Objective To analyze the morphological matching rate with a digital image recognition system in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments,and to provide forensic dentistry evidence for individual identification.Methods High-resolution digital images of the palatal rugae were taken under particular conditions from each patient in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments.Features of each digital image were extracted using a digital image recognition system and collected in the palatal rugae database.Data of the palatal rugae werematched by MATLAB software system.Results From the matching results,the accuracy rate of individual identification of orthodontic patients was 100％.The accuracy rate in matching palatal rugae patterns in pre-and post-orthodontic treatments was 95.67％.The results were statistically significant with P＜0.05.Conclusion Palatal rugae pattern is highly individual-specific.The morphologyofpalatal rugaecould bechangedby theorthodontic treatment,however,these changes may not greatly influence individual identification in forensic dentistry,providing a new potential to individual identification.

Objective To establish a digital system for forensic identiifcation of the palatal rugae and evaluate its application effects. Methods High-resolution digital images of the palatal rugae were harvested under the standard condition and processed including data collection, noise reduction, contrast enhancement, image segmentation, feature extraction, edge detection, and information matching. Apply an MATLAB software system to develop a digital system for forensic identiifcation of the palatal rugae ,and its application effects were evaluated. Results A digital system for forensic identification of the palatal rugae was successfully established. The digital system had an accuracy rate of 100%. Conclusion Establishing a digital system for forensic identiifcation of the palatal rugae provides a novel method for forensic identiifcation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of abdominal aortic graft infection (AGI) treated with removal of the graft vs. graft preservation. Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies that reported on AGI were searched. Observational studies and case series of at least 10 cases that reporting on the prevalence, microbiology, and outcomes of AGI were included. Results: Our search identified 23 studies that met our inclusion criteria, reporting on a total of 873 patients who underwent open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Of these patients, 833 received graft removal, and 40 received graft preservation. The prevalence of AGI was reported to be 1.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5%–1.8%) after OSR and 0.4% (95% CI, 0%–1.1%) after EVAR. The pooled estimates of 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year mortality were 28.7% (95% CI, 19.4%–38.8%), 36.6% (95% CI, 24.6%–49.5%), and 51.8% (95% CI, 38.4%–65.1%) in the graft removal group and 16.1% (95% CI, 4.1%–32.2%), 18.5% (95% CI, 5.7%–35.1%), and 50.0% (95% CI, 31.6%–68.4%) in the graft preservation group.The 30-day mortality rate’s risk ratio (RR) for graft removal vs. preservation was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.40–2.38), while the 1-year mortality rate’s RR was 3.44 (95% CI, 1.60–7.42). Conclusion The 30-day mortality rate of AGI treatment was found to be high, whether using graft removal or preservation.In selected patients, implementing antibiotics with graft preservation as an initial management may be helpful in reducing the mortality rate.

PURPOSE: Although progenitor cells may contribute to intimal hyperplasia (IH) after arterial injury, positive contribution of IH is variable with type of injury or cells. This study was designed to examine whether differentiated muscle derived stem cells (MDSC) attenuate IH in rat. METHODS: MDSCs were retrieved using preplate techniques from rat calf muscle and MDSCs (preplate 6th culture fraction, pp6) were exposed to VEGF (50 ng/ml) for endothelial differentiation prior to injection. Male rats were divided into two groups (cell treated vs. control) and underwent carotid balloon injury with 2-Fr catheter. The virus containing Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was transfected into cells for monitoring. Cells (5x10(6)) were indwelled into carotid artery for 30 minutes after injury and then blood flow was restored. Arteries were harvested at various intervals (1, 2 and 4 weeks) after injury. The intima to media thickness ratio (IMTR) was calculated with morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Endothelial surface markers such as VE-CADHERIN were strongly expressed on differentiated MDSCs. At 4 weeks after injury, IH was predominantly observed in control group compared to cell treated group. The intensity of GFP was strongly observed at 1 week and declined at 4 weeks in carotid artery wall at MDSC group. CD31(+) endothelial cells were observed at MDSC group compared to control. The mean IMTR in cell treated groups were significantly lower than control at 2 weeks (P=0.005) and 4 weeks (P< or =0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that MDSCs therapy promotes re-endothelialization and leads to attenuation of IH after balloon injury in rat.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; Arteries ; Cadherins ; Carotid Arteries ; Catheters ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Muscles ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Viruses

