OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to understand the differences in masseter muscle (MM) between the shifted and non-shifted sides in facial asymmetry patients, and the changes shown by MM after mandibular surgery. METHODS: Pre- and post-operative CT scans were performed on 12 Class III patients with facial asymmetry who were treated by intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy and 10 subjects with normal occlusion. Using the V-works 4.0 program (Cybermed, Seoul, Korea), 3-dimensional images of the mandible, and MM were reconstructed, and evaluated. RESULTS: In the asymmetry group, the MM angle between the shifted and non-shifted sides was only significantly different (p < 0.05). Compared with normal occlusion, the asymmetry group showed a significantly smaller volume and maximum cross-sectional area in both sides of MM (p < 0.05). After mandibular surgery, the angle of MM (p < 0.01) and differences in angle between the shifted and non-shifted sides of MM (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. The thickness in the maximum cross-sectional area was significantly increased (p < 0.01). After surgery, MM in facial asymmetry patients was similarly changed to those in the normal occlusion group except for widths. CONCLUSIONS: MM in facial asymmetry was definitely different from those in normal occlusion. However, this study suggests that MM changed symmetrically in conjunction with the mandible after proper mandibular surgery.
Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Mandible ; Masseter Muscle ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy

No abstract available.
Coronary Occlusion* ; Echocardiography* ; Perfusion*

Balanitis xerotica obliterans is a condition of unknown etiology with a specific clinical and histological character. It is a condition affecting the glans penis and prepuce which Stuhmer in 1928 first reported as occurring predominantly in young men following circumcision for phimosis. We report an unusual case of balanitis xerotica obliterans which developed on penis with primary urethral stone
Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans* ; Balanitis* ; Circumcision, Male ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Phimosis

OBJECTIVE: Sliding mechanics using orthodontic miniscrews is widely used to stabilize the anchorage during extraction space closure. However, previous studies have reported that both posterior segment displacement and anterior segment displacement are possible, depending on the mechanical properties of the archwire. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of archwire stiffness and friction change on the displacement pattern of the maxillary posterior segment during anterior segment retraction with orthodontic miniscrews in sliding mechanics. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model was constructed. The retraction point was set at the archwire level between the lateral incisor and canine, and the orthodontic miniscrew was located at a height of 8 mm from the archwire between the second premolar and first molar. Archwire stiffness was simulated with rectangular stainless steel wires and a rigid body was used as a control. Various friction levels were set for the surface contact model. Displacement patterns for the posterior and anterior segments were compared between the conditions. RESULTS: Both the anterior and posterior segments exhibited backward rotation, regardless of archwire stiffness or friction. Among the conditions tested in this study, the least undesirable rotation was found with low archwire stiffness and low friction. CONCLUSIONS Posterior segment displacement may be unavoidable but reducing the stiffness and friction of the main archwire may minimize unwanted rotations during extraction space closure.

A 34-year-old male who has recieved regular hemodialysis three times a week for 2years due to chronic renal failure was admitted due to chest pain. Chest x-ray and computed tomography showed large sized anterior mediastinal mass compressing heart and great vessels posteriorly. Open lung biopsy was performed and the result was spindle cell type thymoma. We recommanded surgical resection but he refused and discharged. After 8 months, we observed marked regression of the thymoma without any other treatment. We report a case of spontaneous regression of thymoma in patient with chronic renal failure during regular hemodialysis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Lung ; Male ; Renal Dialysis* ; Thorax ; Thymoma*

Distal renal tubular acidosis is classified into primary and secondary. Sjogren Syndrome is the most common cause of secondary distal RTA. We experienced a 51 year-old female patient who had many manifestations of primary Sjogren syndrome which showes Distal renal tubular acidosis, acute pancreatitis, acute renal failure, possibly nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, but We found other atypical findings including ANA negative serology, high anion gap metabo1ic acidosis.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis* ; Sjogren's Syndrome*

Amiodarone hydrochloride is a benzofuran derivative used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is associated with a number of side effects, including thyroidopathy, neuropathy, cutaneous pigmentation, photosensitivity, pulmonary toxicity, hepatotoxicity and keratopathy. Amiodarone keratopathy hasbeen classified into four stages. Corneal pigmentation varies from stage 0, which is a clear cornea without pigment deposition, to stage 3, that is, corneal pigmentation encroaching upon the pupil. We present a case of amiodarone induced keratopathy of stage 3 who received low dose oral amiodarone maintain therapy.
Amiodarone* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cornea ; Pigmentation ; Pupil

Fistulous communication from the coronary artery to the left ventricle (LV) is extremely rare and has received little attention in the literature. Moreover, a case of coronary artery fistula (CAF) from a diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the LV has been reported only once in the literature. Herein, we report a case of CAF from a diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery to the LV, along with a review of the pertinent literature regarding this disorder.
Coronary Vessels* ; Fistula ; Heart Ventricles ; Vascular Fistula ; Veins

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)has been shown to enhance leukocyte adhesion, thereby inducing migration through blood endothelial cells. However, the molecular event during the process of adhesion is largely unknown. To examine the role of ICAM-1 cytoplasmic domain in SDF-1 alpha-induced T lymphocyte migration and adhesion, mutant human ICAM-1 molecules were expressed in COS-7 cell line. COS-7 cells expressing ICAM-1_GFP mutant without alpha-actinin revealed no association with the actin cytoskeleton, while wild-type ICAM-showed clear association with the actin, as observed by confocal microscopy, suggesting that actinin binding motif in the cytoplasmic domain of ICAM-1 is important for the proper localization of ICAM-1 on the cell membrane. However, based on adhesion assay, we found that the cytoplasmic domain of ICAM-1 is not essential for the binding of lymphocytes which were activated by SDF-1alpha. On the other hand, ICAM-1-mediated receptor-ligand clustering event was significantly inhibited in the cells expressing ICAM-1 mutants without alpha-actinin or whole cytoplasmic domain. Taken together, these results suggest that ICAM-1 cytoplasmic domain is not essential for the adhesion but important for the ligand-receptor-mediated membrane projection of endothelial cells before trans-endothelial migration of lymphocytes.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Actinin ; Actins ; Animals ; Cell Membrane ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; COS Cells ; Cytoplasm* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Hand ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 ; Lymphocytes ; Membranes* ; Microscopy, Confocal

Background/Aims: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) frequently experience nighttime heartburn and sleep disturbance. Tegoprazan is a new potassium-competitive acid blocker that can rapidly block acid secretion. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of tegoprazan compared with esomeprazole in relieving nighttime heartburn and sleep disturbances. Methods: Patients with erosive esophagitis, nighttime heartburn, and sleep disturbances were randomized to receive tegoprazan 50 mg or esomeprazole 40 mg for 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was time to first nighttime heartburn-free interval. The percentage of nighttime heartburn-free days was also compared between the 2 groups. Results: A total of 46 patients were enrolled in this study. Time to the first nighttime heartburn-free interval was shorter with tegoprazan than with esomeprazole but the difference was not statistically significant (1.5 days vs 3 days, P = 0.151). The percentage of nighttime heartburn-free days was higher in the tegoprazan group but the difference was insignificant (57.8% vs 43.1%, P = 0.107). Adverse events occurred in 2 patients. They were mild in severity. Conclusions Tegoprazan may induce faster relief of nighttime heartburn symptoms and may improve sleep disorders associated with nighttime heartburn. Further large-scale studies are required to validate our findings.