Longitudinal study on occlusal force distribution in lower distal-extension removable partial dentures with circumferential clasps

In this study, longitudinal changes of the occlusal force distribution ratio were examined in lower distal extension removable partial dentures with cast circumferential clasps. Occlusal force applied to the denture base and forces transmitted to the retainers were measured on several separate occasions from the insertion of new dentures to about 4 months after. Two rates of loading were chosen. One was simulated mastication (fast loading rate) and the other was 10 Ns-1 (slow loading rate). Location of the loading points were first premolar (P1), second premolar (P2) and first molar (P3) of the denture. The occlusal force distribution ratio to the retainers was calculated when a load of 20N was applied to the loading point. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The occlusal force distribution ratio at fast loading rate on P1 and P2 was changed until 1 or 1 1/2 months after the insertion of the new dentures, and then became constant. This constant value was 30% on P1, 20% on P2 and 10% on P3. (2) Slow loading rate produced a greater ratio than the fast loading rate on P2 and P3 while there were no remarkable differences in the ratio between both loading rates on P1.     

Longitudinal study on torque transmitted from a denture base to abutment tooth of a distal extension removable partial denture with circumferential clasps

Not only forces but also torque exerted on abutment teeth are important factors for planning the construction of distal extension removable partial dentures. The purpose of this study was to make longitudinal analysis of torque transmitted from denture base to a direct abutment tooth of these dentures with circumferential clasps. The results are summarized as follows: (i) Vertical Max. MT (maximal mean value of torque) was decreased and became constant after one or one and half months of the insertion of new dentures. (ii) Lateral Max. MT in one subject was changed from the lingual direction to the buccal direction while in another subject it was constant. (iii) In the vertical direction, there were no remarkable differences of Max. MT and Ave. T (average value of torque) between subjects. Max. MT was 5-10 x 10(-3) kgm-1 in the downward. Ave. T was 2-3 x 10(-3) kgm ss-1 in the downward and 0.3 x 10(-3) kgm ss-1 in the upward. (iv) In the lateral direction, there were considerable differences of Max. MT and Ave. T between subjects. Max. MT was less than 20 x 10(-3) kgm. Ave. MT was 2-8 x 10(-3) kgm ss-1.     

Clinical impact of tamsulosin on generic and symptom-specific quality of life for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients: Using international prostate symptom score and Rand Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Health Survey

AIM: To examine the efficiency of alpha1-blocker treatment on disease-specific and generic quality of life (QOL) in men with clinically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the improvement of QOL scores with International prostate symptom score (I-PSS) and Rand Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) was prospectively analyzed. METHODS: A total of 68 newly diagnosed patients with symptomatic BPH that satisfied all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria were prospectively recruited. All patients received 0.2 mg/day of tamsulosin for 12 weeks. All patients underwent pretreatment documentation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and assessment of symptom-specific QOL. Symptoms and general health-related QOL (HRQOL) were assessed using the I-PSS and SF-36, respectively. Also, other objective variables, such as prostate volume, maximal urinary flow and postvoid residual urine volume, were evaluated. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, decrease in I-PSS was 27% compared with baseline (from 16.4 +/- 7.18 to 11.9 +/- 7.56). All questionnaires in the I-PSS showed improvement after tamsulosin treatment and the I-PSS QOL score was improved from 4.51 +/- 1.14 to 3.17 +/- 1.38 (P < 0.0001) at 12 weeks after tamsulosin administration. In intragroup comparisons of HRQOL scores with age-gender adjusted SF-36 Japanese national norms, three SF-36 subscales (bodily pain, BP; social function, SF; and mental health, MH) were worse in the BPH group aged over 70 years, while younger BPH groups aged <70 had better mean SF-36 physical function (PF) scores compared with age-gender adjusted Japanese national norms. In the BPH group with a prostatic volume > or =20 mL, three mean SF-36 scales (BP, SF and MH) were significantly improved after tamsulosin treatment. It is noteworthy that these SF-36 subscales were identical to those observed to worsen in the older BPH group compared to Japanese national norms. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with tamsulosin for symptomatic BPH patients is associated with significant improvement in the generic HRQOL, in addition to disease-specific QOL and symptoms, at 3 months after drug administration. In particularly, for generic HRQOL with SF-36, tamsulosin treatment can efficiently improve three mean SF-36 subscales (BP, SF and MH) that are decreased in older BPH patients.     

Longitudinal study on occlusal force distribution in lower distal-extension removable partial dentures with conus crown telescopic system

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal changes of the occlusal force distribution in lower distal-extension removable partial dentures with the conus crown telescopic system. Occlusal force applied to the denture and forces transmitted to the retainers were measured on several separate occasions from the insertion of new dentures to about 3 months after. The occlusal force distribution ratio to the retainers was calculated when a load of 20N was applied to the denture.
The results are summarized as follows:

• (i)

    The more posterior the loading point of occlusal force, the smaller was the ratio. When the occlusal force was applied to the most anterior artificial tooth, the ratio was 65-100% of the occlusal force.
• (ii)

    As the denture wearing time proceeded, the ratio was decreased. The smaller the ratio, the greater was the rate of its decrease.

     

A Case of Penetration of the Large Intestinal Wall by a Toothpick

A 66-year-old man was admitted to hospital with symptoms of acute abdomen. Based on colonoscopic findings, localized peritonitis due to penetration of the sigmoid colon by a toothpick was diagnosed. During colonoscopy, the toothpick was removed using a grasping forceps, meaning that surgery was avoided. In cases where abdominal pain of unknown origin is observed, physicians should proceed with routine medical care while considering the possibility of foreign body ingestion, and work toward an early diagnosis.     

Annual changes of the incidence and clinical characteristics of magnesium ammonium phosphate urinary stones

BACKGROUND: Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) urinary stones account for the majority of staghorn stones and frequently cause a non-functioning kidney. In the present study, we examined the annual changes of the number and clinical characteristics of MAP stones. METHODS: The annual incidence of MAP stones was investigated in 2619 patients with urinary stones in whom composition of the stone was analysed at Chiba University Hospital between 1964 and 1999. In addition, the annual number of patients with MAP stones was examined at Funabashi Clinic. In a total of 644 patients with MAP stones, age and sex of the patients, location and size of the MAP stones, urinary cultures and etiological factors were analysed. RESULTS: The number of MAP stones in the lower urinary tract was relatively constant. In contrast, MAP stones in the upper urinary tract had dramatically decreased since 1989, resulting in an increase in the rate of MAP stones in the lower urinary tract. Age distribution of the MAP stone patients ranged from 10 years to > 80 years, with the majority aged 30-60 years. The proportion of larger MAP stones in the upper urinary tract increased. There was no significant difference in prevalence of urine cultures. Among etiological factors for MAP stones, difficulty on urination tended to be common in recent years. CONCLUSION: The number of MAP stones, especially in upper urinary tract, has been decreasing during the last decade. At present, treatment of urinary tract obstruction seems important for the management of MAP stones in lower urinary tract.     

Kidney stone disease and risk factors for coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND: We conducted a case-control study to examine the impact of coronal heart disease (CHD) risk factors on calcium oxalate (CaOX) stone formation. METHODS: Variables included body mass index (BMI), current alcohol use, smoking habit, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperuricemia. Data suf fi cient for analysis were obtained for 181 CaOX stone formers and 187 controls. RESULTS: Seven of 181 stone formers (3.9%) had a history of CHD compared with none of 187 control subjects (P = 0.007). In univariate logistic regression analysis, smoking habit (OR 4.41, 95% CI 2.85-6.84, P < 0.0001), hypertension (OR 4.24, 95% CI 2.61-6.91, P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.77-5.20, P < 0.0001) and BMI (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17, P = 0.007) reached statistical signi fi cance. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, smoking habit (OR 4.29, 95% CI 2.68-6.86, P < 0.0001), hypertension (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.11-6.07, P < 0.0001), and hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.51-5.00, P = 0.001) reached statistical signi fi cance, while BMI (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99-1.12, P = 0.09) did not. CONCLUSIONS: CaOX stone formers are signi fi cantly associated with several CHD risk factors, including smoking habit, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity.