Objective: To investigate differences in the heritability of skeletodental characteristics between twin pairs with skeletal Class I and Class II malocclusions. Methods: Forty Korean adult twin pairs were divided into Class I (C-I) group (0° ≤ angle between point A, nasion, and point B [ANB]) ≤ 4°; mean age, 40.7 years) and Class II (C-II) group (ANB > 4°; mean age, 43.0 years). Each group comprised 14 monozygotic and 6 dizygotic twin pairs. Thirty-three cephalometric variables were measured using lateral cephalograms and were categorized as the anteroposterior, vertical, dental, mandible, and cranial base characteristics. The ACE model was used to calculate heritability (A > 0.7, high heritability). Thereafter, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Results: Twin pairs in C-I group exhibited high heritability values in the facial anteroposterior characteristics, inclination of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, mandibular body length, and cranial base angles. Twin pairs in C-II group showed high heritability values in vertical facial height, ramus height, effective mandibular length, and cranial base length. PCA extracted eight components with 88.3% in the C-I group and seven components with 91.0% cumulative explanation in the C-II group. Conclusions Differences in the heritability of skeletodental characteristics between twin pairs with skeletal Class I and II malocclusions might provide valuable information for growth prediction and treatment planning.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk remains increased despite optimal low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level induced by intensive statin therapy. Therefore, recent guidelines recommend non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) as a secondary target for preventing cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of omega-3 fatty acids (OM3-FAs) in combination with atorvastatin compared to atorvastatin alone in patients with mixed dyslipidemia. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, and phase III multicenter study included adults with fasting triglyceride (TG) levels ≥200 and <500 mg/dL and LDL-C levels <110 mg/dL. Eligible subjects were randomized to ATOMEGA (OM3-FAs 4,000 mg plus atorvastatin calcium 20 mg) or atorvastatin 20 mg plus placebo groups. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percent changes in TG and non-HDL-C levels from baseline at the end of treatment. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, the percent changes from baseline in TG (−29.8% vs. 3.6%, P<0.001) and non-HDL-C (−10.1% vs. 4.9%, P<0.001) levels were significantly greater in the ATOMEGA group (n=97) than in the atorvastatin group (n=103). Moreover, the proportion of total subjects reaching TG target of <200 mg/dL in the ATOMEGA group was significantly higher than that in the atorvastatin group (62.9% vs. 22.3%, P<0.001). The incidence of adverse events did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION The addition of OM3-FAs to atorvastatin improved TG and non-HDL-C levels to a significant extent compared to atorvastatin alone in subjects with residual hypertriglyceridemia.

Well-established standards and specifications for medical devices not only provide clarity and consistency in licensing processes but also secure device safety and effectiveness. This study reviewed regulatory standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices in Korea based on data obtained through analyses of those medical devices. General standards for electromechanical, electromagnetic, and biological safety and individual standards for 76 electric and 70 general medical device products have been established by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, the first standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices were established in March 2000 for two products (disposable needle and syringe). Similar to the large number of standards for medical devices, there have been general standards for safety and individual standards for 72 veterinary medical devices (27 electric medical devices, 12 non-electric medical devices, 10 medical supplies, and 23 other types) established since 2014. These new standards considered, among other aspects, the devices' applications, usage characteristics, and industrial environment. To date, the establishment of standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices remains limited. This study suggests that improvements should be made to the regulation of general and individual standards associated with various veterinary medical instruments, supplies, and in vitro diagnostic medical reagents.
Equipment and Supplies ; Equipment Safety ; In Vitro Techniques ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Licensure ; Magnets ; Needles

