Body Weight Loss After Orthognathic Surgery: Comparison Between Postoperative Intermaxillary Fixation with Metal Wire and Elastic Traction, Factors Related to Body Weight Loss.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare body weight loss between postoperative intermaxillary fixation with metal wire and elastic traction and to investigate factors related to body weight loss after orthognathic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were 59 patients with dentofacial deformity, comprising 31 patients treated with intermaxillary fixation (IMF) and 28 patients treated with elastic traction without IMF (ELT) just after surgery. Body weight loss was measured at 1 week (T1) and 2 weeks (T2) after surgery. Body weight loss was compared between IMF and ELT, and factors related to body weight loss were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Body weight loss ratio was significantly increased in IMF (2.6%) rather than in ELT (1.4%) at T1, but only tended to be increased in both groups at T2, showing no statistical difference. Body weight loss ratio was significantly increased at T2 compared to T1 in both groups. Body weight loss was significantly greater at T2 than at T1. CONCLUSION: Both IMF and ELT cause body weight loss after orthognathic surgery, but IMF causes body weight loss earlier than ELT and increased early body weight loss increases continuous body weight loss after orthognathic surgery.

Relations between anterior disc displacement and maxillomandibular morphology in skeletal anterior open bite with changes to the mandibular condyle.

In this study we investigated the relation between anterior disc displacement (ADD) and maxillomandibular morphology in skeletal anterior open bite with changes to the mandibular condyle. Thirty female patients (60 joints) with both conditions were evaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was used to diagnose both ADD and changes to the mandibular condyle (erosion, osteophyte, and deformity). The relations among ADD, changes to the mandibular condyle, and maxillomandibular morphology were examined statistically. Changes to the mandibular condyle had a higher score than sym anterior open bite, the deviated side in asymmetric anterior open bite, and the non-deviated side. The score for disc displacement on the non-deviated side was lower than both the sym side and the deviated side. Unilateral changes to the mandibular condyle and unilateral disc displacement were not apparent in sym anterior open bite, but a unilateral non-displaced disc was seen only on the asymmetric side. Mandibular condylar changes were significantly more common on the deviated, than on the non-deviated, side. The SNB angle was significantly smaller, and the ANB, GZN, and SN-mandibular plane angles were significantly larger in sym anterior open bite. Overjet, ANB angle, GZN angle, and SN-MP angle were significantly larger, and the SNB angle was significantly smaller, in the presence of ADD without reduction and mandibular condylar deformity. We conclude that the prevalence of ADD without reduction and changes to the mandibular condyle were related to mandibular asymmetry and mandibular morphology in anterior open bite. This retrospective study suggests that ADD without reduction and mandibular condylar bone changes may be related to the progression of skeletal class II open bite and mandibular asymmetry in cases of skeletal open bite.

Incidence of anterior disc displacement without reduction of the temporomandibular joint in patients with dentofacial deformity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with dentofacial deformity. Eighty-eight female patients (176 joints) with skeletal class III malocclusion and 33 female patients (66 joints) with skeletal class II malocclusion, with or without anterior open bite and asymmetry, were evaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the TMJ was used to diagnose ADDwoR. A statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationship between ADDwoR and skeletal structure. ADDwoR was present in 37 of the 66 joints (56.1%) in class II compared to 34 of the 176 joints (19.3%) in class III (P<0.05). In class III, ADDwoR was significantly more common in joints with mandibular asymmetry (24/74; 32.4%) than in joints with open bite (9/62; 14.5%) and joints with open bite and without mandibular asymmetry (1/38; 2.6%). In class II, ADDwoR was significantly less common in joints with mandibular asymmetry and without open bite (1/8; 12.5%). ADDwoR was only observed on the deviated side in both class III and class II with mandibular asymmetry. The prevalence of ADDwoR differed according to the dentofacial morphology.

Morphology of the inferior border of the mandible: correct relation between the lowest position of the outer and inner contours of the cortex for a successful split.

