Although ceramic brackets have been used widely for improved esthetics during treatment, ceramic brackets have some inherent problems; brittleness, attrition of the opposing teeth and high frictional resistance. This study was performed to understand the frictional resistance of the ceramic brackets, as well as to be a helpful reference for finding the solutions to the problem of frictional resistance. Three different kinds of brackets were used; metal bracket, polycrystalline ceramic brackets with a metal slot to reduce the high frictional resistance and monocrystalline ceramic brackets. The brackets were tested with a .019 x .025 stainless steel wire with a second order angulation of 0 degrees and 10 degrees, and the static and kinetic frictional forces were measured on the universal testing machine. The results of this study showed that the ceramic brackets, especially the monocrystalline ceramic bracket without a metal slot, generated higher frictional resistance than the metal bracket, and the frictional resistance was increased as the angulation between the bracket slot and the wire increased. Therefore, the development of the ceramic bracket with reduced frictional resistance and the prevention of excessive crown tipping during orthodontic treatment will lead to the simultaneous attainment of more efficient and improved esthetic treatment goals.
Ceramics* ; Crowns ; Esthetics ; Friction* ; Stainless Steel ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of mini-implants in relation to loading time. METHODS: A total of 48 mini-implants (ORLUS, Ortholution, Korea) were placed into the buccal alveolar bone of the mandible in 8 male beagle dogs. Orthodontic force (200 - 250 gm) was applied immediately for the immediate loading group while force application was delayed for 3 weeks in the delayed loading group. For the subsequent loading periods (3, 6, 12 weeks), BIC (bone implant contact) and BV/TV (bone volume/total volume) and mobility test were carried out. RESULTS: The immediate loading group showed no changes in BIC from 3 to 12 weeks, while the delayed loading group showed a significant increase in BIC between 3 and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). The BV/TV of the delayed loading group significantly increased from 6 to 12 weeks of loading (p < 0.05), while the BV/TV of the immediate loading group decreased from 3 to 12 weeks of loading. However, there was no significant difference in BV/TV between experimental groups. The mobility of the immediate loading group was not significantly different from that of the delayed loading group after 12 weeks of loading (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that immediate loading does not have a negative effect on the stability of mini-implants compared to the early loading method in both the clinical and histomorphometric point of view.
Animals ; Dogs ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

BACKGROUND: The intravenous injection of rocuronium bromide is often painful, and different methods have been used to minimize the incidence and severity of this pain. This study determined the effective dose of alfentanil to minimize the injection pain of rocuronium and the cardiovascular response after endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Eighty ASA physical status 1 and 2 adult patients were divided into four groups. Sixty seconds before administering rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg, the groups were given 10 ml of intravenous normal saline or alfentanil 10, 15, and 20microgram/kg. Pain was assessed after rocuronium injection. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured before induction and before and after intubation. RESULTS: Both 15 and 20microgram/kg alfentanil minimized the rocuronium injection pain, although 20microgram/kg alfentanil caused an undesirable decrease in the mean arterial pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A 15microgram/kg bolus of alfentanil may be useful for minimizing the rocuronium injection pain and blunting the cardiovascular response after endotracheal intubation.
Adult ; Alfentanil ; Androstanols ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intubation, Intratracheal

OBJECTIVE: Miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) is a means for expanding the basal bone without surgical intervention in young adults. Here, we assessed the differences in dental, alveolar, and skeletal measurements taken before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 1 year after (T2) MARPE. METHODS: Twenty-four patients (mean age, 21.6 years) who had undergone MARPE and cone-beam computed tomography at T0, T1, and T2 were included. Changes in the following parameters were compared using paired t-tests: intercusp, interapex, alveolar, nasal floor, and nasal cavity widths; inclination of the first molar (M1) and its alveolus; and thickness and height of the alveolar bone. A linear mixed-effects model was used to determine variables that affected periodontal changes in the M1. RESULTS: MARPE produced significant increases in most measurements during T0–T2, despite relapse of some measurements during T1–T2. The alveolar thickness decreased on the buccal side, but increased on the palatal side. The alveolar crest level at the first premolar moved apically. Changes in the thickness and height of the alveolar bone were affected by the corresponding initial values. CONCLUSIONS: MARPE can be used as an effective tool for correcting maxillomandibular transverse discrepancy, showing stable outcomes 1 year after expansion.
Bicuspid ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Molar ; Nasal Cavity ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: This study reports our initial experience of robotic high para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) with high port placement using same port for pelvic surgery in cervical and endometrial cancer patients. METHODS: Between July 2013 and January 2014, we performed robotic high PALND up to the left renal vein during staging surgeries. With high port placement and same port usage for pelvic surgery, high PALND was successfully performed without repositioning the robotic column. All data were registered consecutively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent robotic high PALND, followed by hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Median age was 45 years (range, 39 to 51 years) and median body mass index was 22 kg/m2 (range, 19.3 to 23.1 kg/m2). Median operative time for right PALND and left PALND was 37 minutes (range, 22 to 65 minutes) and 44 minutes (range, 36 to 50 minutes), respectively. Median number of right and left para-aortic lymph node by pathologic report was 12 (range, 8 to 15) and 13 (range, 5 to 26). CONCLUSION: With high port placement and one assistant port, robotic high PALND with the same port used in pelvic surgery is feasible to non-obese patients.
Adult ; Endometrial Neoplasms/*surgery ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/etiology ; Laparoscopy/instrumentation/*methods ; Lymph Node Excision/instrumentation/*methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation/*methods ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*surgery

OBJECTIVE: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play a key role in maintaining homeostasis of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by controlling matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In addition to their role in regulating MMPs, TIMPs have also been shown to have pluripotential effects on cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation. The aim of this study was to examine TIMP-2 level in serous ovarian tumor tissues and to understand further the role of TIMP-2 protein in ovarian tumorigenesis. METHODS: Expression of TIMP-2 was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a total of 57 ovarian specimens including five normal ovaries, 12 benign serous cystadenomas, 20 serous borderline tumors and 20 serous carcinomas. RESULTS: The present study found that TIMP-2 immunostaining was significantly more frequent in serous carcinomas, mainly in tumor epithelium, compared with cells of the other tissues studied. CONCLUSION: TIMP-2 in serous ovarian carcinoma may function to favor tumor growth in serous ovarian tumorigenesis. Additional research is now needed to elucidate further the role of TIMP-2 in the biological behavior of ovarian serous tumors.
Apoptosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Homeostasis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Metalloproteases ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) in young adults by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This retrospective study included 14 patients (mean age, 20.1 years; range, 16–26 years) with maxillary transverse deficiency treated with MARPE. Skeletal and dentoalveolar changes were evaluated using CBCT images acquired before and after expansion. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test according to normality of the data. RESULTS: The midpalatal suture was separated, and the maxilla exhibited statistically significant lateral movement (p < 0.05) after MARPE. Some of the landmarks had shifted forwards or upwards by a clinically irrelevant distance of less than 1 mm. The amount of expansion decreased in the superior direction, with values of 5.5, 3.2, 2.0, and 0.8 mm at the crown, cementoenamel junction, maxillary basal bone, and zygomatic arch levels, respectively (p < 0.05). The buccal bone thickness and height of the alveolar crest had decreased by 0.6–1.1 mm and 1.7–2.2 mm, respectively, with the premolars and molars exhibiting buccal tipping of 1.1°–2.9°. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that MARPE is an effective method for the correction of maxillary transverse deficiency without surgery in young adults.
Adult ; Bicuspid ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Crowns ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Methods ; Molar ; Retrospective Studies ; Sutures ; Tooth Cervix ; Young Adult* ; Zygoma