Clinical course of an antigen-induced arthritis model in the rabbit temporomandibular joint.

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical features of an antigen-induced arthritis model in the rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and compare them to those in knee joint (KJ) arthritis. Eighteen adult male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into a TMJ arthritis group and a KJ arthritis group. Monoarthritis was induced unilaterally with ovalbumin and clinical observations, including joint swelling, skin surface temperature (SST) over the joints, and the withdrawal reflex threshold (WRT) to noxious pressure, were performed over a 3 week period.

Efficacy of a mandibular manipulation technique in reducing the permanently displaced temporomandibular joint disc.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether disc reduction occurred in patients with closed lock after mandibular manipulation (MM) and to analyze the factors that influenced the result.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred fifteen patients with closed lock received MM. Of these, 74 patients (79 joints) were assessed by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for disc reduction.

Serotonin in an antigen-induced arthritis of the rabbit temporomandibular joint.

The aim was to investigate the joint perfusate concentration of serotonin (5-HT) in antigen-induced monoarthritis of the rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and knee joint. Thirty adult male New Zealand White rabbits, of whom eight were first used as healthy controls, were divided into TMJ and knee arthritis groups. Unilateral arthritis was induced with ovalbumin intra-articularly and the contralateral joint was sham-induced.

Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine infusion on microcirculation in the rabbit masseter muscle measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

The aim was to test the hypothesis that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) influences the microcirculation of the masseter muscle. Rabbit masseters were infused with increasing concentrations of 5-HT (10(-9)-10(-5) M) on the experimental side and with saline on the control side. The effect on microcirculatory blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry.

Prevalence and risk factors of behavioral and emotional problems among Chinese children aged 6 through 11 years.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of behavioral and emotional problems in Chinese children.

Method: A sample of 2,940 children aged 6 through 11 years was randomly drawn from household registers in Shandong Province of China. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a structured self-rating questionnaire.

Successful radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformation accompanied by venous malformation.

We present a patient with a rare cerebrovascular malformation consisting of a typical arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with a nidus and a venous malformation (VM) in a single lesion. The AVM component was successfully obliterated by radiosurgery, whereas the VM was completely preserved. Radiosurgery can be an effective treatment technique for treating this type of malformation because it allows targeted obliteration of the AVM yet carries a low risk of damaging the venous drainage toward and away from the VM.

Dopamine inhibition of human tyrosine hydroxylase type 1 is controlled by the specific portion in the N-terminus of the enzyme.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which converts L-tyrosine to L-DOPA, is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines; its activity is regulated by feedback inhibition by catecholamine products including dopamine. To investigate the specific portion of the N-terminus of TH that determines the efficiency of dopamine inhibition, wild-type and N-terminal 35-, 38-, and 44-amino acid-deleted mutants (del-35, del-38, and del-44, respectively) of human TH type 1 were expressed as a maltose binding protein fusion in Escherichia coli and purified as a tetrameric form by affinity and size-exclusion chromatography. The fused-form wild-type enzyme possessed almost the same specific enzymatic activity as the previously reported recombinant nonfused form.

Direct and buffering effects of social support on depressive symptoms of the elderly with home help.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the effect of life stressors or social support on depressive symptoms in 303 elderly people receiving social services at home. We conducted a questionnaire survey six times with a 1-month interval. In the initial wave of questionnaires, 92 (31%) scored 16 points or above on the CES-D, indicative of a risk for depression.

Self-reported depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents.

Previous reports on the prevalence and features of depression among adolescents have been inconsistent. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among Chinese adolescents with a standardized instrument. A total of 2462 students, aged 13-22, were sampled from the Shandong province of China.

Relief of hemiballism from a basal ganglia arteriovenous malformation after radiosurgery.

A patient with a 3-year history of progressive hemiballism presented with an unruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the contralateral caudate nucleus and putamen. PET demonstrated a matched reduction of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) in the basal ganglia and adjacent frontal lobe. The patient underwent radiosurgery for the AVM.

Control of epilepsy associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations after radiosurgery.

Objective: To investigate the effect of radiosurgery for symptomatic epilepsy associated with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

Methods: Thirty five patients with unruptured epileptogenic AVMs were studied with a mean follow up of 43.0 months.

Basal ganglia arteriovenous malformation presenting as "writer's cramp".

A 12-year-old girl with a 3-year history of writer's cramp in association with a basal ganglia arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is reported. The lesion was localized to the left globus pallidus and putamen, extending to the adjacent white matter of the frontal lobe. Our experience confirms a common anatomical basis of symptomatic focal dystonia: disruption of the pathways within and adjacent to these structures.

Experimental cranioplasty and skeletal augmentation using an alpha-tricalcium phosphate/dicalcium phosphate dibasic/tetracalcium phosphate monoxide cement: a preliminary short-term experiment in rabbits.

Calcium phosphate cement consisting of alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP), dicalcium phosphate dibasic (DCPD) and tetracalcium phosphate monoxide (TeCP) was implanted into surgically created full-thickness defects in the cranial bone (bone defect experiment) and directly onto the cranial bone under the periosteum (augmentation experiment). Three months after the implantation, the implants were retrieved with the surrounding tissues and studied histologically and micrographically to evaluate if the cement can be used as a cranioplasty and skeletal augmentation material. In the bone defect experiment, successful reconstruction of the defect was seen in 8 out of 12 specimens.

Evaluation of disk capture with a splint repositioning appliance: clinical and critical assessment with MR imaging.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate disk repositioning clinically and through use of magnetic resonance imaging after the insertion of a disk repositioning appliance.

Study Design: Seventy-four patients with 82 temporomandibular joints showing middle to late opening movement click and closing movement click near maximum intercuspation were treated with a mandibular full-coverage repositioning splint. These joints were assessed clinically and by means of magnetic resonance imaging for disk recapture.

Change of position of the temporomandibular joint disk with insertion of a disk-repositioning appliance.

Objective: We report alteration of the temporomandibular joint disk and the condyle position through the construction of a mandibular full-coverage occlusal appliance (often referred to as a disk repositioning appliance).

Study Design: Forty-five joints with displaced disks with reduction were available for the study. We assessed these joints for disk recapture and the change of disk position with insertion of the appliance using magnetic resonance imaging.

Arteriovenous malformations in the basal ganglia and thalamus: management and results in 101 cases.

Object: Because arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the basal ganglia and thalamus are difficult to treat, the authors conducted a retrospective study to determine the best management strategy for these lesions.

Methods: The authors reviewed the management and outcome in 101 patients with AVMs treated between 1971 and 1995. In 15 conservatively treated patients, hemorrhage occurred in 71.

Role of radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas.

Objective: To provide our early experience and philosophy in the utility of radiosurgery in the management of cavernous sinus meningiomas.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive cases with cavernous sinus meningiomas treated between 1990 and 1995 were reviewed. Three cases were treated with gamma-knife radiosurgery, 15 with preceding surgery and gamma knife, 7 with surgery.

Clinical effect of full coverage occlusal splint therapy for specific temporomandibular disorder conditions and symptoms.

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of maxillary full-coverage occlusal splint (stabilization splint) therapy for specific temporomandibular disorders and their symptoms/signs.

Material And Methods: This study assessed the outcome of 232 patients who were suffering from chronic pain on movements, joint noise except reciprocal clicking, and difficulty of mouth opening. All were treated with the stabilization splint alone.

Analyses of neuro-otological complications after radiosurgery for acoustic neurinomas.

Purpose: To find out the optimum treatment parameters and the proper indications for treatment of acoustic neurinomas, univariate and multivariate actuarial analyses of neuro-otological complications after stereotactic radiosurgery for acoustic neurinomas were performed.

Methods And Materials: The subjects were 46 patients with acoustic neurinomas who underwent unilateral radiosurgery between June 1990 and June 1994 and were followed up at the University of Tokyo. Age ranged from 13 to 77 years (median, 54 years).

The influence of beryllium on cell survival rates in theIn-vitro culture system, on intracellular DNA synthesis and on SRBC-IgM antibody production responses.

Immunocytotoxicity of beryllium (Be) was evaluated by studying cell viability, intracellular DNA synthesis and SRBC-IgM response in an in-vitro culture system using non-sensitized spleen cells of a C57BL mouse. Be addition showed a suppressive effect on cell viability, an enhancing effect on DNA synthesis and on IgM antibody production. The suppressive effect on cell viability manifested itself markedly as the concentration of Be was increased or the culture time was prolonged.