Purpose: This study examines the diagnostic potential of whole-body blood pool scintigraphy (WBBPS) using technetium-99 m-labeled red blood cells to detect congenital vascular malformations (CVMs). It aims to compare its efficacy with traditional imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (USG), emphasizing its potential advantages in terms of characterization of lesions and capacity for whole-body assessment. Methods: The efficacy of WBBPS and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosing CVMs, comparing them with USG and MRI results, was evaluated in this retrospective study. Of the 38 patients, 21 were evaluated using these diagnostic methods, with CVMs classified according to the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies guidelines. Also, this study aimed to elucidate the characteristics between WBBPS, SPECT/CT, USG, or MRI findings and their consistency with the final diagnosis. Results: A total of 21 participants were included in this study, with an average age of 17.7 years old, with female predominance (57.1%). The most common diagnosis was vascular malformations (VMs) (71.4%), followed by combined vascular malformations (14.3%) and lymphatic malformations (9.5%). WBBPS demonstrated positive results in 95.2% of cases.Distinct imaging patterns for each condition were observed, with WBBPS being crucial in locating lesions. Conclusion The study findings suggested that WBBPS with SPECT/CT could be helpful in detecting occult VM lesions and ruling out a lymphatic malformation diagnosis. Thus, it can be employed in the evaluation of CVMs.

Purpose: We introduce a “cold steel” hammer-chisel technique for endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, then compare postoperative outcomes between this technique and a drill technique. Methods: This study included 191 patients (297 eyes) with nasolacrimal duct stenoses or obstructions who underwent endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy using the hammer-chisel or drill technique. Surgical outcomes were compared via follow-up screening for epiphora and anatomical complications such as granuloma and fibrous membrane formation, canalicular obstruction, and synechiae. Results: Postoperative anatomical complications occurred in 29 eyes (18.6%) in the hammer-chisel group and 51 eyes (36.2%) in the drill group (p = 0.001). The anatomical failure rate was higher in the drill group [28 eyes (19.9%)] than in the hammer-chisel group [18 eyes (11.5%); p = 0.038]. Functional failure was observed in 13 eyes (8.3%) in the hammer-chisel group and 13 eyes (9.2%) in the drill group (p = 0.787). The mean operation time was significantly longer in the drill group (35.5 ± 10.4 minutes vs. 25.4 ± 9.1 minutes) (p < 0.001). Conclusions During endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy, osteotomy with a hammer-chisel is more successful and leads to fewer complications than osteotomy with a drill.

Purpose: To present the first case of severe upper and lower tarsal ectropion associated with immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-relatedophthalmic disease.Case summary: A 37-year-old male presented with relapsed eyelid swelling and periocular inflammation in the left eye for7 years. He had severe upper and lower tarsal ectropion and a thickened upper eyelid with prolapsed conjunctival fornix. Orbitalcomputed tomography showed a poorly defined anterior orbital mass involving the lacrimal gland and upper and lower eyelids onthe left eye. The severe upper and lower eyelid ectropion was corrected by a modified spindle procedure and lateral tarsal strip.Hard, ill-defined fibrotic tissue and a mass around the lateral upper tarsal plate were discovered that required excision of themass and a biopsy. Hematologic and histopathologic findings of the orbital mass indicated IgG4-related ophthalmic disease withsevere upper and lower ectropion caused by the disease. Conclusions In cases of severe upper and lower eyelid ectropion caused by chronic inflammation, as seen in this case, not onlyeyelid tightening with excision of the causative mass but also a modified spindle procedure is required to prevent rotation of theeyelid.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a plasma cell tumor located outside of the bone marrow. It most often occurs in the upper respiratory tract (85%), as well as the head and neck, and very rarely occurs in the retroperitoneum. Here we report the case of a 57-year-old woman with retroperitoneal EMP.
Bone Marrow ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Neck ; Plasmacytoma* ; Respiratory System ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; Retroperitoneal Space

Genetic information such as DNA sequences has been limited to fully explain mechanisms of gene regulation and disease process. Epigenetic mechanisms, which include DNA methylation, histone modification and non-coding RNAs, can regulate gene expression and affect progression of disease. Although studies focused on epigenetics are being actively investigated in the field of medicine and biology, epigenetics in dental research is at the early stages. However, studies on epigenetics in dentistry deserve attention because epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in gene expression during tooth development and may affect oral diseases. In addition, understanding of epigenetic alteration is important for developing new therapeutic methods. This review article aims to outline the general features of epigenetic mechanisms and describe its future implications in the field of dentistry.
Base Sequence ; Biology ; Dental Research ; Dentistry ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics* ; Gene Expression ; Histones ; Oral Health* ; Periodontitis ; RNA, Untranslated ; Tooth

