Comparative Study of Mandible Ramus Morphology Using 3-dimensional CT in Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relevance of the external morphology of the mandibular ramus, internal bone tissue structure, and maxillofacial morphology at the site for sagittal split ramus osteotomy among different facial skeletal patterns. A total of 80 patients with jaw deformities who underwent sagittal split ramus osteotomy were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on facial skeletal type (skeletal Class II or skeletal Class III). A further 7 patients with no skeletal abnormalities were established as the control group (skeletal Class I). Computed tomography images obtained from these patients were 3-dimensionally reconstructed and the morphology of the mandibular ramus determined. Thickness at the mandibular foramen in Class II was greater than that in Class III, and showed the lowest value at the midpoint of the mandibular foramen and mandibular notch in Class I. Mandibular morphology showed change according to facial skeletal type. Correlations were also observed between the cephalometric analysis values and mandibular morphology.

Individualization of nano-sized plant cellulose fibrils by direct surface carboxylation using TEMPO catalyst under neutral conditions.

A new catalytic oxidation using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and NaClO is applied to hardwood cellulose in water at 60 °C and pH 6.8 with NaClO(2) used as a primary oxidant. The oxidized celluloses with carboxylate content of approximately 0.8 mmol/g were convertible to highly crystalline and individual fibrils 5 nm in width and at least 2 µm in length by disintegration in water. The oxidized celluloses had no aldehyde groups, and high degrees of polymerization of more than 900. Solid-state (13)C NMR and X-ray analyses revealed that the C6 carboxylate groups formed are selectively present on the crystalline fibril surfaces at high densities. Films prepared from the dispersions were transparent and flexible, and exhibited a high tensile strength of 312 MPa even at a low density of 1.47 g/cm(3).

Distinct morphological and immunohistochemical features and different growth rates among four human neuroblastomas heterotransplanted into nude mice.

To elucidate more precisely the biological characteristics of neuroblastomas, we examined four human neuroblastomas heterotransplanted into athymic nude mice NB-39 (undifferentiated type), NB-45 (poorly differentiated type with undifferentiated component), NB-52 (poorly differentiated type), and NB-726 (differentiating type) by electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and radioimmunoassay for the peptides in tumors. Ultrastructurally, NB-45, NB-52, and NB-726 contained more numerous and variously sized neurosecretory granules than did NB-39. Immunohistochemistry revealed neurofilament proteins, tyrosine hydroxylase, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and chromogranin A-positive cells in the four tumors in the following order of frequency: NB-726, NB-45, NB-52, and NB-39. NB-726, NB-45, and NB-52, but not NB-39, contained galanin-positive tumor cells. NB-45 and NB-726 harbored a few positive cells for calcitonin gene-related peptide. Furthermore, NB-726 exhibited positivity to leu-enkephalin, met-enkephalin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and serotonin. Radioimmunoassay substantiated the results of immunohistochemistry, showing NPY in all tumors and either galanin or VIP in three tumors, excepting NB-39. Average doubling time of the tumor was as follows: 2 days in NB-39, 10 days in NB-45, 22 days in NB-52, and 45 days in NB-726. These results indicate that human neuroblastoma cells have different biological characteristics and reduced growth rate with differentiation in terms of ultrastructure and of peptide production abilities.