PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the deformation of the complete denture artificial teeth arrangement after festooning over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 10 wax dentures of equal teeth arrangement and equal gingival contour were used in this study. Festooning of the wax dentures were conducted and 3D model scans were conducted every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Interdental transverse distances were measured with the scanned images. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS Ver. 22. 0. RESULTS: Interdental transverse distance between teeth varied from 0.0999 mm to 0.1787 mm. Mean rate of deformation showed statistically significant change between the 40 – 50 minute interval and 50 – 60 minute interval and between the 50 – 60 minute interval and 60 – 70 minute interval. No statistically significant change of the mean rate of deformation was observed later on. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of the interdental transverse distance for 120 minute after festooning have shown the deformation and displacment of the artificial teeth arrangement. From after the 60 – 70 minute interval after festooning, the mean deformation showed no statistically significant change of the mean rate of deformation was observed. Within the limitations of this in vitro study results suggest that the final occlusal adjustment in wax denture before complete denture curing should be proceeded at least 60 minutes later after festooning.
Denture, Complete ; Dentures ; In Vitro Techniques ; Occlusal Adjustment ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement ; Tooth, Artificial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the displacement of artificial tooth of monolithic complete denture manufactured by milling and 3D printing method in which the denture base and the artificial teeth are simultaneously made. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve upper and lower complete dentures for each were made by milling and 3D printing method. Group Up and Group Lp are a group of upper and lower dentures made by printing, and Group Um and Group Lm are denture groups made by milling. Group Uc and Group Lc are is a group of finally designed upper and lower dentures respectively. Measurements were performed between both central incisors (AB, ab), both canines (CD, cd), both first molars (EF, ef), between an incisor and a first molar (AE, ae), and between incisor and lingual point (AG, ag) for each upper and lower denture. RESULTS: AG and ag value between printed dentures and original ones as well as between milled dentures and original ones showed a statistically significant difference (One-way ANOVA, P<.05) in both lower and upper monolithic dentures. In the lower monolithic ones, ab, cd and ef value revealed a significant difference between Group Lp and Group Lm (One-way ANOVA, P<.05). CONCLUSION: Dentures made using milling or 3D printers revealed statistically significant difference compared with those of original data. However, it showed clinically very accurate reproducibility.
Denture Bases ; Denture, Complete* ; Dentures ; Incisor ; Methods ; Molar ; Printing, Three-Dimensional* ; Tooth, Artificial*

BACKGROUND: Telomerase, an enzyme synthesizing telomere, plays an important role in cell immortalization and carcinogenesis. Telomerase activity is detected in large number of malignant tumors and also in precancerous lesions, such as intestinal metaplasia. It suggests that telomerase activation may be an early event in carcinogenesis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the major carcinogen in gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between telomerase activation and H. pylori infection in gastric cancer. METHODS: We measured telomerase activity and H. pylori infection using the tissues obtained by gastroduodenoscopy in 50 patients of gastric cancer. Telomerase activity was detected with a Telomerase PCR ELISA(R) kit and H. pylori infection was examined with a CLO(R) kit. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in 32% of intestinal metaplasia and 72% of gastric cancer. The histological type, degree of differentiation, stage and ECOG performance status were found to be unrelated to telomerase activity. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in telomerase-positive patients of gastric cancer (p=0.016). Telomerase activity measured by photometric absorbance was significantly higher in intestinal metaplasia and cancers with H. pylori infection than in those without infection (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that H. pylori infection may induce telomerase activation in intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer.
Carcinogenesis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Telomerase* ; Telomere

BACKGROUND: Intermediate filaments as well as microtubule and microfilament are major components of cytoskeleton of human cells. Melanocytes have vimentin intermediate filament, which have not been well investigated as other cytoskeletons, especially in their function. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to observe the motile characteristics of vimentin intermediate filament in living B16 melanoma cells. METHODS: The motile properties of vimentin intermediate filament have been studied in living B16 melanoma cells using green fluorescent protein(GFP). cDNA expressing GFP-vimentin fusion protein was cloned and transfected into living B16 melanoma cells. Living cells were observed under fluorescent microscope and confocal microscope. Time-lapse images were collected and analysed. RESULTS: GFP-vimentin is incorporated into the endogenous vimentin networks. Time-lapse observations of vimentin fibrils demonstrate that they are constantly changing their configurations. Intersecting points of vimentin fibrils, or foci, frequently move towards or away from each other, indicating that the fibrils can lengthen or shorten. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching shows that bleach zones across fibrils rapidly recover their fluorescence. During this recovery, bleached zones frequently move, indicating translocation of fibrils. Short filamentous structures('squiggle') are also seen actively translocating. Melanosomes also are changing their position back-and-pro constantly. They are co-localized very well with kinesin molecules in B16 melanoma cells. CONCLUSION: The vimentin intermediate filament and melanosomes in B16 melanoma cells have very active movement, which seem to have close relation with kinesin motor proteins.
Actin Cytoskeleton ; Clone Cells ; Cytoskeleton ; DNA, Complementary ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching ; Humans ; Intermediate Filaments* ; Kinesin ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma, Experimental* ; Melanosomes ; Microtubules ; Vimentin*

BACKGROUND: The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has a major role in the degradation of bradykinin, tachykinin, substance P which are associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. The other role of ACE is the genesis of angiotensin II which causes bronchial smooth muscle contraction. The deletion polymorphism of ACE gene(DDtype) may be related to the high serum level of ACE. OBJECTIVE: We studied to evaluate an association between the insertion /deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene and asthma, and its severity. Materials and methods: Sixty asthmatic patients and 44 healthy controls were enrolled. Severity of asthma was classified by the guideline of NHLBI/WHO workshop. The ACE genotypes of all the subjects were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The distribution of ACE genotypes were not significantly different between healthy controls and asthma group (p)0.05). In asthmatic patients, the genetic polymorphism was similar between different severity groups (p) 0.05). Conchcsion: It is suggested that I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene may not be associated with development of asthma. The severity of asthma may not be influenced by I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene.
Angiotensin II ; Asthma* ; Bradykinin ; Education ; Genotype ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Muscle, Smooth ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Substance P ; Tachykinins

The traumatic intracranial aneurysm within the posterior cranial fossa is extremely rare. The case of a 18-year-old boy who developed an saccular aneurysm lately in the posterior fossa after a blunt head injury is reported. Repeated follow-up angiography demonstrated an saccular aneurysm at the junction of vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Early brain MRI disclosed neither aneurysm nor mass. Late brain MRI revealed a partially thrombosed saccular aneurysm at the cerebello pontine angle. Follow-up MRI and angiography is recommended if traumatic aneurysm is suspected.
Adolescent ; Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Brain ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head Injuries, Closed ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Vertebral Artery

Background/Aims: PPARγ, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and CYP7A1 are associated with solubility of bile. This study was performed to understand a mechanism and interactions of statin-induced PPARγ, PGC-1α and HNF-4α related to the statin-induced activation of FXR and CYP7A1, and verify whether the mevalonate pathway is involved in the mechanism. Methods: MTT assays were performed using cultured human Hep3B cells to determine the effect of atorvastatin on the cell proliferation. Expression levels of indicated proteins were measured using Western blotting assays by inhibiting the protein expression or not. Results: Atorvastatin increased expression of PPARγ, PGC-1α, HNF-4α, FXR, and CYP7A1 in Hep3B cells. PPARγ ligand of troglitazone upregulated the expression of PGC-1α, HNF-4α, FXR, and CYP7A1 in Hep3B cells. Silencing of PPARγ, PGC1α, and HNF4α using respective siRNA demonstrated that atorvastatin-induced FXR and CYP7A1 activation required sequential action of PPARγ /PGC-1α/HNF-4α. The silencing of PPARγ completely inhibited atorvastatin-induced PGC-1α expression, and the PGC1α silencing partially inhibited atorvastatin-induced PPARγ expression. The inhibition of HNF4α did not affect atorvastatin-induced PPARγ expression, but partially inhibited atorvastatin-induced PGC-1α expression. Besides, mevalonate completely reversed the effect of atorvastatin on PPARγ, PGC-1α, HNF-4α, FXR, and CYP7A1. Conclusions Atorvastatin induces FXR and CYP7A1 activation as a result of sequential action of PPARγ/PGC-1α/HNF-4α in human hepatocytes. We propose that atorvastatin enhances solubility of cholesterol in bile by simultaneously activating of FXR and CYP7A1.

BACKGROUND: Investigation of the change of ventricular function and mitral regurgitation after surgical repair of patient with anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is key issue for the better surgical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From April 1986 to July 2002, 12 patients presented with ALCAPA. The median age at repair was 4 months. Surgical methods included left coronary artery transfer to the aorta (10), Takeuchi procedure (1), saphenous vein free graft bypass (1). Mitral valve was repaired in 1. RESULT: There were 2 hospital death (16.7%). The mean follow-up period was 7.1+/-4.1 years (range, 7 months to 13 years). Four patients required postoperative circulatory assist for 2.2+/-1.1 days and one needed left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for 1day. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated significant improvements in mean fractional shortening (33.4+/-9.1% vs 17.7+/-9.6%, n=10, p<0.05); left ventricular end diastolic dimension (33.1+/-7.3 mm vs 41.8+/-7.0 mm, n=10, p<0.05) and systolic dimension (22.2+/-7.5 mm vs 33.4+/-7.9 mm, n=10, p<0.05). Severities of mitral regurgitation decreased in all survivors at 1st and 4th year follow-up echocardiography. There were 2 reoperation due to residual MR and right ventricular outflow obstruction (Takeuchi case). CONCLUSION: Anatomic repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery offered an excellent surgical results, especially in terms of the recovery of left ventricle function and mitral regurgitation. However, preoperative indications for mitral procedure is to be evaluated.
Aorta ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Coronary Vessels* ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Ventricles ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Reoperation ; Saphenous Vein ; Survivors ; Transplants ; Ventricular Function* ; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) are two new methods for evaluating small bowel diseases. However, the clinical relevance of these procedures remains to be uncovered. We investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of DBE and CE for patients with suspected small bowel diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients who were examined by DBE or CE for suspected small bowel diseases between May 2003 and September 2005. The diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were examined by CE and 25 patients were examined by DBE. DBE showed abnormal findings in 20 patients (80%). CE detected abnormal findings in 23 patients (65.7%). The overall diagnostic yield was not different between the two groups (p=0.226). In the DBE group, therapeutic interventions were performed in 18 patients (72%). In the CE group, therapeutic interventions were performed in 7 patients (20%). The overall therapeutic impact showed a significant difference between the two procedures (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no significant difference in the diagnostic yield between the two procedures, DBE appears to have a higher therapeutic yield than CE for patients with suspected small bowel diseases.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Double-Balloon Enteroscopy* ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a chemotherapeutic agent that inhibits topoisomerase I and has shown efficacy against advanced colorectal cancer. Diarrhea is the most common toxicity that has been reported to be as high as 87% in patients treated with irinotecan. However, the serious complications including acute hemorrhagic colitis, intestinal ulceration, and intestinal perforation may be uncommon events with irinotecan therapy. We report the first Korean case of acute hemorrhagic colitis induced by irinotecan administration in the patient with advanced colon cancer.
Colitis* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diarrhea ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation ; Ulcer