PURPOSE: To provide diagnostic information by evaluation of the positional relationship between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine mandibular third molars were classified as mesioangular, horizontal, vertical, distoangular groups. The distances between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal were measured in cone-beam computed tomographs. The height and width ratios of distances from the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal to the mandibular inferior border and to the lingual cortical plate were calculated. RESULTS: The vertical and buccolingual distances between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal were 0.03 mm, 2.96 mm in the mesioangular, 0.37 mm, 3.38 mm in the horizontal, -1.50 mm, 1.38 mm in the vertical, -1.10 mm, 4.20 mm in the distoangular group. There were significant differences in vertical (P<0.05), but not in buccolingual (P>0.05). The height and width ratios of distances on the mandibular third molar were 47.1%, 36.1% in the mesioangular, 47.4%, 34.4% in the horizontal, 37.0%, 46.7% in the vertical, 40.9%, 37.4% in the distoangular group. There were significant differences between the mesioangular and the vertical group, and the horizontal and the vertical group in height ratio (P<0.05), and also between the mesioangular and the vertical group in width ratio (P<0.05). The height and width ratios of distances on the mandibular canal showed no significant differences between groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The mesioangular group showed the nearest distance between the mandibular third molar and the mandibular canal vertically. The root apex of the mandibular third molar was positioned more buccally in the vertical group than in the mesioangular group.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Molar, Third*

PURPOSE: To characterize the effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) and quercetin (QCT) on gene expression of osteonectin (ON) and osteopontin (OP) in irradiated MC3T3-E1 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: When MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells had reached 70-80% confluence, cultures were transferred to a differentiating medium supplemented with 5 mM 2-DG or 10 micrometer QCT and then irradiated with 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy. At various times after irradiation, the cells were analyzed for the expression of bone mineralization genes such as ON and OP. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of both ON and OP was increased according to the culture time in the differentiation medium, and the increase of the genes peaked at 14 days after the differentiation induction. In the case of OP, the increase of mRNA expression was maintained to 28 days after the differentiation, while the mRNA level of ON was reduced to the basal level at the same time. Irradiation adding 2-DG showed a significant peak value in the expression pattern of ON at 4 Gy 7 days after irradiation. Irradiation adding QCT increased the mRNA expression of ON and OP in a dose-dependant manner, but irradiation adding 2-DG did not show any differences between the control and experiments 14 days after irradiation. Irradiation adding QCT increased significantly the expression patterns of ON 21 days after irradiation. CONCLUSION: The results showed that QCT acted as a radiosensitizer in the gene expression of ON and OP during differentiation of the late stage of irradiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells in vitro.
Calcification, Physiologic ; Deoxyglucose ; Gene Expression ; Osteoblasts ; Osteonectin ; Osteopontin ; Quercetin ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Heart Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe technological development, caring attributes and professional self-concept as perceived by nurses in YanBian. METHOD: Data were collected using an instrument containing 137 Likert items was administered to 477 RN's working in general hospitals in YanBian. The instrument contained sections which examined technological influences questionnaire(TIQ), caring attributes questionnaire(CAQ), and professional self-concept nursing inventory(PSCNI). RESULT: Descriptive and inferential statistics revealed by marital status and position. Married, working special ward nurses reported a higher TIQ score than that of unmarried and working general ward and OPD. PSCNI and CAQ score of head or supervisor nurses were higher than that of staff nurses. Subjects revealed very low score of CAQ, while PSCNI score was higher than that of other Asian countries such as Korea, Beijing China, HongKong China and Japan as proved in former study. CONCLUSION: Useful information for educators and nurse administrators is provided from this results. Further study needs to be done to discuss in the light of cultural and environmental differences between YanBian(Korean-Chinese) and Korean nurses.

