Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions in the context of geriatric syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To propose the application of the concept of geriatric syndrome for common geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions and to suggest the necessity of developing effective evaluation methods for oral and maxillofacial frailty.

DESIGN

The concepts of frailty and geriatric syndrome based on multi-morbidity and polypharmacy were applied to five common geriatric oral medicinal dysfunctional problems: salivary gland hypofunction (dry mouth), chronic oral mucosal pain disorders (burning mouth symptoms), taste disorders (taste disturbances), swallowing disorders (dysphagia), and oral and maxillofacial movement disorders (oromandibular dyskinesia and dystonia).

RESULTS

Each of the dysfunctions is caused by various kinds of diseases and/or conditions and medications, thus the concept of geriatric syndrome could be applied. These dysfunctions, suggested as components of oral and maxillofacial geriatric syndrome, are associated and interacted with each other in a complexity of vicious cycle. The resulting functional impairments caused by this syndrome can cause oral and maxillofacial frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions could be better appreciated in the context of geriatric syndrome. The development of effective methods for evaluating the severity of these dysfunctions and the resulting frailty is essential.

High-resolution electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing of stretchable metal oxide semiconductor transistors with high performance

As demands for high pixel densities and wearable forms of displays increase, high-resolution printing technologies to achieve high performance transistors beyond current amorphous silicon levels and to allow low-temperature solution processability for plastic substrates have been explored as key processes in emerging flexible electronics. This study describes electrohydrodynamic inkjet (e-jet) technology for direct printing of oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs) with high resolution (minimum line width: 2 μm) and superb performance, including high mobility (∼230 cm² V^-1 s^-1). Logic operations of the amplifier circuits composed of these e-jet-printed metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) TFTs demonstrate their high performance. Printed In₂O TFTs with e-jet printing-assisted high-resolution S/D electrodes were prepared, and the direct printing of passivation layers on these channels enhanced their gate-bias stabilities significantly. Moreover, low process temperatures (<250 °C) enable the use of thin plastic substrates; highly flexible and stretchable TFT arrays have been demonstrated, suggesting promise for next-generation printed electronics.

A superhydrophilic nitinol shape memory alloy with enhanced anti-biofouling and anti-corrosion properties

This work reports on a nitinol (NiTi) surface modification scheme based on a chemical oxidation method, and characterizes its effects on wetting, biofouling and corrosion. The scheme developed is also compared with selected previous oxidation methods. The proposed method turns NiTi into superhydrophilic in ~5 min, and the static contact angle and contact angle hysteresis were measured to be ~7° and ~12°, respectively. In the PRP (platelet rich plasma) test, platelet adhesion was reduced by ~89% and ~77% respectively, compared with the original NiTi and the NiTi treated with the previous chemical oxidation scheme. The method developed provides a high (~1.1 V) breakdown voltage, which surpasses the ASTM standard for intervascular medical devices. It also provides higher superhydrophilicity, hemo-compatibility and anti-corrosion resistance than previous oxidation schemes, with a significantly reduced process time (~5 min), and will help the development of high performance NiTi devices.

Disseminated mucormycosis with myocardial involvement in a renal transplant recipient

We report the case of a renal transplant recipient with pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis whose demise was accelerated by a myocardial abscess. Once pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis was diagnosed, liposomal amphotericin B was started and immunosuppressant treatments were discontinued. The pulmonary cavities regressed during treatment, but new myocardial and peri-allograft abscesses developed. The myocardial abscess diffusely infiltrated the left ventricular wall and was associated with akinesia, which led to sudden cardiac arrest. This case demonstrates a rare manifestation of mucormycosis and highlights the fatality and invasiveness of this infection.

Quasi 3D ECE imaging system for study of MHD instabilities in KSTAR

A second electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system has been installed on the KSTAR tokamak, toroidally separated by 1/16th of the torus from the first ECEI system. For the first time, the dynamical evolutions of MHD instabilities from the plasma core to the edge have been visualized in quasi-3D for a wide range of the KSTAR operation (B0 = 1.7∼3.5 T). This flexible diagnostic capability has been realized by substantial improvements in large-aperture quasi-optical microwave components including the development of broad-band polarization rotators for imaging of the fundamental ordinary ECE as well as the usual 2nd harmonic extraordinary ECE.

