• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.377-393
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• 2001

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.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.421-429
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• 2007

Some researchers suggested that tactile sensor system would be useful in evaluating masticatory muscles of TMD patients, but there were few studies on the effects of chewing with time. The aim of this study was to investigate the change of elasticity and stiffness for masseter and temporal muscles of normal subjects before, during and after gum chewing and to obtain the baseline data for further researches on the elasticity and stiffness for masticatory muscles of TMD patients. Stiffness and elasticity of their anterior temporalis and inferior masseter muscle were measured bilaterally by a tactile sensor system. Each subject was instructed to sit on a chair for evaluation of masticatory muscles. Before operating the sensor, the thickest skin area over anterior temporalis and inferior masseter muscles were selected as the points to be pressed by a tactile sensor, and marked with a pen. While the teeth of subjects were lightly contacted, the probe of the tactile sensor was placed perpendicularly over the marked point over the skin, followed by computer-controlled movement including gently pressing straight down on the muscle for a second and retracting. All subjects were instructed to chew gum (Excellent Breath, Taiyo Co., Japan) bilaterally with a velocity of 2 times per second for 40 minutes after the first measurement had been performed for the baseline data of all subjects. The measurements had been repeated during chewing with 10 minutes of interval and continued for 40 minutes with same interval after chewing. Resultantly, the decrease of elasticity and the increase of stiffness in masticatory muscles can be seen significantly within 10 minutes after chewing and those were maintained during chewing without significant change with chewing time. The elasticity of muscles was recovered within 10 minutes after stopping chewing, but the stiffness was recovered more lately than elasticity by about 10 minutes. Based on these results, it can be concluded that elasticity and stiffness of muscles would be good indicators to evaluate the masticatory muscles objectively, when more supported by further researches.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of condylar and ramal vertical asymmetric indices on paonramic radiographs between temporomandibular disorder patients and normal group and according to classification of temporomandibular disorders. One hundred and twenty temporomandibular disorder patients and thirty normal individuals were selected. After tracing the panoramic radiographs, measurements for asymmetric indices were identified. The means and standard deviations of the measurement of each group were calculated and compared between two groups. Through the comparison of the measurement between two groups, following results were obtained 1. As a result of comparing condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices of the temporomandibular disorder patients with that of normal group, there was significant difference in condylar vertical asymmetry index between two groups and no significant difference in ramal vertical asymmetry index between two groups. 2. Condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices of temporomandibular joint disorder and muscle disorder patients showed greater value than normal group, but there was no significant difference between temporomandibular joint disorder patients and muscle disorder patients. 3. Among temporomandibular joint disorder patients, muscle disorder patients, and normal group, there was only significant difference in condylar vertical asymmetry index between temporomandibular joint disorder patients and normal group. 4. Among disc displacement, disc dislocation with reduction, and disc dislocation without reduction, there were no significant difference in condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices. 5. There were no correlation between aging and condylar and ramal vertical asymmetry indices. The results of the present study showed that condylar vertical asymmetry index of temporomandibular disorder patients showed greater values than normal group, and this difference could be considered as the features of temporomandibular disorders. Thus measuring the condylar vertical asymmetry index on panoramic radiographs is considered as the important factor for diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the maximum bite forces between pre- and post-treatment related to specific diagnostic groups of TMD including masticatory muscle disorder (MMD), disc derangement (DD), joint inflammation (JI) and osteoarthritis (OA). Bite force between pre- and post-treatment was compared in 36 patients with unilateral TMD, successfully-managed in the Department of Oral Medicine, Dankook University Dental Hospital, for this study. The ratio of men to women was 7:29 and their mean age of $28.1{\pm}13.7$ years. The patients were categorized, through clinical and radiographic examination, into aforementioned 4 groups; MMD (N=18), DD (N=6), JI (N=5) and OA (N=7). The maximum bite force measurements were done at the antagonizing canines and 1st molars using a bite force recorder. Paired t-test, ANOVA, Multiple Comparison t-tests were used for statistical analysis. The results of this study showed that the maximum bite force before treatment increased after TMD treatment, which was noticeable at the canines (p=0.001 and p=0.000 for the affected and unaffected sides, respectively). In comparison related to the diagnostic groups of TMD, patients with osteoarthritis of TMJ exhibited the lowest strength while those with inflammatory disorder of TMJ had the highest strength on the affected sides. Increase of bite force after treatment was also found in each group. Significant difference between pre- and post-treatment was found at canines on the affected sides in MMD (p=0.045) and DD groups (p=0.009) while on the unaffected sides in OA group (p=0.003). Conclusively, the reduced bite force due to TMD could be recovered by conservative TMD treatment and that the difference of bite forces between pre- and post-treatment was noticeable at the canines.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.293-303
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• 2007

