The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the amount of tooth reduction required for prefabricated zirconia crowns (PZCs) of maxillary and mandibular primary first molars by evaluating different areas of the tooth. A total of 271 intact primary first molars were scanned using a 3D scanner, and PZCs were virtually superimposed to analyze the amount of tooth reduction. The results indicated that in the maxillary primary first molars, more reduction was required on the buccal occlusal surface compared to the lingual occlusal surface, whereas in the mandibular primary first molars, a similar amount of reduction was required on both buccal and lingual occlusal surfaces. For the axial surfaces, the maxillary primary first molars required the most reduction on the lingual surface than buccal and proximal surfaces, whereas the mandibular primary molars required significantly less reduction on the lingual surface. Additionally, a trend was observed where larger crowns required less reduction on the buccal and lingual surfaces. This study provides detailed guidelines on the required amount of reduction for PZC restorations, contributing to more efficient preparation in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the amount of tooth reduction required for prefabricated zirconia crowns (PZCs) of maxillary and mandibular primary first molars by evaluating different areas of the tooth. A total of 271 intact primary first molars were scanned using a 3D scanner, and PZCs were virtually superimposed to analyze the amount of tooth reduction. The results indicated that in the maxillary primary first molars, more reduction was required on the buccal occlusal surface compared to the lingual occlusal surface, whereas in the mandibular primary first molars, a similar amount of reduction was required on both buccal and lingual occlusal surfaces. For the axial surfaces, the maxillary primary first molars required the most reduction on the lingual surface than buccal and proximal surfaces, whereas the mandibular primary molars required significantly less reduction on the lingual surface. Additionally, a trend was observed where larger crowns required less reduction on the buccal and lingual surfaces. This study provides detailed guidelines on the required amount of reduction for PZC restorations, contributing to more efficient preparation in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the amount of tooth reduction required for prefabricated zirconia crowns (PZCs) of maxillary and mandibular primary first molars by evaluating different areas of the tooth. A total of 271 intact primary first molars were scanned using a 3D scanner, and PZCs were virtually superimposed to analyze the amount of tooth reduction. The results indicated that in the maxillary primary first molars, more reduction was required on the buccal occlusal surface compared to the lingual occlusal surface, whereas in the mandibular primary first molars, a similar amount of reduction was required on both buccal and lingual occlusal surfaces. For the axial surfaces, the maxillary primary first molars required the most reduction on the lingual surface than buccal and proximal surfaces, whereas the mandibular primary molars required significantly less reduction on the lingual surface. Additionally, a trend was observed where larger crowns required less reduction on the buccal and lingual surfaces. This study provides detailed guidelines on the required amount of reduction for PZC restorations, contributing to more efficient preparation in clinical practice.

Alport syndrome (AS) is a highly prevalent inherited kidney disease. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for improved kidney outcomes. This study evaluated awareness among Korean clinicians about AS and assessed the understanding of AS patients and caregivers. Methods: An online survey targeting registered members of the Korean Society of Nephrology, the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology, AS patients, and their caregivers was conducted from January to April 2023. Results: Out of 103 respondents, most had treated fewer than 10 AS patients. For certain kidney diseases, such as chronic kidney disease of unknown origin and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, half or fewer considered AS as a potential diagnosis. Only half preferred immediate confirmation tests for suspected AS. Genetic testing was available at half of the medical centers, and fewer than half of the adult nephrologists considered genetic testing to be essential. While all the surveyed nephrologists would prescribe renin-angiotensin system blockade, the majority hesitated to initiate treatment. Vigilant genetic testing for donor candidates was not a common practice. While 80% of patients and 50% of caregivers understood the nature and prognosis of AS, they regretted the delayed diagnoses, insufficient explanations, and the absence of support groups. Conclusion: Not rarely, AS patients may have been unrecognized as AS. Despite the noteworthy advancement of AS, the recent guidelines have not been widely adopted in clinical practice in Korea. Considering the challenges in Korea, there is an urgent need for locally tailored clinical practice recommendations and a dedicated registry to optimize patient outcomes.

Transcription factor CP2-like protein 1 (Tfcp2l1), a naïve pluripotency transcription factor, is expressed in both early embryonic and adult tissues, where it enforces pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and stemness features of cancer cells, respectively. However, the detailed molecular pathways by which Tfcp2l1 is regulated in early embryonic development and cancer cells remain unknown. Here, we identified the pseudophosphatase dual specificity phosphatase 27 (Dusp27), also known as serine/threonine/tyrosine-interacting like-2, as a novel Tfcp2l1-interacting protein through a sterile alpha motif-like domain in the C-terminus of Tfcp2l1 in murine ESCs. The interaction between Dusp27 and Tfcp2l1 was dependent on the cell cycle status and increased during mitosis. Expression of Dusp27 was upregulated during naïve pluripotency and repressed during spontaneous differentiation of murine ESCs. Ectopic expression of Dusp27 enhanced the transcriptional activity of Tfcp2l1 and promoted features associated with the naïve pluripotent state, while suppressing meso-endodermal lineage differentiation. The present study demonstrates that Dusp27 is a novel positive regulator of Tfcp2l1 through a physical interaction and thereby fine-tunes the pluripotency status and meso-endodermal differentiation of murine ESCs.

