Animal protein hydrolysate reduces visceral fat and inhibits insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in aged mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#An increasing life expectancy in society has burdened healthcare systems substantially because of the rising prevalence of age-related metabolic diseases. This study compared the effects of animal protein hydrolysate (APH) and casein on metabolic diseases using aged mice.MATERIALS/METHODS: Eight-week-old and 50-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used as the non-aged (YC group) and aged controls (NC group), respectively. The aged mice were divided randomly into 3 groups (NC, low-APH [LP], and high-APH [HP] and fed each experimental diet for 12 weeks. In the LP and HP groups, casein in the AIN-93G diet was substituted with 16 kcal% and 24 kcal% APH, respectively. The mice were sacrificed when they were 63-weekold, and plasma and hepatic lipid, white adipose tissue weight, hepatic glucose, lipid, and antioxidant enzyme activities, immunohistochemistry staining, and mRNA expression related to the glucose metabolism on liver and muscle were analyzed. @*RESULTS@#Supplementation of APH in aging mice resulted in a significant decrease in visceral fat (epididymal, perirenal, retroperitoneal, and mesenteric fat) compared to the negative control (NC) group. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and area under the curve analysis revealed insulin resistance in the NC group, which was alleviated by APH supplementation. APH supplementation reduced hepatic gluconeogenesis and increased glucose utilization in the liver and muscle. Furthermore, APH supplementation improved hepatic steatosis by reducing the hepatic fatty acid and phosphatidate phosphatase activity while increasing the hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity. Furthermore, in the APH supplementation groups, the red blood cell (RBC) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hepatic H 2 O 2 levels decreased, and the RBC glutathione, hepatic catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities increased. @*CONCLUSIONS@#APH supplementation reduced visceral fat accumulation and alleviated obesity-related metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, in aged mice. Therefore, high-quality animal protein APH that reduces the molecular weight and enhances the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score has potential as a dietary supplement for healthy aging.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Prostate Mimicking Prostate Cancer: A Case Report

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon soft tissue tumor mimicking malignancy, which can be found in any part of the body. However, IMT involving the prostate is extremely rare. Previous reports on prostatic IMTs mainly focused on the pathological and immunohistochemical findings of the tumor and they lacked radiological findings. This report presents a case of prostatic IMT in a 60-year-old man who presented with voiding difficulty and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. On magnetic resonance imaging, a hypointense mass was observed on T2-weighted images with broad and extensive extracapsular extension, showing diffusion restriction, early well enhancement and delayed mild washout, which could mimic prostate cancer. On needle biopsy of the prostate mass, cancer cells were not detected; and a benign tumor was suspected with a normalized PSA level. Finally, prostatectomy was performed to rule out prostate cancer; and prostatic IMT was confirmed on histopathologic examination.

Mentha canadensis attenuates adiposity and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, a global public health problem. Mentha canadensis (MA), a traditional phytomedicine and dietary herb used for centuries, was the focus of this study to investigate its effects on obesity.MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-five male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 2 groups and fed either a normal diet (ND, n = 10) or a high-fat diet (HFD, n = 25) for 4 weeks to induce obesity. After the obesity induction period, the HFD-fed mice were randomly separated into 2 groups: one group continued to be fed HFD (n = 15, HFD group), while the other group was fed HFD with 1.5% (w/w) MA ethanol extract (n = 10, MA group) for 13 weeks. @*RESULTS@#The results showed that body and white adipose tissue (WAT) weights were significantly decreased in the MA-supplemented group compared to the HFD group.Additionally, MA supplementation enhanced energy expenditure, leading to improvements in plasma lipids, cytokines, hepatic steatosis, and fecal lipids. Furthermore, MA supplementation regulated lipid-metabolism-related enzyme activity and gene expression, thereby suppressing lipid accumulation in the WAT and liver. @*CONCLUSIONS@#These findings indicate that MA has the potential to improve diet-induced obesity and its associated complications, including adiposity, dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation.

The significance of diagnosis and treatment planning in periapical lesion overfilled with calcium hydroxide paste

Calcium hydroxide has been widely used for root canal dressing material in endodontic treatment. This report describes that when the accurate diagnosis and proper nonsurgical endodontic retreatment is applied to periapical lesion with accidentally extruded calcium hydroxide paste, the lesion can be successfully treated. Overfilled calcium hydroxide can affect the healing process, so the overextension of calcium hydroxide agent should be avoided.

Anti-inflammatory effect of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma for periodontitis treatment: in vitro pilot study

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) for clinical application of periodontal treatment. @*Materials and Methods@#HGFs were treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Customized NTP device was developed for periodontal in vitro study. Cell viability was evaluated with cell counting kit-8. The levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-8 and 6, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. @*Results@#When NTP was applied, the cell viability did not change significantly, and there was no difference for 6 h and 24h. When Pg LPS was treated to HGFs, the secretion of IL-8 and IL-6 was increased compared to the control group. But when the NTP was applied, the secretion of them was significantly decreased. @*Conclusion@#NTP did not affect cell viability of HGFs. And it inhibited the LPS-induced production of IL-8 and IL-6.

Orthodontic intrusion treatment of mandibular anterior teeth in a periodontal patient with hyperdivergent skeletal pattern: 8-year follow-up

Patients who have extruded anterior teeth and deep bite with pathologic tooth migration, it is necessary not only periodontal treat-ment for reduce inflammation, but also orthodontic treatment for intrusion of anterior teeth. However, it is difficult to place the orthodontic brackets due to the deep bite, and there is a problem that the extrusion of the posterior teeth occurs more easily than the intrusion of the anterior teeth biomechanically. In particular, in patients with long face, relative intrusion of the anterior teeth by extrusion of the posterior teeth causes the clockwise rotation of the mandible and makes the facial profile worse. Therefore the biomechanical consideration and appliance design that can block these problems are required from the treatment plan. This is a patient who had a deep overbite with extruded anterior teeth, treated by treatment and intrusion of mandibular anterior teeth using cute brackes and miniscrews, and resulted in favorable maintenance during 8-year retention.

Management of prosthodontic patients with severe gag reflex using the questionaire and behavior technique: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

Although gag reflex is an essential function and a useful physiological defense mechanism, it can become an obstacle in a dental treatment. In this case, a questionnaire was designed and used in consultations to objectify the factors associated with gag reflex. Based on the questionnaire, various treatment protocols were planned, such as behavioral control, which is a systematic desensitization that adapts by placing dental instruments in the oral cavity, and habit control to eliminate vomiting habits after drinking. Except for the placement of the implant fixture under general anesthesia, all restoration procedures were performed in the outpatient clinic in the same manner as the conventional implant fixed prosthetic restoration. The systematic desensitization and behavior technique were repeated until the patient was able to endure discomfort and relieve gag reflex in dental treatment. The patient was successfully received the implant-fixed prosthetic restoration in the partial edentulous region.

Management of prosthodontic patients with severe gag reflex using the questionaire and behavior technique: A case report / 대한치과보철학회지

Although gag reflex is an essential function and a useful physiological defense mechanism, it can become an obstacle in a dental treatment. In this case, a questionnaire was designed and used in consultations to objectify the factors associated with gag reflex. Based on the questionnaire, various treatment protocols were planned, such as behavioral control, which is a systematic desensitization that adapts by placing dental instruments in the oral cavity, and habit control to eliminate vomiting habits after drinking. Except for the placement of the implant fixture under general anesthesia, all restoration procedures were performed in the outpatient clinic in the same manner as the conventional implant fixed prosthetic restoration. The systematic desensitization and behavior technique were repeated until the patient was able to endure discomfort and relieve gag reflex in dental treatment. The patient was successfully received the implant-fixed prosthetic restoration in the partial edentulous region.

Temporary replacement of congenital missing incisors on mandible using temporary anchorage devices in growing patient: 2-year follow-up

Agenesis of permanent tooth in adolescent patients can be treated either by orthodontic treatment for space closure or by main-taining the space until implant restoration can be carried out in adult. However, gradual atrophy of alveolar bone width makes it dif-ficult to restore the prosthesis in the future or may cause unaesthetic results. Therefore, maintaining of not only the missing space but also the alveolar bone width should be considered. This case is a treatment whereby a temporary replacement of missing 2mandibular incisors in adolescent patient was carried out using 2 temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Two TADs were placed hori-zontally 2 - 3 mm below the top of alveolar ridge, and fixed with artificial teeth by stainless steel wires extended. During the 2 year follow-up, neither gingival inflammation nor loss of the TADs have occurred. In the radiographic evaluation, the growth of the adja-cent alveolar bone was not inhibited, and the width of the alveolar bone was maintained.

A multidisciplinary approach to restore crown-root fractured maxillary central incisors: orthodontic extrusion and surgical extrusion

To restore a tooth with a fracture line extending below the marginal bone level, a surgical crown lengthening procedure accompanied by ostectomy could be considered to expose the fracture line and reestablish the biologic width. However, this procedure could lead to esthetic failure, especially in the anterior teeth. Therefore, orthodontic extrusion, which elevates the fracture line from within the alveolar socket without sacrificing the supporting bone and gingiva, is recommended. This technique allows for the proper placement of the crown on a sound tooth structure, with the reestablishment of the biologic width.Alternatively, surgical extrusion is an one-step procedure that is simpler and less time-consuming than orthodontic extrusion; placing and adjusting the orthodontic appliance does not require multiple visits. This study presents successful restoration in 2 cases with a crown-tooth root fracture of the maxillary central incisor treated using a multidisciplinary approach through orthodontic extrusion or surgical extrusion followed by successful restoration.

Temporary replacement of congenital missing incisors on mandible using temporary anchorage devices in growing patient: 2-year follow-up

Agenesis of permanent tooth in adolescent patients can be treated either by orthodontic treatment for space closure or by main-taining the space until implant restoration can be carried out in adult. However, gradual atrophy of alveolar bone width makes it dif-ficult to restore the prosthesis in the future or may cause unaesthetic results. Therefore, maintaining of not only the missing space but also the alveolar bone width should be considered. This case is a treatment whereby a temporary replacement of missing 2mandibular incisors in adolescent patient was carried out using 2 temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Two TADs were placed hori-zontally 2 - 3 mm below the top of alveolar ridge, and fixed with artificial teeth by stainless steel wires extended. During the 2 year follow-up, neither gingival inflammation nor loss of the TADs have occurred. In the radiographic evaluation, the growth of the adja-cent alveolar bone was not inhibited, and the width of the alveolar bone was maintained.

A multidisciplinary approach to restore crown-root fractured maxillary central incisors: orthodontic extrusion and surgical extrusion

To restore a tooth with a fracture line extending below the marginal bone level, a surgical crown lengthening procedure accompanied by ostectomy could be considered to expose the fracture line and reestablish the biologic width. However, this procedure could lead to esthetic failure, especially in the anterior teeth. Therefore, orthodontic extrusion, which elevates the fracture line from within the alveolar socket without sacrificing the supporting bone and gingiva, is recommended. This technique allows for the proper placement of the crown on a sound tooth structure, with the reestablishment of the biologic width.Alternatively, surgical extrusion is an one-step procedure that is simpler and less time-consuming than orthodontic extrusion; placing and adjusting the orthodontic appliance does not require multiple visits. This study presents successful restoration in 2 cases with a crown-tooth root fracture of the maxillary central incisor treated using a multidisciplinary approach through orthodontic extrusion or surgical extrusion followed by successful restoration.

The laterally closed tunnel for the treatment of mandibular gingival recession in thin biotype patients: case report

In this case report, gingival recession of the mandibular anterior teeth was treated with a laterally closed tunnel technique. Two patients had altered the inclination of mandibular anterior tooth during past orthodontic treatment and had periodontal thin biotype. The recipient site was formed by tunneling method, and the connective tissue graft obtained from the palatal side was placed in the tunnel, and the margins of flap were gathered at the center of the root and sutured. Despite the thin periodontal biotype, the root coverage was successfully obtained, keratinized gingiva was increased, and aesthetics were achieved by harmonizing with surrounding tissues in terms of shape and color.

Guided tissue regeneration therapy after root canal therapy for long standing periodontal-endodontic combined lesion in the mandibular anterior area: case report

When inflammatory products are found in both periodontal and pulpal tissues simultaneously, a periodontal-endodontic combined lesion is established. The treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions includes root canal therapy and periodontal regenerative procedure for resolution of both the apical and marginal inflammatory lesions. The present study reports the treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions in the mandibular anterior area with root canal therapy, followed by guided tissue regeneration therapy. Teeth with severe bone destruction in each case could be preserved, without extraction, over a 3-year period. Therefore, it appears that treatment of periodontal-endodontic combined lesions in the mandibular anterior area using guided tissue regeneration technique after root canal therapy may provide clinical advantages.

Maxillary complete denture and mandibular All-on-4 implant restoration considering maintenance: a case report

In the case of edentulous patients, the total amount of occlusal force is dispersed by the keratinized gingiva during mastication, in result, causing lower masticatory and chewing efficiency. In particular, the mandibular area has more side effects such as pain than the maxilla has. It gets worse when the patient has more absorption of alveolar bone, but the implant treatment is often interrupted due to the existence of the inferior alveolar nerve. In this case, a patient treated with the all-on-4 method by placing the implant in the anterior part of mandible and with the conventional complete denture for the maxilla has maintained without complications and was satisfied with the restoration both functionally and esthetically.

Conservative and esthetic approach in crown fracture of maxillay anterior tooth: tooth fragment reattachment

Crown fractures are the most frequent traumatic injuries to permanent teeth and mainly involve the maxillary incisors due to their exposed position in the dental arch. One option for managing crown fractures, when the tooth fragment is present and in good condition, is reattachment of the fragment to its original position. This paper reports on three crown fracture cases in which successful esthetic and functional results were achieved by reattachment of the tooth fragment.

Treatment of a tooth with severe periodontal involvement using intentional replantation: case report

Although intentional replantation is frequently used as a treatment modality for endodontic problems, severe periodontal involvement has usually been regarded as a contraindication. However, there are some studies suggesting that intentional replantation could be a successful treatment alternative for periodontally involved teeth. This paper reports the treatment of a tooth with severe periodontal involvement using intentional replantation. The tooth, which had had root canal therapy due to endodontic-periodontal combined lesion but showed extensive bone loss, was gently extracted and replanted after thorough debridement of the root surface. By intentional replantation, a tooth with severe periodontal involvement in this case could be preserved, without extraction, over the course of a 3-year follow-up period.

Intrusion of the extruded maxillary central incisor using skeletal anchorage system and unilateral segmental intrusion arch

Patients who have a moderate periodontitis with pathologic tooth migration of maxillary incisors, it is necessary not only periodontal treatment for reduce periodontal inflammation, but also orthodontic treatment to teeth repositioning. For orthodontic treatment, it is necessary to apply less force and careful considerations of the center of resistance of the tooth and optimal force of tooth movement. At this time, the segmental arch applied only to the target teeth, is more effective and predictable, because applied force and direction can be controlled. In addition, to design the orthodontic appliance that can prevent the unwanted tooth movement that used as an anchorage is important. In recent years, various types of skeletal anchorage system have been used for preventing loss of the anchorage. We reported the patient who had extruded maxillary central incisor due to pathologic tooth migration, treated by a successful periodontal-orthodontic multidisciplinary treatment using an orthodontic appliance designed to apply less traumatic force and reduce an anchorage loss.

Implant overdenture of mandible with severe unilateral atrophy: Report of two cases / 대한치과보철학회지

There are several unfavorable conditions regarding alveolar bone condition that may compromise the denture patient's satisfaction. Chewing efficiency may not be satisfactory when alveolar bone is deficient, and the denture stability could hardly be achieved when alveolar bone shape is irregular. Implant overdenture can be useful to provide satisfactory denture experience compared to conventional denture. The attachment for implant overdenture can be classified into bar attachment and solitary attachment. When the positions of the implants are in the mandibular anterior region, bar attachment may be favorable to obtain a rigid support of the entire denture. When implants are distributed both on anterior and posterior region, a solitary attachment could be considered for ease of removal and maintenance. This report presents implant overdenture cases with the patients that had unilateral mandibular alveolar bone atrophy conditions. Different abutments were chosen based on the individual patient's mandibular alveolar bone condition and the treatments were successful in terms of patient satisfaction.

Association between Genetic Variations of MERTK and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Koreans

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating lung disease. To date, a large number of clinical studies have been conducted to investigate the association between genetic variations and COPD. However, little is known regarding the genetic susceptibility of Koreans to this disease. MER receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) plays important roles in the inhibition of inflammation and in the clearance of apoptotic cells. Here, we investigated the association between genetic variations in MERTK and the development of COPD in Koreans. METHODS: We conducted genetic analysis of MERTK using genomic DNA samples from 87 patients with COPD and 88 healthy controls and compared the frequency of each variation or haplotype between the patient and control groups. Subsequently, the effect of each variation was evaluated using in vitro assays. RESULTS: Ten variations were identified in this study, four of them for the first time. In addition, we found that the frequency of each variation or haplotype was comparable between the patient and control groups. However, we observed that the frequency for the wild-type haplotype was higher in the control group, compared to that in the group of patients with COPD, in the subgroup analysis of current smokers, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.080). In in vitro assays, we observed that none of the variations affected the activity of the promoter or the expression of MERTK. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the susceptibility to COPD is not related to the genetic variations or haplotypes of MERTK in Koreans.