Level of evidence and characteristics of clinical studies published in leading prosthodontics journals.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Data on the level of evidence and the characteristics of studies published in peer-reviewed prosthodontic journals are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and level of evidence (LOE) scores of studies published in 3 leading peer-reviewed prosthodontic journals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical studies published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (JPD), the Journal of Prosthodontics (JP), and the International Journal of Prosthodontics (IJP) in 2013 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Abstracts, letters to the editor, book reviews, and animal and laboratory studies were excluded from the investigation. For each study, design, type and LOE scores (Levels 1 to 5), publication year, impact factor (IF) of the journals, geographic origins of the first and corresponding authors, and funding status were recorded. Level 1 and Level 2 were defined as high evidence (HE), and Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 were defined as low evidence (LE). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed (α=.05). RESULTS: Among the 439 studies included in the analysis, the proportion of HE and LE studies was 14.1% and 85.9%, respectively. According to univariate and multivariate analysis results, year of publication (P=.010 and P=.029), geographic origin of the corresponding author (P<.001), and funding status (P<.001 and P=.002) were significantly associated with the LOE of a study. However, the journal IF was not associated with LOE (P=.328). CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of HE studies in 3 leading prosthodontic journals has increased over time, the total number was still limited compared with LE studies. A further improvement in the overall LOE of clinical studies in prosthodontics is needed.

Can an interactive case-based activity help bridge the theory-practice gap in operative dentistry?

INTRODUCTION: A theory-practice gap in pre-doctoral dental education is a common source of stress for dental students. An interactive, small-group, case-based activity was designed to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical experiences. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of the case-based activity by evaluating students' comfort level in operative procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 5 years, a total of 172 second-year students from the classes of 2017 through 2021 participated in the case-based activity delivered after the completion of the core operative dentistry course. The exercise included a pre-activity online quiz, an in-class case-based session and a laboratory exercise. Students' self-reported comfort levels in performing operative procedures were collected by surveys at three different times. They included the post-course survey distributed after the completion of the core operative dentistry course, the post-activity survey distributed after the completion of the case-based activity, and the follow-up survey distributed after students completed their first operative procedures in clinic. RESULTS: There was a 93% response rate. The average rating of all eight statements revealed statistically significant increase in students' comfort level after completing the case-based activity and after performing their first operative procedures in the teaching practice. CONCLUSION: This observation suggests that the case-based activity was effective in raising students' comfort levels. The activity may serve as an important tool in bridging the theory-practice gap between pre-clinical and clinical operative experiences.

Effect of PTH and corticotomy on implant movement under mechanical force.

BACKGROUND: Osseointegrated implants are considered as clinically non-movable. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is known to play a significant role in the regulation of bone remodeling and in intermittent, low doses, result in osteoanabolic effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PTH and corticotomy, both under traction force, on osseointegrated implants. METHODS: Four implants-two in each hemimandible-were placed in each of the three study mongrels. Each mongrels were designated as control, normal dose PTH (PTH-1), and high dose PTH (PTH-2) groups, with each groups further subdivided into non-surgery implant and surgery implant. After osseointegration, mechanical force with NiTi closed coil springs (500 g) was applied around each implants. Corticotomy was performed around one of four implants in each mongrels. Parathyroid hormone was administered locally on a weekly basis for 20 weeks. Clinical movement of the implants were evaluated with the superimposed 3D- scanned data, bone- microarchitectural and histologic examinations. RESULTS: Superimposition analysis showed continuous movement of the non-surgery implant of PTH-1 group. Movement was further justified with lowest bone implant contact (adjusted BIC; 44.77%) in histomorphometric analysis. Upregulation of bone remodeling around the implant was observed in the normal dose PTH group. In the surgery implants, the remarkably higher adjusted BIC compared to the non-surgery implants indicated increased bone formation around the implant surface. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the catabolic and anabolic balance of osseointegrated implants in terms of bone remodeling can be shifted via various interventions including pharmacological, surgical and mechanical force. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Upregulated bone remodeling by PTH and corticotomy under continuous mechanical force showed the possible implications for the movement of osseointegrated dental implant.