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of conventional and orthodontic mini-implant (OMI) anchorage on tooth movement and arch-dimension changes in the maxillary dentition in Class II division 1 (CII div.1) patients. METHODS: CII div.1 patients treated with extraction of the maxillary first and mandibular second premolars and sliding mechanics were allotted to conventional anchorage group (CA, n = 12) or OMI anchorage group (OA, n = 12). Pre- and post-treatment three-dimensional virtual maxillary models were superimposed using the best-fit method. Linear, angular, and arch-dimension variables were measured with software program. Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the CA group, the OMI group showed more backward movement of the maxillary central and lateral incisors and canine (MXCI, MXLI, MXC, respectively; 1.6 mm, p < 0.001; 0.9 mm, p < 0.05; 1.2 mm, p < 0.001); more intrusion of the MXCI and MXC (1.3 mm, 0.5 mm, all p < 0.01); less forward movement of the maxillary second premolar, first, and second molars (MXP2, MXM1, MXM2, respectively; all 1.0 mm, all p < 0.05); less contraction of the MXP2 and MXM1 (0.7 mm, p < 0.05; 0.9 mm, p < 0.001); less mesial-in rotation of the MXM1 and MXM2 (2.6degrees, 2.5degrees, all p < 0.05); and less decrease of the inter-MXP2, MXM1, and MXM2 widths (1.8 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In treatment of CII div.1 malocclusion, OA provided better anchorage and less arch-dimension change in the maxillary posterior teeth than CA during en-masse retraction of the maxillary anterior teeth.
Bicuspid ; Contracts ; Dentition ; Humans ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Mechanics ; Molar ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinitis is a heterogeneous group of diseases that cause nasal inflammation. And the nose may be a window into the lung in the concept of "one airway one disease." OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate differences between the different forms of chronic rhinitis in terms of lower airway inflammation. METHODS: Patients that attended the allergy clinic and presented with moderate/severe persistent rhinitis symptoms for more than 1 year were enrolled. The patients with chronic rhinitis were classified into two groups (house dust mites [HDM]-sensitive allergic rhinitis [AR] or non-allergic rhinitis [NAR]) according to the presence of atopy, and additionally according to nasal polyposis and airway hyperresponsiveness, respectively. Medical records were reviewed and the mRNA expression levels of IL-5, IFN-γ, TGF-β1, IL-17A, and IL-25 were evaluated in induced sputum samples in each group. RESULTS: Induced sputum samples of 53 patients were evaluated. Patients with NAR were significantly older than patients with HDM-sensitive AR (p < 0.05). Nasal polyposis was more prevalent in NAR patients than in HDM-sensitive AR patients (10.2% vs. 62.5%, p < 0.001). The expression levels of IL-17A mRNA were higher in NAR patients, regardless of the presence of airway hyperresponsiveness (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with different forms of chronic rhinitis could have different inflammatory environments in their lower airway and NAR patients might have bronchial inflammation related to the elevated levels of IL-17A compared to HDM-sensitive AR patients.
Asthma ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-5 ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Mites ; Nasal Polyps ; Nose ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; RNA, Messenger ; Sputum

No abstract available.
Caves ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Portal Vein

OBJECTIVE: To establish appropriate test angle of passive knee proprioception test and to compare with active knee proprioception test. METHOD: Thirty one healthy volunteers were tested in seated position on isokinetic machine. For passive test, the knee joints were placed in starting angle of 0degrees, 30degrees in flexion test and 90degrees, 60degrees in extension test. To memorize target angle, they were passively positioned to the target angle and left hold for 10 seconds, and returned to starting position. After these processes, knee joints were passively moved toward flexion and extension target angle. The subjects were instructed to press stop button when the memorized angles were reproduced. The tests were performed 3 times for each 6 different test angle. The active test were performed with the same memorized process but the subjects moved actively to reproduce target angles. The absolute angular errors (AAE) between target angle and produced angle were measured and compared. RESULTS: In passive proprioception test, the AAEs were increased according to the test angle differences were increased from 30degrees to 60degrees. In the same target angle difference, there were no differences between starting positions. When the results of passive test were compared with active test, there were no significant differences in the flexion test, but larger angular error were measured in extension test. CONCLUSION: The passive knee proprioception test could be useful for patients with lower extremity weakness. Considering the possible error of large angular difference, the testing angular differences should be properly selected.
Adult ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Lower Extremity ; Proprioception

