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Biomedical subjects

K Furusawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Furusawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Supernumerary impactions of the mandibular cuspids and bicuspids. Case report.

A case involving the presence of supernumerary cuspids and bicuspids is described. The condition was probably an inherited one because of the family history and the bilateral incidence. The supernumerary teeth erupted because of alveolar resorption in which inflammatory factors probably played a role. Radiographic follow-up of the site of supernumerary impacted teeth and alveolar resorption should be undertaken.

Aged↗

The distribution of afferent neurons in the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus and the central projection of afferent fibers of the mylohyoid nerve in the rat.

Horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheatgerm agglutinin (HRP:WGA) was injected into the proximal cut ends of three branches of the mylohyoid nerve in rats: the branch to the mylohyoid muscle (BrMh), the branch to the anterior belly of the digastricus muscle (BrDg), and the cutaneous branch (BrCu). HRP-labeled cells were detected in the ipsilateral caudal portion of the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (Vmes) and the ipsilateral ventromedial division of the trigeminal motor nucleus, except when HRP:WGA was applied to the BrCu. Morphologically, all labeled Vmes cells were of the pseudounipolar type. Projections of the primary afferents of the BrMh were observed in the ipsilateral trigeminal nucleus caudalis, the upper cervical dorsal horns of laminae I-III, and the dorsolateral recticular formation (Rf), whereas the primary afferents of the BrDg terminated in the ipsilateral trigeminal nucleus principalis and Rf. These observations suggest that the role of the afferent inputs of the mylohyoid muscle differs from that of those of the anterior belly of the digastricus muscle in terms of several functions associated with jaw-closing and infrahyoid muscles.

Afferent Pathways↗

The assessment of fracture of the mandibular condyle by use of computerized tomography. Incidence of sagittal split fracture.

A survey was carried out to clarify the incidence of sagittal splitting fracture of the mandibular condyle using computerized tomography. There were 33 patients, between 11 and 67 years of age, with displaced or dislocated mandibular condylar process fractures (41 cases), seen at our clinic between 1986 and 1992. The incidence of no displacement was 4.9%; deviation and displacement, 34.1%; dislocation, 46.3%; and complete avulsion, 4.9%. A sagittal splitting fracture of condyle occurred with an incidence of 9.8%. Conservative treatment was effective in the treatment of sagittal splitting fracture. Therefore, classification of fracture of mandibular condyle should include the sagittal split fracture, and investigations should include computerized tomography.

Adolescent↗

Mechanism of transient mental nerve paraesthesia in sagittal split mandibular ramus osteotomy.

We investigated the mechanism involved in paraesthesia associated with sagittal split mandibular ramus osteotomy by three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT). Ten female patients underwent this procedure between 1988 and 1991. The inferior alveolar neuro-vascular bundles remained intact during the sagittal osteotomy in all cases. We examined the changes in the shape of the foramen mandibulae over a period of 6 months during which the transient mental nerve paraesthesia was recovered, and studied the distance from the foramen mandibulae to the spina mentalis (F-S distance) as measured on 3-D film. The postoperative 3-D CT scan showed bone resorption in front of the foramen mandibulae, and the F-S distance was shortened by an average of 2.94 mm. These findings suggest that possible causes of the paraesthesia is due to compression of the nerve trunk resulting from posterior movement of the mandibular ramus.

Adolescent↗

Role of proprioceptors in the mylohyoid muscle.

Afferent discharges of the mylohyoid muscle branch during respiration were studied electrophysiologically in the rat. Afferent discharges from the mylohyoid muscle branch of the mylohyoid nerve were found to be synchronized with respiration. Stretching of the mylohyoid muscle elicited afferent discharges of the mylohyoid muscle branch, suggesting that lengthening of the mylohyoid muscle caused electrical activity in the proprioceptors. When the central cut end of the mylohyoid muscle branch was stimulated electrically, reflex discharges were recorded from the EMG lead at the sternohyoid muscle where it is innervated by the cervical nerve. The latency between the electrical stimulation and the action potential in the sternohyoid muscle was 3-4 ms. Therefore, the mylohyoid muscle branch may transmit information to the sternohyoid muscle regarding the stretching actions of the mylohyoid muscle resulting from movements of the hyoid bone.

Afferent Pathways↗

Early evaluation of necrotizing fasciitis with use of CT.

Gas bubbles are one of the important signs in the clinical diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, and radiographs are mandatory. An instance where gas bubbles not found on the plain radiographs were clearly shown by CT, which is a useful method for close monitoring and decompression of gas bubbles situated deeply in the spaces of the maxillo-facial and neck regions.

Adult↗

Responsiveness of single afferents in the infraorbital nerve to oral air pressures generated by consonants.

The responsiveness of receptors supplying the oral mucosa to air pressures generated during consonant production was investigated to obtain information about hypothetical mechanisms underlying speech deficits. The delay between the onset of the neural discharge and the pop puff of phonation (mouth-exist pressure) for /pa/ production was significantly shorter and less variable than it was for /ta/ and /ka/ production, suggesting that the discharge is more closely coupled to the onset of /pa/ production. The data were interpreted to imply that single fibers of the infraorbital nerve respond to the build-up of oral air pressure during /pa/ production. This, and similar sensory information, may be used by the central neural mechanisms which monitor and control the air pressures required for phonation.

Adult↗

Masticatory function in a patient with mandibular midline cleft.

Bone grafting of a midline cleft is required to allow reasonable masticatory function. However, changes in the rhythm of mastication have not been investigated before and after such bone grafting procedures. We performed bone grafting in a patient with multiple craniofacial anomalies including a midline mandibular cleft. The patient showed a marked improvement in the rhythm of mastication after repair of the midline mandibular defect. Bone grafting proved to be an effective method for securing stable occlusion with better mandibular movement.

Bone Transplantation↗

Tactile-evoked response of sensory fibers in buccal and submandibular regions of the rat.

Evoked neural responses to tactile stimulation were recorded electrophysiologically from the mechanoreceptive afferent fibers innervating the buccal and submandibular regions of Wistar rats anesthetized with sodium thiopental. Miniature probes 200 microns in diameter were used, and data analysis was performed on the mechanosensitivity of responses to tactile stimulation in the areas innervated by the mental, mylohyoid, auriculotemporal, and cervical nerves. Mechano-sensitivity of each area showed a characteristic distribution of slowly adapting (SA), rapidly adapting (RA), C-fiber (CF), and hair follicle (HF) units in individual receptive fields. The density of the SA units was high in the areas innervated by the mylohyoid and auriculotemporal nerves. The CF units were concentrated in the small dome in the area of the mylohyoid nerve and the auriculotemporal nerve, as shown by a significant response to the dynamic features of stimulation. Estimation of the current needed for tactile acuity suggests an important role of the SA fibers in the areas innervated by the auriculotemporal, mylohyoid, and cervical nerves.

Afferent Pathways↗

New strategies for oligonucleotide synthesis by use of 2-trimethylsilylethyl and 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl as the phosphate and 2'-hydroxyl protecting groups, respectively.

The 2-Trimethylsilylethyl (TSE) group was found to be useful as a protecting group for the internucleotidic phosphate in DNA synthesis. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides were synthesized in good yields by using phosphoramidite building blocks having the TSE group. In RNA synthesis, 2-trimethylsilylethoxymethyl (SEM) group was introduced as a new protecting group for the 2'-hydroxyl. Selective protection of this function with SEM-Cl was achieved in good yield by use of 3',5'-O-bis(tert-butyl)silanediyl ribonucleoside derivatives.

Hydroxylation↗

Airflow receptors in the lip and buccal mucosa.

Airflow receptor afferents in the oral mucosa responding to changes in intraoral air pressure during blowing were found to be innervated by the infraorbital nerve. They provided one response corresponding to the onset of blowing, a second related to an increase in air pressure, a third corresponding to the cessation of blowing, and a fourth that exhibited little change throughout sustained blowing. Intraoral air pressure in the cavity between the lips and the velopharyngeal portal may be monitored by these receptors, and the data they provide may contribute to the control of phonation.

Adult↗

Properties of the lingual and LVP branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

We investigated the effects of various stimuli on the afferent and efferent branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve in the rat soft palate. One of the sensory components, the lingual branch, responded to tactile stimulation, while the LVP branch responded to stretching of the levator veli palatini muscle. We also obtained physiological and morphological evidence of the existence of muscle spindles in the levator veli palatini muscle and showed that tactile stimulation of the contralateral soft palate and stretching of the contralateral LVP modulated discharges from the motor component of the ipsilateral levator veli palatini muscle. Our results suggest that these receptor units with both sensory and motor efferents may be the main determinants of modulation of respiratory movements in the upper airway by the IXth nerve.

Afferent Pathways↗

Muscle spindles in the mylohyoid muscle of rats.

The mylohyoid muscle has several functions in relation to respiration, deglutition, and phonation, but these functions are not fully understood. The interaction of the mylohyoid nerve and muscle in 25 rats was studied by neurophysiologic and histologic methods. Stretching of the muscle elicited electrical responses from the branch of the mylohyoid nerve innervating the mylohyoid muscle, and stretch-sensitive receptors were demonstrated histologically in the mylohyoid muscle. This study indicates that the mylohyoid muscle plays an active role in functions such as swallowing, breathing, and phonation.

Animals↗

Dihydrofolate reductase as a new "affinity handle".

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been demonstrated to be a versatile "affinity handle" for expression of recombinant proteins. The DHFR "handle" has advantages not only in terms of efficiency of expressing the fusion protein as a soluble form but also in stabilizing unstable polypeptides and facilitating purification of the expressed protein by means of methotrexate-bound affinity chromatography and by making use of the enzyme activity. Fifteen genes encoding different lengths of polypeptides of 5 to 44 amino acids were chemically synthesized and introduced into expression vectors, pTP70-1 or its derivatives. All the polypeptide genes were efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli cells as fusion proteins which show DHFR activity. The respective fusion proteins were highly purified from cell-free extracts by monitoring the DHFR activity at each purification step. The use of methotrexate-bound affinity chromatography was very effective. In order to cut out the polypeptides, the purified fusion proteins were treated with either BrCN or site-specific protease according to the spacer sequence. The objective polypeptide was purified by means of a reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Specific cleavage of the purified fusion protein actually yielded very few peptide fragments, so the assignment and isolation of the objective polypeptide were carried out without difficulty.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Muscle spindle distribution in the levator veli palatini muscle in the rat.

We previously reported that the levator veli palatini muscle (LVP) in the rat is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. The LVP positioned between the mouth and nasopharynx, has important roles in respiration, swallowing, and speech. Muscle spindles, structures scattered through skeletal muscles, appear to function like miniature strain gauges, sensing the degree of tension in the muscle. Muscle spindles were demonstrated in the rat's LVP in our neurophysiologic and histologic studies. We think the stretch of LVP modulates the rapid movements of the LVP by the proprioceptive component of the muscle spindle. Our results infer it is important to protect the innervation and the muscle spindles of the LVP from damage during any surgical dissection of the soft palate musculature.

Animals↗