Anterior diastemas are common esthetic problems. One of the challenges in clinical esthetic dentistry is closing anterior diastemas without creating “black triangles” between the teeth. The success of a restorative treatment in anterior teeth depends on the esthetic integration between soft tissues and hard tissues. This report describes the successfully accomplished diastema closure case by producing the emergence profile with natural contours at the gingival-tooth interface and then generating of gingival recontouring process.
Dentistry ; Diastema* ; Tooth

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Constipation is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal complaints. High fiber intake is recommended as an initial therapy for constipation. Ear mushroom is known to have higher fiber contents about 50% than other mushroom. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fiber supplements using ear mushrooms on the improvement of functional constipation. METHODS: We conducted a double blind study with 3 groups (placebo, ear mushrooms alone, and ear mushrooms with additives including cascara sagrada, etc.), which were randomly assigned out of 34 patients with functional constipation, defined by modified Rome II criteria. Number of bowel movement, straining, sense of incomplete evacuation, stool consistency, satisfactory relief, abdominal pain/discomfort and colon transit time were evaluated and analyzed before, during and after the treatment. RESULTS: Both ear mushrooms alone and ear mushrooms with additives significantly improved number of bowel movement, straining, sense of incomplete evacuation, stool consistency and satisfactory relief in patients with functional chronic constipation (p<0.05). Although the use of ear mushrooms with additives was found to be more effective on the improvement of constipation than ear mushrooms alone, it may induce abdominal discomfort or pain. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with functional constipation, fiber supplements using ear mushrooms significantly improved constipation related symptoms without serious side effect.
Adult ; *Agaricales ; Aged ; Constipation/*diet therapy ; Dietary Fiber/*administration & dosage ; Double-Blind Method ; English Abstract ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Trigeminal neurinoma is a rare condition arising from the gasserian or trigeminal nerve root. It comprises 0.2% of all brain tumors, and usually affects middle life, but about 10% of it appears in adolescents. Middle fossa syndrome, symptoms and signs of cerebellopontine angle tumor and mixture of these may be developed through the extension of the tumor. Symptoms and signs of cerebellar and midbrain compression may also be elicited in some stage of the tumor. Erosion of the Anteromedial portion of the petrous apex and defect of the flow of the middle fossa contribute to the diagnosis. Air studies and cerebral antiography have been used, and recently pantopaque basal cisternography has been introduced. The route of operation depends upon the main localization of the tumor, but transtemporal approach with tentorial section is widely used for dumbbell-shaped tumor. A case of cerebellopontine angle tumor which had been postoperatively proved to be a trigeminal neurinoma is reported.
Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Iophendylate ; Mesencephalon ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Puberty* ; Trigeminal Nerve

Trigeminal neurinoma is a rare condition arising from the gasserian or trigeminal nerve root. It comprises 0.2% of all brain tumors, and usually affects middle life, but about 10% of it appears in adolescents. Middle fossa syndrome, symptoms and signs of cerebellopontine angle tumor and mixture of these may be developed through the extension of the tumor. Symptoms and signs of cerebellar and midbrain compression may also be elicited in some stage of the tumor. Erosion of the Anteromedial portion of the petrous apex and defect of the flow of the middle fossa contribute to the diagnosis. Air studies and cerebral antiography have been used, and recently pantopaque basal cisternography has been introduced. The route of operation depends upon the main localization of the tumor, but transtemporal approach with tentorial section is widely used for dumbbell-shaped tumor. A case of cerebellopontine angle tumor which had been postoperatively proved to be a trigeminal neurinoma is reported.
Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Iophendylate ; Mesencephalon ; Neurilemmoma* ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Puberty* ; Trigeminal Nerve

BACKGROUND: Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukocytosis with myeloid elements at all stages of differentiation, t(9;22)(q34;q11) and bcr/abl rearrangement. We studied hydroxyurea induced apoptotic changes such as externalization of phosphatidylserine, caspase activities on human chronic myelogenous leukemic cell line, K562 cells. METHODS: K562 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated hydroxyurea. Viability was examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis were examined by annexin V stain, caspase (such as caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, caspase-, and caspase-) activities, and DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: The viability of K562 cells were markedly decreased in a dose dependent manner of hydroxyurea. Phosphatidylserine externalization was detected by annexin V stain after 3 hours in hydroxyurea treated K562 cells and the value of lactate dehydrogenase was not significantly changed in their culture media. The upstream effector of caspase- was slightly increased and had influenced on caspase-. And downstream acting caspase protease of caspase- was markedly increased in a time dependent manner at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells. In addition, however the activities of caspase- and caspase- were not increased. We also found DNA fragmentation at hydroxyurea treated K562 cells between 48 hours and 72 hours on agarose gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea induces apoptotic change in K562 cells via externalization of phosphatidylserine, activations of caspase-, caspase-, caspase- proteases, and DNA fragmentation.
Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line* ; Culture Media ; DNA Fragmentation ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Humans ; Hydroxyurea* ; K562 Cells* ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Leukocytosis ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Peptide Hydrolases

Calcium hydroxide has been widely used for root canal dressing material in endodontic treatment. This report describes that when the accurate diagnosis and proper nonsurgical endodontic retreatment is applied to periapical lesion with accidentally extruded calcium hydroxide paste, the lesion can be successfully treated. Overfilled calcium hydroxide can affect the healing process, so the overextension of calcium hydroxide agent should be avoided.

