Background: Dental plaque biofilms play a key role in the development of oral diseases such as dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is the primary contributor to oral biofilm formation and leads to the formation of other microbial communities. Artemisia princeps (AP) is a traditional herbal medicine with various pharmacological activities, including analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of AP extract on the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. Methods: AP extract was obtained via methanol extraction. The antimicrobial activity of the AP extract against S. mutans was measured using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test. Antibiofilm activity of the AP extract was investigated using a human saliva-coated biofilm formation assay, and the biofilms were confirmed using crystal violet. Results: AP extract reduced the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner, with an MBC of 1,250 ppm. Additionally, at 1,000 ppm of AP extract, biofilm formation was inhibited by approximately 70% compared to the negative control group, which is a higher anti-biofilm activity than chlorhexidine solution as positive control. Conclusion AP extract, which showed high antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. mutans, has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent against oral diseases.

Background: Digital panoramic dental X-ray equipment (PDX) is frequently used by patients and dental workers for diagnosis andexamination in dental institutions; however, infection control has not been properly implemented. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to systematically review the potential risk of cross-infection in the dental environment by investigating the contamination level of general aerobic bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus, which are important in hospital infections, in PDX areas that people mainly contact. Methods: This survey was conducted from March to May 2023 and covered one general hospital, three dental hospitals, and ninedental clinics equipped with PDX. Bacteria samples were collected from the left-handle, right-handle, forehead support, and head side support as the patient’s contact areas, as well as the X-ray exposure switch and left-click mouse button as the dental hygienist’s contact areas of the PDX. The collected bacteria were spread on Petrifilm, and colonies formed after 48 hours of culture were counted. Results: General aerobic bacteria and S. aureus were detected in all areas investigated. Significant differences in bacterial counts between different regions of the PDX were observed in both groups (p＜0.001). The detection rates of general aerobic bacteria (p＜0.001) and S. aureus (p＜0.001) were significantly higher in the contact areas of patients than those of dental hygienists. A positive correlation was observed between the forehead and the temple region in terms of general aerobic bacteria and S. aureus detection (r=1) (p＜0.01). Conclusion Taken together, the presence of many bacteria, including S. aureus, detected in PDX indicates that PDX has a potential cross-infection risk. Our results therefore highlight the need for the development of appropriate disinfection protocols for reusable medical devices such as PDX and periodic infection prevention training for hospital-related workers, including dental hygienists.

Background: Dental plaque biofilms play a key role in the development of oral diseases such as dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is the primary contributor to oral biofilm formation and leads to the formation of other microbial communities. Artemisia princeps (AP) is a traditional herbal medicine with various pharmacological activities, including analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of AP extract on the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. Methods: AP extract was obtained via methanol extraction. The antimicrobial activity of the AP extract against S. mutans was measured using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test. Antibiofilm activity of the AP extract was investigated using a human saliva-coated biofilm formation assay, and the biofilms were confirmed using crystal violet. Results: AP extract reduced the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner, with an MBC of 1,250 ppm. Additionally, at 1,000 ppm of AP extract, biofilm formation was inhibited by approximately 70% compared to the negative control group, which is a higher anti-biofilm activity than chlorhexidine solution as positive control. Conclusion AP extract, which showed high antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. mutans, has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent against oral diseases.

