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Aims: Oral tumors are the most frequent diseases that lead to mandibular defects, but because they are so rare, it is difficult to obtain the necessary large capital investment to establish and introduce a mandibular reconstruction system. Therefore, we developed the Resin Frame method within the current facilities that objectively increases mandibular reproducibility without requiring advanced techniques. Methods: Subjects comprised 25 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction by the resin frame method in the Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Jichi Medical University Hospital between October 2013 and August 2015, and 25 patients who underwent the mandibular reconstruction by the conventional method between September 2007 and November 2011. All mandibles were reconstructed using fibula or iliac bones with a reconstruction plate. The computed tomography (CT) Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data before and after the operation were saved. Then, the layer function was used to fuse the pre- and postoperative CT images. Based on measured area, the concordance rate that is matching percentages between pre- and postoperative mandibles were calculated. We evaluated the difference between the concordance rate of the Resin Frame method and the conventional method of mandibular reconstruction. Results: Concordance rates for the resin frame method and conventional surgery were 75.09±6.09% and 67.39±13.44%, respectively, showing a significant difference (p=0.032, p lessthan 0.05). Conclusion: The resin frame method represents a mandibular reconstruction system that increases reproduction accuracy and can be implemented at current facilities using simple, objective techniques.

Small cell carcinoma in the oral and maxillofacial region is an extremely rare, high-grade malignancy. We report a case of small cell carcinoma in the palatal mucosa. An 80-year-old man was referred to our clinic with swelling in the right maxilla. An 80-mm lymph node was seen in the right neck. The clinical diagnosis was malignant tumor of the palatal mucosa and biopsy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was small cell carcinoma. Systemic examination diagnosed cervical lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis and multiple bone metastases. Considering the clinical stage and performance status, best supportive care was selected. The patient died of multiple-organ failure 3 months after the first visit.

We report a very rare case of systemic amyloidosis occurring in bilateral mandibular condyles and showing condylar bone destruction and lesions in the buccal mucosa bilaterally. The patient was a 61-year-old man complaining of malocclusion in which the lower teeth extended abnormally over the upper teeth. He first noticed this about 1 year earlier. Medical history included renal cancer, rheumatic myalgia in multiple joints, osteoporosis, hypothyroidism, chronic hepatitis, malignant lymphoma and hemodialysis for renal failure. Panoramic radiography and computed tomography showed bone destruction in bilateral mandibular condyles and a soft tissue mass lesion around the condyle. Slightly raised mass lesions with areas of whitish and purplish coloration were also observed on the buccal mucosa bilaterally. Histopathological examination revealed amyloid deposition in these lesions, and AA and/or Aβ2M amyloidosis was diagnosed. However, we were informed that the patient died within 3 months from when he had a last check-up at our clinic due to systemic problems.

In order to understand neutron irradiation embrittlement in high fluence regions, statistical analysis using the Bayesian nonparametric (BNP) method was performed for the Japanese surveillance and material test reactor irradiation database. The BNP method is essentially expressed as an infinite summation of normal distributions, with input data being subdivided into clusters with identical statistical parameters, such as mean and standard deviation, for each cluster to estimate shifts in ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). The clusters typically depend on chemical compositions, irradiation conditions, and the irradiation embrittlement. Specific variables contributing to the irradiation embrittlement include the content of Cu, Ni, P, Si, and Mn in the pressure vessel steels, neutron flux, neutron fluence, and irradiation temperatures. It was found that the measured shifts of DBTT correlated well with the calculated ones. Data associated with the same materials were subdivided into the same clusters even if neutron fluences were increased.

The patient was a 69-year-old woman. She initially consulted our institute with a chief complaint of swelling in bilateral submandibular glands and dry mouth. A localized, movable hard elastic mass was observed in bilateral submandibular and parotid glands. Oral dryness and atrophy of the lingual papilla were observed. The patient had a history of malignant lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma), for which she had undergone two courses of CHOP therapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) in addition to radiotherapy at 48 years of age. Biopsy of the submandibular gland was performed in our department. The extracted submandibular gland was accompanied by elastic, hard induration. Amyloid deposition accompanying lymphocytic infiltration was histopathologically observed from the submandibular gland.