A number of case reports on occupational asthma caused by herbal medicines have been issued, for example, on Sanyak, Chunkung, Banha, and Brazilian ginseng. Recently, cases of occupational asthma induced by Sanyak and Korean ginseng have been reported, but the pathogenic mechanisms involved are unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the immunologic mechanism underlying Korean ginseng-induced occupational asthma. A patient engaged in Korean ginseng wholesale was referred for recurrent dyspnea, wheezing, and nasal symptoms, which were aggravated at work. Allergen bronchial provocation testing to Korean ginseng extract showed a typical immediate response, and skin prick testing to Korean ginseng extract also showed a strong positive response. Moreover, serum-specific IgE levels to Korean ginseng extract were significantly higher than in controls. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition tests showed a dose-dependent inhibition by Korean ginseng, but not by Dermatophagoides farinae, wheat flour, or Chinese balloon flower. Sodium dodecylsulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting revealed four specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding components at 26, 30, 47, and 60 kDa, which were not bound by control sera. These results strongly suggest that occupation asthma induced by Korean ginseng is induced via an IgE-mediated mechanism.
Animals ; Asthma/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Bronchi/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Flour ; Flowers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis ; Immunoglobulin E/analysis/*chemistry ; Korea ; Occupational Diseases/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Panax/*adverse effects ; Pyroglyphidae/metabolism ; *Skin Tests

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of pain and its characteristics reported by professional golfers during playing season. METHOD: From April 2006 to August 2007, we operated a mobile clinic equipped with a physical therapy unit during the professional golf competition. For professional golfers who had visited the clinic during this period of time, we investigated distribution of pain and its characteristics through interviews and medical records. RESULTS: A total of 118 professional golfers visited the mobile clinic during the service period. The analysis of pain distribution showed that spine (56.3%) including low back, cervical, thoracic spine was the most common area of pain complaints, followed by upper extremity (33.1%), lower extremity (9.1%) in order. Based on the detailed anatomical distribution, low back was the most common pain site (22.5%). In case of the upper extremity pain group, left side pain was more prevalent than that of right side. Compared with spine pain group, upper extremity pain group was significantly older and also had more professional career (p<0.05). This implies that upper extremity injury may relatively caused from repetitive stress of golf swing. CONCLUSION: The results imply that golf imposes a relatively high burden on spine and upper extremity in professional golfers.
Golf ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Seasons ; Spine ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intramuscular low frequency electrical stimulation on shoulder pain in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Twenty five hemiplegic shoulder pain patients were divided into two groups. For experimental group, we inserted stainless steel acupuncture needle on the motor points of supraspinatus, infraspinatus, trapezius and middle deltoid muscle and applied intramuscular electric stimulation (4 Hz, unsymmetric spike pulse, 2.0 ms of pulse width) for twenty minutes, three sessions a week, in total 10 sessions. For control group, we applied transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for twenty minutes. Visual analog scale(VAS), passive range of motion of shoulder joint, and Korean version of modified Barthel index (K-MBI) were measured before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The VAS of experimental group significantly decreased from 7.23+/-0.83 to 3.04+/-1.52, while control group showed a slight decrease from 7.50+/-0.70 to 5.64+/-0.74. The experimental group showed significant improvement compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the experimental group, there were significant improvements in motion of abduction from 103.6+/-20.5 to 134.0+/-32.3 and external rotation from 60.0+/-19.6 to 68.6+/-19.7 (p<0.05) even though there were no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular low frequency electrical stimulation improved pain as well as the range of motion. This could be used for the treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain.
Acupuncture ; Deltoid Muscle ; Electric Stimulation ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Needles ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Shoulder Pain ; Stainless Steel ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation