Three-dimensional longitudinal changes of maxilla and mandible morphology during the predental period.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to longitudinally analyse the morphology of maxilla and mandible over time in infants using a three-dimensional (3D) surface scanner.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen Japanese full-term infants participated in the study. Dental plaster models were fabricated every 3 months from 1 month of age to 12 months.

Application of three-dimensional digital models for the morphometric analysis of predentition plasters: accuracy and precision.

Aim: This study aimed to test the accuracy and precision of measurements of three-dimensional (3D) digital models from the pre-dentition period using a noncontact 3D measurement system (3D scanner) versus the gold standard method of direct measurements using a digital caliper on plaster models.

Materials And Methods: Ten pairs of plaster models were obtained from children during the predentition period. Linear measurements were performed using both methods.

Interleukin-5 messenger RNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with bronchial asthma and eosinophilia.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) plays an important role in allergic diseases accompanied by eosinophilia. We examined IL-5 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from 13 patients with bronchial asthma, 1 patient with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, 2 patients with idiopathic eosinophilia, and 5 control subjects. IL-5 mRNA was expressed in PBMC from 2 of 13 patients with asthma, 1 patient with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, and 1 of 2 patients with idiopathic eosinophilia.

Atrial natriuretic peptide inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by interferon-gamma-activated macrophages via suppression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B activation.

We investigated whether the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) might have an inhibitory effect on inflammatory cells. Treatment of RAW264.7 macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN- gamma) caused a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) production.

Evidence of oxidative stress in asthma and COPD: potential inhibitory effect of theophylline.

To evaluate the potential inhibitory effect of theophylline on the pulmonary oxidative stress in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we concomitantly measured the blood levels of theophylline, a non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor and lipid peroxides as an index of oxidative stress. The plasma levels of lipid peroxides were significantly elevated in patients with asthma (3.48 +/- 0.