Differences in Trauma-Related Guilt in Females with History of Sexual Violence Based on Insomnia Severity

Background and Objective Females with history of sexual violence report a high percentage of insomnia. Guilt is a common symptom among this group. This study investigated differences in trauma-related guilt cognition between females of sexual violence with high or low symptoms of insomnia. Methods Participants were 43 females who reported having a history of sexual violence (mean age 26.56±7.81). All participants completed questionnaires about insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report), trauma-related guilt (Trauma-related Guilt Inventory, TRGI), depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and trauma-related information. The TRGI is consisted by global guilt, distress and guilt cognitions. Guilt cognitions can further be divided into Hindsight-Bias/Responsibility, Wrongdoing, and Lack of Justification subscales. Analyses were conducted using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and analysis of covariance. Results Results indicated ISI scores were significantly positively associated with PSS scores (r = 0.620, p < 0.01) and the distress subscale of the TGRI (r = 0.488, p < 0.01), and negatively associated with guilt cognitions (r = −0.423, p < 0.01). 53.5% (n = 23) of the sample met criteria for clinical insomnia using ISI cut-off scores of 15. Participants in the insomnia group scored significantly lower in overall guilt cognitions (p < 0.001) and significantly higher in distress (p = 0.001) than the non-insomnia group after controlling for depression. Among the subscales of guilt cognitions, hindsight-bias/responsibility was significantly lower in the insomnia group (p < 0.001). Conclusions Guilt can sometimes be adaptive in trauma patients as it may work as a catalyst in cognitively processing their trauma. Our results indicate that individuals with insomnia report lower guilt cognition. This may subsequently interfere with their ability to process the traumatic experience and effectively cope with their situation

A case of de novo duplication of 15q24-q26.3

Distal duplication, or trisomy 15q, is an extremely rare chromosomal disorder characterized by prenatal and postnatal overgrowth, mental retardation, and craniofacial malformations. Additional abnormalities typically include an unusually short neck, malformations of the fingers and toes, scoliosis and skeletal malformations, genital abnormalities, particularly in affected males, and, in some cases, cardiac defects. The range and severity of symptoms and physical findings may vary from case to case, depending upon the length and location of the duplicated portion of chromosome 15q. Most reported cases of duplication of the long arm of chromosome 15 frequently have more than one segmental imbalance resulting from unbalanced translocations involving chromosome 15 and deletions in another chromosome, as well as other structural chromosomal abnormalities. We report a female newborn with a de novo duplication, 15q24-q26.3, showing intrauterine overgrowth, a narrow asymmetric face with down-slanting palpebral fissures, a large, prominent nose, and micrognathia, arachnodactyly, camptodactyly, congenital heart disease, hydronephrosis, and hydroureter. Chromosomal analysis showed a 46,XX,inv(9)(p12q13),dup(15)(q24q26.3). Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis revealed a gain of 42 clones on 15q24-q26.3. This case represents the only reported patient with a de novo 15q24-q26.3 duplication that did not result from an unbalanced translocation and did not have a concomitant monosomic component in Korea

Phlebosclerotic Colitis in a Cirrhotic Patient with Portal Hypertension: The First Case in Korea

Phlebosclerotic colitis is a rare form of ischemic colitis characterized by the thickening of the wall of the affected colon due to fibrous degeneration of submucosal layer of colon and fibrotic obstruction of the colono-mesenteric vein, resulting in the disturbance of venous return from the colon. The pathogenic mechanism of this entity remains unknown but chronic liver disease with portal hypertension is maybe thought to be one of the speculated mechanisms. Here we first report the case of surgically confirmed phlebosclerotic colitis, that was in the early stage but showed the aggressive nature, in a 61-yr-old cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension in Korea

Investigating the Effects of Conditioned Media from Stem Cells of Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth on Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Pulp regeneration has recently attracted interest in modern dentistry. However, the success ratio of pulp regeneration is low due to the compromising potential of stem cells, such as their survival, migration, and odontoblastic differentiation. Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have been considered a promising tool for regenerative therapy due to their ability to secrete multiple factors that are essential for tissue regeneration, which is achieved by minimally invasive procedures with fewer ethical or legal concerns than those of other procedures. The aim of this study is to investigate the potency of SHED-derived conditioned media (SHED CM) on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), a major type of mesenchymal stem cells for dental pulp regeneration. Our results show the promotive efficiency of SHED CM on the proliferation, survival rate, and migration of DPSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Upregulation of odontoblast/osteogenic-related marker genes, such as ALP, DSPP, DMP1, OCN, and RUNX2, and enhanced mineral deposition of impaired DPSCs are also observed in the presence of SHED CM. The analysis of SHED CM found that a variety of cytokines and growth factors have positive effects on cell proliferation, migration, anti-apoptosis, and odontoblast/osteogenic differentiation. These findings suggest that SHED CM could provide some benefits to DPSCs in pulp regeneration

Improvement of Biological Effects of Root-Filling Materials for Primary Teeth by Incorporating Sodium Iodide

Therapeutic iodoform (CHI3) is commonly used as a root-filling material for primary teeth; however, the side effects of iodoform-containing materials, including early root resorption, have been reported. To overcome this problem, a water-soluble iodide (NaI)-incorporated root-filling material was developed. Calcium hydroxide, silicone oil, and NaI were incorporated in different weight proportions (30:30:X), and the resulting material was denoted DX (D5~D30), indicating the NaI content. As a control, iodoform instead of NaI was incorporated at a ratio of 30:30:30, and the material was denoted I30. The physicochemical (flow, film thickness, radiopacity, viscosity, water absorption, solubility, and ion releases) and biological (cytotoxicity, TRAP, ARS, and analysis of osteoclastic markers) properties were determined. The amount of iodine, sodium, and calcium ion releases and the pH were higher in D30 than I30, and the highest level of unknown extracted molecules was detected in I30. In the cell viability test, all groups except 100% D30 showed no cytotoxicity. In the 50% nontoxic extract, D30 showed decreased osteoclast formation compared with I30. In summary, NaI-incorporated materials showed adequate physicochemical properties and low osteoclast formation compared to their iodoform-counterpart. Thus, NaI-incorporated materials may be used as a substitute for iodoform-counterparts in root-filling materials after further (pre)clinical investigation

Physicochemical, Biological, and Antibacterial Properties of Four Bioactive Calcium Silicate-Based Cements

Calcium silicate-based cement (CSC) is a pharmaceutical agent that is widely used in dentistry. This bioactive material is used for vital pulp treatment due to its excellent biocompatibility, sealing ability, and antibacterial activity. Its drawbacks include a long setting time and poor maneuverability. Hence, the clinical properties of CSC have recently been improved to decrease its setting time. Despite the widespread clinical usage of CSC, there is no research comparing recently developed CSCs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the physicochemical, biological, and antibacterial properties of four commercial CSCs: two powder–liquid mix types (RetroMTA® [RETM]; Endocem® MTA Zr [ECZR]) and two premixed types (Well-Root™ PT [WRPT]; Endocem® MTA premixed [ECPR]). Each sample was prepared using circular Teflon molds, and tests were conducted after 24 h of setting. The premixed CSCs exhibited a more uniform and less rough surface, higher flowability, and lower film thickness than the powder–liquid mix CSCs. In the pH test, all CSCs showed values between 11.5 and 12.5. In the biological test, cells exposed to ECZR at a concentration of 25% showed greater cell viability, but none of the samples showed a significant difference at low concentration (p &gt; 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase staining revealed that cells exposed to ECZR underwent more odontoblast differentiation than the cells exposed to the other materials; however, no significant difference was observed at a concentration of 12.5% (p &gt; 0.05). In the antibacterial test, the premixed CSCs showed better results than the powder–liquid mix CSCs, and ECPR yielded the best results, followed by WRPT. In conclusion, the premixed CSCs showed improved physical properties, and of the premixed types, ECPR exhibited the highest antibacterial properties. For biological properties, none of these materials showed significant differences at 12.5% dilution. Therefore, ECPR may be a promising material with high antibacterial activity among the four CSCs, but further investigation is needed for clinical situations

Physicochemical, Pre-Clinical, and Biological Evaluation of Viscosity Optimized Sodium Iodide-Incorporated Paste

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different viscosities of silicone oil on the physicochemical, pre-clinical usability, and biological properties of a sodium iodide paste. Six different paste groups were created by mixing therapeutic molecules, sodium iodide (D30) and iodoform (I30), with calcium hydroxide and one of the three different viscosities of silicone oil (high (H), medium (M), and low (L)). The study evaluated the performance of these groups, including I30H, I30M, I30L, D30H, D30M, and D30L, using multiple parameters such as flow, film thickness, pH, viscosity, and injectability, with statistical analysis (p &lt; 0.05). Remarkably, the D30L group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the conventional iodoform counterpart, including a significant reduction in osteoclast formation, as examined through TRAP, c-FOS, NFATc1, and Cathepsin K (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, mRNA sequencing showed that the I30L group exhibited increased expression of inflammatory genes with upregulated cytokines compared to the D30L group. These findings suggest that the optimized viscosity of the sodium iodide paste (D30L) may lead to clinically favorable outcomes, such as slower root resorption, when used in primary teeth. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the D30L group shows the most satisfactory outcomes, which may be a promising root-filling material that could replace conventional iodoform-based pastes