Development of measuring method for softness of epidermis using rotational step response

We have proposed a new measuring method for the softness of epidermis using rotational step response. It can be proceeded that horizontal torsional step is given periodically to the human skin surface by rotational step motor. Then dynamically epidermal characteristic is abstracted selectively from the human skin minimizing influence of the subcutaneous tissue. The cylindrical rotor is attached to the shaft of step motor and its external area is surrounded by the cylindrical guard ring; therefore, only human skin surface of inside the guard ring is screwed periodically by its rotor. At this moment, viscoelasticity of the epidermis is evaluated from analyzing the inducting coil of the step motor. The waveform of voltage of inducing coil can be characterized by overshoot P1, damping ratio D and undamped natural frequency &#969;n. The softness Ks that indicates viscoelasticity of the epidermis can be calculated from these parameters. Many experimental results showed that the softness Ks corresponds to the human sense and it is rational as a parameter for the human skin characteristics. This system is very useful as the measurement can be done easily, in vivo, and non-invasively. It also can be constructed simply without special mechanical sensor because step motor acts as not only driving but also sensing </p

Immunohistochemistry of YAP and dNp63 and survival analysis of patients bearing precancerous lesion and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a candidate oncogene in various human cancers, and recently, it has been reported that YAP expression and its activity was enhanced by Delta Np63. However, the role of YAP and Delta Np63 expression in carcinogenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been unknown. Therefore, we investigated how YAP and Delta Np63 influence carcinogenesis and progression of OSCC. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical analyses in whole tissue samples to investigate YAP and Delta Np63 expression in normal oral mucosa, epithelial hyperplasia, oral epithelial dysplasia (OED; low/high grade), carcinoma in situ (CIS), and OSCC. Furthermore, in OSCC, we analyzed clinical significance by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: In normal oral mucosa and epithelial hyperplasia, YAP expression was primarily confined to the basal and parabasal layers, but YAP expression was elevated in OED, CIS, and OSCC. In OED, YAP and Delta Np63 expression levels were markedly higher in high grade than in low grade. In OSCC groups, YAP and Delta Np63 expression patterns tended to differ according to histopathological differentiation of OSCC. Furthermore, the YAP high expression group, which showed YAP staining in >50% positive cells with strong cytoplasmic staining or >10% positive cells with nuclear reactivity, showed a tendency to have a poor survival rate. Conclusion: YAP and Delta Np63 expression levels correlated with grade of oral OED. Additionally, YAP expression was associated with OSCC survival rate. Our results suggested that YAP and Delta Np63 expression might serve as predictive markers to distinguish OSCC development and progression

A study on the flowering of Brassica Rapa L. : Mainly on the so-called "Photophase"

1.1965年春秋2回にわたり早期抽苔型代表品種として聖護院カブ及び晩抽型代表品種として札幌紫カブを用い花成と日長の段階に関連し1つの試験を行った.2.実験の結果両品種ともに短日操作区における花芽分化期は若干日数が遅れるが長日環境下のものと同様正常な花成の進行が行はれ.聖護院カブの春播においては着蕾開花の段階に迄達した.3.短日区においては栄養器官の生育が相当遅れた.4.以上の事実からBiassica Rapa L.においては短日はある程度花成の進行を遅らせるが,"Photophase"の段階は花成の要因としては必須条件でないと云うことがいえる

Usefulness of FDG, MET and FLT-PET Studies for the Management of Human Gliomas

The use of positron imaging agents such as FDG, MET, and FLT is expected to lead the way for novel applications toward efficient malignancy grading and treatment of gliomas. In this study, the usefulness of FDG, MET and FLT-PET images was retrospectively reviewed by comparing their histopathological findings. FDG, MET, and FLT-PET were performed in 27 patients with WHO grade IV, 15 patients with WHO grade III, and 12 patients with WHO grade II during 5.5 years. The resulting PET images were compared by measuring SUVs and T/N ratios (tumor to normal tissue ratios). Although there were no significant differences in FDG-PET, there were significant differences in the T/N ratios in the MET-PET between WHO grades II and IV and in the FLT-PET between the WHO grades III and IV. In glioblastoma patients, the SUVs of the areas depicted by MRI in the MET-PET were different from those SUVs in the FLT-PET. Importantly, the areas with high SUVs in both MET-PET and FLT-PET were also high in Ki-67 index and were histologically highly malignant. PET imaging is a noninvasive modality that is useful in determining a tumor area for removal as well as improving preoperative diagnosis for gliomas

Clinical study on primary screening of oral cancer and precancerous lesions by oral cytology

Background This study was conducted to compare the histological diagnostic accuracy of conventional oral-based cytology and liquid-based cytology (LBC) methods. Methods Histological diagnoses of 251 cases were classified as negative (no malignancy lesion, inflammation, or mild/moderate dysplasia) and positive [severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ (CIS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)]. Cytological diagnoses were classified as negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), oral low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (OLSIL), oral high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (OHSIL), or SCC. Cytological diagnostic results were compared with histology results. Results Of NILM cytology cases, the most frequent case was negative [LBCn = 50 (90.9%), conventionaln = 22 (95.7%)]. Among OLSIL cytodiagnoses, the most common was negative (LBCn = 34; 75.6%, conventionaln = 14; 70.0%). Among OHSIL cytodiagnoses (LBCn = 51, conventionaln = 23), SCC was the most frequent (LBCn = 31; 60.8%, conventionaln = 7; 30.4%). Negative cases were common (LBCn = 13; 25.5%, conventionaln = 14; 60.9%). Among SCC cytodiagnoses SCC was the most common (LBCn = 16; 88.9%, conventionaln = 14; 87.5%). Regarding the diagnostic results of cytology, assuming OHSIL and SCC as cytologically positive, the LBC method/conventional method showed a sensitivity of 79.4%/76.7%, specificity of 85.1%/69.2%, false-positive rate of 14.9%/30.7%, and false-negative rate of 20.6%/23.3%. Conclusions LBC method was superior to conventional cytodiagnosis methods. It was especially superior for OLSIL and OHSIL. Because of the false-positive and false-negative cytodiagnoses, it is necessary to make a comprehensive diagnosis considering the clinical findings

Biological Effects of Bioresorbable Materials in Alveolar Ridge Augmentation: Comparison of Early and Slow Resorbing Osteosynthesis Materials

The purpose of this study was to investigate the bone healing properties and histological environment of a u-HA/PLLA/PGA (u-HA-uncalcined and unsintered hydroxyapatite, PLLA-Poly L-lactic acid, PGA-polyglycolic acid) composite device in humans, and to understand the histological dynamics of using this device for maxillofacial treatments. Twenty-one subjects underwent pre-implant maxillary alveolar ridge augmentation with mandibular cortical bone blocks using u-HA/PLLA or u-HA/PLLA/PGA screws for fixation. Six months later, specimens of these screws and their adjacent tissue were retrieved. A histological and immunohistochemical evaluation of these samples was performed using collagen 1a, ALP (alkaline phosphatase), and osteocalcin. We observed that alveolar bone augmentation was successful for all of the subjects. Upon histological evaluation, the u-HA/PLLA screws had merged with the bone components, and the bone was directly connected to the biomaterial. In contrast, direct bone connection was not observed for the u-HA/PLLA/PGA screw. Immunohistological findings showed that in the u-HA/PLLA group, collagen 1a was positive for fibers that penetrated vertically into the bone. Alkaline phosphatase was positive only in the u-HA/PLLA stroma, and the stroma was negative for osteocalcin. In this study, u-HA/PLLA showed a greater bioactive bone conductivity than u-HA/PLLA/PGA and a higher biocompatibility for direct bone attachment. Furthermore, u-HA/PLLA was shown to have the potential for bone formation in the stroma