Sole-ground contact and sitting leg position influence suprahyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscle activity during swallowing of liquids.

Clinically, the stable sole-ground contact in the diet is considered as important for achieving safe swallows in the dysphagic patients. However, the effects of varied sole-ground contacts on swallow-related muscles activities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sole-ground contacts on the muscle activities during swallow for various materials; 26 healthy adult subjects participated in this study.

FGF-2 suppresses expression of nephronectin via JNK and PI3K pathways.

Nephronectin (Npnt), an extracellular matrix protein, is a ligand for integrin α8β1 and is involved in the development of various organs, such as the kidneys, bones, liver, and muscles. Previously, we found that Npnt expression was inhibited by various cytokines including transforming growth factor-β (Tgf-β) and oncostatin M (Osm). Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)-2, otherwise known as basic Fgf, also plays important roles in skeletal development and postnatal osteogenesis.

Occlusal status of implant superstructures at mandibular first molar immediately after setting.

Background: Occlusal contact on the implant superstructures is important for successful treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occlusal contact of single implant superstructures at the mandibular first molar immediately after seating from weak to strong clenching.

Methods: Subjects were nine patients who had just been fitted with an implant prosthesis in the mandibular first molar region, with no missing teeth other than in the implant region.

Expression of nephronectin is enhanced by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The extracellular matrix protein nephronectin (Npnt), also called POEM, is considered to play critical roles as an adhesion molecule in development and functions of various tissues, such as the kidneys, liver, and bone. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanism of Npnt gene expression and found that vitamin D3 (1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,VD 3) strongly enhanced Npnt mRNA expression in MC3T3-E1 cells from a mouse osteoblastic cell line. The VD 3-induced increase in Npnt expression is both time- and dose-dependent and is mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Molecular pathogenesis of spondylocheirodysplastic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome caused by mutant ZIP13 proteins.

The zinc transporter protein ZIP13 plays critical roles in bone, tooth, and connective tissue development, and its dysfunction is responsible for the spondylocheirodysplastic form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (SCD-EDS, OMIM 612350). Here, we report the molecular pathogenic mechanism of SCD-EDS caused by two different mutant ZIP13 proteins found in human patients: ZIP13(G64D), in which Gly at amino acid position 64 is replaced by Asp, and ZIP13(ΔFLA), which contains a deletion of Phe-Leu-Ala. We demonstrated that both the ZIP13(G64D) and ZIP13(ΔFLA) protein levels are decreased by degradation via the valosin-containing protein (VCP)-linked ubiquitin proteasome pathway.

Lamination of the masticatory muscles in the kangaroo according to their innervation.

An analysis of the laminations of the masseteric, zygomaticomandibular and temporalis muscles of the Red Kangaroo (Macropus Rufus) and all of the masticatory muscles of the Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Macropus Giganteus) was carried out based on their innervation. The masseteric muscle was divided into superficial and deep layers; the superficial layer was further subdivided into three laminae from the rostro-lateral portion to caudo-internal portion. The deep layer was divided into lateral, caudo-internal and rostro-internal laminae.

Immediate insertion of two types of implants into vascularized bone grafts used for mandibular reconstruction in miniature pigs.

Reaction of bone tissue was investigated after placement of two different types of implants in vascularized iliac bone grafting. After the mandibles of six Göttingen minipigs were reconstructed with vascularized bone of the iliac crest, hydroxyapatite-coated implants and titanium screw implants were placed in the graft. The animals were killed at 14, 28, and 56 days after the implantation, and the healing processes were examined histologically.

Role of visual feedback treatment for defective /s/ sounds in patients with cleft palate.

The role of visual feedback in the treatment of defective /s/ sounds in patients with cleft palate is described. Six patients with cleft palate who were similar in age, velopharyngeal function, and type of misarticulation were selected for this study. Treatment was provided using either visual feedback or no visual feedback.