The limitation of markers for chronic oral diseases such as oral lichen planus (OLP) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The pathogenesis of OLP and BMS is not yet fully understood. Therefore, diagnoses are mainly based on the observation of clinical features and history, rather than established markers. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are used to determine the state of inflammation; however, these markers have some limitations. Recently, a new inflammatory marker, pentraxin-3 (PTX3), has been identified in other systemic inflammatory diseases. PTX3 is a member of the pentraxin family and is classified as a long pentraxin. PTX3 is found in various human tissues, whereas the classical short pentraxin, CRP, is secreted only in the liver. PTX3 is a marker of autoimmune diseases and periodontitis. However, there are no studies on PTX3 in OLP and BMS; therefore, we sought to determine if PTX3 can be a diagnostic marker for OLP and BMS. PTX3 was found to be correlated with other inflammatory markers, suggesting its diagnostic value for inflammatory oral diseases. We also found that the PTX3 levels were lower in patients with OLP and BMS. ESR levels were elevated in the OLP and BMS groups, but CRP levels were not. Despite these associations, no correlation was found between PTX3 expression and other known clinical features of OLP and BMS. We suggest that PTX3 plays a role in the immunological and neurological pathways involved in the complex pathogenesis of OLP and BMS.

Malignant melanoma is a highly malignant tumor derived from melanocyte. Malignant melanoma of the oral cavity occurs mainly in the palatine mucosa and the maxillary gingiva in men in their 50s. Malignant melanoma can be divided into pigmented and non-pigmented(amelanotic). Among them, non-pigmented malignant melanoma accounts for 2-8% of all malignant melanomas. Pigmented malignant melanoma is detected through changes in pigmentation, whereas non-pigmented malignant melanoma is characterized by no pattern of color change. In this study, at the initial visit, a malignant lesion was suspected and a biopsy was performed. According to the biopsy results, it was diagnosed as polymorphic sarcoma, but the histological examination performed during the operation revealed that it was amelanotic melanoma. As such, the differential diagnosis is important because there is no clinical change in non-pigmented malignant melanoma. Diseases to be differentially diagnosed when non-pigmented malignant melanoma occurs in the oral cavity include squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, inflammation, and osteomyelitis. In this study, we report a case that showed the histopathological characteristics of malignant melanoma without superficial pigmentation.

The purpose of this study was to identify the oral bacterial species in sequestra from patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Fifteen patients with BRONJ (2 males and 13 females) were evaluated. Clinical features, radiographic findings, and bisphosphonate intake history were investigated. All patients were treated with surgical methods (curettage or sequestrectomy). Infected bone samples were collected from the affected BRONJ site. Ten bacterial species were selected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. Two to nine bacterial species were detected by PCR. Gram-negative species were predominant and all identified bacteria were anaerobes. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola were detected at high levels. These are major pathogenic species in periodontal disease. Orthopantomographic radiographs showed generalized alveolar bone loss in most patients. These radiographic findings may provide evidence of chronic periodontitis as a pre-existing inflammatory disease. Most patients had experienced a predisposing dental procedure, such as tooth extraction. Sequestra (necrotic bone) infected with oral bacterial species may be an important risk factor for BRONJ. As such, prevention and management of BRONJ may rely on effective control of bacteria in the oral cavity.

This study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of surgical treatment in stage 2 medication related osteonecrosis of jaw(MRONJ) patients. Retrospective analysis was performed about patients who were treated with medication related osteonecrosis of jaw from 2015 to 2017. 25 Patients were treated by a single surgeon at the Department of Oral Surgery, Dental Hospital, Pusan National University. The treatment methods they received were conservative or surgical. The results of treatment were classified as "fail" and "success" and the prognosis according to the treatment method was compared. Conservative treatment 14.29% (2 cases), sequestrectomy 64.29% (9 cases) and saucerization 21.43% (3 cases) were performed in the MRONJ group, and 2 treatment failures were encountered after conservative treatment and 1 after saucerization. Surgical treatment resulted in better outcomes in stage 2 MRONJ patients. Furthermore, treatments were deemed successful when surrounding necrotic bone containing sequestrum was reliably removed. Therefore, this study suggests that the treatment of "stage 2" MRONJ should actively consider surgical treatment.

As a plan for establishing Korea's cultural identity and its competitive edge in the world market and for enhancing Korea’s cultural status, creative and unique high value-added cultural products need to be developed utilizing our inherent cultural assets. Accordingly, this study focused on the development of the design of fashion cultural products that utilize the convergence of Hangeul our peculiar font style and Korea's cultural heritage, which is registered as part of UNESCO’s World Heritage. A design method was devised that converges archetypal images of cultural property with the unique Hangeul font in a way that targets Korea's symbolic architectures. The symbolic architecture includes Korea’s world-heritage pagoda architecture, such as Seokgatap pagoda and Dabotap pagoda at Bulguksa temple. It also included the architecture of royal palace, such as Injeongjeon hall at Changdeokgung palace. Finally, it also included the architecture of the fortress wall, such as Paldalmun gate in Hwaseong fortress. Thus, by developing cultural assets made from a convergence between architecture and the Hangeul font as a consumer-product image that has universality, the possibility of cultural products was pursued by applying color planning after an analysis that involved extracting the compositional colors of the flags of the world. This research and approach will lead to opportunities for further progress for Korea's cultural products in the global market as a results of additional recognition for their value, excellence, and universal appeal.

The purpose of this study is to develop a design as a high value-added exportable industrial product by developing a cultural product, that can be accepted as having universal beauty by people in the Western cultural area. This is done by, re-analyzing it from a modern perspective after applying the color representation, used in pop art, to Shin Saimdang’s Chochungdo (草蟲圖, insects on flowers) which clearly expresses Korea’s national emotion and aesthetic consciousness. The research method depends upon developing cultural products such as scarfs, neckties, handkerchiefs, and folding fans, which are communicated in the global market The expressive technique of pop art is utilized after reconstructing the color sensation of pop art in the aesthetic dimension of the natural, physical, and formative beauty of Chochungdo based on the whole understanding of our country’s genre of Chochungdo and Western pop art. With regard to the colors in the developed design, the basic colors were extracted and applied by selecting 10 pieces in the flower series, which were made with the silkscreen printmaking technique in the 1970s by Andy Warhol, a master in pop art. A work that integrates pop art, a global art trend, with Korean traditional culture is expected to highlight Korean traditional culture in the global cultural era.