Galvanic interaction between titanium and gallium alloy or dental amalgam.

Objectives: The objective was to examine in vitro the galvanic interaction between titanium and a high-copper dental amalgam or a gallium-based direct filling alloy at different area ratios, and to relate the observed interactions to the electrochemical characteristics of the alloys.

Methods: The tested materials were cast titanium, a single-composition, spherical high-copper amalgam, and a gallium-based direct filling alloy. Polarization curves were recorded.

Stress distribution and abutment tooth mobility of distal-extension removable partial dentures with different retainers: an in vivo study.

Three types of retainers (wrought wire clasp, Aker's cast clasp, and conical crown telescopic retainer) designed for distal-extension removable partial dentures (RPDs) were assessed in two Kennedy class I patients' mouths. The assessment, included the ratio of denture base shearing load and mobility of the terminal abutments when loaded on a free-end RPD occlusal surface. The mean values of denture base shearing ratios of wrought wire clasp, Aker's clasp and conical crown telescope were 60, 42 and 20%, respectively.

Electromyographic investigation of chin cup therapy in Class III malocclusion.

Electromyographic activity was evaluated in 20 patients (10 girls and 10 boys, mean age 10 years) with Class III malocclusion who were treated with a chin cup appliance. The posttreatment data were obtained at the end of phase 1 chin cup treatment when the anterior crossbite had been corrected. EMG activity of the masseter and temporal muscles for each subject were studied during unilateral chewing using the following parameters: mean cumulative voltage (MCV), mean maximum peak voltage (MMPV), and rotational direction of the differential lissajous EMG (DL-EMG).

Force distribution of the temporomandibular joint and temporal bone surface subjected to the head-chincup force.

The present study is an in vitro study of chincup therapy. The purpose of the study was to investigate the localization and distribution of stress induced by the head-chincup appliance. Thin single and three-dimensional strain gauges were affixed on a young dry human skull capped by the head-chincup appliance.

Decreased expression and release of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26) in cultured peripheral blood T lymphocytes of oral cancer patients.

To investigate the mechanism whereby serum dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV activity in oral cancer patients is decreased, we examined the expression of cell surface DPP IV, also known as CD26, in cultured peripheral blood T lymphocytes of these patients and the amounts of DPP IV released into culture medium; values were compared with those found in healthy subjects. When peripheral blood T lymphocytes were cultured in the presence of phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and/or interleukin-2, the proliferative response and expression of CD26 (DPP IV) in their plasma membranes were greatly diminished in oral cancer patients as compared with those in healthy subjects. In addition, DPP IV activity in lymphocyte culture medium was reduced more in oral cancer patients than in healthy subjects, indicating decreased shedding of DPP IV from activated T lymphocytes in the patients.

Behavior of pure gallium in water and various saline solutions.

This study investigated the chemical stability of pure gallium in water and saline solutions in order to obtain fundamental knowledge about the corrosion mechanism of gallium-based alloys. A pure gallium plate (99.999%) was suspended in 50 mL of deionized water, 0.

Clinical evaluation of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) in patients treated with chin cup.

The purpose of this manuscript was twofold: (1) to provide more information on the incidence of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) in chin cup-treated patients during and after active treatment; and (2) to evaluate results of functional analysis for one orthodontically treated chin cup patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and difficulty of maximum mouth opening. Eighty-six out of a total of 160 chin cup patients responded to our questionnaire and were checked for pain, clicking, and maximum mouth opening. Twenty-eight of the chin cup subjects showed one or more symptom(s) of TMD.

Responses to conservative treatment in temporomandibular disorders with locking versus with muscle pain.

We conducted a follow-up study of 150 patients with temporomandibular disorders, of whom 91 had muscle pain and 59 locking, in order to investigate the response to conservative treatment. The patients with muscle pain showed fairly uniform age distribution, while the percentage over 49 years of age was lower in those with locking. Of the patients with TMJ locking, the percentage who completed treatment was high, and the duration of treatment in this group was longer than that in those with muscle pain.

Dipeptidyl peptidase III is a zinc metallo-exopeptidase. Molecular cloning and expression.

We have purified dipeptidyl peptidase III (EC 3.4.14.

Remaining mandibular third molars in an adult population.

Although tooth loss with age has been extensively investigated, there appears to be no literature on the relationship of age to remaining mandibular third molars. The study showed that as age increases so does the frequency of absent vertically erupted mandibular third molars. However, no correlation was found between age and loss of mandibular impacted third molars in men of 71 years of age or older.

Root canal system of the mandibular incisor.

To better assess the efficiency of the mechanical preparation of root canals, 1085 transparent specimens of extracted mandibular incisors were examined for canal configuration, thickness and curvature of the root canals, condition of any accessory canals, and location of the apical foramen. Greater than 85% of the root canals possessed a single canal (Type I). Of specimens in which furcation was observed, only 3% possessed two separate canals (Type III and IV).

Immunohistochemical analysis of DNA synthesis during chronic stimulation with isoproterenol in mouse submandibular gland.

We investigated the numbers of DNA-synthesizing cells in mouse submandibular glands (SMGs) during chronic isoproterenol (IPR) administration, using an immunohistochemical method with anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibodies. Adult and immature female mice were injected with IPR daily or every other day up to a total of seven injections. Whereas hypertrophic enlargement of acinar cells continued with repeated IPR injections, induction of DNA synthesis was transient.

Incidence of inflammation in completely impacted lower third molars.

