OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the effects of maxillary second and third molar eruption status on the distalization of first molars with a modified palatal anchorage plate (MPAP), and (2) compare the results to the outcomes of the use of a pendulum and that of a headgear using three-dimensional finite element analysis. METHODS: Three eruption stages were established: an erupting second molar at the cervical one-third of the first molar root (Stage 1), a fully erupted second molar (Stage 2), and an erupting third molar at the cervical one-third of the second molar root (Stage 3). Retraction forces were applied via three anchorage appliance models: an MPAP with bracket and archwire, a bone-anchored pendulum appliance, and cervical-pull headgear. RESULTS: An MPAP showed greater root movement of the first molar than crown movement, and this was more noticeable in Stages 2 and 3. With the other devices, the first molar showed distal tipping. Transversely, the first molar had mesial-out rotation with headgear and mesial-in rotation with the other devices. Vertically, the first molar was intruded with an MPAP, and extruded with the other appliances. CONCLUSIONS: The second molar eruption stage had an effect on molar distalization, but the third molar follicle had no effect. The application of an MPAP may be an effective treatment option for maxillary molar distalization.
Crowns ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Molar* ; Molar, Third

Transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) is a new acoustic window to the cardiac structures and great vessels via retrocardiac esophagus. Because of the close relation between the esophagus and the heart, higher transducer frequencies can be applied, therefore leading to improved resolution and more accurate images than transthoracic echocardiography. We describe our experience with the first 353 awake patients. The procedure was well tolerated by the patients and associated with no major complications, within examination 10 to 20 minutes. Clinical diseases which appear to be suited for TEE includes 1) evaluation of native valve diseases, particulary mitral valve, pathologic valvular abnormalities and color Doppler regurgitant flows ; 2) assesment of prosthetic heart valves to better define malfunction and important pathologic associations ; 3) congenital heart disease, particularly atrial septal defect ; 4) endocarditis and detection of vegetations and complications ; 5) detection of thrombus and tumors, size, location, morphology, stalk ; and 6) aortic pathology including atherosclerosis, aneurysm and dissection. We conclude that transesophageal echocardiography is a new imaging technique that is rapidly evolving into a major tool for general cardiac imaging in a variety pathologic conditions and is a safe and useful tool in patients. Future advances in probe technology will continue to expand its applications.
Acoustics ; Aneurysm ; Atherosclerosis ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Endocarditis ; Equidae ; Esophagus ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Pathology ; Thrombosis ; Transducers

OBJECTIVE: The fears and side effects of a prolonged hormone replacement therapy on the postmenopausal symptoms reinforce a growing interest about alternatives. The present study was performed to investigate whether black cohosh root extract (BCRE) can be used or not as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in order to relieve postmenopausal symptoms. MATERIAL & METHODS: Randomized, double-blind prospective clinical trial examined the effects of BCRE and HRT on Kupperman index, biochemical bone markers, lipid profiles, and side effects in 74 women with postmenopausal symptoms. Treatments included placebo (Festal(R)) (n=12), BCRE (Feramin(R)) (n=32) and HRT (Premarin(R)) (n=30) for 3 months. Kupperman index, biochemical bone markers (osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline), and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol) were measured at 0, 1 and 3 months. Side effects were checked at 3 months. RESULTS: BCRE was significantly effective in lowering of Kupperman index as much as HRT at two control times (1 month: p<0.05, 3 months: p<0.001). It also showed slightly favorable effects on biochemical bone markers and lipid profiles but not statistically significant. Fewer side effects were seen in BCRE than HRT. CONCLUSION: BCRE appears to be a safe and effective alternative to HRT for early postmenopausal symptoms and may be especially useful in women with intolerances or contraindications to traditional HRT.
Cholesterol ; Cimicifuga* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVE: The fears and side effects of a prolonged hormone replacement therapy on the postmenopausal symptoms reinforce a growing interest about alternatives. The present study was performed to investigate whether black cohosh root extract (BCRE) can be used or not as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in order to relieve postmenopausal symptoms. MATERIAL & METHODS: Randomized, double-blind prospective clinical trial examined the effects of BCRE and HRT on Kupperman index, biochemical bone markers, lipid profiles, and side effects in 74 women with postmenopausal symptoms. Treatments included placebo (Festal(R)) (n=12), BCRE (Feramin(R)) (n=32) and HRT (Premarin(R)) (n=30) for 3 months. Kupperman index, biochemical bone markers (osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline), and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol) were measured at 0, 1 and 3 months. Side effects were checked at 3 months. RESULTS: BCRE was significantly effective in lowering of Kupperman index as much as HRT at two control times (1 month: p<0.05, 3 months: p<0.001). It also showed slightly favorable effects on biochemical bone markers and lipid profiles but not statistically significant. Fewer side effects were seen in BCRE than HRT. CONCLUSION: BCRE appears to be a safe and effective alternative to HRT for early postmenopausal symptoms and may be especially useful in women with intolerances or contraindications to traditional HRT.
Cholesterol ; Cimicifuga* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Triglycerides

