Ontology Mapping of PATO to YATO for the improvement of interoperability of quality description

To facilitate broad interoperability for phenotype information between different ontological frameworks, we developed a reference ontology, PATO2YATO_Quality, with the careful mapping of terms of PATO which is a quality ontology commonly used for biological phenotype annotation to the latest top-level ontology, YATO, which represents advanced modeling of quality-related concepts. As a result, YATO framework enabled to describe changes of phenotypic qualities along the courses of time in ontologically correct way and sophisticated classification and representation of interrelationships among quality-related concepts to provide fully integration of qualitative values and quantitative values obtained from phenotyping experiments and advanced representation of more detailed quality description. Thus, PATO2YATO_Quality will contribute to advanced integration of phenotypic qualities

Establishment of a new rehabilitation program using masticatory training food for jaw deformity patients

Background/purpose: Patients with jaw deformities may show a reduction in masticatory function as a result of postoperative hypofunction. This study aimed to establish a novel rehabilitation program using a commercially available masticatory training food for patients with jaw deformities after orthognathic surgery. Materials and methods: Nine patients with mandibular prognathism (the training group: n = 5, and the non-training group: n = 4) and 6 control participants with normal occlusion were included in this study. For the rehabilitation program with masticatory exercise, patients were instructed to chew the training food once a day for 60 days starting from 10 days after the surgery. The effects of the rehabilitation program were assessed by determining the maximum bite force (MBF) and the masticatory performance (MP). Clinical assessments were performed just before orthognathic surgery (Pre) and at 10 days (T0), 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3) after surgery. Results: Compared with the non-training group, the training group showed a trend toward greater recovery amount of MBF from Pre to T3, and a significantly greater recovery amount in MP (p < 0.05) from Pre to T3. When the time-series change of MP was evaluated in both groups from T0 to T3, a significant difference was observed in the interaction terms (p = 0.03). This result indicates that the effectiveness of the training may be demonstrated by following the postoperative course further. Conclusion: The rehabilitation using this training food may become a useful method for postoperative hypofunction in patients with jaw deformities

Functional training after orthognathic surgery

Background/purpose: Even after surgical orthodontic treatment, the level of masticatory function in patients with jaw deformities is still lower than that of healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of functional training program using gum chewing exercise after orthognathic surgery on masticatory function in patients with mandibular prognathism. Materials and methods: The study subjects were 16 patients with mandibular prognathism who underwent orthognathic surgery and 8 individuals with normal occlusion. Patients were divided into two groups (training group and non-training group; n = 8 per group). Functional training included gum chewing exercise and patient-education about masticatory function. The training; gum chewing exercise of 5 min twice a day for 90 days, started at 3 months after surgery. For each subject, electromyographic activities of masseter and temporalis muscles during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC) and jaw movement during gum chewing were recorded before and after surgical orthodontic treatment. Two parameters; activity index (AI: ratio of activity of masseter and temporalis muscles) and error index (EI: ratio of the number of abnormal chewing patterns), were used. Results: In the training group, the AI value during MVC increased significantly and the EI value during gam chewing decreased significantly after surgical orthodontic treatment (AI: p < 0.01; EI: p < 0.01), indicating the improvement of activity balance of masseter and temporalis muscles and conversion of the jaw movement from abnormal to normal pattern (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that functional training using the gum chewing and patient-education exercise improved masticatory function in patients with mandibular prognathism

Challenges in enabling aging-in-place initiatives in aging and shrinking Japanese cities: a case of the Gifu suburbs

This study first reviewed previous literature on 1) the residential environments and everyday lives of older adults to examine universal factors enabling aging-in-place initiatives, and 2) the generation and outcomes of aging and shrinking suburbs in the Japanese context, via comparisons with case studies in Western cities. A case study was then conducted in the suburbs of Gifu to provide a clear impression of older adults’ daily lives and their perceived barriers in aging and shrinking suburbs in Japan. Finally, we discussed challenges involved in enabling aging-in-place initiatives whose major goal is to provide residential environments in which older adults can maintain continuous residency in their attached homes and neighborhoods in Japanese cities. The case study revealed that many older adults wished to continue living in their homes and neighborhoods. Diversification of accessible support in families and modification of interrelationships among family, housing, and welfare can contribute to adjustments in later life. Systems to support mobility after ceasing driving should be examined in more detail, because older adults were not satisfied with bus service quality, resulting in individuals postponing the decision to cease driving. To enable aging-in-place initiatives in Japan, cooperation among different ministries in national government and divisions at the municipal level is necessary

Treatment decision of camouflage or surgical orthodontic treatment for skeletal Class III patients based on analysis of masticatory function

Background/purpose: Surgical orthodontic treatment is recommended for patients with severe dentoskeletal discrepancies, while camouflage orthodontic treatment is recommended for patients with mild to moderate discrepancies. However, the decision as to which treatment should be chosen is complicated. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in masticatory function in patients who underwent camouflage and surgical orthodontic treatment for skeletal Class III malocclusion, as well as the usefulness of Wits appraisal in treatment decision based on masticatory functional analysis. Materials and methods: The study subjects were 45 patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion (15 cases with camouflage orthodontics and 30 cases with orthognatic surgery) and 12 individuals with normal occlusion. We analyzed the pre-treatment records of electromyographic activities of masseter and temporalis muscles and jaw movements. Results: There were no significant differences in various functional measurements between the camouflage and surgery groups. However, there were significant but not strong correlations between ANB and both masseter muscle activity (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) and expression ratio of abnormal chewing (r = −0.54, p < 0.01). Division of patients into two groups using a cutoff value of −6.0 mm for Wits appraisal showed a significant difference in masseter muscle activity between −6.0 mm or less group and the control (p < 0.01) but none between more than −6.0 mm group and the control. Conclusion: Camouflage orthodontic treatment is inappropriate for patients with relatively severe dentoskeletal discrepancies. Wits appraisal of −6.0 mm is a potentially useful parameter for treatment decision

LIPUS effect on lateral tooth movement

Introduction: Because mechanical stimulation of the periodontal ligament (PDL) by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to increase the speed of bone remodeling, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of LIPUS stimulation on the rate of tooth movement and bone remodeling during lateral tooth movement. Methods: Twelve-week-old Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The LIPUS group received experimental tooth movement with LIPUS stimulation, and the tooth movement (TM) group had experimental tooth movement without LIPUS. For the LIPUS and TM groups, the upper right first molars were moved labially with fixed appliances. LIPUS exposure was placed in the region corresponding to the right maxillary first molar. Three days after tooth movement, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) was examined. Fourteen days after tooth movement, the intermolar width, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were examined by micro computed tomography (micro-CT), and newly formed bone was measured histomorphometrically. Results: The number of TRAP-positive cells at the compressed region was obviously greater in the LIPUS group. The intermolar width was significantly greater in the LIPUS group than in the TM group. The alveolar bone around the maxillary first molar showed no differences in BMC or BV/TV between the LIPUS and TM groups. The LIPUS group exhibited a significantly greater amount of newly formed alveolar bone than the TM group. Conclusions: The present study provides evidence of the beneficial effects of LIPUS on the lateral tooth movement