Background: Avoiding causative allergens is important for controlling the clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD). Allergen sensitization is influenced by many factors, such as the environmental factors. Although socioeconomic development, climate, and lifestyle have changed and the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in Korea over the past few decades, there is little information about changes in common allergens over time. Objective: This study aimed to identify the trends of common allergens in patients with AD over a 10-year period based on the results of the multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,414 patients with AD (603 adults and 811 children) over a period of 10 years. The serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE levels of 41 allergens were determined using the MAST. Results: House dust and house dust mites were the most prevalent allergens in both adult and pediatric patients during the 10-year period; however, the percentage of higher-class responses has decreased in recent years. The number of patients sensitized to house dust, cats, and egg whites increased, whereas that of patients sensitized to cockroaches, storage mites, beef, and rice decreased for both adults and children. No significant changes were observed in the total number of sensitizing allergens over time. Conclusion Common allergens in patients with AD have change over time. Based on the findings of this study, physicians and patients should consider changing their disease prevention and management strategies.

Purpose: To evaluate the compatibility of corneal curvature and astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) measured by the Scheimpflug camera Pentacam HR and the swept-source optical coherence tomography ANTERION. Methods: This prospective study included normal subjects with no ophthalmic history. Steep keratometry (K), flat K, astigmatism and its axis of the anterior and posterior surfaces, total corneal power, and HOAs using the two instruments were compared. To compare the mean values of the measurements, a paired t-test was used. Bland-Altman analysis was applied to assess the agreement between the two devices. Results: Fifty-three eyes of 53 subjects were evaluated. There were statistically significant differences for steep K, astigmatism, and vector J0, J45 in the anterior surface and total corneal power between the two devices (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in the most of the keratometric values of the posterior corneal surface (p < 0.05) except J0 (p = 0.410). Both devices showed strong positive correlations in steep K, flat K, astigmatism (r > 0.81, p < 0.001) with wide ranges of a 95% limit of agreement. Vectoral components were significantly correlated (r > 0.78, p < 0.001) with narrow 95% limit of agreement, except J45 of the posterior surface (r = 0.39, p = 0.004). In the corneal HOAs, there were statistically significant differences in the vertical coma, horizontal trefoil, spherical aberration, and root mean square of each fifth- and sixth-order Zernike coefficient (p = 0.043, p = 0.041, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Other HOAs showed moderate to strong positive correlations (r > 0.37, p < 0.05). Most HOAs, except for the horizontal trefoil, showed clinically acceptable agreements. The total root mean square of HOAs was not significantly different between the two devices (p = 0.122). Conclusions Most of the keratometric values cannot be used interchangeably. However, the vectoral component of astigmatism showed clinically good agreement. Several HOAs have statistically significant differences; however, almost all HOAs showed acceptable agreements, except for the horizontal trefoil.

OBJECTIVE:To observe therapeutic efficacy and safety of entecavir combined with long-acting interferon in the treatment of HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).METHODS:A total of 140 patients with HBeAg positive CHB selected from our hospital during May 2013-May 2015 were divided into observation group and control group according to random number table,with 70 cases in each group.Both groups received routine liver-protecting treatment;control group was additionally given Peginterferon α-2b injection 80 μg subcutaneously,once a week;observation group was additionally given Entecavir dispersible tablets 0.5 mg,po,qd,on the basis of control group.Both groups received treatment for consecutive 50 weeks.Clinical efficacies,liver function indexes before and after treatment,virological efficacies and the occurrence of ADR of 2 groups were observed.RESULTS:Each 5 cases withdrew from the study in 2 groups,and 130 cases (65 cases in each group) completed the study.Total response rate of observation group was 90.8％,which was significantly higher than 76.9％ of control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in the levels of ALT,AST,ALB or TBIL between 2 groups (P＞0.05).After treatment,the levels of ALT,AST and TBIL in 2 groups were decreased significantly,while ALB level was increased significantly,the observation group was significantly better than the control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).After 50 weeks of treatment,the negative conversion rate of HBV-DNA,HBeAg serology conversion rate and ALT normalizing rate of observation group were significantly higher than those of control group,and virologic breakthrough rate was significantly lower than control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).No severe ADR was found in 2 groups.There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR (P＞0.05).CONCLUSIONS:The entecavir combined with long-acting interferon show defmite therapeutic efficacy for HBeAg positive CHB,inhibit the replication of HBV and improve liver function of patients with good safety.

