Search

We present the development of neutron-tagging techniques in Super-Kamiokande IV using a neural network analysis. The detection efficiency of neutron capture on hydrogen is estimated to be 26%, with a mis-tag rate of 0.016 per neutrino event. The uncertainty of the tagging efficiency is estimated to be 9.0%. Measurement of the tagging efficiency with data from an Americium-Beryllium calibration agrees with this value within 10%. The tagging procedure was performed on 3,244.4 days of SK-IV atmospheric neutrino data, identifying 18,091 neutrons in 26,473 neutrino events. The fitted neutron capture lifetime was measured as 218±9 μs. We present the development of neutron-tagging techniques in Super-Kamiokande IV using a neural network analysis. The detection efficiency of neutron capture on hydrogen is estimated to be 26%, with a mis-tag rate of 0.016 per neutrino event. The uncertainty of the tagging efficiency is estimated to be 9.0%. Measurement of the tagging efficiency with data from an Americium-Beryllium calibration agrees with this value within 10%. The tagging procedure was performed on 3,244.4 days of SK-IV atmospheric neutrino data, identifying 18,091 neutrons in 26,473 neutrino events. The fitted neutron capture lifetime was measured as 218 \pm 9 \mu s.

Lactobacillus-fermented milk can stimulate anabolic effects in skeletal muscle. Fermented milk containing Lactobacillus produces aqueous molecules, such as free AA and lactate. This study aimed to investigate how processing fermented milk by centrifugation and removal of supernatant affects AA absorption and postprandial skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) when mice are fed fermented milk. We gavaged male Sprague-Dawley rats with skim milk (S), fermented milk (F), or processed fermented milk (P), and examined the total AA content in portal vein blood (reflecting AA absorption) and plantaris muscle MPS at 30, 60, and 90 min following administration. Relative to fasted rats, at 30 min the total AA concentration in portal vein blood from rats in the P groups was significantly higher, followed by F and S, respectively. The MPS rates were higher for the F or P groups compared with the S group. Phosphorylation levels of p70S6 kinase in the P and F groups were significantly higher than those for the S group 30 min after administration, although the level of Akt phosphorylation was similar among the groups. These results suggested that fermentation improves AA absorption that in turn enhances postprandial MPS via Akt-independent mechanisms, and that processed fermented milk retains these favorable effects on MPS.

We measured both the differential cross section ($\sigma_{p,p^\prime}$ $=d^2\sigma/d\Omega dE_{x}$) and the $\gamma$-ray emission probability ($R_\gamma(E_x)$ $=\sigma_{p,p^\prime\gamma}$/$\sigma_{p,p^\prime}$) from the giant resonances excited by $\rm^{12}C$(\textit{p,p}$^\prime$) reaction at 392 MeV and 0$^\circ$, using a magnetic spectrometer and an array of NaI(Tl) counters. The absolute value of $R_\gamma(E_x)$ was calibrated by using the well-known $\gamma$-ray emission probability from $\rm^{12}C^* ( 15.11$ MeV, $ 1^+$, $T=1$) and $\rm^{16}O^* ( 6.9$ MeV, $2^+$, $T=0$) states within 5\% uncertainty. We found that $R_\gamma(E_x)$ starts from zero at $E_x=16$ MeV, increases to a maximum of 53.3$\pm$0.4$\pm$3.9\% at $E_x=27$ MeV and then decreases. We also compared the measured values of $R_\gamma(E_x)$ with statistical model calculation based on the Hauser-Feshbach formalism in the energy region $E_x=$ 16-32 MeV and discussed the features of $\gamma$-ray emission probability quantitatively.

We present extractions of the nucleon nonsinglet moments utilizing new precision data on the deuteron F_{2} structure function at large Bjorken-x determined via the Rosenbluth separation technique at Jefferson Lab Experimental Hall C. These new data are combined with a complementary set of data on the proton previously measured in Hall C at similar kinematics and world datasets on the proton and deuteron at lower x measured at SLAC and CERN. The new Jefferson Lab data provide coverage of the upper third of the x range, crucial for precision determination of the higher moments. In contrast to previous extractions, these moments have been corrected for nuclear effects in the deuteron using a new global fit to the deuteron and proton data. The obtained experimental moments represent an order of magnitude improvement in precision over previous extractions using high x data. Moreover, recent exciting developments in lattice QCD calculations provide a first ever comparison of these new experimental results with calculations of moments carried out at the physical pion mass, as well as a new approach that first calculates the quark distributions directly before determining moments.

