A Preliminary Retrospective Study to Assess the Short-Term Safety of Traditional Smooth or Microtextured Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants in Korea.

Background and objectives: We conducted this preliminary retrospective study to assess the short-term safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants (SGBIs) that are commercially available in Korean women. Materials and methods :The current retrospective, observational study was conducted in a total of 2612 patients (n = 2612) who underwent augmentation mammaplasty using breast implants at our hospitals between 1 January 2017 and 31 August 2021. Results: Overall, there were a total of 248 cases (9.49%) of postoperative complications; these include 112 cases of early seroma, 52 cases of shape deformation, 32 cases of CC, 12 cases of early hematoma, 12 cases of rupture, 12 cases of infection, 12 cases of stretch deformities with skin excess and 4 cases of rippling. Overall complication-free survival of the breast implant was estimated at 1564.32 ± 75.52 days (95% CI 1416.39-1712.32). Then, the Motiva Ergonomix™ SilkSurface showed the longest survival (1528.00 ± 157.92 days [95% CI 1218.48-1837.56]), followed by the BellaGel® SmoothFine (1458.4 ± 65.76 days [95% CI 1329.56-1587.28]), the Sebbin® Sublimity (1322.00 ± 51.20 days [95% CI 1221.64-1422.32]), the BellaGel® Smooth (1138.72 ± 161.28 days [95% CI 822.6-1454.84), the Mentor® MemoryGel™ Xtra (698.4 ± 52.64 days [95% CI 595.28-801.52]) and the Natrelle® INSPIRA™ (380.00 ± 170.88 days [95% CI 45.04-714.96]) in the decreasing order. On subgroup analysis, both the Motiva ErgonomixTM and Mentor® MemoryGel™ Xtra showed no postoperative complications. However, the BellaGel® SmoothFine, Sebbin® Sublimity and BellaGel® Smooth showed incidences of 8.87%, 4.84% and 1.61%, respectively. A subgroup analysis also showed differences in incidences of postoperative complications between microtextured and smooth breast implants (15.18% vs. 16.67%). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results indicate that diverse types of an SGBI are commercially available and their safety profile varies according to the manufacturer. Plastic surgeons should consider the safety profile of each device in selecting the optimal types of the device for Korean women who are in need of an implant-based augmentation mammaplasty. However, this warrants a single-surgeon, single-center study with long periods of follow-up.

Clinical use of alumina-toughened zirconia abutments for implant-supported restoration: prospective cohort study of survival analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to compute the long-term clinical survival and complication rates of alumina-toughened zirconia abutments used for implant-supported restorations and to evaluate the effects of several clinical variables on these rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From May 1998 to September 2010, 213 patients aged 18 years or older were recruited. The patients received 611 external hex implants and 328 implant-supported fixed restorations using alumina-toughened zirconia abutments. During the follow-up, each restoration was coded as a dental event, which included loosening or fracture of abutment screws, and abutment fracture. From the coded data, the effects of the investigated clinical variables-restored area (anterior/posterior), number of prosthodontic units (one/two units or over), prosthesis type (single-unit/multiunit without pontic/multiunit with pontic), implant system, and patient gender-on the survival of the abutments were evaluated. Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model was applied. The 5-year survival and complication rates of the abutments were assessed. RESULTS: The number of prosthodontic units and the type of prosthesis had a significant association with complication rates (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis estimated that the cumulative 5-year complication rate of the abutments used in single restorations was 19.7%. Multiunit-fixed dental prostheses without and with pontics had complication rates of 3.9% and 3.8%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of the abutments was more than 95%, regardless of the type of prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Alumina-toughened zirconia abutments are likely to exhibit excellent long-term survival in clinical use for fixed restorations. Single tooth replacement with the abutment at the molar region may require special care and extra attention.

The Algorithm-Oriented Management of Nasal Bone Fracture according to Stranc's Classification System.

BACKGROUND: Nasal bone fracture is one of the most common facial bone fracture types, and the surgical results exert a strong influence on the facial contour and patient satisfaction. Preventing secondary deformity and restoring the original bone state are the major goals of surgeons managing nasal bone fracture patients. In this study, a treatment algorithm was established by applying the modified open reduction technique and postoperative care for several years. METHODS: This article is a retrospective chart review of 417 patients who had been received surgical treatment from 2014 to 2015. Using prepared questionnaires and visual analogue scale, several components (postoperative nasal contour; degree of pain; minor complications like dry mouth, sleep disturbance, swallowing difficulty, conversation difficulty, and headache; and degree of patient satisfaction) were evaluated. RESULTS: The average scores for the postoperative nasal contour given by three experts, and the degree of patient satisfaction, were within the "satisfied" (4) to "very satisfied" (5) range (4.5, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.2, respectively). The postoperative degree of pain was sufficiently low that the patients needed only the minimum dose of painkiller. The scores for the minor complications (dry mouth, sleep disturbance, swallowing difficulty, conversation difficulty, headache) were relatively low (36.4, 40.8, 65.2, 32.3, and 34 out of the maximum score of 100, respectively). CONCLUSION: Satisfactory results were obtained through the algorithm-oriented management of nasal bone fracture. The degree of postoperative pain and minor complications were considerably low, and the degree of satisfaction with the nasal contour was high.

Comparison Study of the Use of Absorbable Materials as Internal Splints with Airway Silicone Splint and Absorbable Materials as Internal Splints Alone.

BACKGROUND: Packing after closed reduction of nasal fracture causes uncomfortable nasal obstruction in patients. We packed the superior meatus with synthetic polyurethane foam (SPF) to support the nasal bone, and packed the middle nasal meatus with a nasal airway splint (NAS) and SPF. The aim of this article is prospectively to compare the subjective patient discomfort of SPF (Nasopore Forte plus) packing alone and SPF with NAS. METHODS: We compared the prospectively subjective patient discomfort of SPF packing alone (group A) and SPF with NAS (group B) via visual analog scale (VAS; 0, no symptom; 100, most severe symptom). RESULTS: At first postoperative day group B showed significant lower scores in dry mouth, sleep disturbance, conversation difficulty. However at third postoperative day, VAS scores of each group had no statistically significant differences. Moreover at fifth postoperative day group A had statistically significant lower scores for nasal pain, dry mouth than the group B. CONCLUSION: Combination method of using NAS and SPF have some advantage on the patient comfort from first postoperative day to third postoperative day.

Thermal pyrolysis of fresh and waste fishing nets.

Kinetic tests on the pyrolysis of nylon-6 taken from fresh (new) fishing nets and waste fishing nets were conducted using thermogravimetric analysis at heating rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 degrees C/min. The main region of decomposition of both materials was between 340 and 440 degrees C at each heating rate. The region of decomposition for the nylon-6 from the waste fishing nets was slightly lower than that of the fresh fishing nets. The result shows that the value of activation energies increased from 128 to 433 kJ mol(-1) as the conversion of the pyrolysis reaction increased from 5% to 95%. Nylon-6 from the fresh fishing nets was pyrolyzed in a micro-scale tubing bomb reactor for 60, 80 and 100 min at 440 degrees C. The yield of pyrolyzed gases increased from 3.94 to 5.50 wt% with reaction time. The selectivity to specific hydrocarbons was not detected from the pyrolyzed oil and the carbon number distribution of the pyrolyzed oil was random.

Characteristics and kinetics of cattle litter pyrolysis in a tubing reactor.

The kinetic parameters for the pyrolysis of cattle litter were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The cattle litter was pyrolyzed in a tubing reactor at 340, 360 and 380 degrees C with various retention times from 4 to 20 min. The influence of the pyrolysis conditions on the product yields was also examined. The maximum yields of gas and liquid products, 16.1 and 17.2 wt%, respectively, were obtained after pyrolysis at 380 degrees C for 20 min. The gas products were mainly C(1)-C(4) hydrocarbons. The experimental results of the product distribution were well fitted with the lumped kinetic model. The reaction pathway was investigated based on the calculated kinetic constants.