The purposes of the study were (1) to evaluate the olfactory identification ability in those who have bad breath, (2) to determine the olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan in normal subjects and those who have bad breath, and (3) to evaluate the effect of oral hygiene care on the olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan. Sixteen male subjects with bad breath (male odor group), 9 male subjects without bad breath (male non-odor group), and 10 female subjects without bad breath (female non-odor group) were included for the study. Olfactory identification ability was assessed by administrating the Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT), and the olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan was measured by two-alternative forced-choice single-staircase detection threshold procedure in a double-blinded condition. The geometric mean of the last four staircase reversal points of a total of seven reversals is used as the threshold. For the male odor group, after 1 month of intensive oral hygiene care for reducing oral volatile sulfur compounds (VSC) concentration, the olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan was measured again and compared to the initial value. The ANOVA was used to test the group difference of olfactory threshold and olfactory identification ability and the paired t-test was used to test the difference of olfactory threshold between before and after reduction of oral VSC in male odor group. The results were as follows : 1. There was no significant difference in olfactory identification ability among those who have bad breath and normal male or female subjects. 2. The olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan was about 8.4 ppb in normal male and female. 3. There was a tendency that male subjects with bad breath showed a higher olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan when compared to those of no bad breath. 4. The olfactory detection threshold for methyl mercaptan returned to a normal level after 1 month of intensive oral hygiene care for reducing oral VSC.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a recently discovered potent vasoconstrictive peptide. It was first identified in vascular endothelial cells. ET-1 is a 21-amino acid peptide and elicits systemic effects such as stimulation of the production of atrial natriuretic peptide and release of aldosterone and corticosterone. In this study, to examine the role of ET-1 in the bone metabolism, effect of ET-1 on the proliferation and activity of osteoblastic cells was studied using HOS cells as osteoblast model. ET-1 dose-dependently increased the cell proliferation as determined by cell counting and MTT reduction assay after 48hr treatment. Alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by ET-1 and showed significant inhibition by 50 and 100 nM ET-1. ET-1 increased NBT reduction by HOS cells dose-dependently showing that ET-1 may increase the superoxide production by osteoblasts. Nitrite concentration in the media of HOS cell culture without cytokine stimulation was negligible and unaffected by ET-1 after 48hr treatment. Finally, after collection and concentration of conditioned media, gelatinase activity produced by HOS cells was determined by zymography. HOS cells can produce and secrete the gelatinase (gelatinase A type as determined by molecular weight of about 65,000) into culture media, however, ET-1 had no effect on the gelatinase activity. These findings suggest that ET-1 may have diverse effects on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, therefore, it may play an important role in bone metabolism.

Advances in medical procedures and utilization of medication have resulted in expanding aged population, which leads to increased aged patients with salivary hypofunction and its associated symptoms in dental clinic. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of patients with dry mouth and its correlation with their salivary flow rate. Forty dry mouth patients (7 males, 33 females, mean age 42.0 years) whose flow rate of unstimulated whole saliva was less than 0.15 ml/min were included and their gender- and age-matched controls (7 males, 33 females, mean age 42.9 years) who did not report any complaints, suggestive of salivary gland dysfunction and had the flow rate of greater than 0.20 ml/min were included for comparison. The salivary flow rate was measured in both unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Dry mouth-related clinical information including history, dry mouth associated symptoms, exacerbating and relieving factors, drugs, systemic diseases, and family history was investigated using questionnaires. The differences in distribution of patients and control subjects to each question and their relation to the salivary flow rate were analyzed and we came to following conclusions. 1. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of patients and controls to the following questions: the period and frequency of suffering from dry mouth; severity of dry feeling during a meal; severity of discomfort during swallowing; necessity of sipping liquids during swallowing dry foods, severity of discomfort in usual life due to dry feeling; self-assessment of residual salivary volume; taking medications. 2. The patients had more stress-related medical histories including indigestion, insomnia, and gastritis compared with controls. The patients took many kinds of medications to control their systemic diseases. 3. There were statistically significant differences in the salivary flow rate between different groups of patients to following questions: severity of dry feeling during a meal; severity of discomfort during swallowing; necessity of sipping liquids during swallowing dry foods. The difference was more significant in the case of stimulated salivary flow rate rather than unstimulated one. 4. The salivary flow rate of patients taking medications was significantly less than that of patients who did not take medications. The difference was more significant in the case of stimulated salivary flow rate rather than unstimulated one.

