Application of interdental distraction osteogenesis to unilateral cleft lip and palate patients

Distraction osteogenesis is widely used for the treatment of craniofacial deformities. In patients with cleft lip and palate, distraction osteogenesis can be employed to repair the alveolar cleft. In this report, we describe the management of three cases of unilateral cleft lip and palate by interdental distraction osteogenesis. Interdental distraction osteogenesis of the maxillary bone was performed to reduce the width of the alveolar cleft in these patients in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. Tooth-tooth type distraction devices were fabricated and delivered at the same time as osteotomy. Distraction was continued until the midline of the dentition coincided with the facial midline, and until the width of the alveolar cleft was reduced to the width of lateral incisor or had closed. One month after distraction was complete, orthodontic treatment with an edgewise appliance was initiated, and neighboring teeth were moved into the newly created bone. A favorable treatment outcome was achieved in all three cases.     

Arthroscopic removal of nodules of synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint

In this report we describe a new method for removing nodules of TMJ synovial chondromatosis using arthroscopic surgery instead of open surgery. We used two steps during arthroscopy. In the first, we lavaged the cavity with sterile saline. In the next step, the second cannula was replaced with ethmoid forceps. Under arthroscopic guidance through the first cannula, all loose bodies were removed using the forceps. Since the loose bodies are not fragmented during this procedure, the time needed for removal is shortened. Based on this experience, we suggest the use of ethmoid forceps should be considered as an alternative procedure when nodules are unable to pass through the cannula by lavage with sterile saline.     

Clinical evaluation of the temporomandibular joint following orthognathic surgery--multiple logistic regression analysis

This study compares temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) symptoms before and after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy, and identifies predictive factors for the postoperative TMD symptoms by assessing the adjusted odds ratio using multiple logistic regression analysis. A consecutive series of 37 cases treated only with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy were evaluated. New postoperative TMD symptoms appeared in 9 cases, preoperative TMD symptoms disappeared in 6 cases, and TMD symptoms were unchanged in 5 cases. The median period until the interincisal opening range attained 40 mm was 5 months (range, from 2 to 15 months). Age was a positive factor in patients with postoperative TMD symptoms, with an odds ratio of 1.43 (95 percent confidence interval, from 1.05 to 1.93). In addition, the maximum value of the bilateral setback distance of more than 9 mm was a positive factor of 6.95 (95 percent confidence interval, from 1.06 to 45.42). We concluded that surgical correction in skeletal malocclusion may affect temporomandibular joint dysfunction symptoms.     

Plaque accumulation on Teflon-coated metal

This study demonstrated that plaque accumulation was reduced and plaque removal facilitated by the TFE coating. These findings suggest that the TFE coating has a practical application for pontics and the proximal and cervical surfaces of crowns. These inaccessible surfaces are not easily cleaned by brushing.     

Teeth contacting habit as a contributing factor to chronic pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Many different factors are known to cause and perpetuate the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, the roles of parafunctional factors have not been clearly elucidated. We found one of these habits in the clinical setting. This parafunctional habit involves daily light touching of the upper and lower teeth, when the mouth is closed. We named this habit Teeth Contacting Habit (TCH). [OBJECTIVES] To investigate the following hypotheses: 1) TCH is associated with perpetuation of chronic pain of TMD patients; 2) TCH is associated with other behavioral factors. [METHODS] Two hundred and twenty-nine TMD outpatients with chronic pain were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression models. [RESULTS] TCH was found in 52.4% of patients. Patients with TCH and pain lasting for more than four months were less likely to experience improvements in pain at the first visit (OR = 1.944, p = 0.043). Other factors associated with TCH were as follows: unilateral chewing (OR = 2.802) and involvement in a precision job (OR = 2.195). [CONCLUSION] TCH can prolong TMD pain and is associated with other behavioral factors.     