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate if there is a relationship between anterior disc displacement without reduction and development of anterior open bite, and a relation between occurrence of open bite and occlusal appliance therapy. In general, the statistically significant differences were found between the Group 1 and 2 and normal mean group. The variables that represent mandibular size and form, showed a statistical significance in all 3 groups. Also 3 groups patients had a smaller ANB, a larger FMA than normal mean group. When we compared the 3 groups with respect to all cephalometric measurements by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), group 1 and 2 patients had a larger FMA, a larger SN to mandibular plane angle, a larger maxillomandibular plane angle, a larger occlusal plane to mandibular plane angle, a smaller total posterior facial height/total anterior facial height(%), and a larger gonial angle than group 3. The statistically significant differences were not found between the Group 1 and 2, and skeletal patterns were similar. Thus, morphologic features of patients with vertical discrepancies may represent a risk factor for the development of anterior open bite with or without occlusal appliance treatment. In case of patients with vertical discrepancy, we may have to be more careful when inducing a change of the vertical dimension.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2005

Mucin glycoproteins are the primary carriers of the oligosaccharide moieties that constitute the blood group substances in human saliva. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the conversion of either the A or B blood group antigens to the H antigen can occur during the degradation process of stored saliva samples. Forty subjects (20 subjects in each A and B blood group) identified as secretors were enrolled in this study. Fresh whole saliva samples and their clarified supernatants were stored at room temperature for 1 week. The conversion of the blood group antigens was detected by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Among the subjects showing the conversion in whole saliva, glandular saliva samples were obtained from 8 subjects (4 subjects in each A and B blood group). Submandibular-sublingual saliva (SMSL) and a mixture of SMSL and parotid saliva (PS) were stored at room temperature for 1 week. The conversion of the blood group antigens was detected by the same method. The obtained results were as follows: 1. In the clarified samples of whole saliva, the A antigen was detected as being either intact (5%) or degraded molecules (95%) after the 1 week period. Conversion of the A antigen to the H antigen was detected in 5 subjects (25%). In the unclarified samples, the A antigen was either detected as degraded molecules (90%) or was not detected (10%). Conversion of the antigen had occurred in 4 subjects (20%). 2. In the clarified samples of whole saliva, the B antigen was detected as intact (20%) or as degraded molecules (65%) or was not detected (15%) after the 1 week period. Conversion of the B antigen to the H antigen was detected in 7 subjects (35%). In the unclarified samples, the B antigen was detected as intact (5%) or as degraded molecules (65%), or was not detected (30%). Conversion of the antigen was observed in 2 subjects (10%). 3. In the glandular saliva samples, only one of the four subjects displayed an antigenic conversion from the A to H antigen or from the B to H antigen. The conversion had occurred in both the SMSL samples and the SMSL and PS mixture. No degradation of the antigens was detected in the other three samples of the A or B blood groups, nor was there any conversion. The results demonstrated that conversion of the blood group antigens could occur in saliva, and suggested that the enzymes responsible for the conversion are present in saliva. Further studies on the origin and activity of the specific glycosidases in saliva as well as quantitative measurements of the antigenic conversion will be needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2000

