Challenges and Solutions for Cost-Effective and Practical Dental Cast Fabrication With a Desktop Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printer.

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a cost-effective desktop three-dimensional (3D) fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer to fabricate dental casts to overcome the problems of conventional dental plaster casts, such as fragility and low portability. First, a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) model of the dental cast was prepared in the Standard Triangle Language (STL) format. Twelve 3D models were fabricated using a desktop FDM 3D printer under different 3D printing parameters/conditions, including shape, placement direction, and infill percentage.

Administration of 1-kestose to beluga reduces intestinal Turicibacter andcollagenase gene levels, and blood creatinine levels.

In recent years, an increased emphasis on enhancing the care and health management of captive marine mammals has been observed. Belugas (White Whale, Delphinapterus leucas), belonging to the family Monodontidae, are of considerable importance and often the centerpiece of aquarium collections worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the administration of prebiotics on the gut microbiota and overall health of the beluga.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is superior to blow samples for the identification of fungi in the lower respiratory tract of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) can be used to identify pathogens in the lower respiratory tract. To assess the utility of cetacean BALF in pathogen identification, we obtained 36 sets of fungal isolates from paired BALF and blow samples collected from six managed beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). In 13 sets, Candida tropicalis was isolated from BALF, whereas Candida spp.

Bronchial Tree System Analysis of Live Beluga Whale () Using Bronchoscopy.

Cetaceans, including beluga whales (), have high morbidity and mortality rates due to bacterial or fungal lower respiratory infections. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collection by bronchoscopy is beneficial for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in the lower respiratory tract. Efficient and safe bronchoscopy requires characterizing the bronchial tree systems of beluga whales, as no reports exist on bronchial length and bifurcation.

Midazolam and butorphanol combination for sedating beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas).

Safe sedation doses for performing minor procedures such as bronchoscopy, endoscopy, and tooth extraction for beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) require elucidation. This study aimed to provide suggestions for determining appropriate midazolam and butorphanol doses to adequately sedate beluga whales to complete procedures and minimize the risk of side effects. We administered midazolam and butorphanol to six captive beluga whales (9-44 years old).

Assessing of the use of proteins A, G, and chimeric protein AG to detect marine mammal immunoglobulins.

In recent years, there has been an increase in infectious diseases in marine mammals, including brucellosis, infections of morbillivirus, herpesvirus, and poxvirus. Several serological diagnostic methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, immunofluorescence assays (ELISA), and western blotting, have been used to detect antibodies against pathogens in marine mammals. However, options for commercial secondary antibodies used to detect antibodies in marine mammals are limited; therefore, the use of proteins A, G, or chimeric protein AG may provide a suitable alternative.

CBCT Images to an STL Model: Exploring the "Critical Factors" to Binarization Thresholds in STL Data Creation.

In-house fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) models for medical use has become easier in recent years. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images are increasingly used as source data for fabricating osseous 3D models. The creation of a 3D CAD model begins with the segmentation of hard and soft tissues of the DICOM images and the creation of an STL model; however, it can be difficult to determine the binarization threshold in CBCT images.

Application of Medical Imaging and 3D Printing Technology in Teaching the Handling of Novel Medicine in Periodontal Surgery.

Recently, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) agents for periodontal tissue regeneration have been increasingly applied to the treatment of periodontal disease. Our current challenge for resident dentists with little clinical experience is to enhance instruction in the handling of new medicine in addition to teaching conventional procedures in periodontal tissue regeneration. This report describes using case-specific, cost-effective three-dimensional (3D) models for dentists' lectures and periodontal surgical training.

Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Problems and Solutions.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in medicine is one of the new and innovative technology for fabricating 3D models of complex anatomical structures that can be observed both visually and haptically. Patient-specific 3D models fabricated through this process are currently being used for various purposes, including surgical simulation, training, and medical education. Most of the personal use/low-end desktop 3D printers that are becoming widespread are fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers.

Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Pharyngeal Morphology in Bimaxillary Surgery with and without Horseshoe Osteotomy in Skeletal Class III Cases.

Repositioning of the jaw in orthognathic treatment generates changes in the soft tissues of the maxillofacial region, with consequent changes in the airway. The purpose of this study was to determine how type of orthognathic surgical procedure affected the 3-dimensional morphology of the upper airway. Forty patients were divided into the following 2 groups according to the type of surgical procedure used: a horseshoe osteotomy (HS) group (20 patients, comprising 11 men and 9 women; average age 24.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Soft and Hard Tissue Changes following Orthognathic Surgery.

Change in soft tissue in relation to that in hard tissue following orthognathic surgery was evaluated. Twenty-five patients were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis in all was jaw deformity (maxillary retrusion and mandibular protrusion) and all underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy.

Sialo-cutaneous fistula with ectopic submandibular gland sialolith, revealing a hidden ipsilateral enlarged and elongated styloid process: a consideration based on CT findings.

Sialolithiasis is a common salivary pathology, and an uncommon complication of sialadenitis and sialolithiasis is the formation of fistulous tracts to other compartments. Submandibular gland sialo-oral fistulae are not particularly remarkable, given the location of the gland and Wharton's duct, but submandibular sialolith-associated fistulae to other cervico-facial compartments (transcervical sialo-cutaneous and sialo-pharyngeal fistulae) are much less common. We report herein an unusual case of a 49-year-old obese man with sialo-cutaneous fistula containing a large, ectopic sialolith in subcutaneous tissue that was expected to undergo spontaneous elimination, but revealed hidden Eagle syndrome featuring an ipsilateral enlarged, elongated styloid process.

