Gene therapy is a promising technique for treating malignant tumors. The efficacy of gene therapy with Ad5 is not high although adenovirus type 5 （Ad5） is a common vector, and this may be linked to the low gene transduction rate of Ad5 vectors. The rate of target transduction by Ad has enhanced with the invention of fiber-modified Ad （Ad5/F35）; nevertheless, a carrier system for Ad5/F35-based gene delivery is needed. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility of using γδ T cells, which portray high toxicity against cancer cells, as Ad5/F35 vector transporters. In vitro, γδ T cells were more efficient Ad5/F35 vector transporters than human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and natural killer cells tested. Moreover, they could transport the vector to the tumor site in a subcutaneous prostate cancer model in vivo. We conclude that virus-loaded γδ T-cells may aid systemic cancer virotherapy.

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One of the most predominant causes of mandibular retraction is mandibular condylar head deformities, such as osteoarthritis （OA） and idiopathic/progressive condylar head resorption （ICR/PCR）. Although temporomandibular joint （TMJ） disk dynamics have been strongly linked to OA and ICR/PCR, and disk displacement can cause facial asymmetry, early detection and prevention of TMJ disk displacement are difficult. Therefore, this study sought to compare the connection between facial asymmetry, mandibular condylar length, and TMJ disk displacement in skeletal Class II patients without condylar head deformity. The study included 33 orthodontic Class II patients without condylar head deformity but did have TMJ symptoms. Those with mandibular deviation were assigned to Group A （Group A-L for long condylar heads and Group A-S for short condylar heads）, while those without were assigned to Group B （Group B-L for long condylar heads and Group B-S for short condylar heads）. Both Groups A and B had a laterality in the length of the condylar head, with the A-S group having a significantly shorter condylar head than the other groups. Severe disk displacement was noticed in 25％ of patients in the A-L group, 40.0％ in the A-S group, 15.4％ in the B-L group, and 15.3％ in the B-S group. Conclusively, even in cases without condylar head deformity or facial asymmetry, 15.3％ of patients had a severe anterior displacement of the TMJ disk, indicating that the degree of disk displacement does not always correlate with the presence or absence of condylar head deformity.

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This study aimed to devise a method for determining the thickness and studying the mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials used in making clear aligners before and after thermoforming. 1） Test specimens were obtained by cutting the top and lateral surfaces of a sheet in the form of a thermoformed rectangular parallelepiped. The determination of thickness and evaluation of material properties were conducted before and after thermoforming. 2） We devised three types of holding jigs and conducted compression tests on the aligners’ shape. The apparent elastic modulus of the aligner was compared and examined through the stress–strain diagram. 1） Deformation and variation in thickness were observed following thermoforming; however, the elastic modulus remained constant. No significant differences were observed in the elastic moduli of materials with different thicknesses. 2） The results of mechanical tests on the aligners indicated that the apparent elastic modulus increased with the thickness of the material. There were no variations in the thickness and physical properties of the aligner materials before and after thermoforming; however, as dentition morphology is complex, we assumed that a greater sheet thickness obtained by thermoforming would increase the elastic modulus of the aligner. Aligner holding jigs were developed and used to study the mechanical properties of the aligners. These properties were affected by the shape of the jig’s holding and joint sites as well as the thickness of the thermoplastic material.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the potential utility of ultrasonography in assessing muscle thickness and echo-intensity as a means of evaluating the feeding function and nutritional status of older adults requiring long-term care. This study included 44 older individuals （29 women and 15 men; mean age, 83.3±7.6 years） requiring long-term care. The tongue and masseter muscles were examined using ultrasonography, and muscle thickness and echo-intensity were determined. Feeding function was classified based on the foods that could be ingested using the Functional Oral Intake Scale. To assess the nutritional status of these individuals, we utilized a body composition analyzer to estimate the skeletal muscle mass index. No differences in muscle thickness were observed according to sex, feeding function, or nutritional status. We found no differences in echo-intensity based on sex or feeding function, although significantly higher values were observed in individuals suspected of having sarcopenia than in normal individuals based on their nutritional status （p＜0.01）. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association between masseter muscle brightness and age （p＜ 0.01）. These findings suggest that the assessment of masseter muscle echo-intensity via ultrasonography is useful or evaluating sarcopenia in older adults requiring long-term nursing care. Further, it is essential to evaluate both muscle thickness and quality in these individuals.

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Kawasaki disease （KD） is a systemic vasculitis syndrome that predominantly affects infants. In Japan, more than 10,000 people are diagnosed with KD annually, and the number is increasing. However, its etiology remains unidentified. In this report, we describe a KD case that developed after Japanese encephalitis vaccination in an adolescent boy. The patient was a generally healthy 14-year-old boy who experienced fever and erythematous extremities 11h after Japanese encephalitis vaccination. Initially, his symptoms were followed up as an adverse reaction to the vaccination. However, his symptoms did not improve, and on day 4 of the fever, he exhibited five of six major symptoms of KD. After intravenous administration of immunoglobulin and acetylsalicylic acid, his symptoms gradually resolved. Although KD development after vaccination in adolescents is rare, it should be considered a differential diagnosis.

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