ABSTRACT
Oral cenesthopathy is a somatic delusion or hallucination involving the oral area and is categorized as a delusional disorder, somatic type. The pathophysiology of this intractable condition remains obscure. In this study, we clarified the pathophysiology of oral cenesthopathy by evaluating regional brain perfusion. We performed single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using (99m)Tc-ethylcysteinate dimer in 16 subjects (cenesthopathy:control = 8:8). The SPECT images were visually assessed qualitatively, and quantitative analyses were also performed using a three-dimensional stereotactic region-of-interest template. The visual assessment revealed a right > left perfusion asymmetry in broad areas of the brain among the patients. The quantitative analysis confirmed that the regional cerebral blood flow values on the right side were significantly larger than those on the left side for most areas of the brain in the patients. A comparison of the R/(R + L) ratios in both groups confirmed the significant brain perfusion asymmetry between the two sides in the callosomarginal, precentral, and temporal regions in the patients. Qualitative evaluation of the SPECT images revealed right > left brain perfusion asymmetry in broad regions of the brain. Moreover, the quantitative analyses confirmed the perfusion asymmetry between the two sides in the frontal and temporal areas. Those may provide the key for elucidation of the pathophysiology of oral cenesthopathy.
Subject(s)
Brain/pathology , Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology , Delusions/diagnostic imaging , Delusions/psychology , Hallucinations/diagnostic imaging , Hallucinations/psychology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Female , Functional Laterality/physiology , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Mouth , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-PhotonABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that immunohistochemical changes in expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the periodontal ligament do not change with age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Wistar-ST rats were divided into growing groups (5, 9, and 15 weeks of age) and aging groups (6, 12, and 18 months of age). Serial sagittal sections (5 microm thick) were cut parallel at the distobuccal roots of the maxillary first molar. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and rabbit polyclonal antibodies to basic fibroblast growth factor. RESULTS: The number and the area of basic fibroblast growth factor-immunoreactive cells in the periodontal ligament of the maxillary first molar decreased with age. The number of basic fibroblast growth factor-immunoreactive cells was much greater in the root furcation area, which experiences the greatest effect of occlusal force. Regardless of age, the production of basic fibroblast growth factor in the periodontal ligament may occur subject to functional demand. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis is rejected. The expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in the periodontal ligament decreased with age.