No abstract available.
Lasers, Gas* ; Subgingival Curettage*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting healing patterns of surgically created circumferential gap defects around implants in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In four mongrel dogs, all mandibular premolars were extracted. After 8 weeks of healing periods, implants were submerged. According to the surface treatment, turned surface was designated as a group A and rough surface as a group B. In each dog, surgical defects on the left side were made with a customized tapered step drill and on the right with a customized paralleled drill. Groups were also divided according to the width of the coronal gaps: 1.0mm, 1.5mm, or 2.0mm. The dogs were sacrificed following 8 weeks and the specimens were analyzed histologically and histomorphometrically. RESULTS: During the postoperative period, healing was uneventful and implants were well-maintained. As the size of the coronal gap was increased, the amount of bone-to-implant contact was decreased. The bone healing was greater in rough surface implants compared to the turned ones. About the defect morphology, tapered shape showed much bone healing and direct bone to implant contact even in the smooth surface implants. CONCLUSION: Healing of the circumferential defect around dental implant is influenced by the implant surface, defect width and the morphology of the defect. When using rough surface implants, circumferential gap defects within 2 mm do not need any kinds of regenerative procedures and the healing appeared to be faster in the tapered defect morphology than the paralleled one.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Dental Implants ; Dogs ; Mandrillus ; Postoperative Period

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (Ach) has been shown to induce coronary spasms in patients with variant angina. Clinical significance and angiographic characteristics of patients with a significant response to lower Ach dosages are as-yet non-clarified compared with patients responding to higher Ach doses. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 3034 consecutive patients underwent coronary angiography with Ach provocation tests from January 2004 to August 2010. Ach was injected in incremental doses of 20, 50, 100 microg into the left coronary artery. Significant coronary artery spasm was defined as focal or diffuse severe transient luminal narrowing (>70%) with/without chest pain or ST-T change on the electrocardiogram (ECG). We compared the clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients who responded to a lower Ach dose (20 or 50 microg, n=556) to those that responded to a higher Ach dose (100 microg, n=860). RESULTS: The baseline clinical and procedural characteristics are well balanced between the two groups, except diabetes was higher in the lower Ach dose group and there were differences in medication history. After adjusting for confounding factors, the lower Ach dose group showed more frequent temporary ST elevation and atrioventricular block on the ECG. Furthermore, the group of patients who responded to the lower Ach dose was associated with a higher incidence of baseline and severe spasm than those who responded to a higher Ach dose. CONCLUSION: Patients with a significant response to a lower Ach dose were associated with more frequent ST elevation, baseline spasm, and more severe spasm compared with those who responded to a higher Ach dose, suggesting more intensive medical therapy with close clinical follow-up is required for those patients.
Acetylcholine ; Angina Pectoris, Variant ; Atrioventricular Block ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Phenobarbital ; Spasm

PURPOSE: High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs CRP) is well known as a strong risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of elevated hs CRP on coronary artery spasm (CAS) as assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1729 consecutive patients without significant CVD who underwent coronary angiography and intracoronary ACh test between November 2004 and August 2010 were analyzed. The patients were divided into five groups according to quintiles of hs CRP levels. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of elderly, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, and lipid levels were higher in patients with higher hs CRP. During ACh test, the incidences of significant CAS, ischemic electrocardiography (EKG) change, multivessel, and diffuse CAS were higher in patients with higher hs CRP. Multivariate analysis showed that the old age (OR=1.01, CI; 1.0-1.02, p=0.0226), myocardial bridge (OR=3.34, CI; 2.16-5.17, p<0.001), and highest quintile hs CRP (OR=1.54, CI; 1.12-2.18, p=0.008) were independent predictors of ACh induced CAS. However, there was no difference in clinical outcomes up to 12 months. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, higher hs CRP was associated with higher incidence of CAS, worse angiographic characteristics and ischemic EKG change, but was not associated with clinical outcomes.
Acetylcholine/*metabolism ; Adult ; C-Reactive Protein/*metabolism ; Coronary Vasospasm/*metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Because conventional echocardiographic parameters have several limitations, strain echocardiography has often been introduced in clinical practice. However, there are also obstacles in using it in clinical practice. Therefore, we wanted to find the current status of awareness on using strain echocardiography in Korea. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey to evaluate current use and awareness of strain echocardiography from the members of the Korean Society of Echocardiography. RESULTS: We gathered total 321 questionnaires from 25 cardiology centers in Korea. All participants were able to perform or interpret echocardiographic examinations. All participating institutions performed strain echocardiography. Most of our study participants (97%) were aware of speckle tracking echocardiography and 185 (58%) performed it for clinical and research purposes. Two-dimensional strain echocardiography was the most commonly used modality and left ventricle (LV) was the most commonly used cardiac chamber (99%) for clinical purposes. Most of the participants (89%) did not think LV strain can replace LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in their clinical practice. The common reasons for not performing routine use of strain echocardiography was diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference value. Many participants had a favorable view of the future of strain echocardiography. CONCLUSION: Most of our study participants were aware of strain echocardiography, and all institutions performed strain echocardiography for clinical and research purposes. However, they did not think the LV strain values could replace LVEF. The diversity of strain measurements and lack of normal reference values were common reasons for not using strain echocardiography in clinical practice.
Cardiology ; Echocardiography* ; Heart Ventricles ; Korea* ; Reference Values