Sleep disturbances in Korean pregnant and postpartum women.

This was a prospective, cohort study in Korean pregnant and postpartum women, to estimate the prevalence and patterns of sleep disturbances. The survey was composed of the following validated sleep questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale, Berlin Questionnaire for sleep disordered breathing, the international restless leg syndrome (IRLS) Study Group criteria, and the Johns Hopkins Telephone Diagnostic Interview Form (JHTDIF) for RLS. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0. Six hundred eighty-nine women completed sleep surveys. The overall percentage of women with very poor sleep quality (a PSQI score greater than 10), clinically significant insomnia (a total score of 9 or more), excessive daytime sleepiness (a total ESS score of 10 or more), short sleep duration (less than 7 hours per night) were 80.7%, 50.5%, 34.0% and 29.5%, respectively, and all of three parameters became increased as pregnancy progressed and after delivery ( p = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The overall positive rates in Berlin and RLS questionnaires were 25.4% and 19.4%. In conclusion, sleep disturbances are prevalent among Korean pregnant and postpartum women, and increase significantly as pregnancy progresses and after delivery.

Localization of osteopontin and osterix in periodontal tissue during orthodontic tooth movement in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the localization of osteopontin (OPN) and osterix in periodontal tissue during experimental tooth movement with heavy force in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nickel-titanium closed-coil springs were used to create a 100 g mesial force to the maxillary first molars. On days 3, 7, 10, and 14 after force application, histological changes in periodontium were examined by immunohistochemistry using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), OPN, and osterix. RESULTS: PCNA-positive cells were found close to the alveolar bone and cementum on both sides. OPN-positive cells were observed along the cementing line of the cementum and bone on both sides and also were visible along with newly formed fibers in the periodontal ligament on the tension side. Osterix-positive cells were strongly detected on the surface of the alveolar bone and cementum on both sides. CONCLUSIONS: During tooth movement, periodontal remodeling occurs on both sides. These results indicate that OPN and osterix may play an important role of differentiation and osteoblasts and cementoblasts matrix formation during periodontal tissue remodeling.

Comparison of overjet among 3 arch types in normal occlusion.

INTRODUCTION: The purposes of this study were to examine the amounts of overjet in the anterior and posterior segments of 3 arch forms by using facial axis points on 3-dimensional virtual models and to verify the minimum posterior extension required for classification of the arch form in normal occlusions. METHODS: Facial axis points were digitized on 97 virtual models with normal occlusion, classified into 20 tapered, 25 ovoid, and 52 square arch forms. Intercanine and intermolar arch widths and depths were measured. The best-fitting curves were created, and overjet was measured at each facial axis point. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess the relationship between arch form and overjet in different areas. The minimum posterior extension to determine arch type was analyzed with the chi-square test. RESULTS: Subjects with a tapered arch form had larger overjet compared with those with ovoid and square forms, except at the central incisor. A significant difference in overjet among different areas was found in subjects with a square arch form (P <0.0001). No significant difference (P = 0.864) was found among the first and second premolar and the first molar groups for classifying arch-form types. CONCLUSIONS: A significant difference was found in anterior and posterior overjet according to arch types. The extension to the first premolar was sufficient to classify arch form type. It might be beneficial to consider more coordinated preformed superelastic archwires according to variations in overjet of different arch types.