Although often used in planning orthodontic surgery, facial plaster models from alginate impressions do not always express the true image of the patient owing to depressions created in the soft tissues by the impression material. In order to determine where these depressions occur, we compared plaster models of the face made from alginate impressions with the actual face using non-contact three-dimensional shape measurements.
      Facial plaster models were made of six subjects from alginate impression material. These models and the actual faces were then scanned by a three-dimensional shape measuring system. Data of the two measurements for each subject were fitted by the least squares method and processed by image analyzer software.
      By use of computergraphics we could observe depressions made in the contour by the impression material.
      These depressions were most pronounced running laterally and caudally from the ala to the mandibular gonion. These results suggest that alginate impression material tends to distort those areas of the face covering fat tissues.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint and the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle (ILpt). The subjects were 14 patients with painless clicks in the TMJ who had come to Shanghai Second Medical University Hospital and Osaka Dental University Hospital. The electromyographic, mandibular kinesiologic and audio responses were recorded simultaneously on the clicking side when the patient was asked to open and close slowly. There was a decrease in EMG activity after TMJ clicking in 7 of the subjects. An overall decrease in activity compared with normal persons was seen in 6 subjects, while three had recordings identical to those of normal persons. It is suggested that malfunction of the lateral pterygoid muscle might contribute to internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

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Age-associated changes in the activity of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), its enzyme properties and its isozyme pattern were examined using extract from the renal cortex and the medulla of senescence accelerated mice (SAMP8//Odu) at 7, 17, 27 and 37 weeks of age. Age-matched SAMR1/Odu (R strain) mice were used as controls. NAGase activity increased gradually up to 27 weeks of age in both the renal cortex and medulla of the P strain, and this increase was more pronounced in the renal cortex than in the renal medulla. Age-associated changes in the optimal pH, heat stability and the effect of additional compounds on the NAGase were different in both the renal cortex and medulla for the two strains. The NAGase of both the renal cortex and the medulla was separated by isoelectric focusing into four peaks for the two strains. In the renal cortex of the P strain there was a marked increase in the ratio peak I together with a decrease in peak II.
      We propose that these changes are closely associated with senescence and may cause structural alterations of the acidic isozyme.

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We investigated the bactericidal effects of antiseptics against methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) isolated from Osaka Dental University Hospital. We examined the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 5 germicidal hand wash agents to 16 MRS strains. Ethanol with benzalkonium chloride was the most potent, while povidone-iodine also had good antibacterial effect. However, chlorhexidine gluconate had poor activity against all MRS strains tested.
      Because ethanol with benzalkonium chloride and povidone-iodine were the most effective of the antiseptics tested, they are considered appropriate for preventing nosocomial MRS infections in Osaka Dental University Hospital.

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We investigated the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 5 germicidal agents used on hospital equipment to 16 methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) isolated from Osaka Dental University Hospital. The MIC for sodium hypochlorite, benzalkonium chloride, glutaraldehyde and alkyldiaminoethylglycine against all MRS strains tested were within concentrations recommended for disinfection. However, the MIC of chlorlhexidine gluconate against two of the MRS strains tested indicated the need for an elevated concentration for disinfection.
      These results suggest that all the disinfectants except chlorhexidine gluconate are appropriate for preventing nosocomial MRS infections in Osaka Dental University Hospital.

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We investigated the effect of combined regional hyperthermia with injection of absolute ethanol into human oral carcinoma (KB cells) transplanted subcutaneously in the leg of BALB/cA nude mice. Upon obtaining tumors of about 8mm diameter, the following treatments were performed. Hyperthermia was carried out in a water bath at 41, 43 and 45℃ for 30 minutes. Absolute ethanol was injected into the solid tumors at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ml/g of tumor weight. Single or combined treatments were performed on days 0, 3 and 6, and tumor size was measured. The relative mean tumor weight (RW) compared with day 0 was calculated. The relationship of combined treatment and individual anti-tumor effects were compared by the ratio of the relative mean tumor weights for the treatment and control groups. The potentiation ratio of the effect of absolute ethanol with hyperthermia was calculated for each dose. Solid tumors were observed histopathologically using Hematoxylin-Eosin stained sections on days 10 and 20.
      We found that the anti-tumor effect with injection of absolute ethanol was necrotic. Combined regional hyperthermia with injection of absolute ethanol seemed to have a potential inhibitory necrotic effect on the growth of the KB cells. The anti-tumor effect of hyperthermia with injection of 0.3 ml/g absolute ethanol at 43℃ was nearly 5.8 fold that at 41℃.
      We concluded that combined regional hyperthermia with injection of absolute ethanol is an effective treatment.

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