Thermography는 신체 체표면에서 발생되는 온도를 정량화하는 다양한 방법에 대한 일반적인 표현이다. Electrothermography는 의학분야에서 사용이 증가되고 있는 술식이다. 인체를 포함한 모든 물체는 적외선을 방출한다. 그래서, Wien의 법칙에 따르면, 방출되는 최대에너지에서의 주파수는 체온에 의존한다는 것을 알 수 있다. 따라서, 피부 표면에서 방출되는 적외선을 측정하는 것에 의해 온도가 측정될 수 있다. 최근에는, electrothermography가 만성 구강안면동통 환자의 진단에 있어서 새로운 진단 기기로서 각광을 받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 측두하악관절장애의 증상이 있는 교근, 측두근, 그리고 측두하악관절의 발통점의 피부 온도와 증상이 없는 대측의 피부 온도를 디지틀 적외선 체열 촬영으로 비교하고자 하였다. 측두하악관절장애를 주소로 하고 편측성의 구강안면동통을 호소하는 21명의 내원환자를 선택하였다. 디지틀적외선 체열촬영은 DTI-16-DOREX21(Dorex Inc., U.S.A) 기기를 사용하였다. 발통점 피부에 marker를 부착하고, 좌측과 우측의 color thermogram을 $0.1^{\circ}C$ 해상도로 측정하였다. 본 실험에서 측정한 발통점은 masseter inferior, masseter anterior, temporalis anterior 그리고 TMJ이었다. 증상이 있는 부위와 증상이 없는 대측의 피부온도 차이를 알아보기 위해 paired t-test를 사용하였으며, 실험 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 급성 근육장애 환자에 있어서는 증상이 있는 부위와 증상이 없는 대측과의 피부온도 차이가 통계학적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<0.0075). 2. 만성 근육장애 환자에 있어서는 증상이 있는 부위와 증상이 없는 대측과의 피부온도 차이가 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 볼 수 없었다. 3. 측두하악관절 내장증 환자에 있어서는 증상이 있는 부위와 증상이 없는 대측과의 피부온도 차이가 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 볼 수 없었다. 결론적으로 적외선 체열촬영은 급성저작근장애의 진단에 있어서 유용한 진단방법의 한가지로 사료되며, 앞으로 임상적으로 더욱더 심화된 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

치의학 분야에서 디지탈 근적외선 체열측정 장치(digital infrared thermographic imaging; DITI)의 응용이 미미한 것은 과거 열측정장치의 기술력이 부족한 것이 주된 요인이었다. 그러나 최근들어 기술이 진보함에 따라 실시간 열영상을 재현할 수 있게 되었고 이는 치의학 및 의학계에 많은 관심을 일으키고 있다. 지금까지의 연구를 보면 두개하악장애시 구강영역의 온도변화의 임상적 효용 가능성을 제시하였으나 안면 및 두경부에 대한 실제 기기 및 측정방법의 신뢰도에 대한 연구는 이루어지지 못한 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 DITI에 대한 신뢰도를 조사하였다. DITI의 모니터 상에서 비활동성 발통점의 부위를 찾아내기가 쉽지 않다. 따라서 모니터상에서 안면발통점(joint, temporalis anterior, masseter anterior, masseter inferior)의 부위를 찾아 온도를 찾아내는 방법과 미리 발통점 피부상에 링모양의 마크를 부착하여 모니터상에서 쉽게 찾아내는 방법을 사용하여 신뢰도를 조사하여 비교한 결과 다음과 같다. 1. 조사한 발통점 중에서 temporalis anterior, joint, masseter anterior과 masseter inferior의 순서로 피부온도가 유의하게 온도가 높았으나(p<0.05) masseter 내에서는 유의한 차이를 보여주지 않았다. 2. 4개의 발통점 모두에서 높은 열적 대칭성을 보였으며, 좌우 온도차이는 $0.1^{\circ}C$미만이었다. 3. 다른 시기에 조사한 조사자내 신뢰도는 두 조사자 모두 높은 상관관계를 보여주지 않았으며 대조군과 마크를 사용한 군간에는 뚜렷한 차이를 볼 수 없었다. 4. 동일한 시기에 조사한 조사자간 신뢰도는 두 시기 모두 joint 부위의 일부를 제외하고 높은 상관관계를 보여주었으며, 마크를 사용한 경우 사용하지 않은 경우 보다 훨씬 신뢰도가 높은 상관관계를 나타내었다. 이상의 결과로 보아 DITI는 두개하악장애환자에 대한 두경부 발통점의 온도변화를 측정하는 데 있어 시간에 따른 신뢰도는 결여되었으나 동일 시기의 측정에는 매우 유익할 것으로 사료되며, 특히 발통점에 대한 표시를 사용하는 경우 매우 정확한 온도를 조사할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Objectives : The purposes of the study was to evaluate cephalometric characteristics in snorers and patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to see any relationships between the cephalometric measurements and respiratory disturbance indices (RDI). Materials and Methods : Twelve snoring patients, 11 patients with OSA, and 10 normal subjects were included for the study. After taking a screening sleep study for a night to obtain RDI, $SaO_2$, and snoring index, a detailed cephalometric analysis was conducted to obtain SNA, SNB, SN-MP, IAS, MAS, SPAS, SAAS, Mn-H, and PNS-P. All the data were compared between groups. For a group including 12 snoring patients and 11 OSA patients, correlation coefficients were calculated between respiratory disturbance index and each item of cephalometric measurements. Results : The mandible and the maxilla are retropositioned. The oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway is reduced in area and is a factor that could produce or enhance OSA symptoms. The hyoid bone is displaced inferiorly. The soft palate is significantly elongated. Conclusions : These data suggest that cephalometric evaluation could be useful to evaluate snoring and OSA patients, and to assist with the planning treatment for improvement of upper airway patency.

