The purpose of this study was to determine whether the palatal rugae could be used as an appropriate reference area for serial model superimposition following Rapid maxillary expansion(RME) and facemask treatment.
A total of 52 pediatric patients who had undergone RME and facemask treatment were selected. Palate and palatal rugae in the pre- and post- treatment casts from the patients were measured.
In spite of dentoalveolar changes occurred by RME and facemask, anteroposterior changes in palate and palatal rugae were not significant. Anatomical changes of palate and palatal rugae were mostly shown in the transverse dimension. The soft tissue of the palatal rugae stretches in adaptation to hard tissue movement. Among the evaluated landmarks, the medial point of the third palatal rugae seemed to be the most stable.
The observed alterations in the palatal rugae demonstrated the potential of medial points of third palatal rugae as a reference point in model superimpositions to evaluate dental movement within the maxillary arch following RME and facemask treatment.

Proper treatment of an impacted tooth is required as it causes functional and esthetic disharmony, as well as it can cause root absorption of adjacent teeth. Treatment options for impacted teeth include periodic observation, surgical exposure, orthodontic traction followed by surgical exposure, tooth transplantation, and extraction. Modified Nance appliance, used for orthodontic traction, is clinically useful because it does not require patient cooperation. Through orthodontic traction combined with surgical exposure of impacted maxillary incisors, canines, and molars using modified Nance appliance, adequate results can be obtained.

In annual epidemics and occasional pandemics, influenza viruses cause acute respiratory illnesses in infected humans. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are two main arsenals available for a fight against influenza viruses. However, vaccines often exhibit a limited efficacy in high risk populations, and antiviral drugs are always concerned for mutations, which confer viral resistance. Here we review current advances and knowledge in relation to the usage of antiviral drugs as a prophylactic or therapeutic and the mechanism of resistant variants mainly against the neuraminidase inhibitors. Comprehensive understanding of the resistant mechanism will pave a road for developing new antivirals and/or finding medical or natural alternatives inducing less frequent resistance, and application of combination therapy using two or three different kinds of antivirals can suggest a useful medical intervention against both of seasonal and highly pathogenic influenza viruses including resistant variants. In this review, we provide insights of antiviral drugs for the control and prevention of influenza viruses.
Antiviral Agents ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Neuraminidase ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pandemics ; Seasons ; Vaccines

In this case report, we present a rare case of lipoma of the tendon sheath localized to the wrist which caused median entrapment neuropathy and was successfully treated with surgical excision. Dynamic examination using ultrasonography revealed the exact location of the lipoma. Electrodiagnostic study (EDX) was done before surgery to elucidate combined neuropathy, and surgery for ulnar neuropathy around elbow was also performed simultaneously. Diagnostic ultrasound can be used for dynamic examinations with real-time visualization.

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is an obscure disease that is usually diagnosed after the exclusion of other febrile diseases, including other autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Although definitive diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD are thus far lacking, the typical manifestations of AOSD have been identified and effective medications for remission and maintenance have been proposed. The pathophysiology of the AOSD is unclear, but diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD can be established by determining its core etiology and conducting clinical trials of previously tested immunosuppressants and biologics.

In this case report, we present a rare case of lipoma of the tendon sheath localized to the wrist which caused median entrapment neuropathy and was successfully treated with surgical excision. Dynamic examination using ultrasonography revealed the exact location of the lipoma. Electrodiagnostic study (EDX) was done before surgery to elucidate combined neuropathy, and surgery for ulnar neuropathy around elbow was also performed simultaneously. Diagnostic ultrasound can be used for dynamic examinations with real-time visualization.

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is an obscure disease that is usually diagnosed after the exclusion of other febrile diseases, including other autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Although definitive diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD are thus far lacking, the typical manifestations of AOSD have been identified and effective medications for remission and maintenance have been proposed. The pathophysiology of the AOSD is unclear, but diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD can be established by determining its core etiology and conducting clinical trials of previously tested immunosuppressants and biologics.

The human immune system has evolved to fight against foreign pathogens. It plays a central role in the body's defense mechanism. However, the immune memory geared to fight off a previously recognized pathogen, tends to remember an original form of the pathogen when a variant form subsequently invades. This has been termed 'original antigenic sin'. This adverse immunological effect can alter vaccine effectiveness and sometimes cause enhanced pathogenicity or additional inflammatory responses, according to the type of pathogen and the circumstances of infection. Here we aim to give a simplified conceptual understanding of virus infection and original antigenic sin by comparing and contrasting the two examples of recurring infections such as influenza and dengue viruses in humans.
Dengue ; Dengue Virus ; Humans ; Immune System ; Influenza, Human ; Memory ; RNA Viruses* ; RNA* ; Virulence

The human immune system has evolved to fight against foreign pathogens. It plays a central role in the body's defense mechanism. However, the immune memory geared to fight off a previously recognized pathogen, tends to remember an original form of the pathogen when a variant form subsequently invades. This has been termed 'original antigenic sin'. This adverse immunological effect can alter vaccine effectiveness and sometimes cause enhanced pathogenicity or additional inflammatory responses, according to the type of pathogen and the circumstances of infection. Here we aim to give a simplified conceptual understanding of virus infection and original antigenic sin by comparing and contrasting the two examples of recurring infections such as influenza and dengue viruses in humans.
Dengue ; Dengue Virus ; Humans ; Immune System ; Influenza, Human ; Memory ; RNA Viruses* ; RNA* ; Virulence

BACKGROUNDRenin-angiotensin system inhibitor and calcium channel blocker (CCB) are widely used in controlling blood pressure (BP) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We carried out a meta-analysis to compare the renoprotective effect of the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and CCB (i.e., ACEI/ARB + CCB) with ACEI/ARB monotherapy in patients with hypertension and CKD.

METHODSPublications were identified from PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of BP lowering treatment for patients with hypertension and CKD were considered. The outcomes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cardiovascular events, BP, urinary protein measures, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and adverse events were extracted.

RESULTSBased on seven RCTs with 628 patients, ACEI/ARB + CCB did not show additional benefit for the incidence of ESRD (risk ratio [RR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52-1.33) and cardiovascular events (RR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.21-1.63) significantly, compared with ACEI/ARB monotherapy. There were no significant differences in change from baseline to the end points in diastolic BP (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.28 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.18 to -0.62), proteinuria (standard mean difference = -0.55; 95% CI: -1.41 to -0.30), GFR (WMD = -0.32 ml/min; 95% CI: -1.53 to -0.89), and occurrence of adverse events (RR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.72-1.53). However, ACEI/ARB + CCB showed a greater reduction in systolic BP (WMD = -4.46 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.95 to -1.97), compared with ACEI/ARB monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONACEI/ARB + CCB had no additional renoprotective benefit beyond than what could be achieved with ACEI/ARB monotherapy.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy