The aim of this study is to compare the properties of odontoblast gene of early passage cells and late passage cells derived from impacted maxillary supernumerary teeth.
Impacted supernumerary teeth with maxilla were extracted from 12 patients (8 males, 4 females) between 6 - 9 years old without medical history. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to compare characterization of odontoblast cell in the 3rd and 10th passage, and between with bone inducing additive group and without additive group. Genes for odontoblasts characteristics are osteonectin (ONT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP).
The level of gene expression was in a decreasing order of ONT, ALP, OCN, DMP-1 and DSPP in the 3rd passage, and in decreasing order of ONT, DMP-1, OCN, ALP, and DSPP in the 10th passage in the undifferentiation and differentiation group. The order of ONT, DMP-1, and OCN did not changed. ALP and DMP-1 were switched in order.
ALP and DMP-1 may be used as important markers for differentiating between the 3rd passage and 10th passage cells.
Considering that supernumerary tooth was extracted young age and the time required to cultured 10th passage was short, supernumerary tooth can be considered a useful donor site of dental pulp stem cells.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a role in various cellular phenomena, including autophagy, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Although recent studies have reported its involvement in nociceptive responses in several pain models, whether mTOR is involved in orofacial pain processing is currently unexplored. This study determined whether rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, reduces nociceptive responses and the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) cells in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) in a mouse orofacial formalin model. We also examined whether the glial cell expression and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the TNC are affected by rapamycin. Mice were intraperitoneally given rapamycin (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg); then, 30 min after, 5% formalin (10 l) was subcutaneously injected into the right upper lip. The rubbing responses with the ipsilateral forepaw or hindpaw were counted for 45 min. High-dose rapamycin (1.0 mg/kg) produced significant antinociceptive effects in both the first and second phases of formalin test. The number of Fos-ir cells in the ipsilateral TNC was also reduced by high-dose rapamycin compared with vehicle-treated animals. Furthermore, the number of p-p38-ir cells the in ipsilateral TNC was significantly decreased in animals treated with high-dose rapamycin; p-p38 expression was co-localized in microglia, but not neurons and astrocytes. Therefore, the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, reduces orofacial nociception and Fos expression in the TNC, and its antinociceptive action on orofacial pain may be associated with the inhibition of p-p38 MAPK in the microglia.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays a role in various cellular phenomena, including autophagy, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Although recent studies have reported its involvement in nociceptive responses in several pain models, whether mTOR is involved in orofacial pain processing is currently unexplored. This study determined whether rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, reduces nociceptive responses and the number of Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) cells in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) in a mouse orofacial formalin model. We also examined whether the glial cell expression and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the TNC are affected by rapamycin. Mice were intraperitoneally given rapamycin (0.1, 0.3, or 1.0 mg/kg); then, 30 min after, 5% formalin (10 l) was subcutaneously injected into the right upper lip. The rubbing responses with the ipsilateral forepaw or hindpaw were counted for 45 min. High-dose rapamycin (1.0 mg/kg) produced significant antinociceptive effects in both the first and second phases of formalin test. The number of Fos-ir cells in the ipsilateral TNC was also reduced by high-dose rapamycin compared with vehicle-treated animals. Furthermore, the number of p-p38-ir cells the in ipsilateral TNC was significantly decreased in animals treated with high-dose rapamycin; p-p38 expression was co-localized in microglia, but not neurons and astrocytes. Therefore, the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, reduces orofacial nociception and Fos expression in the TNC, and its antinociceptive action on orofacial pain may be associated with the inhibition of p-p38 MAPK in the microglia.

The average life expectancy has been increased, so the proportion of elderly patients that visit to the dental clinic for prosthetic restoration has increased. Elderly patients have various chronic diseases. Recent trends show an increase of osteoporosis in elderly patients, and thus, the number of osteoporosis patients is expected to escalate. Currently, the most widely used drug for osteoporosis is bisphosphonate. However, osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported as a side effect derived from long-term oral administration or injection treatment of the drug. Surgical dental treatment was the main cause of medication related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). As MRONJ is very difficult to cure, it is important to take preventive measures. Surgical operation may be needed for the mouth preparation before prosthetic restoration. For successful treatment, the dentist should have a full understanding of osteoporosis and show a continued interest toward this disease for careful management.
Administration, Oral ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Dental Clinics ; Dentists ; Diphosphonates ; Humans ; Jaw ; Life Expectancy ; Mouth ; Osteonecrosis ; Osteoporosis*

Tailgut cysts are known to originate from the remnants of the embryonic hindgut. They occur exclusively in the retrorectal and presacral spaces. There have been limited reports of tailgut cysts occurring in the left perirenal space. The present case features a huge tailgut cyst extending from the right perirenal to the perivesical space. We believe that this case report will help to further elucidate the characteristics of perirenal and perivesical tailgut cysts.

