Quantitative evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation via fractal analysis / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the results of fractal analysis can be used as criteria for midpalatal suture maturation evaluation. METHODS: The study included 131 subjects aged over 18 years of age (range 18.1–53.4 years) who underwent cone-beam computed tomography. Skeletonized images of the midpalatal suture were obtained via image processing software and used to calculate fractal dimensions. Correlations between maturation stage and fractal dimensions were calculated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Optimal fractal dimension cut-off values were determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: The distribution of maturation stages of the midpalatal suture according to the cervical vertebrae maturation index was highly variable, and there was a strong negative correlation between maturation stage and fractal dimension (−0.623, p < 0.001). Fractal dimension was a statistically significant indicator of dichotomous results with regard to maturation stage (area under curve = 0.794, p < 0.001). A test in which fractal dimension was used to predict the resulting variable that splits maturation stages into ABC and D or E yielded an optimal fractal dimension cut-off value of 1.0235. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong negative correlation between fractal dimension and midpalatal suture maturation. Fractal analysis is an objective quantitative method, and therefore we suggest that it may be useful for the evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation.

Fractal analysis of peri-implant bone density surrounding implant with different state of antagonist / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to know whether there is significant difference of peri-implant bone density according to the state of antagonist region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 51 patients who had implant operation in Daejeon Dental Hospital of Wonkwang University participated in this study and total of 51 implants were analyzed. Implants were classified depending on opposing antagonist region, gender, age and location of jaw. The opposing antagonist region was divided into four groups; natural tooth, implant, pontic and edentulous region. Fractal analysis was performed using two periapical radiographs; one after implant placement and the other after 10 weeks following prosthetic restoration. The analysis was done by Image J. The data was statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison test. RESULTS: The mean value of fractal difference was 0.009 +/- 0.048 with opposing natural tooth, 0.026 +/- 0.080 with opposing implant, 0.025 +/- 0.068 with opposing pontic and 0.093 +/- 0.171 with opposing edentulous area. There was a statistically significant difference in fractal value between opposing implant and opposing edentulous state. And there was no statistically significant difference according to age, gender and location of jaw. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference between 3 groups except opposing edentulous region and there was a statistically significant difference between opposing implant and edentulous region. And there was no statistically significant difference according to age, gender and location of jaw.

Fractal analysis of skeletal muscle tissue of rats subjected to stretch injury / Análisis fractal de tejido muscular esquelético en ratas sometidas a lesión por estiramiento

The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the skeletal muscle tissue of rats after muscle stretch injury using fractal analysis. Nineteen rats were divided into three groups, Control (n= 5) (C), Lesion two days (n= 7) (L2), and Lesion seven days (n= 7) (L7). Histological slides of the gastrocnemius muscle of the animals were prepared and stained with Hematoxylin and eosin for analysis of the inflammatory process, and picrosirius for the demonstration of collagen. The stained slides were subsequently analyzed using Fractal Dimension (FD). The results showed high FD values of the inflammatory process in the experimental groups L2 and L7 in relation to C (p= 0.000). The analysis of collagen in the picrosirius stained slides showed high FD in the L2 group compared to the L7 (p= 0.0001), with no statistically significant difference among other groups. In summary, the present study demonstrated that fractal analysis was able to identify changes in the inflammatory process in injured skeletal muscle tissue.

El objetivo de la investigación fue observar las modificaciones en tejido muscular esquelético en ratas después de la lesión por estiramiento muscular con análisis fractal. En el estudio se incluyeron 19 ratas, divididas en tres grupos, Control (n= 5) (C), lesión dos días (n= 7) (L2) y lesión siete días (L7). Los cortes histológicos del músculo gastrocnemio fueron coloreados con hematoxilina-eosina para el análisis de la inflamación y picrosirius para la determinación del colágeno. Los cortes histológicos fueron posteriormente analizados por medio de dimensión fractal (FD). Los resultados mostraron valores elevados de FD en proceso inflamatorio en los grupos experimentales L2 y L7, en comparación con grupo C (p= 0,000). El análisis de colágeno mostró mayor FD en grupo L2 comparado con L7 (p= 0,0001), se observó diferencia estadísticamente significativa con los demás. En resumen, esta investigación ha demostrado que el análisis fractal fue capaz de identificar las alteraciones del proceso inflamatorio en tejido muscular esquelético después de la lesión.

Physical characterization of freeze-dried foam prepared from Aloe Vera gel and guar gum / Caracterización de espumas liofilizadas preparadas a partir de gel de Aloe vera y goma guar

