Publications by authors named "Wataru Ofusa"
Background: Muscle weakness negatively affects perioral muscles and quality of life. The button-pull exercise is used to teach lip closure (LC) and to strengthen muscles. However, how the muscles accomplish LC during button-pull and its training effect on each muscle are unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ionotropic P2X receptor, P2X, is believed to regulate and/or generate nociceptive pain, and pain in several neuropathological diseases. Although there is a known relationship between P2X receptor activity and pain sensing, its detailed functional properties in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons remains unclear. We examined the electrophysiological and pharmacological characteristics of the P2X receptor and its functional coupling with other P2X receptors and pannexin-1 (PANX1) channels in primary cultured rat TG neurons, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The buccinator (BUC) is an important muscle for oral function. Since it lies deep in the facial skin, recording its activity is difficult; thus, studies on its function are limited. We developed a method to access the deep facial muscles from the mucosal side.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate the timing of swallowing processes by measuring barometric pressure (BP) and tongue muscle activity during dry and water swallows in 10 adults.
- Using electromyography and barometers, researchers recorded pressure in the oral (BP-o) and pharyngeal (BP-p) regions while analyzing the onset, peak, and cessation times of muscle activities related to swallowing.
- Results showed distinct pressure patterns indicating nasopharyngeal closure timings and suggested that tongue movements begin before the closure, providing clear insights into the mechanics of swallowing.
Merkel cells (MCs) have been proposed to form a part of the MC-neurite complex with sensory neurons through synaptic contact. However, the detailed mechanisms for intercellular communication between MCs and neurons have yet to be clarified. The present study examined the increases in intracellular free Ca concentration ([Ca]) induced by direct mechanical stimulation of MCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To test a novel sensor for assessing lip function.
Methods: The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the upper orbicularis oris muscle (OOM), lip-closing pressure (LP) and intraoral baro-pressure (IP) were simultaneously recorded in 20 healthy subjects (10 women and 10 men) by using a novel composite sensor (CS). Subjects performed the lip-closure, blow and suck tasks.