Craniofacial dysostosis is considered to be one of rarely observed syndromes characterized by premature closing of all cranial sutures. The first patient was a 4-year-old male infant who had been complaining of empyema. Clinical findings showed exophthalmos, hypertelorism and facial asymmetry. Conventional radiographs demonstrated abscence of cranial sutures and underdeveloped maxilla. CT scan demonstrated the digital impressions of the inner surface of the cranial vault, enlarged and depressed sella turcica. The second patient was a 2-year-old female infant who had been complaining of facial deformity. Clinical findings showed hypertelorism and underdeveloped maxilla. Radiographs showed premature synostosis of all cranial sutures, depressed and enlarged sella turcica, and hypoplastic maxilla. 3 years after operation, her look improved. However, resurgery may be considered to decreasing intracranial pressure and for correction of facial deformity. Two interesting cases showing 'cloverleaf'skulls were presented.
Child, Preschool ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cranial Sutures ; Craniofacial Dysostosis* ; Empyema ; Exophthalmos ; Facial Asymmetry ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertelorism ; Infant ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Maxilla ; Sella Turcica ; Synostosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphomas are a distinct subgroup of low-grade B-cell extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which are classified as a marginal-zone lymphomas. The majority of the patients are asymptomatic or their pulmonary lesions is often discovered incidentally on a routine chest radiograph. A 50-year-old man was admitted for an the evaluation of cough, dyspnea and fever. His chest CT showed ground glass appearance with interlobular septal thickening in both lower lobes, right middle lobe and left lingular division. He had been initially diagnosed with lipoid pneumonia and was kept under observation. However, his chest lesion showed continuous progression and a video-associated thoracoscopy was performed His pulmonary lesion was confirmed histologically to be a BALT(bronchial associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. We report a case of a BALT lymphoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as lipoid pneumonia.
B-Lymphocytes* ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue* ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thoracoscopy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Primary vesical actinomycosis is an extremely rare disease. In most cases it is misdiagnosed as vesical or urachal tumor and usually diagnosed through post-operative pathologic confirmation. Here we report a case of primary vesical actinomycosis confirmed by preoperative repeated multiple transabdominal biopsies. The patient was a 49-yr-old woman who presented with frequency, dysuria, and intermittent gross hematuria for 2 months. Computed tomography and cystoscopic examination showed broad-based, edematous, and protruding mass at the dome and anterior portion of the bladder. The clinical and imaging findings of the patient initially suggested vesical malignancy. Transurethral resection and multiple biopsies of the mass were performed. Pathologic examination demonstrated fibrosis with chronic inflammation. We performed repeated transabdominal multiple needle biopsies for further pathologic confirmation. Histopathologic examination demonstrated typical sulfur granules, which were consistent with actinomycosis.
Abdomen ; Actinomycosis/drug therapy/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography ; Biopsy, Needle/methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Penicillins/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Diseases/drug therapy/*pathology/surgery/ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To investigate the relation between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect and grade of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients with normal intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: The medical records of 260 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with diseases and congenital anomaly were excluded. According to the results of visual acuity, IOP, slit lamp examination and fluorescein angiography, patients were classified into 3 groups, mild, moderate, severe NPDR. RNFL photography was also performed in all patients. RESULTS: Average age of 260 patients (520 eyes) was 60 year-old, and average IOP was 16.8mmHg. 372 eyes were mild NPDR, 76 were moderate, and 72 were severe. 136 eyes (25.2%) had RNFL defects including wedge-shaped defect (107 eyes; 78.7%) and diffuse atrophy (29 eyes; 21.3%). RNFL defects were observed in patients with mild NPDR (84 eyes), moderate (24 eyes), and severe (28 eyes) and there were a significant correlation between RNFL defect and severity of diabetic retinopathy (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Careful examination and continuous follow-up are necessary in patients with diabetic retinopathy because RNFL defect was common in diabetic patients and increased according to the degree of diabetic retinopathy.
Atrophy ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Medical Records ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Fibers* ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

In this study, we explored the potentiality of human arginine decarboxylase (ADC) to enhance the survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) against unfavorable milieu of host tissues as the low survival of MSCs is the issue in cell transplantation therapy. To address this, human MSCs overexpressing human ADC were treated with H2O2 and the resultant intracellular events were examined. First, we examined whether human ADC is overexpressed in human MSCs. Then, we investigated cell survival or death related events. We found that the overexpression of human ADC increases formazan production and reduces caspase 3 activation and the numbers of FITC, hoechst, or propidium iodide positive cells in human MSCs exposed to H2O2. To elucidate the factors underlying these phenomena, AKT, CREB, and BDNF were examined. We found that the overexpression of human ADC phosphorylates AKT and CREB and increases BDNF level in human MSCs exposed to H2O2. The changes of these proteins are possibly relevant to the elevation of agmatine. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the overexpression of human ADC stimulates pro-survival factors to protect human MSCs against H2O2 toxicity. In conclusion, the present findings support that ADC can enhance the survival of MSCs against hostile environment of host tissues.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism ; Carboxy-Lyases/genetics/*metabolism ; Caspase 3/metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/*toxicity ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism