Background/purpose As the demand for surgical procedure in the retromolar area of the mandible has been increasing, the identification of the retromolar foramen (RMF) and canal involving the retromolar triangle (RMT) has become an issue of clinical concern. We examined the shape of the RMT, incidence of the RMF, and intraosseous trajectory of the retromolar canal (RMC). Materials and methods A total of 118 sides of dry mandibles, 22 sides of mandibles of 13 cadavers, and cone-beam computed tomography (CT) images of 100 patients were examined. Micro-CT data of 13 cadavers were reconstructed using imaging analysis software for the presence of an RMC. RMCs were classified into three types according to the courses. The width and location of the RMCs were evaluated. Results The shape of the RMT was classified into three categories, with the most common type being the triangular type (81.4%). Forty-seven retromolar foramina (33.6%) were observed in 140 sides of mandibles. The horizontal distances from the RMF to the second and third molars were 12.1 ± 3.3 mm and 5.8 ± 3.6 mm (mean ± standard deviation), respectively, and the distance from the mandibular foramen to the arising point of the RMC and the vertical distance from the RMF to the mandibular canal were 21.5 ± 11.2 mm and 15.3 ± 4.6 mm, respectively. Conclusion This study used various methods to obtain precise anatomical data on the RMT, foramen, and canal in Koreans. The reported findings may be helpful for the clinical management of patients.

Mangosteen has long been used as a traditional medicine and is known to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Although the effects of α-mangostin, a natural compound extracted from the pericarp of mangosteen, have been investigated in many studies, there is limited data on the effects of the compound in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In this study, α-mangostin was assessed as a potential anticancer agent against human OSCC cells. α-Mangostin inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell death in OSCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner with little to no effect on normal human PDLF cells. α-Mangostin treatment clearly showed apoptotic evidences such as nuclear fragmentation and accumulation of annexin V and PI-positive cells on OSCC cells. α-Mangostin treatment also caused the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and the translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol. The expressions of the mitochondria-related proteins were activated by α-mangostin. Treatment with α-mangostin also induced G1 phase arrest and downregulated cell cycle-related proteins (CDK/cyclin). Hence, α-mangostin specifically induces cell death and inhibits proliferation in OSCC cells via the intrinsic apoptosis pathway and cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, suggesting that α-mangostin may be an effective agent for the treatment of OSCC.

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.

This study was conducted to accumulate anatomic data on the lacrimal sac and duct with regard to the positional relationships among the surrounding structures to establish the information for use in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

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