This study evaluates in vitro the effects of discoloration induced by coating resins under various polymerization conditions. Two coating resins (WTC and BTC) were used. Disk specimens (diameter: 15.0 mm;thickness: 0.7 mm) were used uncoated, coated with a polyethylene film, or coated with an application of TopCoat for WTC or GlossRefine for BTC. Five specimens were immersed for 72 h in a staining solution of either coffee or water. The CIELAB coordinates (L*, a*, b*) of each specimen were measured against a black background using a colorimeter (Shade Eye, NCC) and the color difference [ΔE] was estimated and analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey comparison. The specimen surfaces were observed by FE-SEM. The results reveal that for both materials, the uncoated group had the highest ΔE values (p<0.05). For the other groups, the ΔE values for WTC were higher than those for BTC (p<0.05). The surfaces of both materials contained fillers of various sizes and shapes. For all groups, WTC had much smaller fillers than BTC. Both White Coat and BTC exhibited a color change after 72 h under all conditions (ΔE>3.6). Coffee discolored the coating resins. Oxygen inhibition significantly affected the discoloration of the coating resins. We propose applying a coating agent for WTC and a glazing agent for BTC to suppress discoloration of coating resins.

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Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), like many solid tumors, contains a heterogeneous population of cancer cells. Recent data suggest that a rare subpopulation of cancer cells, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is capable of initiating, maintaining, and expanding the growth of tumors. Identification and characterization of CSCs from OSCC would facilitate the monitoring, therapy, or prevention of this cancer. CD133 is considered a marker molecule for CSCs; however, its role in OSCC is yet to be determined. In this study, we isolated CD133-positive cells from OSCC cell lines using a magnetic-activated cell sorter (MACS). The differential expression of genes between OSCC/CD133-positive cells and parental cells was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Up-regulated genes (CD133-positive vs. parental cells) included ALDH 1, Keratin15 (Krt15), SOX2, and WNT 1, while the down-regulated genes included Fgfr1 and Pparg. Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression of Krt15 and SOX2 was localized to cancer cells of OSCC specimens. Their elevated expression levels were detected in poorly differentiated and chemoresistant OSCC. Our results possibly demonstrate that CD133-positive cells, when compared with parental cells, are a more concentrated population of CSCs in OSCC.

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The patient, 30-year-old and 8 month female, visited to our office. Her chief complaint was “My front teeth are crowded, but I donʼt want to remove any teeth and show my braces". She was diagnosed for Skeletal Class II with dolicofacial type, Angle Class I crowding and deep bite. Her treatment was performed with non-extraction and employed an individually customized lingual bracket system by CAD/CAM technology (Incognito, 3M Unitek) with Temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Following thirteen months orthodontic treatment, she was improved her crowding, deep bite and interincisal relationship. It was suggested that these lingual bracket system were accurate for the teeth movement, but there were some complication for dental technological works between an orthodontist and a dental technician. In addition, it was suggested that the importance of adjustment by the orthodontist depending on the clinical situation.

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Occlusal malfunction and esthetic problems often become issues in patients with skeletal discrepancy of jawbones. Inappropriate prosthodontic treatment was frequently observed in this type of patients. In this situation, unexpected occlusal stress occurs on a certain area of teeth, resulting in collapsed occlusion in an early stage. Therefore, correction of skeletal discrepancy through orthognatic surgery followed by appropriate prosthodontic treatment is crucial in terms of esthetics, occlusion and periodontal health. In addition, it is essential to establish correct tooth position and intimate occlusion for avoidance of relapse after orthognathic surgery. A female patient (32 years and 3 months) visited our clinic complaining mandibular protrusion and asymmetry. Fifteen teeth had been prosthodontically treated, and her anterior overjet was －7.0 mm. We diagnosed her as long face type skeletal manidibular protrusion with anteroinferior overgrowth on the left side mandible. Cephalometric analysis presented ANB: －3°, Ul-SN plane: 112°, IMPA: 86.1° and Gonial angle: 130.9°, with wide mandibular plane angle in addition to dental compensation in the anterior segment. Typical dental compensation found with mandibular protrusion was observed. After conducting preoperative orthodontic treatment using multi-brackets for 1 year and 4 months, sagittal splitting ramus osteotomy was performed. This procedure was followed by 1-year postoperative orthodontic treatment for detailing. Postoperative analysis showed improvement in overjet (＋2 mm), overbite (＋1.5 mm), maxillary incisor angulation (U1-SN108°) and mandibular incisor angulation (IMPA90.5°). By immediately replacing the defective restorations to appropriate ones after correction of skeletal discrepancy and occlusion, stable occlusion and esthetics were obtained. Ten-year follow-up after insertion of retainers shows favorable prognosis.

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The Oral Health Care Center at Showa Universityʼs Fujigaoka Hospital fully implemented a clinical pathway for oral health care in cardiovascular surgery in September 2008. Activities of the Oral Health Care Center currently cover all wards. Oral health care was offered on a trial basis at Fujigaoka Rehabilitation Hospital in December 2009 and is currently offered to all patients in all wards. Subjects of the current study were 250 inpatients who received oral health care from the Oral Health Care Center from 2008 to 2010. Subjects were divided into three groups: one group was treated by the clinical pathway for oral health care (clinical pathway group: CP group), another was not treated by that pathway (non-CP group), and the third group consisted of patients from the Rehabilitation Hospital (RH group). All three groups had more males than females. The RH group had the highest mean age. Care was provided about 3 times for all three groups. The nonCP group had cardiovascular disease in addition to a range of other conditions including malignant tumors, respiratory diseases, and cerebrovascular disease. According to surveillance data from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Fujigaoka Hospital, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has decreased since 2008, when the Oral Health Care Center began operation. Fujigaoka Hospital and Fujigaoka Rehabilitation Hospital are key medical facilities in the northern part of the City of Yokohama that are responsible for acute medical care overall rehabilitation care. The Oral Health Care Center is active at both facilities despite the different types of care services offered by those facilities. The number of patients receiving oral health care has increased each year, and follow-up of patients after discharge will be enhanced in the future, so coordination between the Oral Health Care Center and local medical facilities must be enhanced in the future.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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