The meridian system is the most essential and basic connecting structure that maintains the vital activities of viscera and bowels by connecting them with each part of body's surface. Doctors can understand the healthy condition, and the region and deficiency-excessiveness of disease by observing the condition of Qi flowing. Deficiency and excessiveness could be differentiated by various symptoms expressed in meridian system. Especially there could be several clues like pain, heat-cold, protuberance-depression, change of color and shine in the line of channel leads to the judgment of deficiency-excessiveness The diagnosis of deficiency and excessiveness can be generalized by quantification of elastic status in skin surface along the meridian system. By comparing data from measurement of elastic condition with those from traditional deficiency and excessiveness, it could be utilized for the development of oriental medicine. All biological activities in the human body are based on meridian system according to the oriental medicine. Also the meridian system is viewed as basic and essential structure connecting internal viscera and each part of body. The areas of expressed channel phenomena are muscle to bone, muscle to muscle and bone to bone. These areas are called depression where meridian system is present and any changing state on those points can be measured. It could be difficult in diagnosing the reaction of meridian system because doctor can depend on his own judgment. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify and indexate channel reactions. To quantify the channel reactions, specially manufactured instrument was used to quantify the protuberance and depression to differentiate the deficiency and excessiveness. The results follow as below; 1. The elastic index measurement by the equipment proved a pattern of agreement showing the values that ranged within standard deviation 0.05kgf/cm throughout the experiment except few cases' measurement in CV-17. 2. To evaluate the state of deficiency & excessiveness of elastic index measurements in frontal point, elastic index measurements in the front paint were compared to the elastic index measured surrounding the point within 2.5 cm. Such result of indexing procedure was closely matched to the concept of palpitation. 3. If the elastic index values in the surrounding front point closely located to the elastic index values in the front point, the judgement on the state of deficiency and excessiveness was delayed. Otherwise, it was judged as deficiency or excessiveness. 4. Out of total 12 cases of comparing the elastic index values to the elastic index values in the surrounding front point, Three to nine front points were judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness. 5. Among the nine front points judged as either in the state of deficiency or excessiveness, Four cases were matched to the electric index measured by EAV that evaluating the internal organs by five different phases. If more clinical cases are accumulated, it is expected to systematically theorize and improve the concept of deficiency and excessiveness in the internal organs using the front point.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2010

This study tested how S/N (Signal to Noise Ratio) ratios and ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) values vary with different T-scores in a group of patients with osteoporosis. Based on DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) T-scores for L1.L4 for two groups of subjects consisting of 30 healthy people without osteoporosis and 30 patients who came for treatment of waist (lumbar or low back) pain and were suspected to have osteoporosis as judged from the simple X-ray findings, this study classified every spine into two groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Signal intensity measurements were made in the four regions of L1 to L4 on diffusion-weighted MR images obtained using 1.5T MR scanner, while ADC measurements were obtained from ADC map images. As an approach for quantitative analysis, the comparison of the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for varying T-scores in the selected regions of interest was carried out based on averaged T-scores, S/N ratios, and ADC values. Also, the variances in S/N ratios and ADC values for each of the groups of osteoporosis and osteopenia, which were classified into by T-scores, were compared. For qualitative analysis, a careful naked eye examination of signal intensity differences in the area of L4 was made on T1-weighted sagittal images for each of the healthy (normal), osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. In the qualitative analysis, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the S/N ratios on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the S/N ratio found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest S/N ratio was found in the osteoporosis group. With respect to ADC map, it was found that for both the osteopenia group and the osteoporosis group, as T-scores deceased, the ADC values on diffusion-weighted MR images also decreased, with the greatest decrease in the ADC values found in the osteoporosis group. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest ADC value was found in the osteoporosis group. On the other hand, in the qualitative analysis, the osteoporosis group showed the highest signal intensity. Additionally, among the three groups, the lowest signal intensity was found in the healthy (normal) group. It was found that as osteoporosis progressed, S/N ratio and ADC decreased, whereas signal intensity increased on T1-weighted images. Also, in diagnosing osteoporosis, MRI tests turned out to be (more) effective.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.187-200
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• 2007

