With the advances of digital scanning technology in dentistry, the interests in facial scanning in orthodontics have increased.There are many different manufacturers of facial scanners marketing to the dental practice. How do you know which one will work best for you? What questions should you be asking? We suggest a clinical guideline which may help you make an informed decision when choosing facial scanners. The characteristics of 7 facial scanners were discussed in this article. Here are some considerations for choosing a facial scanner. *Accuracy: For facial scanners to be of real value, having an appropriate camera resolution is necessary to achieve more accurate facial image representation. For orthodontic application, the scanner must create an accurate representation of an entire face. *Ease of Use: Scanner-related issues that impact their ease of use include type of light; scan type; scan time; file type generated by the scanner; unit size and foot print; and acceptance of scans by third-party providers. *Cost: Most of the expenses associated with facial scanning involve the fixed cost of purchase and maintenance. Other expenses include technical support, warranty costs, transmission fees, and supply costs. This article suggests a clinical guideline to make the right choice for facial scanner in orthodontics.

Granular cell tumor was described in the testis of two rabbits. Testis from each rabbit was surgically removed and submitted for histopathological diagnosis. Both testes were about 2.0 cm in diameter, firm, and tan. Microscopically, testicular mass consisted of compact sheets of round to polygonal and occasional spindle-shaped cells. The neoplastic cells contain a large amount of eosinophilic granular material in the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic eosinophilic granules were positive for periodic acid Schiff stain. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were immunoreactive to Melan-A and vimentin. Based on these results, the testicular mass was diagnosed as a granular cell tumor.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity level can be used as a diagnostic marker for anticholinesterase pesticide poisoning. In this study, we aimed to establish a baseline level of normal brain AChE activity in wild birds. AChE activity was measured in the brains of 87dead wild birds (26 species). The level of AChE activity ranged from 6.40 to 15.9 µmol/min/g of brain tissue in normal wild birds. However, the brain tissue AChE activity level in wild birds exposed to organophosphate (OP) pesticide was 48.0%–96.3% of that in the normal birds. These results may serve as reference values to facilitate routine diagnosis and monitoring of OP-poisoned wild birds.
Acetylcholinesterase ; Birds ; Brain ; Diagnosis ; Organophosphates ; Poisoning ; Reference Values

To determine the effect of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in odontoclast formation, we administrated a TNF-α inhibitor in rats with diabetes rats with periodontitis. The rats included in the study were divided into three groups: control rats without diabetes or periodontitis (the C group), rats with periodontitis and diabetes (the PD group), and rats with periodontitis and diabetes treated by infliximab, the TNF inhibitor (the PD+infliximab group). The PD and PD+ infliximab groups received intravenous administrations of streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. After 7 days of STZ injections, the mandibular first molars were ligatured to induce periodontitis. The PD+infliximab group was intrapenitoneally administrated by infliximab (5 mg/kg). On days 3 and 20 after the ligature administration, odontoclast formation along root surfaces was evaluated by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and cathepsin K immunohistochemistry. On day 3, the number of TRAP- and cathepsin K-positive cells increased more so in the PD group than in the C group. The PD+infliximab group showed a lower number of positive cells than the PD group. There was no difference in all the groups on day 20. On day 3, the cathepsin-K positive multinucleated and mononucleated cells were higher in the PD group than in the C group. The number of cathepsin-K positive multinucleated cells was lower in the PD+infliximab group than in the PD group. The PD group showed more cathepsin K-positive cells in the furcation and distal surfaces than the c group. The Cathepsin K-positive cells of the PD+infliximab group were lower than that of the PD group in furcation. These results suggest that TNF-α stimulates odontoclast formation in diabetes with periodontitis.
Acid Phosphatase ; Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Cathepsin K ; Cathepsins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infliximab ; Ligation ; Molar ; Necrosis ; Osteoclasts* ; Periodontitis* ; Rats* ; Streptozocin

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of Clostridium difficile is increasingly important because of the rise in resistant strains. The standard medium for the AST of C. difficile is supplemented Brucella agar (sBA), but we found that the growth of C. difficile on sBA was not optimal. Because active growth is critical for reliable AST, we developed a new, modified C. difficile (mCD) agar. C. difficile grew better on mCD agar than on sBA. METHODS: C. difficile isolates were collected from patients with healthcare-associated diarrhea. sBA medium was prepared according to the CLSI guidelines. Homemade mCD agar containing taurocholate, L-cysteine hydrochloride, and 7% horse blood was used. For 171 C. difficile isolates, we compared the agar dilution AST results from mCD agar with those from sBA. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the 50% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and 90% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90) of clindamycin (CLI), metronidazole (MTZ), moxifloxacin (MXF), piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ), and rifaximin (RIX), but the values for vancomycin (VAN) were two-fold higher on mCD agar than on sBA. The MICs of CLI, MXF, and RIX were in 100% agreement within two-fold dilutions, but for MTZ, VAN, and PTZ, 13.7%, 0.6%, and 3.1% of the isolates, respectively, were outside the acceptable range. CONCLUSIONS: The MIC ranges, MIC50 and MIC90, were acceptable when AST was performed on mCD agar. Thus, mCD agar could be used as a substitute medium for the AST of C. difficile.
Anti-Infective Agents/*pharmacology ; Clostridium Infections/microbiology ; Clostridium difficile/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Diarrhea/*microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/*methods

