Anchorage plays an important role in orthodontic treatment. Because of limited anchorage potential and acceptance problems of intra- or extraoral anchorage aids, endosseous implants have been suggested and used. However, clinicians have hesitated to use endosseous implants as orthodontic anchorage because of limited implantation space, high cost, and long waiting period for osseointegration. Titanium miniscrews and microscrews were introduced as orthodontic anchorage due to their many advantages such as ease of insertion and removal, low cost, immediate loading, and their ability to be placed in any area of the alveolar bone. In this study, a skeletal Class II patient was treated with sliding mechanics using M.I.A.(micro-implant anchorage). The maxillary micro-implants provide anchorage for retraction of the upper anterior teeth. The mandibular micro-implants induced uprighting and intrusion of the lower molars. The upward and forward movement of the chin followed. This resulted in an increase of the SNB angle, and a decrease of the ANB angle. The micro-implants remained firm and stable throughout treatment. This new approach to the treatment of skeletal class II malocclusion has the following characteristics: . Independent of patient cooperation. . Shorter treatment time due to the simultaneous retraction of the six anterior teeth . Early change of facial profile motivating greater cooperation from patients These results indicate that the M.I.A. can be used as anchorage for orthodontic treatment. The use of M.I.A. with sliding mechanics in the treatment of skeletal Class II malocclusion increases the treatment simplicity and efficiency.
Chin ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mechanics* ; Molar ; Osseointegration ; Patient Compliance ; Titanium ; Tooth

Surgical microscrews were introduced and used as one method to provide absolute anchorage. Some clinicians implanted microscrews or miniscrews into the basal bone below the roots of the teeth to evade damage to the roots. Because the implanted microscrews were positioned too low the applied force was insufficient to retract the anterior teeth or protract the posterior teeth, and the use of microscrews or miniscrews seemed limited in applying vertical force. However Park implanted microscrews(micro-implants (1.2 mm in diameter)) into the alveolar bone between the roots of the posterior teeth to change the direction of the applied force toward increasing horizontal component of the force. Moreover, these microscrew implants were positioned in the alveolar bone between the roots without causing discernable damage to the roots. This study was performed to provide guidelines and anatomic data to assist in the determination of the safe location for micro-implants. By measuring the CT images from 21 patients, anatomical data were obtained which were then used as a guide to determine the location for the implantation of micro-implants. The thickness of the cortical bones at the alveaolar bone region increased from the anterior to the posterior teeth area. The mandibular posterior teeth area showed thicker cortical bone. A greater distance was observed in distance between the second premolar root and first molar root in the upper arch, between the first molar root and the second molar root in the lower arch. The alveolar bone of the posterior teeth area is considered the best site for the implantation of micro-implants.
Bicuspid ; Humans ; Molar ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the association among the identified conditions of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), eating habits, and depression and to identify risk factors of depression in female college students.METHODS: There were a total of 285 students who were recruited from universities in the Jeju area. All participants accepted to the study completed self-report questionnaires that included demographic variables, a Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool, a Korean Eating Attitude Test-26 and a Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We noted that a total of 268 students who completed the questionnaires were analyzed, and the results were as follows.RESULTS: As we have seen, the prevalence of depression, PMS, and associated eating problems were 52.4%, 67.2%, and 10.2%, respectively. It was discovered that female students who have prolonged or irregular menstrual period had experienced significantly high levels of depression. The students with PMS or eating attitude problems were more likely to have depression than those without PMS or an eating attitude problem. Also the study identified that a prolonged menstrual period, irregular menstrual period, PMS, and eating problems were significant risk factors of depression among female college students.CONCLUSION: In summary, this study provides evidence of the significant relationships among premenstrual syndrome, eating attitude problems, and depression in female college students. Based on the results, professionals need to consider physiological and psychological symptoms of PMS and provide treatment for comorbid depression in female college students as individually recommended according to their associated issues in this regard.
Depression ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: This study is a retrospective cost-benefit analysis of cervical anterior interbody fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement, which are the main surgical methods to treat degenerative cervical disc disease.METHODS: We analyzed 156 patients who underwent anterior cervical disc fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009, diagnosed with degenerative cervical disc disorder. In this study, the costs and benefits were analyzed by using quality adjusted life year (QALY) as the outcome index for patients undergoing surgery, and a Markov model was used for the analysis. Only direct medical costs were included in the analysis; indirect medical costs were excluded. Data were analyzed with TreeAge Pro 2015™ (TreeAge Software, Inc, Williamstown, MA, USA).RESULTS: Patients who underwent cervical anterior fusion had a total cost of KRW 2501807/USD 2357 over 5 years and obtained a utility of 3.72 QALY. Patients who underwent cervical artificial disc replacement received 4.18 QALY for a total of KRW 3685949/USD 3473 over 5 years. The cumulative cost-effectiveness ratio of cervical spine replacement surgery was KRW 2549511/QALY (USD 2402/QALY), which was lower than the general Korean payment standard.CONCLUSION: Both cervical anterior fusion and cervical artificial disc replacement are cost-effective treatments for patients with degenerative cervical disc disease. Cervical artificial disc replacement may be an effective alternative to obtain more benefits.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Total Disc Replacement

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It takes considerable time and effort to make decisions about management and follow up for the thyroid cancer. Also there are risks of incorrectness or confusion on the part of thyroid specialists. We developed a thyroid cancer calculator that does automatic thyroid cancer staging, prognosis predicting and suggesting follow-up strategies in order to reduce the burden of thyroid specialists who have to memorize a lot of guidelines and statistics, and to give consistency to the treatment plan. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An automatic thyroid cancer calculator was developed by using a computer program called 'Qt 5.2 version', based on patient demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up status. This partly cited the history of prior thyroid cancer or other cancer registration, and focused on the specification of differentiated thyroid cancer. RESULTS: The program consisted of survival, recurrence and, dynamic re-stratification with follow-up. The patient registration form consisted of identification number, name and operation date, and patients needed to enter their thyroid cancer status, including clinical and pathologic information after registration. The entered information could be easily accessed in a few seconds. The program helped to update patient's current status, promptly collect data for clinical studies of thyroid cancers and provide better patient care. This program was simple, convenient and time-saving for users as it specifically contained important thyroid cancer items. CONCLUSION: Although this program is still in its primitive stage, the Kosin thyroid calculator reduces the workload of thyroid specialists and prevents the loss of clinical data. Furthermore, it could be a useful tool for the management and research of thyroid cancer.
Demography ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Patient Care ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Specialization ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory dermatosis of an idiopathic origin that can involve the skin, mucous membranes, hair and nails. Nail involvement occurs in 10% of patients with LP and permanent damage of at least one nail occurs in approximately 4% of these patients. LP limited to the nails without cutaneous involvement has rarely been reported in the literature. We report here on six cases of LP limited to the nails. The two patients presented as 20 nail dystrophy characterized by nail roughness and excessive longitudinal ridges. The other patients presented with typical nail LP that was characterized by nail plate thinning with longitudinal ridges and fissures.
Hair ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Lichens ; Mucous Membrane ; Nails ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

Kikuchi's disease (KD), histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, isa benign and self-limited disease which mainly affects young women. KD has been rarely described in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and its diagnosis can precede, postdate or coincide with the diagnosis of SLE. The tendency of flare-up of lupus activity with the onset of KD and the simultaneous occurrence of these two diseases suggest that they are not independent events. Herein, we report a case of KD associated with SLE in an 18-year-old female who showed tender erythematous papules on both upper extremities accompanied by cervical lymphadenopathy. The histopathologic examination of lymph nodes showed histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis.
Adolescent ; Female ; Histiocytic Necrotizing Lymphadenitis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Upper Extremity

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS), also known as idiopathic progressive hemifacial atrophy, is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by loss of skin and subcutaneous fat of face, muscles, and bones causing unilateral atrophy. Most patients require only soft tissue augmentation although syndrome has varying grades of severity. In the majority of reported cases, it has been treated with surgical flap or autologous fat transplantation. However, these treatments need complicated surgical skills which take a lot of time and cost. Herein we report the first case of PRS augmented by hyaluronic acid (HA) filler in a 42-year-old female patient to suggest that HA filler could be a safe, simple, and even rational economic alternative to surgical treatment.
Adult ; Atrophy ; Facial Hemiatrophy* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Muscles ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Surgical Flaps

Scratching is a main behavioral response accompanied by acute and chronic itch conditions, and has been quantified as an objective correlate to assess itch in studies using laboratory animals. Scratching has been counted mostly by human annotators, which is a time-consuming and laborious process. It has been attempted to develop automated scoring methods using various strategies, but they often require specialized equipment, costly software, or implantation of device which may disturb animal behaviors. To complement limitations of those methods, we have adapted machine learning-based strategy to develop a novel automated and real-time method detecting mouse scratching from experimental movies captured using monochrome cameras such as a webcam. Scratching is identified by characteristic changes in pixels, body position, and body size by frame as well as the size of body. To build a training model, a novel two-step J48 decision tree-inducing algorithm along with a C4.5 post-pruning algorithm was applied to three 30-min video recordings in which a mouse exhibits scratching following an intradermal injection of a pruritogen, and the resultant frames were then used for the next round of training. The trained method exhibited, on average, a sensitivity and specificity of 95.19% and 92.96%, respectively, in a performance test with five new recordings. This result suggests that it can be used as a non-invasive, automated and objective tool to measure mouse scratching from video recordings captured in general experimental settings, permitting rapid and accurate analysis of scratching for preclinical studies and high throughput drug screening.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Behavior, Animal ; Body Size ; Complement System Proteins ; Decision Trees ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Humans ; Injections, Intradermal ; Machine Learning ; Methods ; Mice ; Motion Pictures as Topic ; Pruritus ; Research Design ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Video Recording

Pathologic diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in ABO-incompatible (ABOi) transplantation patients is often challenging because patients without ABMR are frequently immunopositive for C4d. The aim of this study was to determine whether C4d positivity with microvascular inflammation (MVI), in the absence of any detectable donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in ABOi patients, could be considered as ABMR. Methods: A retrospective study of 214 for-cause biopsies from 126 ABOi kidney transplantation patients was performed. Patients with MVI score of ≥2 and glomerulitis score of ≥1 (n = 62) were divided into three groups: the absolute ABMR group (DSA-positive, C4d-positive or C4d-negative; n = 36), the C4d-positive group (DSA-negative, C4d-positive; n = 22), and the C4d-negative group (DSA-negative, C4d-negative; n = 4). The Banff scores, estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs), and graft failure rates were compared among groups. Results: C4d-positive biopsies showed higher glomerulitis, peritubular capillaritis, and MVI scores compared with C4d-negative specimens. The C4d-positive group did not show significant differences in eGFRs and graft survival compared with the absolute ABMR group. Conclusion: The results indicate that C4d positivity, MVI score of ≥2, and glomerulitis score of ≥1 in ABOi allograft biopsies may be categorized and treated as ABMR cases.