Deletions of 14q including band 14q32.33 are uncommon. Patients with terminal deletions of chromosome 14 usually share a number of clinical features. By molecular techniques (array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we identified a young girl with 0.3 Mb terminal 14q32.33 deletion. Review of the nine cases with pure terminal 14q32.3 deletions described to date documented that our observation is the smallest terminal 14q deletion ever reported. The phenotype of our patient is much less severe than the phenotypes of the patients reported previously. We report our experience in examining the clinical, behavioral, and cognitive findings in a 5-year-old girl studied with chromosomal microarray hybridization and reviewed previously reported patients with 14q32 deletions.
Chimera ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Phenotype ; Preschool Child ; Seizures

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dental and skeletal effects of the modified C-palatal plate (MCPP) for total arch distalization in adult patients with Class II malocclusion and compare the findings with those of cervical pull headgear. METHODS: The study sample consisted of the lateral cephalograms of 44 adult patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion, including 22 who received treatment with MCPP (age, 24.7 ± 7.7 years) and 22 who received treatment with cervical pull headgear (age, 23.0 ± 7.7 years). Pre- (T1) and post-treatment (T2) cephalograms were analyzed for 24 linear and angular measurements. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the changes after treatment in each group and differences in treatment effects between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean amount of distalization at the crown and root levels of the maxillary first molar and the amount of distal tipping was 4.2 mm, 3.5 mm, and 3.9° in the MCPP group, and 2.3 mm, 0.6 mm, and 8.6° in the headgear group, respectively. In addition, intrusion by 2.5 mm was observed in the MCPP group. In both groups, the distal movement of the upper lip and the increase in the nasolabial angle were statistically significant (p < 0.001). However, none of the skeletal and soft tissue variables exhibited significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that MCPP is an effective treatment modality for total arch distalization in adults.
Adult* ; Crowns ; Humans ; Lip ; Malocclusion ; Molar ; Multivariate Analysis

Closed chest trauma occasionally results in the development of traumatic lung cyst or pulmonary hematocele.Radiologically, this latter rarely mimicks posterior mediastinal mass, which can cause unnecessary surgicalresection, We encountered two cases of pulmonary hematocele simulating posterior mediastinal mass. Multiplicity ofthe lesion, fracture of surrounding bony structure, decrease of mass size at follow-up examination, an acute anglebetween the mass and chest wall, peripheral rim enhancement of the mass, as seen on CT scans, or characteristicsignal intensity suggesting hematoma, as seen on MR images, helped differentiate pulmonary hematocele fromposterior mediastinal mass.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hematocele* ; Hematoma ; Lung ; Male ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome is a rare complication of strongyloidiasis that frequently occurs in immunosuppressed patients. The parasite ordinarily localizes in the small intestines, especially in the duodenal and jejunal part. Reports of gastric involvement are rare. We report a case of an immunosuppressed patient who had severe S. stercoralis infection of the stomach in association with purulent meningitis.
Gastritis ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Meningitis* ; Parasites ; Stomach* ; Strongyloides stercoralis* ; Strongyloides* ; Strongyloidiasis

PURPOSE: Topical calcineurin inhibitor is recently developed topical immunomodulator, and preliminary studies showed its effectiveness in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, some side effects including transient irritation can influence the patient compliance. So, there are some needs to improve the patient compliance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety and patient compliance with using topical tacrolimus 0.1% to treat AD when the correct information about topical tacrolimus are properly given to patients. METHODS: We examined the medical recordings, clinical severity scoring of total 194 AD patients at 9 general hospitals in Seoul, Korea from September 2010 to August 2011. We offered an infosheet of topical tacrolimus 0.1% and the patients applied it twice a day for 2 weeks. And we measured the efficacy of the topical tacrolimus 0.1% with SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index, patient's global assessment (PGA), and investigator's global assessment (IGA). RESULTS: Topical tacrolimus 0.1% effectively controlled AD with a reduction of the SCORAD index from baseline 31.9 to 20.2 at 2 weeks of application. In IGA results showed 98% got improvement and in PGA, results showed 96% got improvement after treatment. Although 42.3% of the patients complained of adverse effects, these were all transient. The effect of information on topical tacrolimus 0.1% showed 34% patients could predict the side effect, 35% patients could feel safety to use, and 18% patients experienced side effect but could maintain topical calcineurin inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Topical tacrolimus 0.1% may be an effective treatment modality for AD when patients show good compliance for applying the ointment. And properly given, the correct information may increase the patient compliance.
Calcineurin ; Compliance ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Patient Compliance ; Prostaglandins A ; Tacrolimus