Tokyo Medical and Dental University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
1399 research outputs found
Sort by
Get PDFWe examined the associations between prefectural health status of children and sanitation infrastructure, medical care services and socioeconomic status in Japan during 1955-2000. Four indicators of child health status: infant mortality rate (IMR), Ascaris lumbricoides prevalence and height and weight of elementary school children, and five prefectural social indicators: water supply, sewerage, number of physicians, income and women's education, were calculated over five-year intervals and examined by correlation and panel data analyses. Associations between paediatric health and five social indicators were significant (p<0.001) until 1970. After adjustment for income or education, water supply diffusion rate showed a significantly negative association with IMR until the 1980s. A significantly positive correlation was observed between the number of physician and paediatric health from 1955-70 after adjustment for income. Water supply development showed a positive association with paediatric health after adjustment for economic or educational impact during the phases of rapid and steady economic growth, while medical care showed a positive correlation with paediatric health after adjustment for income during only the phase of rapid economic growth. Relationships between child health status and social indicators have changed over time with stage of economic development.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFWe previously reported a mouse model for scleroderma by repeated local injections of bleomycin. In this study, we investigated the level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in various mice strains, in order to determine whether the expression of TGF-β1 correlates with the susceptibility to bleomycin-induced scleroderma. Histological examination revealed prominent dermal sclerosis with increased collagen deposition in the bleomycin-treated skin in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains as compared with BALB/c, C57BL/6J and DBA/2 strains. Collagen contents in the skin were also increased in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains. Analysis of skin lesions from B10.A and C3H/HeJ exhibited the increased mRNA expression and protein synthesis of TGF-β1. TGF-β1 concentrations in culture supernatants of skin fibroblasts and spleen macrophages were significantly increased by bleomycin stimulation in B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains, and TGF-β1 gene expression in fibroblasts derived from B10.A and C3H/HeJ strains was significantly increased by bleomycin stimulation. Thus we conclude that C3H/HeJ and B10.A mice are susceptible to bleomycin-induced scleroderma, which may be, in part, due to increased TGF-β1 gene expression and protein production.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThis study was conducted to investigate the effects of estrogen and progesterone on spatial memory in ovariectomized female rats, specifically, on memory impaired by the cholinergic antagonist scopolamine. Forty-one female rats were divided into five groups: ovariectomized (OVX), estrogen-treated after ovariectomy (OE), progesterone-treated after ovariectomy (OP), estrogen-progesterone-treated after ovariectomy (OEP), and the sham control group (Control). The animals were trained on an eight-arm radial maze with four arms baited to assess both working and reference memory performances. The OE and OEP groups showed significant improvement in the ability to perform a spatial memory task over the OVX group (P<0.05). Spatial memory in the OP group did not differ from that in the OVX group. After thirty-two trials were conducted and all rats learned the eight-radial maze task, scopolamine hydrobromide (0.2 mg/kg i.p.) was administered prior to retesting. After scopolamine injection, the OVX group showed an increased number of working memory errors, reference memory errors than the other groups (P< 0.05). The OE, OEP and OP groups showed significant improvement in spatial impairment induced by scopolamine. These finding ssuggest progesterone alone or in combination with estrogen, improved scopolamine-induced impairment of working memory and reference memory as effectively as estrogen supplementation.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThe hardware chosen for fMRI data analysis may depend on the platform already present in the laboratory or the supporting software. In this study, we ran SPM99 software on multiple platforms to examine whether we could analyze fMRI data by SPM99, and to compare their differences and limitations in processing fMRI data, which can be attributed to hardware capabilities. Six normal right-handed volunteers participated in a study of hand-grasping to obtain fMRI data. Each subject performed a run that consisted of 98 images. The run was measured using a gradient echo-type echo planar imaging sequence on a 1.5T apparatus with a head coil. We used several personal computer (PC), Unix and Linux machines to analyze the fMRI data. There were no differences in the results obtained on several PC, Unix and Linux machines. The only limitations in processing large amounts of the fMRI data were found using PC machines. This suggests that the results obtained with different machines were not affected by differences in hardware components, such as the CPU, memory and hard drive. Rather, it is likely that the limitations in analyzing a huge amount of the fMRI data were due to differences in the operating system (OS).departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the geographic variation in mortality indicators in Songjiang District of Shanghai under rapid change with urbanization. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to visualize the distributions of health status and to test the extent of spatial auto-correlation in the indictors. In 2001, total crude mortality was 687/100,000 for the district; the rates for the townships (N=15) in the district ranged from 444/100,000 to 805/100,000. GIS maps indicated that the mortality was higher in the marginal areas of the district. Significant positive auto-correlations were found in total crude mortality rates, death rate for infectious diseases, and death rates for digestive diseases. The measures that consider intra-region inequality in health needs will be required in the regions under urbanization.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFLongitudinal dento-skeletal changes in unilateralcleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients following maxillarydistraction osteogenesis using the rigidexternal distraction device (RED) were analyzed.Twelve Japanese non-syndromic UCLP patientswho underwent maxillary distraction at the meanage of 16.4 years were used as subjects. Serial setsof lateral cephalograms, taken at 4 stages: 1)before osteotomy, 2) immediately after distraction,3) 6 months and 4) 12 months post-osteotomy,were analyzed. Statistical analyses, including apaired t test, Pearson correlation analysis andstepwise linear regression analysis, were performedto distill characteristic dento-skeletalchanges.In accordance with maxillary advancement, significantamounts of up-forward movement of thenasal bone, mandibular rotation and maxillarydental changes were observed. Maxillary dentalchanges were significantly related to the amount ofmandibular rotation and force system of maxillarytraction. Significant dento-skeletal relapse wasfound to occur during the 0-to-6-month follow-upperiod, but not in the 6-to-12-month follow-upperiod. Maxillary relapse was significantly relatedto the amount of maxillary advancement andseverity of pre-surgical maxillary hypoplasia,while mandibular relapse was significantly relatedto maxillary dento-skeletal relapse.Successful clinical application of this proceduretherefore requires consideration of both thesurrounding dento-skeletal changes and the tractionforce system.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThe purpose of our study was to utilize the dynamic finite element analysis to clarify the difference between Improved Super-elastic Ti-Ni alloy Wire (ISW) and Stainless Steel Wire (SSW) on occlusal force transmission during orthodontic treatment. ABAQUS/Standard was used to analyze three finite models over a 30-ms period: ISW, SSW, and wireless models; which consisting of premolar, molar, periodontal ligament (PDL), and alveolar bone. Wire model was established by beam element. A Joint C, which exhibits viscoelasticity to buffer occlusal force, was applied between the wire and bracket. The load was applied on the occlusal surface. At load withdrawal point, the average amounts of von Mises stress on PDL in three models were of the same value. However as time progressed, the stress in wireless model became higher than ISW and SSW models. In contrast, as time progressed further, the stress in SSW model became higher than the other two models and maintained its higher level until the end of analysis. Results showed that high damping capacity of ISW had an ability to buffer the transmission of occlusal force to the PDL. Besides, the dynamic analysis demonstrated an advantage to investigate the stress alterative response between models versus time period.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThe aim of the present study was to clarify the difference between the imagination of patients and the reality in regard to the location, the form and the size of the cavity in case of cavity preparation for dental restoration. Firstly, we manufactured the dummy dentition for simulated cavity preparation and the operator intra-orally prepared a cavity on the dummy dentition in subject to confirm its validity. Then, 5 operators intra-orally prepared prescribed cavities at the both sides of maxillary first molars on the dummy dentition in every one of 5 subjects with masking. We compared the location, the form and the area of these prepared cavities with those imagined by subjects, respectively. In 58% of cases, the subjects could accurately recognize the location of prepared teeth. And 34% of cases also determined the Class of cavity form. The imagined area was larger than the actual area and the difference was statistically significant (p< 0.001). These results suggested that the perception of the patients regarding the location and the form of the prepared cavity was inaccurate during cavity preparation and patients tended to overestimate amounts of removed tooth substance.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate occlusal pressure patterns of complete denture wearers to evaluate progress of occlusal adjustment of dentures. Thirty three edentulous subjects volunteered to participate in this study. A computer-based device was used to measure occlusal pressure sequence while tapping with their new dentures. The following variables obtained from each occlusal pressure pattern were assessed: Peak Time; Duration from the onset of pressure to the maximum pressure, Unloading Time; Duration from the maximum pressure to the end of pressure, Contacting Duration; Duration from the onset of pressure to the end of pressure, Tapping Cycle; Duration from the onset of pressure to the next onset, Peak Ratio; ratio of Peak Time to Unloading Time. Recordings were performed after the occlusal adjustment at each appointment and continued until denture adjustments were completed. Variables were analyzed using ANOVA and Bonferroni. A significant decrease was seen in Peak Ratio as the occlusal adjustments progressed (p<0.05). Its coefficient of variation was constantly the lowest among variables. The coefficient of variation of Peak Ratio was significantly lower than others at the completion of the adjustment (p<0.05). It was suggested that Peak Ratio was useful for evaluation of occlusal adjustment.departmental bulletin pape
Get PDFClinical experience suggests that successful orthodontic tooth movement can be produced with a threshold for force duration at about 6 hours, however, the changes in the periodontal ligaments (PDL) during this period is still unclear. Nitric oxide (NO) is a marker of signal transduction relating to bone remodeling. The aim of this study was to observe the initial response of NO synthase (NOS) when PDL equilibrium would be broken against light continuous orthodontic force. Rat maxillary first molars were moved mesially with 2 gf Titanium-Nickel closed coil springs for 1, 3 and 6 hours. The number of NADPH-diaphorase positive cells in PDL was counted for investigating NOS activity. At the control group, NOS activity in the distal area of the PDL was significantly higher than that of the mesial area (P<0.001). The activity of mesial area increased at 1-hour group (P<0.01), while the activity of distal area dropped down at 3- and 6-hour groups (P 3-hour<0.05, P 6- hour<0.001), compared with the control group. These results suggest that 1-3 hours would be the threshold of force duration for tooth movement with light continuous force.departmental bulletin pape