• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.79-89
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of dementia is steadily increasing each year, and preceding studies continue to explore the association between dementia and oral health. Dental hygienists require specialized competencies to provide appropriate dental healthcare services, necessitating the development of a tool for the objective measurement of their knowledge levels. This study aimed to develop a knowledge assessment tool for dental hygienists concerning considerations for dental care for patients with dementia. Methods: The study constructed preliminary items based on a literature review and then conducted expert validation, a pilot survey, and the main survey. The main survey was conducted among 220 dental hygienists. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted with the collected data to select the final items, and the correctness rates for each selected item were verified. Results: As a result of the analysis of the collected data, 18 items were eliminated out of a total of 40 preliminary items, leaving a total of 6 factors and 22 items. The Cronbach's α value for the selected items was 0.791. The six factors are as follows: 'Considerations during dental treatment for dementia patients' (5 items), 'medication side effects in dementia patients' (4 items), 'oral care methods for dementia patients' (4 items), 'communication with dementia patients' (4 items), 'psychological reactions of dementia patients' (3 items), and 'guidance for dementia patients' (2 items). The item with the highest correctness rate was item 2 of the 'guidance for dementia patients' category at 98.6%, while the item with the lowest correctness rate was item 2 of the 'psychological reactions of dementia patients' category at 5.9%. Conclusion: This study validated the reliability and validity of the knowledge assessment tool, which lays the foundation for future research on dental hygienists and dementia. It contributes essential data for ongoing education, development of educational programs, and establishing operational guidelines in healthcare institutions.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.62-73
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess new three-dimensional (3D) cephalometric variables, and to evaluate the relationships among skeletal and dentoalveolar variables through 3D cephalometric analysis. Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were acquired from 38 young adults (18 men and 20 women; $22.6{\pm}3.2$ years) with normal occlusion. Thirty-five landmarks were digitized on the 3D-rendered views. Several measurements were obtained for selected landmarks. Correlations among different variables were calculated by means of Pearson's correlation coefficient values. Results: The body of the mandible had a longer curve length in men ($102.3{\pm}4.4$ mm) than in women ($94.5{\pm}4.7$ mm) (p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the maxillary basal curve length. Men had significantly larger facial dimensions, whereas women had a larger gonial angle ($117.0{\pm}4.0$ vs. $113.8{\pm}3.3$; p < 0.001). Strong-to-moderate correlation values were found among the vertical and transverse variables (r = 0.71 to 0.51). Conclusions: The normative values of new 3D cephalometric parameters, including the maxillary and mandibular curve length, were obtained. Strong-to-moderate correlation values were found among several vertical and transverse variables through 3D cephalometric analysis. This method of cephalometric analyses can be useful in diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with dentofacial deformities.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.288-293
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• 2013

Objective: This study was aimed at comparing the mandibular arch forms of Korean and Vietnamese patients by using facial axis (FA) points on three-dimensional (3D) models. Methods: Mandibular casts of 68 Korean (Class I malocclusion, 30; Class II malocclusion, 38) and 78 Vietnamese (Class I malocclusion, 41; Class II malocclusion, 37) patients were scanned in their occluded positions and grouped according to arch form (tapered, ovoid, and square). The FA point of each tooth was digitized on the 3D mandibular models. The measurements and frequency distributions of the arch forms were compared between the ethnic groups. Results: The Vietnamese patients had significantly greater intercanine depth and intercanine and intermolar width-to-depth ratios than the Korean patients (p < 0.05). The frequency distributions of the arch forms were also significantly different (p = 0.038), but no sexual dimorphism was found. Conclusions: Vietnamese people tend to have deeper and wider arches than Korean people. The three arch forms are evenly distributed in Korean people, but Vietnamese people frequently have square arches. Clinicians should identify the correct arch form of an ethnic group before initiating orthodontic treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3455-3459
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• 2013

Background: Smoking and smokeless tobacco use are almost always initiated and established during adolescence. More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. The main objective of the present study is to assess the feasibility of preventing adolescent tobacco use with the help of a specially designed tobacco control program. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey on tobacco use and related health effects was conducted using a structured questionnaire in 13 randomly selected schools in Kannur district of Kerala. These students were followed for a period of one academic year with multiple spaced interventions such as anti-tobacco awareness classes, formation of anti-tobacco task forces, inter-school competitions, supplying IEC (information, education and communication) materials and providing a handbook on tobacco control for school personnel. Final evaluation was at the end of one year. Results: There were 4,144 school children who participated in the first phase of the study. The prevalence of tobacco smoking and chewing habits were 9.85% and 2.24% respectively. Ninety-one percent had parental advice against tobacco use and only 3.79% expressed desire for future tobacco use. The final evaluation witnessed a sharp decline in the current tobacco use as 4.68%. We observed a statistically significant difference towards the future use of tobacco (p<0.001) and awareness about the ill effects of passive smoking (p<0.001) among boys and girls. Further a significantly increased knowledge was observed among boys compared to girls about tobacco and oral cancer (p=0.046). Conclusions: The comprehensive school based tobacco control project significantly reduced the tobacco use pattern in the target population. School tobacco projects incorporating frequent follow ups and multiple interventions appear more effective than projects with single intervention.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a dietary flavonoid, kaempferol, which has been shown to possess antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant activities on the periodontium by histomorphometric analysis and on gingival tissue matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-8, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) by biochemical analysis of rats after experimental periodontitis induction. Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of ten rats each, and silk ligatures were placed around the cervical area of the mandibular first molars for 15 days, except in the healthy control rats. In the experimental periodontitis groups, systemic kaempferol (10 mg/kg/2d) and saline were administered by oral gavage at two different periods (with and without the presence of dental biofilm) to all rats except for the ten non-medicated rats. Alveolar bone area, alveolar bone level, and attachment level were determined by histomorphometric analysis, and gingival tissue levels of MMP-1, MMP-8, and TIMP-2 were detected by biochemical analysis. Results: Significantly greater bone area and significantly less alveolar bone and attachment loss were observed in the kaempferol application groups compared to the control groups (P<0.05). In addition, gingival tissue MMP-1 and -8 levels were significantly lower in the kaempferol application groups compared to the control groups and the periodontitis group (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in TIMP-2 levels between the kaempferol and saline application groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Kaempferol application may be useful in decreasing alveolar bone resorption, attachment loss, and MMP-1 and -8 production in experimental periodontitis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.315-319
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• 2009

Astragalus Membranaceus (AM) is a useful Korean herb that has been clinically prescribed for stress-related illness. The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-stress effects of AM on repeated stress-induced alterations of anxiety, learning and memory in rats. Restraint stress was administered for 14 days (2h/day) and AM (400mg/kg) given by oral administration, in the AM group, for the same period. Starting on the eighth day, the rats were tested for spatial memory on the Morris water maze test (MW) and for anxiety on the elevated plus maze (EPM). Changes of expression on immunohistochemistry were studied for cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the brain. The results showed that the rats treated with AM had significantly reduced stress-induced deficits on learning and memory on the spatial memory tasks. In addition, the ChAT immunoreactivities were increased. In the EPM, treatment with AM increased the time spent in the open arms (p<0.001) compared to the control group. In addition, AM treatment also normalized increases of TH expression in the LC (p<0.001). In conclusion, administration of AM improved spatial learning and memory and reduced stress-induced anxiety. Thus, the present results suggest that AM is able to recover behavioral and neurochemical impairments induced by stress.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4875-4883
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• 2016