Purpose: To describe a case of retinal vasculitis that followed intravitreal brolucizumab injections and its treatment using local and systemic steroid and vitrectomy.Case summary: An 80-year-old male diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration presented after experiencing redness, pain, and vision loss in his left eye following a switch in treatment from aflibercept to brolucizumab 2 weeks earlier. Before the switch, the patient’s best corrected visual acuity of the left eye was 0.4; however, on arrival at the clinic, it was finger count at 10 cm. Suspecting intraocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis caused by brolucizumab, he was treated with both local and systemic steroids and later underwent a vitrectomy. Post-surgery, the patient’s symptoms and vision improved and he received additional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. One year after onset, the corrected vision of his left eye was 0.5 with no observed recurrence of intraocular inflammation. Conclusions When reactions related to intraocular inflammation associated with brolucizumab are identified, aggressive treatment is crucial. The present case report suggests that satisfactory anatomical and visual outcomes can be achieved.

Purpose: We analyzed the laboratory examinations associated with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to enhance our understanding of OAG risk factors. Methods: We categorized participants in KNHANES between 2008 and 2012 into OAG and non-glaucomatous groups. Next, we conducted a multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, sex, education level, and survey year. Results: Significant differences were observed in age, sex, and educational levels between the two groups. After propensity score matching, the OAG group demonstrated a significantly elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), myopia prevalence, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In addition, that group exhibited a significantly increased prevalence of hypertension and melancholic mood disorders and aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (AST/ALT) ratio. Multiple logistic regression revealed elevated IOP, SBP, DBP, AST/ALT ratio, and prevalence of hypertension, melancholic mood, and myopia as OAG risk factors. Conclusions Our study revealed several risk factors for OAG, including elevated IOP, SBP, DBP, AST/ALT ratio, and prevalence of hypertension, melancholic mood, and myopia. However, the mechanism underlying OAG remains uncertain. Notably, a positive correlation was observed between the AST/ALT ratio and OAG risk. Further studies are needed to evaluate this association.

Background: Laser laryngeal microsurgery is a common treatment of vocal fold polyps (VFP), a leading causeof dysphonia. The CO2 laser is predominantly used for its precision in excising delicate tissues while minimizingdamage to the surrounding healthy tissue. The 532-nm diode laser can also be employed for the cauterization of the microvasculature within the vocal folds. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the 532-nm diode laser in the treatment of VFP. Methods: Forty-four patients diagnosed with VFP were enrolled and underwent laser laryngeal microsurgery using a CO2 laser. The patients were divided into two groups: one receiving additional treatment with the 532-nm diode laser. Voice status was assessed and compared preoperatively and postoperatively using acoustic analysis, aerodynamic analysis, voice range profile, the GRBAS scale, and the voice handicap index (VHI). Results: The mean flow rate and maximal pitch showed significant improvements from preoperative to postoperative measurements in additional 532-nm diode laser treatment group. All objective indicators demonstrated normalization and enhancement following surgery. Subjective perceptual assessments also indicated significant improvement postoperatively, and the VHI showed improvement across all domains.However, there was no significant difference in the test results between the two groups, regardless of the additional use of the 532-nm diode laser. Conclusion Laser phonomicrosurgery using both CO2 and 532-nm diode lasers is an effective in treating VFP. Although the additional benefit of the diode laser was not conclusively demonstrated, its potential for photocoagulating the vocal fold microvasculature suggests further research is warranted.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe adverse cutaneous drug reaction seen rarely in clinical practice. Although relatively rare, the condition can be fatal. Mainly, it is caused by side effects of certain medications. Previous reports have associated Stevens-Johnson syndrome with abnormal root development, but the other long-term dental complications have rarely been reported. In this case, the patient developed SJS at the age of 5, and abnormal root development of the maxillary and mandibular first molars and mandibular incisors was observed, as well as impaction of the mandibular canine and enamel hypomineralization of multiple teeth. Accordingly, appropriate restorative treatment and orthodontic treatment were performed, and the clinical characteristics of this symptoms and its treatment were discussed in more detail. We aim to highlight the need for dentists to be aware of the potential dental complications of SJS and to enable early diagnosis and management of the condition to avoid undesirable sequelae.

Background and Objectives: Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) hold greatpromise as a cellular source of CM for cardiac function restoration in ischemic heart disease. However, the use of animal-derived xenogeneic substances during the biomanufacturing of hiPSC-CM can induce inadvertent immune responses or chronic inflammation, followed by tumorigenicity. In this study, we aimed to reveal the effects of xenogeneic substances on the functional properties and potential immunogenicity of hiPSC-CM during differentiation, demonstrating the quality and safety of hiPSC-based cell therapy. Methods: and Results: We successfully generated hiPSC-CM in the presence and absence of xenogeneic substances(xeno-containing (XC) and xeno-free (XF) conditions, respectively), and compared their characteristics, including the contractile functions and glycan profiles. Compared to XC-hiPSC-CM, XF-hiPSC-CM showed early onset of myocyte contractile beating and maturation, with a high expression of cardiac lineage-specific genes (ACTC1, TNNT2, and RYR2) by using MEA and RT-qPCR. We quantified N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), a xenogeneic sialic acid, in hiPSC-CM using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry. Neu5Gc was incorporated into the glycans of hiPSC-CM during xeno-containing differentiation, whereas it was barely detected in XF-hiPSC-CM. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the electrophysiological function andglycan profiles of hiPSC-CM can be affected by the presence of xenogeneic substances during their differentiation and maturation. To ensure quality control and safety in hiPSC-based cell therapy, xenogeneic substances should be excluded from the biomanufacturing process.