The purpose of this study was to examine the biofi lm removing and antimicrobial effects of microbubbled tap water and other functional water. The biofi lm removal test showed that the activity of microbubbled tap water against the biofi lm of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans was signifi cantly higher than that of ordinary tap water (p<0.01). When the antimicrobial activities of two types of functional water were compared, the activity of electrolyzed hypochlorite water was signifi cantly stronger than that of the ozonated water (p<0.01). The antimicrobial effect of the electrolyzed hypochlorite water was increased in the microbubbled form, and was stronger than microbubbled tap water. The same results were obtained not only for biofi lms, but also for planktonic microbes. Our results demonstrated that the microbubbled water showed strong biofi lm removing effects. Moreover, the application of functional water, such as electrolyzed hypochlorite microbubbled water was effective for both removing and sterilizing biofi lms.

Orthodontic appliances often cause oral diseases such as dental caries and gingivitis due to the attachment of an oral biofilm. However, there are few reliable methods to remove the biofilm from the orthodontic appliances. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of microbubbled water on the removal of biofilms made with Streptococcus mutans or Candida albicans on orthodontic appliances. The orthodontic appliances with biofilm were immersed with microbubbled water and the remaining biofilm on the appliances was detected and measured using a micro-plate reader and an absorbance meter. The microbubbled water had a sufficient effect on the removal of biofilm from orthodontic appliances. The effects of microbubbled water were significantly higher than those of tap water (S. mutans: p<0.05, C. albicans: p<0.01). The results of this study suggest that microbubbled water is effective in the removal of biofilm from the mouth of orthodontic patients.

No abstract

The 3'-ends of the beta-tubulin cDNA were amplified from tobacco BY2 polyA+ RNA. According to the differences in the predicted amino acid sequence at the extreme C-terminal, they were grouped into three different isotypes, NTB1 in which "EEGDYYEEDEEDLNEA", NTB2 in which "EEEYYEDEEEA QED" and NTB3 in which "DECEYEEEEEYDHEGN" follows the conservative "YQQYQDATAD" sequence. Using unique 3'-untranslated regions as probes, changes in the RNA levels of each beta-tubulin isotype were determined by dot-blot hybridization. The levels exhibited characteristic rhythms in the cell cycle. NTB1 RNA was highest in S phase in comparison to NTB2 RNA level which was highest in late G2. On the other hand, NTB3 RNA level was highest in early G2.

The aim of this study was to determine anatomical locations of the hinge axis point, kinematic axis point and reference point for the palpated lateral condylar pole on lateral cephalograms. Subjects comprised 18 Japanese women selected according to following criteria: normal occlusion; and absence of signs and symptoms of stomatognathic function. Jaw movement and the condylar reference points noted earlier were recorded three-dimensionally with six degrees of freedom, and kinematic axis point and hinge axis point were determined using an optoelectronic jaw-tracking system. Lateral cephalograms were used to determine anatomical locations of the three points in the condyle. Mean location of hinge axis point was 12.9 mm anterior of the porion and 5.3 mm inferior to the Frankfort horizontal plane, the kinematic axis point was situated in 12.8 mm anterior and 0.1 mm inferior, and the reference point for the palpated lateral condylar pole was situated 10.7 mm anterior and 0.8 mm inferior, respectively. The kinematic axis point was located outside the condyle in the majority of subjects. The reference point for the palpated lateral pole offers a useful indicator in the analysis of condylar movements.