Background/Aims: Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently impairs defecation, severely affecting the quality of life. This study examines compensatory neural remodeling after SCI, focusing on basal colonic contractility, neural responses to electrical field stimulation, and alterations in excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory nitrergic pathways. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent either sham surgery or T10 spinal cord transection and were categorized into 3 groups: sham, 1-week post-SCI (acute), and 4-week post-SCI (chronic). Colonic contractility was assessed in an organ bath using electrical field stimulation in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Neural protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results: SCI produced region- and time-dependent impairments in colonic contractility, with distinct alterations in the proximal circular and longitudinal muscles across acute and chronic phases. Neural excitability shifted dynamically, showing enhanced excitatory activity in the proximal longitudinal muscle at 1-week and the distal circular muscle at 4-week post-SCI. Protein analysis revealed increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the proximal colon, decreasedsoluble guanylyl cyclase in the distal colon, upregulated muscarinic M3 receptor in the proximal colon, and reduced vaso-active intestinal peptide receptor 1 in both proximal and distal regions. Conclusion SCI induces spatiotemporal remodeling of excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, contributing to colonic dysmotility and revealing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) occurs either in isolation or in association with other dental abnormalities and systemic disorder. A rare syndrome associating AI with nephrocalcinosis was named as Enamel Renal Syndrome (ERS; OMIM #204690). This syndrome is characterized by severe enamel hypoplasia, failed tooth eruption, intra pulpal calcifications, enlarged gingiva, and nephrocalcinosis. Nephrocalcinosis is a condition where calcium salts are deposited in renal tissue, and this may lead to critical kidney complications. This rare syndrome shows pathognomonic oral characteristics that are easily detectable at an early age, which proceeds the onset of renal involvement. Pediatric dentists are the first oral health practitioners whom ERS patients will meet at early age. The role of pediatric dentists is critically important for early diagnosis and referral of patients to both nephrologists for renal assessment and geneticists for identification of causative mutation and diagnosis. Early detection of renal involvement may provide chances to prevent further undesired renal complications.

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate etiology, clinical features, and treatment modalities of the mandibular condyle fracture in children and young adolescents. This study was conducted based on medical records and radiographic examinations of 44 pediatric patients. Patients received treatment under diagnosis of mandibular condylar fracture. They were divided into 4 groups according to their age. The involvement of condyle in the mandible fracture occurred in higher percentage in younger age groups. Falling was the most common etiologic factor in all age group, especially in children with age under 7. Condyle head was the most frequent site of fracture in age group of 4-7 whereas fracture tends to occur in lower condylar areas in older groups. In 54.5% of the mandibular condyle fracture, symphysis fracture was accompanied. Teeth injury occurred in higher incidency when condyle fracture accompanied symphysis fracture. Conservative treatments were applied to 43 out of 44 patients.

Trichophyton tonsurans is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is not yet truly prevalent in Korea. Especially, cases of toe nail infection during childhood are very rare, and no cases have been reported prior to this report. We report a single case of tinea unguium due to T. tonsurans in a healthy child. A 7 year-old patient visited an outpatient clinic presenting with subungual hyperkeratosis of the 1st and 3rd Rt. toe nails, which had first presented at an age of 28 months, and no other symptoms. Numerous hyphae were evident on the KOH smear examination. A confirmative diagnosis of tinea unguium cased by T. tonsurans was made after culturing scales from the toe nail lesion. The patient is currently undergoing follow-up, after being treated with oral terbinafine hydrochloride, without a relapse in symptoms.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arthrodermataceae ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Korea ; Nails ; Naphthalenes ; Onychomycosis ; Polyenes ; Recurrence ; Toes ; Trichophyton ; Weights and Measures