The annual incidence of hospital admissions for lower gastrointestinal bleeding in the United States and Europe is 0.02%. Massive hemorrhage from a solitary colon polyp is an extremely rare case. We report two consecutive patients with a single polyp, which was the source of bleeding. The first case is a 68-year-old male patient who visited Daejeon Sun Hospital with the chief complaint of considerable hematochezia. An 1.2 cm colon polyp with active bleeding was observed on the colonoscopy. The second case is a 74-year-old female patient with symptoms of hematochezia. A blood-clot attached, 3.0 cm sized Yamada type-IV colon polyp was examined on the colonoscopy. One case was a sessile polyp, and the other one was a thick-stalked pedunculated polyp. Both types of polyps were supplied with more vessels than other polyps, and both patients were taking aspirin. The two patients underwent snare polypectomy and were discharged without further bleeding evidence.
Aged ; Aspirin ; Colon ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Europe ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Polyps ; SNARE Proteins ; Solar System ; United States

In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of new rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDVa) serotype, we carried out to administrate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine sequential electron microscopic changes and relationship between pathogenesis and apoptosis. TUNEL-positive cells began to be observed from 24 hours after inoculation (HAI) and the number of positive cells was slightly increased with the course of time. Whereas marked increase of positive cells was seen in the liver from the rabbits died acutely. Typical viral particles with cup-like projections and a diameter of 30~40 nm were detected in homogenized liver samples and tissues at 36 and 48, and 48 HAI, respectively. Ultrastructurally, glycogen deposition was observed from the first stage of hepatocellular degeneration by RHDVa infection and then, swelling and disruption of cristae of mitochondria by viral particles, swelling of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles and vesicles were detected. Condensation, margination and fragmentation of chromatin were observed in degenerative hepatocytes at 36 and 48 HAI, indicating apoptotic bodies. These data offer that hepatocytic apoptosis by RHDV infection could be closely related with mitochondrial impairment in the hepatocytes.
Apoptosis ; Chromatin ; Electrons ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth ; Glycogen ; Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit ; Hepatocytes ; Liver ; Mitochondria ; Rabbits ; Sprains and Strains ; Vacuoles ; Virion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The comparison of long-term clinical effects between Sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and Paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unclear. Seeking to clarify this issue, we performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate four-year clinical outcomes of SES compared to PES treated AMI patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to August 2006, all patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and acute non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by implantation of either SES or PES were enrolled. The occurrences of cardiac and non-cardiac deaths, recurrent infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stent thrombosis were analyzed. The composite end points of these major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were also analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 668 AMI patients had visited, of which 522 patients (299 with SES and 223 with PES) were enrolled. During the four-year clinical follow-up, both groups showed similar occurrences of non-cardiac death (14.6+/-2.2% vs. 18.3+/-3.0%, p=0.26); cardiac death (6.8+/-1.52% vs. 11.2+/-2.6%, p=0.39); re-infarction (3.3+/-1.1% vs. 6.4+/-1.8%, p=0.31); and stent thrombosis (3.2+/-1.1% vs. 5.4+/-1.7%, p=0.53). However, occurrences of TVR {4.0+/-1.2% vs. 10.0+/-3.0%, hazard ratio (HR)=0.498, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.257-0.967, p=0.039} and MACE (19.4+/-2.5% vs. 29.4+/-3.5%, HR=0.645, 95% CI=0.443-0.940, p=0.021) were significantly lower in the SES population. CONCLUSION: In AMI patients treated with either SES or PES implantation, the former had a significantly lower risk of TVR and MACE during four-year clinical follow-up. Rates of death, cardiac death or recurrent infarction, and stent thrombosis were similar.
Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombosis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze parental decisions regarding pregnancies in which the fetus had sex chromosome abnormalities (SCA) over a ten-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected and reviewed records from our hospital for 2001-2010 and a genetic specialist provided-genetic counseling. RESULTS: We diagnosed 130 cases (0.71%) with SCA out of 18,376 prenatal cases from 2001 to 2010. We reviewed the records and the results of all pregnancies. We also included cases (n=84) of apparently normal anatomic fetuses to analyze the factors influencing parental decisions. We excluded 34 cases with an obvious anomaly or a presumably bad outcome and 12 cases that were not followed up. Forty-three couples (51.2%) continued their pregnancies while forty-one (48.8%) terminated them. Of 38 mosaicism cases, 21 (55.3%) were continued. Among the 20 pregnancies assisted by reproductive techniques, 15 (75%) were continued (P=0.02). More pregnancies were continued when genetic counseling was provided (61.9%) compared to cases in which it was not provided (19%) (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Genetic counseling is important in providing appropriate information to parents. Establishing guidelines and protocols will help both obstetricians and parents to make informed decisions.
Family Characteristics ; Fetus ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Reproductive Techniques ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Sex Chromosomes ; Specialization

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly acute and fatal viral disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Since first outbreak in Korea 1987, RHDV has been continually affected in the country, but the pattern of outbreak seem to be changed. In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of the new RHDVa serotype, we therefore carried out to inoculate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine the sequential histopathologic changes and viral distribution. Macroscopically, various sized dark red or white spots or appearance were observed in the liver, lung, kidney uterus and ureter. In euhanized rabbits, significant pathologic findings such as infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear cells were observed at 24 hours after inoculation (HAI), and these were sequentially extended periportal to centrilobular area. However, in dead rabbits, severe hepatic degeneration and/or necrosis with relatively weak inflammatory responses were observed. RHDV antigens began to detect in liver, spleen, and lung from 12 HAI by PCR. Immunohistochemically, RHDV positive cells were seen in only liver from 24 HAI, and the degree of immunogen reactivity was stronger in dead rabbits than in euthanized ones. In conclusion, RHDVa caused the subacute or chronic infection accompanying low mortality and moderate to severe inflammatory reaction in rabbits, suggesting the possibility that RHD could become endemic.
Dental Caries ; Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit ; Kidney ; Korea ; Liver ; Lung ; Necrosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rabbits ; Spleen ; Sprains and Strains ; Ureter ; Uterus ; Virus Diseases