For a sagittal split ramus osteotomy to be secure, the relation between the outer and inner contours of the cortex at the inferior border of the mandible is critical. The lowest point of the outer contour is not always immediately below that of the inner contour, and the former is placed more lingually than the latter in about a third of all cases. This tendency is much more noticeable in skeletal class I and II malocclusions than class III. It is therefore important to examine the lowest point of the inferior border in every case, and to carry the inferior part of the buccal cut on to the lingual side if necessary.

IFPA Meeting 2012 Workshop Report I: comparative placentation and animal models, advanced techniques in placental histopathology, human pluripotent stem cells as a model for trophoblast differentiation.

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2012 there were twelve themed workshops, three of which are summarized in this report. These workshops related to various aspects of placental biology but collectively covered areas of models and technical issues involved in placenta research: 1) comparative placentation and animal models; 2) advanced techniques in placental histopathology; 3) human pluripotent stem cells as a model for trophoblast differentiation.

Perceived chewing ability and need for long-term care in the elderly: a 5-year follow-up study.

Increasing need for long-term care in older adults is expected with the ageing of Japan's population. The aim of the present study was to show the relationship between perceived chewing ability and long-term care needs for over 5 years in elderly persons. The chewing ability of 812 elderly persons living independently was evaluated at baseline using self-assessed masticatory ability, and it was classified into one of three categories: ability to chew all foods (good masticatory ability), ability to chew only slightly hard food (fair masticatory ability), and ability to only chew soft or pureed food (poor masticatory ability). Participants' care needs were then followed through Japan's long-term care insurance system for over 5 years. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model were used to examine statistical differences in the frequency of care-needs certification between participants with good and fair or poor masticatory ability. Among participants aged 65-79 years, the frequency of care-needs certification was significantly higher in those with fair or poor masticatory ability than in those with good masticatory ability, and the relative hazard ratio was significantly higher in those with fair or poor masticatory ability than in those with good masticatory ability, after adjusting for age, gender, current employment status, educational background, social interaction, chronic medical conditions and dentition status. These relationships were not found among those aged 80-93 years. Impairment in perceived chewing ability may be associated with higher incidence of certification in Japan's long-term care insurance system among elderly persons aged 65-79.

Factors associated with self-assessed masticatory ability among community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

UNLABELLED: Self-assessed masticatory ability has been shown to be significantly related to general health among elderly persons. OBJECTIVE: To identify oral factors associated with the self-assessed masticatory ability. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 736 community-dwelling elderly persons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data on background factors and the self-assessed masticatory ability were collected by questionnaire. An intraoral examination examined the pattern of posterior occluding pairs of natural teeth (POPs), the WHO Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPI) and denture-related factors such as use of dentures, pain when using dentures and stability and retention of dentures. Chi-squared tests examined the relationships between the self-assessed masticatory ability and the background factors and oral conditions. Ordinal regression models were constructed with the self-assessed masticatory ability as the dependent variable and oral conditions as the principal independent variables, to adjust for the potential confounding variables. RESULTS: Self-assessed impairment of masticatory ability was associated with lost POPs (p < 0.001) and CPI (p = 0.012). In the participants with lost POPs, self-assessed impairment of masticatory ability was associated with not using dentures and pain when using dentures (p < 0.001). In the totally edentulous subjects, impairment of masticatory ability was not associated with stability and retention of dentures (p = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: Factors affecting self-assessed masticatory ability include the pattern of POPs, periodontal status, denture use and pain when using dentures.

Enhanced specificity of HPV16 E6E7 siRNA by RNA-DNA chimera modification.

Although efforts have been made to develop new drugs for infectious and neoplastic diseases utilizing synthetic small interfering RNA(siRNAs), those intrinsically have undesirable effects, including silencing of unintended genes (off-target effect) and nonspecific cytotoxicity. Off-target effects can be avoided by DNA substitution in the guide strand (GS) seed region of nucleotide positions 1-8 and its complementary part of the passenger strand plus the 3' overhang, which is designated as a double-strand RNA-DNA chimera (dsRDC). In this study, we found that the specificity of potent siRNAs targeting human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E6 and E7 oncogenes, which we previously reported, could be enhanced by short dsRDC modification (first six nucleotides from the 5' end of the GS and its complementary nucleotides of the passenger strand). Such dsRDC modification reduced nonspecific cytotoxicity in two of three siRNAs (497 and 752), although not in the other (573), which correlated with their off-target effects. In addition, silencing activity was marginally impaired in two dsRDCs (497 and 573) and moderately in one (752). Finally, dsRDC-497 induced E6E7-specific growth suppression of cervical cancer cells as well as E6E7-immortalized human keratinocytes. Our results show that dsRDC modification enhances the specificity of E6E7 siRNA, which is required for use in in vivo settings.

Associations between self-assessed masticatory ability and higher brain function among the elderly.

Among the elderly, the quality of higher brain function is a contributing factor in performing activities of daily living. The aim of the study is to elucidate, epidemiologically, associations between mastication and higher brain function. A total of 208 community-dwelling elderly persons, aged 70-74 years, were enrolled. Self-assessed masticatory ability (masticatory ability) was classified into one of three categories: ability to chew all kinds of food, ability to chew only slightly hard food, or ability to chew only soft or pureed food. Brain function was assessed by four neuropsychological tests: Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test, the Verbal Paired Associates 1 (VerPA) task and the Visual Paired Associates 1 task (from the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised Edition), and the Block Design subtest (from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales-Third Edition). Correlations between masticatory ability and each test were examined using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Multinominal logistic regression models were conducted with the neuropsychological tests as the dependent variables and masticatory ability as the principal independent variable to adjust for age, gender, educational background, social activity, drinking/smoking habits, chronic medical conditions and dental status. Significant correlations were found between the RCPM test, the VerPA task, the Block Design test and masticatory ability. In multinominal logistic regression models, poor masticatory ability was significantly and independently related to the categories under the mean-s.d. points compared with those of the mean ± s.d. ranges for RCPM test and the VerPA task. Significant associations may exist between mastication and higher brain function among the elderly.

Relationships between perceived chewing ability and muscle strength of the body among the elderly.

The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether self-assessed masticatory ability (masticatory ability) is significantly related to muscle strength of the body evaluated as handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass of the whole body (kg) (SMM) after adjusting for confounding variables, including, age, gender, height, weight, employment status, type of household, educational background, social interaction, chronic medical conditions, smoking habit, drinking habits and dentition status among the elderly. A total of 381 persons aged 67-74 years were enrolled. Masticatory ability was classified into one of three categories: ability to chew all kinds of food, ability to chew only slightly hard food or ability to chew only soft or pureed food. Handgrip strength was measured, and bioimpedance analysis was used to estimate SMM. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni methods were used to examine differences in handgrip strength and SMM among the three groups of masticatory ability. An ordinal regression model was conducted with masticatory ability as the dependent variable and handgrip strength as the principal independent variable. Handgrip strength was significantly lower in those individuals who could chew only soft or pureed food than in those individuals who could chew all kinds of food. No significant difference in SMM was found among the three groups of masticatory ability. Masticatory ability was significantly related to handgrip strength after adjusting for SMM, dentition status and background factors. Chewing ability may be related to muscle strength of the body evaluated as handgrip strength, but not evaluated as SMM.

Self-assessed masticatory ability and hospitalisation costs among the elderly living independently.