Objective To evaluate the palatal rugae individual-specific properties and stability before and after orthodontic treatments for investigating the reliability of palatal rugae for individual identification of forensic dentistry based on the palatal rugae model ananlysis. Methods Maxillary models of 70 patients were obtained before and after orthodontic treatments respectively. Palatal rugae morphologic changes and individual identification were examined by model analysis including changes in number, orientation, shape, and length of palatal rugae, as well as mesial and distal endpoint displacement in the anterioposterior(AP) and mesiodistal (MD) direction. Furthermore, The examination of palatal rugae average match accuracy(%) was performed between the pre-treatment and post-treatment orthodontics models and post-treatment and duplicated post-treatment orthodontics models. Results ① The palatal rugae morphological changes were found and the incidence of palatal rugae changes were showed in length(28.6%), segmenta-tion(4.3%); unification(2.9%); orientation(1.4%) and shape(1.4%) after orthodontic treatment. Also the displacement of the distal endpoint of palatal rugae was 45.7% for anterioposterior indirection, 40% for mesiodistal indirection after orthodontic treatment, while the anterioposterior displacement of the mesial endpoint of palatal rugae was 32.9% and mesiodistal displacement was 17.1%. ② The identical palatal rugae patterns were not found both the pre-treatment and post-treatment groups. ③ The palatal rugae average match accuracy was 92.19% between pre-treatment and post-treatment groups, however, the rate had increased by 99.05% when matching the palatal rugae patterns of post-treatment groups to their duplicates. Conclusion Palatal rugae patterns have the high specific properties to each indivi-dual. Although there are some changes in morphology of palatal rugae after orthodontic treatment, it still can be used as a novel method for individual identification in forensic dentistry.

Purpose: To evaluate the compatibility of corneal curvature and astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations (HOAs) measured by the Scheimpflug camera Pentacam HR and the swept-source optical coherence tomography ANTERION. Methods: This prospective study included normal subjects with no ophthalmic history. Steep keratometry (K), flat K, astigmatism and its axis of the anterior and posterior surfaces, total corneal power, and HOAs using the two instruments were compared. To compare the mean values of the measurements, a paired t-test was used. Bland-Altman analysis was applied to assess the agreement between the two devices. Results: Fifty-three eyes of 53 subjects were evaluated. There were statistically significant differences for steep K, astigmatism, and vector J0, J45 in the anterior surface and total corneal power between the two devices (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences in the most of the keratometric values of the posterior corneal surface (p < 0.05) except J0 (p = 0.410). Both devices showed strong positive correlations in steep K, flat K, astigmatism (r > 0.81, p < 0.001) with wide ranges of a 95% limit of agreement. Vectoral components were significantly correlated (r > 0.78, p < 0.001) with narrow 95% limit of agreement, except J45 of the posterior surface (r = 0.39, p = 0.004). In the corneal HOAs, there were statistically significant differences in the vertical coma, horizontal trefoil, spherical aberration, and root mean square of each fifth- and sixth-order Zernike coefficient (p = 0.043, p = 0.041, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Other HOAs showed moderate to strong positive correlations (r > 0.37, p < 0.05). Most HOAs, except for the horizontal trefoil, showed clinically acceptable agreements. The total root mean square of HOAs was not significantly different between the two devices (p = 0.122). Conclusions Most of the keratometric values cannot be used interchangeably. However, the vectoral component of astigmatism showed clinically good agreement. Several HOAs have statistically significant differences; however, almost all HOAs showed acceptable agreements, except for the horizontal trefoil.