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Psychological palmar sweating is a phenomenon that occurs with emotional changes such as anxiety, fear, and anger. To identify the psychological anxiety and stress experienced by children visiting a dental office, we measured the amount of psychological palmar sweating using a sudorometer and obtained the following results. 1. Amount of sweating in dental office The amount of sweating was largest in both boys and girls when they were guided to the dental chair, followed by the period during tooth brushing and turbine sound. The least sweating occurred while they were in the waiting room. In boys, significant differences in sweating were seen between the times spent in the waiting room and when guided to the chair, and between the times when they were guided to the chair and taught tooth brushing. In girls, significant differences were seen between the times spent in the waiting room and when guided to the chair, between the times when guided to the chair and taught tooth brushing, and between being guided to the chair and turbine sound. 2. Amount of sweating by gender In the dental office, the amount of sweating was larger in girls than in boys during all times: while in the waiting room, when guided to the chair, during tooth brushing and turbine sound. However, no significant differences were seen between boys and girls. The method presented in our study maybe very useful to quantitatively understand the psychological state of children in dental offices who may be unable to express their own feelings well.

The objective of the study was to examine changes in palate section area, palate projection area and palate volume according to age. Using the maxillary dentition models, the palates of 10-, 12- and 14-year old children, who were in the early permanent dentition period, were measured threedimensionally using the semiconductor laser. Palate section areas between canines, the first premolars, second premolars and first molars became greater as children aged because the palate enlarged vertically with the growth and development of the maxilla. The palate projection area became greater as children aged because the palate enlarged laterally with the growth and development of the maxilla. The palate volume became greater as children aged because the palate enlarged laterally and vertically.

The objective of the study was to make three dimensional measurements of the maxillary palate of 3- and 4-year old children who have developed anterior cross bite of deciduous dentition using a semiconductor laser. The effects of anterior cross bite were examined on the interdentition section area, the intradentition projection area, and the palate volume. Compared with normal occlusion, anterior cross bite of deciduous dentition caused smaller interdentition section areas at the deciduous canines and the primary first molars, and greater interdentition section areas at the primary second molars and between the posterior margins of the primary second molars. The intradentition projection area at the anterior dentition was smaller in anterior cross bite than in normal occlusion. The intradentition projection area at the posterior dentition in anterior cross bite was nearly the same as that in normal occlusion. The anterior palate volume was smaller and the posterior palate volume was greater in anterior cross bite than in normal occlusion. The above results suggest that anterior cross bite in deciduous dentition suppresses anterior growth and accelerates posterior growth of the maxillary palate.

Inflammation in dental pulp tissue is associated with tissue degradation, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to participate in this destruction. Elevated levels of some MMPs have been reported in inflamed pulp and periapical lesions. Moreover, in inflamed pulp, many kinds of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, are released from inflammatory cells like macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils. In the present study, we examined whether TNF-α affected the production of MMP-2 in deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts and its signaling pathways utilizing gelatin zymography and western blotting analysis. TNF-α increased the expression of MMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner in deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts. LY294002 and Wortmannin, which are PI3-K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitors, inhibited the MMP-2 production induced by TNF-α in deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts. Moreover, in deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts cultured with TNF-α, AKT (protein kinase B) was phosphorylated in a time-dependent manner with the maximum phosphorylation at 30 min, and LY294002 and Wortmannin abolished this phosphorylation of AKT in TNF-α-stimulated deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts. These results suggest that TNF-α may enhance pulp tissue destruction during pulp inflammation in part by regulating MMP-2, and that the AKT pathway is involved in MMP-2 production in deciduous dental pulp fibroblasts.

The aim of the study was to measure three-dimensionally using the semiconductor laser to examine changes in palate section areas, palate projection areas and palate volumes for 5-year olds children with maxillary protrusion of primary dental arch induced by finger sucking. Because of pressure by fingers on the palate, the palate section areas between deciduous canines and between primary first molars in finger sucking children were greater than those in children with normal occlusion. The palate projection area in the anterior segment of the arch in finger sucking children was greater than that in normal occlusion children. The anterior palate volume in finger sucking children was greater than that in normal occlusion children. However, because of anterior traction of the palate by fingers in finger sucking, the palate section area between the posterior margin of the primary second molars in finger sucking children was smaller than that in normal occlusion children. The palate projection area between posterior segment of the arch in finger sucking children was smaller than that in normal occlusion children. The posterior palate volume in finger sucking children was smaller than that in normal occlusion children.

Dental pulp plays an important role in tooth vitality. Previous studies have indicated that stem cells can be isolated from dental pulp, and dental pulp exfoliated from deciduous teeth has become a useful alternative for dental tissue engineering because of its higher proliferation rate. In the present study, we analyzed the differences in gene expressions between human dental pulps exfoliated from deciduous and permanent teeth by DNA microarray assays. A scatter plot of mRNA levels based on fluorescent signals in human dental pulps from deciduous and permanent teeth indicated a dispersed distribution pattern. In a scatter plot of the genes, 2,573 genes were expressed at >2-fold higher levels in dental pulp from deciduous teeth, compared with permanent teeth. To confirm the microarray results, insulin-like growth factorbinding protein 5 (IGFBP5) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) showing higher mRNA expression levels were selected and analyzed for their mRNA levels by RT-PCR. Both the IGFBP5 and VEGFA mRNA levels were upregulated by about 3-fold in dental pulp from deciduous teeth compared with permanent teeth. Thus, the RT-PCR results for these genes were consistent with the microarray data. The dental pulps in deciduous and permanent teeth differ significantly with regard to their developmental processes, tissue structures and functions. The present findings using DNA microarray analyses to detect differences in the gene expressions of deciduous and permanent teeth may be useful for dental pulp tissue engineering.

The objective of the study was to examine changes in palate sectional areas, palate projection areas and palate volumes according to age. Using the maxillary dentition models, the palates of 7-, 8- and 9-year-old children, who were in the mixed dentition period, were measured threedimensionally using the semiconductor laser. The palate section areas, particularly between deciduous canines, primary first molars, primary second molars and first molars, increased with age, as the palate expanded vertically along with the growth and development of the maxilla. The palate projection areas increased with age, as the palate expanded laterally along with the growth and development of the maxilla. The palate volume increased with age, as the palate expanded laterally and vertically.

Macrophages are essential for controlling the majority of infections, and are mediators of natural immunity. Namely, macrophages are the main cells that secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10. IL-10 is an important suppressive cytokine, produced by many kinds of immune cells, which plays a key role in the anti-inflammatory immune responses. Adenosine mediates many of its effects through one or more of four receptors, the adenosine A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors, and it has been shown that A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR) is a critical part of the physiological negative feedback mechanism for limitation and termination of tissue-specific and systemic inflammatory responses. Mac-1 is an adhesion molecule required for apoptosis induced by other cell surface receptors, and is expressed on the surface of macrophages. Mac-1 expression is also necessary for the termination of an inflammatory reaction. To demonstrate how adenosine has its affects on macrophages to control inflammation, we evaluated the effects of adenosine in the RAW264 and THP-1 macrophage cell lines. Adenosine did not affect the proliferation in RAW264 cells regardless of the concentration. On the other hand, adenosine increased IL-10 production in RAW264 cells. Moreover, adenosine markedly increased the expression of CD11b, which is a Mac-1 alpha integrin. These results indicate that adenosine may affect the anti-inflammatory reactions in macrophages by enhancing the production of IL-10, and influence apoptosis by expression of CD11b.

We sent questionnaires to all the members (4,298 people) about the specialist pediatric dentistry system in Japan (Hereafter, termed specialists). The survey (1,129 dentists answered the questionnaire) revealed the following: 1.About 29% of the members who have qualifications for pediatric dentists, authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry (JSPD), hoped for a specialist qualification immediately. 2.Eighty point six percent of the members who do not have qualifications authorizing them as pediatric dentists answered that they wanted to take an examination to become a specialist as soon as they were qualified to take it. 3.Many members hoped that the examination to become a specialist would be strictly carried out. 4.Twenty-two point eight percent members thought that the qualifications for pediatric dentists authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry should be abolished after putting the specialist system into effect. 5.Fourteen percent of those that have the qualification of pediatric dentists, authorized by Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry, did not want to acquire the specialist title but they wanted to renew their current qualifications. 6.As dentists got older, the ratio of children patients (under 18 years old) tended to decrease. 7.However, about one-quarter, 112 members (about 10% of all) of dentists who are 50–69 years old (347 members) it occupied 34.7% of all treated exceeded 90% children patients.