The Acknowledgements was published incorrectly.

Statement of problem: A conventional 3-unit fixed partial denture design with a pontic between two retainers is the most commonly used. However, in cases where the mental nerve is in close proximity to the second premolar, a cantilever design can be considered. As such, logical and scientific evidence is lacking for the number and position of implants to be placed for partially edentulous patients, and no clear-cut set of treatment principles currently exist. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognosis of implant-supported fixed partial dentures, and to compare changes in bone level which may rise due to the different factors. Material and method: The present study examined radiographical marginal bone loss in patients treated with implant-supported fixed partial dentures(87 prostheses supported by 227 implants) and evaluated the influence of the span of the pontic, type of the opposing dentition. Clinical complications were studied using a retrospective method. Within the limitation of this study, the following result were drawn. Result: 1. Seven of a total of 227 implants restored with fixed prostheses failed, resulting in a 96.9% success rate. 2. Complications encountered during recall appointments included dissolution of temporary luting agent (17 cases), porcelain fracture (8 cases), loosened screws (5 cases), gingival recession (4 cases), and gingival enlargement (1 case). 3. Marginal bone loss, 1 year after prosthesis placement, was significant(P<0.05) in the group that underwent bone grafting, however no difference in annual resorption rate was observed afterwards. 4. Marginal bone loss, 1 year post-placement, was greater in cantilever-type prostheses than in centric pontic protheses(P<0.05). 5. Marginal bone loss was more pronounced in posterior regions compared to anterior regions(P<0.05). 6. The degree of marginal bone loss was proportional to the length of the pontic(P<0.05). Conclusion: The success rate of implant-supported fixed partial dentures, including marginal bone loss, was satisfactory in the present study. Factors influencing marginal bone loss included whether bone graft was performed, location of the pontic(s), location of the surgical area in the arch, pontic span. Long-term evaluation is necessary for implant-supported fixed partial dentures, as are further studies on the relationship between functional load and the number of implants to be placed.
Appointments and Schedules ; Bicuspid ; Bone Transplantation ; Dental Cements ; Dental Porcelain ; Dentition ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Gingival Recession ; Humans ; Logic ; Prognosis ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the effects of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB) and heparin to titanium surfaces for enhancement of osteoblastic functions and inhibition of inflammation activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anodized titanium discs, not coated with any material, were used as a control group. In heparinized- Ti group, dopamine was anchored to the surface of Ti substrates, and coated with heparin. In PDGF-Ti group, rhPDGF-BB was immobilized onto heparinized Ti surface. The surface morphologies were investigated by the scanning electron microscope in each group. The release kinetics of rhPDGF-BB were analyzed, and cytotoxicity tests for each group were conducted. The biocompatibilities were characterized by measuring cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium deposition using MG-63 cells. Statistical comparisons were carried out by one-way ANOVA tests. Differences were considered statistically significant at *P<.05 and **P<.001. RESULTS: The combination of rhPDGF-BB and heparin stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity and OCN mRNA expression in osteoblastic cells (*P<.05 and **P<.001). MG-63 cells grown on PDGF-Ti had significantly higher amounts of calcium deposition than those grown on anodized Ti (**P<.001). Heparinized Ti was more anti-inflammatory compared to anodized Ti, when exposed to lipopolysaccharide using the transcript levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 of proinflammatory cytokine (*P<.05 and **P<.001). CONCLUSION: The result of this study demonstrated that the incorporation of rhPDGF-BB and heparin onto Ti surface enhanced osteoblastic functions and inhibited inflammation.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Calcium ; Cell Proliferation ; Dopamine ; Electrons ; Heparin ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Kinetics ; Osteoblasts ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; RNA, Messenger ; Titanium ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We present here the case of a 73-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma that arose in a thymic cyst, and this was incidentally found by chest radiography. Computed tomography revealed a 3.6 cm-sized predominantly cystic lesion with a mural nodule at the antero-superior mediastinum. The resected specimen was a well demarcated cystic mass with a solid mural nodule. Microscopically, the nodule was determined to be invasive squamous cell carcinoma that had originated from the benign squamous epithelium lining the thymic cyst.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Mediastinal Cyst ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Thorax

