• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2009

There is tremendous variability in the ways patients present with taste problems. Because of complex and multifactorial etiological background, it is not simple to evaluate patients with taste disorders. Accurate assessment of patients' status by prudent, thorough history taking and symptom analysis is the most essential for exact diagnosis of taste disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with taste problems as a primary complaint. Consecutive series of 50 patients (12 males and 38 females, mean age $53.6\;{\pm}\;14.7$ years) were included for the present study. All subjects were requested to complete a comprehensive questionnaire. Clinical evaluation procedures included oral examination, interview, questionnaire analysis, panoramic radiography, blood test and measurement of salivary flow rate. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Among the patients, 36 patients (72%) complained of oral mucosal pain or burning sensation. Of these patients, 18 patients (36%) were diagnosed as burning mouth syndrome. 2. Nineteen patients (38%) complained of subjective oral dryness. The flow rate of unstimulated whole saliva was less than 0.1 mL/min in 14 patients (28%) and 17 (34%) had a stimulated whole salivary flow rate of less than 0.5 mL/min. 3. Among the types of taste disorders, hypogeusia, the most frequently reported, was found in 25 patients (50%), dysgeusia in 18 patients (36%), phantogeusia in 15 patients (30%), hypergeusia in 10 patients (20%), and ageusia in 5 patients (10%). Nineteen patients (38%) reported more than one type of taste disorder and the most frequent combination was dysgeusia + hypogeusia (n=6, 12%). 4. Based on data from the medical and dental histories and examinations, the patients were assigned to 12 probable causal categories. Taste disorders due to oral mucosal diseases and idiopathic taste disorder were the most frequent (n=9; 18%, each), followed by psychogenic taste disorder (n=8; 16%), drug-induced taste disorder (n=7; 14%), and taste disorder due to dry mouth (n=6; 12%). These 5 categories of taste disorder accounted for 78% of all cases in this study.

• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2001

Congenital craniofacial disorders represent approximately 20% of all birth defects, One of these disorders is syngnathia, Congenital fusion of the maxilla and mandible is rare and can present in a wide range of severity from single mucosal band(synechiae) to complete bony fusion(syngnathia), Syngnathia, congenital bony fusion of the mandible and maxilla, is even less common than synechiae, with only 25 cases reported in the literature, Most of them have presented as an incomplete, unilateral fusion, We report a case of unilateral bony fusion of the maxilla, mandible, and zygomatic arch, Details of operative management and follow-up data are presented with review of literature.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2022

Mast cells are an effector cell that plays a pivotal role in type I hypersensitive immune responses. Mast cells exist in connective tissues, such as skin and mucosal tissue, and contain granules which contain bioactive substances such as histamine and heparin in cells. The granules of mast cells are secreted by antigen stimulation to cause the type I allergic hypersensitivity. In addition, stimulated by antigen, mast cells synthesize and secrete various eicosanoids and cytokines. While AT9283 is known to have anticancer effects, the therapeutic effect of AT9283 on allergic disorders is completely unknown. In this study, it was found that AT9283 reversibly inhibited antigen-IgE binding-induced degranulation in mast cells (IC₅₀, approx. 0.58 μM) and suppressed the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (IC₅₀, approx. 0.09 μM) and TNF-α (IC₅₀, approx. 0.19 μM). For a mechanism of mast cell inhibition, while not inhibiting Syk phosphorylation, AT9283 suppressed the activation of LAT, a downstream substrate protein of Syk, in a dose-dependent manner. As expected, AT9283 also inhibited the activation of PLCγ1 and Akt, downstream signaling molecules of Syk/LAT, and MAP kinases such as JNK, Erk1/2, and P38. In an in vitro protein tyrosine kinase assay, AT9283 directly inhibited Syk activity. Next, AT9283 dose-dependently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), an IgE-mediated allergic acute response, in mice (ED50, approx. 34 mg/kg, p.o.). These findings suggest that AT9283 has potential to use as a new drug for alleviating the symptoms of IgE-mediated allergic disorders.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2015

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent that is used to treat a host of malignancies. But recently, MTX has also been used as a therapeutic agent for chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. However, MTX is an antimetabolite that affects rapidly dividing normal cells such as oral mucosal epithelial cells, gastrointestinal epithelial cells, and bone marrow cells-which explains why oral mucositis is often an initial manifestation of MTX toxicity. Because oral lesions are frequently initially presented in dental clinics, dentists should consider the possibility of adverse drug reactions in the differential diagnoses of oral lesions through a meticulous collection of patients' medical histories. In this report, we examine patients who suffered from oral ulcerative lesions upon diagnosis of MTX-induced oral mucositis. Then, we suggest approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of MTX-induced oral mucositis through a review of literature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2003

Background and Objectives : Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is the result of a short, fibrous lingual frenulum or highly attached geioglossus muscle. This condition may cause sucking and swallowing problems, articulation disorders, interference with the tongue's cleansing action, increased the potential for caries, and inability to lick the lips, play a wind instrument, and 'french kiss' Treatment is surgical procedure. In the most cases, horizontal sectioning and mucosal suture(the conventional procedure) is preferred, but in some cases, the Z-plastic procedure is effective. This study is aimed to compare the result of the two procedures. Materials and Methods : Twenty tongue-tie patients underwent operation. Ten patients were treated with the Z-plastic procedure and ten patients were treated with the conventional method randomly. We checked preoperative mobile tongue length, postoperative mobile tongue length, operation time and postoperative wound states. Results : Among the 20 cases of tongue-tie, 2 cases are excepted due to pre-operative state, thus we compared 18 cases of tongue-tie patients. There is no statistically significant difference between the two procedures except in operation time. The Z-plastic procedure apparently needs a little more operating time. Conclusion : Patients treated with the Z-plastic procedures appeared to have better outcomes, but the data shows no statistical significance except in operating time. Consequently, the Z-plastic procedure is indicated in a limited amount of cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.123-127
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• 2008

Background and Objectives: Smoking has been identified as one of the main determinants of negative changes on the larynx histology. The purpose of this study is to investigate the voice characteristics and correlation between voice parameters of the smokers with vocal polyp or nodule or both of them. Materials and Method: MPT, $F_0$, jitter, shimmer, NHR of Korean /a/ vowel from 54 smokers and 50 nonsmokers diagnosed as vocal polyp or nodule were analyzed. A Computerized Speech Lab (4400) was for the analysis of each voice sample and statistical analysis was done by one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. Result and Conclusion: It showed that we can find difference between smokers and nonsmokers group in MPT, $F_0$, jitter, shimmer were different except NHR. each group shows difference in correlation coefficient between MPT, $F_0$, jitter, shimmer.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2004

Nasal congestion is one of the most common symptoms of medical complaints. Snoring is caused by vibration of the uvula and the soft palate. Nasal obstruction may contribute not only to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but also impair application of continuous nasal positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is the most widely employed treatment for OSA. Total or near-total nasal obstruction leads to mouth breathing and has been shown to cause increased airway resistance. However, the exact role of the nasal airway in the pathogenesis of OSA is not clear and there is no consensus about the role of nasal obstruction in snoring and sleep apnea. Some reports have failed to demonstrate any correlation between snoring and nasal obstruction. On the other hand, opposing reports suggest that nasal disease may cause sleep disorders and that snoring can be improved after nasoseptal surgery. Reduced cross-sectional area causes increased nasal resistance and predisposes the patient to inspiratory collapse of the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or both. Discrete abnormalities of the nasal airway, such as septal deformities, nasal polyps, and choanal atresia and with certain mucosal conditions such as sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and inferior turbinate hypertrophy can cause snoring or OSA. Thus, these sources of nasal obstruction should be corrected medically or surgically for the effective management of OSA and adjunctive for CPAP.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.14
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• 2019