The influence of ageing and the contact of the adjacent tooth on purulent inflammation associated with the completely impacted lower third molar was assessed in 26 patients with clinical symptoms of infection out of 800 patients who had roentgenographically-confirmed completely impacted lower third molars. These 26 patients were 23 years of age or older. The 9 with pain alone ranged from 25 to 44 years of age, whereas the 17 patients with inflammation ranged from 29 to 67 years of age, and non-contact to adjacent tooth was associated with purulent inflammation in older patients, indicating completely impacted lower third molars may cause pain only until 45 years of age; but purulent inflammation occurs even in the group of non-contact to adjacent tooth after 45 years of age.

Unerupted canine without median diastema.

The eruption of the canine is known to be a factor for diastema closure. In this study the relative changes in the orientation of the unerupted canine were assessed using the orthopantomographs of 9854 patients who sought consultation between April 1984 and March 1993. A total of 38 canines in 32 patients, all aged 11 years or older, were identified as unerupted canines.

Evaluation of heterotopic bone formation induced by squalane and bone morphogenetic protein composite.

Bone morphogenetic protein is an important molecule whose bioactivity depends on the carrier. Squalane is used in the formulation of various kinds of cosmetics because it is easily emulsified and has the property of spreading well. Thus, squalane might be effective as a bone morphogenetic protein delivery system.

Ten-year follow-up study of conical crown-retained dentures.

This study reports the results of a long-term evaluation of conical crown-retained dentures. One hundred fifty-two restorations that had been in place for over 10 years were analyzed. Restorations were divided according to the Kennedy classification.

The soluble form of Fas molecule is elevated in parkinsonian brain tissues.

Fas is an apoptosis-signaling receptor molecule on the surface of a number of cell types. The soluble form of Fas (sFas) was measured for the first time in brain (caudate nucleus, putamen and cerebral cortex), ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (VCSF), and lumbar CSF (LCSF) from control and parkinsonian patients by a highly sensitive two-site sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentrations of sFas in nigro-striatal dopaminergic regions were significantly higher in parkinsonian patients than those in controls, whereas this product in cerebral cortex showed no significant difference between parkinsonian and control subjects.

Molecular cloning and expression of rat liver aminopeptidase B.

We isolated, by immunological screening of a Uni-ZAP XR cDNA library constructed from rat liver mRNAs, a cDNA clone with 2212 base pairs encoding aminopeptidase B (EC 3.4.11.

Central distribution and peripheral functional properties of afferent and efferent components of the superior laryngeal nerve: morphological and electrophysiological studies in the rat.

The central distribution of the afferent and efferent components of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), which in the rat is ramified into the three branches of the rostral branch (R.Br), middle branch (M.Br), and caudal branch (C.

Increase of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in gingival crevicular fluid during human orthodontic tooth movement.

The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in human gingival crevicular fluid, and to investigate changes during orthodontic tooth movement. Twelve patients (mean age, 14.4 yr) participated.

Morphologic adaptation of temporomandibular joint after chincup therapy.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the morphologic changes of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) after chincup application, with longitudinal TMJ cephalometric laminagraphs. The subjects were 19 prepubertal patients with true, mild skeletal Class III malocclusions with anterior crossbite. All underwent chincup therapy from the beginning of treatment.

Immunocytochemical localization of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase and catechol-O-methyltransferase in blood vessel wall of the human dental pulp.

Relative large amounts of DOPA as compared with the concentrations of norepinephrine are found in human dental pulp. AADC and COMT are localized in blood vessel walls of human dental pulp. This localization suggests a functional relationship between COMT and AADC with regard to the metabolism of DOPA.

Reduced expression of dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of oral cancer patients.

To investigate the mechanism of decrease of serum DPP IV activity in oral cancer patients, we analyzed the expression of DPP IV in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of oral cancer patients and healthy subjects. Consequently, serum DPP IV activity was found to correlate significantly with the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), T lymphocytes and CD26 (identified as DPP IV)+ T lymphocytes in healthy subjects, and the number of PBL and CD26+ T lymphocytes in cancer patients. However, the numbers of PBL and T lymphocytes were significantly less in cancer patients than in healthy subjects.

bcl-2 protein is increased in the brain from parkinsonian patients.

The proto-oncogene bcl-2 is involved in the regulation of cell death and may be able to block apoptosis in neurons through reduced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The bcl-2 product was measured for the first time in brain (caudate nucleus, putamen and cerebral cortex), ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (VCSF), and lumber CSF (LCSF) from control and parkinsonian patients by highly sensitive two-site sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentrations of bcl-2 in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic regions were significantly higher in parkinsonian patients than those in controls, whereas this product in cerebral cortex showed no significant difference between parkinsonian and control subjects.

In vitro properties of a chitosan-bonded bone-filling paste: studies on solubility of calcium phosphate compounds.

The present study investigated properties of various mixtures of organic acids (malic and malonic) and calcium phosphate compounds (beta-tricalcium phosphate, ashed bovine bone, and synthetic hydroxyapatite) with the objective of determining the optimum combination of organic acid and calcium phosphate compound for components of a chitosan-bonded bone-filling paste. beta-tricalcium phosphate was decomposed by malic acid and malonic acid, but these two acids did not decompose synthetic hydroxyapatite and ashed bovine bone. Assessment of ion release from a set paste containing either synthetic hydroxyapatite or ashed bovine bone indicated that only calcium ions were appreciably released after storing and stirring the set paste in physiologic saline for 7 days.