The Allen's test for blood flow is performed before a forearm flap is elevated to examine vascularization through the ulnar artery. In this study, to ensure the survival of the donor site when a forearm flap was elevated, we monitored patients using a pulse oximeter. From oral cancer patients who were undergoing reconstructive surgery using the forearm flap, twenty patients were randomly selected to be served as subjects. A pulse oximeter probe was attached to the thumb on the side from which a skin flap was to be elevated. Oxygen saturation was measured when the tourniquet was released, and the radial artery was clamped and severed. The results showed that oxygen saturation temporarily decreased when the radial artery was ligated, but it recovered in one to two minutes.

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This study aimed to evaluate gender differences in oral health behavior and general health habits in adults. The subjects were 207 males and 196 females aged 20-64 yrs who were public officials in the city or town administrations in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The questionnaire survey included three items: (1) self assessment of oral health status, (2) oral health behavior and (3) general health habits. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test for differences of responses between males and females. The proportion of subjects with cognition of symptoms of oral disease ranged from 14.3 to 23.0%. The percentage of those who had not visited a dentist in the last year were 52.7% for males and 36.7% for females (p<0.01). Subjects who brushed their teeth almost every day at bed time were 60.9% of males and 88.8% of females (p<0.01). A comparison of the numbers of positive responses regarding general health habits found no differences in the distribution of general health habits score between males and females. Examining the relationship between oral health behavior and general health habits revealed that males with general habit high scores tended to have positive oral hygiene behavior. These results support the thesis that gender specificities in oral health depend on individual attitudes to oral health and dental utilization. In addition, understanding the cognitive factors of males and females would accelerate dental approaches to modifying oral health behavior of both groups, thus contributing to lifelong health maintenance.

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The purpose of this study is to investigate masticatory muscle function in subjects with unilateral cleft lip and palate compared with normal occlusion and the extents of improvement before and after orthodontic treatment. Subjects were twenty pretreatment patients, thirty posttreatment patients and ten controls. Electromyograms were recorded from their masticatory muscles during masticatory movement and tapping movement. Reduction of duration/stroke ratio (D/S) was observed in electromyograms obtained during masticatory movement after orthodontic treatment. The reduction was especially notable in the masseter muscle. In spite of a significant reduction in coefficient of variation (CV) values, a significant difference between the posttreatment group and the control group indicated some persisting irregularity in masticatory movement. Electromyograms taken during tapping movement showed no change in latency in the posttreatment group, but duration of the silent period (SP) was shortened and SP appearance increased. The findings outlined above reveal electromyographically clear improvements in masticatory muscle functions and jaw reflex mechanisms after orthodontic treatment. Nevertheless, parameters for subjects with cleft lip and palate still differed from those for controls with normal occlusion. The influence of plastic surgery in subjects with the defects discussed here causes maxillary retrusion, which in turn results in skeletal malocclusion. Orthodontic treatment should be designed to compensate this dentally and alveolarly. This design and the need to improve masticatory functions would contribute to eliminate the extreme difficulty of the therapeutic process.

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Surgical management of unerupted teeth depends upon a through understanding of anatomic, physiologic and pathologic factors. Attention has been given to problems of eruption in the maxillary anterior region. It is a region where a variety of anomalies occur. Since the maxillary anterior region influences appearance so greatly, early detection of difficulties and careful planning and treatment can be extremely beneficial to patients. The purpose of this case report is to present a case of maxillary permanent canine impaction in a horizontal displacement that developed after loss of the deciduous canine to chronic apical periodontitis, and incomplete root resorption of the deciduous canine.

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A case of multiple carcinoma of the lower lip probably induced by repeated bite trauma due to lack of sensation is reported. A reduction in immunocompetence by carboplatin (CBDCA) might be an additional condition for the carcinogenesis. This case suggests that the reconstruction of the sensory nerve is important after resection of a malignant tumor of the head and neck region.

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A 53 year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital for persistent priapism, which had been induced by 200mg (usual dose 25-50mg) of sildenafil citrate (Viagra™) three days earlier. He had a history of erectile dysfunction and had undergone penile injection therapy elsewhere; however, he had not used injection therapy this time. He obtained sildenafil personally without a doctor's prescription. He had not taken any other drugs that affect the metabolism of sildenafil, nor did he have any medical complications that might induce priapism. Since needle aspiration and irrigation were ineffective as first line therapy, surgical treatment was indicated to relieve the condition; a incision of tunica albuginea of both corpora cavernosa was made, and vigorous irrigation of saline washed out the blood clots. This is the first case report of priapism induced by sildenafil. Although this drug can be obtained through private commerce, it should be used under professional guidance as its abuse may lead to severe morbidity.

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