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Iulia Antioch,1 Tsumugu Furuta,2 Ryutaro Uchikawa,3 Masayo Okumura,4 Junichi Otogoto,2 Eiji Kondo,4 Norio Sogawa,5 Alin Ciobica,1 Mihoko Tomida2 1Department of Research, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania; 2Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Oral Medicine, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, Japan; 3Department of Dental Conservation, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, Japan; 4Department of Oral Anatomy, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, Japan; 5Department of Dental Pharmacology, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, JapanCorrespondence: Mihoko TomidaDepartment of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Oral Medicine, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780 Gobara Hirooka, Shiojiri-Shi, Nagano 399-0781, JapanTel +81-263-51-2208Email mihoko.tomida@mdu.ac.jpPurpose: Music therapy is widely used to enhance well-being, reduce pain, and distract patients from unpleasant symptoms in the clinical setting. However, the degree to which music modulates pain perception is unknown. The medial pain pathway including the limbic system is associated with emotion, but how music alters pathway activity is unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate pain thresholds and pain-related responses in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and whether they were modulated when subjects listened to their favorite music genre.Subjects and Methods: First, 30 subjects were examined for left forearm pain threshold using electrical stimulation with Pain Vision PS-2011N. The pain thresholds with and without music were compared. Second, when an 80-μA current from Pain Vision was applied to the left ankle of eight women, the pain-related responses of the ACC with and without music were observed with functional magnetic resonance device (fMRI). The changes in the pain-related activity in both parameters were discussed.Results: The median pain threshold with favorite music was 38.9 μA, compared to 29.0 μA without, which was significantly different (p< 0.0001). The men’s thresholds were significantly higher than women’s both with music (p< 0.05) and without music (p< 0.01). The pain threshold in women was more strongly affected by music than in men. The fMRI results showed that the pain-related response in the ACC in five of eight subjects was attenuated while they listened to their favorite music. No change was observed in the other three subjects.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that pain perception might be strongly affected by listening to favorite music, possibly through modulation of pain-related responses in the ACC.Keywords: pain threshold, music, forearm, anterior cingulate cortex, medial pathway

Hiroshi Eguchi, Tatsuro Miyamoto, Fumika Hotta, Machiko Tomida, Masayuki Inoue, Yoshinori MitamuraDepartment of Ophthalmology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, JapanAbstract: The surgical indication for Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) is largely limited to phakic or pseudophakic cases of endothelial dysfunction with normal pupils, because the endothelial lenticule is generally attached to the recipient cornea by use of gas tamponade into the anterior chamber. Although it may be desirable for vitrectomized cases with aniridia and aphakic bullous keratopathy without capsule support to undergo DSAEK, one of the major problems is lenticule detachment during surgery or in the postoperative period. To perform DSAEK in such cases, special surgical techniques are needed in order to facilitate adhesion of the lenticule. Herein, we describe a suture technique for attaching the endothelial lenticule in DSAEK for aniridic and aphakic cases that have undergone vitrectomy for traumatic vitreoretinal disease.Keywords: traumatic aniridia, aphakic bullous keratopathy, Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, vitrectomy

Machiko Tomida,1 Yoshinori Mitamura,1 Takashi Katome,1 Hiroshi Eguchi,1 Takeshi Naito,1 Takayuki Harada21Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, 2Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, JapanAbstract: We report the case of a patient with an aggressive retinal astrocytoma accompanied with macular edema and neovascular vessels, who was initially treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections. A 24-year-old male presented to our clinic complaining of visual disturbance in his right eye. At 8 years of age, he had been diagnosed as having tuberous sclerosis complex. Fundus examination demonstrated a retinal tumor accompanied with marked neovascular vessels on the surface, retinal hemorrhage, and macular edema. After six monthly intravitreal bevacizumab injections, fundus examination demonstrated marked regression of the macular edema and neovascular vessels. Two months later, a vitreous hemorrhage developed which necessitated pars plana vitrectomy. After additional intravitreal bevacizumab injection for preventing intraoperative bleeding, vitrectomy with endophotocoagulation for the tumor was performed. The vitreous sample was obtained during vitrectomy, and we measured the vascular endothelial growth factor concentration by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The surgically removed epiretinal neovascular membrane and biopsied retinal tumor expressed vascular endothelial growth factor, although several intravitreal bevacizumab injections led to a vitreous vascular endothelial growth factor concentration of undetectable levels. The clinical course and immunohistochemical analyses indicate that intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy may have been insufficient to treat the aggressive retinal astrocytoma with macular edema and that laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy for the tumor should be considered following intravitreal bevacizumab injection in such cases.Keywords: aggressive retinal astrocytoma, bevacizumab, macular edema, tuberous sclerosis, vitrectomy, vitreous hemorrhage

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the subcutaneous tissue reaction to a newly-developed MgO Sealer for root canals. We injected the experimental material and three existing control materials into the dorsal area of 43 male ddY mice. One week and 12 weeks after embedding, the tissue surrounding the embedding sites was removed and histopathological examination was performed. The results demonstrate that the basic histopathological reaction is the formation of fibrous capsules consisting of granulation tissue around the experimental and control embedded materials. Based on our results, we believe that the newly-developed MgO Sealer is as safe as the existing control materials and can be considered for dental use as a root canal sealer.

Abstract Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that enables adjacent cells to adopt different fates. Ghost cells (GCs) are anucleate cells with homogeneous pale eosinophilic cytoplasm and very pale to clear central areas (previous nucleus sites). Although GCs are present in a variety of odontogenic lesions notably the calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (GCOT), their nature and process of formation remains elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Notch signaling in the cell fate specification of GCs in CCOT. Immunohistochemical staining for four Notch receptors (Notch1, Notch2, Notch3 and Notch4) and three ligands (Jagged1, Jagged2 and Delta1) was performed on archival tissues of five CCOT cases. Level of positivity was quantified as negative (0), mild (+), moderate (2+) and strong (3+). Results revealed that GCs demonstrated overexpression for Notch1 and Jagged1 suggesting that Notch1Jagged1 signaling might serve as the main transduction mechanism in cell fate decision for GCs in CCOT. Protein localizations were largely membranous and/or cytoplasmic. Mineralized GCs also stained positive implicating that the calcification process might be associated with upregulation of these molecules. The other Notch receptors and ligands were weak to absent in GCs and tumoral epithelium. Stromal endothelium and fibroblasts were stained variably positive.

Abstract Wegener's granulomatosis is a rare multi-system disease characterized by the classic triad of necrotizing granulomas affecting the upper and lower respiratory tracts, disseminated vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. Oral lesions as a presenting feature are only encountered in 2% of these cases. Hyperplastic gingival lesions or strawberry gingivitis, is a characteristic sign of Wegener's granulomatosis. The latter consists of reddish-purple exophytic gingival swellings with petechial haemorrhages thus resembling strawberries. Recognition of this feature is of utmost importance for timely diagnosis and definitive management of this potentially fatal disease. A case of strawberry gingivitis as the first presenting sign of Wegener's granulomatosis affecting a 50-year-old Malay male is reported here. The differential diagnosis of red lesions that may present in the gingiva is discussed.

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the subcutaneous tissue reaction to a newly developed adhesive silicone denture relining material, SG, (Neo Dental Chemical Products Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan). We embedded the experimental material SG and another existing control material, Roeko Seal (RS), in the dorsal area of 22 male ddY mice. One week and 12 weeks after the embedding, the tissues surrounding the embedded materials were removed and a histopathological examination was performed. The results demonstrate that the basic histopathological aspects are the formation of granulation tissue and the change of the tissue to fibrous capsule over time. The results suggests that the newly-developed SG is safe as compared with the control RS, whose composition is similar.

Abstract Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE) and polytetra-fluoroethylene (FE) are high molecular materials in medical use. They are also used as the negative control materials for ISO 10993-6 international standard biological evaluation of medical devices. We examined tissue reactions to these materials embedded subcutaneously in the dorsal area of male ddY mice. One week and 12 weeks after embedding, the tissue surrounding the embeddingg site was removed and then histopathological examination was performed. Our results demonstrate that the basic histopathological reaction is the formation of fibrous capsule consisting of granulation tissue around the embedded materials. Based on our results, we believe that the high molecular materials such as, PP, PE and FE, can be considered for medical use as a biomaterials within the body.

Abstract Background Squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is a rare benign odontogenic epithelial neoplasm. A slow-growing painless expansive swelling is the common presenting symptom. Histopathologically, SOT can be easily misdiagnosed as an acanthomatous ameloblastoma. Although Notch receptors and ligands have been shown to play a role in cell fate decisions in ameloblastomas, the role of these cell signaling molecules in SOT is unknown. Case report This paper describes a case of SOT affecting the anterior mandible of a 10-year-old Indian female. The patient was treated by local surgical excision and there has been no follow-up clinical record of recurrence 5 years after primary treatment. Histopathological examination revealed a solid, locally-infiltrative neoplasm composed of bland-looking squamatoid islands scattered in a mature fibrous connective tissue stroma and the diagnosis was SOT. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed positive reactivity of varying intensity in the neoplastic epithelial cells for Notch1, Notch3, Notch4, and their ligands Jagged1 and Delta1. Expression patterns showed considerable overlap. No immunoreactivity was detected for Notch2 and Jagged2. Conclusions Present findings suggest that Notch receptors and their ligands play differential roles in the cytodifferentiation of SOT.