Restoration began during the latter part of the first day following the removal of 70% of the liver, and the preoperative ratio of the liver weight to the body weight was essentially restored from the tenth to the fourteenth day. The more rapid rate of restoration took place during the third and forth days. Since transient loss of body weight ensued on operation and was not essentially recovered until from twenty-five to twenty-eight days, hepatic restoration was determined as complete at this time.

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The role of intracellular Ca²⁺ in CCl₄ hepatotoxicity in rats was clarified by measuring detailed changes in serum ALT values and intracellular Ca²⁺ after CCl₄ administration. Intracellular Ca²⁺ responded to CCl₄ intoxication with a biphasic increase. The first intracellular Ca²⁺ peak increased up to 5.6-fold the control level at 1 hour, and the second Ca²⁺ peak 6.5-fold at 3.5 days. We further examined the effects of drugs on serum ALT activity and intracellular Ca²⁺ in rats administered at 1 hour prior to or 3 hours after CCl₄ administration. The results showed that the first Ca²⁺ increase might be attributable to a signal arising from the extent of hepatic injury. The second Ca²⁺ increase might act to activate cellular protective functions. We discussed that sustained intracellular Ca²⁺ increases may be involved in autoprotection, namely susceptibility against a toxication.

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To determine if Wnt5a gene involved in orofacial development, especially secondary palate development, we checked Wnt5a protein and mRNA in wild-type mouse embryos, and also searched Wnt5a knockout mice palates. We found Wnt5a is expressed during orofacial development, especially necessary for normal secondary palate and tongue morphogenesis. Wnt5a deficient mice exhibit cleft palate and abnormal distortion tongue suggests Wnt5a is essential to the palate development. Our data suggested that defection of MEE proliferation in Wnt5a (-/-) secondary palate indicates Wnt5a gene may regulate palate growth.

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F The role of the S100A4 in rat hepatocites was clarified by measuring detailed changes in serum ALT values and intracellular Ca²⁺ after CCl₄ administration. In this study, we further showed that the calcium binding protein S100A4 might be a protein signal involved in the response to protect cells against CCl₄ intoxication. S100A4 mRNA expression levels abruptly increased to a high level in normal liver at 1 day after CCl₄ administration, and then gradually reduced to the control level by day 3. This change is the opposite to that of intracellular Ca²⁺.

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The role of intracellular Ca²⁺ in CCl₄ hepatotoxicity in rats was clarified by measuring detailed changes in serum ALT values and intracellular Ca²⁺ after CCl₄ administration. Serum ALT activity clearly increased up to a peak value at 1 day after i.p. administration of CCl₄ at 0.2 ml/kg, and then decreased to the control level after 3 days. Intracellular Ca²⁺ responded to CCl₄ intoxication with a biphasic increase. The first intracellular Ca²⁺ peak increased up to 5.6-fold the control level at 1 hour, and the second Ca²⁺ peak 6.5-fold at 3.5 days. The results showed that the first Ca²⁺ increase might be attributable to a signal arising from the extent of hepatic injury. The second Ca²⁺ increase might act to activate cellular protective functions. We discussed that sustained intracellular Ca²⁺ and S100A4 increases may be involved in autoprotection or adaptive cytoprotection, namely susceptibility against a toxication.

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Tooth intrusion is the most common trauma during infancy. We described 11 cases of primary tooth and followed up for a period between 2 and 6 years. Clinical and radiographic examinations and oral color photos were used for the evaluation. The patients who treated in the present study were 1 to 3 years old at the first visit the Pediatric Dental Clinic, Hiroshima University Hospital. Seven cases have been observed satisfactory without surgical treatments such as re-positioning and fixation, and all those re-erupted to the occlusal level of the contra-lateral side within 1.5 year. Otherwise, 4 cases treated with re-positioning and fixation revealed periapical periodontitis in radiographic feature, alveolar abscess formation, or discoloration. It is suggested that cases of intrusion of primary tooth should be observed until some symptom, periapical periodontitis in radiographic feature and alveolar abscess formation, reveals.

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Preferential alignment of biological apatite (BAp) c-axis and the related collagen (Col) fibril was proved to be a dominant parameter showing bone quality for understanding nano-scale microstructure and the related mechanical function in addition to bone mineral density (BMD). We clarified the correlations between in vivo stress distribution and the BAp/Col alignment and between the BAp/Col alignment and mechanical function, especially Young's modulus, in original intact and regenerative hard tissues. The mutual relationships are predicted to be closely related to the function of osteocyte which can sense the surrounding stress field. The BAp orientation was finally concluded to be one of the most important indices to evaluate in vivo stress distribution, nano-scale microstructure and the related mechanical function, regenerative process of the regenerated bone and progress of bone diseases.

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