We have measured the discrete $\gamma$ rays from thermal neutron capture on enriched gadolinium targets ($^{155}$Gd and $^{157}$Gd) using the ANNRI Germanium Spectrometer at JPARC. The photo-peak efficiencies were calibrated from 0.2 to 9 MeV using $\gamma$ rays from the standard radioactive sources ($^{60}$Co, $^{152}$Eu) and prompt $\gamma$ rays from $^{35}$Cl$(n,\gamma)$ reaction. We have calculated the relative intensities of discrete $\gamma$ rays from $^{157}$Gd$(n,\gamma)$ reaction. We found that our data are in fair agreement with the values published by NNDC (CapGam). We present the relative intensities of discrete $\gamma$ rays from $^{155}$Gd$(n,\gamma)$ reaction measured for the first time.

A subset of neutrino-induced upward through-going muons in the Super-Kamiokande detector consists of high energy muons which lose energy through radiative processes such as bremsstrahlung, e^{+} e^{-} pair production and photonuclear interactions. These ``upward showering muons'' comprise an event sample whose mean parent neutrino energy is approximately 1 TeV. We show that the zenith angle distribution of upward showering muons is consistent with negligible distortion due to neutrino oscillations, as expected of such a high-energy neutrino sample. We present astronomical searches using these high energy events, such as those from WIMP annihilations in the Sun, Earth and Galactic Center, some suspected point sources, as well as searches for diffuse flux from the interstellar medium., Comment: Submitted for publication to Astroparticle Physics. Fig 12 has slightly higher resolution in the version submitted to the journal

The K2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment uses a Scintillating Fiber Detector (SciFi) to reconstruct charged particles produced in neutrino interactions in the near detector. We describe the track reconstruction algorithm and the performance of the SciFi after three years of operation., Comment: 24pages,18 figures, and 1 table. Preprint submitted to NIM

The trilepton nucleon decay modes p→e+νν and p→μ+νν violate |Δ(B-L)| by two units. Using data from a 273.4 kt yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande a search for these decays yields a fit consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τp→e+νν1.7×10(32) years and τp→μ+νν2.2×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level are obtained. These limits can constrain Grand Unified Theories which allow for such processes.

The KEK to Kamioka long-baseline neutrino experiment (K2K) has begun its investigation of neutrino oscillations suggested by atmospheric neutrino observations. Twenty-eight neutrino events have been detected in coincidence with the expected arrival time of the beam in the 22.5 kt fiducial volume of Super--Kamiokande, the far detector at 250 km distance. The expectation is 37.8+3.5-3.8, derived using measurements of neutrino interactions in a near detector and extrapolation using a beam simulation validated by a measurement of pion kinematics after production and focusing. The background is of order 10^-3 events., Comment: 6 pages, 3 embedded figures, LaTeX with RevTeX style, submitted to PRL. This version is As Submitted

From an exposure of 25.5~kiloton-years of the Super-Kamiokande detector, 900 muon-like and 983 electron-like single-ring atmospheric neutrino interactions were detected with momentum $p_e > 100$ MeV/$c$, $p_\mu > 200$ MeV/$c$, and with visible energy less than 1.33 GeV. Using a detailed Monte Carlo simulation, the ratio $(\mu/e)_{DATA}/(\mu/e)_{MC}$ was measured to be $0.61 \pm 0.03(stat.) \pm 0.05(sys.)$, consistent with previous results from the Kamiokande, IMB and Soudan-2 experiments, and smaller than expected from theoretical models of atmospheric neutrino production.

The polarization of tau leptons in the reaction e+ e- --> tau+ tau- has been measured using a e+e- collider, TRISTAN, at the center-of-mass energy of 58 GeV. From the kinematical distributions of daughter particles in tau --> e nu nu-bar, mu nu nu-bar, rho nu or pi(K) nu decays, the average polarization of tau- and its forward-backward asymmetry have been evaluated to be 0.012 +- 0.058 and 0.029 +- 0.057, respectively.

We present the results of searches for nucleon decay via n→ν[over ¯]π0 and p→ν[over ¯]π+ using data from a combined 172.8 kt·yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I,-II, and-III. We set lower limits on the partial lifetime for each of these modes: τn→ν[over ¯]π01.1×10(33) years and τp→ν[over ¯]π+3.9×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level.

