[Effect of occlusal form in buccal cusps of molars on masticatory function and intraoral food flow].

Purpose: The degree of crushing and intraoral food flow was evaluated using peanuts by the occlusal forms of a removable bridge as indices to clarify the occlusal formative effect of maxillary molars on masticatory function.

Methods: The subject was a 29-year-old male without any gnathostomatic disorders and his removable bridge ([7] 6 [5]) was so made in interocclusal distance as to be 0.5, 1.

The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extracts on serum and liver lipid parameters in hamsters fed cholesterol-free and cholesterol-enriched diets.

The hypolipidemic effect of dietary methanol fraction (BMMF) extracted from bitter melon (Koimidori variety), at the levels of 0.5% and 1.0%, was examined in male golden Syrian hamsters fed diets supplemented with and without cholesterol.

The effects of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) on serum and liver triglyceride levels in rats.

Effects of three different varieties (Koimidori, Powerful-Reishi, and Hyakunari) of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and those of methanol fraction extract of Koimidori variety on serum and liver triglycerides were studied in rats. Feeding of diets containing either bitter melon or various fractions isolated by organic solvents caused no adverse effects on food intake or growth of rats. When the effect of three different varieties of bitter melon was compared, the Koimidori variety was found to be the most effective in lowering hepatic triglyceride levels as compared to the other two varieties, suggesting a variety-dependent difference in their activity.