Characteristic Analysis of Facial Stiffness Using Average Faces of Schizophrenia

There is a significant need for objective assessment methods for schizophrenia. Therefore, this study examined the emotional characteristics of facial stiffness—one of the indicators for estimating patients' flat affect—using average faces. First, we conducted an experiment for psychological evaluation of facial stiffness in 16 Japanese patients with schizophrenia. Twelve medical professionals rated the patients' facial stiffness in 147 videos. Their gaze data were also collected. To extract the physical characteristics of facial stiffness, 11 average faces of 14 male patients and one average face of a group of healthy subjects were generated. The average faces were subjected to an emotion evaluation test by the existing application and 33 medical experts. The results showed that most of the average faces differed in the proportions of the eight emotions between two tests. The most common emotions were anger for the stiffest average face and calm for the healthy average face. In the application analysis, the percentage of emotions other than calm, such as anger and sadness, ranged from 15–65%. In contrast, in the judgment by medical experts ranged from 55–97% for emotions other than calm. The results suggest that “the perception of anger” or “the perception of complex emotions with a mix of anger, confusion, disgust, fear or sadness” is related to the judgment of facial stiffness by medical professionals

Effect of Ammonia or Nitric Acid Treatment on Surface Structure, in vitro Apatite Formation, and Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity of Bioactive Titanium Metal

Ti metal treated with NaOH, NH4OH, and heat and then soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed in vitro apatite formation whereas that treated with NaOH, HNO3, and heat and then soaked in SBF did not. The anatase TiO2 precipitate and/or the fine network structure formed on the surface of the Ti metal treated with NaOH, NH4OH, and heat and then soaked in SBF might be responsible for the formation of apatite on the surface of the metal. The NaOH, NH4OH, and heat treatments might produce nitrogen-doped TiO2 on the surface of the Ti metal, and the concentration of methylene blue (MB) in the Ti metal sample treated with NaOH, NH4OH, and heat decreased more than in the untreated and NaOH- and heat-treated ones. This preliminary result suggests that Ti metal treated with NaOH, NH4OH, and heat has the potential to show photocatalytic activity under visible light

Effect of dentin desensitizers on resin cement bond strengths

Introduction: The crown preparation promotes the exposure of dentin tubules. Thus, to avoid post-operative sensitivity, the first approach involves the use of dentin adhesives, and the second one the use of dentin desensitizers. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of dentin desensitizers on microtensile bond strengths (µTBSs) of a resin cement to dentin. Material and methods: Twenty bovine teeth were prepared until obtaining flat dentin surfaces. A standardized smear layer was created (#600-grit SiC paper). The samples were randomly divided into the following four groups (n = 5): no treatment (Control), treatment with Gluma Desensitizer (Heraeus Kulzer), Super Seal (Phoenix Dental) and Teethmate Desensitizer (Kuraray Noritake Dental). The dentin surfaces were then treated with ED Primer II (Kuraray Noritake Dental). Twenty composite blocks, 4 mm thick (Estenia C&B, Kuraray Noritake Dental) were used. The composite surfaces were abraded with aluminum oxide (50 µm), and then silanized. The composite block was bonded to the dentin surface with a resin cement (Panavia F 2.0, Kuraray Noritake Dental) according to he manufacturer’s instructions. After 24-hour storage (37ºC, 100% RH), the bonded samples were cut into beam–shaped microtensile specimens and loaded in tension until failure. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and the Dunnett’s test (α = 0.05). An SEM was used to examine the failure modes. Results: The µTBSs (MPa ± SD) were: 24.4 ± 3.2 (Control), 14.0 ± 5.6 (Gluma Desensitizer), 8.6 ± 4.7 (Super Seal), and 34.7 ± 4.6 (Teethmate Desensitizer), in which there were significant differences among the four groups (p < 0.05). The Teethmate Desensitizer group showed the highest µTBS, while the Super Seal group showed the lowest mean of µTBS to dentin. Conclusion: The efficacy of the desensitizers is material-dependent; Gluma Desensitizer and Super Seal decreased the µTBSs, however, Teethmate Desensitizer improved it

Improvement after extended thymectomy

Background It is popularly believed that myasthenia gravis (MG) patients show acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChRAb) production associated with the thymus (germinal centers, approximately 80%). It has been suggested that thymectomy can remove the area of autoantibody production. This study aimed to determine whether the solid volume of the thymus calculated using three-dimensional (3D) imaging could be used to predict the efficacy of thymectomy. Additionally, the study assessed the relationships of the solid volume with germinal centers, change in the serum AChRAb level, postoperative MG improvement, and prednisolone (PSL) dose reduction extent. Methods This retrospective study included 12 consecutive non-thymomatous MG patients (9 female and 3 male patients), who underwent extended thymectomy at our institution over the last 10 years. The mean patient age was 43.3 ± 14.2 years (range, 12–59 years). The study assessed the number of germinal centers per unit area, change in the serum AChRAb level, postoperative MG improvement, PSL dose reduction extent, and solid volume of the thymus. Results The number of germinal centers per unit area was significantly correlated with the solid volume of the thymus. The PSL dose reduction extent tended to be correlated with the solid volume. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the solid volume of the thymus can possibly predict steroid dose reduction. Additionally, the solid volume of the thymus in 3D images is the most important indicator for predicting the efficacy of extended thymectomy

Preparation, structure, and in vitro chemical durability of yttrium phosphate microspheres for intra-arterial radiotherapy

Chemically durable microspheres containing yttrium and/or phosphorus are useful for intra-arterial radiotherapy. In this study, we attempted to prepare yttrium phosphate (YPO4) microspheres with high chemical durability. YPO4 microspheres with smooth surfaces and diameters of around 25 μm were successfully obtained when gelatin droplets containing yttrium and phosphate ions were cooled and solidified in a water-in-oil emulsion and then heat-treated at 1100°C. The chemical durability of the heat-treated microspheres in a simulated body fluid at pH = 6 and 7 was high enough for clinical application of intra-arterial radiotherapy

トクシマ ダイガク ビョウイン ニ オケル ジュウショウ キンムリョクショウ 101 レイ ノ ケントウ

Thymectomy is an established treatment for seropositive（ACh-R antibodies positive） myasthenia gravis（MG）in younger patients, but an review described the effectiveness of thymectomy without thymoma remains as uncertain. To investigate the clinical course of MG in association with thymus and to develop a better strategy for MG treatment, we reviewed 101 MG patients who had taken therapies in our hospital between 1986 and 2006. Recently, late-onset MG patients had increased. A few MG patients without thymoma, in particular, hyperplasia had good clinical courses after thymectomy. So, we can’t exclude thymectomy from therapeutic options in patients without thymoma. We should select an appropriate strategy for individual cases, because MG has heterogeneous characters with in age at onset, thymic changes, and patterns of muscle weakness