The escalating medical costs are a social problem in many countries. Masticatory ability is thought to be related to the general health conditions. The purpose of this study was to show relationships between self-assessed masticatory ability and medical costs among the elderly living independently in community. Data on background factors and self-assessed masticatory ability were collected from 702 Japanese elderly persons by questionnaires. An intra-oral examination was performed to examine the number of remaining teeth. Self-assessed masticatory ability was classified into one of three categories: ability to chew all kinds of food (Good), ability to chew only slightly hard food (Fair) or ability to chew only soft or pureed food (Poor). Data on the annual medical excluding dental costs were obtained from the Japanese National Health Insurance system. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine differences in outpatient costs and hospitalisation costs among the three groups of self-assessed masticatory ability. Univariate unconditional logistic regression models and multivariate logistic regression models were used with medical costs as the dependent variable and self-assessed masticatory ability as the principal independent variable. A significant difference (P=0·039) in hospitalisation costs but not outpatient costs was found among the three groups of self-assessed masticatory ability. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that severely impaired masticatory ability (Poor) was significantly related to higher costs of hospitalisation. Self-assessed impairment of masticatory ability may be a significant and independent indicator of higher costs of hospitalisation among community-dwelling elderly persons.

Gene expression of Spag6 in chick central nervous system.

Using a differential display method, we identified sperm-associated antigen 6 (Spag6) as a gene with a dynamic expression profile within the chick embryonic spinal cord. The expression of Spag6 gradually decreased along with spinal cord development. Spag6 expression was detected adjacent to the ventricular zone of the spinal cord at embryonic day (E) 4. At E6, Spag6 was apparent in the ventral ventricular zone adjacent to floor plate and the surrounding region close to the ventricular zone, with additional weak expression at the adjacent region to the ventral horn. At E10, the Spag6 mRNA can be detected slightly in the ventral ventricular zone and surrounding region of dorsal ventricular zone. In the E6 hindbrain, Spag6 was detected in the roof, the ventricular zone adjacent to floor plate and the surrounding regions of the ventricular zones. In the E6 caudal diencephalon, Spag6 expression was detected adjacent to the ventricular zone. As Spag6 was expressed in areas containing ependymal progenitor cells and in the borders of undifferentiated regions, Spag6 may be involved in the development of ependymal cells and in the differentiation process of neuronal cells in chick neural organs.

New highly potent and specific E6 and E7 siRNAs for treatment of HPV16 positive cervical cancer.

Persistent infection by high-risk types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) is a necessary cause of cervical cancer, with HPV16 the most prevalent, accounting for more than 50% of reported cases. The virus encodes the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, whose expression is essential for maintenance of the malignant phenotype. To select efficacious siRNAs applicable to RNAi therapy for patients with HPV16+ cervical cancer, E6 and E7 siRNAs were designed using siDirect computer software, after which 10 compatible with all HPV16 variants were selected, and then extensively examined for RNAi activity and specificity using HPV16+ and HPV16-cells. Three siRNAs with the highest RNAi activities toward E6 and E7 expression, as well as specific and potent growth suppression of HPV16+ cancer cells as low as 1 nM were chosen. Growth suppression was accompanied by accumulation of p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1), as well as morphological and cytochemical changes characteristic of cellular senescence. Antitumor activity of one of the selected siRNAs was confirmed by retarded tumor growth of HPV16+ cells in NOD/SCID mice when locally injected in a complex with atelocollagen. Our results demonstrate that these E6 and E7 siRNAs are promising therapeutic agents for treatment of virus-related cancer.

[RNA-interference, induced by transient and continuous expression of hairpin RNA in cells from Drosophila and mammals]. / RNK-interferentsiia, indutsirovannaia vremennoi i postoiannoi ékspressiei shpilechnoi RNK, v kletkakh Drosophila i mlekopitaiushchikh.