Utilization of desktop 3D printer-fabricated "Cost-Effective" 3D models in orthognathic surgery.

Background: In daily practice, three-dimensional patient-specific jawbone models (3D models) are a useful tool in surgical planning and simulation, resident training, patient education, and communication between the physicians in charge. The progressive improvements of the hardware and software have made it easy to obtain 3D models. Recently, in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, there are many reports on the benefits of 3D models.

DICOM segmentation and STL creation for 3D printing: a process and software package comparison for osseous anatomy.

Background: Extracting and three-dimensional (3D) printing an organ in a region of interest in DICOM images typically calls for segmentation as a first step in support of 3D printing. The DICOM images are not exported to STL data immediately, but segmentation masks are exported to STL models. After primary and secondary processing, including noise removal and hole correction, the STL data can be 3D printed.

Luminal, Intramural Unicystic Ameloblastoma with Marked Fluid-Fluid Level: Validity of CT and MRI Findings.

We report herein a case of a luminal and intramural unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) with a marked fluid-fluid level. The validity of imaging findings in diagnosing UA in the present case is discussed in reference to the literature. The patient was a 50-year-old woman who presented with swelling of the gingiva in the region of the left mandibular third molar and numbness in the lower lip.

Autotransplantation of Impacted Third Molar Using 3D Printing Technology: A Case Report.

Here, we describe a case of autotransplantation of a mandibular horizontally impacted third molar using a 3-dimensional (3D) model based on limited cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for diagnosis, 3D morphological evaluation, preoperative treatment planning, and surgical simulation. A 27-year-old woman visited this hospital for conservative treatment of the mandibular left second molar. Intraoral radiography and CBCT images revealed a C-shaped root canal in the mesial root, and compressive resorption of the distal root due to impingement of the crown of the horizontally impacted lower left third molar.

Prognostic factors for maxillary sinus mucosal thickening following Le Fort I osteotomy: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Le Fort I osteotomy is one of the surgical procedures now routinely and safely performed. It is possible to move the maxilla in three dimensions, but it is necessary to separate the bones around the maxillary sinus. Therefore, with surgery, maxillary sinus mucosal thickening occurs.

Incidental findings during head and neck MRI screening in 1717 patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the evaluation of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). At our institution, we perform additional head and neck screening using head coils when performing MRI screening of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to detect lesions in areas other than the TMJ (lesions discovered by chance, or incidental findings; IFs) and to conduct a diagnosis of exclusion. The objective of this study was to determine the number and frequency of IFs detected during head and neck screening, according to sites and diseases.

Utilizing a low-cost desktop 3D printer to develop a "one-stop 3D printing lab" for oral and maxillofacial surgery and dentistry fields.

Background: In the oral and maxillofacial surgery and dentistry fields, the use of three-dimensional (3D) patient-specific organ models is increasing, which has increased the cost of obtaining them. We developed an environment in our facility in which we can design, fabricate, and use 3D models called the "One-stop 3D printing lab". The lab made it possible to quickly and inexpensively produce the 3D models that are indispensable for oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Postoperative Conversion Disorder in Elderly Oral Cancer Patient.

Conversion disorder is a condition in which psychological stress in response to difficult situations manifests as physical symptoms. Here, we report a case of postoperative coma due to conversion disorder in an elderly oral cancer patient. An 82-year-old woman was referred to Tokyo Dental College Chiba Hospital with a mass lesion on the tongue.

Diagnosis and Endodontic Management of Fused Mandibular Second Molar and Paramolar with Concrescent Supernumerary Tooth Using Cone-beam CT and 3-D Printing Technology: A Case Report.

Supernumerary teeth in the molar area are classified as paramolars or distomolars based on location. They occur frequently in the maxilla, but only rarely in the mandible. These teeth are frequently fused with adjacent teeth.

Comparison of accuracy of intravoxel incoherent motion and apparent diffusion coefficient techniques for predicting malignancy of head and neck tumors using half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) technique in half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and to compare its accuracy to that of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to predict malignancy in head and neck tumors.

Patients And Methods: HASTE DW images of 33 patients with head and neck tumors (10 benign and 23 malignant) were evaluated. Using the IVIM technique, parameters (D, true diffusion coefficient; f, perfusion fraction; D*, pseudodiffusion coefficient) were calculated for each tumor.

Analysis of elements in a minimal amount of temporomandibular joint fluid on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images.

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate possible elements in minimal amounts of fluid (MF) in the temporomandibular joint by analyzing signal intensities in T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) images.

Study Design: Fifteen joints (15 patients) with MF were subjected to MR imaging to obtain T2-weighted and FLAIR images. Regions of interest were placed on MF, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and gray matter (GM), and their signal intensities were measured on both images.

Reliance on diagnostic elements in panoramic imaging with focus on ameloblastoma and keratocystic odontogenic tumor: psychometric study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate degree of observer reliance (RD) on specific diagnostic elements in differential diagnosis of ameloblastoma (AB) and keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOT) on panoramic images. The RD for 12 diagnostic elements, including 2 clinical and 10 radiographic elements, as recorded by eight dental radiologists on an ordinal ranking scale, was determined for 9 ABs and 9 KOTs. Intraobserver (IaOC) and inter-observer concordance (IeOC) for both ABs and KOTs were statistically analyzed in terms of RD.

Expression of the centrosomal colon cancer autoantigen gene during spermatogenesis in the maturing rat testis.

We analyzed the gene and protein expression of serologically defined colon cancer antigen 8. Gene expression was upregulated in the maturing rat testis, and was localized to the spermatocytes. Protein was detected in the spermatids and at the sites of mRNA expression.