A Clinical Examination and Electromyographic Evaluation in Edentulous Patient with MPD Syndrome

It is not easy to establish the proper maxillo-mandibular relations and occlusion in order to construct complete dentures for edentulous patients who have lost all their natural teeth and surrounding structures. For this reason, many practitioners have studied the accurate procedures for jaw measurement. However, if edentulous patients have an improper measurement of occlusal vertical dimension and/or maxillo-mandibular relations in prosthetic treatment, they often complain of functional disorder of the masticatory system and the interaction between the muscles, the joints and occlusion. In these patients the functional demand exceeds the adaptive capacity of the neuromusculature. As a result, these patients exhibit muscle pain, deviation of the mandible on opening, joint noises, limited opening of the jaws, or other symptoms associated with the syndrome. In complete denture wearers with myofascial pain-dysfunction (MPD) syndrome, symptoms disappeared after improvement of the occlusal vertical dimension with the lower treatment denture. There were clear differences between before and after prosthetic treatment with electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter muscles

The Effects of Low-Dose-Rate γ-irradiation on Forced Swim Test-Induced Immobility and Oxidative Stress in Mice

The forced swim test (FST) induces immobility in mice. Low-dose (high-dose-rate) X-irradiation inhibits FSTinduced immobility in mice due to its antioxidative function. We evaluated the effects of low-dose γ-irradiation at a low-dose-rate on the FST-induced depletion of antioxidants in mouse organs. Mice received whole-body low-dose-rate (0.6 or 3.0 mGy/h) of low-dose γ-irradiation for 1 week, followed by daily FSTs (5 days). The immobility rate on day 2 compared to day 1 was significantly lower in the 3.0 mGy/h irradiated mice than in sham irradiated mice. The FST significantly decreased the catalase (CAT) activity and total glutathione (t-GSH) content in the brain and kidney, respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and t-GSH content in the liver of the 3.0 mGy/h irradiated mice were significantly lower than those of the non-FST-treated mice. The CAT activity in the lungs of mice exposed to 3.0 mGy/h γ-irradiation was higher than that of non-FST treated mice and mice treated with FST. However, no significant differences were observed in the levels of these antioxidant markers between the sham and irradiated groups except for the CAT activity in lungs. These findings suggest that the effects of low-dose-rate and low-dose γ-irradiation on FST are highly organ-dependent

Accurate estimation of regional and global cardiac function in old myocardial infarction patients by multidetector-row computed tomography

Recently we can evaluate cardiac function by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) and quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) as well as left ventriculography (LVG). We evaluated regional and global cardiac function using MDCT and QGS, compared to LVG, and also evaluated parameters of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function using MDCT. Regional cardiac function was evaluated using shortening fraction (SF). Global cardiac function was evaluated using ejection fraction(EF). The peak filling rate (PFR) and the ratio of time to peak filling rate to RR interval (tPFR/RR) on MDCT were measured as parameters of LV diastolic function. The SFs by MDCT and LVG were correlated in almost each segment, but those by QGS and LVG were not correlated in some each segment. The SFs by QGS and LVG were not correlated in the myocardial infarcted segments, but those by QGS and LVG were correlated in the non-infarcted segments. Except for patients who had wall motion abnormalities at the ventricular septum or posterolateral wall, the EFs by MDCT and LVG were correlated, but those by QGS and LVG were not correlated. MDCT was more useful in detecting regional and global cardiac function compared to QGS, and parameters of LV diastolic function could be also measured by MDCT

123I-metaiodo-benzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in the Brugada-type ECG

The degree of ST-segment elevation and amplitude of J waves, which may change in patients with the Brugada-type electrocardiogram(ECG)over time, are influenced by autonomic nervous activity and the administration of antiarrhythmic drugs. In the present study, we evaluated whether the shape of ST-segment elevation in patients with a Brugada-type ECG might alter the parameters of an 123I-MIBGmyocardial scintigraphy and body surface signal-averaged ECG (SAECG). The subjects consisted of 12 patients with a Brugada-type ECG and 15 healthy volunteers (N group). The patients with a Brugada-type ECG were classified into the following 2 groups based on the type of ST-segment elevation: 6 patients with the coved type ST-segment elevation (C group), and 6 patients with the saddle-back type ST-segment elevation (S group). Planar and SPECT images were obtained 15 minutes (early images) and 3 hours (delayed images) after the administration of 123I-MIBG, respectively. In addition, the washout rate (%WR) of 123I-MIBG was obtained in a bull’s eye map of the SPECT image. There were no significant differences in the early H/M ratio between the C and S groups. In the C group, however, there were some patients who showed a decreased accumulation or defect of 123I-MIBG in the planar and SPECT images. Furthermore, in contrast to the N and S groups, the C group showed a decreased delayed H/M ratio and increased %WR. SAECG did not show any significant differences between the S and C groups. These results of the present study suggest that the shape of ST-segment elevation may be associated with myocardial autonomic nervous function. In addition, the electric heterogeneity of the actionpotential in the right ventricular epicardial myocardium, which is frequently influenced by autonomic nervous activity, is closely associated with the development of Brugada syndrome

X-Irradiation at 0.5 Gy after the forced swim test reduces forced swimming-induced immobility in mice

The forced swim test (FST) is a screening model for antidepressant activity; it causes immobility and induces oxidative stress. We previously reported that radon inhalation has antidepressant-like effects in mice potentially through the activation of antioxidative functions upon radon inhalation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prior and post low-dose X-irradiation (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Gy) on FST-induced immobility and oxidative stress in the mouse brain, and the differences, if any, between the two. Mice received X-irradiation before or after the FST repeatedly for 5 days. In the post-FST-irradiated group, an additional FST was conducted 4h after the last irradiation. Consequently, animals receiving prior X-irradiation (0.1 Gy) had better mobility outcomes than sham-irradiated mice; however, their levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), an oxidative stress marker, remained unchanged. However, animals that received post-FST X-irradiation (0.5 Gy) had better mobility outcomes and their LPO levels were significantly lower than those of the sham-irradiated mice. The present results indicate that 0.5 Gy X-irradiation after FST inhibits FST-induced immobility and oxidative stress in mice

Risk factors associated with soft coronary artery plaques in Japanese, as determined by 16 slice multidetector-row computed tomography

Purpose: The acute coronary syndrome is often caused by the rupture of plaques and thrombus formation even without significant stenosis, and patients with soft plaques, but without significant stenosis evidenced by coronary angiography(CAG), often develop an acute coronary syndrome. To address this discrepancy, a qualitative diagnosis of coronary plaques using a 16 slice multidetector-row CT was conducted. Methods and Results: Volume rendering and cross-sectional MPR images were obtained. Based on the CT values, plaques on the coronary artery wall were classified as lipid-rich soft plaques(CT value50 HU) . A significant correlation was observed between the percent stenosis determined in crosssectional MPR images and those determined by CAG(r=＋0.92, p<0.01). Diffuse plaques with CT values of less than 50 HU often caused stenosis at level of 75% or less, which were not indicated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Conclusions : Although diffuse soft plaques with CT values less than 50 HU are not an indication of intervention, a risk of an acute coronary syndrome exists, due to rupture. These soft plaques must be stabilized by treatment even when they do not cause significant stenosis, and MDCT is considered to be useful for their evaluation