• Implantology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.210-218
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reproducibility of a method based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) technology for the visualization and measurement of gingival soft-tissue dimensions. Material and Methods: A total of 66 selected points in soft-tissue of the ex vivo head of an adult pig were investigated in this study. For the measurement of radiographic thickness (RT), wet soft-tissue surfaces were lightly covered with barium sulfate powder using a powder spray. CBCT was taken and DICOM files were assessed for soft-tissue thickness measurement at reference points. A periodontal probe and a rubber stop were used for the measurement of trans-gingival probing thickness (TPT). After flap elevation, actual thickness of soft-tissue (actual thickness, AT) was measured. Correlation analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients analysis (ICC) were performed for AT, TPT, and RT. Results: All variables were distributed normally. Strong significant correlations of AT with RT and TPT values were found. The two ICC values between TPT vs. AT and RT vs. AT differed significantly. Conclusion: Our results indicated that correlation of RT was stronger than that of TPT with AT. We concluded that soft tissue measurement with CBCT could be a reliable method, compared to the trans-gingival probing measurement method.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2005

A novel imaging system for High-resolution Ultrasonic Transmission Tomography (HUTT) and soft tissue differentiation methodology for the HUTT system are presented. The critical innovation of the HUTT system includes the use of sub-millimeter transducer elements for both transmitter and receiver arrays and multi-band analysis of the first-arrival pulse. The first-arrival pulse is detected and extracted from the received signal (i.e., snippet) at each azimuthal and angular location of a mechanical tomographic scanner in transmission mode. Each extracted snippet is processed to yield a multi-spectral vector of attenuation values at multiple frequency bands. These vectors form a 3-D sinogram representing a multi-spectral augmentation of the conventional 2-D sinogram. A filtered backprojection algorithm is used to reconstruct a stack of multi-spectral images for each 2-D tomographic slice that allow tissue characterization. A novel methodology for soft tissue differentiation using spectral target detection is presented. The representative 2-D and 3-D HUTT images formed at various frequency bands demonstrate the high-resolution capability of the system. It is shown that spherical objects with diameter down to 0.3㎜ can be detected. In addition, the results of soft tissue differentiation and characterization demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative soft tissue analysis for possible detection of lesions or cancerous tissue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2022

Background: Acupotomy is a type of acupuncture where a scalpel-shaped needle (miniscalpel needle) is used instead of a normal acupuncture needle to exfoliate adhesion sites or to relax entrapped regions. This study aimed to identify the descriptive characteristics of patients who received acupotomy treatment at a single Korean Medicine Clinic. Methods: This retrospective review analyzed the medical charts of patients who had received acupotomy at least once from August 2017 to December 2019 at a single Korean Medicine Clinic. The demographic characteristics, chief complaints, acupotomy treatment sites, and principal diagnosis codes were analyzed. Results: We identified 551 outpatients; the average age was 52 ± 14.26 years and 49.9% were male. The patients underwent an average of 8.47 sessions of acupotomy. Altogether, 35.91% of the acupotomy treatments were administered to the spinal regions, of which 60.01% were in the lumbar region. The codes related to the lumbar spinal condition/disease which were used most frequently. The chief complaints were dizziness, lumbar spinal stenosis, and Dupuytren's contracture in patients over 60 years of age. Conclusion: This is the 1^st analysis of acupotomy treatment patterns in Korea to date. Acupotomy is primarily administered in the treatment of spinal conditions/diseases, especially for those involving the lumbar region. Future studies are necessary to determine the clinical outcomes of patients who receive acupotomy treatment and the safety of this treatment.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.252-264
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• 2008

Objective: To aid the development of a frontal image simulating program, we evaluated the soft tissue frontal changes in relationship to movement of hard tissue with orthognathic surgery of facial asymmetry patients. Methods: Preoperative and postoperative frontal cephalograms and frontal view photographs of 45 mandibular surgery patients with facial asymmetry were obtained in a standardized manner. Vertical and horizontal changes of hard tissue and soft tissue were measured from cephalograms and photographs, respectively. Soft tissue change in result to hard tissue change was then analyzed. Results: Both vertical and horizontal correlation analysis showed a weak relationship between the changes. Hard tissue points that were picked for 1 : 1 mean ratio with soft tissue points did not show any significant relevance. For each soft tissue change, regressive equation was formulated by stepwise multiple regression analysis, and the equation for soft tissue Menton was most reliable in predicting changes. Both vertical and horizontal hard tissue changes were used together in prediction of vertical or horizontal soft tissue change. Conclusions: The results suggest that computerized image simulation using regression analysis may be of help for prediction of soft tissue change, while 1:1 mean ratio method is not useful.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.35 no.6 s.113
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• pp.409-419
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• 2005

Studies for diagnostic analysis using three-dimensional (3D) CT images are recently in progress and needs for 3D craniofacial analysis are increasing in the fields of orthodontics. It is especially essential to analyze the facial soft tissue after orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery. In this study 3D CT images of adults with normal occlusion were taken to analyze the facial soft tissue. Norms were obtained from CT images of adults with normal occlusion (12 males, 11 females) using a computer program named V works 4.0 program. 3D coordinate planes were established using soft tissue Nasion as the reference point and a total of 20 reproducible landmarks of facial soft tissue were obtained using the multiple reconstructive sectional images (axial, sagittal and coronal images) of the V works 4.0 program: soft tissue Nasion, Pronasale, Subnasale, Upper lip center, Lower lip center, soft tissue B, soft tissue Pogonion, soft tissue Menton, Endocanthion (Rt/Lt), Alare lateralis (Rt/Lt), Cheilion (Rt/Lt), soft tissue Gonion (Rt/Lt), Tragus (Rt/Lt), and Zygomatic point (Rt/Lt). According to the established landmarks and measuring method, the 3D CT images of adults with normal occlusion were measured and the normal positional measurements and their Net (${\delta}=\sqrt{{X^2}+{Y^2}+{Z^2}}$) values were obtained using V surgery program, In the linear measurement between landmarks, there was a significant difference between males and females except Na' -Sn and En(Rt)-En(Lt). The normal ranges of Na'-Zy, Na'-Ch and Na'-Go' (facial depth) were obtained, which was difficult to measure by two-dimensional (2D) cephalometric analysis and facial photographs. These data may be used as references for 3D diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with malocclusion and dentofacial deformity.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.405-417
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate proportional characteristics of soft tissue profile in Korean young adults. The sample consisted of 50 young adults(25 males and 25 females) who had pleasing profile and normal occlusion. Soft tissue proportional analysis was performed on lateral cephalograms taken in natural head position. The results were as follows : 1. Mean and standard deviation of proportional analysis were obtained. 2. Horizontal and vertical dimensions were larger in male. But facial proportion had no sexual difference except upper/lower face height (p<0.05). Upper/lower face height was larger in female than in male. 3. Vertical dimensions, except SN-ST, had high correlation with horizontal dimensions. 4. Head positioning error of natural head position was smaller than inter -individual variability of SN line.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-93
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• 1982

The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to achieve normal occlusion and good facial esthetics for individual patients. To produce harmonized facial balance, treatment planning for patient who require orthodontic treatment should include both a hard tissue and soft tissue cephalometric analysis. Author studied to derive the normal standards of soft tissue profile in Koreans by roentgenocephalometric analysis. For this study 12 soft tissue profile landmarks were plotted and 23 linear length, 9 soft tissue thickness, 8 vertical height length, 12 angles of soft tissue profile, and 3 vertical proportion were measured. The subjects consisted of 166 males and 209 females from 7 to 19 years with normal occlusion and acceptable profiles, and were divided into five groups according to age. The obtained results were as follows; 1. From the basis of N-Pog (Nasion-Pogonion) plane, the growth of facial soft tissue in the middle region especially nose area was greater than others facial region. 2. From the basis of G-Pog' (Glabella-soft tissue Pogonion) plane, the values of linear measurement of soft tissue Nasion and Inferior labial sulcus decreased and nose tip grew forward as growing older. 3. The growth of the facial soft tissue thickness was greatest in superior labial sulcus and the thickness of soft tissue nasion gradually became thinner as growing old. 4. The thickness of upper and lower lip was 14.47mm, 14.57mm in adulr male, 12.76mm, 13.78mm in adult female. 5. The soft tissue thickness of the lower lip was thicker than that of upper lip in all age groups and both sexes, 6. The vertical length of the upper and lower lips were 25.04mm, 49.97mm in adult male and 23.50mm, 48.39mm in adult female. 7. By the significant test, there were significant difference between male and female in fifth adult group on all vertical length measurements of lower face. 8. In fifth adult group, the perpendicular distance from LS, LI to Steiner's line and Ricketts' esthetic line were as follow; Steiner line to LS, LI were 7.98mm, 5.84mm in male. Steiner line to LS, LI were 6.71mm, 5.08mm in female. Ricketts' esthetic line to LS, LI were -0.40mm, 1.72mm in male. Ricketts' esthetic line to Ls, LI were -1.38mm 0.65mm in female. 9. In fifth adult group, the facial convexity angle and lower facial component angle were $171.17^{\circ}142.94^{\circ}$ in male and $172.5^{\circ}$, $144.41^{\circ}$ in female.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 2014

