No abstract available.
Meningitis, Aseptic*

OBJECTIVES: Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is an excellent bactericidal agent, but it is detrimental to stem cell survival, whereas intracanal medicaments such as calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2) promote the survival and proliferation of stem cells. This study evaluated the effect of sequential NaOCl and Ca[OH]2 application on the attachment and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DPSCs were obtained from human third molars. All dentin specimens were treated with 5.25% NaOCl for 30 min. DPSCs were seeded on the dentin specimens and processed with additional 1 mg/mL Ca[OH]2, 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment, file instrumentation, or a combination of these methods. After 7 day of culture, we examined DPSC morphology using scanning electron microscopy and determined the cell survival rate with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. We measured cell adhesion gene expression levels after 4 day of culture and odontogenic differentiation gene expression levels after 4 wk using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: DPSCs did not attach to the dentin in the NaOCl-treated group. The gene expression levels of fibronectin-1 and secreted phosphoprotein-1 gene in both the Ca[OH]2- and the EDTA-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the other groups. All Ca[OH]2-treated groups showed higher expression levels of dentin matrix protein-1 than that of the control. The dentin sialophosphoprotein level was significantly higher in the groups treated with both Ca[OH]2 and EDTA. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Ca[OH]2 and additional treatment such as EDTA or instrumentation promoted the attachment and differentiation of DPSCs after NaOCl treatment.
Calcium Hydroxide ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Survival ; Dental Pulp* ; Dentin* ; Edetic Acid ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molar, Third ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Stem Cells*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the absolute value of the root/crown ratio (R/C ratio) using panoramic radiographs (PRGs) in a healthy Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 99 patient radiographs (of 50 males and 49 females subjects; aged 16 to 24 years old) were examined, and 2,770 teeth were analyzed. Crown lengths and root lengths were measured with modified Lind's measurements using PACS tools by two examiners in two separate sessions two months apart. All data were analyzed using SPSS. The independent t-test was used to assess for gender differences, and the paired t-test was used to compare both arches with a significance level of P<.05. RESULTS: The mean R/C ratios varied from 1.29 to 1.89 (male: 1.28-1.84; females: 1.31-1.94). The highest R/C ratios were recorded for the mandibular canines (1.89), followed by the maxillary canines (1.79). The lowest R/C ratios were recorded for the maxillary second molars (1.31). In comparison with the maxillary teeth (1.29-1.78), the mandibular teeth yielded the higher R/C ratio (1.47-1.89), and this difference was significant in the females (P<.05). The difference between the genders was not statistically significant, except for the maxillary central incisors, mandibular canines and mandibular first premolars. CONCLUSION: These data may enhance the understanding of the clinical R/C ratio as a useful guideline for determining the status of teeth and the ethnic difference.
Bicuspid ; Crowns ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Molar ; Tooth*

The purposes of this study were firstly to identify the microbial species on gutta-percha (GP) cones exposed at clinics using polymerase chain reaction, and secondly to evaluate the short-term sterilization effect of three chemical disinfectants. It also evaluated the alteration of surface texture and physical properties of GP cones after 5-min soaking into three chemical disinfectants. 150 GP cones from two endodontic departments were randomly selected for microbial detection using PCR assay with universal primer. After inoculation on the sterilized GP cones with the same microorganism identified by PCR assay, they were soaked in three chemical disinfectants: 5% NaOCl, 2% Chlorhexidine, and ChloraPrep for 1, 5, 10, and 30 minutes. The sterilization effect was evaluated by turbidity and subculture. The change of surface textures using a scanning electron microscope and the tensile strength and elongation rate of the GP cones were measured using an Instron 5500 (Canton). Statistical analysis was performed. Four bacterial species were detected in 29 GP cones (19.4%), and all the species belonged to the genus Staphylococcus. All chemical disinfectants were effective in sterilization with just 1 minute soaking. On the SEM picture of NaOCl-soaked GP cone, a cluster of cuboidal crystals was seen on the cone surface. The tensile strength of NaOCl-soaked group was significantly higher than the other groups (p < 0.05). Also, all disinfectants significantly increased the elongation rate of GP cones compared to the fresh GP cone (p < 0.05). Present data demonstrate that three chemical disinfectants are useful for rapid sterilization of GP cone just before obturation.
Chlorhexidine ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection* ; Gutta-Percha* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus ; Sterilization* ; Tensile Strength

Adenoma ; Amylases ; Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Male ; Mouth ; Ranula ; Skull Base ; Sublingual Gland