Background: Foams are colloidal dispersions of a gas suspended in a dispersing phase, which consisting of a semi-freeze-dried or viscous liquid phase. The physical properties of food foams are the result of the bubble characteristics and their spatial arrangement. Objectives: The aim of this work was to obtain foams of A. vera gel and guar gum and describe the changes in their physical properties and microstructure during freeze-drying using the fractal dimension concept and image analysis techniques. Methods: The porosity, density, and volume expansion factor of the fresh foams that were based on the A. vera foams were determined. The kinetics of foam texture, color, porosity and microstructure of the freeze-dried foams were obtained. The fractal texture dimension of surface (FDSDBC) and microstructure (FDESEM) of the foams were determined as indicators of structural changes after freeze-drying. The guar gum concentrations used to obtain the A. vera prefoam were expressed in w/w as F1 (control sample without gum), F2 (2%), F3 (4%) and F4 (6%). Results: We obtained stable freeze-dried foams of Aloe vera gel and guar gum. The porosity, density and volume expansion factor of the fresh and freeze-dried foams were affected by the addition of the guar gum. Changes in the topology of the freeze-dried foam surface during the drying process resulted in a high rugosity compared with the original smooth surface. The microstructure of the dried foam samples suggested a relationship between the gum concentration of the prefoam A. vera gel mixture and the physical properties before and after freeze-drying, such as an increase in the microstructural alterations and surface roughness during freeze-drying. The roughness of the freeze-dried foam surface, described by the FDSDBC represented the macroscopic physical changes of the samples and correlated with the changes in the foam microstructure, which were described by the fractal dimension of the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy ESEM microphotographs (FDESEM). Conclusions: The digital analysis of the structure and porosity of the freeze-dried foam can be used to quantify the effect of gum concentrations on the morphological features and physical properties of foams during freeze-drying.

Antecedentes: Las espumas son dispersiones coloidales de un gas en una fase líquida viscosa. Las propiedades físicas de las espumas alimentarias son el resultado de las características de sus burbujas y su disposición espacial. Objetivos: El objetivo de este trabajo fue obtener espumas de gel de A. vera y goma guar y describir los cambios en sus propiedades físicas y su microestructura durante el secado por liofilización utilizando el concepto de dimensión fractal y las técnicas de análisis de imagen. Métodos: Se determinó la porosidad, densidad, factor de expansión volumétrico de las espumas frescas de A. vera. Así como la cinética de liofilización, textura, isotermas de sorción, color, porosidad y la microestructura las espumas liofilizadas. La dimensión fractal de la textura (FDSDBC) y microestructural (FDESEM) de las espumas de gel de A. vera y goma guar liofilizadas se determinó como un indicador de los cambios estructurales después de la liofilización. Las concentraciones de goma de guar utilizados para obtener la solución de clara de huevo preespuma se expresaron en w/w como F1 (muestra de control sin goma), F2 (2%), F3 (4%) y F4 (6%). Resultados: Fue posible obtener espumas liofilizadas estables de gel de A. vera y goma guar. La porosidad, densidad, factor de expansión volumétrico de las espumas se vieron afectadas con la adición de goma guar. Los cambios en la topología de la superficie de la espuma liofilizada durante todo el proceso de secado dieron lugar a alta rugosidad en comparación con la superficie lisa original. La microestructura de las muestras de espuma secas sugirió una relación entre la concentración de goma de las espumas de A. vera y las propiedades físicas antes y después de la liofilización como un aumento en las alteraciones microestructurales y rugosidad de la superficie durante el secado por congelación. La rugosidad de la superficie de la espuma liofilizada, se describió por la relación FDSDBC que representa los cambios físicos macroscópicos de las muestras y se correlacionó con los cambios en la microestructura de espuma, que fueron descritos por la dimensión fractal de las micrografías ESEM (FDESEM). Conclusiones: El análisis digital de la estructura y la porosidad de la espuma liofilizada se puede utilizar para cuantificar el efecto de las concentraciones de goma guar en las características morfológicas de las espumas durante el secado por congelación.

Radiologic assessment of bone healing by fractal analysis after the treatment of jaw bone cyst by decompression

PURPOSE: This study was done to know the usefulness of fractal analysis when evaluating the radiologic changes after decompression on jaw bone cystic lesions using fractal analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30cases of cystic lesions were followed up after decompression. Panoramic image was used to observe radiologic changes around the cystic lesion. The part of the panoramic image which showed radiologic change was defined as region of interest(ROI); The fractal dimension of the ROI was calculated using box-counting method. RESULTS: Using sign-rank test, there was a statistically significant difference in fractal dimensions after decompression therapy(P<;0.0001). The fractal dimensions statistically increased after decompression(the median of D:0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The ROI after decompression showed higher fractal dimensions which offer the objective proof of the bone healing around cystic lesions after decompression treatment.

Bony change of apical lesion healing process using fractal analysis / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the change of bone healing process after endodontic treatment of the tooth with an apical lesion by fractal analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiographic images of 35 teeth from 33 patients taken on first diagnosis, 6 months, and 1 year after endodontic treatment were selected. Radiographic images were taken by JUPITER Computerized Dental X-ray System (R). Fractal dimensions were calculated three times at each area by Scion Image PC (R) program. Rectangular region of interest (30 x 30) were selected at apical lesion and normal apex of each image. RESULTS: The fractal dimension at apical lesion of first diagnosis (L0) is 0.940+/-0.361 and that of normal area (N0) is 1.186+/-0.727 (p< 0.05). Fractal dimension at apical lesion of 6 months after endodontic treatment (L1) is 1.076+/-0.069 and that of normal area (N1) is 1.192+/-0.055 (p< 0.05). Fractal dimension at apical lesion of 1 year after endodontic treatment (L2) is 1.163+/-0.074 and that of normal area (N2) is 1.225+/-0.079 (p< 0.05). After endodontic treatment, the fractal dimensions at each apical lesions depending on time showed statistically significant difference. And there are statistically significant different between normal area and apical lesion on first diagnosis, 6 months after, 1 year after. But the differences were grow smaller as time flows. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of the prognosis after the endodontic treatment of the apical lesion was estimated by bone regeneration in apical region. Fractal analysis was attempted to overcome the limit of subjective reading, and as a result the change of the bone during the healing process was able to be detected objectively and quantitatively.