Background and objective: Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is a disabling complication with long term impact on quality on life after breast cancer treatment. Its management remains a major challenge for patients and health care professionals; the goal of this overview was to summarize effects of different treatment strategies for patients with BCRL. Methods: A thorough search was undertaken to allow a systematic review or meta-analysis of treatments for BCRL. Two investigators independently selected studies and abstracted the data. Results: Combined physical therapy (CPT) with different combinations of surgery, oral pharmaceuticals, low-level laser therapy, weight reduction, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, kinesio tex taping, and acupuncture might be effective in reducing lymphoedema, but exercise demonstrated no obvious benefit. The results of direct comparisons showed CPT might be more effective than standard physiotherapy (ST). Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may not offer additional benefits to ST for swelling reduction, but could facilitate compression bandaging. MLD seemed to have similar effects with self-administered simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) or using an intermittent pneumatic compression pump (IPC). IPC might also not be associated with additional effectiveness for CPT. Efficacy of stem cell therapy vs. compression sleeve or CPT, as well as the effects of daflon and coumarin could not be established. Conclusion: Although many treatments for BCRL might reduce lymphoedema volume, their effects were not well established. The quality of many of the original studies in the included reviews was not optimal, so that in future randomized control trials are a high priority.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.183-198
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• 1998

This study was done in order to present clinical trial method for safety of herb-acupuncture. The results were summerized as follow: In case of western medicine, clinical trial divides into four phase 1. Phase I: Investigate safety and drug movement for health people. 2. The first phase II: Investigate safety, effectiveness for the limited patient. The late phase II: Investigate propriety of an applicable disease, the way to use and dose. 3. Phase III: Through the comparative, public trial, investigate a final, applicable disease and side effect. 4. Phase IV: After NDA, investigate safety and effectiveness for the wide patients. In case of herb-acupuncture, we have to investigate the following for safety and effectiveness 1. Drug dose: Decide with 1/2 or 1/3 of oral dosage or a basis of animal's of maximum dosage or a ratio of man and animal. 2. Toxicity: Examine blood, urine, liver function, EKG, after herb-acupuncture during acertain period of time. 3. Regional response: Estimate response of swelling, redness, pruritus. etc 4. Treatment effectiveness: After exactly diagnosis, estimate effectiveness with a objective guide post.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.304-315
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze initial displacement and stress distribution of the maxillofacial complex during dentoskeletal maxillary protraction with various appliance designs placed on the palatal region by using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Methods: Six models of maxillary protraction were developed: conventional facemask (Type A), facemask with dentoskeletal hybrid anchorage (Type B), facemask with a palatal plate (Type C), intraoral traction using a Class III palatal plate (Type D), facemask with a palatal plate combined with rapid maxillary expansion (RME; Type E), and Class III palatal plate intraoral traction with RME (Type F). In Types A, B, C, and D, maxillary protraction alone was performed, whereas in Types E and F, transverse expansion was performed simultaneously with maxillary protraction. Results: Type C displayed the greatest amount of anterior dentoskeletal displacement in the sagittal plane. Types A and B resulted in similar amounts of anterior displacement of all the maxillofacial landmarks. Type D showed little movement, but Type E with expansion and the palatal plate displayed a larger range of movement of the maxillofacial landmarks in all directions. Conclusions: The palatal plate served as an effective skeletal anchor for use with the facemask in maxillary protraction. In contrast, the intraoral use of Class III palatal plates showed minimal skeletal and dental effects in maxillary protraction. In addition, palatal expansion with the protraction force showed minimal effect on the forward movement of the maxillary complex.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2014

Melamine-induced nephrotoxicity is closely associated with crystal formation in the kidney caused by combined exposure to melamine (Mel) and cyanuric acid (CA). However, there are few dosage-finding studies for toxicological evaluation of chronic co-exposure to Mel and CA. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism by which a Mel and CA mixture lead to renal toxicity in rats. Mel and CA were co-administered to rats via oral gavage for 50 days. Nephrotoxicity was determined by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) levels. Relative kidney weights were significantly increased in rats after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) mixtures. BUN and sCr levels were significantly increased after Mel and CA co-exposure. Taken together, significant increase in KIM-1, NGAL, and calbindin levels were observed in the urine of rats exposed to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg) compared with the corresponding control group. Histological analysis revealed epithelial degeneration and necrotic cell death in the proximal tubules of the kidney after co-exposure to Mel+CA (63/6.3 or 630/6.3 mg/kg). Our data suggest that Mel-mediated renal toxicity may be influenced by CA concentrations in Mel-contaminated milk or foods.