Design of the reflective optics for Tore Supra ECEI system

A 2D electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging system for Tore Supra is under design for studying the MHD physics of the magnetically confined plasma such as sawteeth, tearing modes, and turbulent fluctuations. Complex beam path due to the tight access in Tore Supra led to the design of reflective optics made of 6 or more large cylindrical∕flat mirrors. The total path length of the ECE beam is about 11 m, including almost 4 m inside the vacuum vessel. The imaging property of the optics has been estimated using the Gaussian beam simulation and ray transfer analysis. The possible setups for the optical alignment of the diagnostic and the operation scenarios with single- or dual-array measurement system are discussed.

Comparative study between the reflective optics and lens based system for microwave imaging system on KSTAR

Recently, two-dimensional microwave imaging diagnostics such as the electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) have been developed to study magnetohydrodynamics instabilities and turbulence in magnetically confined plasmas. These imaging systems utilize large optics to collect passive emission or reflected radiation. The design of this optics can be classified into two different types: reflective or refractive optical systems. For instance, an ECEI/MIR system on the TEXTOR tokamak [Park et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75, 3787 (2004)] employed the reflective optics which consisted of two large mirrors, while the TEXTOR ECEI upgrade [B. Tobias et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 093502 (2009)] and systems on DIII-D, ASDEX-U, and KSTAR adopted refractive systems. Each system has advantages and disadvantages in the standing wave problem and optical aberrations. In this paper, a comparative study between the two optical systems has been performed in order to design a MIR system for KSTAR.

Patterning to enhance activity of cultured neuronal networks

Embryonic rat hippocampal neurons were cultured in order to gain insights into how small networks of neurons interact. The principal observations are the electrical activities recorded with the electrode arrays, primarily action potentials both spontaneous and evoked. Several lithographic techniques were developed for controlling with micrometer precision the patterns of surface molecules in order to control neuronal attachment and growth. Cytophilic polylysine against protein repellent and hence cytophobic polyethylene glycol were used. By combining the cellular lithography with the microelectrode arrays it was possible to guide neurons preferentially to electrodes and to begin to investigate the question as to whether the geometric pattern of a neuronal network influences the patterns of its neuroelectric activity. It is clear that the techniques are adequate to ensure contact of neurons to electrodes but not to ensure the recording of signals, even when neurons lie directly on top of electrodes. The maturation of neuroelectric activity depends on the growth of glia within the culture, such that spontaneous activity appears to become robust when the number of glia is roughly the same as the number of neurons.

Fabrication of Polypyrrole- Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Excellent Electrical and Optical Properties

Polypyrrole-poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PPy-PVK) core-shell nanoparticles have been fabricated by nanoparticle-seeded dispersion polymerization. The monodisperse PPy nanoseeds are fabricated by micelle templating, and the PVK shell thickness is easily tuned by varying the amount of N-vinylcarbazole monomer. The PPy core and PVK shell produce superior conductivity and fluorescence, respectively.

Microdevices in medicine

The application of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) to medicine is described. Three types of biomedical devices are considered, including diagnostic microsystems, surgical microsystems, and therapeutic microsystems. The opportunities of MEMS miniaturization in these emerging disciplines are considered, with emphasis placed on the importance of the technology in providing a better outcome for the patient and a lower overall health care cost. Several case examples in each of these areas are described. Key aspects of MEMS technology as it is applied to these three areas are described, along with some of the fabrication challenges.

Analysis of Furaneol in tomato using dynamic headspace sampling with sodium sulfate

High-flow dynamic headspace sampling with excess anhydrous sodium sulfate was found to be an effective method of isolating Furaneol from fresh tomatoes. Quantitative analysis was carried out by gas chromatography using maltol as internal standard. Furaneol was found in the highest concentrations (660-1100 ppb) in the summer crop of home-grown tomatoes and in some of the greenhouse hydroponically grown tomatoes, which are ripened on the plant before being transported to the supermarkets. Furaneol was found in the lowest concentrations (38-180 ppb) in the common ethylene-ripened, field-grown, supermarket tomatoes.