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a unique subset of cells with different functional characteristics compared to classical dendritic cells. The pDCs are critical for the production of type I IFN in response to microbial and self-nucleic acids. They have an important role for host defense against viral pathogen infections. In addition, pDCs have been well studied as a critical player for breaking tolerance to self-nucleic acids that induce autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus. However, pDCs have an immunoregulatory role in inducing the immune tolerance by generating Tregs and various regulatory mechanisms in mucosal tissues. Here, we summarize the recent studies of pDCs that focused on the functional characteristics of gut pDCs, including interactions with other immune cells in the gut. Furthermore, the dynamic role of gut pDCs will be investigated with respect to disease status including gut infection, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.825-830
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• 1997

Leukotrienes(LTs) are hewn to act as a mediator provoking tissue response in inflammation. This finding implicates that LTs also play important roles in the pathogenesis of H, pylori-induced gastritis and gastric ulceration. Rebamipide is being currently used as a therapeutics for gastritis and peptic ulcer, but their mechanisms of action have not been known clearly yet. One possibility is that their therapeutic effects are ascribed to interfering with the H. pylori-induced release of LTs from neutrophils and gastric mucosal cells. In the present study, this possibility was tested using $LTB_4$ as the test material in human neutrophils and Kato III cells(gastric adenoma cells as a substitute for gastric mucosal cells). The release of $LTB_4$ from both neutrophils and Kato III cells was time and H. pylori-dose dependent. The maximum release of $LTB_4$ was induced by neutrophils and Kato III cells when these cells incubated with H. pylori $(4.8{\times}10^8\;cells/ml$ for 30min. But in the presence of rebamipide the release of $LTB_4$ from these cells was suppressed in dose dependent manners. The release was completely suppressed at 1.0 mM of rebamipide in neutrophils and 2.0 mM of this drug in Kato III cells, respectively. We also obtained the results that the release of $LTB_4$ was induced by A23187$(Ca^{2+}\;ionophore)$ and the A23187-induced release was also inhibited by rebamipide. It seems that the machanism of action of rebamipide is through its interaction with the level of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$. In view of the roles of $LTB_4$ in inflammatory reaction and the roles of H. pylori in gastritis and peptic ulcer, the effects of this drug observed in this study may contribute to their therapeutic action in these gastric disorders.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the effects of vocal aerobic treatment (VAT) on the improvement of voice in patients with voice disorders. Twenty patients (13 males, 7 females) were diagnosed with voice disorders on the basis of videostroboscopy and voice evaluations. Acoustic evaluation was performed with the Multidimensional voice program (MDVP) and Voice Range Profile (VRP) of Computerized Speech Lab (CSL), and aerodynamic evaluation with PAS (Phonatory Aerodynamic System). The changes in F0, Jitter, Shimmer, and NHR before and after treatment were measured by MDVP. F0 range and Energy range were measured with VRP before and after treatment, and the changes in Expiratory Volume (FVC), Phonation Time (PHOT), Mean Expiratory Airflow (MEAF), Mean Peak Air Pressure (MPAP), and Aerodynamic Efficiency (AEFF) with PAS. Videostroboscopy was performed to evaluate the regularity, symmetry, mucosal wave, and amplitude changes of both vocal cords before and after treatment. Voice therapy was performed once a week for each patient using the VAT program in a holistic voice therapy approach. The average number of treatments per patient was 6.5. In the MDVP, Jitter, Shimmer, and NHR showed statistically significant decreases (p < .001, p < .01, p < .05). VRP results showed that Hz and semitones in the frequency range improved significantly after treatment (p < .01, p < .05), as did PAS, FVC, and PHOT (p < .01, p < .001). The results for videostroboscopy, functional voice disorder, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and benign vocal fold lesions were normal. Thus, the VAT program was found to be effective in improving the acoustic and aerodynamic aspects of the voice of patients with voice disorders. In future studies, the effect of VAT on the same group of voice disorders should be studied. It is also necessary to investigate subjective voice improvement and objective voice improvement. Furthermore, it is necessary to examine the effects of VAT in professional voice users.