Search

The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness of two lithium disilicate CAD/CAM blocks (Amber Mill, Hass, Korea and E.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent, Lichtenstein) in class II inlay restorations. This study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, and followed the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement and. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 36 patients who had two proximal caries-affected teeth were included and received a class II CAD/CAM ceramic inlay on each tooth. Each restoration was designed with CEREC software (Dentsply Sirona, Germany) and manufactured by a CEREC MC XL (Dentsply Sirona, Germany) milling machine. One was made with Amber Mill and the other was made with e.max CAD according to the allocation table. The restorations were cemented with resin cement (Rely-X Ultimate, 3 M ESPE, US). They were independently evaluated by two examiners during regularly scheduled maintenance appointments according to the FDI criteria. Primary endpoint was fracture and retention of material, and secondary endpoint were as follows: surface luster, surface and margin staining, color and translucency, esthetic anatomical form, marginal adaptation, radiographic examination, patient's view, postoperative sensitivity, recurrence of caries, periodontal response and adjacent mucosa. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 23 software (SPSS, Chicago, USA). The material groups for each category were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. 33 patients with 66 restorations were evaluated after 1 month, and 25 patients were evaluated after 6 months after the intervention. There was no failure in any restoration during the 6 months. Significant difference was observed only in radiographic examination among 17 evaluation categories of FDI criteria between two materials (p<0.05). Within the limitations of this study, both Amber Mill and e.max CAD demonstrated excellent clinical performance in class II inlay restorations during a 6-month period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of lumbar hernia reported in South Korea and compare these features with those reported in foreign literature.Methods: From January 1968 through December 2013, 13 cases reported in South Korea were included in the study. The variables compared were age, sex, main symptoms at hospital visit, etiology, location, herniated contents, lateralization, defect size, diagnostic methods, surgical methods, surgical opinions, and recurrence.Results: In the South Korean cases, women outnumbered men (3.3:1) and no significant differences were found in the herniated side (left:right, 1.1:1). In contrast, in the foreign cases, men outnumbered women (3:1) and left-sided hernia was dominant (2:1). Moreover, in most of the foreign cases, patients were aged 50-70 years, whereas in the South Korean cases, none of the patients were in their 50 s. However, no substantial differences were found in etiology, anatomical locations, symptoms, and herniated contents.Conclusion: This research revealed that few clinical features of lumbar hernias in South Korea differ from those reported in foreign literature. Thirteen cases were analyzed in the present study, and results obtained from such a small sample size cannot be generalized with certainty. Therefore, more cases should be collected for a definitive analysis. Despite this limitation, this study is important because it is the first attempt to collect and analyze the clinical features of lumbar hernia in South Korea. This study will serve as a basis for future studies investigating the clinical features of lumbar hernia cases in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In Korean, atypical subtrochanteric fractures (ASF) were rare. Higher BMI and use of bisphosphonate were significant risk factors of ASF. Introduction: Recently, ASF have been reported to increase among patients on bisphosphonate. However, the incidence of ASF and the association between ASF and bisphosphonate use have not been well defined in Asian population. Our purposes are (1) to estimate the proportion of ASF among Korean patients with proximal femur fracture and (2) to determine the associated risk factors of ASF in the Korean patients. Methods: We conducted a multicenter (16 academic hospitals), prospective Korean hip fracture study on hip fracture in a cohort of patients aged 50 years or older from South Korea between July 2014 and May 2016. As a part of Korean hip fracture study, primary analysis examined the proportion of ASF among proximal femur fracture. To identify ASF, according to the definition by ASBMR task force, all radiographs of subtrochanteric fracture were reviewed. Associated risk factors for occurrence of ASF were also evaluated by using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 1361 patients with proximal femoral fractures due to low-energy trauma, 17 fractures (1.2%) were identified as ASF. Higher BMI and use of bisphosphonate before injury were independent risk factors of ASF. Conclusion: In Korean, ASF were rare. Higher BMI and use of bisphosphonate were significant risk factors of ASF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and osteoporosis are major causes of mortality and morbidity in postmenopausal women. We aimed to investigate the association between osteoporosis and CAD in asymptomatic postmenopausal women at a single center.Methods: This study included 863 postmenopausal women without histories of cardiovascular diseases who visited the Health Promotion Center from June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2015. All subjects were screened for bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and for the degree of CAD by multidetector computed tomography.Results: Low BMD including osteopenia and osteoporosis was found to be significantly associated with old age, low body mass index, and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The incidences of CAD including a high coronary artery calcium score (≥100), obstructive coronary artery disease, and multivessel disease were significantly higher in subjects with low BMD. After adjusting for age and cardiovascular risk factors, osteoporosis was associated with a high coronary artery calcium score (p = 0.015) and with obstructive coronary artery disease (p = 0.002). There was a trend toward significance with multivessel disease (p = 0.052).Conclusions: High coronary artery calcium score and obstructive coronary artery disease, as revealed by multidetector computed tomography, were associated with osteoporosis in asymptomatic postmenopausal women, independent of cardiovascular risk factors and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early esophageal cancer (EEC) has an excellent prognosis compared to advanced esophageal cancer. Nowadays, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) may offer another alternative to cure early cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of EEC in Korea after curative treatments; EMR or surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed as EEC from January 1994 to August 2005 at Yonsei University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Among 888 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 70 (7.9%) were included as EEC. Among them, 10 patients (14.3%) were treated by EMR, and 50 (71.4%) by operation. The treatment outcomes of EEC in relation to various clinicopathologic factors along with survival rates were analyzed. There were 18 cases (30%) of mucosal lesions and 42 cases (70%) of submucosal lesions. Overall 5-year survival rate was 84.3%. When comparing treatment outcomes between EMR-treated and operated groups, there were no significant differences in complete remission (80% vs. 84%), recurrence (20% vs. 16%) and 5-year survival rate (100% vs. 78.3%). EEC is a potentially curable entity with a good clinical prognosis. EMR can be considered as another treatment arm for EEC, along with surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The biggest island in South Korea is Jeju Island, which lies 80km south of the mainland and has one shield volcano, Mt. Halla. The volcanic island and its lava tubes were added to the world heritage list by UNESCO in 2007. Among the many lava tubes on the island, a unique cave had been accidentally found in 2005 while some workers were replacing a telephone pole. Until the discovery, it had been completely isolated from the outside by naturally-built sand blocks. Yongcheon cave is a lime-decorated lava tube showing both the properties of a volcanic lava tube and a limestone cave. This cave, about 3km in length, is acknowledged to be the best of this type in the world and includes a large clean-water lake, lava falls, and richly developed speleothems inside it. Even though there is archaeological evidence from well preserved pottery that ancient people entered this place, the preservation of artifacts was ensured by a geological change that made later entrance difficult. We have collected charcoal samples scattered around the cave and dated them using AMS. Ages were in the range of ca. 1570-1260 BP (A.D. 340–880) and this corresponds to the Ancient Three Kingdoms and the Unified Silla era in Korean history. The 14C AMS measurement results presented in this paper on wood charcoal provide precise dates which will be very useful not only to clarify the nature of human activities in this cave but also to provide reference dates when comparing other dating methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report the results of the dating of a pine tree ( Pinus densiflora ) from Yeongwol, Korea. The age of the tree was estimated to be in the range of hundreds of years, however, the tree had been broken by a strong wind in March 2010 and now only the stump of the tree is left. At the time of sampling in 2014, there were several decayed parts in the stump, so using the usual dendrochronological method (i.e. ring counting) for dating was difficult. However, we found a small wood sample with tree rings near the center of the stump that could be used for radiocarbon wiggle-match dating. Radiocarbon dates were determined using Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The IntCal13 curve was used to calibrate the radiocarbon dates, and the wiggle matching technique was used to reduce the error of the calibrated ages. Based on the dating results, we suggest that the pine tree is approximately 300 years or older. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]