Pure-phase beta-tricalcium phosphate(beta-TCP) proved to be a bone regeneration material, providing the patient with vital bone at the defect site in a reasonable time, making a second surgical procedure for bone harvesting unnecessary. This study compares bone healing and BMP 2/4 expression in cranial defects in rabbits grafted with autogenous bone and beta-TCP. Thirty New Zealand White rabbits was divided into 3 group of 10 animals each. Bilateral calvarial defects were made in the parietal bones of each animal. beta-TCP placed in one defect and the other defects was filled with autogenous bone. The animal were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the expression of BMP 2/4. 1. The new bone formation around autogenous bone from 4 weeks and beta-TCP from 8 weeks. 2. In autogenous bone graft, BMP 2/4 expression was decreased from 4 to 12 weeks. 3. In beta-TCP graft, BMP 4 expression was increased from 8 to 12 weeks. But, BMP 2 was observed from 12 weeks. This study showed that bone healing, regeneration and, BMP 2/4 expression are delayed in grafted beta-TCP than autogenous bone.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Humans ; Osteogenesis ; Parietal Bone ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Current non-invasive methods for evaluating the mediastinum by computed tomographic(CT) scan have limited sensitivity and specificity. The recently introduced PET was reported to be a more sensitive and specific method for the mediastinal staging of NSCLC(sensitivity:76-100%, specificity:81-100%) than CT or MRI. We assessed the usefulness of PET in the mediastinal staging of NSCLC. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of NSCLC patients that had undertaken staging work-up by both CT and PET before thoracotomy between January 1997 and December 1998. A total of 23 patients were enrolled in the study(14 males and 7 females) with a mean age of 61±9 years. By comparing the clinical(CT and PET) and pathologic stagings, we evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of PET in thoracic nodal staging. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and negative predicted value were 38%, 40%, 25% and 50% respectively for computed tomography, and 50%, 60%, 30% and 69% for PET. The accuracy of FDG-PET in our study was lower than that reported by previous other studies. CONCLUSION: Tne addition of FDG-PET to CT scanning has limited benefit for the thoracic nodal staging of NSCLC, but its value in our study was lower than that observed by others.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Medical Records ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a condition caused by spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, resulting in orthostatic headache as the main symptom, but other symptoms such as memory loss, nausea, and tinnitus may also be present. Various imaging techniques are used to diagnose SIH, with magnetic resonance imaging myelography being an important tool for detecting the leakage site of CSF. Conservative treatments including hydration, bed rest, and intravenous caffeine have been tried with limited success. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the most commonly performed treatment for SIH after the failure of conservative management. There are different opinions about the EBP procedure (e.g., blind EBP vs. targeted EBP). This report describes the treatment of SIH with targeted EBP according to imaging diagnosis after the failure of initial blind lumbar EBP.

PURPOSE: Antagonists of alpha1-adrenergic receptors (alpha1ARs) relax prostate smooth muscle and relieve voiding and storage symptoms. Recently, increased expression of alpha1ARs with change of its subtype expression has been proved in bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). To search for the evidence of changes in alpha1ARs subtype expression and activity in the peripheral and spinal routes, the effects of spinal and peripheral administration of tamsulosin (an alpha1A/D-selective AR), naftopidil (an alpha1A/D-selective AR), and doxazosin (non-selective AR) on bladder activity were investigated in a rat model with or without BOO. METHODS: A total of 65 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the BOO surgery group (n=47) and the sham surgery group (n=18). After 6 weeks, cystometry was assessed before and after intrathecal and intra-arterial administrations of tamsulosin, naftopidil, and doxazosin. RESULTS: After intra-arterial administrations of all three drugs, bladder capacity (BC) was increased and maximal intravesical pressure (Pmax) was decreased in both BOO and the sham rat models (P<0.05). After intrathecal administration of all three drugs, BC was increased and Pmax was decreased in only the BOO group. The episodes of involuntary contraction in the BOO rat models were decreased by intra-arterial administration (P=0.031). The increase of BC after intrathercal and intra-arterial administrations of alpha1ARs was significantly greater in the BOO group than in the sham group (P=0.023, P=0.041). In the BOO group, the increase of BC and decrease in Pmax were greater by intra-arterial administration than by intrathecal administration (P=0.035). There were no significant differences of the degrees of changes in the cystometric parameters among the three different alpha1ARs. CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulations of the alpha1ARs in BOO were observed by the greater increases of BC after alpha1AR antagonist administrations in the BOO group than in the sham group. However, there were no subtype differences of the alpha1ARs in functional parameters of bladder activity. In addition, alpha1ARs also act on the lumbosacral cord which implies that the sensitivity of alpha1ARs is increased in pathologic models such as BOO. Further evaluation including differential expression of alpha1ARs in BOO models are need.
Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; Animals ; Contracts ; Doxazosin ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth ; Naphthalenes ; Piperazines ; Prostate ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salicylamides ; Sulfonamides ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction