PURPOSE: This study evaluated fracture resistance with regard to ferrule lengths and post reinforcement on endodontically treated mandibular premolars incorporating a prefabricated post and resin core. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred extracted mandibular premolars were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=20): intact teeth (NR); endodontically treated teeth (ETT) without post (NP); ETT restored with a prefabricated post with ferrule lengths of either 0 mm (F0), 1 mm (F1), or 2 mm (F2). Prepared teeth were restored with metal crowns. A thermal cycling test was performed for 1,000 cycles. Loading was applied at an angle of 135 degrees to the axis of the tooth using a universal testing machine with a crosshead speed of 2.54 mm/min. Fracture loads were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test using a statistical program (α=.05). RESULTS: There were statistical differences in fracture loads among groups (P<.001). The fracture load of F2 (237.7 ± 83.4) was significantly higher than those of NP (155.6 ± 74.3 N), F0 (98.8 ± 43.3 N), and F1 (152.8 ± 78.5 N) (P=.011, P<.001, and P=.008, respectively). CONCLUSION: Fracture resistance of ETT depends on the length of the ferrule, as shown by the significantly increased fracture resistance in the 2 mm ferrule group (F2) compared to the groups with shorter ferrule lengths (F0, F1) and without post (NP).
Bicuspid* ; Crowns ; Tooth

PURPOSE: This study examined degrees of irrational parenthood cognition, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), spousal support, and quality of life and investigated factors that influence the quality of life of infertile women. METHODS: Research design was a cross sectional correlational survey with a total of 113 female patients receiving treatment for infertility. Data were collected from August 1 to November 30, 2015. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean score of the quality of life was 59.0±14.8. The quality of life was significantly associated with irrational parenthood cognition (r=-.70), post traumatic stress disorder (r=-.65), and spousal support (r=.56). The factors significantly affecting the quality of life in infertile women were irrational parenthood cognition (β=-.45), post traumatic stress disorder (β=-.34), and spousal support (β=.32). The explained variance by these factors was 70.4%, and the regression model was valid (F=89.81, p<.001). CONCLUSION: This study may contribute to the development of nursing intervention program to improve the quality of life of infertile women.
Cognition* ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Research Design ; Stress Disorders, Traumatic*

Epidural hematoma after epidural block is a rare complication in healthy patients without risk factor. However, this rare disease can lead to neurological symptoms or paralysis. It is usually treated with surgical drainage. Herein we report a case of acute thoracic epidural hematoma associated with neurologic symptoms after epidural block in a healthy male without risk factors. We performed drainage of the epidural hematoma using 18-gauge Tuohy needle without surgical intervention. The patient's neurological symptoms and pain were relieved. He was discharged without sequelae.
Drainage* ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal* ; Humans ; Male ; Needles* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paralysis ; Rare Diseases ; Risk Factors* ; Spine*

Charcoal can be used for preoperative localization of metastatic lymph nodes in the neck. Charcoal remains stable without causing foreign body reactions during as hort period. However, foreign body reactions may develop if charcoal is left in situ for more than 6 months. We reported a case of charcoal granuloma mimicking local recurrence on fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography and ultrasonography in a 47-year-old woman who had cervical lymph node dissection due to metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.
Breast Neoplasms/pathology/surgery/therapy ; Carcinoma/*pathology/surgery/therapy ; Cervix Uteri/pathology/ultrasonography ; Charcoal/toxicity ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Granuloma/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes/*surgery/ultrasonography ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Recent studies have shown that circulating microRNAs are a potential biomarker in various types of malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using serum exosomal microRNAs as novel serological biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We measured the serum exosomal microRNAs and serum circulating microRNAs in patients with CHB (n=20), liver cirrhosis (LC) (n=20) and HCC (n=20). Serum exosomal microRNA was extracted from 500 mul of serum using an Exosome RNA Isolation kit. The expression levels of microRNAs were quantified by real-time PCR. The expression levels of selected microRNAs were normalized to Caenorhabditis elegans microRNA (Cel-miR-39). The serum levels of exosomal miR-18a, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-224 were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those with CHB or LC (P<0.05). Further, the serum levels of exosomal miR-101, miR-106b, miR-122 and miR-195 were lower in patients with HCC than in patients with CHB (P=0.014, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the levels of miR-21 and miR-93 among the three groups. Additionally, the serum levels of circulating microRNAs showed a smaller difference between HCC and either CHB or LC. This study suggests that serum exosomal microRNAs may be used as novel serological biomarkers for HCC.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood/genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood/diagnosis/*genetics ; Exosomes/genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/diagnosis/*genetics ; Male ; MicroRNAs/blood/*genetics ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Silibinin, the main component of silymarin, is used as a hepatoprotectant and exhibits anticancer effects against various cancer cells. This study evaluated the effects of a combination of silibinin with either gefitinib or sorafenib on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. METHODS: Several different human HCC cell lines were used to test the growth-inhibiting effects and cell toxicity of silibinin both alone and in combination with either gefitinib or sorafenib. The cell viability and growth inhibition were assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, trypan blue staining, and a colony-forming assay. Furthermore, changes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-related signals were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Gefitinib, sorafenib, and silibinin individually exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative effects on HCC cells. Combined treatment with silibinin enhanced the gefitinib-induced growth-inhibiting effects in some HCC cell lines. The combination effect of gefitinib and silibinin was synergistic in the SNU761 cell line, but was only additive in the Huh-BAT cell line. The combination effect may be attributable to inhibition of EGFR-dependent Akt signaling. Enhanced growth-inhibiting effects were also observed in HCC cells treated with a combination of sorafenib and silibinin. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment with silibinin enhanced the growth-inhibiting effects of both gefitinib and sorafenib. Therefore, the combination of silibinin with either sorafenib or gefitinib could be a useful treatment approach for HCC in the future.
Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Down-Regulation/drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology ; Niacinamide/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Phenylurea Compounds/*pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Quinazolines/*pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Silymarin/*pharmacology

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafts have been widely used for cosmetic purposes and for soft tissue contour reconstruction. Because diabetes mellitus is one of the major chronic diseases in nearly every country, the requirement for fat grafts in diabetes patients is expected to increase continuously. However, the circulation complications of diabetes are serious and have been shown to involve microvascular problems, impairing ischemia-driven neovascularization in particular. After injection, revascularization is vital to the survival of the grafted fat. In this study, the authors attempted to determine whether the diabetic condition inhibits the survival of injected fat due to impaired neovascularization. METHODS: The rat scalp was used for testing fat graft survival. Forty-four seven-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to a diabetic group or a control group. 1.0 mL of processed fat was injected subcutaneously into the scalp of each rat. The effect of diabetes was evaluated by calculating the volume and the weight of the grafted fat and by histologically analyzing the fat sections. RESULTS: The surviving fat graft volume and weight were considerably smaller in the diabetic group than in the control group (P<0.05), and histological evaluations showed less vascularity, and more cysts, vacuoles, and fibrosis in the diabetic group (P<0.05). Cellular integrity and inflammation were not considerably different in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: As the final outcome, we found that the presence of diabetes might impair the survival and the quality of fat grafts, as evidenced by lower fat graft weights and volumes and poor histologic graft quality.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; Fibrosis ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scalp ; Streptozocin ; Transplants* ; Vacuoles ; Weights and Measures

The spectrum of physically challenged patients who visit to a dental clinic for treatments are diverse: from ones of mild disabilities, who lead their lives in a similar way of ordinary people, to others who suffer from diseases that are difficult to be diagnosed, and need medical expertise due to systemic care or special techniques and instruments because of behavior management and difficulty of treatments. The patient in this case was 25-year-old autistic male patient who visited the clinic on account of overall treatment for multiple carious lesions. He could perform normal daily life to some degree under the care of a guardian. This case report describes predicaments of making a treatment plan resulted from lack of information about disabled patients, and difficulties of proceeding treatment procedures under general anesthesia. It is considered that sufficient consultation and history taking are needed before treatment for disabled patients.
Anesthesia, General ; Dental Clinics ; Disabled Persons ; Humans ; Male ; Mouth ; Mouth Rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: For reconstruction of the mild to moderate medial orbital wall fractures, various surgical approaches have been used. Prior existing W-shaped incision was a direct local approach through a 3 cm incision on the superior medial orbital area with a titanium mesh implant. In this study, the authors modified W-shaped incision and reconstructed the defect with silastic sheet to improve the result and the postoperative scar. METHODS: This study included 20 patients who had mild to moderate size of medial wall defect and therefore relatively suitable for reconstruction with silastic sheets from July, 2009 to December, 2011. A modified W-shaped skin incision approximately 1.2 to 1.5 cm in length was made along the superior medial orbital rim from approximately 1 cm medial to the medial canthus to the lower border of the medial eyebrow. The angles of the limbs of the W ranged from 150 to 160 degrees. RESULTS: By using soft flexible silastic sheet, the authors reduced the incision from 3 to 1.5 cm, and by widening the angle of the W limbs, scars were more effectively hided in the relaxed skin tension line. Scar assessment was done with modified patient and observer scar assessment scale and mean score from patients was 2.08 and mean score from observers was 2.12. CONCLUSION: Although this method will not be suitable for every case, it can be a consistent method to obtain the surgical goal in treatment of mild to moderate blowout fractures of the medial orbital wall.
Cicatrix ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes ; Extremities ; Eyebrows ; Humans ; Orbit ; Orbital Fractures ; Silicones ; Skin ; Titanium

No abstract available.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Muscles ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax