Capsaicin receptor expression in the rat temporomandibular joint.

Experimentally, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) nerve units respond to capsaicin, which is used clinically to treat TMJ pain. However, the existence of capsaicin receptors in the TMJ has not previously been clearly demonstrated. Immunohistochemical analysis has revealed the presence of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) expression in the nerves and synovial lining cells of the TMJ.

Interactive propagation of photosensitive chemical waves on two circular routes.

The propagation of chemical waves in the photosensitive Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction was investigated using an excitable field composed of two rings in slight contact, which were drawn using computer software and then projected on a film soaked with BZ solution using a liquid-crystal projector. When the initial phase difference between the two chemical waves in the individual rings was smaller than a critical value, this initial value was maintained after collision of the chemical waves. However, when the initial phase difference was larger than this critical value, the phase difference converged to the same value after the second collision.

Hepatic metastases: detection with multi-detector row CT, SPIO-enhanced MR imaging, and both techniques combined.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare the accuracy in detection of hepatic metastases among contrast material-enhanced multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) alone, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging alone, and a combination of contrast-enhanced CT and SPIO-enhanced MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: The ethics committee did not require its approval or informed consent for this retrospective study, which was compliant with Declaration of Helsinki principles. Data in 38 patients (22 men, 16 women; mean age, 64.

Characteristic motion of a camphanic acid disk on water depending on the concentration of Triton X-100.

As a simple autonomous motor, the self-motion of a camphanic acid disk on the aqueous phase with a neutral surfactant (Triton X-100) was investigated. Whereas only continuous motion was observed on water, intermittent motion (alternating between motion and rest) was observed upon addition of Triton X-100. Under the experimental conditions that gave intermittent motion, the surface tension of the aqueous phase changed periodically, synchronous with the contact angle around the camphanic acid disk.

Assessment of continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using 24-hour urinary catecholamines.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is related to diurnal sympathetic hyperactivity and increased blood pressure, both factors that are likely to lead to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Hypothesis: The study investigated whether 24-h urinary catecholamines would reflect the effect of obstructive sleep apnea on autonomic activity.

Methods: Standard polysomnography was performed in 17 patients with OSAS (age 53.

Root resorption and immune system factors in the Japanese.

The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between excessive root resorption and immune system factors in a sample of Japanese orthodontic patients. The records of 60 orthodontic patients (18 males, age 17.7 +/- 5.

Sensitivity to cisplatin determined by the histoculture drug response assay and clinical response of endometrial cancer.

This study investigated the value of the in vitro histoculture drug response assay (HDRA) for predicting the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer. Specimens were obtained from 115 patients with endometrial cancer treated at Keio University Hospital between 1994 and 2002. Tumor fragments were cultured on collagen sponge gel with cisplatin for 7 days, and cell viability was assessed.

Tonsil size and body mass index are important factors for efficacy of simple tonsillectomy in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of simple tonsillectomy to treat obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in adults.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

Nasal resistance for determinant factor of nasal surgery in CPAP failure patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objectives: Given that criteria for nasal surgery in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have not been proposed, we investigated the effectiveness of nasal surgery for CPAP failure in patients with both severe OSAS and nasal obstruction.

Patients And Methods: Conventional nasal surgery was performed in 12 patients who were refractory to treatment by CPAP. The subject group consisted of 12 males (mean age, 54.

Virological, serological, and clinical features of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis due to recombinant genogroup II norovirus in an infant home.

Norovirus (NV) is an important cause of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Recently, several sporadic cases due to naturally occurring recombinant NVs have been reported. In January 2000, there was an outbreak of gastroenteritis in an infant home in Sapporo, Japan.

Image fusion of coronary tree and regional cardiac function image using multislice computed tomography.

Background: Although trials of image fusion, such as positron emission computed tomography and multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT), have already demonstrated clinical usefulness, fusion of the coronary artery image and functional image by MSCT alone has not been reported yet. Here, a new idea of data analysis is proposed in which both regional cardiac function and the responsible coronary arteries can be assessed by a fused image.

Methods And Results: The study group comprised 5 patients with coronary artery disease.

Distinction of gases with a semiconductor sensor depending on the scanning profile of a cyclic temperature.

A gas-sensing system based on a dynamic nonlinear response is reported to improve the selectivity in the sensor response toward sample gases. A cyclic temperature composed of fundamental and second harmonics was applied to a SnO(2) semiconductor gas sensor and the resulting conductance of the sensor was analyzed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT). The dynamic nonlinear responses to the gas species were further characterized depending on the scanning profile of the temperature.

[Prognostic factors for PSA relapse of prostate cancer after endocrine therapy].

Purpose: Advanced prostate cancer responds well to endocrine therapy initially, but soon becomes refractory and has a poor prognosis. We analyzed the prognostic factors of prostate cancer responding well initially to endocrine therapy with lowering of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level but later showing PSA relapse.

Materials And Methods: In prostate cancer patients newly diagnosed from January 1992 to December 2004 at our institution, there were 93 patients in that the PSA level of 10 ng/ml or more before therapy initially dropped below 10 ng/ml by endocrine therapy, but showed PSA relapse thereafter.

Regional cerebral blood flow change in a case of Alzheimer's disease with musical hallucinations.

We examined alteration of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in a case of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient with musical hallucination. To detect regions related to musical hallucination, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of the patient and nine sex, age, and cognitive function-matched AD patients without delusions and hallucinations were compared using statistical parametric mapping 99 (SPM99). In comparison with controls, the patient had increased rCBF in left temporal regions and left angular gyrus.

Influence of nasal resistance on initial acceptance of continuous positive airway pressure in treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered as the standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but some patients with OSAS are unable to accept CPAP due to nasal obstruction and poor nasal airflow.

Objectives: We assessed the influence of nasal resistance before beginning CPAP treatment on the initial acceptance of CPAP in OSAS patients.

Methods: The study subjects comprised 77 patients (74 males, 3 females) with primary OSAS, all of whom received CPAP treatment with nasal masks.

Differential effects of short-acting beta2-agonists on human granulocyte functions.

Background: beta2-Adrenergic agonists play a pivotal role in the management of bronchial asthma. Although the major effect of short-acting beta2-agonists on the airway is relaxation of smooth muscles, they may also have several effects on surrounding immunomodulatory cells.

Methods: We examined whether widely used short-acting beta2-agonists differ in their ability to modulate granulocyte functions, such as superoxide anion (O2-) production and degranulation.

T staging of gastric cancer: role of multi-detector row CT.

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the accuracy of multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of serosal invasion in patients with gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: The Ethics Committee does not require approval or informed consent for retrospective studies. Forty-one consecutive patients (24 men, 17 women; mean age, 68 years) with gastric cancer were included in this study.

Thallium-201 scintigraphy in bone and soft-tissue tumors: a comparison of dynamic, early and delayed scans.

Objective: It has been reported that delayed scan of thallium-201 (201Tl) scintigraphy is useful for differentiating malignant tumors from benign lesions and for evaluating treatment response. However, physiological muscle uptake which usually increases in delayed scans, often makes it difficult to evaluate 201Tl uptake and its washout in bone and soft-tissue tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the delayed scan is necessary and whether a dynamic scan is useful in the evaluation of bone and soft-tissue tumors.

Vascular neuronal NO synthase is selectively upregulated by platelet-derived growth factor: involvement of the MEK/ERK pathway.

Objective: We demonstrated recently that neuronal NO synthase (NOS) is expressed in arteriosclerotic lesions and exerts important vasculoprotective effects in vivo. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanism(s) for vascular neuronal NOS (nNOS) expression.

Methods And Results: In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, treatment with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) selectively upregulated nNOS expression but not inducible NOS (iNOS) or endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression.

Quercetin induces gadd45 expression through a p53-independent pathway.

Quercetin, a kind of flavonoid, is found in edible fruits and vegetables and has anti-tumorigenic activity. However, the mechanism of activity has not been elucidated. We show for the first time that gadd45 is a molecular target of quercetin, which inhibits growth of human cervical cancer HeLa cells.

Whole body MRI for detecting metastatic bone tumor: comparison with bone scintigrams.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of whole body MRI (WB-MRI [magnetic resonance imaging]) and bone scintigram (BS) at detecting bone metastasis.

Materials And Methods: WB-MRI was performed on 16 patients for detecting bone metastasis (6 breast carcinoma, 7 prostatic carcinoma, 1 renal cell carcinoma [RCC], 1 hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], and 1 primary unknown). BS was also performed in all cases.

Photodynamic therapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We report the effectiveness of PDT in 105 cases of CIN.

Methods: All patients received photofrin (PHE) 2 mg/kg intravenously and, 48-60 h later, phototherapy was performed using the Excimer dye laser or a YAG-OPO laser with an irradiation dose of 100 J/cm(2) using 630 nm wavelength.

Anteroposterior lip positions of the most-favored Japanese facial profiles.

Introduction: Soft tissue analysis is a basic tool in planning orthodontic treatment. However, the components of a well-balanced Japanese facial profile have not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to assess the most-favored or most well-balanced profile from a series of facial silhouettes with varying anteroposterior lip positions by a group of Japanese orthodontists and a group of young adult Japanese dental students.

Expression of deltaNp63 in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Background: The p63 gene is present as two isoforms, namely TAp63 and deltaNp63. The biological role of deltaNp63 in the progression of esophageal cancer is still controversial.

Patients And Methods: The expression of deltaNp63, as well as that of p63, was immunohistochemically examined in 61 resected specimens of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a potential inhibitory mediator of inflammation via neutrophil apoptosis.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is supposed to be an effective agent for neutrophil-mediated inflammation in the area of critical medicine. We investigated the involvement of SOD in the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis. Exogenously added SOD effectively induced neutrophil apoptosis, and the fluorescence patterns determined using annexin-V and the 7-AAD were similar to those seen in Fas-mediated neutrophil apoptosis.