In order to assess inhibitory potentials of white rose petal extracts (WRPE) on the activities of enzymes related to dermal aging according to the extraction conditions, three extraction methods were adopted. WRPE was prepared by extracting dried white rose (Rosa hybrida) petals with 50% ethanol (WRPE-EtOH), Pectinex(R) SMASH XXL enzyme (WRPE-enzyme) or high temperature-high pressure (WRPE-HTHP). In the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-1, although the enzyme activity was fully inhibited by all 3 extracts at 100 microg/mL in 60 min, partial inhibition (50-70%) was achieved only by WRPE-EtOH and WRPE-enzyme at 50 microg/mL. High concentrations (> or =250 microg/mL) of all 3 extracts markedly inhibited the elastase activity. However, at low concentrations (15.6-125 microg/mL), only WRPE-EtOH inhibited the enzyme activity. Notably, WRPE-EtOH was superior to WRPE-enzyme and WRPE-HTHP in the inhibition of tyrosinase. WRPE-EtOH significantly inhibited the enzyme activity from 31.2 microM, reaching 80% inhibition at 125 microM. In addition to its strong antioxidative activity, the ethanol extract of white rose petals was confirmed to be effective in inhibiting skin aging-related enzymes. Therefore, it is suggested that WRPE-EtOH could be a good candidate for the improvement of skin aging such as wrinkle formation and pigmentation.
Aging ; Ethanol ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Pigmentation ; Skin Aging* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: Constipation is a frequent complaint among dialysis patients. However, factors that contribute to constipation in these patients have not been evaluated rigorously. The aim of study was to assess the prevalence and factors that contribute to constipation in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: Patients undergoing HD or PD for more than six months in the six dialysis centers were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that is designed to assess constipation by Rome- III criteria. Beck depression inventory (BDI) were assessed. A total of 146 patients (HD 91, PD 55) completed the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of constipation was 33% in 91 HD patients and 31% in 55 PD patients. Prevalence of constipation was 32% and did not differ by dialysis mode. Older age, unemployed state, high cumulative illness rating scale and high BDI were associated with constipation. In multivariate analysis, BDI was an independent factor associated with constipation. The prevalence of constipation was 18% and 50% for patients with BDI <15 and > or =15, respectively. The odd ratio for constipation in patients with BDI > or =15 was 3.4 (95% CI, 1.4-8.1). CONCLUSION: Careful psychogenic attention must be paid to ESRD patients with constipation.
Constipation ; Depression ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Multivariate Analysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Peripheral nerve tumors are mostly benign and can arise on any nerve trunk or twig. Although peripheral nerve tumors can occur anywhere in the body, including the spinal roots and cauda equina, many cases are subcutaneous in location and present as a soft swelling, sometimes with a purplish discoloration of skin. There are two major catagories, schwannoma(neurilemmoma), and neurofibroma. Schwannomas are usually solitary and grow in the nerve sheath, rendering them relatively easy to dissect free. In contrast, neurofibromas tend to be multiple, grow in the endoneural substance, which renders them difficult to dissect, may undergo malignant changes, and are the hallmark of von Recklinghausens neurofibromatosis. Masses in the anterior part of neck may be initially thought to be thyroid nodule and then other cervical masses should be considered. The diagnosis rests on clinical suspicion and diagnostic support may be obtained by CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and substraction angiography in the literature. After imaging, fine needle aspiration for cytology may be helpful. If they are resected unrecognized and/or without regard to their nerve origin, major and permanent nerve defects can unnecessarily occur. We experienced 2 cases of peripheral nerve tumors of anterior neck simulating a thyroid nodule.
Angiography ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cauda Equina ; Diagnosis ; Neck* ; Neurilemmoma ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms* ; Skin ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Although the papillary thyroid carcinoma generally follows an indolent course characterized by slow growth and abscence of distant metastasis, distant metastases to extrathyroid organ may occur in the lung, bone and brain in about 5% of patients. The lung metastases are usually diagnosed by plain X-ray, chest CT and 131I whole body scan. However, we present a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma with microscopic pulmonary metastasis that could not be detected by conventional method, such as chest X-ray, chest CT and 131I whole body scan. A 62-year-old female visited due to traumatic hemopneumothorax. In the pathology of resected tissues from lacerated lung parenchyme, metastatic papillary carcinoma was diagnosed without evidence of abnormality in radiologic examination and we diagnosed and treated an asymptomatic papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Brain ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Pathology ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Whole Body Imaging