The Preventive Effect of Melatonin on Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis.

Melatonin exerts various physiological effects through melatonin receptors and their ability to scavenge free radicals. Radiotherapy is a common treatment for head and neck tumors, but stomatitis, a side effect affecting irradiated oral mucosa, can impact treatment outcomes. This study investigated the preventive effect of melatonin, a potent free radical scavenger, on radiation-induced oral mucositis.

A New Implantation Method for Orthodontic Anchor Screws: Basic Research for Clinical Applications.

This study aimed to determine whether the positional relationship between the underside of the screw head and the surface of the alveolar bone could alter the stress on the two surfaces and affect the stability of implanted anchor screws. First, in order to confirm the extent of the gap between the mini-screw and the bone surface, a mini-screw was placed in the palate of rabbits and examined histologically. As a result, in the conventional screw implantation procedure, oral mucosa between the base of the screw head and the bone creates a spatial gap.

Extraregional lymph node recurrence of stage IA1 squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix after initial surgery: two case studies.

Lymph node recurrence is extremely rare in cases of stage IA1 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix without lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). We present two cases of extraregional lymph node recurrence after initial surgery for stage IA1 SCC of the uterine cervix without LVSI. Both patients initially underwent hysterectomy and developed recurrent extraregional lymph nodes within a few years postoperatively.

Hitherto-Unnoticed Self-Transmissible Plasmids Widely Distributed among Different Environments in Japan.

Various conjugative plasmids were obtained by exogenous plasmid capture, biparental mating, and/or triparental mating methods from different environmental samples in Japan. Based on phylogenetic analyses of their whole-nucleotide sequences, new IncP/P-1 plasmids that could be classified into novel subgroups were obtained. Mini-replicons of the plasmids were constructed, and each of them was incompatible with at least one of the IncP/P-1 plasmids, although they showed diverse iteron sequences in their regions.

Sleep apnea in postmenopausal women is associated with joint pain severity and fatigability: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between sleep apnea parameters and various symptoms in postmenopausal women who had treatment-resistant sleep disorders.

Methods: The respiratory disturbance index (RDI), the number of times apnea-hypopnea occurred in an hour, and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored during one night of sleep using a portable monitoring device in 51 postmenopausal women who did not have an improved subjective sleep quality with the use of hypnotics. Physical and psychological health statuses and subjective sleep disturbance were evaluated using validated questionnaires, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Cornell Medical Index, and the Questionnaire for Assessment of Climacteric Syndrome in Japanese Women.

A New Induction Method for the Controlled Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Frozen Sections.

Considering that every tissue/organ has the most suitable microenvironment for its functional cells, controlling induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation by culture on frozen sections having a suitable microenvironment is possible. Induced PSCs were cultured on frozen sections of the liver, the brain, the spinal cord, and cover glasses (control) for 9 days. The iPSCs cultured on the sections of the liver resembled hepatocytes, whereas those on sections of the brain and the spinal cord resembled neuronal cells.

Effectiveness of 405-nm blue LED light for degradation of Candida biofilms formed on PMMA denture base resin.

This study investigated (i) the degradation effect of 405-nm blue light-emitting diode (LED) light irradiation on Candida albicans and C. glabrata biofilms formed on denture base resin and (ii) the effects of 405-nm blue LED light irradiation on the mechanical and surface characteristics of the resin. Polymethyl methacrylate denture base resin discs were prepared, and C.

Prostaglandin E potentiates interferon-γ-induced nitric oxide production in cultured rat microglia.

Prostaglandin E (PGE ) plays crucial roles in managing microglial activation through the prostanoid EP receptor, a PGE receptor subtype. In this study, we report that PGE enhances interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced nitric oxide production in microglia. IFN-γ increased the release of nitrite, a metabolite of nitric oxide, which was augmented by PGE , although PGE by itself slightly affects nitrite release.

Laser spectroscopy of the Ã(2)Σ(+)-X̃(2)Πi band system of l-SiC3H.

The Ã(2)Σ(+)-X̃(2)Πi band system of l-SiC3H in the region 14,700-16,300 cm(-1) was re-investigated by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and fluorescence depletion spectroscopy. Rotational analyses were made for three intense bands 0(0)(0), 4(0)(1), and 6(0)(1)7(0)(1) by observing high-resolution LIF excitation spectra. The determined rotational constants demonstrate that SiC3H is linear in the à state, as is the case in the X̃ state, and the observed band types are consistent with the vibrational assignments.

Leptin promotes wound healing in the skin.

Introduction: Leptin, a 16 kDa anti-obesity hormone, exhibits various physiological properties. Interestingly, skin wound healing was proven to delay in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. However, little is known on the mechanisms of this phenomenon.

Microwave spectroscopy of the allenyloxy radical (CH2=CCHO).

Pure rotational spectra of the allenyloxy radical (CH2=CCHO) were observed by Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) and FTMW-millimeter wave double-resonance spectroscopy. Molecular constants including the hyperfine interaction constants of CH2=CCHO in the (2)A(″) ground electronic state were precisely determined. Ab initio calculations indicate that CH2=CCHO has a linear C-C-C backbone with Cs symmetry, where the formyl group is in the Cs plane and perpendicular to the methylene group.

Laboratory detections of SiC2N and SiC3N by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy.

