The purpose of this study is to analyze the cariogenicity of vitamin supplements for children by the Caries Potentiality Index (CPI), pH drop capacity, proliferation rate of Streptococcus mutans.Four vitamin supplements were selected - Noma (NM), Cenovis Kids (CK), Animal Parade (AP), and Character Vitamin (CV).CPI value decreased in the order of AP, CV, CK, and NM. Initial values of all experimental groups showed acidity below pH 7.0. Analysis of the colony forming units of Streptococcus mutans showed that NM and CV resulted a higher proliferation rate (p < 0.05) than CK and AP (p < 0.05). Bacterial activity of the control group was lower than other groups when observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope.Considering the bacterial activity and acidity of vitamin supplements, it is necessary to pay close attention when children taken the vitamin supplements for their oral health.
Animals ; Biofilms ; Child ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Noma ; Oral Health ; Stem Cells ; Streptococcus mutans ; Vitamins

Necrotizing ulcerative stomatitis (NUS) refers to ulceration of the oral mucosa that precedes rapid orofacial soft- and hard-tissue destruction. NUS on the upper lip is considered a reconstructive challenge because of the functional importance and complex multidimensional structure of the facial units that are involved, and is most commonly found in developing countries. Therefore, few studies have been conducted on NUS. Moreover, reconstruction options vary from local regional flaps to free-tissue transfers. We report a very interesting case in which we performed regional flap surgery using bilateral cheek advancement in a patient with NUS. A 75-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, but no other immunological diseases, presented with skin necrosis on the upper lip. At presentation, necrotic tissue covered the upper lip and philtrum, but it had not invaded the nose or lower lip. After debridement of the necrotic tissue, approximately 70% of the upper lip was missing. We therefore designed a bilateral cheek advancement and rotation flap, in which the flap was sutured in 3 layers. There was no need to perform additional procedures, as the flap healed well and showed no other complications or recurrence. The patient exhibited good voluntary muscle control and oral competence while eating and drinking, and she was also very satisfied with the cosmetic results. Thus, regional flap surgery using a simple advancement flap may result in good recovery of both functional and aesthetic units in patients with NUS.
Aged ; Cheek* ; Debridement ; Developing Countries ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Drinking ; Eating ; Female ; Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Immune System Diseases ; Lip* ; Mental Competency ; Mouth Mucosa ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Noma ; Nose ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Ulcer*

A 70-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary stent insertion visited our hospital 7 days after biting his lower lip. Swelling and inflammation had worsened despite debridement and antibiotic treatment. On the 8th hospital day, fungal infection with Candida albicans and superimposed bacterial infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae were found on tissue culture. Extensive necrosis resulted in a defect of approximately 3/4 of the entire lower lip and a full-layer skin defect from the vermilion to the gingivobuccal sulcus at the right corner of the mouth. To correct drooling, incomplete lip sealing, and trismus, staged reconstruction was performed with consideration of cosmetic and functional features. The treatment process using staged reconstruction and antifungal treatment for an extensive lower lip defect caused by fungal stomatitis is described.
Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; Candida ; Candida albicans ; Debridement ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflammation ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lip* ; Male ; Mouth ; Necrosis ; Noma* ; Sialorrhea ; Skin ; Stents ; Stomatitis ; Trismus

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine whether cardiac biomarkers, such as N-terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), are good predictors of adverse events in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with APE, which was confirmed by a computed tomography in the emergency room. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the major adverse event (MAE) group and the no-MAE group. MAE was defined as one of the following occurrences: in-hospital-death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, thrombolysis, or surgical embolectomy. Blood samples were obtained during the first hour of presentation to the emergency room. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were included in this study. Twenty-seven patients had MAE. According to the univariate analysis, NT-proBNP, troponin I, and D-dimer plasma levels were significantly higher in the MAE group than in the noMAE group (919.8 vs. 2,131.0 ng/mL, p=0.032; 0.091 vs. 0.172 ng/mL, p=0.037; 2.43 vs. 3.74 ng/mL, p=0.049, respectively). However, according to the multivariate logistic regression, NT-proBNP was not independently associated with MAE in APE (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01). Conversely, troponin I was independently associated with MAE (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.18). The NT-proBNP plasma level was not significantly different between the right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) group and the no-RVD group (p=0.178). CONCLUSION: The NT-proBNP level, unlike the troponin I level, in the emergency room was not identified as an independent predictor of MAE in acute pulmonary embolism. Further studies of large-scale with controlled timing of blood sampling and echocardiography are required.
Biomarkers* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Echocardiography ; Embolectomy ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hominidae ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Noma ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Troponin I ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right

Noma is a gangrenous disease of the orofacial region that leads to severe facial tissue destruction and is a significant cause of death among children. With the advent of modern antibiotics and improved nutrition, children with noma may survive into adulthood, but must face the challenge of undergoing repair of the sequelae of noma. This report describes a case of bony fusion of the maxilla and mandible in a 28-year-old female patient, which was a sequelae of a childhood case of noma.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw Diseases ; Mandible* ; Maxilla* ; Noma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cancrum oris is a kind of gangrenous disease happening on the maxillofacial region. It is characterized by developing rapidly, high lethality and deforming rate. This article reported a case of maxillofacial deformity caused by cancrum oris, and discussed based on relevant literatures.
Humans ; Maxilla ; pathology ; Noma

Acquired facial deformities following cancrum oris sequelae manifested variably according to the nature of tissue necrosis. In cases that tissue loss extends over a wide area of the face, or the tissue nature is different due to congenital facial cleft, it is difficult to reconstruct with a single operation. As cancrum oris has virtually disappeared from our country, clinical report of reconstruction is also rare. We report 5 cases of facial deformities following cancrum oris sequelae. Since 1988, five adult patients(4 female and 1 male) were treated by authors. These patients, with an age ranged from 47 to 58 years, all suffered from acquired facial cleft such as facial mutilation, asymmetry. The stages of operation were from 1 to maximum of 5 operations. All surgeries achieved satisfactory results after a long-term follow-up. But one surgery in the case of palatal mucosal flap for the coverage of reconstructed maxilla alveolar bone resulted tissue sloughness, followed by osteomyelitis. Those were debrided and discarded. In conclusion, all sites of deformities were positioned around one of the oral commissures. In their past medical history, they have been suffering from measles, typhoid fever and unknown febrile illness. We diagnosed the acquired facial deformity following cancrum oris sequelae. The reconstruction of acquired facial deformity following cancrum oris sequelae were difficult due to extensive multiple tissue defects. Therefore multiple staged operations were inevitable. The authors reconstructed 5 cases of simple and complex form of facial deformity with minimum staged\ operations. All patients were satisfied functionally and cosmetically.
Adult ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Measles ; Necrosis ; Noma* ; Osteomyelitis ; Typhoid Fever

