Effect of various polishing systems on the surface roughness and phase transformation of zirconia and the durability of the polishing systems

Statement of problem

Although many systems are used to polish zirconia, a comparison of the performance of zirconia and feldspathic porcelain polishing systems is lacking.

Effects of Variant Histology on the Oncologic Outcomes of Patients With Upper Urinary Tract Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy: A Propensity Score–Matched Analysis

PurposeTo determine the prognostic effect of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) with variant histology (VH) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).Patients and MethodsThe data of 1173 patients who received RNU for UTUC without neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 11 institutions between 2002 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. A matched propensity score analysis was performed. Clinicopathologic variables, recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with pure UTUC and patients with UTUC and VH. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression models were used to determine the independent variables associated with oncologic outcomes.ResultsUTUC with VH was observed in 93 patients (7.9%). After propensity score matching, UTUC with VH showed no difference in clinicopathologic features compared to pure UTUC; however, it was associated with shorter RFS, CSS, and OS (log rank, P = .011, P = .002, P = .006, respectively). Additionally, the multivariate analysis revealed that VH was independently associated with a poor RFS [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-2.89; P = .002], CSS (HR = 4.47; 95% CI, 1.99-10.1; P = .001), and OS (HR = 3.00; 95% CI, 1.55-5.78; P = .001). However, the Kaplan-Meier method revealed that differences in RFS, CSS, and OS were not significant in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (log rank, P = .562, P = .060, P = .153, respectively).ConclusionUTUC with VH was independently associated with poor oncologic outcomes in patients with UTUC after RNU. Although patients with UTUC and VH had a poor prognosis compared to patients with pure UTUC, adjuvant chemotherapy would be helpful in improving the survival rates of these patients.     

Incidence rate of Aneurysmal SAH in Gwangju City and Jeollanamdo Province in 2007

Objective

The incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) worldwide varies considerably. In spite of many reports about the incidence of SAH, there has been no report about the incidence of SAH on the basis of the Korean population. The purpose of this hospital-based study was to assess the actual incidence rates of aneurysmal SAH in Gwangju city and Jeollanamdo province.

Methods

All cases of SAH confirmed by computerized tomography (CT) between January 2007 and December 2007 were selected for analysis. For the data collection, three major training hospital and ten general hospitals working the CT in Gwangju city and four major general hospitals in Jeollanamdo province participate in this study.

Results

According to the official census of Korea, the population was 1,413,444 in Gwangju city and 1,929,836 in Jeollanamdo province in 2007. There were 163 patients in Gwangju city and 266 patients in Jeollanamdo province confirmed SAH by CT in 2007. The crude and the age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates per 100,000 population for all ages in Gwangju city were 11.5 and 12.4 for aneurysmal SAH and in Jeollanamdo province were 13.8 and 10.8. The incidence was higher in women and increased with age. The gender distribution varied with age. At young ages, the incidence was higher in men while after the age of 40 years, the incidence was higher in women.

Conclusion

In the present study, the age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rates is 11.8 in Gwangju city and Jeollanamdo province. The incidence was higher in women and increased with age.     

Importance of postoperative sesamoid reduction on the outcomes of proximal chevron osteotomy for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes between feet with or without postoperative sesamoid reduction of proximal metatarsal chevron osteotomy for moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity.MethodsAll of 110 feet were allocated into two groups (reduction group; 66 feet, non-reduction group; 44 feet) according to the reduction status of sesamoid at 6 months after surgery. The clinical and radiographic results of the two groups were compared preoperatively, 6 months follow-up, and at last follow-up.ResultsThe overall improvement in clinical outcomes was similar in both groups at average 4-year follow-up. However, the radiographic outcomes and recurrence rate were significantly worse in the sesamoid non-reduction group.ConclusionsOur results suggested that postoperative incomplete reduction of sesamoid may increase a risk for the recurrence of hallux valgus deformity.     

Tacrolimus-Induced Apoptosis is Mediated by Endoplasmic Reticulum–derived Calcium-dependent Caspases-3,-12 in Jurkat Cells

Apoptotic signal pathways are delivered to caspase-3, caspase-9, or both in different cells via the death receptor pathway, mitochondrial pathway, or by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway through initiators of caspase-3, -8, -9, or -12. Tacrolimus (Tac)–induced apoptosis was characterized by nuclear fragmentation and caspase-3 activation. We examined the effect of tacrolimus on ER-derived calcium and caspase-3,-12–mediated apoptosis on Jurkat human T lymphocyte. Tac decreased the viability of Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Tac also increased continuously intracellular concentration of calcium from 24 hours to 72 hours. We did not find intracellular calcium changes on the treatment of calcium ionorpore (A23187) regardless of 1 nmol/L Tac concentration level. However, calcium adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor (thapsigargin) increased intracellular calcium accumulation and co-treating 1 nmol/L Tac further induced intracellular calcium accumulation. Interestingly, we found that 1 nmol/L Tac treatment induced activation of caspase-12 protease as well as the catalytic activity of caspase-3 but not catalytic activation of caspase-6, -8, and -9 proteases in Jurkat cells. These data advance our understanding of Tac-induced apoptosis is ER-derived calcium and caspases-3,-12– mediated apoptosis in human Jurkat cell line.