1.Peri-implantitis as a potential risk factor for peri-implant oral malignancy
Yeeun LEE ; Kezia Rachellea MUSTAKIM ; Mi Young EO ; Yun Ju CHO ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2026;52(1):27-33
Peri-implant oral malignancy (PIOM) refers to malignant tumors arising around dental implants and is an increasingly reported complication of implant therapy. PIOM may follow distinct pathophysiological mechanisms, including chronic peri-implant inflammation and implant-related factors that contribute to carcinogenesis. This current review aims to explore the potential role of peri-implantitis (PI) as a risk factor for PIOM, discussing the proposed pathogenic mechanisms, histological findings, and clinical implications. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Relevant case reports, clinical studies, and reviews on the keywords “PIOM” and “PI” published from 2019 up to 2025 were included and qualitatively analyzed. Clinicopathologic characteristics are summarized as location and morphology, disease progression, histopathology, and degree of differentiation, and pathophysiological hypotheses involve inflammatory and electrochemical pathways, epithelial barrier dysfunction, molecular alterations, microbiome dysbiosis, and immune dysregulation. Current evidence remains limited and primarily anecdotal. Several studies suggest that chronic inflammation, titanium particle exposure, corrosion byproducts, and sustained tissue damage in peri-implant tissues may contribute to oncogenesis. While a direct causal link between PI and PIOM remains unproven, chronic peri-implant inflammation may contribute to malignancy development in predisposed individuals. Clinicians should consider a biopsy when peri-implant lesions exhibit atypical features, promptly.
2.Growth differentiation factor 15: a promising biomarker in oral cancer
Hyun Jun OH ; Jong-Ho LEE ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(2):123-125
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.
3.Growth differentiation factor 15: a promising biomarker in oral cancer
Hyun Jun OH ; Jong-Ho LEE ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(2):123-125
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.
4.Growth differentiation factor 15: a promising biomarker in oral cancer
Hyun Jun OH ; Jong-Ho LEE ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(2):123-125
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.
5.Data Resource Profile: The Cancer Public Library Database in South Korea
Dong-Woo CHOI ; Min Yeong GUK ; Hye Ri KIM ; Kwang Sun RYU ; Hyun-Joo KONG ; Hyo Soung CHA ; Hyun-Jin KIM ; Heejung CHAE ; Young Sang JEON ; Hwanhee KIM ; Jipmin JUNG ; Jeong-Soo IM ; Kui Son CHOI
Cancer Research and Treatment 2024;56(4):1014-1026
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Cancer Public Library Database (CPLD), established under the Korean Clinical Data Utilization for Research Excellence project (K-CURE). The CPLD links data from four major population-based public sources: the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database in the Korea Central Cancer Registry, cause-of-death data in Statistics Korea, the National Health Information Database in the National Health Insurance Service, and the National Health Insurance Research Database in the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. These databases are linked using an encrypted resident registration number. The CPLD, established in 2022 and updated annually, comprises 1,983,499 men and women newly diagnosed with cancer between 2012 and 2019. It contains data on cancer registration and death, demographics, medical claims, general health checkups, and national cancer screening. The most common cancers among men in the CPLD were stomach (16.1%), lung (14.0%), colorectal (13.3%), prostate (9.6%), and liver (9.3%) cancers. The most common cancers among women were thyroid (20.4%), breast (16.6%), colorectal (9.0%), stomach (7.8%), and lung (6.2%) cancers. Among them, 571,285 died between 2012 and 2020 owing to cancer (89.2%) or other causes (10.8%). Upon approval, the CPLD is accessible to researchers through the K-CURE portal. The CPLD is a unique resource for diverse cancer research to investigate medical use before a cancer diagnosis, during initial diagnosis and treatment, and long-term follow-up. This offers expanded insight into healthcare delivery across the cancer continuum, from screening to end-of-life care.
6.Operational Status and Evidence Assessment of Community Mental Health Programs in Korea
Seung-Hee AHN ; Jee Hoon SOHN ; Hwo-Yeon SEO ; Hae Woo LEE ; Seongju JO ; Soung-Nam KIM ; Hye-Young MIN ; Minah SOH ; Se Young YOO ; Sung Joon CHO ; Jee Eun PARK
Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2024;63(2):116-131
Objectives:
This study analyzed the current state of community mental health programs in Korea to develop evidence-based criteria for these programs.
Methods:
Seventy community mental health facilities nationwide were surveyed about the scope of their operated mental health programs. Details, including program structure, staff expertise, standardization, and quality management, of the 511 programs submitted by the facilities as their representative programs were also analyzed to evaluate their efforts for evidence-based practice.
Results:
The average number of programs operated by community mental health welfare centers was 15.9. The most common programs were those related to serious mental illness (SMI), followed by child/adolescent mental health programs, early psychosis programs, and non-SMI adult mental health programs. In the case of community addiction management centers, there were 7.2 different addiction-related programs per center. Among the psychiatric rehabilitation facilities for SMI, the average number of programs for SMI was 13.1, with some programs for early psychosis. Of the 511 programs submitted as representative programs in their facilities, only 12.3% were judged to be good evidence-based programs.
Conclusion
More efforts by mental health professionals and governments are needed to implement evidence-based programs in Korea.
7.Elemental characteristics of sialoliths extracted from a patient with recurrent sialolithiasis
Buyanbileg SODNOM-ISH ; Mi Young EO ; Kezia Rachellea MUSTAKIM ; Yun Ju CHO ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(2):94-102
The exact mechanism of sialolith formation has yet to be determined. Recurrence of sialolithiasis is rare, affecting only 1%-10% of patients. The current study presents a case of recurrent stones that occurred twice on the right submandibular gland 6 months postoperative and 7 months after reoperation in a 48-year-old female patient. The stones were analyzed using histology, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The first stone showed a three-layered structure with a poorly mineralized peripheral multilayered zone, highly mineralized middle layer, and the central nidus. The stones were composed of Ca, C, O, Cu, F, N, P, Si, Zn, and Zr. In TEM, compact bi-layered bacterial cell membrane was found on the peripheral layer and the central nidus of the stone as well as exosomes in the central nidus. The results demonstrated the essential components of sialolith formation, including bacteria, inflammatory exosomes, and exfoliated salivary epithelial cells that cooperatively underwent the pathogenetic progresses of central nidus formation, induction of compact zone calcification of the middle layer, and repeated subsequent deposition in the peripheral multilayer zone. The rapid recurrence could have resulted from residual pieces of a sialolith acting as the nidus of bacterial infection.
8.A 10-year follow-up study on clinical outcomes of dental implant rehabilitation using surgical guide
Haoyun LI ; Mi Young EO ; Kezia Rachellea MUSTAKIM ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(2):70-79
Objectives:
The surgical guide is a static computer-assisted device used for implant surgery planning and guidance. By taking an impression and referring to the patients’ three-dimensional computed tomography scan of the desired implant site, a surgical guide can be created. During surgery, the surgical guide aids in achieving the designed implant placement position and direction. We examined and evaluated the long-term clinical outcomes of implant surgery using surgical guides.
Materials and Methods:
This study investigated a total of 15 patients with 32 implants that were placed using surgical guides from 2009 to 2011 with a mean follow-up period extended beyond 10 years. Patient demographics and implant survival rates were recorded. We analyzed marginal bone loss (MBL) by assessing the radiographs acquired at installation, three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery.
Results:
The mean patient age was 57.33 years at implant placement. Of the 32 implants, five implants were placed in the anterior region and 27 implants were in the posterior region. Six implants failed and three of them were replaced, resulting in an 81.25% survival rate. The mean follow-up period was 10 years and nine months. Mean MBL compared to post-installation was significantly higher than at three months after installation, and one month, one, two, and five years after prosthesis delivery. Mean MBL at three months after installation, and one month, one year, and two years were significantly higher compared to the previous visit (P<0.05). However, MBL at five years after prosthesis delivery did not differ significantly compared to at two years.
Conclusion
In this study, implant rehabilitation assisted by surgical guides exhibited favorable survival rates. With the limitation of the sample amount in this study, further research and more samples are required to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness of surgical guides.
9.The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of oral diseases
Kezia Rachellea MUSTAKIM ; Mi Young EO ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(4):177-188
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is crucial for protein synthesis, transport, and folding, as well as calcium storage, lipid and steroid synthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) occurs when misfolded or unfolded proteins accumulate in the ER lumen due to increased protein secretion or impaired folding. While the role of ERS in disease pathogenesis has been widely studied, most research has focused on extraoral diseases, leaving the role of ERS in intraoral diseases unclear. This review examines the role of ERS in oral diseases and oral fibrosis pathogenesis.A systematic search of literature through July 2023 was conducted in the MEDLINE database (via PubMed) using specific terms related to ERS, oral diseases, and fibrosis. The findings were summarized in both table and narrative form. Emerging evidence indicates that ERS significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of oral diseases and fibrosis. ERS-induced dysregulation of protein folding and the unfolded protein response can lead to cellular dysfunction and inflammation in oral tissues. Understanding the relationship between ERS and oral disease pathogenesis could offer new therapeutic targets for managing oral health and fibrosis-related complications.
10.Layered structure of sialoliths compared with tonsilloliths and antroliths
Buyanbileg SODNOM-ISH ; Mi Young EO ; Yun Ju CHO ; Mi Hyun SEO ; Hyeong-Cheol YANG ; Min-Keun KIM ; Hoon MYOUNG ; Soung Min KIM
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2024;50(1):13-26
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the ultrastructural and chemical composition of sialoliths, tonsilloliths, and antroliths and to describe their growth pattern.
Materials and Methods:
We obtained 19 specimens from 18 patients and classified the specimens into three groups: sialolith (A), tonsillolith (B), and antrolith (C). The peripheral, middle, and core regions of the specimens were examined in detail by histology, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Results:
In the micro-CT, group A showed alternating radiodense and radiolucent layers, while group B had a homogeneous structure. Group C specimens revealed a compact homogeneous structure. Histopathologically, group A showed a laminated, teardrop-shaped, globular structure. Group B demonstrated degrees of immature calcification of organic and inorganic materials. In group C, the lesion was not encapsulated and showed a homogeneous lamellar bone structure. SEM revealed that group A showed distinct three layers: a peripheral multilayer zone, intermediate compact zone, and the central nidus area; groups B and C did not show these layers. The main elemental components of sialoliths were O, C, Ca, N, Cu, P, Zn, Si, Zr, F, Na, and Mg. In group B, a small amount of Fe was found in the peripheral region. Group C had a shorter component list: Ca, C, O, P, F, N, Si, Na, and Mg. TEM analysis of group A showed globular structures undergoing intra-vesicular calcification. In group B, bacteria were present in the middle layer. In the outer layer of the group C antrolith, an osteoblastic rimming was observed.
Conclusion
Sialoliths had distinct three layers: a peripheral multilayer zone, an intermediate compact zone and the central nidus area, while the tonsillolith and antrolith specimens lacked distinct layers and a core.

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