Outcome of arthroscopic surgery for internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: long-term results covering 10 years.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the long-term success (10-year results) of arthroscopic surgery of the temporomandibular joint. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A survey was undertaken of 37 patients who had been treated with arthroscopic surgery for TMJ internal derangement from 1986 to 1990. Thirty-three patients responded, of whom 30 were women and three men, whose age at surgery ranged from 14 to 77 years (mean: 35.1 years). The mean follow-up period was 10 years and 2 months. All patients rated their pain level on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and also recorded pain, jaw dysfunction, and activities of daily living (ADL) before surgery, and at the time of the survey. Interincisal opening was self-assessed (mm). Pre- and postoperative pain, dysfunction and ADL scores were compared for outcome and statistically analyzed with the Student's t-test. RESULTS: Intensity of pain as rated on the VAS was significantly reduced from 5.15 to 0.34 (p<0.01). Pain, dysfunction and ADL scores also decreased from 8.25 to 1.09, 6.5 to 1.93, and 9.1 to 1.32, respectively (p<0.01). At the preoperative examination, 36 of the 37 patients showed limited jaw opening of less than 38 mm, reduced to only three postoperatively. For the success rate of TMJ surgery, the responding 33 plus data of one re-operated patient were assessed. Of these, 27 were rated as excellent, four as good, and three (including two re-operated patients) as poor. The success rate was 83.8% when three patients who did not respond were included in the data. CONCLUSION: The long-term, 10 year outcome of TMJ arthroscopic surgery was considered to be acceptable and stable when compared with other surgical procedures and with the results of previously published middle to long-term treatment outcome studies.

Identification of SH Deltav=1 Ro-vibrational Lines in R Andromedae.

We report the identification of SH Deltav=1 ro-vibrational lines in the published high-resolution infrared spectrum of the S-type star R Andromedae. This is the first astronomical detection of this molecule. The lines show inverse P Cygni profiles, indicating infall motion of the molecular layer due to stellar pulsation. A simple spherical shell model with a constant infall velocity is adopted to determine the condition of the layer. It is found that a single excitation temperature of 2200 K reproduces the observed line intensities satisfactorily. SH is located in a layer from 1.0 to approximately 1.1 stellar radii, which is moving inward with a velocity of 9 km s-1. These results are consistent with the previous measurements of CO Deltav=3 transitions. The estimated molecular abundance SH/H is 1x10-7, consistent with a thermal equilibrium calculation.

Separate cis-acting DNA elements control cell type- and tissue-specific expression of collagen binding molecular chaperone HSP47.

HSP47 is a collagen-binding heat shock protein and is assumed to act as a molecular chaperone in the biosynthesis and secretion of procollagen. As the synthesis of HSP47 is closely correlated with that of collagen in various cell lines and tissues, we performed a promoter/reporter assay using HSP47-producing and nonproducing cells. 280 base pairs (bp(s)) of upstream promoter were shown to be necessary for the basal expression but not to be enough for the cell type-specific expression. When the first and the second introns were introduced downstream of this 280-bp region, marked up-regulation of the reporter activity was observed in HSP47-producing cells but not in nonproducing cells. This was confirmed in transgenic mice by staining the lacZ gene product under the control of the 280-bp upstream promoter and the introns. Staining was observed in skin, chondrocytes, precursor of bone, and other HSP47/collagen-producing tissues. A putative Sp1-binding site at -210 bp in the promoter, to which Sp3 and an unidentified protein bind, was shown to be responsible for this up-regulation when combined with the introns. However no difference in the binding to this probe was observed between HSP47-producing and nonproducing cells. The responsible region for cell type-specific up-regulation was found to be located in a 500-bp segment in the first intron. On electrophoresis mobility shift assay using this 500-bp probe, specific DNA-protein complexes were only observed in HSP47-producing cell extracts. These results suggest that two separate elements are necessary for the cell type-specific expression of the hsp47 gene; one is a putative Sp1-binding site at -210 bp necessary for basal expression, and the other is a 500-bp region within the first intron, required for cell type-specific expression.

Low-temperature crystallization of silicate dust in circumstellar disks.

Silicate dust in the interstellar medium is observed to be amorphous, yet silicate dust in comets and interplanetary dust particles is sometimes partially crystalline. The dust in disks that are thought to be forming planets around some young stars also appears to be partially crystalline. These observations suggest that as the dust goes from the precursor clouds to a planetary system, it must undergo some processing, but the nature and extent of this processing remain unknown. Here we report observations of highly crystalline silicate dust in the disks surrounding binary red-giant stars. The dust was created in amorphous form in the outer atmospheres of the red giants, and therefore must be processed in the disks to become crystalline. The temperatures in these disks are too low for the grains to anneal; therefore, some low-temperature process must be responsible. As the physical properties of the disks around young stars and red giants are similar, our results suggest that low-temperature crystallization of silicate grains also can occur in protoplanetary systems.

The ISO/SWS Spectrum of IRC +10216: The Vibrational Bands of C2H2 and HCN.

We present the Infrared Space Observatory/Short-Wavelength Spectrometer full grating resolution spectrum of IRC +10216, which is dominated by strong absorption/emission bands of C2H2 and HCN. All C2H2 bands and the strong near-infrared stretching bands of HCN are observed in absorption, whereas the fundamental, hot, and combination bands of HCN involving the nu2 bending mode around 14 µm are observed in emission. Particularly strong is the HCN nu2=20-->nu2=11 vibrational transition at 14.3 µm. The most plausible mechanism for such emission is the radiative pumping of molecules from the ground to the nu2=20 state (7.1 µm) followed by radiative decay: nu2=20-->nu2=11. We present detailed models for HCN that verify the efficiency of the mentioned effect. The HCN abundance inferred from these models is &parl0;1.5-3&parr0;x10-5.

Transcriptional activation of the mouse HSP47 gene in mouse osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells by TGF-beta 1.

HSP47 is a 47-kDa collagen-binding heat shock protein, the expression of which is always correlated with that of collagens in various cell lines. We examined the effects of TGF-beta 1, which is reported to induce the collagen genes, on the expression of HSP47 in mouse osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Treatment of the cells with 5 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 for 24 h increased the level of HSP47 mRNA three-fold. Dose-dependent induction by TGF-beta 1 was observed for both HSP47 mRNA and collagen alpha 1 (I) mRNA, and actinomycin D inhibited this increase of HSP47 mRNA. To elucidate the TGF-beta 1 responsive element(s) in the mouse HSP47 gene, we generated a series of 5'-deletion promoters fused to luciferase reporter constructs. Transient transfection assays showed that TGF-beta 1 induced 4-6 fold the promoter activity of a region approximately -5.5 kbp upstream of the HSP47 gene. Two upstream regions, -3.9 to -2.7 kbp and -280 to -50 bp were shown to be involved in the activation in response to TGF-beta 1 treatment.

Enhanced expression of the mouse L-histidine decarboxylase gene with a combination of dexamethasone and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

We previously reported that the induction of L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) in mouse mastocytoma cells was synergistically potentiated with a combination of dexamethasone and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) [Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1133, 172-178 (1992)]. To clarify the molecular mechanism of this synergistic action on HDC expression, we have isolated genomic DNA clone (MGH5), including 5'-flanking region of the mouse HDC gene. The transcription start site and the nucleotide sequences of the promoter regions were determined. We found that this clone contains a TATA-like box and a GC-box in the promoter region, and several putative binding sites for regulatory proteins in the 5'-flanking region. With mastocytoma cells transiently transfected with 5' deletion constructs of HDC-CAT fusion gene, it was found that the sequence from -267 to -43 is essential for the regulatory elements(s) involved in the increased transcription of the HDC gene with dexamethasone and TPA.

[Working ability between air and trimix breathing gas under 8 ATA air condition].

Pneumatic caisson work in Japan has come into operation since 1924. Afterward, this technique of compressed air work has been widely utilized in the construction of foundation basements, shafts of the bottom tunnel shields for subway and so forth. While using this technique of compressed air work means that workers have to be exposed to hyperbaric environment, this technique has risks of not only decompression sickness (DCS) but also toxicity of poisonous gas and/or oxygen deficiency. However, this technique is independent of city construction work and the operation of compressed air work higher than 5ATA (4.0 kg/cm2G) is actually been planning recently. Accordingly unmanned caisson work is considered as a better technique for such higher pressurized work, even though workers must enter into hyperbaric working fields for maintenance or repair of unmanned operated machinery and materials. This research is to establish the safe work under hyperbaric air environment at 8ATA.

[Great depth pneumatic caisson and its load work involved with the efficiency of respiratory protection].

Pneumatic caisson work in Japan has been in operation since 1924. Afterward, this technique of compressed air work has been utilized in the constructions like as foundation works, the basements, and shafts of the bottom tunnel or shields for subway and so forth. While, it means for people to be exposed to hyperbaric environment that they use compressed air work, this technique has risks to be suffered from not only decompression sickness (DCS) but toxicity of poisonous gas or oxygen deficiency. However, this technique is necessary for urban civil engineering and recent compressed air works over than 1.0 kg/cm2 has been increased in 1.5 times more than in 1970's and the higher compressed air work more than 4.0 kg/cm2 will be actually planned in near future. So unmanned caisson work is considered as a better technique for such high pressure work, even though people must enter into hyperbaric working fields for maintenance or repair of unmanned operated machinery and materials. This research is to establish the safety work under hyperbaric environment within 7 kg/cm2. It is necessary for us to establish the system not only to keep safety but to maintain working efficiency. According to obtain the purpose, the effect of respiratory protection has been investigated and work load under hyperbaric caisson work has also been studied.

Reappraisal of OP-1206, a prostaglandin E1 derivative in combination with low-flow oxygen inhalation therapy in chronic lung disease.

For the purpose of alleviating pulmonary hypertension and maintaining cardiac output, which tended to be decreased to acute low-flow oxygen therapy in chronic lung diseases, we evaluated combined low-flow oxygen therapy and oral administration of OP-1206, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, in 7 patients with obstructive lung disease and 3 with restrictive one. Low flow oxygen inhalation (1 l/min. 30 minutes) increased PaO2 from 67.2 +/- 12.8 mmHg to 91.0 +/- 18.2 mmHg (p less than 0.001), PVO2 from 36.4 +/- 3.1 mmHg to 41.7 +/- 7.0 mmHg (p less than 0.01) and decreased cardiac index from 3.38 +/- 0.39 l/min/m2 to 3.07 +/- 0.32 l/min/m2 (p less than 0.01), RVSWI from 18.7 +/- 2.6 g.m/m2 to 6.1 +/- 2.0 g.m/m2 (p less than 0.01), transpulmonary driving pressure from 13.0 +/- 5.4 mmHg to 9.8 +/- 5.5 mmHg (p less than 0.01) and mean PA from 21.6 +/- 7.7 mmHg to 18.3 +/- 6.9 mmHg (p less than 0.05) with a trend of increase in COD and no change at oxygen delivery. OP-1206, on the contrary, decreased mPA from 21.6 +/- 7.7 to 18.2 +/- 5.6 mmHg (p less than 0.05), RVSWI from 8.7 +/- 2.6 g.m/m2 to 6.9 +/- 2.3 g.m/m2 (p less than 0.01) with trend of decrease in transpulmonary driving pressure, TPVR and PAR with no substantial changes in gasometric parameters. The decrease rates of PA by low-flow oxygen therapy and OP-1206 administration correlated significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of neonatal treatment with monosodium glutamate on circadian locomotor rhythm in the rat.

In order to study the effects of treatment with monosodium glutamate (MSG) during the neonatal period on the intrinsic circadian timekeeping system in rats, the locomotor activity of blinded MSG-treated and control (saline-treated) rats was analyzed with power spectral analysis and cross-correlation. In contrast to a robust free-running circadian rhythm in the control rats, a significant shortening of the circadian period and rapid decomposition into ultradian components were noted in the MSG-treated rats. Computer-assisted stereometry of the hypothalamic nuclei revealed that, in addition to the well-known severe damage in the arcuate nuclei (ARC), the volumes of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (VMH) were also reduced significantly in the MSG-treated rats. Although no gross histological damage was apparent in either the SCN and VMH, neonatal MSG treatment appears to impair the function of SCN to integrate many minor oscillations in the brain into a single, definite and precise circadian period.

Micetoma do antebraco por Petriellidium boydii - registro de um caso. / Mycetoma of the forearm by Petriellidium boydii a case report

Os autores registram o primeiro caso brasileiro de eumicetoma por Petriellidium boydii com localizacao em membro superior (antebraco) de paciente procedente do inferior do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. O fungo foi isolado em sua forma conidial tanto das secrecoes oriundas dos abcessos fistulizados, como do material de biopsia das partes moles e osseas. O exame histopatologico revelou a presenca de graos ou drusas parasitarias caracteristicas de eumicetoma