Assessment of the shape of the inferior alveolar canal as a marker for increased risk of injury to the inferior alveolar nerve at third molar surgery: a prospective study.

Purpose: Morphologic evaluation of computed tomographic images is an important assessment tool before surgical removal of the lower third molar (LM3). The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the shape of the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) is a reliable predictor for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury during M3 surgery.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study assessed samples with a high risk of IAN injury during M3 surgery based on orthopantomographic examination.

Clinical significance of computed tomographic assessment and anatomic features of the inferior alveolar canal as risk factors for injury of the inferior alveolar nerve at third molar surgery.

Purpose: To assess the clinical features of the inferior alveolar canal (IAC) using computed tomography (CT) and to analyze the significance of CT examination at third molar surgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 99 patients (145 teeth). The relationship between cortication status, buccolingual position, and shape of the IAC on the CT image and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury after third molar surgery were statistically analyzed.

[Clinical investigation of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws].

We examined the clinical features of bisphosphonate(BP)-related osteonecrosis of the jaws(BRONJ), a serious complication resulting from intravenous BP treatment for multiple myeloma and malignant tumors with bone metastasis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 36 patients who received intravenous BP therapy for the above-mentioned conditions, at Sapporo Medical University Hospital between July 2006 and October 2008. BP therapy caused BRONJ in 7 of 24 patients, but did not affect the bones of the other 17 patients.

The GK domain of the voltage-dependent calcium channel beta subunit is essential for binding to the alpha subunit.

The beta subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels bind the pore-forming alpha(1) subunit and play an important role in the regulation of calcium channel function. Recently, we have identified a new splice variant of the beta(4) subunit, which we have termed the beta(4d) subunit. The beta(4d) subunit is a truncated splice variant of the beta(4b) subunit and lacks parts of the guanylate kinase (GK) domain and the C-terminus.