Two silicon-bearing carbon chain radicals, SiC2N and SiC3N, were detected in the laboratory by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Molecular constants including the hyperfine coupling constants have been determined for the two radicals in the ground electronic states. The SiC2N and SiC3N radicals have linear structures in the (2)Π ground electronic states with inverted and regular fine structures, respectively, as are the cases for their isoelectronic radicals, SiC3H and SiC4H, indicating that the SiC(n)N radicals have similar electronic structures to the SiC(n +1)H radicals.

Leptin promotes wound healing in the oral mucosa.

Introduction: Leptin, a 16 kDa circulating anti-obesity hormone, exhibits many physiological properties. Recently, leptin was isolated from saliva; however, its function in the oral cavity is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological role of leptin in the oral cavity by focusing on its effect on wound healing in the oral mucosa.

Improvement of preimplantation development of in vitro-fertilized bovine zygotes by glucose supplementation to a chemically defined medium.

The influences of glucose supplementation on early development of bovine embryos in BSA-free synthetic oviduct fluid were examined. Among the groups supplemented with 1.5, 2.

Pineal malignant B-cell lymphoma with lower cranial nerve involvement.

A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of dysphagia and hoarseness that had persisted for five days. A neurological examination indicated bulbar palsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed thickening of cranial nerves IX, X and XI, in addition to pineal body enlargement with diffuse contrast enhancement.

Far infrared stimulated emission from the ns and nf Rydberg states of NO.

We report directional far-infrared emission from the υ = 0 vibrational levels of the 9sσ, 10sσ, 11sσ, 9f, and 10f Rydberg states of NO in the gas phase. The emission around 28 and 19 μm from the 9f state was identified as the downward 9f → 8g and subsequent 8g → 7f cascade transitions, respectively. The emission around 38 and 40 μm from the 10f state was identified as the 10f → 9g and 10f → 9dσπ transition, respectively.

ICRP PUBLICATION 122: radiological protection in geological disposal of long-lived solid radioactive waste.

This report updates and consolidates previous recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) related to solid waste disposal (ICRP, 1985, 1997b, 1998). The recommendations given apply specifically to geological disposal of long-lived solid radioactive waste. The report explains how the ICRP system of radiological protection described in Publication 103 (ICRP, 2007) can be applied in the context of the geological disposal of long-lived solid radioactive waste.

Normal calves produced after transfer of embryos cultured in a chemically defined medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor I following ovum pick up and in vitro fertilization in Japanese black cows.

The objective of this study was to examine whether high concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and/or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) would have a beneficial effect on bovine embryo development in vitro and to obtain normal calves by using an ovum pick up method and embryo culture in a chemically defined medium. When compared with controls, EGF (100 or 200 ng/ml) or IGF-I (50 or 100 ng/ml) significantly increased the rate of embryos that developed into blastocysts during an 8-day culture after the in vitro fertilization of oocytes obtained from ovaries from a slaughterhouse. IGF-I induced a dose-dependent increase in cell number in both the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm, whereas EGF stimulated proliferation only in the inner cell mass.

Influence of effortful swallow on pharyngeal pressure: evaluation using a high-resolution manometry.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of effortful swallow on pharyngeal pressure while swallowing saliva and water using a novel high-resolution manometry (HRM) system.

Study Design: Case series with planned data collection.

Setting: Nagasaki University Hospital.

Expression and cellular localizaion of melatonin-synthesizing enzymes in rat and human salivary glands.

Melatonin, discovered in 1958, is secreted by the pineal gland primarily during the night. Its secretion is controlled by the light/dark cycle of the environment. Melatonin is also produced in and secreted by various extrapineal organs, tissues and cells and its synthesizing enzyme arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) is expressed in various extrapineal organs, tissues and cells.

Evaluation of swallowing pressure in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis before and after cricopharyngeal myotomy using high-resolution manometry system.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the pharyngeal pressure of a patient with, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) before and after cricopharyngeal myotomy by high-resolution manometry (HRM) system.

Methods: A 60-year-old man with ALS underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy for his intractable, aspiration. The swallowing pressure along the velopharynx and upper esophagus was measured using, the HRM 1 month before and 3 months after the surgery.

Influence of head rotation on upper esophageal sphincter pressure evaluated by high-resolution manometry system.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the effects of head rotation on upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure in healthy subjects using a novel high-resolution manometry (HRM) system.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Nagasaki University Hospital.

Spatial anatomy of the nasofrontal recess on the CT using multiplanar reconstruction technique.

Objective: To clarify the spatial orientation relevant to the endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for the frontal sinus.

Methods: Various dimensions of structures around the frontal recess were measured on 256 CT images of 128 Japanese patients using the multiplanar reconstruction technique. Measurements done in this study were: the distance from the nostril to the narrowest point of the frontal recess (D1), and the distance from the narrowest point of the frontal recess to the bony wall of the anterior skull base on an extension of the same line (D2).

Effects of a tongue-holding maneuver during swallowing evaluated by high-resolution manometry.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a tongue-holding maneuver (THM) during swallowing using a novel high-resolution manometry (HRM) system.

Study Design: Case series with planned data collection.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three asymptomatic Japanese adults were studied.

The patulous eustachian tube complicated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a video clip demonstration.

We report a 60-year-old case diagnosed as the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with patulous eustachian tube (ET). To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis complicating patulous ET in the literature, demonstrating the movement of the tympanic membrane, the pharyngeal orifice of the ET and abnormal movement of the uvula because of paralysis of the soft palate on video.