The effects of mandibular retractive force on the growing rat mandible

The purpose of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional effects of a mandibular retractive force on the growing rat mandible and mandibular growth after the force was removed. Eighty 4-week-old male Wistar rats served as experimental animals and 100 4-week-old male Wistar rats served as the control group. The experimental rats were divided into four groups. Thirty grams of retractive force was applied to each mandible for 4 weeks. Each group was then killed after 4-, 8-, 10-, 12-, or 16-week periods. At the time of death, tibia, skull, and mandible were removed, measurements of those bone specimens were taken, and histologic examinations were performed. Compared with the control group, the experimental group demonstrated no significant differences in body weight nor in the length of measurements of the tibia, skull, and proximal end of the tibia. The mandibles of the experimental group demonstrated shorter anteroposterior length, higher coronoid processes, and a thicker corpus in the retromolar region and condylar neck. The condylar cartilages of the experimental group showed moderate adaptation in the histologic sections. However, mandibles of the experimental animals did not show any catch-up growth behavior after removal of the force. It was concluded that the mandibular retractive force could produce overall growth retardation and transformation of growing rat mandibles, but the force had no effect on the growth behavior after the appliance was removed.     

Middle-preserving pancreatectomy with reversed pancreaticogastrostomy: report of a case

Parenchyma-sparing pancreatic resections have been reported increasingly in recent years; however, for multifocal diseases involving the head and the tail of the pancreas, total pancreatectomy is still the preferred procedure. The possible consequence of this procedure is loss of normal pancreatic parenchyma, resulting in insufficiency of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine functions. Various types of limited resection have been introduced for isolated or multiple pancreatic lesions, depending on the location of the tumor. Even for multifocal diseases, if the pancreatic body is spared, a middle-preserving pancreatectomy (MPP) can be performed to assure maximal pancreatic function and uncompromised quality of life. Yet, few papers have introduced the feasibility of MPP for a better outcome. This report describes a new surgical technique for MPP using an alternative approach for the remnant pancreas anastomosis. We used this technique successfully to remove a bifocal neoplasm: adenocarcinoma of the distal bile duct and mucinous cyst adenoma in the tail of the pancreas.     

Safety and effectiveness of ferric citrate hydrate in serum phosphorus management of patients with chronic kidney disease: a long-term,real-world,observational, post-marketing surveillance study

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Ferric citrate hydrate (FC) is an oral iron-based phosphate binder that is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This...     

Results of blood inflammatory markers are associated more strongly with toe-brachial index than with ankle-brachial index in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Three blood markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], interleukin [IL]-6, and fibrinogen) were compared with markers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) (history of stroke or cardiac ischemia and measured toe-brachial index [TBI]) to determine whether inflammatory markers are associated with atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Of 103 patients with type 2 diabetes, 26 had CVD. TBI was plethysmographically determined in both great toes. Serum hsCRP was immunonephelometrically determined. Plasma IL-6 was measured by an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Both ABI and TBI were lower in diabetic patients with CVD than in those without CVD (1.05 +/- 0.19 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05, and 0.75 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.95 +/- 0.21, P < 0.001, respectively). By linear regression, right TBI but not right ABI showed a significant negative correlation with serum hsCRP (r = -0.372, P < 0.01) and plasma fibrinogen (r = -0.224, P < 0.05). Serum hsCRP was also negatively correlated with lower TBI, but not lower ABI. We found no significant correlation between plasma IL-6 and ABI or TBI. CONCLUSIONS: TBI was strongly associated with CVD, serum hsCRP, and plasma fibrinogen. Of these inflammatory markers, serum hsCRP may be the most promising marker for vascular inflammation.     

Identification of a Novel NDM Variant,NDM-13, from a Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Clinical Isolate in Nepal

A novel New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase, NDM-13, was identified in a carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolate obtained from the urine of a patient in Nepal. The enzymatic activity of NDM-13 against β-lactams was similar to that of NDM-1. However, NDM-13 displayed significantly higher k_cat/K_m ratios for cefotaxime. The genetic environment of bla_NDM-13 was determined to be tnpA-IS30-bla_NDM-13-ble_MBL-trpF-dsbC-cutA-groES-groL, with bla_NDM-13 located within the chromosome.