Electrophysiological evaluation of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and charcot-marie-tooth type 1: dispersion and correlation analysis.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare electrophysiological characteristics observed in nerve conduction studies (NCS) of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT 1). [Subjects] A differential diagnosis of acquired and congenital demyelinating neuropathies was based on a study of 35 patients with NCS-confirmed CIDP and 30 patients with CMT 1 genetically proven by peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP-22) gene analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and Southern blot analysis. [Methods] We analyzed values collected in motor nerve conduction studies. We conducted dispersion analysis of the amplitudes of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of various nerve types and correlation coefficient analysis of the motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV). [Results] We found that CIDP and CMT 1 were clearly attributable to severe polyneuropathy. In dispersion analysis, CIDP showed greater differences in proximal-to-distal amplitude ratios. Moreover, CMT 1 showed relatively high correlations compared to CIDP based on correlation coefficient analysis of MNCV. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest that CIDP showed greater asymmetry than CMT 1 in MNCV and CMAP amplitudes.

Broadband antireflection coating covering from visible to near infrared wavelengths by using multilayered nanoporous block copolymer films.

Broadband antireflection (AR) covering from visible light to near infrared (NIR) wavelengths (400-2000 nm) was obtained by using three sequential spin-coatings of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) copolymers with different volume fractions of PMMA block (f(PMMA)) on a glass. PS-b-PMMA having the lowest PMMA volume fraction (f(PMMA) approximately 0.3) among three PS-b-PMMAs was first spin-coated on a glass substrate. After spin-coating, the film was irradiated by ozone to prevent dissolution during the next spin-coating process. Then PS-b-PMMA with the next larger volume fraction of PMMA block (f(PMMA) approximately 0.46) was spin-coated and irradiated again by ozone. Finally, PS-b-PMMA with the largest volume fraction of PMMA block (f(PMMA) approximately 0.69) was spin-coated. After three sequential spin-coatings, the entire film was irradiated under UV followed by rinsing with acetic acid, which removed PMMA blocks. This process allowed us to have the triple layers with spongelike nanoporous structures where the refractive index increases from the top to the bottom of the film. The morphology of the triple-layered nanoporous block copolymer films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The nanoporous film exhibited excellent broadband AR at wavelengths from 400 to 2000 nm. The measured reflectance curves are in good agreement with the calculation from the characteristic matrix theory. This AR coating would be used for the development of solar cells with high power convergence efficiency.

[Effect of endoscopic sclerotherapy using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate in patients with gastric variceal bleeding].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric variceal bleeding is a severe complication of cirrhosis, and it has a high mortality rate. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection therapy for patients suffering with gastric variceal bleeding. METHODS: A total of 86 patients diagnosed with gastric variceal bleeding underwent endoscopic n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) injection therapy at our department between April, 2002 and July, 2005, with a mean follow-up period of 44 weeks (range: 2 to 136 weeks). The initial hemostasis rate and the rebleeding rate of endoscopic sclerotherapy were analyzed. Also, the cumulative survival rate was analyzed according to the status of hepatocellular carcinoma and hyponatremia, the MELD score, the Child-Pugh score and the amount of injected Histoacryl. RESULTS: The initial hemostasis rate of Histoacryl injection therapy was 93% and the 1 month rebleeding rate was 16.1%. The total number of session for treating the initial hemostasis was 1.2+/-0.4 and the total volume of Histoacryl was 2.7+/-1.2 mL. The cumulative rebleeding-free rates for the patients treated by the Histoacryl injection method at 1 month, 12 months and 34 months period were 95.1%, 83.2% and 74%, respectively. The cumulative survival rates were 78.3% at 1 month, 61.9% at 12 months and 54.6% at 34 months, respectively. No thromboembolic phenomenon occurred. According to the Cox's proportional hazards analysis, only the MELD score (<15) was an independent predicting factor for survival of the patients with gastric variceal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sclerotherapy using n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was a safe and effective hemostatic method for patients with gastric variceal bleeding. Also, the MELD score (<15) contributed to predicting survival of the patients with gastric variceal bleeding.

Incidental focal 18F-FDG uptake in the frontal process of the maxilla on PET/CT: prevalence and clinical significance.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of incidental focal 18F-FDG uptake in the frontal process of the maxilla, mimicking malignancy on PET/CT. METHODS: From a total of 32,834 patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT, patients with focal uptake in the frontal process of the maxilla were selected by a database search. For those patients, medical records including relevant imaging studies were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients (0.12 %) demonstrated focal uptake on PET/CT. On CT of PET/CT, all lesions showed ground-glass attenuation with or without bony expansion, consistent with fibrous dysplasia. When comparing previous PET/CT, follow-up PET/CT, and CT, a significant difference in degree of 18F-FDG uptake was noted, with no associated change in the size of maxillary lesions. There were no patients who had symptoms or signs related to maxillary lesions during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Focal 18F-FDG uptake in the frontal process of the maxilla is a rare, incidental, and persistent finding with variable uptake and can represent a benign condition.

Quantitative analysis of periodontal pathogens present in the saliva of geriatric subjects.

PURPOSE: At present, information regarding periodontal disease in geriatric patients is scarce. The purpose of this study was to quantify the periodontal pathogens present in the saliva of Korean geriatric patients and assess the relationship between the bacterial levels and the periodontal condition. METHODS: Six putative periodontal pathogens were quantified by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay in geriatric patient groups (>60 years) with mild chronic periodontitis (MCP), moderate chronic periodontitis (MoCP), and severe chronic periodontitis (SCP). The copy numbers of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia were measured. RESULTS: It was found that the bacterial copy numbers increased as the severity of the disease increased from MCP to SCP, except for P. intermedia. For P. intermedia, it was found that samples in the MCP group yielded the largest amount. It was also found that the quantities of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola, the so-called "red complex" bacteria, were lower than those of F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. intermedia in all of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the levels of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, F. nucleatum, and T. denticola present in saliva are associated with the severity of periodontal disease in geriatric patients.