Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare genetic disease caused by a deficiency of enzymes for the synthesis of bile acid, resulting in the accumulation of cholestanol with reduced chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) production and causing various symptoms such as chronic diarrhea in infancy, juvenile cataracts in childhood, tendon xanthomas in adolescence and young adulthood, and progressive neurologic dysfunction in adulthood. Because oral CDCA replacement therapy can effectively prevent disease progression, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in CTX. This study reports the case of CTX in a 10-year-old male who presented with Achilles tendon xanthoma and mild intellectual disability. Biochemical testing showed normal cholesterol and sitosterol levels but elevated cholestanol levels. Genetic testing showed compound heterozygous variants of CYP27A1, c.379C>T (p.Arg127Trp), and c.1214G>A (p.Arg405Gln), which confirmed the diagnosis of CTX. The patient had neither cataracts nor other focal neurologic deficits and showed no abnormalities on brain imaging. The patient received oral CDCA replacement therapy without any adverse effects; thereafter, the cholestanol level decreased and no disease progression was noted. The diagnostic possibility of CTX should be considered in patients with tendon xanthoma and normolipidemic conditions to prevent neurological deterioration.

Objectives: This study aimed to objectively evaluate factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders by measuring the range of motion of the cervical spine. Using three-dimensional motion analysis, the degree of flexion, lateral flexion and rotation were compared between dental hygiene students and dental hygienists during dental scaling. Methods: Muscle activity in the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae was measured in 35 dental hygiene students and 15 dental hygienists while scaling. Data were collected and processed using the biofeedback exercise function of the 2EM (4D-MT, Relive, Gimhae, Korea), an electromyography measuring device. A three-dimensional motion analysis sensor was attached to the subject’s right external auditory canal, and the joint angle was measured at 20 Hz. Results: Cervical flexion (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students.Cervical flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher in students than in dental hygienists. For cervical lateral flexion of 15°-45° and >45°, dental hygienists measured higher than students. In contrast, cervical lateral flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher among students than dental hygienists. Cervical rotation (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students. No dental hygienist’s cervical rotation measured over 45°, and more students reached the 45° measurement than dental hygienists. Conclusions Flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation were measured higher in dental hygienists then dental hygiene students. The results indicated that the range of motion of the cervical spine in the two groups exceeded the average scores for normal flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation by more than 15°, thereby increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed to objectively evaluate factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders by measuring the range of motion of the cervical spine. Using three-dimensional motion analysis, the degree of flexion, lateral flexion and rotation were compared between dental hygiene students and dental hygienists during dental scaling. Methods: Muscle activity in the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae was measured in 35 dental hygiene students and 15 dental hygienists while scaling. Data were collected and processed using the biofeedback exercise function of the 2EM (4D-MT, Relive, Gimhae, Korea), an electromyography measuring device. A three-dimensional motion analysis sensor was attached to the subject’s right external auditory canal, and the joint angle was measured at 20 Hz. Results: Cervical flexion (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students.Cervical flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher in students than in dental hygienists. For cervical lateral flexion of 15°-45° and >45°, dental hygienists measured higher than students. In contrast, cervical lateral flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher among students than dental hygienists. Cervical rotation (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students. No dental hygienist’s cervical rotation measured over 45°, and more students reached the 45° measurement than dental hygienists. Conclusions Flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation were measured higher in dental hygienists then dental hygiene students. The results indicated that the range of motion of the cervical spine in the two groups exceeded the average scores for normal flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation by more than 15°, thereby increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

To improve the oral health status of Korean people, it is necessary to encourage proper oral hygiene management habits, such as toothbrushing, through appropriate health promotion techniques. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the removal of plaque and tooth abrasion using ultra-soft (filament 0.11~0.12 mm) and soft toothbrushes for toothbrushing. The plaque removal was performed using a dentiform and Arti-spray, and the Patient Hygiene Performance (PHP) index was calculated as the sum total score divided by the total number of surfaces. In the abrasivity experiment, according to the number of brushings, a micro Vickers hardness tester was used, and a sample in the range of 280~380 Vickers hardness number was selected. The number of toothbrushing stroke were 1,800 (2 months), 5,400 (6 months), 10,800 (12 months), and 21,600 (24 months). The tooth abrasion was measured using a scanning electron microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. According to the results, there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of plaque removal between ultra-soft and soft toothbrushes. The difference in tooth abrasion between before and after toothbrushing was found to be greater with the soft toothbrushes than with the ultra-soft toothbrushes. Therefore, the ultra-soft toothbrush not only lowers tooth damage by reducing tooth abrasion, but also shows a similar ability to remove plaque as soft toothbrushes.
Dental Plaque ; Hardness ; Hardness Tests ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Stroke ; Tooth Abrasion* ; Tooth* ; Toothbrushing

