A survey of natal and neonatal teeth in newborn infants.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Since there is no comprehensive research of natal and neonatal teeth in Taiwan, careful investigation of natal or neonatal teeth is worthy of being studied. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of natal or neonatal teeth in a hospital setting, and analyzed the possible relationships between investigated variables of the natal or neonatal teeth. METHODS: All of the 12,019 infants born at an assigned hospital between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014 were investigated for natal or neonatal teeth. The identified individuals were reviewed for systemic diseases. Dental examinations included the location, clinical appearance, and degree of mobility. A positive family history of natal or neonatal teeth and mother's physical condition before delivery were also investigated. The collected data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Thirty infants were identified with a total of 43 natal or neonatal teeth (females, 19; males, 11). Most of the teeth were in the mandibular primary incisor position (97.6%). A radiographic examination confirmed that not all of the natal or neonatal teeth were supernumerary. No significant differences were observed between males and females in tooth morphology, positive family history, and treatment methods (p > 0.05) or between normal and conical shapes in positive family history, premature infant, mother's physical condition before delivery, and treatment methods (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most of the natal or neonatal teeth were in the mandibular primary incisor position and not all of them were supernumerary. No gender differences were found in tooth morphology, positive family history, and treatment methods. The tooth morphology was not significantly related to a positive family history, premature delivery, or the mother's physical condition before delivery.

Rapid Prediction of Treatment Futility of Boceprevir with Peginterferon-Ribavirin for Taiwanese Treatment Experienced Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1-Infected Patients.

The efficacy and safety of the boceprevir (BOC)-containing triple therapy in Taiwanese treatment-experienced patients remains elusive. After 4 weeks of peginterferon/ribavirin lead-in therapy, patients with cirrhosis or previous null-response received triple therapy for 44 weeks; whereas others received 32 weeks of triple therapy followed by 12 weeks of peginterferon/ribavirin therapy. Patients with HCV RNA > 100 IU/mL at week 12 or with detectable HCV RNA at week 24 of treatment were viewed as futile. A total of 123 patients received treatment. The rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and relapse were 66.7% and 8.9%, respectively by using intention-to-treat analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that factors associated with SVR included HCV-1b (odds ratio [OR]/ 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 19.23/1.76-525.15, P = 0.01), BOC adherence (7.69/1.55-48.78, P = 0.01), serum albumin (OR/CI:6.25/1.14-40.07, P = 0.03) levels and HCV RNA levels (OR/CI:0.34/0.12-0.79, P = 0.01). Twenty-six (21.1%) patients experienced severe adverse events (SAEs). Multivariate analysis revealed that APRI > 1.5 was the single factor associated with occurring SAEs (OR/CI: 3.77/ 0.97-14.98, P = 0.05). Merging the cut-off values of HCV RNA > 7 log IU/mL at baseline and HCV RNA > 6 log IU/mL at week 4 provided the earliest and best combing viral kinetics in predicting week 12/24 futility with the PPV of 100% and accuracy of 93.5%. HCV-1 treatment experienced Taiwanese patients treated with boceprevir-containing triple therapy in real world had comparable efficacy and safety profiles with those reported in clinical trials. Early viral kinetics before week 4 of treatment highly predicted futility at week 12 or 24 of treatment.

Morphological analysis of proximal contacts in class II direct restorations with 3D image reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the proximal contact on class II composite restorations constructed using various restorative approaches by a morphological analysis. METHODS: Sixty plastic premolar teeth were prepared for class II cavities. These teeth were divided into six groups and restored using different materials and matrix systems. Two composite materials used were a microhybrid composite Filtek Z100 (3M/ESPE) and a packable composite P60 (3M/ESPE). Three interproximal matrix systems were two circumferential metal matrices (0.05 mm and 0.03 mm thin, respectively) combined with a Tofflemire retainer, and a pre-contoured sectional matrix system (Palodent). The contact morphologies of the restorations were visually inspected with regard to their buccolinugal and mesiodistal aspects. The contact tightness was measured by inserting different amounts of metal strips. For quantitatively morphologic analysis, three-dimensional (3D) scans of proximal contacts were performed. The results were analysed with two-way ANOVA and the Tukey test. RESULTS: Under visual observation, contact surfaces in sectional matrix groups showed anatomic profile but concave in the centre, whilst the circumferential matrix groups showed flat profiles. The sectional matrix improved the contact tightness. The 3D analysis revealed that the matrix system was correlated with the contact morphology, since the sectional matrix generated significantly deeper and wider surface concavity. CONCLUSIONS: All the interproximal matrix systems presented some deficiency in either the contact tightness or contours. Although the sectional matrix system enhanced contact tightness, it caused contact concavity by formation of interproximal marginal overhang. The quantitative morphologic analysis helps to examine improper proximal contact and the associated problems.