A rheo-optical method; based on pulsed compression ATR dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) step scan time-resolved-FT-IR/2D-IR spectroscopy; is further improved. By inserting a tungsten carbide block with massive weight between a film sample and a piezo electric actuator; a ring-down response was successfully generated according to the inertial effect. As a result; it became possible to generate the multiplexed compression stress; which has a broad frequency distribution according to the viscoelasticity characteristic of polymer films. For crystallized poly (ethylene terephthalate); dynamic response differences among C O; C C O stretching; and trans CH 2 wagging vibration region was found at 45.5 kHz Fourier frequency. In the case of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy-hexanoate); C O stretching vibration regions also show different dynamic feature with increasing Fourier frequencies.

The applicability of internal additives for mass scale calibration in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was studied. Relation between the ions selected for mass scale calibration and the relative mass accuracy of the target molecular ions was investigated. Didecyldimethylammonium bromide (dC10DMA+Br−), dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (dC18DMA+Cl−) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C14TMA+Cl−) as target molecules and octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C18TMA+Cl−) as an internal additive were prepared for positive TOF-SIMS spectra. Tinuvin 770 as a target molecule and sodium hexadecyl sulfate (C16OSO3−Na+) as an internal additive were used to evaluate negative TOF-SIMS spectra. In the case of dC10DMA+Br−, dC18DMA+Cl− and Tinuvin 770, the relative mass accuracy of the target molecular ions tends to be improved by mass scale calibration using the molecular ion of the internal additive. The relative mass accuracy of the molecular ion of the target ensured by the mass scale calibration using internal additives was less than approximately ±46 ppm. In some cases, however, internal additives highly effect on samples and change the sample properties because of coverage of the sample, removing a target molecule or causing matrix effects. It is necessary to evaluate the influence of the internal additive addition before applying internal additives. The detection of target ion peak should be especially confirmed after the addition of the internal additive. When samples are not influenced by internal additive addition, the internal additive method is effective for accurate mass calibration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective Swallowing statuses in patients with advanced cancers that require reconstruction have not been studied well. The relationship between topography of the reconstructed upper airway and swallowing status was evaluated. Material and methods Subjects comprised 19 cases of tongue cancer and 10 cases of mandibular cancer who underwent resection of the primary lesion and reconstructive surgery with the vascularized free flap. CT image data preoperatively and postoperatively were utilized to evaluate morphological airway changes. Videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS) was performed postoperatively. Aspiration and laryngeal penetration were noted and compared with morphological airway changes. Results Regarding postoperative airway morphology, no significant differences in postoperative airway changes were apparent between tongue and mandibular cancers. In postoperative VFSS, aspiration and/or laryngeal penetration was seen in 32% of the tongue cancer cases and 20% of the mandibular cancer cases. Conclusion Cases with aspiration and/or laryngeal penetration revealed less reduction of postoperative cross-sectional area compared to other cases.

A suite of methods has been established to quantitatively estimate uncertainties existed in source term analysis during a nuclear reactor severe accident. The accident sequence occurred at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP) is taken as an example in which it is numerically modeled via the integrated severe accident code MELCOR 1.8.5. This standardized approach mainly consists of four steps: screening analysis, random sampling, numerical computation and verification of uncertainty distributions. First, by using an individually randomized one-factor-at-a-time screening method, a group of variables are preliminarily determined as important uncertain variables. Second, appropriate probability distributions are assigned to all selected variables. Multiple sets of random samples are generated using Latin Hypercube sampling combined with the consideration of rank correlation among input variables. Third, random samples of all selected variables are inputted into MELCOR 1.8.5. Numerical simulation with multiple code runs is implemented. Finally, uncertainty distributions for representative source terms (barium cesium, cesium iodide and tellurium) are obtained and verified. The technique of Bayesian nonparametric density estimation is applied to obtain probability density functions of interested source terms. In order to obtain a reasonable uncertainty distribution, several rounds of Latin Hypercube sampling and computation are conducted. As an alternative method to Wilks sampling criteria, the difference of probability density functions is evaluated through the comparison based on the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence. With the subjective judgment of small enough KL divergence, after a certain number of numerical computations, the uncertainty distributions of representative source terms are considered as stable enough as reliable results.

Large-scale computer programs simulate severe accident phenomena and often have a moderate-to-large number of models and input variables. Analytical solutions to uncertainty distributions of interested source terms are impractical, and influential inputs on outputs are hard to discover. Additionally, runs of such computer programs, or integral codes, are time-consuming and hence expensive. This article presents an integrated approach to the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for nuclear reactor severe accident source terms, with an example which simulates an accident sequence similar to that occurred at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using an integral code, MELCOR. Monte Carlo based uncertainty analysis has been elaborated to investigate released fractions of representative radionuclides, Cs and CsI. In order to estimate sensitivity of inputs, which have a substantial influence on the core melt progression and the transportation process of radionuclides, a variance decomposition method is applied. Stochastic process, specifically a Dirichlet process, is applied to construct a surrogate model in sensitivity analysis as a substitute of the code. The surrogate model is cross-validated by comparing with corresponding results of MELCOR. The analysis with the simpler model avoids laborious computational cost so that importance measures for input factors are obtained successfully.

A full-scope method is constructed to reveal source term uncertainties and to identify influential inputs during a severe accident at a nuclear power plant (NPP). An integrated severe accident code, MELCOR Ver. 1.8.5, is used as a tool to simulate the accident similar to that occurred at Unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi NPP. In order to figure out how much radioactive materials are released from the containment to the environment during the accident, Monte Carlo based uncertainty analysis is performed. Generally, in order to evaluate the influence of uncertain inputs on the output, a large number of code runs are required in the global sensitivity analysis. To avoid the laborious computational cost for the global sensitivity analysis via MELCOR, a surrogate stochastic model is built using a Bayesian nonparametric approach, Dirichlet process. Probability distributions derived from uncertainty analysis using MELCOR and the stochastic model show good agreement. The appropriateness of the stochastic model is cross-validated through the comparison with MELCOR results. The importance measure of uncertain input variables are calculated according to their influences on the uncertainty distribution as first-order effect and total effect. The validity of the present methodology is demonstrated through an example with three uncertain input variables.

Probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) is a rational methodology in structural integrity evaluation and risk assessment of aged piping in nuclear power plants. Several PFM analysis codes have been improved or developed in Japan, such as PRAISE-JNES and PASCAL-SP. Although they were developed for different purposes, some basic functions are almost the same. In this paper, in order to confirm the reliability and applicability of two PFM analysis codes, PRAISE-JNES and PASCAL-SP, a benchmark analysis is carried out using the basic functions in these two codes, considering representative piping systems in nuclear power plants and fatigue as the typical aging mechanisms. We discussed the reliability and applicability of these codes based on a previously proposed criterion to judge quantitatively whether the differences between the analysis results from two PFM analysis codes can be acceptable. Through the benchmark analysis, it is concluded that the analysis results of these two codes are in good agreements quantitatively.

A novel method with quaternary ammonium salts as internal additives has been applied to the mass scale calibration of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Five kinds of quaternary ammonium salts, octyltrimethylammonium bromide (C8TMA), tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (C14TMA), octadecytrimethylammonium chloride (C18TMA), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride (Bzl) were diluted with distilled water and conc-NH3 and were mixed in equal quantities. The solution was added to Tinuvin 770 coated on a Si wafer. Then, the sample was measured by TOF-SIMS. The relation between the relative mass accuracy of molecular ions of Tinuvin 770 and the combinations of ions selected for the mass scale calibration was investigated. To improve the mass accuracy of the molecular ion of Tinuvin 770, ions should be selected for the mass scale calibration in the following two ways: one way is for ions to consist only of molecular ions of C8TMA, C14TMA and C18TMA, and the other way is for ions to include the molecular ion of C18TMA, along with the CXHY fragment ions. These results support the proposition of ISO 13084. The novel method with internal additives is effective to improve the mass accuracy of high-mass ions. Quaternary ammonium salts are potential candidates of internal additives.

Mikulicz's disease is a systemic IgG4-related condition that has recently been referred to as IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis. We describe relapsed IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis, so called Mikulicz's disease in a 69-year-old man who was administered with prednisolone (40 mg/day) during March 2007. The dosage was tapered to 0.5 mg/day over a period of 2 years with observation of the patient's clinical course. However, the bilateral submandibular and parotid glands became swollen in July 2009. A whole-body examination revealed no other illnesses or complications. A biopsy of the submandibular gland revealed IgG4-positive plasma cells. Relapsed Mikulicz's disease was diagnosed and the patient was started on prednisolone (40 mg/day) again. At the time of writing, the patient is being maintained on 7 mg/day of prednisolone.

In this paper, a benchmark analysis was conducted using two probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis codes for aged piping in nuclear power plants, in order to confirm their reliability and applicability. These analysis codes have been improved or developed in Japan for the structural integrity evaluation and risk assessment considering the age related degradation mechanisms. In the benchmark analysis, the primary loop recirculation system piping in the boiling water reactor was selected as the typical piping system and stress corrosion cracking and fatigue were taken into account as the typical aging mechanisms. Moreover, a criterion was proposed for judging whether the differences between analysis results from the two codes are acceptable. This criterion is useful for general benchmark analysis of probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis codes. Based on the benchmark analysis results and numerical investigation, it was concluded that the analysis results of these two codes agree very well.

Probabilistic fracture mechanics is a rational methodology in structural reliability evaluation and risk assessment for aged piping in nuclear power plants. Several probabilistic fracture mechanical analysis codes have been improved or developed in Japan. To verify the reliability and applicability of two of these codes, we did a benchmark analysis using their basic functions in consideration of representative piping systems in nuclear power plants and typical aging mechanisms. Based on the analysis results, we concluded that the analysis results of these two codes are in good agreement.

Bare bone graft is a method of mandibular reconstruction involving vascularised iliac bone graft without a skin flap, and secondary epithelialisation of the exposed iliac bone surface in the oral cavity. We herein report two cases of bare bone graft with dental implant for mandibular defect after tumour resection. Case 1: A 36-year-old woman with odontogenic myxoma of the left mandible underwent reconstruction with a free vascularised iliac flap after segmental resection of the mandible. The exposed iliac bone surface in the oral cavity required about 2 months for epithelialisation. Two implants were placed into the reconstructed mandible 12 months after initial surgery, and prosthetic rehabilitation was performed successfully after 6 months of osseointegration period. Case 2: A 32-year-old woman with desmoplastic ameloblastoma of the right mandible underwent reconstruction using free iliac bone after segmental resection of the mandible. As the reconstructed bone failed after surgery, the left mandible was reconstructed using a free vascularised iliac flap. The exposed iliac bone surface in the oral cavity required about 2 months for epithelialisation. Four implants were placed into the reconstructed mandible 17 months after surgery, and prosthetic rehabilitation was performed successfully after 6 months of osseointegration period. In both cases, the mandibular contour and occlusal function were satisfactory.

A 45-year-old Japanese woman presented complaining of swelling of the right mandible. Initial histopathological diagnosis was cemental dysplasia. Because of rapid enlargement of the lesion, surgical resection was performed. The post-surgical second histopathological diagnosis was osteosarcoma. In spite of additional treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient died 32 months after the initial visit. Autopsy revealed osteosarcoma with metastases infiltrating of a number of organs, including the lungs, heart, and vertebrae.

To evaluate the present errors in the calibration of the mass scale of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) in the practical field of Japanese industries, ToF-SIMS Working Group (WG) of Surface Analysis Society of Japan (SASJ) conducted the inter-laboratory studies among 14 instruments in 2007, 2008 and 2009. There was significant scatter over 200 ppm in the relative mass accuracy at the first inter-laboratory test in 2007. Clearly, this is poor compared with the requirement for identification. However, the great deviation in the mass accuracy has been dramatically decreased at the second and third inter-laboratory tests by the accumulating knowledge through the discussion among the WG. Based on the results obtained, a practical guide to analysts for mass scale calibration will be provided in near future.

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC), which affects the structural integrity of reactor component, has been observed at some piping joints made by austenitic stainless steel in BWR plants. It is well known that the SCC behavior is significantly scattered depending upon the various conditions such as materials, piping geometry, crack growth rate, weld residual stress, and so on. Since probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis method treats such scatter and uncertainties in the structural integrity evaluation, it is, therefore, useful to apply the PFM analysis to the evaluation of the piping integrity. In JAEA, the PFM analysis code of PASCAL-SP for aged piping has been developed based on Monte Carlo method as described in our previous paper1). Among the conditions related to SCC behavior, weld residual stress near the welded joint is one of the most important factors to assess the structural integrity of piping because the tensile residual stress becomes a driving force of a SCC. Welding conditions such as heat input, welding speed and piping geometry affect weld residual stress distribution at the welded joint of piping. Effect of the welding conditions on the weld residual stress distribution has not yet been evaluated quantitatively. Hence, in this study, an effect of uncertainty of welding conditions, such as scatters of heat input and welding speed during welding, on weld residual stress at the piping butt-welds was evaluated using the simulation method by varying the welding conditions. Probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis using PASCAL-SP was also performed to evaluate the effect of uncertainty of weld residual stress on the break probability of piping. It was clarified that the break probability increased with increasing the uncertainties of residual stress.

A simple and rapid method for the highly sensitive determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water was developed. Benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, perylene, and pyrene in water were concentrated into sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-alumina admicelles. The collection was performed by adding SDS and alumina particles into the sample solution at pH 2. After gentle mixing, the resulting suspension was passed through a membrane filter to collect the SDS admicelles containing highly concentrated PAHs. The filter was placed on a slide glass and then covered admicellar layer with a fused silica glass plate before setting in a fluorescence spectrometer. Benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, perylene, and pyrene were selectively determined by the synchronous fluorescence scan (SFS) analysis with keeping wavelength intervals between excitation and emission to 98, 35, 29, and 45 nm, respectively. Because of the minimum spectral overlapping, 1–40 ng l −1 of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and perylene as well as 10–150 ng l −1 of pyrene were selectively determined with eliminating the interferences of other 12 PAHs. The detection limits were 0.3 ng l −1 for benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and perylene, and 1 ng l −1 for pyrene. They were 2–3 orders of magnitude lower than the detection limits in normal aqueous micellar solutions. The application to water analysis was studied.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and limitations of fluoro-2-deoxy- D-glucose—positron emission tomography for metastatic neck disease secondary to oral squamous cell carcinoma. This study specifically examined the limitations of the procedure. Materials and Methods: From April 2004 to October 2007, 35 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma underwent computed tomography, ultrasound, and fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose—positron emission tomography before treatment with neck dissection. After neck dissection, the results of computed tomography/ultrasound and positron emission tomography imaging were correlated with the histopathological findings of the cervical lymph nodes. Results: Positron emission tomography of the cervical lymph nodes was positive for 20 patients, 16 of who were demonstrated to have metastases on histopathological examination. Of the 4 falsepositive results, 3 were reactive lymphadenitis and 1 was sarcoidosis. Positron emission tomography was negative for 15 patients. Two of these patients had false-negative results, as metastatic disease was found at neck dissection. In 1 patient, the metastatic lymph node was largely keratinised, while micrometastasis was evident in the other patient. Pathological findings were compared with imaging results to determine the relative efficacies of positron emission tomography (accuracy, 82.9%; sensitivity, 88.8%; specificity, 76.5%), computed tomography (accuracy, 85.7%; sensitivity, 88.8%; specificity, 82.4%), and ultrasound (accuracy, 88.6%; sensitivity, 88.8%; specificity, 88.2%). There were no significant differences on statistical analysis. Conclusion: Positron emission tomography appears to have significant potential for the detection of lymph node metastasis. However, fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose—positron emission tomography should not be used as the sole method of imaging for initial investigation of oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervical lymph node metastasis. The surgical management of neck lymph node metastasis should not be based on fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose—positron emission tomography findings alone. Use of other imaging modalities in addition to fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose—positron emission tomography should increase the diagnostic accuracy over fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose—positron emission tomography alone.

Several oblique cutting methods, including a recently developed gradient shaving preparation, for sample pretreatments have been developed. The combination of the above pretreatment method and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry provides very useful depth-profiling information in the analysis of organic materials for practical use. In this report, some results measured by combinations of the several oblique cutting methods and ToF-SIMS measurements are introduced.

We demonstrated here fascicle surface functionalization of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) [PTFE] sheet through an atmospheric pressure plasma liquid deposition [APPLD] technique to design the interface for improvement of copper plated layer adhesion. We found that radiation with atmospheric pressure plasma to the PTFE sheet covered with thin liquid film, containing both an ion trapping polymer and copper ion (Cu 2+ ), simultaneously brought about the direct polymer grafting onto the PTFE surface and Cu 2+ ion reduction to metallic Cu. The treated surface was characterized by water contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

We demonstrated here fascicle copper (Cu) metallization of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) [PTFE] surface through an atmospheric pressure plasma liquid deposition [APPLD] technique to design the interface for high frequency electronic devices. We found that exposing with atmospheric pressure helium plasma to the PTFE surface covered with thin liquid film, containing both poly(4-vinylpyridine) as a metal ion trapping polymer and copper acetate, simultaneously offered the plasma-induced direct graft polymerization and the reduction of Cu2+. The modified surface was characterized by using several analytical techniques, including water contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

We describe the case of a 36-year-old Argentinean man who developed chronic paracoccidioidomycosis, with oral and cutaneous lesions, 13 years after last living in South America. The patient had lived in Argentina until 1991 before relocating to Japan.

A case of gingival squamous cell carcinoma producing G-CSF is reported.A 78-year-old man presented with a granulated mass in the right upper gingiva. Pathological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed a welldifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Laboratory ndings on admission showed marked leukocytosis (12.3×103/μl).We had planned a partial resection of the maxilla under general anesthesia. However, the operation was canceled on the originally scheduled day, because of fever and leukocytosis (13.6×103/μl).After 10 days, tumor resection was performed under general anesthesia, despite fever and leukocytosis (18.3×103/μl). Postoperatively, the patient's white blood cell count soon decreased, and the fever disappeared.Immunohistochemically staining with monoclonal anti-G-CSF antibody was positive. The serum G-CSF concentration reached an abnormally high level preoperatively, which soon decreased to the normal range postoperatively.We diagnosed the disease as gingival squamous cell carcinoma producing G-CSF.

The formation of concentric ring colonies by bacterial species Bacillus subtilis and Proteus mirabilis has been investigated experimentally, focusing our attention on the dependence of local cell density upon the bacterial motility. It has been confirmed that these concentric ring colonies reflect the periodic change of the bacterial motility between motile cell state and immotile cell state. We conclude that this periodic change is macroscopically determined neither by biological factors (i.e., biological clock) nor by chemical factors (chemotaxis as inhibitor). And our experimental results strongly suggest that the essential factor for the change of the bacterial motility during concentric ring formation is the local cell density.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the level of IL-6 in periimplant crevicular fluid (PICF) and peri-implant conditions. Sixty-six implants were categorized into three different groups of peri-implantitis (PI), peri-implant mucositis (MI) and healthy implants (HI) based on the clinical parameters. IL-6 concentrations in PICF were detected by ELISA. The differences among HI (1.74 ± 1.66ng/ml), MI (5.53 ± 1.57ng/ml) and PI (9.36 ± 5.56ng/ml) were statistically significant (p

Invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis are two factors governing the poor prognosis of patients with tongue cancer. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been implicated in invasion and lymph node metastasis of several tumor types. However, the relationship between MMP-9 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics in human tongue cancer has little been reported. This study included 48 patients with tongue cancer, of which 18 cases showed lymph node metastasis. The relationship between MMP-9 expression and the mode of invasion and nodal involvement was immunohistochemically examined. MMP-9 overexpression was identified in 31 cases (64.6 %). Frequent expression of MMP-9 was statistically significant (p

We report a case of oral ulceration during the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus with a dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin. The patient was a 77-year-old woman with oral ulceration of the left lower labial mucosa. The ulcer showed a flat, clean surface with no bleeding. Ulcer margins were slightly raised and showed no induration. Topical steroid proved ineffective and the ulcer was surgically resected, but soon recurred. After cessation of sitagliptin, the lesion epithelialized within 3 weeks. This report is the first report of oral ulceration induced by DPP-4 inhibitor.

The formation of concentric ring-like colonies by bacterial species Bacillus subtilis has been investigated, focusing our attention on the effect of local cell density upon the bacterial motility: ...

Induction of mucosal immunity by direct immunization of mucosal surfaces has been considered for vaccine approaches including DNA vaccines. In this study, we used a particle-mediated gene gun system in hamster, rabbit, and canine models to determine suitable conditions for foreign gene delivery to the oral mucosa. The results showed expression of the marker genes (green fluorescent protein gene and luciferase gene) in the oral mucosa that was substantially higher compared with skin. DNA vaccination was performed with influenza A/WSN/33(H1N1) hemagglutinin cDNA combined with mouse interleukin-18 (IL-18) cDNA. Results with the canine model showed that the technique was safe for clinical application. Our results suggested that oral mucosal gene immunization using a gene gun may have great potential.

Disability and the resulting lowered quality of life are serious issues accompanying increased longevity. Curiously, despite its potential contribution to aging theory, complete statistical and etiological structures of this common and unwelcome aging phenotype before death have not been well identified. Another neglected issue in aging and disability is the principles of phylogenesis and morphogenesis, which contemporary life science invariably starts with. In the present review these two related subjects are addressed, with an introduction of an analysis on patients and published data. Statistically rigorous log–normal and normal distributions distinguish disability for its duration and age-wise distribution, respectively. Multiple pathology and diverse effects of various endogenous diseases on disability are confirmed. The robust long-tailed log–normal distribution for various phases of disability validates the fact that patients in disability undergo series of stochastic subprocesses of many independent endogenous diseases until death. For 60% of patients, the log–normal distribution is mimicked by a random walk model. Diseases of core organs are major causes of the long tails. A declining force of natural selection after reproduction and trade-off of life history through pleiotropy of the genes are considered to be the roots of aging. The attenuated selection pressure and the resulting decrease of genetic constraints produce an increased opportunity for chance and stochastics. Elucidated stochastic behaviors of disability underscore the key role of chance in aging. Evolutionary modifications in the development of the structure tend to favor developmentally later stages first. Distal parts are developmentally last, therefore most subject to modification. The rate of molecular evolution of the genes is also found to be relatively slow at the core and rapid at the edge of cells and organs. Therefore, systems at the core must be relatively slow and inactive to comply with pleiotropy and trade-offs in comparison with systems at the edge. Hence, against flat and probabilistic aging, the core organs must be moulded to be more robust with a lower threshold for dysfunction, to age relatively slowly, and should have less of a disease quota in aging. The principle of core protective aging assures possibilities not only to reduce disability but also to accomplish the Third Age as well. Finally, it must also be acknowledged that the principle is a double-edged sword. Paradoxically, the developed biological and societal organization provides protection for the injured core, and so develops long tails of disability. The principle of core protective aging re-emphasizes the key role of prevention in order to reduce the amount of disability.

Long tails of the duration distributions for disabilities in the aged are analyzed. Log–normal distribution shows excellent fit with various data on the durations of disabilities, irrespective of their severity. Persisting long tails suggest the fractal nature of disability distributions. For approximately 60% of the patients, the duration distributions are also mimicked by the first passage time distribution (FPTD) of one-dimensional Brownian motion. The finding that the data fit the log–normal distribution very well and FPTD fairly well reveals disability for the aged to be a stochastic process of suffering successively from various endogenous diseases, i.e., multiple pathology.