Concept model of atomic hydrogen dry developing process for photolithographic patterning

Atomic hydrogen dry etching was used for microstructure fabrication. Photolithography was proposed and achieved by a dry development process using atomic hydrogen irradiation. The reaction system of poly(methyl methacrylate) mixed with molecular benzophenone was examined as a model system for a proof-of-concept study. Optical patterning was experimentally made on a thin layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) with benzophenone by UV light exposure with a photomask. The reaction system acted as a negative tone resist in the proposed process. Thus, a model system for a new atomic hydrogen dry development process was proposed and successfully demonstrated.Yuki Takemori, Masao Gohdo, Yuta Koda, and Hideo Horibe, "Concept model of atomic hydrogen dry developing process for photolithographic patterning", AIP Advances 10, 105223 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0027509

Functional tooth number and mortality

Aim: Previous studies on the association between intraoral conditions and mortality in community-dwelling older individuals reported that fewer present teeth (PT) are significant risk factors for mortality. However, how the number of PT relative to the number of functional teeth (FT), including both present and rehabilitated teeth, influences mortality has not been investigated fully. This study examined the impact of the number of FT on mortality among community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational and population-based follow-up study, which examined 1188 older individuals who participated in an annual geriatric health examination from 2009 to 2015. The average follow-up period was 1697.0 ± 774.5 days. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at follow-up. The numbers of PT and FT of each participant were counted during an oral examination. In addition, demographics, clinical variables, blood nutrient markers, physical functions and perceived masticatory function were measured. Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis, followed by a log-rank test, revealed that fewer PT (P < 0.001) and FT (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with a reduced survival rate. Cox's proportional hazard analysis indicated that the number of FT, but not the number of PT, was a significant independent mortality risk factor after adjusting for demographics, clinical variables, nutrient markers and physical functioning (P = 0.036, hazard ratio: 2.089). Conclusions: Current results suggest that the number of FT more strongly predicts all-cause mortality than the number of PT among community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are necessary to consider the confounding of socioeconomic status and disability status

Number of functional teeth more strongly predicts all‐cause mortality than number of present teeth in Japanese older adults

Aim Previous studies on the association between intraoral conditions and mortality in community‐dwelling older individuals reported that fewer present teeth (PT) are significant risk factors for mortality. However, how the number of PT relative to the number of functional teeth (FT), including both present and rehabilitated teeth, influences mortality has not been investigated fully. This study examined the impact of the number of FT on mortality among community‐dwelling Japanese older adults. Methods This study was a retrospective, observational and population‐based follow‐up study, which examined 1188 older individuals who participated in an annual geriatric health examination from 2009 to 2015. The average follow‐up period was 1697.0 ± 774.5 days. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality at follow‐up. The numbers of PT and FT of each participant were counted during an oral examination. In addition, demographics, clinical variables, blood nutrient markers, physical functions and perceived masticatory function were measured. Results Kaplan–Meier analysis, followed by a log‐rank test, revealed that fewer PT (P  Conclusions Current results suggest that the number of FT more strongly predicts all‐cause mortality than the number of PT among community‐dwelling older adults. Further studies are necessary to consider the confounding of socioeconomic status and disability status

Impact of number of functional teeth on independence of Japanese older adults

Aim To examine the relationship between the number of present and functional teeth at baseline and future incidence of loss of independence. Methods Participants were community-dwelling older individuals who participated in a comprehensive geriatric health examination conducted in Kusatsu town, Japan, between 2009 and 2015. The primary endpoint was the incidence of loss of independence among participants, defined as the first certification of long-term care insurance in Japan. The numbers of present and functional teeth at baseline were determined via an oral examination. Demographics, clinical variables (e.g., history of chronic diseases and psychosocial factors), blood nutritional markers, physical functions, and perceived masticatory function were assessed. Results This study included 1121 individuals, and 205 individuals suffered from loss of independence during the follow-up period. Kaplan–Meier estimates of loss of independence for participants with smaller numbers of present and functional teeth were significantly greater than for those with larger numbers of teeth. Cox proportional hazard analyses indicated that a smaller number of present teeth was not a significant risk factor after adjusting for demographic characteristics. However, the number of functional teeth was a significant risk factor after the adjustment (hazard ratio: 1.975 [1.168–3.340]). Additionally, higher hazard ratios were observed in other adjusted models, but they were not statistically significant. Conclusions The number of functional teeth may be more closely related to the future incidence of loss of independence than the number of present teeth. This novel finding suggests that prosthodontic rehabilitation for tooth loss possibly prevents the future incidence of this life-event

Successful conservative treatment of anti–resorptive agent–related osteonecrosis of the jaw in a patient with multiple myeloma:A case report

Summary.Bone resorption inhibitors,such as bisphosphonates and denosumab,are widely used to treat bone lesions caused by disorders of bone metabolism,multiple myeloma,and bone metastases from solid tumors,and the occurrence of antiresorptive agentrelated osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) is increasing.Currently,surgical treatment is recommended;however,case reports are sparse and there is no established global consensus on treatment.We report the case of a 75–year–old female patient with osteonecrosis of the mandible following bisphosphonate administration for the treatment of multiple myeloma,who was cured by conservative treatment alone.The patient had multiple myeloma and,therefore,had been receiving bisphosphonates for about 24 months prior to her first visit to Matsumoto Dental University Hospital.During periodontal treatment,the patient underwent extraction of the left mandibular wisdom tooth.About 6 months later,bone exposure was observed in the same area,and coexisting osteomyelitis of the jaw was diagnosed.Conservative treatment involving oral hygiene instructions,several doses of antibacterial agents,and frequent rinses was chosen for the bone exposure.About 6 months after the start of such treatment,the decayed bone had disappeared,and after 7 months,the mucosa had completely sealed.Disappearance of the findings of osteomyelitis was assessed by MRI.The infection tended to spread during the clinical course of the disease,but improved with conservative treatment alone,and the exposed area of bone has since epithelialized.We reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and sharing information on the medical history and medications between physicians and dentists while treating patients with primary diseases indicated for bisphosphonates

Quick and simple test to evaluate severity of acute lateral ankle sprain

Background/objective: For early return to sports after a lateral ankle sprain (LAS) and recurrence prevention, effective rehabilitation and gradual return to sports should be initiated while predicting the return time based on the appropriate severity evaluation immediately after injury. However, since severity evaluations performed in previous studies required large space and stairs and involved high-revel activity, their use as a test and index to evaluate severity after LAS was not appropriate considering convenience and risk of re-injury. Therefore, a quick and simple test was developed to evaluate the severity of acute LAS. This study aimed to verify the association between ankle function for severity evaluation and anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) injury type by ultrasonography and to clarify the usefulness for acute LAS severity evaluation of the single-leg loading (SLL) test. Methods: In total, 50 patients (34 men, 16 women) out of 58 patients who visited our sports clinic within 3 days after acute LAS and who conformed to the study criteria were included in this study. During the first visit, SLL test and objective/subjective ankle joint evaluation were performed. The SLL test consists of single-leg standing, single-leg heel raising and single-leg hopping, and patients were classified into four levels from 1 to 4 according to results. In addition, ultrasonographic evaluation was performed within 1 week after the first visit to evaluate the type of ATFL injury. Type I was defined as intact ATFL, Type II as swollen ATFL with an almost intact fibrillar pattern and Type III as ATFL appearing swollen with a disrupted fibrillar pattern. The relationship between the SLL test and each evaluation item was investigated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: As a result of the SLL test, 15 patients had Level 1 (30%), 19 Level 2 (38%), 5 Level 3 (10%) and 11 Level 4 (22%). With regard to correlation coefficients of the SLL test, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot ankle/hindfoot scale and sports activity were rs = 0.71 (p < 0.001) and rs = 0.66 (p < 0.001), respectively, showing a significant positive correlation. SLL test and the type of ATFL injury also showed a significant negative correlation (rs = −0.58, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The SLL test was a simple and useful test that can be used as an index to evaluate the severity of acute LAS