Background: Dental plaque biofilms play a key role in the development of oral diseases such as dental caries. Streptococcus mutans is the primary contributor to oral biofilm formation and leads to the formation of other microbial communities. Artemisia princeps (AP) is a traditional herbal medicine with various pharmacological activities, including analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of AP extract on the growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. Methods: AP extract was obtained via methanol extraction. The antimicrobial activity of the AP extract against S. mutans was measured using the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) test. Antibiofilm activity of the AP extract was investigated using a human saliva-coated biofilm formation assay, and the biofilms were confirmed using crystal violet. Results: AP extract reduced the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner, with an MBC of 1,250 ppm. Additionally, at 1,000 ppm of AP extract, biofilm formation was inhibited by approximately 70% compared to the negative control group, which is a higher anti-biofilm activity than chlorhexidine solution as positive control. Conclusion AP extract, which showed high antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. mutans, has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent against oral diseases.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) of the left atrium (LA) is associated with increased risk of thromboembolism in patients with mitral stenosis(MS). The determination of the presence and severity of LA spontaneous echo contrast(SEC) is of prognostic importance in these patients. Harmonic imaging(HI), a novel echocardiographic technique that differs from conventional fundamental imaging(FI) by transmitting ultrasound at one frequency and receiving at twice the transmitted frequency, produces better endocardial border definition and myocardial opacification. However, there are no data about its value on the detection of LA SEC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of transthoracic noncontrast HI in the detection of LA SEC in patients with. METHODS: Seventy-four consecutive patients with MS (49 female, mean age 51) underwent standard transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) in both HI and FI and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to determine the presence and severity of LA SEC. LA SEC was graded by TEE; mild if only seen at high gain, severe if visible in the entire LA at normal gain control of the equipment. Control subjects comprised of 30 patients randomly selected from patients who did not have LA SEC at TEE examination. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation was found in 46 patients (62.2%). The mean mitral valve area and mean mitral gradient were 1.0+/-0.3cm2 and 8.2+/-4.1mmHg, respectively. Nine patients (12.2%) had episodes of systemic embolism; stroke in 8 and peripheral embolism in 1. LA thrombus was found in 11 patients (14.9%) by TEE. LA SEC was present in all but one patient by TEE (mild in 35, severe in 38 patients). FI of TTE, however, revealed LA SEC in only 5 (6.8%) of the 73 patients. In contrast, in HI, LA SEC could be detected in 63 (86.3%) of the 73 patients. In the detection of severe LA SEC, the sensitivity of FI and HI were 13.2% (5/38) and 100% (38/38), respectively. LA SEC was not observed in control subjects either by FI or HI. CONCLUSION: Transthoracic HI significantly enhances the detection of LA SEC in patients with MS.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Embolism ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Stenosis* ; Stroke ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: Children are sedated before undergoing diagnostic imaging tests in emergency medicine or pediatric sedation anesthesia units. The aim of this study was to identify variables potentially affecting the dose of ketamine required for induction of sedation in pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic imaging.METHODS: This retrospective study included children aged 0 to 18 years who underwent sedation with ketamine for computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in the pediatric sedation anesthesia unit of a tertiary medical center between January 2011 and August 2016. The children’s hemodynamic status and depth of sedation were monitored during the examination. We recorded data on demographics, categories of imaging tests, ketamine doses administered, adverse events, respiratory interventions, and duration of sedation. Data for patients who experienced adverse events were excluded.RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were included in the final analysis. Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that patient age, height, and body surface area (BSA) affected the sedative dose of ketamine administered. These three variables showed multicollinearity in multivariate linear regression analysis and were analyzed in three separate models. The model with the highest adjusted R-squared value suggested the following equation for determination of the dose of ketamine required to induce sedation: ketamine dose (mg)=-1.62+0.7×age (months)+36.36×BSA (m²).CONCLUSION: Variables such as age and BSA should be considered when estimating the dose of ketamine required for induction of sedation in pediatric patients.
Anesthesia ; Body Surface Area ; Child ; Demography ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Emergency Medicine ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ketamine ; Linear Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Care ; Retrospective Studies

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and the clinical factors associated with prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in diabetic patients. Subjects and Methods: Forty-nine diabetic with unilateral SSNHL were retrospectively included. All patients received systemic high dose steroid therapy within one month after onset and had more than one month of follow-up audiogram. The basic characteristics of the patients, initial and follow-up audiograms, laboratory data, and methods of steroid treatment were collected. Results: Compared to reference values in healthy subjects, 79%, 55%, and 45% of the patients had higher values of mean neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), respectively. Older patients had significantly less degree of hearing loss, but they also had significantly worse hearing thresholds in the unaffected ear. After steroid treatment, less than half patients (47%) showed hearing recovery. Simultaneous intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) injections with systemic steroid did not confer an additional hearing gain or an earlier recovery rate in diabetic patients with SSNHL. In the multivariate analysis, initial hearing thresholds of affected ear and timing of steroid treatment were significantly associated with hearing prognosis in diabetic patients with SSNHL. Conclusions Diabetic patients with SSNHL tended to have increased NLR, LMR, and PLR, which are reported to be associated with microvascular angiopathy. Simultaneous ITD injections to improve hearing recovery in diabetic patients with SSNHL seems unnecessary.