Background: This study analyzed whether socio-economic factors affect the cause specific survival of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) soft tissue sarcoma (STS) data were used to identify potential socio-economic disparities in outcome. Time to cause specific death was computed with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used for univariate and multivariate tests, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating curve were computed for predictors for comparison. Results: There were 42,016 patients diagnosed STS from 1973 to 2009. The mean follow up time (S.D.) was 66.6 (81.3) months. Stage, site, grade were significant predictors by univariate tests. Race and rural-urban residence were also important predictors of outcome. These five factors were all statistically significant with Cox analysis. Rural and African-American patients had a 3-4% disadvantage in cause specific survival. Conclusions: Socio-economic factors influence cause specific survival of soft tissue sarcoma. Ensuring access to cancer care may eliminate the outcome disparities.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.35 no.3 s.110
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• pp.163-173
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the asymmetric degree between maxillofacial hard and soft tissues in individuals with facial asymmetry. Computerized tomographies (CT) of 34 adults (17 male, 17 female) who had facial asymmetry were taken. The CT images were transmitted to personal computers and then reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) images through the use of computer software. In order to evaluate the degree of facial asymmetry, 6 measurements were constructed as the hard tissue measurements while 6 counterpart measurements were taken as the soft tissue measurements. The means and standard deviations were obtained for each measurement using 3D measure, then t-test was used to investigate the differences between each hard tissue measurement and the corresponding soft tissue measurement All measurements used in the present study showed statistically significant differences between the hard and soft tissues. The degree of soft tissue asymmetry was smaller than that of corresponding hard tissue asymmetry in case of chin deviation, frontal ramal inclination difference, and frontal corpus inclination difference. On the other hand, the degree of soft tissue asymmetry was greater than that of underlying hard tissue asymmetry in the measurement of lip canting and lip cheilion height difference The present study suggests that asymmetric differences of hard and soft tissue is observed nu facial asymmetric subjects and thus soft tissue analysis is needed in addition to hard tissue analysis when making an evaluation of facial asymmetry.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.319-329
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• 2000

Prediction of the soft tissue changes following hard tissue movement is very important from the esthetic view point for patients who have orthognathic surgery. There are many cephalometric analysis of facial bone and soft tissue on the lower lip and chin region but few soft tissue analysis on the midface after mandibular setback surgery. This study was performed to obtain whether the mandibular posterior movement has influence on the midface and the predictable ratio of post-operative measurement values of the soft tissue changes following mandibular setback surgery. Fifteen patients (8 males and 7 females) who had undergone mandibular setback surgery were selected and analyzed the soft tissue movement on the upper lip and the cheek region. Post-operative changes of the soft tissue measurements after mandibular surgery were examined on pre- and post-operative cephalometrics and the ratio of changes were analyzed after drawing the reference line on the face with the barium sulfate solution. The reference lines were perpendicular to the intercanthal line from infraorbital foramen and lateral canthus. The results obtained were as follows : 1. There were tendancy of anterior movement of soft tissue adjacent the nose after mandibular surgery 2. There were incerased tendancy of the amount of anterior movement from the nasal crease to the cheek region. 3. The amount of anterior movement of the soft tissue was larger below the palatal plane compared with above the palatal plane in the cheek region. 4. The upper lip length was increased and moved posterior direction after mandibular setback surgery 5. The lower lip was moved posterior direction by posterior movement of the mandibular structure 6. Soft tissue of the midface around the nose moved anterior direction after mandibular setback surgery but there was no correlation between the amount of mandibular setback and the amount of the soft tissue changes