A method for the staining of intraosseous nerve fibers using Sihler's staining technique.

Understanding nerve fiber distribution in the jaw bone is important when performing invasive surgical treatments. Both microscopic and macroscopic anatomical techniques have been developed to study innervation. Conventional methods of removing and staining these structures, however, often alter structure and lack reproducibility of the resulting specimens. We sought to optimize Sihler's staining technique to stain intraosseous nerves in mandibles. Four cadaver specimens were used. The best staining of intraosseous nerve fibers was achieved by using the Plank-Rychlo solution. When the Styrene monomer was used, the resulting transparency was better than that obtained with glycerin under the same conditions. No significant differences were found between Sihler's staining procedure performed according to the conventional method and the procedure in which the second decalcification step was omitted. Our results demonstrate that applying Sihler's staining technique to bones makes them transparent and allows observation of nerves while preserving the external shape of the bone and maintaining the position of intraosseous nerve fibers. Our findings suggest our Sihler staining method for intraosseous nerve fibers can provide an intermediate resolution between macroscopic and microscopic techniques.

PC reporting system for radiologists: practical use under PACS environment.

To evaluate the practical usefulness of several types of the reporting system especially for radiologists, we have developed and employed several reporting systems. We categorized those reporting systems as follows (1) stand alone PC reporting system; (2) linked reporting system with PACS environment; (3) integrated three-dimensional (3D) imaging workstation (WS) with the intranet. We have evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of those three systems, and compared between the reporting system without PACS and network reporting system with PACS. Using linked reporting system with PACS, radiologists could easily reference both previous reports and archived diagnostic images, and also make their teaching files quickly. In conclusion, the reporting system under PACS environment is found to be practical and helpful for Japanese radiologists.

[MR temperature monitoring by the proton phase shift (PPS) method with a 0.3T open-type MR scanner: experimental study].

Several MR parameters are sensitive to temperature change, notably, T1 relaxation time, proton phase shift (PPS) and diffusion coefficient. The PPS method has been considered for temperature monitoring during laser ablation owing to its tissue-independence and its ability to be used with a mid-magnetic field. Using the PPS method, we experimentally evaluated MR temperature monitoring with a 0.3T open-type MR scanner. Temperature change was reproducibly described as color mapping image. The PPS method was suitable for MR temperature monitoring in interventional MRI.