In order to investigate the pathogenicity of an oral protist Trichomonas tenax, we focused on protenases of this microorganism, since various proteolytic enzymes have been suggested as possible pathogenetic factors in many protozoans. In the present study, we examined whether the cells of T. tenax ATCC 30207 possess degradation activity of human immunoglobulins, IgG, IgM, IgA and SIgA. The culture filtrate was prepared from the protozoan cells, and the hydrolytic activity for immunoglobulin were assayed. All the globulins tested were degradated by the culture filtrate. The filtrate strongly hydrolyzed protein of IgG, serum IgA and SIgA but weekly hydrolysed IgM. The degradative activities for IgG, IgM and serum IgA were inhibited by the protease inhibitor E-64 but were not affected by a metalloprotease inhibitor EDTA, an aspartic protease inhibitor pepstatin A and a serine protease inhibitor AEBSF. The activities for IgG and IgM were activated by DTT. The protease was suggested to possess the characteristics of cysteine proteinases based on the patterns of inhibition and activation by various factors. The secretory component (SC) of SIgA was extensive hydrolyzed by the culture filtrate and the lytic activity for SIgA was inhibited by the protease inhibitors, EDTA and AEBSF but was not affected by DTT, E-64 and pepstatin A. Thus, the protease nature for SC was unclear from the pattern of inhibition.
The present data indicate that oral protist T. tenax can degrade human immunoglobulins.

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The purpose of this study was twofold : (1) to analyze the soft-tissue changes after simultaneous maxillary LeFort I multiple segmental osteotomies and the mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy procedures in Taiwanese patients that will allow for the improved predictability of soft-tissue responses in double-jaw surgery cases, and (2) to determine whether there were gender differences between males and females.
The data from this study suggested that when simultaneous two-jaw surgery was performed to correct severe mandibular prognathism, there was a tendency for the soft-tissue responses to be similar to those seen in only single mandibular setback procedures.
In this study, the soft/hard-tissue change ratio of lower lip (LI) to mandibular incisor (Iii) change was 1.04 : 1, 0.93 : 1 ratio of inferior labial sulcus (ILS) to point B movement for men and women, 0.90 : 1 (male) and 1.06 : 1 (female) ratio of soft-tissue pogonion (POS) to hard-tissue pogonion (Pog).
The prediction of upper lip changes was deeply affected by the mandibular setback, although strong correlations were found between the changes of the upper incisor and the four upper soft-tissue parameters SN (subnasale), SLS (superior labial sulcus), LS (labrale superius), and STS (stomion superius). The reason might be attributed to the freeing of the upper lip previously trapped by the protrusive lower incisors; the soft/hard-tissue ratio between LS and Pog was found to be 0.15 for men and 0.34 for women.
The average ratios of soft-tissue to hard-tissue change appear to show a gender difference between some measurements, which suggests the need for different ratios when the results of orthognathic surgery are being predicted.

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To evaluate the effects of orthodontic treatment on mastication in patients with openbite, we measured the following indices before active treatment (Openbite group) and during retention (Treatment group) in openbite patients in comparison with female normal occlusion (Non-openbite group) : 1) overjet (OJ) and overbite (OB); 2) cutting ability of the anterior teeth, using soft plate wax; 3) occlusal contact area, occlusal force, and mean occlusal pressure, using dental Prescales^®; 4) chewing gum masticatory test; and 5) mandibular movements during gum chewing, using a Gnathohexagraph^®.
1. The mean OJ and OB were 2.4 and 2.3 mm in the Non-openbite group. The mean OJ and OB were 1.4 and-1.9 mm in the Openbite group and 1.7 and 1.5 mm in the Treatment group.
2. The cutting ability of the anterior teeth in the Non-openbite and Treatment groups was significantly greater than those Openbite group.
3. The occlusal contact area and the occlusal force in the Non-openbite group were significantly greater than those in the Openbite and Treatment groups.
The mean occlusal pressure in the Treatment group was significantly greater than in the Non-openbite group but was not significantly different from Openbite group.
4. The masticatory ability in the Non-openbite group was significantly greater than those from both the Openbite and the Treatment groups, but they did not significantly differ between the Openbite and Treatment groups.
5. The masticatory rhythm did not significantly differ among the 3 groups.
These results suggest improvement in open bite and acquisition of the cutting ability of the anterior teeth after orthodontic treatment in the openbite patients.

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In order to clarify the cause of jaw deformation and the unpredictable changes occurred after surgical orthodontics, investigation about morphological characteristics of condylar head and geometrical relation of insertion of masticatory muscles has been a problem to be considered. In this study, three-dimensional structure of condylar head, and the relative position of coronoid process and lateral surface of pterygoid were determined with 34 subjects by employing three-dimensional CT image.
From the results, in shift side, condylar size was significantly smaller, and the angle indicated by ramus, pterygoid and condylar head were significantly larger. These results suggested that the possibility of asymmetrical condylar cartilage caused on the imbalance of muscle traction in jaw deformity patient, and it seems to affect the right-left difference in jaw movement after orthognathic surgery.

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