While it is reasonably well known that certain dental procedures increase the temperature of the tooth's surface, of greater interest is their potential damaging effect on the pulp and tooth-supporting tissues. Previous studies have investigated the responses of the pulp, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone to thermal irritation and the temperature at which thermal damage is initiated. There are also many in vitro studies that have measured the temperature increase of the pulp and tooth-supporting tissues during restorative and endodontic procedures. This review article provides an overview of studies measuring temperature increases in tooth structures during several restorative and endodontic procedures, and proposes clinical guidelines for reducing potential thermal hazards to the pulp and supporting tissues.
Periodontal Ligament ; Root Canal Obturation ; Tooth ; Tooth Preparation ; Ultrasonics

No abstract available.
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

OBJECTIVES: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in metabolizing catecholamines, including dopamine. Also, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the COMT gene are associated with schizophrenia. Therefore, this study aimed to find the association between COMT gene SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans. METHODS: Participants were 366 schizophrenia patients and 359 normal controls. To identify the SNPs, we performed genetic analyses in 4 SNP regions, via SNP-ITTM assays. We compared allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies between the two groups. Moreover, we built subgroups, based on onset age, and compared individual allele and genotype frequencies among these subgroups. RESULTS: In female patients, genotype frequencies showed a significant difference in rs2020917 among the 4 SNPs (p=0.0224), but haplotype frequencies showed no such difference among the 4 SNPs between patients and controls. We noted a significant difference in rs1544325 allele frequencies according to onset age. Also, in female patients, rs1544325 allele and genotype frequencies varied significantly according to onset age. CONCLUSION: This study found no genetic association between the COMT gene's 4 SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans. However, our findings suggest genetic components for sex-specificity and onset age in Korean schizophrenics.
Age of Onset ; Alleles ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Catecholamines ; Dopamine ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia

During a composite resin restoration, an anticipating contraction gap is usually tried to seal with low-viscosity resin after successive polishing, etching, rinsing and drying steps, which as a whole is called rebonding procedure. However, the gap might already have been filled with water or debris before applying the sealing resin. We hypothesized that microleakage would decrease if the rebonding agent was applied before the polishing step, i.e., immediately after curing composite resin. On the buccal and lingual surfaces of 35 extracted human molar teeth, class V cavities were prepared withthe occlusal margin in enamel and the gingival margin in dentin. They were restored with a hybrid composite resin Z250 (3M ESPE, USA) using an adhesive AdperTM Single Bond 2 (3M ESPE). As rebonding agents, BisCover LV (Bisco, USA), ScotchBond Multi-Purpose adhesive (3M ESPE) and an experimental adhesive were applied on the restoration margins before polishing step or after successive polishing and etching steps. The infiltration depth of 2% methylene blue into the margin was measured using an optical stereomicroscope. The correlation between viscosity of rebonding agents and mciroleakage was also evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences in the microleakage within the rebonding procedures, within the rebonding agents, and within the margins. However, when the restorations were not rebonded, the microleakage at gingival margin was significantly higher than those groups rebonded with 3 agents (p < 0.05). The difference was not observed at the occlusal margin. No significant correlation was found between viscosity of rebonding agents and microleakage, except very weak correlation in case of rebonding after polishing and etching at gingival margin (r = -0.326, p = 0.041).
Acrylates ; Adhesives ; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate ; Chimera ; Contracts ; Dental Enamel ; Dentin ; Humans ; Methylene Blue ; Molar ; Resin Cements ; Tooth ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVES: Rapid polymerization of overlying composite resin causes high polymerization shrinkage stress at the adhesive layer. In order to alleviate the shrinkage stress, increasing the light intensity over the first 5 seconds was suggested as an exponential curing mode by an LED light curing unit (Elipar FreeLight2, 3M ESPE). In this study, the effectiveness of the exponential curing mode on reducing stress was evaluated with measuring microtensile bond strength of three adhesives after the overlying composite resin was polymerized with either continuous or exponential curing mode. METHODS: Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus (MP, 3M ESPE), Single Bond 2 (SB, 3M ESPE), and Adper Prompt (AP, 3M ESPE) were applied onto the flat occlusal dentin of extracted human molar. The overlying hybrid composite (Denfil, Vericom, Korea) was cured under one of two exposing modes of the curing unit. At 48h from bonding, microtensile bond strength was measured at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. The fractured surfaces were observed under FE-SEM. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the microtensile bond strengths of each adhesive between curing methods (Two-way ANOVA, p > 0.05). The microtensile bond strengths of MP and SB were significantly higher than that of AP (p < 0.05). Mixed failures were observed in most of the fractured surfaces, and differences in the failure mode were not observed among groups. CONCLUSION: The exponential curing method had no beneficial effect on the microtensile dentin bond strengths of three adhesives compared to continuous curing method.
Adhesives ; Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate ; Chimera ; Dentin ; Humans ; Light ; Molar ; Polymerization ; Polymers ; Resin Cements