We attempted here to purify mesodermal stem cells (MSCs) from mouse bone marrow using flowcytometry. Bone marrow cells collected from femurs and tibias of 8-to 12-week-old mice were incubated with Hoechst33342 for 60 min at 37°C, stained with various monoclonal antibodies for 30 min on ice, and then used for the flowcytometric analysis. The lineage markers negative (Lin^-) side population cells (SP cells), which have a Hoechst33342 dye efflux activity, strongly expressed four cell surface antigens, CD29, CD49e, CD117 and CD162. Of various sorted cells, CD29⁺/Lin^-, CD49e^-/Lin^-, CD117⁺/Lin^- and CD162⁺/Lin^- cells strongly attached to fibronectin-coated wells, and CD29⁺/Lin^-, CD49e⁺/Lin^- and CD162⁺/Lin^- cells had a potential to differentiate into mesodermal cell types, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes and endothelial cells in vitro. These findings suggest that the four antigens may be specific markers to purify MSCs from bone marrow.

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We conducted a questionnaire survey on the usage of electric toothbrush. The subjects were 290 parents who had 3-12 years children visited Showa University Dental Hospital between August and September, 2005. For the purpose of consideration of tooth brushing instruction on how to use the electric toothbrush for children.
The results were as follows :
1. Image of electric toothbrush : Popular responses seemed positive. But few responses seemed negative about the use of electric toothbrush.
2. Experience of using electric toothbrush : Number of ever users was almost the same as never users.
3. Using situation of electric toothbrush : About 20% of ever users were current users.
4. Kind of electric toothbrush : The top response was “Repetitive Rotation Type”.
5. Brushing instruction on how to use the electric toothbrush at our department : Regardless of the experience of using electric toothbrush, about 80% of parents answered “I want to receive instruction”.

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A clinical study was performed in the patients with temporomandibular disorder who visited our TMD clinic from September 2004 to August 2005.
1. Total number of registered patients was 404. The ratio of male to female was 1 : 2.8. The distribution of age groups had two peaks, in the 20s and 50s.
2. Pain was the most frequent chief complaints (60%).
3. The interval between the onset of symptom and the first visit was over one year in 42% of all cases.
4. Based on classification by Japanese Society of Temporomandibular Joint, type I and Ma were frequently observed (24%) and others were about 10%.
5. Based on HADS scores, it was considered that 28% of the patients had anxiety and 10% of the patients had a depression.
6. A reduction of oral parafunction based on cognitive therapy or behavior therapy was the most frequently used (75%). Other treatment options were a jaw exercise therapy (65%), pharmacotherapy (29%), occlusal appliance therapy (26%) and surgical management (3%)

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[in Japanese]

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