Purification and characterization of mouse DNA polymerase alpha devoid of primase activity.

A simple method was developed for the isolation of primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha from the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex of mouse FM3A cells. The polymerase was separated from primase subunits by chromatography on a single-stranded DNA-cellulose column in the presence of 50% etylene glycol. The primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha contained two polypeptides with molecular masses of 180,000 and 68,000. Analysis of the DNA products with poly(dA)-oligo(dT)10 as template-primer revealed that both primase-free DNA polymerase-alpha and the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex predominantly synthesized short DNA with less than 30 nucleotides, but that the DNA polymerase-alpha-primase complex also synthesized some longer DNA with more than 300-400 nucleotides.

[An office technique for myringoplasty without the use of fibrin glue].

A simple method for office closure of eardrum perforation using an atero-collagen graft used for dermal defects (Terdermis) without fibrin glue was developed. Eardrum perforations were successfully closed in 71.4% of all cases (63 ears) after the initial treatment. Neither skin incision nor the use of temporal fascial grafts was necessary in this method. The merit of the method is that there is no possibility of blood infection because no blood materials are used.

Cryosurgery and OK 432 in the treatment of malignant melanoma.

We used concomitant therapy that consisted of cryosurgery and injection of OK 432 (a hemolytic streptococcal preparation) in the treatment of a giant malignant melanoma that primarily arose from the hard palate to the alveolar process in a 69-year-old man. The tumor consequently disappeared completely. One and a half years later, there are no signs of relapse.

Oral focal mucinosis.

Two cases of oral focal mucinosis are described. Both were diagnosed clinically as fibroma of the gingiva. The clinical and histopathologic features of this unusual lesion are discussed.

[Oral health condition of the population in special elderly nursing home].

With the objective of making clear the oral health condition of chronic disable elderlies and thereby obtaining information for oral hygiene education and dental treatment, 77 elderlies in a special elderly nursing home attached to a private general hospital in Niigata Prefecture were studied by an interview/questionnaire method and dental examination. The following results were obtained. (1) Their mean age was 82.0 years. The major causes of chronic disability were diseases of the cerebral blood vessel and these diseases accounted for 54.5% of all diseases. The mean period of their chronic disability was 9 years. (2) 49.4% (38 persons) of them was edentulous, and 47.9% (18 persons) of them was using complete denture. (3) The average number of present teeth was 4.6 in all persons, while it was 9.0 in dentulous persons, and 3.3 of which were residual roots. (4) Salivary occult blood reaction test was positive in 87.2% in the dentulous persons and 34.2% in edentulous persons. (5) Simplified culture test using STOMASTAT was negative in 48.4% and positive in 51.6% of persons using a denture. (6) The above results indicated that dental diseases of chronic disable elderlies are not treated appropriately. This study revealed importance of dental examination, oral hygiene education and initial treatment in middle-aged and older persons.

[Evaluation of epithesis by others].

The present study aims at recognizing how maxillofacial prostheses prepared by us for out patients are evaluated by persons in contact with them. Questionnaire was sent to 158 persons (125 fifth year students of The Nippon Dental University, School of Dentistry at Niigata, 17 dental hygienists and nurses and 12 hospital clerical employees). The following results were obtained: 1) Upon seeing a maxillofacial defective patient momentarily, 91.8% of the answers regarded his inserted maxillofacial prostheses as agreeable. 2) Upon being opposite to such a patient without conversation for a comparatively long time, 18.3 and 80.4% of the answers regarded his covering the defective part with gauze and his inserted maxillofacial prostheses, respectively as agreeable. 3) Upon conversing with such a patient, 86.1 and 9.5% of the answers regarded his inserted maxillofacial prostheses and his covering the defective part with gauze, respectively as agreeable. 4) In the case of close relatives of such a patient, 67.7, 20.3 and 5.7% regarded his inserted maxillofacial prostheses, his covering the defective part with gauze and his leaving the defective part as it is, respectively, as agreeable. 5) With respect to the facial aesthetics of the case presented as one of reference, 42.7, 15.9 and 13.3% pointed out mandibular deviation, ocular prostheses and condition of contact of the maxillofacial prostheses with the skin, respectively, to be unnatural.