Program of Oral Health Science, Course of Oral Engineering, School of Dentistry, Hiroshima University was established as the first four-year course for dental technicians in Japan at 2005. The significance and future value of dental laboratory work were discussed on the standpoint of a unique dental technician, who graduated from the university and have engaged in Tokushima University Hospital as a dental technician.
 The digital technology and collaboration between dental and medical fields are getting important, and the university hospital, which has three important functions of clinic, education, and research, needs dental laboratory works for medical field as well as dental field. It concludes that the dental laboratory work requires extensive knowledge and culture to create the future value of dental laboratory technology committing to improving medical care, and depends on the four-year university education.

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In this study, we used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of the mandibular condyle to examine whether bone transformation could be effectively detected by the orthopantomogram (OP), panoramic TMJ projection (TMJ-OP), or lateral roentgen cephalogram (LC), thus improving diagnosis of arthrosis deformans of the TMJ.
A total of 377 women presented to our orthodontic clinic to undergo an interview and clinical examinations for temporomandibular disorder (TMD). A total of 126 of these were suspected TMD cases; they underwent an imaging investigation that included CBCT. Twenty-one additional patients developed TMD symptoms during orthodontic treatment in our clinic; they underwent a similar imaging investigation. From these 147 patients who underwent the imaging investigation, we selected 23 women with a retrusive mandible. The average age was 24y 4m (range: 12y 8m-32y 11m). Subjects with a history of facial injury, ankylodactylia, tumor, or generalized arthritis were excluded, as were those with developmental disorders.
Two orthodontists conferred to define the CBCT evaluation of bone transformation within the mandibular condyle. The same two orthodontists assessed all other images independently. Using confirmed diagnosis by CBCT image as a source of comparison, diagnostic parameters was determined by the assessments of the two observers on OP and TMJ-OP images and downward and backward rotations of the mandible.
Additionally, we compared the success of diagnosis upon combining these methods.
1. CBCT imaging evaluations detected bone transformation in 32 (69.6%) of 46 joints. Erosion, osteophyte, and sclerosis (deformity) were found in 26, 12, and 10 joints, respectively.
2. Among 22 joints in which osteophyte and sclerosis (deformity) were found, 15 joints showed erosion. Therefore, erosion is the primary finding of bone transformation in arthrosis deformans of the TMJ.
3. The diagnostic success rate of the bone transformation of the mandibular condyle was 0.52 and 0.74 for the estimation by OP and TMJ-OP images, respectively. The success rate increased by combining the estimation of OP and TMJ-OP images.
4. By estimating the mandibular rotation, the diagnostic success rate and diagnostic sensitivity were comparatively high (0.87 and 0.95, respectively). This estimation method may be useful for diagnosis by exclusion in a case of arthrosis deformans of the TMJ.
Diagnosis of arthrosis deformans of the TMJ is improved using panoramic radiography, as well as division into two temporomandibular joints on the panoramic radiograph and mandibular clockwise rotation decided by lateral roentgen cephalometry.

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 In the bone marrow microenvironment, bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Multiple myeloma (MM) is the most frequent malignancy that involves bone and is characterized by extensive osteolytic bone destruction. MM cells induce osteoclastic bone resorption, and osteoclasts in turn enhance MM cell growth and survival, thereby forming a vicious cycle between bone destruction and myeloma expansion. Besides enhanced bone resorption, bone formation is suppressed in MM by factors derived from MM cells and bone microenvironment. However, despite of recent advances in the treatment of MM, MM still remains incurable, therefore, novel treatment modalities targeting bone disease are urgently wanted.
 In this review, I would like to show the role of p62-ZZ domain and Pim-2 in bone marrow microenvironment in MM, and the efficacy of inhibitors of these molecules as the bone anabolic actions in MM.

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Infection prevention and control in dental practice has been mainly focused on blood infections caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Demand of dental practice for visiting hospital and nursing home has been rapidly increasing and that trend is expected to continue in the future. Therefore, management of infection control in dental practice is required to sufficiently understand not only HBV, HCV, and HIV but also various drug-resistant bacteria. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are considered to be serious threat worldwide. Here, we will review particularly major drug-resistant bacteria; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multiple drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP), extendedspectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

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 Industrial safety and health management in Japanese national universities was regulated by the National Personnel Authority's Rules until turn national universities into independent administrative entities in April 2004, after which the Industrial Safety and Health Act applies to national universities corporation as well as ordinary companies. Appropriate regulations were also put in place at Tokushima University subsequently and the National University Corporation Tokushima University Industrial Safety and Health Regulations were established. The first article states the following: “The purpose of the regulations is to protect the security of staff, to promote and maintain their health, and to foster a comfortable work environment.”
 The contents of industrial safety and health are multifaceted. First, the activities related to preventive measures against nosocomial infection, executed by the Nosocomial Infection Control Committee, were introduced. Prevention of nosocomial infections is extremely important to patients and all medical workers. Next, the Hospital Safety and Health Advisory Committee's activities in health management were described.
 There are three basic components of industrial safety and health, which are the following: First, “working environment management” consists of eliminating various hazards from the working environment and maintaining a comfortable working environment. For example, working environment measurements of organic solvents and specified chemical substances used in dental laboratories and other areas are taken to prevent health hazards. Second, “occupational management” consists of managing working methods from the perspective of preventing health hazards. Third, “health management” consists of promoting and maintaining the health of workers.
 Building a comfortable work environment is a requirement for providing safe medical care which promotes sense of security to its users. Health of the medical workers themselves is a condition to realizing this. Particularly in a university hospital, in which various professions are working together under different work relationships, it is also important to take appropriate steps to deal with mental health, overwork, and other issues latent in the work environment. These were not discussed in detail this time.

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