Purpose: To determine whether the cornea remodeling-related genes aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1), lysyl oxidase (LOX), and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) were potential susceptibility candidate genes for keratoconus in Korean patients, we investigated the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these three genes in Korean patients with keratoconus.
Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of unrelated patients with keratoconus and healthy control individuals. For screening of genetic variations, all exons from the entire coding regions of the ALDH3A1, LOX, and SPARC genes were directly sequenced to determine the presence of mutations. Control individuals were selected from the general population without keratoconus.
Results: In this study, we detected nine SNPs in ALDH3A1, four SNPs in LOX, and 18 SNPs in SPARC. rs116992290, IVS3-62c>t, rs116962241, and rs2228100 in ALDH3A1 and rs2956540 and rs1800449 in LOX were significantly different between patient and control groups. In the SPARC gene, the distribution of the *G allele of EX10+225 T>G (p = 0.018; odds ratio, 1.869) was strongly associated with the risk of keratoconus in the Korean population. In haplotype analysis, C-G of rs2956540-rs2288393 in LOX(p = 0.046) and C-C-G and G-G-G of rs60610024-rs2228100-rs57555435 (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001), G-A of IVS3-62 a>g - rs116962241 in ALDH3A1(p = 0.048) predisposed significantly to keratoconus. After cross-validation consistency and permutation tests, two locus model was the best SNP variations interaction pattern.
Conclusions Our results suggested that genetic variations in ALDH3A1, LOX, and SPARC genes were associated with a predisposition for keratoconus in Korean individuals. Moreover, variations in ALDH3A1 and LOX may serve as strong biomarkers for keratoconus.

Purpose: To determine whether the cornea remodeling-related genes aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1), lysyl oxidase (LOX), and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) were potential susceptibility candidate genes for keratoconus in Korean patients, we investigated the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these three genes in Korean patients with keratoconus.
Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of unrelated patients with keratoconus and healthy control individuals. For screening of genetic variations, all exons from the entire coding regions of the ALDH3A1, LOX, and SPARC genes were directly sequenced to determine the presence of mutations. Control individuals were selected from the general population without keratoconus.
Results: In this study, we detected nine SNPs in ALDH3A1, four SNPs in LOX, and 18 SNPs in SPARC. rs116992290, IVS3-62c>t, rs116962241, and rs2228100 in ALDH3A1 and rs2956540 and rs1800449 in LOX were significantly different between patient and control groups. In the SPARC gene, the distribution of the *G allele of EX10+225 T>G (p = 0.018; odds ratio, 1.869) was strongly associated with the risk of keratoconus in the Korean population. In haplotype analysis, C-G of rs2956540-rs2288393 in LOX(p = 0.046) and C-C-G and G-G-G of rs60610024-rs2228100-rs57555435 (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001), G-A of IVS3-62 a>g - rs116962241 in ALDH3A1(p = 0.048) predisposed significantly to keratoconus. After cross-validation consistency and permutation tests, two locus model was the best SNP variations interaction pattern.
Conclusions Our results suggested that genetic variations in ALDH3A1, LOX, and SPARC genes were associated with a predisposition for keratoconus in Korean individuals. Moreover, variations in ALDH3A1 and LOX may serve as strong biomarkers for keratoconus.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate dietary intakes and nutritional status among Uganda primary school children from two selected schools in urban and rural areas. Methods: Data were collected from 350 pupils (6-14 years) in Mpigi district, Uganda. All participants were offered a school lunch meal (usually maize porridge and boiled beans). Dietary survey was conducted in October 2016. Data for dietary intake levels were collected by the 24-hour recall method with trained school staffs. The data were converted into nutrient intakes using the CAN-Pro 5.0 Program and compared with KDRIs to evaluate the nutritional status of the subjects. Diet quality indexes such as nutrient density, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ) and a diet diversity index such as diet diversity score (DDS) were calculated to evaluate nutritional status among subjects. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical programs. Results: Results show that the intakes of most nutrients were significantly different by schools. The nutritional status of micro-nutrients was very low in both schools according to analysis of nutritional indexes such as NARs and INQs. Students from both schools should improve intakes of micro-nutrients related to child growth such as calcium, Vitamin B6, zinc and folate. According to the analysis of dietary diversity, there was difference in dietary patterns by schools presumably due to their locations. Conclusions This suggests that current meals could not provide adequate nutrients for the subjects and urgent nutrition interventions for school food services are needed to improve their nutritional well-being. New foods supplements based on local cuisine are also needed to ensure dietary diversity and sustainable development plans.