OBJECTIVES: Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) of the neck is a frequent health problem in dental hygienists. This study was conducted to assess the risk factors of neck musculoskeletal disorder (neck MSD) using video recording. METHODS: The subjects were 50 currently working dental hygienists who agreed to participate in this study. A standardized questionnaire about WMSD (NIOSH/KOSHA) was distributed and video recording for neck posture and motion was performed between August and October 2012. The video recording was performed for 5 minutes using the reflective marker attachment on the 7th cervical vertebra. Major observation points included neck flexion angle, number of flexions, and length of static work when performing scaling and prosthetic procedures. Data were analyzed using MedCalc (ver 12.3.0, Mariakerke, Belgium), and the risk factors for neck MSD were assessed using simple and multiple variate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age and work experience of the subjects were 27.9 years and 5 years respectively. The prevalence of neck MSD symptoms that met NIOSH/KOSHA's criteria was 48%. The mean angle of neck flexion was 54.6°, mean maximum angle of flexion was 64.8°, and the mean time of static posture was 4.8 minutes during the 5 minutes recording interval. In the multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted by career, daily work time, and posture, the prevalence of neck MSD symptoms increased by 1.47 times (95% CI=0.24–9.48) with flexion >45°, and by 4.90 times (95% CI=0.91–26.4) when a static posture was preserved for >4.8 minutes CONCLUSIONS: The measured angle of flexion and time of preserved static posture identified further serious than expected. Therefore, to reduce the risk of neck MSD, reasonable and practically applicable guidelines to correct neck bending and tilting, especially to relax the long static posture associated with flexion, should be prepared.
Dental Hygienists* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neck* ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Spine ; Video Recording*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule*

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in Korea; in 2012, about 44,000 new cases (19.6% of all malignancies) were registered and the estimated age-standardized incidence rate of thyroid cancer was 73.6 per 100,000 (17.3 and 88.6 per 100,000 in men and women, respectively). Despite the steep increase in its incidence, the age-standardized mortality rate of thyroid cancer has remained stable and 10-year relative survival rate is 99.2%. Increased detection using high-resolution ultrasonography may have contributed to the increased incidence of thyroid cancer if not all. However, the effectiveness of thyroid cancer screening using ultrasonography has not been fully evaluated as to whether screening and early diagnosis could decrease the morbidity or mortality of thyroid cancer. A multidisciplinary expert committee for developing a guideline for thyroid cancer screening was organized and established a recommendation for thyroid cancer screening using ultrasonography in Korea based on scientific evidence for the first time. In conclusion, the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the thyroid cancer screening by ultrasonography and the recommendation is that thyroid ultrasonography is not routinely recommended for healthy subjects.
Early Detection of Cancer ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Mortality ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To analyze the reasons for glaucoma evaluation and distribution of new patients visiting the glaucoma department. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 330 new patients underwent ocular examination using Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, optic disc analysis, optical coherence tomography, and Humphrey perimeter under suspicion of glaucoma for the first time in the Glaucoma Department from January 2013 to December 2013. We analyzed the reasons and their diagnostic outcomes. RESULTS: The reasons for glaucoma evaluation were health screening (103 patients, 32.49%), other symptoms (102 patients, 31.55%), known glaucoma (56 patients, 17.67%), pre-refractive surgery evaluation (31 patients, 9.78%), family history (19 patients, 5.99%), and high myopia (6 patients, 1.89%). The diagnostic outcomes were as follows: glaucoma (139 patients, 43.85%), glaucoma suspect (60 patients, 18.93%), ocular hypertension (9 patients, 2.84%), neither glaucoma nor ocular hypertension (79 patients, 24.92%), normal (30 patients, 9.46%). The percentages of confirmed glaucoma according to the reasons for glaucoma evaluation were as follows: health screening, 26.21%; other symptoms, 40.20%; known glaucoma, 85.71%; pre-refractive surgery evaluation, 58.06%; family history, 15.79% and high myopia, 33.33%. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for glaucoma evaluation were diverse. Glaucoma was confirmed in 43.85% of the patients and the predicted value of positive test for glaucoma including glaucoma suspect and ocular hypertension was 65.62%.
Glaucoma* ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Manometry ; Mass Screening ; Myopia ; Ocular Hypertension ; Outpatients* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To report clinical characteristics of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) in patients who previously underwent total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer or a benign mass of the thyroid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the patients who were diagnosed with TAO from March 2008 to March 2012, we performed a retrospective chart review on those who had undergone total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer or a benign mass of the thyroid before the occurrence of ophthalmopathy. RESULTS: Of the 206 patients diagnosed with TAO, seven (3.4%) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the subjects was 47.4 years, and all were female. Six patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, and one was diagnosed with a benign mass. The duration between total thyroidectomy and onset of TAO ranged from 3-120 months (median 48 months). Ophthalmic manifestations varied among cases. Except for the patient who was diagnosed with a benign mass, all patients showed hyperthyroid status and were under Synthroid hormone treatment at the time of TAO development. Five of these six patients had positive levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor autoantibodies. CONCLUSION: TAO rarely develops after total thyroidectomy, and the mechanism of TAO occurrence is unclear. However, most patients showed abnormalities in thyroid function and TSH receptor autoantibodies.
Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary/immunology/surgery ; Female ; Graves Ophthalmopathy/*diagnosis/immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/etiology/immunology/pathology ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms/complications/*surgery ; Thyroidectomy/adverse effects/*methods ; Thyrotropin/blood ; Treatment Outcome