PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical courses between phacoemulsification (PE) and PE with combined trabeculectomy (phacotrabeculectomy, PETL) in closed-angle patients with re-elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). METHODS: Closed-angle patients whose IOP re-elevated between 19 and 38 mm Hg after LPI were included. Medical records of 26 patients in the PE group and 21 patients in the PETL group who were followed for more than 12 months after surgery were reviewed for clinical course. RESULTS: The IOP courses after surgery showed no statistical difference during the study period except at 1 and 7 days after surgery, in which IOP in the PETL group were lower than that in the PE group. The number of anti-glaucoma drugs also showed no significant difference except at 6 months, when the number was greater in the PE group. Success rates for IOP below 18 mm Hg at 3 years were 96.2% in the PE group, higher than the 69.8% in the PETL group (Log Rank test, p = 0.015). Postoperative complications were found in 2 patients in the PE group and in 8 patients in the PETL group (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that PE is a viable surgical alternative to PETL in closed-angle patients who have mildly re-elevated IOP after LPI.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Medical Records ; Phacoemulsification ; Postoperative Complications ; Trabeculectomy

A pyramidal molar is which has completely fused roots with a solitary enlarged canal. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of pyramidal molars among adolescent.
A total of 1,612 patients’ panoramic radiographs were screened. A total of 12,896 first and second molars were evaluated. The relative incidence and the correlations regarding the location of pyramidal molar (maxillary versus mandibular) and gender were analyzed using the chi-square test.
The overall incidence of patients with pyramidal molars was 1.49%. 24 patients were found to have a pyramidal molar and it was more prevalent in women (18 women and 6 men). The prevalence of pyramidal molars from all first and second molars examined was 0.31%. 88 percent of pyramidal molars occurred in maxilla. All pyramidal molars were second molar.
Pyramidal molar has a relatively poor periodontal prognosis compared with common multi-rooted teeth and it is important to understand the structural characteristics of root canal during pulp treatment. Clinicians should be able to understand the anatomical properties of pyramidal molar and apply it to treatment and prognostic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The aims of alveolar bone grafting are closure of the fistula, stabilization of the maxillary arch, support for the roots of the teeth adjacent to the cleft on each side. We observed nostril base augmentation in patients with alveolar clefts after alveolar bone grafting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nostril base augmentation effect of secondary alveolar bone grafting in patients with unilateral alveolar cleft. METHODS: Records of 15 children with alveolar clefts who underwent secondary alveolar bone grafting with autogenous iliac cancellous bone between March of 2011 and May of 2012 were reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative worm's-eye view photographs and reconstructed three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scans were used for photogrammetry. The depression of the nostril base and thickness of the philtrum on the cleft side were measured in comparison to the normal side. The depression of the cleft side pyriform aperture was measured in comparison to the normal side on reconstructed three-dimensional CT. RESULTS: Significant changes were seen in the nostril base (P=0.005), the philtrum length (P=0.013), and the angle (P=0.006). The CT measurements showed significant changes in the pyriform aperture (P<0.001) and the angle (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An alveolar bone graft not only fills the gap in the alveolar process but also augments the nostril base after surgery. In this study, only an alveolar bone graft was performed to prevent bias from other procedures. Nostril base augmentation can be achieved by performing alveolar bone grafts in children, in whom invasive methods are not advised.
Alveolar Process ; Alveoloplasty ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Bone Transplantation ; Child ; Cleft Palate ; Depression ; Fistula ; Humans ; Lip ; Photogrammetry ; Tooth ; Transplants

We have always attempted to create a standard treatment protocol for patients with gastric cancer. However, many debates still exist regarding gastric cancer treatment. For the past 2 years, at the Annual Congress of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association, we have presented a grand symposium on the "Debates on the strategy for treating gastric cancer". In 2008, four major topics were discussed and voted on after discussion. The four major topics were proximal location treatment for early gastric cancer, management choices for pyloric obstruction with advanced gastric cancer, management of liver metastasis, and reconstruction methods after a distal gastrectomy. The opinions of the audience for six minor topics were expressed by an electronic voting system. In 2009, the four main topics were treatment for submucosal tumor sized around 2 cm, laparoscopic gastrectomy in T2N1 gastric cancer, choices for managing gastric lymphoma, and application of a pylorus preserving procedure for early gastric cancer at the antrum. The opinions of the audience for these six minor topics were expressed by an electronic voting system, as was conducted in 2008. It was good opportunity to identify a point of contact about the debates on managing gastric cancer. The results of these debates and studies will identify the best methods to treat patients with gastric cancer.
Clinical Protocols ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Politics ; Pylorus ; Stomach Neoplasms