OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether labial tooth inclination and alveolar bone loss affect the moment per unit of force (M(t)/F) in controlled tipping and consequent stresses on the periodontal ligament (PDL). METHODS: Three-dimensional models (n = 20) of maxillary central incisors were created with different labial inclinations (5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and different amounts of alveolar bone loss (0, 2, 4, and 6 mm). The M(t)/F necessary for controlled tipping (M(t)/F(cont)) and the principal stresses on the PDL were calculated for each model separately in a finite element analysis. RESULTS: As labial inclination increased, M(t)/F(cont) and the length of the moment arm decreased. In contrast, increased alveolar bone loss caused increases in M(t)/F(cont) and the length of the moment arm. When M(t)/F was near M(t)/F(cont), increases in M(t)/F caused compressive stresses to move from a predominantly labial apical region to a palatal apical position, and tensile stresses in the labial area moved from a cervical position to a mid-root position. Although controlled tipping was applied to the incisors, increases in alveolar bone loss and labial tooth inclination caused increases in maximum compressive and tensile stresses at the root apices. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in alveolar bone loss and labial tooth inclination caused increases in stresses that might cause root resorption at the root apex, despite the application of controlled tipping to the incisors.
Alveolar Bone Loss* ; Arm ; Finite Element Analysis* ; Incisor* ; Periodontal Ligament ; Root Resorption ; Tooth

The reverse doming of the anterior mitral leaflet by two-dimensional echocardiography was shown in 39 patients(83%) among 47 patients with aortic regurgitation. The reverse doming was noted in 21(80%) of 26 patients with mild AR and in 15(83%) of 18 patients with moderate AR and in all(100%) of 3 patients with severe AR. Thus observing the reverse doming of the anterior mitral leaflet by two-dimensional echocardiography may be an important auxiliary diagnostic aid in conjunction with well known other echocardiographic findings.
Aortic Valve Insufficiency* ; Echocardiography ; Humans

PURPOSE: In the current study, the relation between the clinicopathological parameters and levels of the amplification of the c-met and E-cadherin genes were investigated in patients with an advanced gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The levels of amplification of the c-met and E-cadherin genes in 44 advanced gastric carcinoma patients were retrospectively investigated using RT-PCR. The relationships between the levels of amplification of these genes and the clinicopathological parameters were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Seventeen (38.6%) and 13 (29.5%) of the 44 advanced gastric carcinoma patients were evaluated as having amplification of the c-met gene and down-regulation of the E-cadherin gene, respectivly. The amplification of c- met gene was significantly correlated with serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis and neural invasion, whereas the down-regulation of the E-cadherin gene was significantly correlated with the diffuse type of gastric carcinoma by Lauren's calssification, and neural invasion. CONCLUSION: The levels of the c-met and E-cadherin gene amplifications may be a powerful aids in evaluating the metastatic potential and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
Cadherins* ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms*

Physical properties of composite resins such as strength, resistance to wear, discoloration, etc depend on the degree of conversion of the resin components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion of the composite resins according to the thickness of tooth structure penetrated by light and applied light curing time. The coronal portions of extracted human teeth (one anterior tooth, three posterior tooth) was embedded by pink denture material. the mounted teeth were cut into three illumination sections (1mm thickness enamel section, 1mm thickness dentin section, 2mm thicknes dentin section) and one backing section with cutting wheel. Thin resin films were made by using 6kg pressure between slide glass during 5 minutes. Thin resin film was light cured on coupled illumination section during 40sec, 80sec and 120sec. each illumination section was coupled as follows; no tooth structure(X), ename section(E), enamel section + 1mm dentin section(ED1), enamel section + 2mm dentin section(ED2), enamel section + 1mm dentin section + 2mm dentin section(EDD). To simulate the clinical situation more closely, thin resin film was cured against a backing section of tooth structure. The degree of conversion of carbon double bonds to single bonds in the resin films were examined by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer. The results were obtained as follows; 1. As curing time was increased, conversion rate was increased and as tooth thickness which was penetrated by curing light was increased, conversion rate was decreased. 2. At all tooth thickness groups, conversion rate between 80sec and 120sec was not significantly increased(P>0.05). 3. At 40sec group and 80sec, conversion rate between no tooth structure(X) group and 1mm enamel section(E) group was not significantly decreased(P>0.05). 4. At 80sec group and 120sec, conversion rate between 1mm enamel section(E) group and 1mm enamel section + 1mm dentin section(ED1) group was not significantly decreased(P>0.05).
Carbon ; Composite Resins ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Dentures ; Fourier Analysis ; Glass ; Humans ; Light ; Lighting ; Tooth

In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections could aggravate the course of IBD but it is difficult to distinguish CMV infection from IBD exacerbation endoscopically. Usually, CMV tends to localize to the colon and other organic involvements were reported very rare in the IBD patients. Herein, we report a case that CMV gastric ulcer complicated with pyloric obstruction in a patient with ulcerative colitis during ganciclovir therapy, which was resolved by surgical gastrojejunostomy with review of literature.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Colon ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Ganciclovir ; Gastric Bypass ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Stomach Ulcer* ; Ulcer*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in maxillomandibular transverse measurements at either the crown or the estimated center of resistance (CR), and to compare values between normal occlusion and Class III malocclusion groups. METHODS: Dental casts and computed tomography (CT) data from 30 individuals with normal occlusion and 30 with skeletal Class III malocclusions were evaluated. Using the casts, dental arch widths (DAWs) were measured from the cusp tips, and basal arch widths (BAWs-cast) were measured as the distance between the points at the mucogingival junction adjacent to the respective cusp tips. The BAWs determined from CT (BAWs-CT) images were measured from the estimated CRs of the teeth. RESULTS: None of the DAW measurements or maxillomandibular DAW differences showed statistically significant intergroup differences. In contrast, the maxillary BAWs-CT and BAWs-cast were lesser in the Class III malocclusion group than in the normal occlusion group. The mandibular BAWs-CT were significantly greater in the Class III malocclusion group than in the normal occlusion group. Moreover, the maxillomandibular BAW differences on both CT and cast showed significant intergroup differences in all transverse measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The maxillomandibular DAW differences showed no significant intergroup differences. In contrast, the maxillomandibular BAW differences on both CT and cast showed significant intergroup differences in all transverse measurements. The maxillomandibular BAW differences at the estimated CRs, measured using CT or casts, can reveal underlying transverse maxillary basal arch deficiencies in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusions.
Crowns ; Dental Arch ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Tooth

This study analyzes the apoptosis of HeLa cells to see if we can use the Artemisia capillaris Thunberg for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases. We used the HeLa cells to see what effects the A. capillaris Thunberg had on apoptosis of the cancer cells. We checked the cell activity, cell morphological change, DNA fragmentation, and DNA content after administering 0, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 microgram/ml methanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol extract of the A. capillaris Thunberg. As for the cell viability, the increase of concentration of methanol and ethyl acetate decreased the survival rate of the cell, but the phenomenon was much weakened in n-butanol extract and was not observed in aqueous extract. The higher the density of the methanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous extract was, the lower the survival rate of the HeLa cell was. These extracts obstructed the cell cohesion and caused the blebbing of the cell membrane and fragmentation of the nucleus, both of which are symptoms of apoptosis. Laddering-pattern DNA fragmentation was observed in the groups that were treated with the 1000 microgram/ml and 2000 microgram/ml of methanol extract. The DNA content of the cells apoptosis measured by fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) increased as the density of the methanol, ethyl acetate and butanol extract increased. The result of the study shows that A. capillaris Thunberg fosters the apoptosis of HeLa cells, which suggests that the A. capillaris Thunberg has a great potential value as food additives, medicinal supplements for patients with chronic diseases, and preventive measures against cancer.
1-Butanol ; Acetates ; Apoptosis ; Artemisia ; Blister ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Survival ; Chronic Disease ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; Food Additives ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Methanol ; Survival Rate

Objective: The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results: After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the Fgroup than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

We report a case in which routine chest roentgenograms of an 840 g infant led to the belief that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was appropriately positioned within the superior vena cava when, in actuality, it was within the azygous arch. Although many cases of pleural effusions have been reported to be caused by a central venous catheter, a right-sided hydrothorax caused by azygous vein rupture from the use of a PICC is an extremely rare complication. Sudden changes in the condition of a preterm infant with PICC should raise the suspicion of a catheter- related problem.
Azygos Vein* ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Humans ; Hydrothorax* ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Pleural Effusion ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Veins ; Vena Cava, Superior

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze stress distributions in the roots, periodontal ligaments (PDLs), and bones around cylindrical and tapered miniscrews inserted at different angles using a finite element analysis. METHODS: We created a three-dimensional (3D) maxilla model of a dentition with extracted first premolars and used 2 types of miniscrews (tapered and cylindrical) with 1.45-mm diameters and 8-mm lengths. The miniscrews were inserted at 30°, 60°, and 90° angles with respect to the bone surface. A simulated horizontal orthodontic force of 2 N was applied to the miniscrew heads. Then, the stress distributions, magnitudes during miniscrew placement, and force applications were analyzed with a 3D finite element analysis. RESULTS: Stresses were primarily absorbed by cortical bone. Moreover, very little stress was transmitted to the roots, PDLs, and cancellous bone. During cylindrical miniscrew insertion, the maximum von Mises stress increased as insertion angle decreased. Tapered miniscrews exhibited greater maximum von Mises stress than cylindrical miniscrews. During force application, maximum von Mises stresses increased in both groups as insertion angles decreased. CONCLUSIONS: For both cylindrical and tapered miniscrew designs, placement as perpendicular to the bone surface as possible is recommended to reduce stress in the surrounding bone.
Bicuspid ; Dentition ; Finite Element Analysis ; Head ; Maxilla ; Periodontal Ligament