Congenital macrostomia is a result of defective union between the mandibular and maxillary processes and it is a rare deformity seen in every 100 to 300 facial clefts. Ohnizuka1`classified macrostomia into two groups as congenital and posttraumatic. We experienced two cases of acquired macrostomia due to NOMA sequelae(58/F:Lt & 51/F:Rt) and one case of congenital macrostomia (3 months/M:Rt). Many plastic surgeons have developed surgical procedures for repair of this congenital macrostomia. Among them, McCarthy6,11 described the classic commissuroplasty. We could repaired 1 case of congenital macrostomia and two cases of acquired macrostomia due to NOMA sequelae using modified technique of McCarthy,s classic commissuroplasty. McCarthy described new oral commissure 2-3mm laterally for prevention of postoperative contraction, orbicularis oris muscle transposition to restore labial function and a z- plasty cutaneous closure. But some author raise an objection to new oral commissure 2-3mm laterally, and they made new oral commissure at same distance of opposite side normal commissure. And so, we designed the new oral commissure moved 1mm laterally comparing to original commissuroplasty in a congenital case for the prevention of displacement. In cases of acquired macrostomia due to NOMA sequelae, we reconstructed new oral commissure like congenital case, moved 1mm laterally. Orbicularis oris muscle transposition could not be possible because of destruction of muscle, adhesion and atrophy. And so we dissected muscle and just sutured side by side. Acquired macrostomia following NOMA sequelae manifsted facial deformity variably, and reconstruction of the facial deformity is difficult by using simple approach. Other variable reconstructive procedures were needed with commissuroplasty as like Washio flap, rotation advancement flap, bone graft and free radial forarm flap, etc. Postoperative results were relatively good. We propose that macrostomia due to NOMA sequelae must add to Ohnizuka classification of acquired macrostomia.
Atrophy ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Macrostomia* ; Noma ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been actively performed for the treatment of unresectable or inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma. However, for the patients with treatment failure after TACE, few options are available for salvage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of local radiotherapy as a salvage moda- lity for treatment failure after TACE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1993 to December 1997, 27 patients were included in this study. Exclusion criteria included the presence of extrahepatic metastasis, liver cirrhosis of Childs class C, tumors occupying more than two thirds of the entire liver, and performance status on the ECOG scale of more than 3. Mean tumor size was 7.2+/- 2.9 cm. Liver cirrhosis was associated in 10 patients. Portal vein thrombosis was presented in 5 patients. Serum alpha-fetoprotein was positive in 8 patients. According to VICC staging, the number of patients in III and IVA were 17 and 10, respectively. Treatment failure to TACE was evaluated by CT scan and angiography. Radiotherapy was given to the field including tumor with generous margin using 10-MV X-ray. Mean tumor dose was 51.8+-7.9 Gy in daily 1.8 Gy fractions. Tumor response was based on CT scans 4~6 weeks following completion of treatment. RESULTS: An objective response was observed in 16 of 24 patients who were possible to be evaluated, giving a response rate of 66.7%. Survival rates after salvage radiotherapy at 1, 2, 3 years were 55.9%, 35.7%, and 21.4%, respectively. The median survival was 14 months. Six patients among responders are surviving at present. Acute toxicity included G1 elevation of AST/ALT in 4 patients, G2 thrombocytopenia in 2, G2 hyperbilirubinemia in 5, and G2 hypoalbuminemia in 3. During follow-up, 4 patients developed ascites. At 6 months after treatment, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcer were developed in 2 and 1 patient, respectively. CONCLUSION: Local radiotherapy for treatment failure after TACE in hepatocellular carci- noma appears to be a feasible and effective salvage modality. It gives a 66.7% response rate with a median survival of 14 months. Acute toxicity was self-limiting and manageable. Gastric and duodenal ulcer were significant toxicities after treatment. Further studies are required to find optimal methods of radiotherapy to minimize toxicity.
alpha-Fetoproteins ; Angiography ; Ascites ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Child ; Duodenal Ulcer ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Noma ; Radiotherapy* ; Stomach Ulcer ; Survival Rate ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Failure ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the expression of angiogenic factors by tumor cells contributes to the increased neovascularization and vessel permeability that are associated with tumor vasculature. However, the significance of protein expression involving tumor angiogenesis in gastric cancer has yet not to be classified. METHODS: In this study, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclooxygenase (Cox), and nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) were investigated in 14 surgically resected human gastric carci nomas by using western blotting. RESULTS: In 6 of 14 paired cases, VEGF expression in the tumor tissue was slightly increased compared with the nonneoplastic counterpart in the same specimen. However, the expression of inducible-type Cox-2 was significantly increased in tumor tissue while the expression of constitutive-type Cox-1 was decreased. The expression of endothelial-type eNOS in cancer tissue was shown to be higher than in normal gastric resected tissues, but the expression of nNOS in cancer was lower than it was in a normal gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: Although a direct positive correlation between VEGF expression and cyclooxygenase or nitric oxide synthase was not found in differnt stages of gastric tumor development, the cyclooxygenase and nitric-oxide synthase may play an important role in gastric cancer development.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents* ; Blotting, Western ; Gastric Mucosa ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Noma ; Permeability ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A