Objectives: This study aims to suggest ways to improve the oral care competencies of caregivers by strengthening oral care services for the elderly with mobility difficulties in long-term care facilities. Methods: Through a web survey, 215 caregivers were invited, their actual situation was identified, and necessary educational tasks were listed. We developed 16 types of card news, two types of songs, and four types of video clips that can be used in the field for the listed educational topics. Several meetings with expert developers resulted in developing the components and design of an oral health management platform for caregivers in long-term care facilities. Results: As a result of the web survey, many caregivers in long-term care facilities needed education or information on oral care methods, and many people felt difficulties in oral care for the elderly. About 40% of the caregivers had no experience in oral health education, and many learned how to care through unsystematic apprenticeships. Most of the education content that caregivers prioritized were brushing teeth and denture management, but there were also needs such as management of dementia and bedridden patients, non-cooperative oral care, nutrition management, and oral auxiliary products use. Conclusions In conclusion, this study reviewed and suggested digital platforms such as strengthening caregivers’ competency in long-term care facilities, providing customized educational information, discovering oral problems of the elderly, and reporting oral difficulties to experts.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the experience of caregivers in oral health care of the elderly in long-term care facilities, identify the problems, and collect opinions, and to seek improvement directions for strengthening competency and improving services of oral health care for the elderly. Methods: Data on the experience in oral health care of the elderly were collected through focus group interviews (FGI) targeting caregivers in long-term care facilities. The grounded theory method was used. The interview content was categorized by open coding, and a paradigm model was presented by identifying the relationship between the categories through axial coding. Selective coding found core categories. Results: As a result of categorizing the caregivers’ oral care experience of the elderly, 15 categories, 40 sub-categories, and 125 concept/phenomena codes were derived. The central phenomenon was the difficulty of implementing sustainable oral health care. The deterioration of the mental and physical functions of the elderly, the work characteristics of caregivers, and the lack of linkage with internal and external resources of the facility acted as causal conditions for the central phenomenon. The caregiver’s oral health education experience acted as an intervening condition. In an effort to improve the problem, an interaction strategy was derived. Conclusions It is possible to seek delivery of sustainable oral health care services by caregivers by improving the quality of oral health education and establishing an oral health care service system for the elderly.

Staphylococcus aureus is now a major community-acquired pathogen worldwide, notably associated with skin and soft tissue infections. Staphylococci are present in the form of colonizers or environmental contaminants at home and increase the risk of recurrent infection. We are describing recurrent familial furunculosis caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive methicillin susceptible S. aureus ST1 in Korea. An infant, his father and mother had furunculosis due to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infection with identical susceptibility patterns. ST1 accounted for all 3 isolates and they were confirmed of having agr group I. Both sec and seh were detected in all isolates using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and all isolates contained Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Risk factors for the household spread of S. aureus include skin conditions and close physical contact among household members. The relationship between S. aureus colonization of household contacts and the occurrence of S. aureus infection should be studied into more detail.
Colon ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Furunculosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Leukocidins ; Methicillin ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus

In 2005, the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) established cardiotoxicity assessment guidelines to identify the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). It is focused on the blockade of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel known to cause QT/QTc prolongation and the QT/QTc prolongation shown on the electrocardiogram. However, these biomarkers are not the direct risks of TdP with low specificity as the action potential is influenced by multiple channels along with the hERG channel. Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative emerged to address limitations of the current model. The objective of CiPA is to develop a standardized in silico model of a human ventricular cell to quantitively evaluate the cardiac response for the cardiac toxicity risk and to come up with a metric for the TdP risk assessment. In silico working group under CiPA developed a standardized and reliable in silico model and a metric that can quantitatively evaluate cellular cardiac electrophysiologic activity. The implementation mainly consists of hERG fitting, Hill fitting, and action potential simulation. In this review, we explained how the in silico model of CiPA works, and briefly summarized current overall CiPA studies. We hope this review helps clinical pharmacologists to understand the underlying estimation process of CiPA in silico modeling.
Action Potentials ; Biomarkers ; Cardiotoxicity ; Computer Simulation ; Electrocardiography ; Hope ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Torsades de Pointes

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.
Adult ; Foramen Ovale ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Ligaments ; Needles ; Neuralgia ; Skull* ; Spine ; Trigeminal Ganglion