Background/Aims: Multiple white and flat elevated lesions (MWFL) that develop from the gastric corpus to the fornix may be strongly associated with oral antacid intake. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between the occurrence of MWFL and oral proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intake and clarify the endoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics of MWFL. Methods: The study included 163 patients. The history of oral drug intake was collected, and serum gastrin levels and anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G antibody titers were measured. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. The primary study endpoint was the association between MWFL and oral PPI intake. Results: In the univariate analyses, MWFL were observed in 35 (49.3%) of 71 patients who received oral PPIs and 10 (10.9%) of 92 patients who did not receive oral PPIs. The occurrence of MWFL was significantly higher among patients who received PPIs than in those who did not (p<0.001). Moreover, the occurrence of MWFL was significantly higher in patients with hypergastrinemia (p=0.005). In the multivariate analyses, oral PPI intake was the only significant independent factor associated with the presence of MWFL (p=0.001; odds ratio, 5.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.06–16.2). Conclusions Our findings suggest that oral PPI intake is associated with the presence of MWFL (UMINCTR 000030144).

Background/Aims: Image-enhanced endoscopy can detect superficial oro-hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma; however, reliable endoscopy of the pharyngeal region is challenging. Endoscopy under general anesthesia during transoral surgery occasionally reveals multiple synchronous lesions that remained undetected on preoperative endoscopy. Therefore, we aimed to determine the lesion detection capability of endoscopy under general anesthesia for superficial oro-hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: This retrospective study included 63 patients who underwent transoral surgery for superficial oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma between April 2005 and December 2020. The primary endpoint was to compare the lesion detection capabilities of preoperative endoscopy and endoscopy under general anesthesia. Other endpoints included the comparison of clinicopathological findings between lesions detected using preoperative endoscopy and those newly detected using endoscopy under general anesthesia. Results: Fifty-eight patients (85 lesions) were analyzed. The mean number of lesions per patient detected was 1.17 for preoperative endoscopy and 1.47 for endoscopy under general anesthesia. Endoscopy under general anesthesia helped detect more lesions than preoperative endoscopy did (p<0.001). The lesions that were newly detected on endoscopy under general anesthesia were small and characterized by few changes in color and surface ruggedness. Conclusions Endoscopy under general anesthesia for superficial squamous cell carcinoma is helpful for detecting multiple synchronous lesions.

Objective: Most cases of severe metabolic alkalosis have many causes that may result in renal failure and death. Therefore, these should be treated promptly for successful recovery.Patient: A 61-year-old man was hospitalized due to an acute kidney injury (creatinine level of 4.36 mg/dL) after a 3-month history of anorexia and recurrent vomiting. He had been treated for tuberculosis in the past.Results: Blood gas analysis revealed severe metabolic alkalosis with pH=7.66, HCO3=94 mmol/L, and pCO2=82.0 mmHg. Routine biochemical examination revealed severe hypokalemia (K 2.9 mEq/L) that was associated with prolonged QTc interval (0.52 seconds) on the electrocardiogram. Gastrofiberscopic examination also revealed severe stenosis and ulcerated scarring of the gastric pylorus and severe esophagitis. Intravenous hydration and correction of hypokalemia improved renal function and resolved metabolic alkalosis. An investigation that was repeated after 6 days revealed a creatinine level of 1.58 mg/dL, pH=7.47, HCO3=23.4 mmol/L, K=3.6 mEq/L, and QTc of 0.45 seconds. The patient underwent gastrectomy and adenocarcinoma was observed.Conclusion: We described a resolved case of severe metabolic alkalosis and acute kidney injury in a rural medical setting following conservative management.