RNA interference (RNAi) may be induced by a plasmid with an inverted repeat (IR) sequence directing transcription of hairpin-type double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This study examines the effects of changing various parameters of IR constructs on Drosophila and mammalian RNAi, using the dual luciferase system, RNAi activity was found to vary depending on IR length ass well as the length and sequence of the internal loop separating sense and antisense sequences. Both transient and stable RNAi occurred in Drosophila cultured cells. Although transient DNA-mediated RNAi was noted in most mammalian cells, no mammalian cells stably possessing IR sequences and hence RNAi activity could be obtained. In Drosophila, DNA-mediated RNAi was considerably weaker than long-dsRNA-mediated RNAi. The cytological data indicated that this was most probably caused by abortive processing of hairpin RNA produced within cells. DNA-mediated RNAi was examined at the level of Drosophila individuals using extramacrochaetae as a model gene, and the presence of an intron sequence in the single-stranded loop region was shown to be essential for effective RNAi.

Participation of intracellular Ca(2+)/calmodulin and protein kinase(s) in the pathway of apoptosis induced by a Drosophila cell death gene, reaper.

To elucidate the apoptotic signaling pathway, we have generated a cell culture model: S2 cells stably transfected with a Drosophila cell death gene, reaper (rpr). Following rpr overexpression, caspase activation-mediated apoptotic cell death was induced in the cells. Apoptosis triggered by rpr required intracellular Ca(2+) ions and calmodulin. Furthermore, protein kinase inhibitors H-7 (a PKC, PKA, PKG, MLCK, and CKI inhibitor), calphostin C (a PKC inhibitor), or H-89 (a PKA and PKG inhibitor) completely blocked apoptosis induced by rpr, suggesting that some kind of serine/threonine protein kinase(s) act upstream of caspase in apoptotic pathway induced by rpr in S2 cells.

Molecular cloning of SCDGF-B, a novel growth factor homologous to SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein.

Spinal cord-derived growth factor (SCDGF)/platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C/fallotein has a unique two-domain structure, as it contains two regions homologousto CUB and PDGF/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) domains. In this study, we isolateda novel gene homologous to SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein, and named SCDGF-B. The culture supernatant of CHO-K1 cells stably transfected with SCDGF-B showed mitogenic activity as SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein did. Although SCDGF-B and SCDGF/PDGF-C/fallotein might be the members of the PDGF/VEGF superfamily of growth factors, they were categorized into a new subfamily in addition to PDGF and VEGF subfamilies.

Histopathology of a human allografted kidney with clinically sufficient function.

To clarify the clinico-pathological significance of protocol biopsy and clinically silent rejection in the management of renal graft recipients, we selected a total of 139 (23%) from 604 biopsy specimens according to the following criteria: 1) less than 1.4 mg/dL of serum creatinine and 2) more than 1,500 mL/d of urine volume at time of biopsy. Clinical indications for the biopsy were classified into five categories: i) protocol biopsy (73 specimens), including 69 cases at discharge post-transplantation; ii) slight increase in serum creatinine (32); iii) proteinuria (20); iv) evaluation of pulse-therapy (13); and v) fever elevation (1). Except for the last category, the specimens were histopathologically diagnosed as being normal in 50 (68%), 6 (17%), 1 (5%), and 5 (38%) specimens, respectively. Even borderline changes, and mild acute rejection, as well as drug-induced nephropathy were included, implying the existence of clinically silent rejection or drug-induced nephropathy. Obvious diversity in the histopathological diagnosis was noted in category iii) showing proteinuria, which was mainly caused by chronic rejection, drug-induced nephropathy and glomerulonephritis. The graft survival rate was no different among the four categories, except for category v). These results indicate that biopsies obtained from functionally sufficient renal grafts could provide useful information in the management of the recipients. The clinical significance of protocol biopsy awaits further clarification by the analysis of a large number of cases.

Sensitive assay of RNA interference in Drosophila and Chinese hamster cultured cells using firefly luciferase gene as target.

A sensitive cellular assay system for RNA interference was developed using the firefly luciferase gene as target. RNA interference was noted not only in Drosophila cultured cells but Chinese hamster cells (CHO-K1) as well, although double-stranded RNA required for the latter was 2500 times more than for the former. Cognate double-stranded RNA as short as 38 bp was found to be still capable of inducing RNA interference in Drosophila cultured cells.