In order to study the closure stage of cranial sutures and its correlations with age, the ectocranial closure stage of coronal suture, sagittal suture, and lambdoidal suture of 67 skulls was measured. Among the skulls kept at the department of anatomy, college of medicine, Yonsei University, the ones with ages identified were used for this study. These measurements of suture closure were conducted by 4 examiners independently. The sutures were further divided by Frederic's method into 16 suture parts. The closure stages were classified by five stages of Broca-Ribbe. The following results were obtained: 1. The inter-observer reliability among 4 examiners showed high intraclass correlation coefficient of over 0.75(mean : 0.856) in all suture parts. Therefore, the determination of closure stage wasn't influenced by the subjective view of each examiner. 2. In all suture parts, the closure stage increased proportionally with age.(p<0.01) In terms of each suture part, the S2 part of sagittal suture showed the highest correlation(68.1%) while the L1-R part of lambdoidal suture showed the lowest correlation(51.3%). In addition, in terms of suture types, the correlation with age decreased in the order of sagittal suture(60.0%), coronal suture(57.7%), and lambdoidal suture (55.7%). In general, the average value of suture closure stages had 57.8% correlation with age(p<0.01). 3. The most frequent suture closure stage according to age group was '0' for ages below 30, '0' and '1' for ages within the 30's, '1' and '2' for ages within the 40's, and '2' for ages within the 50's. With older age groups, the frequency of '3' and '4' increased, and the suture closure stage increased proportionally with age. 4. The mean age by closure stage of each suture were within the 40's for the closure stage of '1', within the 50's for the closure stage of '2', and from 50's through 60's for the closure stage of '3'. The standard deviation was over 10 for all closure stages. In addition, at the same suture closure stage, the mean age according to the coronal suture was higher than the ages according to the sagittal suture or lambdoidal suture. Especially, C1-R, C1-L, C2-R, and C2-L parts showed the highest age when at the same suture closure stage. 5. The values appropriate for age estimations using suture closure stages of 16 suture parts were calculated, and a calculator for age estimation ($R^2=0.6944$, p<0.01) by ectocranial suture closure stage for Koreans is presented. From the above results, the method of using the closure stage of sutures of the skull to estimate age can be useful in individual identification of forensic science. Further extensive and accurate research using larger samples would be worthy of study.

지난 수십년동안, 다양한 레이저기기를 이용하여 치아 경조직에 대한 응용 실험을 수행되었다. 그러나, 발생한 주요한 문제는 열발생과 플라즈마 형성과 같은 부작용이 지속된다는 점이었다. 실망스러운 실험결과에 따라 치아 삭제에 대한 레이저의 응용에 대한 연구가 거의 진행되지 못하였다. 본 연구의 목적은 국내에서 처음으로 개발된 얼비움레이저기기를 사용하여 다양한 에너지 수준과 다양한 펄스빈도에서 법랑질의 삭제율을 비교하고자 하였다. 본 연구에 사용된 레이저기기는 국내에서 최초로 개발된 $2.94{\mu}m$ 펄스를 $250{\mu}s$ 방출하는 얼비움야그레이저 기기이다. 기기의 에너지는 20 mJ에서 350 mJ까지 다양하게 방출하며, 최대 출력은 3.5 W이다. 22개의 치아를 에폭시 레진에 포매하고 경화하였다. 치아의 법랑질을 회전 다이아몬드 칼을 흐르는 물과 함께 사용하여 협측 또는 설측으로 평탄하게 삭제하였다. 제작된 법랑질표면은 6개의 구획으로 구분하여 에너지 수준과 펄스빈도에 따라 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 사용된 표본 수는 132개이며, 삭제율을 조사하기 위한 모든 표본은 22개의 실험 군으로 분류하였다. 실험결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 에너지 수준간에는 유의한 삭제율의 차이가 있었다. 2. 40 및 80 mJ로 조사한 경우에는 펄스빈도 간에 차이가 없었지만, 120 mJ의 출력으로 동일한 에너지를 조사한 경우에는 20 Hz가 40 또는 80 mJ로 조사한 경우 보다 가장 삭제효과가 높았다. 3. 연속조사 한 경우 조사시간 경과에 따라 법랑질의 삭제율은 증가되지 않았다. 결론적으로 효과적으로 법랑질을 삭제하기 위해서는 적절한 에너지와 펄스의 레이저를 사용해야 하며, 또한 항상 정확한 초점거리를 유지해야 할 것으로 사료된다.