Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE: The Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's disease (KBASE) aimed to recruit 650 individuals, aged from 20 to 90 years, to search for new biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate how multi-faceted lifetime experiences and bodily changes contribute to the brain changes or brain pathologies related to the AD process. METHODS: All participants received comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological evaluations, multi-modal brain imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, [11C]Pittsburgh compound B-positron emission tomography (PET), and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-PET, blood and genetic marker analyses at baseline, and a subset of participants underwent actigraph monitoring and completed a sleep diary. Participants are to be followed annually with clinical and neuropsychological assessments, and biannually with the full KBASE assessment, including neuroimaging and laboratory tests. RESULTS: As of March 2017, in total, 758 individuals had volunteered for this study. Among them, in total, 591 participants–291 cognitively normal (CN) old-aged individuals, 74 CN young- and middle-aged individuals, 139 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 87 individuals with AD dementia (ADD)–were enrolled at baseline, after excluding 162 individuals. A subset of participants (n=275) underwent actigraph monitoring. CONCLUSION: The KBASE cohort is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study that recruited participants with a wide age range and a wide distribution of cognitive status (CN, MCI, and ADD) and it has several strengths in its design and methodologies. Details of the recruitment, study methodology, and baseline sample characteristics are described in this paper.
Aging* ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Biomarkers ; Brain* ; Cohort Studies ; Dementia ; Early Diagnosis* ; Genetic Markers ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Neuroimaging ; Pathology ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the differences in caries lesion changes when measured by QLF-D as fluorescence loss and by SS-OCT as lesion depth with respect to demineralized time, during formation of artificial early caries lesion. We also demonstrated that QLF-D and SS-OCT can be used effectively in monitoring the longitudinal progression of simulated caries lesions. METHODS: Ten bovine incisors were sectioned (5x4 mm) and embedded in epoxy resin. An acid-resistant nail varnish was applied to a part of the tooth surfaces to protect sound enamel (2x4 mm). To generate lesions, each specimen was immersed in 40 ml of a demineralizing gel for 20 days at 37degrees C. To measure mineral loss of the demineralized specimens, fluorescence loss (DeltaF, %) was measured by QLF-D and lesion depth (microm) was determined by SS-OCT from the captured cross-sectional image. All the specimens were analyzed daily by QLF-D image analysis software and SS-OCT image analysis program for 20 days. The repeated measures analysis of DeltaF and lesion depth was used. The paired t-test was used to assess differences between each day. The correlation between DeltaF and lesion depth was determined using the Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: On the 5th, 10th, and 15th day, compared to baseline values, DeltaF decreased in 12.7%, 25.0%, and 33.6% of the specimens, respectively, and the lesion depth increased in 9.9%, 16.0%, and 22.6% of the specimens, respectively. However, after 15 days, there was no change in the DeltaF and lesion depth. High significant correlation was identified between the resultant values of DeltaF obtained by QLF-D and those of lesion depth obtained by SS-OCT (r = -0.811, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The QLF-D and SS-OCT could detect subtle changes in mineral loss and lesion depth with respect to demineralized time. Furthermore, these devices were useful for monitoring changes in mineral amount and lesion depth.
Dental Enamel ; Fluorescence ; Incisor ; Longitudinal Studies ; Paint ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tooth

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) is a rarely reported benign tumor, accounting for 0.4-3% of all odontogenic tumors. Approximately 150 cases have been reported in the literature between 1958 and 2003. The age range of CEOT varies from 8 to 92 years with mean of 36.9 years, and the occurrence of the lesion in both genders is almost equal. It has 2 clinico-topographic variants: the intraosseous (94%) and the extraosseous (6%) type. The intraosseous type has a predilection for mandible (maxilla : mandible ratio of 1 : 2). The intraosseous CEOT commonly associated with non-erupted teeth accounts for more than half (52%) of the cases and usually appears as painless swelling that causes bony expansion. The location of diffused round-shaped calcifying material is inside the connective tissue stroma and epithelial islands. The tumors tend to be located toward the tooth crown, which usually has a unilocular radiolucent region containing variant radiopaque materials radiologically. In this paper, we report a case of CEOT occurring in the left mandibular first premolar of a 23-year-old female and present a brief review of the literature.
Accounting ; Bicuspid ; Connective Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Islands ; Mandible ; Odontogenic Tumors ; Skin Neoplasms ; Tooth ; Tooth Crown ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Colon ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the structural protein that is necessary for the formation of caveolae membrane domains. It is known as an inhibitor of various signaling pathways and associated with several diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, restrictive lung disease and obesity. However, studies for Cav-1 in nose has been hardly performed. The objectives of our study were to detect Cav-1 expression in human nasal epithelium and to investigate the change of Cav-1 expression in the inflammation of nasal epithelium. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We obtained nasal polyp specimens from three patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. Cells from specimens were cultured using the air-liquid interface technique and IL-1beta was treated. The expression of Cav-1 mRNA and protein was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of Cav-1 mRNA and protein in human nasal epithe-lium. Furthermore, the expression of both Cav-1 mRNA and protein was decreased by IL-1beta stimulation. CONCLUSION: Cav-1 was expressed in human nasal epithelial cells. It is assumed that Cav-1 may play a role in nasal inflammatory disease. However, further studies to confirm the interaction between Cav-1 and signaling molecules in the nasal inflammatory process should be followed.
Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caveolae ; Caveolin 1 ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; Lung Diseases ; Membranes ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Polyps ; Nose ; Obesity ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ductal calculi and stenosis are well known causes of salivary ductal obstructive lesions. As a direct view of the ductal systems was not possible for the surgeons, sialendoscopy has been a convenient tool for finding out these obstructive lesions. This study contains some unusual endoscopic findings that we have found during diagnostic and interventional sialendoscopy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective chart reviews were done, and endoscopic findings were reviewed for patients who received sialendoscopy from September 2003 to January 2007. Sixtyfour patients received sialendoscopy for either diagnostic or interventional method. RESULTS: We found unusual findings in 7 cases (10.9%). Three cases of basin malformation were observed. Two cases had spontaneous ductal perforation, and we also observed 2 cases of occult stone. CONCLUSION: The sialendoscopy is an excellent method in evaluating and treating salivary ductal diseases. We found out that the sialendoscopy made it possible to explore ductal systems completely, as well as to detect unusual findings, and to help in the management of some salivary ductal diseases.
Calculi ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Ducts ; Salivary Gland Calculi ; Salivary Glands

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid nodules has become the primary diagnostic tool in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. However, the diagnostic utility of thyroid cytology may be limited by the presence of atypical cytologic patterns. In patients with atypical cytology in FNAC, the treatment concept is not established. The purpose of this study is to correlate subcategories of atypical cytology with final histologic diagnosis and help determining treatment concept of thyroid nodule. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospectively, we analysed 143 specimens of patients with atypical cytology in preoperative FNAC, who underwent thyroidectomy from May 1996 to July 2005 at the Department of Otolaryngology and Surgery, Inha University Hospital. We divided atypical cytology into six groups by its cytologic characteristics and correlated those with final histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 143 specimens with atypical cytology, there were 97 cases (67.8%) in follicular neoplasm with nuclear atypia (FNA) group, 2 cases (1.4%) in follicular neoplasm without nuclear atypia (FNS) group, 13 cases (9.1%) in nodular hyperplasia with nuclear atypia (NHA) group, 23 cases (16.1%) in possibility of papillary carcinoma (PP) group and 5 cases (3.5%) in thyroiditis with nuclear atypia (TA) group and 3 cases (2.1%) in atypical cells (AC) group. Of 97 cases in FNA group, 29 cases (29.9%) were malignant. Malignant cases in NHA and PP groups were 11 cases (47.8%) and 3 cases (23.1%), respectively. But, not all groups have a statistically significant high incidences of malignant pathologic result. Of 29 cases diagnosed as malignant in the FNA group, only 1 case (3.4%) had lymph node metastasis in final pathologic result. Also in NHA and PP groups, only 1 case (NHA : 33.3%, PP : 9.1%) had metastatic lymph nodes. Three cases (10.3%) showed recurrence postoperatively of the 29 cases diagnosed malignant in the FNA group. In PP group, one case (9.1%) revealed recurrence postoperatively. No statistical differences existed between all groups for lymph node metastasis and recurrence. CONCLUSION: Surgery should be considered in FNA, NHA and PP groups. The extent of resection should be determined by frozen section intraoperatively.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Otolaryngology ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroiditis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In general, for surgical treatment of septal perforation, a suture repair method is necessary for at least unilateral intranasal mucosal flap with the interposition of a connective tissue graft. However, autologous graft material is sometimes insufficient when septal perforation repair is combined with other surgery such as rhinoplasty. The aims of this study were to introduce a new repair technique of septal perforation using silastic sheet and to assess the usefulness of the new method. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Between March 2003 and September 2004, 5 patients underwent septal perforation repair using silastic sheet with open rhinoplasty at the same time. Size and causes of septal perforation, symptoms, and complication were evaluated by endoscopic examination and questionnaires pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: The causes of septal perforation were previous septoplasty (3 cases), syphilis (1 case) and unknown (1 case). Preoperative symptoms including nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, epistaxis and dryness were all improved postoperatively. The perforations of all patients were 1.0 cm sized or more in diameter. Four of five patients (80%) achieved complete closure and one patient had an incomplete closure after a mean follow up of 16 months. CONCLUSION: The repair of septal perforation using silastic sheets is a very useful technique when the size of septal perforation is more than 1 cm large in diameter or when the autograft material is insufficient.
Autografts ; Connective Tissue ; Epistaxis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septal Perforation* ; Nasal Septum ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rhinoplasty ; Sutures ; Syphilis ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To predict postoperative pulmonary complication in patients with conservative laryngectomy, variable factors such as pulmonary function test (PFT) have been reported. Therefore, we reviewed the relationships between postoperative pulmonary complications and preoperative risk factors including the parameters of PFT. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From 1997 Jun. to 2005 July., conservative laryngectomy was performed under diagnosis of laryngeal cancer in 36 patients. The factors related to age, history of lung diseases, the parameters of PFT (FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FVC), and the types of surgery were analyzed to evaluate the postoperative pulmonary complication. We used a retrospective analysis of medical records and Fisher exact method to verify the relationships between preoperative risk factors and the pulmonary complications. RESULTS: 8 patients had postoperative pulmonary complication. Age, history of lung diseases and PFT parameters had no statistical significance. Among them, 7 patients and 1 patient had takensupracricoid laryngectomy and supraglottic laryngectomy, respectively. Supracricoid laryngectomy cases had more significant postoperative pulmonary complications than vertical partial laryngectomy cases. CONCLUSION: Age, the history of lung diseases, and parameters of PFT had no predictable value for postoperative lung complications. In the comparison between the surgery types, only supracricoid laryngectomy cases had statistical increase of postoperative pulmonary complications.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Laryngectomy* ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors