PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of powered toothbrushes for plaque control in patients with peri-implant mucositis, in comparison with manual toothbrushes. METHODS: This randomized, prospective, controlled, clinical parallel study compared the efficacy of manual and powered toothbrushes for plaque control in implant restorations. Patients with bleeding on probing, no residual pocket depth (as indicated by a pocket probing depth > or = 5 mm), and no radiological peri-implant bone loss were eligible for this study. Patients were requested to complete a questionnaire describing their oral hygiene habits. The duration and frequency of tooth brushing were recorded by subjects in order to assess their compliance. Clinical parameters, including the modified plaque index (mPI), the modified sulcus bleeding index (mSBI), and clinical photographs (buccal and lingual views) were recorded at baseline and at one-month and two-month follow-up visits. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between patients who used manual toothbrushes and those who used powered toothbrushes were found regarding the frequency of tooth brushing per day and the duration of brushing at one-month and two-month follow-up visits, while no statistically significant differences were found relating to other oral hygiene habits. A statistically significant difference in patient compliance for tooth brushing was found at one month, while no difference was found at two months. Statistically significant decreases in the mPI and the mSBI were observed in both groups from baseline to the one- and two-month follow-ups. The overall reduction of these parameters was not significantly different between the two groups, except for mPI reduction between baseline and one month of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Sonic-powered toothbrushes may be a useful device for plaque control in patients with peri-implant mucositis.
Compliance ; Dental Implants ; Dental Plaque ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mucositis* ; Oral Hygiene ; Patient Compliance ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth

In macrophages, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alone or in combination with interferon- gamma (IFN- gamma) has been shown to release a nitric oxide (NO) through the increase of the transcription of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene. To investigate the exact intracellular signaling pathway of the regulation of iNOS gene transcription by LPS plus IFN- gamma, the effects of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors on NO production, iNOS mRNA expression, nuclear factor- kappaB (NF- kappaB) binding activity and the promoter activity of iNOS gene containing two NF- kappaB sites have been examined in a mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. LPS or IFN- gamma, stimulated NO production, and their effect was enhanced synergistically by mixture of LPS and IFN- gamma. The PTK inhibitor such as tyrphostin reduced LPS plus IFN- gamma-induced NO production, iNOS mRNA expression and NF- kappaB binding activity. In contrast, PKC inhibitors such as H-7, Ro-318220 and staurosporine did not show any effect on them. In addition, transfection of RAW 264.7 cells with iNOS promoter linked to a CAT reporter gene revealed that tyrphostin inhibited the iNOS promoter activity through the NF- kappaB binding site, whereas PKC inhibitors did not. Taken together, these suggest that PTK, but not PKC pathway, is involved in the regulation of the iNOS gene transcription through the NF- kappaB sites of iNOS promoter in RAW 264.7 macrophages by LPS plus IFN- gamma.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; Animals ; Binding Sites* ; Cats ; Genes, Reporter ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II* ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* ; RNA, Messenger ; Staurosporine ; Transfection ; Tyrosine*

It is the purpose of this study to compare the postoperative results of 168 patients with exotropia of basic and simulated divergence excess type over 40 prism diopters; 86 patients had bilateral rectus muscle recessions and 82 patients underwent lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection. The patients in the former group had averaged 13.7 years of age and 8.2 months of postoperative follow-up period. Those in the latter group averaged 22.9 years and had been followed up for 7.1 months. The postoperative success rates are as follows: 66.7%(57/86) in the bilateral rectus muscle recession group and 68.1%(58/82) in the lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection group(P>0.05). And the success rates of those older than 16 years without amblyopia are 60.0%(18/30) in the former group and 75.0%(24/32) in the latter group(P>0.05). The lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection group showed somewhat higher rates of success even though it proved statistically insignificant.
Amblyopia ; Exotropia* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans

Antianginal effect of Trapidil was evaluated in 30 patients (18 male and 12 females) with angina rectoris. The results were follows : 1) Antianginal effect of the drug were good in 18 cases (60%) and fair in 8 cases (37%), and there was no effect in 4 cases(13%). 2) Improvement in ECG changes was observed in 29%. 3) There were no significant change in CBC, RUA, LFT, serum electrolyte and lipid study before and after medication. 4) The adverse effects of trapidil were constipation, gastric cramp and dizziness, respectively one case. But they were not required discontinuing the medicetion. On the basis of these results, Trapidol was evaluated to be promising antianginal drug.
Constipation ; Dizziness ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Cramp ; Trapidil*