The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between disk displacement of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) and dentofacial asymmetry in orthodontic patients. The subjects consisted of 60 female orthodontic patients between the ages of 18 and 38 years (mean age 23.3 years) who had visited the Department of Orthodontics at Seoul National University Dental Hospital from January 2000 to April 2002. On the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their bilateral TMJs, the subjects were divided into four groups: bilateral normal group (twenty-one persons); disk displacement of right TMJ group (six persons); disk displacement of left TMJ group (nine persons); and disk displacement of both TMJs group (twenty-four persons). Postero-anterior (PA) cephalograms and diagnostic models which had been taken before orthodontic treatment were measured. In the linear measurements, a line connecting the right and left Latero-Orbitale (Lo) represented the horizontal reference line (H). The vertical reference line (V) was constructed as a line bisecting and running perpendicular to H. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test whether the mean values of measurements between groups were significantly different. In addition, Bonferroni's multiple comparison test was performed at a level of 0.05. The results were as follows : 1. In the diagnostic model analysis, the overjet, right molar relationship, and left molar relationship were significantly different among the four groups. 2. In the PA cephalometric analysis, differences in the right and left vertical position of the lower first molar and Ag were significantly dissimilar among the four groups. 3. If the disk displacement of TMJ was present on one side, the ipsilateral ramus was shorter, resulting in asymmetry in the vertical position of Ag. This study indicated that dentofacial asymmetry might be related to the disk displacement of TMJ.
Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molar ; Orthodontics ; Running ; Seoul ; Temporomandibular Joint*

BACKGROUND: Statistical analysis is essential in regard to obtaining objective reliability for medical research. However, medical researchers do not have enough statistical knowledge to properly analyze their study data. To help understand and potentially alleviate this problem, we have analyzed the statistical methods and errors of articles published in the Korean Journal of Pain (KJP), with the intention to improve the statistical quality of the journal. METHODS: All the articles, except case reports and editorials, published from 2004 to 2008 in the KJP were reviewed. The types of applied statistical methods and errors in the articles were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-nine original articles were reviewed. Inferential statistics and descriptive statistics were used in 119 papers and 20 papers, respectively. Only 20.9% of the papers were free from statistical errors. The most commonly adopted statistical method was the t-test (21.0%) followed by the chi-square test (15.9%). Errors of omission were encountered 101 times in 70 papers. Among the errors of omission, "no statistics used even though statistical methods were required" was the most common (40.6%). The errors of commission were encountered 165 times in 86 papers, among which "parametric inference for nonparametric data" was the most common (33.9%). CONCLUSION: We found various types of statistical errors in the articles published in the KJP. This suggests that meticulous attention should be given not only in the applying statistical procedures but also in the reviewing process to improve the value of the article.
Intention

This study evaluated the structure of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) population and suggested a weighted scoring system to balance on objective signs. One hundred sixty-eight consecutive patients were evaluated using the Budapest Research Criteria (BRC). By using multidimensional scaling and logistic regression analysis, we analyzed the degree of importance and relationships between objective findings. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed using a weighted score derived from the risk ratio as a diagnostic test. There were correlations between skin color change and edema, and between decreased range of motion and motor dysfunction when multidimensional scaling was applied. The trophic change was excluded by a logistic regression (95% CI; 0.80-11.850). The cutoff point based on weighted score derived from the risk ratios for determining CRPS was 7.88. At this point, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 75.0%, 95.3%, 96.3%, and 70.1%, respectively. We propose a weighted scoring system for the BRC using risk ratios of objective signs. Although a thorough systematic review would be required in the future, this study can contribute to reduction of the possible distortion of the feature of CRPS populations by the BRC.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes/*diagnosis/etiology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Predictive Value of Tests ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; *Severity of Illness Index

Knee osteoarthritis is a common, but difficult problem to manage in primary care. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection has recently been frequently used for treating knee osteoarthritis. The adverse local reactions, except septic arthritis, following intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are generally transient and not severe. Pseudoseptic arthritis is an extreme form of inflammatory arthritis that is not due to bacterial infection and it is important to distinguish this from true septic arthritis. In this article, we report 2 cases of acute pseudoseptic local reactions after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Bacterial Infections ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Primary Health Care

BACKGROUND: Rhinosinusitis is the most common cause of olfactory impairment and endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS) is considered as an effective method in the treatment of rhinosinusitis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the therapeutic effects of endoscopic sinus surgery in olfactory dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were one hundred and eighteen chronic sinusitis patients who had undergone ESS at the department of otolaryngology of Ewha Womans University Hospital, from April 1992 to December 1995. The patients were evaluated subjectively by questionaire and among them, fifty three patients were randomized to receive quantitative butanol test. RESULTS: Twenty-eight(68.3%) of 41 patients with olfactory dysfunction had marked improvement postoperatively but the degree of improvement(postoperative threshold score-preoperative threshold score) decreased during the postoperative period. After postoperative 2 and 2-3 years, the degree of improvement significantly decreased to 2.5 and 1.0, respectively(p<0.005). CONCLUSION: Olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic sinusitis can be improved significantly initially after ESS but the smell acuity decreases postoperative period, especially after posto-perative 2 years.
Female ; Humans ; Otolaryngology ; Postoperative Period* ; Sinusitis ; Smell