Effects of mesiodens on adjacent permanent teeth: a retrospective study in Korean children based on cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Mesiodens can be associated with several complications. The optimal age for treatment, however, remains controversial. AIM: To investigate the three-dimensional (3D) positions of mesiodens using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and determine the association of eruption-related complications of mesiodens with these 3D positions and delayed development of the central incisors. DESIGN: In total, 293 Korean children (383 supernumerary teeth) aged 4-10 years with no history of orthodontic treatment were included. CBCT and panoramic radiography data for all patients were retrospectively investigated with regard to the 3D positions of mesiodens, apical maturity of the permanent first molars, delayed development of the central incisors relative to the apical maturity of the permanent first molars (Nolla's stage), and eruption-related complications of mesiodens. RESULTS: Eruption-related complications were not correlated with any 3D characteristic other than the 'within the arch' position of mesiodens, while they showed a significant correlation with delayed development of the central incisors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mesiodens caused eruption-related complications in 33.7% patients. Moreover, the risk of these complications was higher when mesiodens caused delayed development of the central incisors. These findings can aid clinicians in planning appropriate and timely treatment for mesiodens, with focus on minimising patient discomfort.

Accuracy of bracket positions with a CAD/CAM indirect bonding system in posterior teeth with different cusp heights.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of cusp height of posterior teeth (first premolar, second premolar, first molar) on the accuracy of the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) indirect bonding system. MATERIAL: Five kinds of maxillary arch models, without attrition, were divided into 2 groups: control group (with 0.5 mm of grinding) and experimental group (with the addition of 0.5 mm of wax to the cusp tip). Rapid prototype models were printed for both groups. Transfer jigs of the individual tooth brackets were designed using a digital model. 3-dimensional program to evaluate the differences between the intended digital bracket position and actual bracket position after indirect bonding. The differences were measured in the linear (mesiodistal, buccolingual, vertical) and angular (angulation, rotation, torque) dimensions. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for statistical analyses; significance was defined as P <0.05. RESULTS: Both groups had similar frequencies of errors between the intended and actual bracket positions. The frequencies of vertical errors over 0.5 mm were 3.3% and 6.7% in the control and experimental groups, respectively. The frequencies of angulation, rotation, and torque errors over 1° were 53.3%, 43.3%, and 60%, respectively, for the control group; and 60%, 60%, and 73.3%, respectively, for the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: A difference in cusp height of maxillary posterior teeth did not produce a statistically significant difference in the linear and angular dimensions of bracket placement with the CAD/CAM indirect bonding system. However, given the tendency for a higher frequency in bracket placement errors in posterior teeth with larger cusp tips, cusp height should be considered when using a CAD/CAM indirect bonding system.

Effects of Additional Acid Etching on the Dentin Bond Strengths of One-Step Self-Etch Adhesives Applied to Primary Teeth.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strengths of one-step self-etch adhesives applied to primary tooth dentin with and without additional acid etching. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 154 specimens were prepared using 50 naturally exfoliated primary molars. Four commercial one-step self-etch adhesives were used in this study: Scotchbond™ Universal, All-Bond Universal™, Adper™ Prompt™ L-Pop™, and Clearfil S3 Bond™. Two etch-and-rinse adhesives, Prime & Bond® NT™ and Scotchbond™ Multi-Purpose, served as controls. Microtensile bond strength tests were performed for specimens treated with the one-step self-etch adhesives with and without additional acid etching and those treated with the two etch-and-rinse adhesives. RESULTS: All one-step self-etch adhesives except Adper Prompt L-Pop exhibited increased microtensile bond strength values (p < 0.05) with additional acid etching. A nonsignificant interaction was observed between the type of self-etch adhesive and additional acid etching (p = 0.056). Bond strength comparisons between the self-etch adhesives used without additional acid etching and the etch-and-rinse adhesives revealed significantly higher values for Prime & Bond NT than for All-Bond Universal® (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between any etch-and-rinse adhesive and self-etch adhesive used with additional acid etching, although Clearfil S3 Bond showed greater strength than Adper Prompt L-Pop. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that additional acid etching increases the bond strength of most one-step self-etch adhesives applied to primary tooth dentin. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Additional acid etching of enamel and dentin can be recommended to increase the bond strength of one-step self-etch adhesives applied to primary teeth. (J Esthet Restor Dent 29:110-117, 2017).

Micro-Computed Tomography of Tooth Volume Changes Following Post Removal.

PURPOSE: To measure tooth volume change before and after post removal using micro-CT and to compare the difference among various combinations of prefabricated post and cement systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight extracted maxillary anterior teeth and mandibular canines were sectioned 13 mm from the apex. Root canals were properly instrumented. Preparations were filled with gutta percha using lateral condensation. Post space was prepared with a touch and heat device, leaving 5 mm of gutta percha from the apex. Specimens were scanned with micro-CT to establish objective baseline volume and divided into two groups of post systems: stainless steel (SS) ParaPost and glass-fiber reinforced composite (FRC) post. Half the posts for each group were cemented with Ketac Cem radiopaque glass-ionomer cement, and the other half with SpeedCEM dual-curing resin cement. The posts and residual cement were removed by the same operator, using the ultrasonic vibration technique under an endodontic operating microscope. The remaining tooth root structure was scanned again using micro-CT with volume reported (mm3 ). The statistical difference between the combination of posts and cements was measured using the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test (α = 0.001). The independent variables were evaluated separately using post hoc Tukey examination to determine which groups resulted in a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: There was a statistical difference of tooth root volume change among the groups. Post hoc exam revealed a statistically significant difference in tooth root volume change between group 1 (SS + GI) and the other groups (α = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: Compared to other post and cement combinations, serrated parallel-sided SS posts cemented with GI cement had the most tooth root structure loss upon post removal using the ultrasonic vibration technique.

Development of a Web-Based Nationwide Korean Pediatric Dental Sedation Registry.

OBJECTIVE: Finding a balance between sedation efficacy and safety remains an ongoing challenge. In children, the risk of sedation-related complications is relatively high. It is of utmost importance to determine the factors related to improved overall sedation outcomes. However, most previous reports have been based on small samples at single institutions. The Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (KAPD) developed a Korean Pediatric Dental Sedation Registry using a web-based platform. STUDY DESIGN: Specialists in pediatric dental sedation selected the itemized list included within the registry through an extensive literature review. The web-based registry was built into the KAPD homepage to facilitate easy access to the sedation data. All teaching and university hospitals agreed to participate in the Korean Pediatric Dental Sedation Registry. CONCLUSION: This is the first attempt to collect sedation data on a nationwide scale in the field of pediatric dentistry. The sedation database established with the registry may facilitate standardizing and improving pediatric dental sedation clinical practices.

A randomized, multicenter, phase II/III study to determine the optimal dose and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegteograstim (GCPGC) on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia compared to pegfilgrastim in breast cancer patients: KCSG PC10-09.

PURPOSE: Pegylated granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is frequently used to prevent febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients undergoing chemotherapy with a high risk of myelosuppression. This phase II/III study was conducted to determine the adequate dose of pegteograstim, a new formulation of pegylated G-CSF, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegteograstim compared to pegfilgrastim. METHODS: In the phase II part, 60 breast cancer patients who were undergoing DA (docetaxel and doxorubicin) or TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy were randomly selected to receive a single subcutaneous injection of 3.6 or 6.0 mg pegteograstim on day 2 of each chemotherapy cycle. The phase III part was seamlessly started to compare the dose of pegteograstim at selected in phase II with 6.0 mg pegfilgrastim in 117 breast cancer patients. The primary endpoint of both the phase II and III parts was the duration of grade 4 neutropenia in the chemotherapy cycle 1. RESULTS: The mean duration of grade 4 neutropenia for the 3.6 mg pegteograstim (n = 33) was similar to that for the 6.0 mg pegteograstim (n = 26) (1.97 ± 1.79 days vs. 1.54 ± 0.95 days, p = 0.33). The 6.0 mg pegteograstim was selected to be compared with the 6.0 mg pegfilgrastim in the phase III part. In the phase III part, the primary analysis revealed that the efficacy of pegteograstim (n = 56) was non-inferior to that of pegfilgrastim (n = 59) [duration of grade 4 neutropenia, 1.64 ± 1.18 days vs. 1.80 ± 1.05 days; difference, -0.15 ± 1.11 (p = 0.36, 97.5 % confidence intervals = 0.57 and 0.26)]. The time to the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) recovery of pegteograstim (≥2000/µL) was significantly shorter than that of pegfilgrastim (8.85 ± 1.45 days vs. 9.83 ± 1.20 days, p < 0.0001). Other secondary endpoints showed no significant difference between the two groups. The safety profiles of the two groups did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Pegteograstim was shown to be as effective as pegfilgrastim in the reduction of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in the breast cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy with a high risk of myelosuppression.

Analysis of Acute Phase Response Using Acute Phase Proteins Following Simultaneous Vaccination of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

Since 2011, South Korea has implemented biannual vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and recently, lumpy skin disease (LSD), to mitigate the spread of transboundary animal diseases. However, due to past adverse reactions, potentially linked to acute phase responses from FMD vaccinations, there is hesitancy among Korean livestock farmers regarding new strategies for simultaneous vaccinations against both FMD and LSD. This study was conducted to assess possible adverse reactions to the LSD vaccination by analyzing acute phase proteins (APPs) in three groups: cows vaccinated against FMD (G1-FMDV), LSD (G2-LSDV), and both (G3-FMDV/LSDV). In G1-FMDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination (p < 0.001) and returned to baseline. In G2-LSDV, APP levels increased gradually, peaking on day 10 post-vaccination. In G3-FMDV/LSDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination and remained high until day 10 (p < 0.001). These results indicate that LSD vaccines trigger a later immune response compared to FMD vaccines, possibly due to different adjuvants. Therefore, a longer follow-up period for monitoring adverse reactions to LSD vaccinations may be required to understand and mitigate potential risks.

The level of evidence in prosthodontics in relation to author's characteristics: An analysis of three leading prosthodontics journals.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of evidence (LOE) characteristics and associated factors that change over time in three leading prosthodontics journals. Materials and methods: Articles published in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (JPD), International Journal of Prosthodontics (IJP), and Journal of Prosthodontics (JP) in 2013 and 2020 were reviewed by eight independent reviewers. After applying exclusion and inclusion criteria, the number of authors, the corresponding author's educational degree, corresponding author's origin in each clinical research article were recorded. The included articles were rated by reviewers according to the level of evidence criteria and proposed level of evidence-associated factors. Descriptive statistics, univariable, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate dependent variables and potentially associated factors. All independent variables with a significant effect were analyzed by using a multivariable test. The entry and exit alpha level were set at αE = 0.15. The statistical significance was set at α = 0.05. Results: A total of 439 articles from 3 selected journals for the years studied met the inclusion criteria. The percentages of level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 articles were 2.7 %, 11.4 %, 9.6 %, 13.4 % and 62.9 %, respectively. Univariable analysis results demonstrated significant associations related to the number of authors (P = 0.005), the corresponding author's educational degree (P = 0.022), and the corresponding author's geographic origin (P = 0.042). Multivariable analysis results demonstrated significant associations related to the number of authors (P = 0.002), and the corresponding author's geographic origin (P = 0.014). Conclusions: The number of authors, CA degree, and CA origin had a significant association with the LOE of included prosthodontic studies. Although there was an increase in the number of publications from 2013 to 2020, the level of evidence trend shows no improvement over the years.

Unveiling the Role of Side Chain for Improving Nonvolatile Characteristics of Conjugated Polymers-Based Artificial Synapse.

Interest has grown in services that consume a significant amount of energy, such as large language models (LLMs), and research is being conducted worldwide on synaptic devices for neuromorphic hardware. However, various complex processes are problematic for the implementation of synaptic properties. Here, synaptic characteristics are implemented through a novel method, namely side chain control of conjugated polymers. The developed devices exhibit the characteristics of the biological brain, especially spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), high-pass filtering, and long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/D). Moreover, the fabricated synaptic devices show enhanced nonvolatile characteristics, such as long retention time (≈102 s), high ratio of Gmax/Gmin, high linearity, and reliable cyclic endurance (≈103 pulses). This study presents a new pathway for next-generation neuromorphic computing by modulating conjugated polymers with side chain control, thereby achieving high-performance synaptic properties.

Quantitative imaging of ion transport through single nanopores by high-resolution scanning electrochemical microscopy.

Here we report on the unprecedentedly high resolution imaging of ion transport through single nanopores by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The quantitative SECM image of single nanopores allows for the determination of their structural properties, including their density, shape, and size, which are essential for understanding the permeability of the entire nanoporous membrane. Nanoscale spatial resolution was achieved by scanning a 17 nm radius pipet tip at a distance as low as 1.3 nm from a highly porous nanocrystalline silicon membrane in order to obtain the peak current response controlled by the nanopore-mediated diffusional transport of tetrabutylammonium ions to the nanopipet-supported liquid-liquid interface. A 280 nm × 500 nm image resolved 13 nanopores, which corresponds to a high density of 93 nanopores/µm(2). A finite element simulation of the SECM image was performed to assess quantitatively the spatial resolution limited by the tip diameter in resolving two adjacent pores and to determine the actual size of a nanopore, which was approximated as an elliptical cylinder with a depth of 30 nm and major and minor axes of 53 and 41 nm, respectively. These structural parameters were consistent with those determined by transmission electron microscopy, thereby confirming the reliability of quantitative SECM imaging at the nanoscale level.

Two novel insulin receptor gene mutations in a patient with Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome: the first Korean case confirmed by biochemical, and molecular evidence.

Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is a rare syndrome manifested by extreme insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia, acanthosis nigricans, tooth dysplasia and growth retardation. Our patient was first noted at the age of 8 months due to pigmentations on skin-folded areas. Initial laboratory tests showed normal fasting glucose (69 mg/dL). Fasting insulin level was severely elevated, up to 554.6 µIU/mL, and c-peptide level was increased, up to 13.81 ng/mL. However, hemoglobin A1c was within normal range (4.8%). He is now 11 yr old. His growth development followed the 5-10th percentile and oral hypoglycemic agents are being administered. The last laboratory results showed insulin 364.1 µIU/mL, C-peptide 4.30 ng/mL, and hemoglobin A1c 7.6%. The boy was a compound heterozygote for the c.90C > A and c.712G > A mutations of the insulin receptor gene, INSR, which are nonsense and missense mutations. In summary, we report the first Korean case of RMS, which was confirmed by two novel mutations of the INSR.

Rapid and simple single-chamber nucleic acid detection system prepared through nature-inspired surface engineering.

Background: Nucleic acid (NA)-based diagnostics enable a rapid response to various diseases, but current techniques often require multiple labor-intensive steps, which is a major obstacle to successful translation to a clinical setting. Methods: We report on a surface-engineered single-chamber device for NA extraction and in situ amplification without sample transfer. Our system has two reaction sites: a NA extraction chamber whose surface is patterned with micropillars and a reaction chamber filled with reagents for in situ polymerase-based NA amplification. These two sites are integrated in a single microfluidic device; we applied plastic injection molding for cost-effective, mass-production of the designed device. The micropillars were chemically activated via a nature-inspired silica coating to possess a specific affinity to NA. Results: As a proof-of-concept, a colorimetric pH indicator was coupled to the on-chip analysis of NA for the rapid and convenient detection of pathogens. The NA enrichment efficiency was dependent on the lysate incubation time, as diffusion controls the NA contact with the engineered surface. We could detect down to 1×103 CFU by the naked eye within one hour of the total assay time. Conclusion: We anticipate that the surface engineering technique for NA enrichment could be easily integrated as a part of various types of microfluidic chips for rapid and convenient nucleic acid-based diagnostics.

Polysorbate- and DNA-Mediated Synthesis and Strong, Stable, and Tunable Near-Infrared Photoluminescence of Plasmonic Long-Body Nanosnowmen.

Direct photoluminescence (PL) from metal nanoparticles (NPs) without chemical dyes is promising for sensing and imaging applications since this offers a highly tunable platform for controlling and enhancing the signals in various conditions and does not suffer from photobleaching or photoblinking. It is, however, difficult to synthesize metal NPs with a high quantum yield (QY), particularly in the near-infrared (NIR) region where deep penetration and reduced light scattering are advantageous for bioimaging. Herein, we designed and synthesized Au-Ag long-body nanosnowman structures (LNSs), facilitated by polysorbate 20 (Tween 20). The DNA-engineered conductive junction between the head and body parts results in a charge transfer plasmon (CTP) mode in the NIR region. The junction morphology can be controlled by the DNA sequence on the Au core, and polythymine and polyadenine induced thick and thin junctions, respectively. We found that the LNSs with a thicker conductive junction generates the stronger CTP peak and PL signal than the LNSs with a thinner junction. The Au-Ag LNSs showed much higher intensities in both PL and QY than widely studied Au nanorods with similar localized surface plasmon resonance wavelengths, and notably, the LNSs displayed high photostability and robust, sustainable PL signals under continuous laser exposure for >15 h. Moreover, the PL emission from Au-Ag LNSs could be imaged in a deeper scattering medium than fluorescent silica NPs. Finally, highly robust PL-based cell images can be obtained using Au-Ag LNSs without significant signal change while repetitively imaging cells. The results offer the insights in plasmonic NIR probe design, and show that chemical dye-free LNSs can be a very promising candidate with a high QY and a robust, reliable NIR PL signal for NIR sensing and imaging applications.

Reduced dose-limiting toxicity of intraperitoneal mitoxantrone chemotherapy using cardiolipin-based anionic liposomes.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy confers limited clinical benefit as a result of the dose-limiting toxicity of anticancer drugs. We aimed to develop optimized liposomes for mitoxantrone (MTO) administration that provide high encapsulation efficiency and increase the therapeutic index. Cationic MTO was loaded onto anionic liposomes by electrostatic surface complexation. The anticancer activity was evaluated in a peritoneal carcinomatosis model. The retention of MTO at the tumor site was monitored by molecular imaging. MTO loading efficiencies by electrostatic complexation were >95% for all anionic liposomes but <5% for neutral liposomes. Among anionic liposomes, cardiolipin liposomes (CLs) exhibited the strongest binding affinity for MTO, the highest anticancer activity, and the lowest toxicity. MTO delivered by CLs showed prolonged retention at tumor sites. Unlike free MTO showing significant cardiotoxicity, MTO administered in CLs provided negligible cardiotoxicity. CL-mediated delivery may increase the therapeutic index of MTO chemotherapy by prolonged retention and reduced cardiotoxicity.

Cephalometric characteristics of Korean children with Class III malocclusion in the deciduous dentition.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the cephalometric characteristics of children with Class III malocclusion to those of children with normal occlusion during the deciduous dentition phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cephalometric measurements of 27 children (mean age: 5.03 years) diagnosed with Class III malocclusion were compared with 32 children (mean age: 4.85 years) diagnosed with normal occlusion in the following four categories: sagittal skeletal analysis, vertical skeletal analysis, dentoalveolar analysis, and soft tissue analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences were seen in all categories except vertical skeletal analysis. Sagittal skeletal measurements included ANB (Class III group: -0.91 +/- 1.60; normal group: 5.28 +/- 1.29), facial convexity (Class III group: 0.47 +/- 4.32; normal group: 13.65 +/- 3.44), Wits appraisal (Class III group: -5.54 +/- 2.36; normal group: -0.84 +/- 1.91), and A to N-perpendicular (Class III group: -2.94 +/- 3.05; normal group: 0.78 +/- 2.53). Dentoalveolar measurements included U1 to NA (Class III group: 11.98 +/- 5.25; normal group: 8.12 +/- 5.43), IMPA (Class III group: 81.34 +/- 7.40; normal group: 86.57 +/- 5.67), and interincisal angle (Class III group: 152.65 +/- 8.82; normal group: 145.03 +/- 7.34). Soft tissue measurements included soft tissue convexity (Class III group: 2.47 +/- 4.20; normal group: 12.71 +/- 3.95), nasofacial angle (Class III group: 22.68 +/- 4.22; normal group: 26.24 +/- 3.84), and upper lip to esthetic plane (Class III group: -0.65 +/- 2.74; normal group: 3.07 +/- 1.90). CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences between the craniofacial patterns of normal children and those of children with Class III malocclusion that can be identified with cephalometric analysis as early as the deciduous dentition phase.

The incidence and clinical features of PEGylated filgrastim-induced acute aortitis in patients with breast cancer.

Although PEGylated filgrastim-induced aortitis is very rare and unknown clinically, some cases were reported and increasing, especially in breast cancer patients. The present study investigated the prevalence, clinical features and treatment of aortitis induced by PEGylated filgrastim in patients with breast cancer. A total of 2068 consecutive patients who underwent neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy with PEGylated filgrastim for breast cancer were enrolled. From the medical record, clinical, laboratory, medication, and imaging evaluation findings were collected. PEGylated filgrastim-induced aortitis was established in 0.3% of the study population. Common clinical presentations included extremely high fever and chest/back pain with high levels of inflammatory markers without any signs of infection. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans revealed typical enhancing wall thickening and periaortic soft tissue infiltration at various levels of aorta. All patients improved rapidly after treatment with modest doses of prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) without any complications. Clinicians should be aware of aortitis as a possible complication of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor therapy, especially PEGylated filgrastim, given the frequent misdiagnoses in neutropenic patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Quality Control Methods for Foot-And-Mouth Disease Vaccines by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is considered one of the highly contagious viral infections affecting livestock. In Korea, an FMD vaccination policy has been implemented nationwide since 2010 for the prevention and control of FMD. Since the vaccines are imported from various countries, standardized quality control measures are critical. In this study, we aimed to validate a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) device in the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency lab and identify an appropriate FMD vaccine pretreatment method for HPLC-a simple, reliable, and practical method to measure antigen content. Based on the analyses of specificity, linearity, accuracy, repeatability, intermediate precision, limits of detection, and limits of quantification using FMD standard samples, we validated the method using a standard material. Overall, we confirmed that the HPLC technique is effective for the quantitative assessment of the FMD virus 146S antigen in Korea. Using commercial FMD vaccines, we evaluated three separation methods and identified the method using n-pentanol and trichloroethylene as optimal for HPLC analysis. Our HPLC method was effective for the analytical detection of the antigen content in FMD vaccine, and it may be useful as a reference method for national lot-release testing.