasound in measuring the anterior chamber depth was statistically significant (correlation coefficient = 0.79, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The measurements of anterior segment parameters by ultrasound biomicroscopy have high reproducibility and will be useful in evaluating the anterior segment structure.

The effects of surface contamination by hemostatic agents on the shear bond strength of compomer / 대한치과보존학회지

One of the latest concepts in bonding are "total etch", in which both enamel and dentin are etched with an acid to remove the smear layers, and "wet dentin" in which the dentin is not dry but left moist before application of the bonding primer. Ideally, the application of a bonding agent to tooth structure should be insensitive to minor contamination from oral fluids. Clinically, contaminations such as saliva, gingival fluid, blood and handpiece lubricant are often encountered by dentists during cavity preparation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of contamination by hemostatic agents on shear bond strength of compomer restorations. One hundred and ten extracted human maxillary and mandibular molar teeth were collected. The teeth were removed soft tissue remnant and debris and stored in physiologic solution until they were used. Small flat area on dentin of the buccal surface were wet ground serially with 400, 800 and 1200 abrasive papers on automatic polishing machine. The teeth were randomly divided into 11 groups. Each group was conditioned as follows: Group 1: Dentin surface was not etched and not contaminated by hemostatic agents. Group 2: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Astringedent(R)(Ultradent product Inc., Utah, U.S.A.). Group 3: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Bosmin(R)(Jeil Pharm, Korea.). Group 4: Dentin surface was not etched but was contaminated by Epri-dent(R)(Epr Industries, NJ, U.S.A.). Group 5: Dentin surface was etched and not contaminated by hemostatic agents. Group 6: Dentin surface was etched and contaminated by Astringedent(R). Group 7: Dentin surface was etched and contaminated by Bosmin(R). Group 8: Dentin surface was etched and contaminated by Epri-dent(R). Group 9: Dentin surface was contaminated by Astringedent(R). The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. Group 10: Dentin surface was contaminated by Bosmin(R). The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. Group 11: Dentin surface was contaminated by Epri-dent(R). The contaminated surface was rinsed by water and dried by compressed air. After surface conditioning, F2000(R) was applicated on the conditoned dentin surface. The teeth were thermocycled in distilled water at 5degrees C and 55degrees C for 1,000 cycles. The samples were placed on the binder with the bonded compomer-dentin interface parallel to the knife-edge shearing rod of the Universal Testing Machine(Zwick Z020, Zwick Co., Germany) running at a cross head speed of 1.0 mm/min. Group 2 showed significant decrease in shear bond strength compared with group 1 and group 6 showed significant decrease in shear bond strength compared with group 5. There were no significant differences in shear bond strength between group 5 and group 9, 10 and 11.

Pós-graduaçäo em informática médica na Universidade de Utah / Postgraduation in medical informatic in Utah university

O estudo apresentado busca a identificação de fatores responsáveis pelo sucesso do programa de pós-graduação em informática Médica, através de questionários enviados aos docentes e alunos. As respostas obtidas são analisadas levando em consideração a evolução histórica do programa e as características do ambiente no qual o programa tem sido oferecido.

Comparion of Single Bolus with Divided Doses of Rocuronlum for Tracheal intubation / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Onset of rocuronium is rapid but relatively large doses are needed to achieve a suitable intubating condition. So we compared the single bolus injection with divided injection of rocuronium about tlie onset time, intubation time and intubating condition. METHOD: Thirty patients were divided into three groups of 10 each randomly. Patients in group I were given a single dose of 0.6mg/kg rocuronium. Those in group 2I or 3 received 0.06 mg/kg or 0.09 mg/kg as priming dose followed by 0.54 mg/kg and 0.81 mg/kg as intubating dose 3 min. later. The train of four responses of adductor pollicis muscle was recorded using Paragraph(Utah Medical Product Inc. Midvale Utah, U.S.A.) every 10 seconds. The trachea was intubated by one clinician who was blinded to the muscle relaxant administered when he thought the patients were suitable for intubation, and he recorded the intubating conditions. The endotracheal intubation time and twitch height at the moment was recorded by other clinician. The onset time was recorded when the post tetanic count is marked as '0'. RESULT: The onset time of group 1, 2, and 3 were 90.0+/-22.lsec, 109.0+/-35.0 sec and 85.0+/-35.0 sec. respectively. Endotracheal intubation times were 77.0+/-10.6sec, 60.0+/-10.0sec and 44.0+/-5.2sec respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no differences about onset time between single and devided injection with same total dose or incremental dose of 0.9mg/kg. But the intubation time was faster in priming group with dose dependent manner, and the intubating conditions were excellent to good in all patients.