OBJECTIVES: Cerebral infarction as a macrovascular complication in patients with diabetes mellitus is frequent. However, mechanisms for the development of cerebral infarction were not well known until today. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the relationship between the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism and fibrinogen levels in patients with cerebral infarction, and 2) to assess usefulness of fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism as a marker of cerebral infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We studied 60 diabetes mellitus patients, 26 diabetes mellitus patients with cerebral infarction, 17 cerebral infarction patients, and 121 normal controls. Fibrinogen B beta 448 genotype was determined by the PCR-RFLP method using restriction enzyme Mnl I. RESULTS: Fibrinogen levels in each patient group were not significantly different from one another. Fibrinogen B beta 448 genotype frequencies of the patient groups did not significantly differ from those of the normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study didn't show the relationship between the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism and fibrinogen levels in patients with cerebral infarction. Moreover, these data didn't suggest the fibrinogen B beta 448 polymorphism as a marker of cerebral infarction in patients with diabetes mellitus. Further studies are needed to find the other polymorphic sites of fibrinogen gene which can affect the levels of fibrinogen.
Cerebral Infarction* ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fibrinogen* ; Genotype ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to make a practical comparative evaluation of the first and second trimesters in order to determine the period during which a higher yield of fetal nucleated red blood cells (FNRBCs) can be obtained. METHODS: NRBCs were isolated from maternal blood during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy using double Percoll gradients with different osmolarities. Magnetic activated cell sorting was performed with Kleihauer-Betke stain. We isolated fetal NRBCs from 10 mL of samples of maternal blood and determined fetal sex and fetal aneuploidy by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: The average number of NRBCs was 9.85 in samples obtained during the first trimester and 14.88 in samples obtained during the second trimester (P=0.07). The average number of NRBCs with Y chromosome signals was 5.73 in the first trimester and 8.22 in second trimester (P=0.56). However, the percentage of NRBCs with Y chromosome signals in the first trimester (70.6%) was significantly higher than in the second trimester (59.8%) (P=0.049). We diagnosed the blood samples from 7 pregnant women having fetal aneuploidy using this method and the number of NRBCs was 18.4. CONCLUSION: The method using Percoll osmolarity and a double density gradient system may be a very useful method for separation of NRBCs in the first trimester of pregnancy and also in the second trimester.
Aneuploidy ; Centrifugation, Density Gradient ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Osmolar Concentration ; Povidone ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Silicon Dioxide ; Y Chromosome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) could overcome the defects of oocytes in IVF-ET patients with previous fertilization failure by conventional fertilization technique. Design: Retrospective study Materials and METHODS: A total of 119 ICSI cycles in 57 IVF-ET patients performed from May, 1995 to December, 1997 was enrolled. Subjects were divided into two groups: FR group included 66 ICSI cycles in 35 patients with normal sperm who underwent ICSI due to past history of failed or poor fertilization in the previous IVF-ET cycles, and OAT group included 53 ICSI cycles in 22 patients with severe oligoasthenoterato- zoospermia(OAT) which was defined as sperm concentration < 20 million/ml, mo#dlity < 30% and normal morphology < 4% by strict morphologic criteria. The outcomes of ICSI were analyzed and compared in both groups. RESULTS: The age of female patients, basal serum FSH level, and the numbers of oocytes retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were all comparable in both groups. The fertilization rate after ICSI was similar in both groups(68.7+/-25.3% vs. 67.7+/-24.5%), as were the cleavage rate of normally fertilized oocytes(93.1+/-21.4% vs. 89.3+/-21.6%), the number of embryos transferred(4,00+/-1.98 vs. 4.64+/-2.10), and cumulative embryo score(CES) indicating the quality of embryos(47.3+/-33.2 vs. 54.1+/-33.2). The implantation rate(4.3+/-10.5% vs. 3.8+/-11.0%) and the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle(15.2% vs. 13.2%) were also comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although it has been shown that there is a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities in oocytes from IVF-ET patients with pevious failed or poor fertilization, higher implantation and clinical pregnancy rates wer#e not observed in patients with OAT following ICSL Therefore, the functional defect of sperm such as loss of capacitation, defect of aaasome reaction, and abnormality of nucleus decondensation should be also considered in patients with previous failed or poor fertilization.
Avena ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertilization* ; Humans ; Male* ; Metaphase ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa*

The prevalence of thyroid disease, particularly hyperthyroidism, has rapidly increased in Korea in the past 10 years. Therefore, it is important to consider the complete medical history including thyroid disease in patients under dental treatment. Both the drugs used for dental treatment and psychological symptoms associated with treatment can induce emergencies in hyperthyroid patients. This case report considers emergency situations during dental treatment for hyperthyroid patients, and discusses risk factors and related concerns.
Emergencies* ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Diseases

The prevalence of thyroid disease, particularly hyperthyroidism, has rapidly increased in Korea in the past 10 years. Therefore, it is important to consider the complete medical history including thyroid disease in patients under dental treatment. Both the drugs used for dental treatment and psychological symptoms associated with treatment can induce emergencies in hyperthyroid patients. This case report considers emergency situations during dental treatment for hyperthyroid patients, and discusses risk factors and related concerns.
Emergencies* ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Diseases