An accurate, quantitative method of measuring external nasal forms was developed in which facial plaster models were measured with a highly accurate contact-type three-dimensional coordinate measurement apparatus. Subsequently, we have developed techniques to identify the landmarks of a face automatically from the three-dimensional data and to superimpose two sets of data automatically for the purpose of sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively. These techniques were applied to patients with unilateral cleft lip nasal deformities. Consequently, we were able to observe shifts in the facial landmarks and subtle three-dimensional changes.

Summary A case of hypoglossia-hypodactylia syndrome is described. The infant was characterized by micrognathia, accompanied by a defect of the gingiva, and hypoplasia of the tongue. There was a defect in the right arm below the elbow. The right foot manifested syndactyly of the great, second and third toes and osseous fusion of the first and second metatarsi and proximal phalanges. In the left foot brachydactyly of the great and fifth toes, syndactyly of the second, third and fourth toes, hypoplasia of the first and second metatarsi and a defect in the first phalanx were evident.

A high-resolution measurement of inelastic proton scattering off (90)Zr near 0° was performed at 295 MeV with a focus on a pronounced strength previously reported in the low-energy tail of giant dipole resonance. A forest of fine structure was observed in the excitation energy region 7-12 MeV. A multipole decomposition analysis of the angular distribution for the forest was carried out using the ECIS95 distorted-wave Born approximation code with the Hartree-Fock plus random-phase approximation model of E1 and M1 transition densities and inclusion of E1 Coulomb excitation. The analysis separated pygmy dipole and M1 resonances in the forest at E(PDR)=9.15±0.18 MeV with Γ(PDR)=2.91±0.64 MeV and at E(M1)=9.53±0.06 MeV with Γ(M1)=2.70±0.17 MeV in the Lorentzian function, respectively. The B(E1)↑ value for pygmy dipole resonance over 7-11 MeV is 0.75±0.08 e(2)fm(2), which corresponds to 2.1±0.2% of the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule.

We calculate the cross section of the gamma-ray production from neutral-current neutrino-oxygen quasi-elastic interaction, $\nu+\^{16}O \rightarrow \nu +p+^{15}N*$, or $\nu+^{16}O \rightarrow \nu+n+^{15}O*$, in which the residual nuclei (15N* or 15O*) lead to the gamma-ray emission with gamma-ray energy >6 MeV at the branching ratio of 41%. Above 200 MeV, this cross section dominates over that of gamma-ray production from the inelastic reaction, $\nu+^{16}O->\nu+^{16}O*$. In the present calculation, spectral function and the spectroscopic factors of $1p_{1/2}, 1p_{3/2} and 1s_{1/2}$ states are essential. The gamma-ray production is dominated by the deexcitation of $1p_{3/2}$ state of the residual nucleus.

The effect of biomechanical force on growth of skeletal tissue was studied in monolayer cultures of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells which were centrifuged at 320 g for 15 min to 72 h in a CO2 incubator. Centrifugation of the cells for 30 min in low concentrations (0.3 or 1%) of fetal bovine serum (FBS) caused a two-fold increase of [3H]thymidine incorporation at 20 h from the start of centrifugation. However, centrifugation under 10% FBS caused no increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Under 0.3% FBS, [3H]thymidine incorporation increased in a manner dependent on the period of centrifugation and reached a maximum when the cells were centrifuged for 3 h. Stimulation of DNA synthesis by centrifugation was abolished in the presence of H-7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. Moreover, conditioned medium collected from the centrifuged cultures increased [3H]thymidine incorporation by two-fold over the basal when added to a quiescent culture of MC3T3-E1 cells. These results suggest that centrifugal force stimulates growth of osteoblastic cells through autocrine secretion of some diffusible growth-promoting activity. On the other hand, centrifugation of the cells inhibited induction by FBS of alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium-uptake, two indices of the differentiated phenotype of osteoblasts.

The present study was designed to compare the biomechanical response of upper incisors to labial and lingual force applications. A three-dimensional finite element model was developed to analyze tooth displacement and stress distribution in the periodontal ligament. Lingually and apically directed forces of 1 N were applied at one point on the labial and at three points on the lingual surface of the crown. Tooth displacement and stress distribution resulting from lingual force applications were compared with those from the labial side. The following results were obtained: 1. Lingual horizontal forces produced similar patterns of tooth displacement and stress distribution, irrespective of the point of application (labial--lingual). 2. Apically directed vertical forces applied at the lingual points produced more uniform tooth displacements and stress distributions, although the force applied on the lingual side close to the CEJ, which happened to be most distant from the tooth's long axis, generated a pattern of movement somewhat different from the remaining two lingual force applications. The present results suggest the crucial role of the positional relation between the long axis of the tooth, respectively the center of resistance, and the point of force application. It can be deduced that lingual force application may produce more optimal tooth movement in terms of intrusion and subsequent stress distributions in the periodontal ligament.

The γ‐ray production in neutral‐current (NC) neutrino‐oxygen interaction is very important to the detection of neutrinos from supernova explosion in a neutrino experiment using water target like Super‐K, since those γ‐rays can become extra signals or unexpected background in the energy region from 5 MeV to 30 MeV. We discuss a possible experiment to measure γ‐rays in 16O(p, p’) and 16O(3He, t) reactions at Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP, Osaka). Such measurements should provide good information on the γ‐ray emission spectra in neutrino‐oxygen reactions.

We perform a search for neutrinos coincident with GRB 080319B, the brightest GRB observed to date, in a +/- 1,000 s window. No statistically significant coincidences were observed and we thereby obtain an upper limit on the fluence of neutrino-induced muons from this source. From this we apply reasonable assumptions to derive a limit on neutrino fluence from the GRB., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, May 2009 issue. 10 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables

We have searched for proton decays via p--e;{+}pi;{0} and p--micro;{+}pi;{0} using data from a 91.7 kt.yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I and a 49.2 kt.yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande-II. No candidate events were observed with expected backgrounds induced by atmospheric neutrinos of 0.3 events for each decay mode. From these results, we set lower limits on the partial lifetime of 8.2 x 10;{33} and 6.6 x 10;{33} years at 90% confidence level for p--e;{+}pi;{0} and p--micro;{+}pi;{0} modes, respectively.

Single charged pion production in charged-current muon neutrino interactions with carbon is studied using data collected in the K2K long-baseline neutrino experiment. The mean energy of the incident muon neutrinos is 1.3 GeV. The data used in this analysis are mainly from a fully active scintillator detector, SciBar. The cross section for single $��^{+}$ production in the resonance region ($W, 15 pages, 12 figures, 7 tables. Uses revtex4. Minor revisions to match version accepted for publication in Physical Review D

We performed an improved search for nu(mu) --nu(e) oscillation with the KEK to Kamioka (K2K) long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment, using the full data sample of 9.2 x 10(19) protons on target. No evidence for a nu(e) appearance signal was found, and we set bounds on the nu(mu) --nu(e) oscillation parameters. At Deltam(2)=2.8 x 10(-3) eV(2), the best-fit value of the K2Knu(mu) disappearance analysis, we set an upper limit of sin(2)2theta(mue)0.13 at a 90% confidence level.

A search for periodic modulations of the solar neutrino flux was performed using the Super-Kamiokande-I data taken from May 31st, 1996 to July 15th, 2001. The detector's capability of measuring the exact time of events, combined with a relatively high yield of solar neutrino events, allows a search for short-time variations in the observed flux. We employed the Lomb test to look for periodic modulations of the observed solar neutrino flux. The obtained periodogram is consistent with statistical fluctuation and no significant periodicity was found.

A search for the relic neutrinos from all past core-collapse supernovae was conducted using 1496 days of data from the Super-Kamiokande detector. This analysis looked for electron-type anti-neutrinos that had produced a positron with an energy greater than 18 MeV. In the absence of a signal, 90% C.L. upper limits on the total flux were set for several theoretical models; these limits ranged from 20 to 130 nu_e bar cm^-2 s^-1. Additionally, an upper bound of 1.2 nu_e bar cm^-2 s^-1 was set for the supernova relic neutrino flux in the energy region E_nu > 19.3 MeV., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letters. New version includes corrections to Figure 1. Also, text has been shortened to conform with the space limitations of PRL

One-dimensional Fibonacci metallic superlattices of Cu/Mo and Cu/Ni have been synthesized successfully by the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) method. Satellite peaks which result from the quasiperiodic structure were observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns of Cu/Mo and Cu/Ni superlattices.

Preoperative chemotherapy should be effective against cancers and have few side effects that would prevent surgery. We investigated the histological effects and side effects of low- and high-dose CDDP chemotherapy against oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and discuss the therapeutic benefits of each regimen. Thirty-six patients were divided into two groups as follows, in a non-randomized manner: A) low-dose CDDP (17 patients): CDDP 5 mg/m2/day + UFT 400 mg/day (day 1-5) (1 or 2 courses), B) high-dose CDDP (19 patients): CDDP 70-100 mg/m2/day (day 1) + peplomycin 5 mg/day (day 2-6) (1 or 2 courses). Curative surgery was conducted 1 week after protocol A or 2-3 weeks after protocol B. The histological antitumor effects were evaluated with OhboshiShimosato's classification using surgical materials of primary tumors. In this classification, grade IIB, III and IV were as effective. Maximum histological effect was seen with grade IIB for regimen A and grade IV for regimen B. Four of 17 patients (23.5%) responded to regimen A and 13 of 19 patients (68.4%) to regimen B. Side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and myelosuppression, appeared with regimen B, but were seen little with regimen A. The 2-year survival rate was 93.3% with regimen A and 78.9% with regimen B. With regimen A, the 2-year survival rate of effective cases was 100% and that of ineffective cases was 91.7%. With regimen B, the rate was 92.3% and 50.0%, respectively. Effective cases showed good prognosis in both groups. The low-dose CDDP regimen was not so effective against primary tumors histologically, but the prognosis was good. The low-dose CDDP regimen appears to be useful for preoperative chemotherapy of oral SCC.

Solar neutrino measurements from 1258 days of data from the Super-Kamiokande detector are presented. The measurements are based on recoil electrons in the energy range 5.0-20.0 MeV. The measured solar neutrino flux is 2.32+/-0.03(stat)+0.08-0.07(syst)x10(6) cm(-2) x s(-1), which is 45.1+/-0.5(stat)+1.6-1.4(syst)% of that predicted by the BP2000 SSM. The day vs night flux asymmetry (Phi(n)-Phi(d))/Phi(average) is 0.033+/-0.022(stat)+0.013-0.012(syst). The recoil electron energy spectrum is consistent with no spectral distortion. For the hep neutrino flux, we set a 90% C.L. upper limit of 40x10(3) cm(-2) x s(-1), which is 4.3 times the BP2000 SSM prediction.

We describe the construction and performance of a scintillating fiber detector used in the near detector for the K2K (KEK to Kamioka, KEK E362) long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. The detector uses 3.7 m long and 0.692 mm diameter scintillating fiber coupled to image-intensifier tubes (IIT), and a CCD camera readout system. Fiber sheet production and detector construction began in 1997, and the detector was commissioned in March, 1999. Results from the first K2K runs confirm good initial performance : position resolution is estimated to be about 0.8 mm, and track finding efficiency is $98 \pm 2$ % for long tracks (i.e., those which intersect more than 5 fiber planes). The hit efficiency was estimated to be $92 \pm 2$ % using cosmic-ray muons, after noise reduction at the offline stage. The possibility of using the detector for particle identification is also discussed., Comment: In total 21 pages with 18 figures. THis is the proceedings for "The 7th International Conference on Instrumentation for Colliding Beam Physics", held on Hamamatsu, Japan, Nov. 15-19, 1999

The decay of 16-N is used to cross check the absolute energy scale calibration for solar neutrinos established by the electron linear accelerator (LINAC). A deuterium-tritium neutron generator was employed to create 16-N via the (n,p) reaction on 16-O in the water of the detector. This technique is isotropic and has different systematic uncertainties than the LINAC. The results from this high statistics data sample agree with the absolute energy scale of the LINAC to better than 1%. A natural source of 16-N from the capture of mu^- on 16-O, which is collected as a background to the solar neutrino analysis, is also discussed., Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, Submitted to NIM A, published version

The aim of this study was to describe the radiographic patterns of cemento-osseous dysplasia.Fifty-four patients affected with benign fibro-osseous jaw lesions that showed periapical radiopacities and/or radiolucencies in a focal or a multiplex form were studied. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of the patients with cemento-osseous dysplasia were retrospectively studied. Radiographic features of the cemento-osseous dysplasia lesions were classified according to the appearance of calcified bodies. Radiographic visibility of periodontal ligament spaces of related teeth was assessed.Forty-nine (91 %) of the 54 patients were women. The mean age of the total group was 50.8 years, and that of the male group was 64.6 years. The cemento-osseous dysplasia lesions could be classified into 6 types radiographically. Eighteen patients had at least 2 or more types of cemento-osseous dysplasia lesions. Of 147 related teeth, 142 had periodontal ligament spaces clearly visible. Six of 9 patients who had a total of 25 teeth with active hypercementosis showed concomitant occurrence of other types of cemento-osseous dysplasia lesions. Biopsy specimens showed various amounts of bonelike and cementumlike tissues.It is likely that cemento-osseous dysplasia consists of 3 variations of a single entity, all with the same unknown cause. In one variation, the entity originates from the periodontium; in another, it is of medullary bone origin; and in the third it results from the simultaneous involvement of both tissues.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is considered to be one of the mediators of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during early organogenesis and to be involved in the development of murine molars. In this study, the immunohistochemical localization of HGF and of its receptor, c-Met, revealed that HGF was distributed in the proliferating mesenchymal cells in the dental papillae and that c-Met was continuously expressed in the epithelial cells during the development of rat incisors. These observations confirmed the involvement of HGF in the development of rat incisors, as demonstrated previously in molars. We then used a primary culture of ameloblast-lineage cells, prepared from mandibular incisors of young rats, to examine the direct effects of HGF on the growth and differentiation of ameloblasts. We found that HGF at 2-20 ng/ml induced a marked increase in the number of ameloblast-lineage cells and in the scattering of such cells. Our results suggest that HGF promotes the proliferation and scattering of ameloblast-lineage cells simultaneously.

The purpose of this study was to describe a radiographic variety of gross periostitis ossificans in mandibular osteomyelitis and to determine what types of gross periostitis ossificans are related to a specific form of mandibular osteomyelitis without demonstrable causes.We reviewed 20 cases of gross periostitis ossificans in patients with mandibular osteomyelitis that had been reported with illustrations in the English literature, and we reviewed our own 14 cases of gross periostitis ossificans, previously reported. The radiographic features of the 34 cases of gross periostitis ossificans were classified according to the status of original contour and the appearance of gross periostitis ossificans. Histopathologic features were studied in 12 cases.The 34 cases of gross periostitis ossificans could be classified radiographically into 4 types. Type A, showing an "onion-skin" appearance, was caused by a carious tooth or followed extraction of a tooth. Type B and type C showed a consolidation form; in the 36.8% (7/19) of these cases in which no infectious source could be identified, it was suspected that the condition was caused by a developing unerupted tooth or a dental follicle. Type D was seen in the most chronic stage. Biopsy specimens of 12 cases commonly showed proliferation of newly formed bone, loose interstitial fibrous tissue, and a low-grade inflammatory cell infiltration.Gross periostitis ossificans of type B or type C may be a specific form of mandibular osteomyelitis without demonstrable cause.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to analyze the three-dimensional configuration of the premaxilla, vomer, and lateral segments in bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) infants and to investigate the early changes in the configuration following one- and two-stage cheiloplasty.Methods:This study consisted of 10 complete BCLP infants. One-stage operations were performed in five patients according to Manchester's method at 4 months of age. Two-stage operations were done for the remaining five patients using a triangular flap according to Tennison's method, at 4 and 8 months of age. Serial plaster models before and after the cheiloplasty were measured with a computer-controlled, highly accurate, contact-type measuring apparatus. Temporal changes in the configuration and form of the premaxilla were observed using an automatic superimposition method. The inclination and deviation of the vomer were evaluated using an approximation technique to a straight line with least squares. The distance between the lateral segments and a three-dimensional coordinate of the incisal point were also measured.Results and Conclusions:The following differences in palatal configuration between the one- and two-stage cheiloplasties were observed: 1) In the two-stage group, the premaxilla shifted toward the cleft edge where the cheiloplasty was performed in both first- and second-stage operations. After the two-stage operation, the premaxilla did not shift greatly, and the premaxilla in cases 4 and 5 shifted downward and toward the cleft edge of the lateral segments where the first operation was performed. Protrusion of the premaxilla remained in the two-stage group. 2) In the one-stage group, the premaxilla in case 4 descended downward and backward without twisting or bending. The premaxillae of the other patients descended downward with twisting and bending. 3) Patients in the two-stage group had a stronger tendency toward medial collapse of the lateral segments than did those in the one-stage group.

Regeneration of primary afferents and the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the lingual periodontal ligament of the rat incisor were examined following different types of injury (resection or crush) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) combined with superior cervical ganglionectomy. In normal animals, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) was localized in the middle areas of the alveolus-related part of lingual periodontal ligament; some of these nerve fibers showed terminal ramification and morphologies resembling those of the periodontal Ruffini endings, and very few thin varicose NPY-like immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibers were detected around the blood vessels. Three days following crush injury of the IAN, the number of PGP 9.5-IR nerve fibers decreased, then increased to the normal levels around 10-15 days following injury. NPY-IR primary afferents first appeared around 5 days following crush injury, increased in number gradually, reaching a peak around 14 days, and then decreased. No NPY-IR primary afferents were detected 56 days following crush injury of the IAN. The terminal morphology of NPY-IR primary afferents observed around 10-14 days following injury was similar to that of PGP 9.5-IR nerve fibers in the normal animals, but less expanded. The changes in distribution of PGP 9.5-IR and NPY-IR nerve fibers following resection were similar to those observed following crush injury but regeneration was slightly delayed. The present results suggest that injury-evoked NPY is closely associated with the regeneration process of mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligament following injury of the IAN.

Summary Three patients with an oblique facial cleft are described. One patient displayed ring constriction, lymphoedema, distal pseudosyndactyly and an occipital encephalocele to which an amniotic band was attached at birth. Therefore, it was obvious that the oblique facial cleft was accompanied by an amnion rupture sequence. These signs were not apparent in the other patients. However, one of the other patients demonstrated various anomalies, amongst which syndactyly on the right foot, scoliosis, microcephaly, microphthalmia and corneal opacity suggested that the patient may have been affected by the amnion rupture sequence, except for polydactyly on the left foot, cleft hand and vertebra plana.

In previous research, we found that the Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, accelerates orthodontic tooth movement. In the present study, to characterize the actions of SMB on bone remodeling, we investigated the effect of SMB on DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity of murine osteoblast like cell-clone, MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro. Treatment of the cells with SMB for 72 hours caused significant increase in ALPase activity. It was found that SMB increased ALPase activity in a dose-dependent manner, and up to maximum at the concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. At that concentration, ALPase activity was about 135% greater than that of control. SMB at 5.0 mg/ml significantly stimulated ALPase activity of the cells in multilayer on day 8 or calcification stage on day 16, but inhibited it in the sparse stage on day 2 or subconfluency stage on day 4. SMB had no effect on DNA synthesis in any stage of culture. ALPase activity significantly increased at 48 hours and was up to 300% greater than that of control activity at 96 hours. These findings suggest that SMB directly stimulates ALPase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells in multilayer stage or calcification stage without any effect on proliferation. Locally administrated SMB may affect the differentiation of osteoblasts in vivo.

Leukoplakia is a commonly occurring precancerous lesion. The following case report describes a patient who had multiple leukoplakia in this mouth. He had three sites of leukoplakia, the left hard palate, the gum of the right maxilla and the gum of the left mandible, all of which underwent malignant transformation during the period of 11-years after diagnosis.

An accurate, quantitative method of measuring external nasal forms was described to evaluate the results of rhinoplasty, in which facial plaster models were measured with a highly accurate contact-type three-dimensional coordinate measurement apparatus. Furthermore, two original programs to identify facial landmarks objectively and to measure the curved surface of the external nasal form in order to evaluate cleft lip nasal deformities were described. These provided accurate and objective data for the facial landmarks and the curvature of nasal alae.

A retrospective review of the radiographic findings after removal of benign jaw cysts (n = 31) and ameloblastomas (n = 24) was carried out. The radiographic features of the site margins and interior contents were classified into four categories. In most patients radiographic changes were detected between 1 and 4 months after removal of the lesion, and complete bone healing was found 4 months or more after surgery. Radiographic changes included "spiculed" or "trabecular" contents within the interior of the surgical site. The fourth month was found to be the optimum time for follow-up radiographic examination for the early detection of residual lesions. In nine (53%) of the patients who had ameloblastoma, recurrent lesions were noted within or at the periphery of the original surgical sites 6 to 10 years after the initial tumor removal.

This study was designed to investigate stresses in the TMJ during clenching in patients with skeletal discrepancies in the vertical direction. A three-dimensional model of the mandible including the TMJ was used for finite element analysis for the stresses. The model, referred to as a standard model, consists of 2,088 nodes and 1,105 solid elements, comprising the cortical and cancellous bones, articular disc and cartilage layer, and periodontal ligament. The standard model was modified by varying the gonial and mandibular plane angles to simulate vertical discrepancies between the maxilla and mandible observed in open and deep bites. Stresses were analyzed on the surfaces of the condyle, the glenoid fossa, and the articular disc, and the values were compared to those found with the standard model. Stresses increased substantially for the condyle, the glenoid fossa, and the articular disc with greater gonial and mandibular plane angles, and those changes were more obvious in association with the divergent mandibular plane. Thus, the nature of stress distributions in the TMJ was substantially affected by vertical discrepancies of the craniofacial skeleton. It is also suggested that these changes in stresses produce a lack of biomechanical equilibrium in the TMJ, which may have some association with temporomandibular disorders.

This study was designed to investigate the biomechanical behavior of the periodontium including the periodontal ligament (PDL) in terms of tooth mobility. Tooth mobility was measured in the canines of 10 adolescent patients before and after distal movement. Distal movement of the canines was carried out by use of a calibrated sectional archwire exerting an initial retraction force of 200 g. Tooth mobility was measured immediately before and after canine retraction by use of a noncontact displacement sensor when varying distal forces of 0 to 500 g were applied to the mesial of the canine. Before tooth movement, tooth mobility exhibited a substantial increase in loading with forces ranging from 50 to 150 g. The rate of increase gradually decreased up to 500 g. A nonlinear change in tooth mobility was similarly observed at the end of tooth movement or 24 days after the initiation of movement. Tooth mobility, however, was significantly greater when forces above 200 g were loaded. The periodontal tissues--the PDL and alveolar bone in particular--become more flexible at the end of tooth movement, indicating reduced support by the periodontal tissues. These findings suggest that the elastic nature of the PDL and alveolar bone may decrease substantially at the end of tooth movement.

Combined orthodontic treatment with orthognathic surgery and partial glossectomy were simultaneously performed in an adult male patient with mandibular prognathism and open bite from the lower right to the left first molars. Total active treatment period was 15 months. During the retention period, a tooth positioner was given to obtain proper interdigitation from set-up models. The post-surgical occlusion has been stable without any complication of the mandible and the tongue.

Previously, we reported methods for isolating chondrocytes from the craniofacial cartilage and culturing them in vitro. The cells actively synthesize glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a marker of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes and respond well to PTH and glucocorticoids. It has been suggested that chondrocytes produce somatomedin-like growth factors which support their own growth and GAG synthesis. In the present study, we reported studies on the effect of conditioned medium obtained from cultures of rabbit craniofacial chondrocytes on GAG and DNA syntheses in the same chondrocyte cultures. Serum-free medium, conditioned by exposure to rabbit chondrocytes from mandibular condyle, nasal septum and sphenooccipital synchondrosis in monolayer culture stimulated not only the synthesis of GAG by the same cells but also their own DNA synthesis. The stimulation of the syntheses of GAG and DNA by the conditioned-medium factor were concentration-dependent. In addition, these three kinds of conditioned media stimulated GAG and DNA syntheses of other types of chondrocytes. These findings suggest that rabbit chondrocytes from the craniofacial complex release factors into the culture medium that enhance their own growth and expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes as well as that of costal chondrocytes.

Eosinophilic granuloma of bone is not uncommon in the craniofacial region (Anderson and kissane, 1977), and it sometimes occurs in organs such as the lung, stomach and spleen. However there are only few reports on solitary eosinophilic granuloma of bone occurring in oral soft tissue. In this report, we describe a case of eosinophilic granuloma of bone occurring in the soft tissue of a 40-year-old woman.

The diagnostic arthroscopy was performed on 47 temporomandibular joints from 40 patients having anterior disc displacement without reduction with restricted mouth opening or painful anterior disc displacement with reduction. All patients were outpatients and subjected to arthroscopic examination under local anesthesia. Previous to arthroscopy, routine clinical and radiographic examination, and magnetic resonance imaging were carried out for all joints. Adhesion was better observed by arthroscopic examination, perforation was suggested by magnetic resonance imaging as well as arthroscopic examination, and bone change was better observed by magnetic resonance imaging. However diagnostic arthroscopy should be considered as an invasive examination, it is practical to the clinician and patient as complementary to decide the indication of arthroscopic surgery, open surgery (diskectomy) or maintenance of conservative treatment.

The effects of nerve fibers on bone formation during tooth movement were examined using eight rabbits with denervation of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). IAN on one side for all the animals was denervated and and sham operation was performed on the other side of denervation. The distance of tooth movement on the denervated and sham operated sides was very similar and 1.20 +/- 0.17 and 1.24 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- S.D. mm), respectively. From the fluorescent observations, the denervated and sham operated sides in the animals without tooth movement i.e. control group showed similar morphology. The animals with tooth movement i.e. experimental group showed significant new bone formation than the control group. However, the amount of new bone formation on the denervated side was less than the sham operated side. It was suggested that the nerve fibers might play some roles on bone formation during the tooth movement.

A rare case of pedunculated hemangioma of the oral mucosa has been reported. Clinically, it was diagnosed as a fibroma induced by irritation, but histologic examination followed to excisional biopsy demonstrated that it was a cavernous hemangioma.