Masao Kujirai | PubMed Health

PubMed2004

Classification system for toothbrushing habits.

AIM: For orthodontic patients, optimal oral prophylaxis is essential. In this article, a classification system for toothbrushing habits, according to three criteria that can indicate the direction of guidance for primary school children, is discussed. METHODS: Toothbrushing habits of children are evaluated according to three criteria (frequency of toothbrushing, attitude toward voluntary toothbrushing, and thoroughness of toothbrushing). Computer-generated classification graphs, performance tables, and component tables were obtained based on the responses to 26 questions. RESULTS: The children can be classified into different types, according to the three criteria, on the graphs. Performance tables indicate the items that require guidance, while component tables indicate the priority of the items that require guidance. CONCLUSION: The quantitative assessment of toothbrushing habits for children is possible, using this new classification system.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2002

Inhibitory effect of diazepam on muscarinic receptor-stimulated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in rat parotid acinar cells.

1. This study examined the effect of diazepam (DZP) on phosphoinositide turnover, which plays an important role in the regulation of salivary secretion, in rat parotid acinar cells. 2. DZP (10(-9) M to 10(-5) M), a potent agonist of both central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, dose-dependently decreased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate IP3 production stimulated by carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist, in the cells. 3. DZP produced a maximum inhibitory response at a concentration of 10(-5) M, with IP3 production decreased to 63% of maximal levels. The concentration inducing half maximal inhibition of IP3 production was approximately 3.5 x 10 (-8) M. 4. An inhibitory response to DZP was produced by a short-term pretreatment (<3 min) of the cells and prevented by antagonist and competing ligand for the central- and peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors, flumazenil and PK 11195, respectively. 5. DZP showed a non-competitive inhibition of carbachol-stimulated IP3 production. It did not directly inhibit the activities of GTP-binding regulatory proteins and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C (PLC) in the parotid gland membranes, though choline chloride inhibited PLC activity. 6. DZP (10(-5) M) attenuated the increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in the cells following stimulation of the muscarinic and alpha(1)-adrenoceptors. 7. These results suggest that in the parotid acinar cells, DZP inhibits muscarinic receptor-stimulated IP3 production through benzodiazepine receptors and that PLC activity which produces IP3 is inhibited by chloride. The decreases in IP3 and [Ca(2+)](i) in the cells may be connected with the suppression of salivary secretion induced by DZP.

Animals↗