This study attempted to contribute to the clinical application of implant operation by making a quantitative nerve examination using a neurometer for the evaluation of sensory disturbances that could be incurred after the implantation in the dental clinics, and it intended to establish an objective guideline in the evaluation of sensory nerve after the operation of implant. An inspection was performed with the frequencies of 2000Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz before and after the operations of tooth implant using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C (Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA) for 44 patients who had performed an implant operation among the patients coming to Daejeon Sun Dental Hospital in 2006 and 30 people for control group. The measuring sites were maxillary nerve ending and mandibular nerve ending of trigeminal nerve according to the implant operating regions. The current perception threshold (CPT) by each nerve fiber was specifically responded under the electric stimulation of 2000 Hz in case of $A{\beta}$ fiber and of 250 Hz in case of $A{\delta}$ fiber and of 5Hz in case of C fiber. The CPT test could be performed to assess the damages of peripheral nerve in the trigeminal nerve area and it stimulated selective nerve fibers by generating the electricity of specific frequency in the peripheral nerve area. The nerve fibers with varied thickness were responsive selectively to the electric stimulation with different frequencies; accordingly, they applied the electric stimulation with different frequencies and the reaction threshold of $A{\beta},\;A{\delta}$ and C fibers selectively responsive to each electric current could be individually evaluated. In the assessment through the CPT, the increase and decrease of the CPT could be measured so that sensory disturbances such as hyperaesthesia or hypoaesthesia could be diagnosed. This study could obtain the following results after the assessment of the CPT before and after the implant operation. 1. In the assessment before and after the implant operation, the CPT in the frequencies of 2000 Hz, 250 Hz, 5 Hz for maxillary branch increased on the whole after the operation and the CPT for mandibular branch in the $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz )after the operation increased statistically significantly. 2. For the groups of patients with medically compromised or its subsequent medicinal prescription, there were no significant differences before and after the implant operation and for the control groups, significantly high CPT was shown after the implant operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz). 3. In the comparison of the measured value of the CPT before the operation between the control group and the implant operation group, the latter group had a significantly high measured value of the CPT in the right $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz) and there were significant differences in $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) in the CPT assessment after the implant operation for the control group. 4. Male participants had higher CPT than female counterparts; however, there were no statistic significances. In the CPT evaluation before and after implant operation, there were no statistical differences in the male group while the right C-fiber(5 Hz) and left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000Hz) were significantly high in the female group. 5. In the comparison between the group who complain sensory disturbance and the other group, the CPT increased on the whole in the former group, but there were no statistical significances. In the groups, whom there was an increase in VAS, the CPT after the implant operation in the right C-fiber(5 Hz) increased significantly; meanwhile, in case that the VAS mark was '0' before and after the operation, the CPT after the operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) increased significantly. This study suggested that the CPT measurements using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C, provide useful information of objective and quantitative sensory disturbances for tooth implantation.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2006

Objectives : A variety of symptoms are typically reported during anxiety period, several of which are clearly linked to the autonomic nervous system(ANS), such as palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath. Using spectral analysis of heart rate, several studies have shown that patients with anxiety disorder are characterized by a reduced heart rate variability(HRV), indicative of abnormalities in ANS fuction. To further evaluate the effect of anxiety and medication on autonomic function, 30 patients and 30 matched control subjects were assessed. Methods : Using spectral analysis of heart rate, which consisted of standardised measurements of HRV, we compared ANS between 30 patients with DSM-IV diagnosed anxiety disorder and 30 healthy controls, and investigated the autonomic effects of SSRI treatment. Five-minute HRV recordings were obtained before and after SSRI treatment and were analysed. Results : Five-minute HRV recordings in anxiety disorder patients revealed that a significant reduction in HRV was shown compared to controls. There was no significant changes in HRV between before and after SSRI treatment. Conclusion: Anxiety disorder patients showed a significant reduction in HRV compared to controls. SSRIs do not affect HRV influenced by ANS function. Further study is needed to confirm these things. Patients with anxiety disorder may suffer from functional disturbances in the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic tree.