To help medical doctors practicing Kampo medicine suggest appropriate acupuncture treatments for individ­ual patients, a study group made up of 7 acupuncturists and 5 medical doctors developed an acupuncture cur­riculum. The group provided a learning program based on the curriculum for 16 medical doctors in charge of outpatient Kampo services in a research institute. The learning program consisted of a lecture and practical training, and a total of 4 sessions were held. At the end of each session, a test was conducted to examine the participants' level of understanding. After the completion of the learning program, a questionnaire survey was conducted to confirm the usefulness of the acupuncture curriculum for the practice of Kampo medicine. The mean number of participants per session was 10.8 ± 1.3. The mean test score was 9.3 ± 0.5 (full score : 10). In the questionnaire, 14 out of the 16 (88%) answered that the acupuncture curriculum was useful or relatively useful for the practice of Kampo medicine. On comparing the numbers of new acupuncture patients with a his­tory of outpatient Kampo service use before and after the acupuncture curriculum, there was a 1.8-fold increase after it. The results support the usefulness of the acupuncture curriculum to understand acupuncture and practice Kampo medicine. Further evaluation is necessary.

A woman in her 60s was being treated for diabetes and hypertension but had impaired activities of daily living (ADL) due to severe obesity (150 kg). She was transported to the emergency department because of disturbance of consciousness in August 201X. Imaging findings showed decreased permeability of the whole right lung field. She was intubated and started on ceftriaxone plus levofloxacin for severe infection with respiratory failure. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was detected in blood cultures, leading to a diagnosis of sepsis due to a large pressure ulcer on the posterior aspect of the thigh. We switched levofloxacin to clindamycin and continued medical treatment, and she was extubated on the 10th day of illness. However, type 2 respiratory failure was prolonged because of alveolar hypoventilation due to obesity and she required noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Also, she had difficulty getting out of bed due to obesity, disuse syndrome, and pressure ulcer. Cooperation among staff from many professions, including respiratory nursing, intensive care nursing, wound, ostomy and continence nursing, physical therapy, and nutrition management, led to improvement of ADL and weight loss (to 109 kg), allowing her to be transferred out of the intensive care unit.

Root resorption can be caused by several factors, including contact with the cortical bone. Here we report a case involving a 21-year-old female with Angle Class II, division 1 malocclusion who exhibited significant root resorption in the maxillary right central incisor after orthodontic treatment. The patient presented with significant left-sided deviation of the maxillary incisors due to lingual dislocation of the left lateral incisor and a Class II molar relationship. Cephalometric analysis demonstrated a Class I skeletal relationship (A pointnasion- B point, 2.5o) and proclined maxillary anterior teeth (upper incisor to sella-nasion plane angle, 113.4o). The primary treatment objectives were the achievement of stable occlusion with midline agreement between the maxillary and mandibular dentitions and appropriate maxillary anterior tooth axes and molar relationship. A panoramic radiograph obtained after active treatment showed significant root resorption in the maxillary right central incisor; therefore, we performed cone-beam computed tomography, which confirmed root resorption along the cortical bone around the incisive canal. The findings from this case, where different degrees of root resorption were observed despite comparable degrees of orthodontic movement in the bilateral maxillary central incisors, suggest that the incisive canal could be an inducing factor for root

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of Acinetobacter baumannii DNA gyrase (gyrA) and topoisomerase IV (parC) are linked to fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance. We developed a mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to detect mutations in the gyrA and parC QRDRs associated with FQ resistance in A. baumannii. METHODS: Based on the conserved sequences of A. baumannii gyrA and parC, two primer sets were designed for mismatched PCR-RFLP to detect mutations in gyrA (codons 83 and 87) and parC (codons 80 and 84) by introducing an artificial restriction enzyme cleavage site into the PCR products. This assay was evaluated using 58 A. baumannii strains and 37 other Acinetobacter strains that have been identified by RNA polymerase β-subunit gene sequence analysis. RESULTS: PCR amplification of gyrA and parC was successful for all A. baumannii strains. In 11 FQ -susceptible strains, the gyrA and parC PCR products were digested by the selected restriction enzymes at the site containing gyrA (codons 83 and 87) and parC (codons 80 and 84). PCR products from 47 FQ-resistant strains containing mutations in gyrA and parC were not digested by the restriction enzymes at the site containing the mutation. As for the non-baumannii Acinetobacter strains, although amplification products for gyrA were obtained for 28 strains, no parC amplification product was obtained for any strain. CONCLUSIONS This assay specifically amplified gyrA and parC from A. baumannii and detected A. baumannii gyrA and parC mutations with FQ resistance.

In this report, we describe a case involving a 34-year-old woman who showed good treatment outcomes with long-term stability after multidisciplinary treatment for unilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP), maxillary hypoplasia, severe maxillary arch constriction, severe occlusal collapse, and gingival recession. A comprehensive treatment approach was developed with maximum consideration of strong scar constriction and gingival recession; it included minimum maxillary arch expansion, maxillary advancement by distraction osteogenesis using an internal distraction device, and mandibular setback using sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Her post-treatment records demonstrated a balanced facial profile and occlusion with improved facial symmetry. The patient's profile was dramatically improved, with reduced upper lip retrusion and lower lip protrusion as a result of the maxillary advancement and mandibular setback, respectively. Although gingival recession showed a slight increase, tooth mobility was within the normal physiological range. No tooth hyperesthesia was observed after treatment. There was negligible osseous relapse, and the occlusion remained stable after 5 years of post-treatment retention. Our findings suggest that such multidisciplinary approaches for the treatment of CLP with gingival recession and occlusal collapse help in improving occlusion and facial esthetics without the need for prostheses such as dental implants or bridges; in addition, the results show long-term post-treatment stability.
Adult ; Cicatrix ; Cleft Lip* ; Constriction ; Dental Implants ; Esthetics ; Female ; Gingival Recession* ; Humans ; Hyperesthesia ; Lip ; Osteogenesis, Distraction* ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus* ; Palatal Expansion Technique ; Palate* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Recurrence ; Tooth ; Tooth Mobility

Soshikokito has long been used to treat cough in frail patients with cold sensation in their feet, based on the Japanese traditional Kampo textbook “Iryo-Shuhou-Kiku”. In many old documents including “Wazai-Kyokuho,” where soshikokito was first described, it is suggested that airways obstructed by a large quantity of watery expectoration should be the proper indication for the use of this formula. However, in the five cases that we successfully treated, the quantity of sputum was relatively small. To determine the practical indications for this, we examined their abdominal strength and the presence or absence of “cold feet” sensation. In addition, we investigated the nature of sputum in the past clinical reports in which successful treatment using soshikokito was described. It has become clear that we can prescribe soshikokito as an antitussive regardless of the patients' physical fitness as deduced from the abdominal strength. The “cold feet” sensation was not an essential symptom and was regarded as one of the symptoms of qi counterflow. Regarding the properties of sputum, it was viscous and small in quantity. In the cases where soshikokito was effective, it was speculated that viscous sputum would result in airway obstruction, coughing, and wheezing. These conditions will be ameliorated by the antitussive and expectorant effect of this formula, which improves qi counterflow and mildly tonifies water. In the treatment of cough with respiratory distress, “sputum with high viscosity and hard to discharge” is considered to be the targeted symptom in the practical usage of soshikokito.

For patients with bimaxillary protrusion, significant retraction and intrusion of the anterior teeth are sometimes essential to improve the facial profile. However, severe root resorption of the maxillary incisors occasionally occurs after treatment because of various factors. For instance, it has been reported that approximation or invasion of the incisive canal by the anterior tooth roots during retraction may cause apical root damage. Thus, determination of the position of the maxillary incisors is key for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning in such cases. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be useful for simulating the post-treatment position of the maxillary incisors and surrounding structures in order to ensure safe teeth movement. Here, we present a case of Class II malocclusion with bimaxillary protrusion, wherein apical root damage due to treatment was minimized by pretreatment evaluation of the anatomical structures and simulation of the maxillary central incisor movement using CBCT. Considerable retraction and intrusion of the maxillary incisors, which resulted in a significant improvement in the facial profile and smile, were achieved without severe root resorption. Our findings suggest that CBCT-based diagnosis and treatment simulation may facilitate safe and dynamic orthodontic tooth movement, particularly in patients requiring maximum anterior tooth retraction.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Root Resorption ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement ; Tooth Root