Tsurumi University (鶴見大学, Tsurumi Daigaku) is a private university in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.Tsurumi University traces its origin to Tsurumi Girls' High School, which was established in 1925. In 1953, Tsurumi Girls' Junior College was established, and it was chartered as Tsurumi Girls' University in 1963. In 1973, the name was changed to Tsurumi University, when boys were admitted. It continues as a co-ed university.Tsurumi University comprises the School of Dental Medicine (six-year program), the School of Literature (four-year program), and Tsurumi Junior College (two-year program for the Department of Early Childhood Care and Education and three-year program for the Department of Dental Hygiene). Graduate programs are available in both the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Literature.The Tsurumi University School of Literature has four departments: Japanese Literature, English and American Language and Literature, Cultural Properties, and Library, Archival and Information Studies.At Tsurumi University, there are 498 faculty members for a student population of 3099 (2014 data).Some major facilities of Tsurumi University are the Tsurumi University Dental Hospital, the Tsurumi University Library, the Institute of Buddhist Culture, and the Tsurumi University Center for International Exchange.The official mascot characters of Tsurumi University are Tsurumin and Tsurutan. The university is well-known in Japan for having a strong baseball program.Tsurumi University is between the cities of Kawasaki and Yokohama, close to Tokyo. Access is by the JR Keihin-Tohoku, Tsurumi and Keikyu lines, as well as the Yokohama Municipal Bus System. Students come from all over Kanagawa Prefecture and the Greater Tokyo Area, as well as from other regions of Japan.
To cultivate future professionals capable of interdisciplinary collaboration in medicine and engineering, we have developed an educational framework named CISTEM (clinical information, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine). This initiative aims to enhance students' awareness and motivation for research and development by promoting voluntary engagement with design thinking essential for medical device and system innovation. Central to this framework is the novelty of a hands-on educational module featuring a custom-designed electromyography (EMG) interface. Developed from biomedical, welfare, and clinical engineering perspectives, this module facilitates production-based learning using robotic platforms. Through these practical experiences, students explore and gain intuitive understanding of key concepts such as biofeedback, the extension of self-embodiment, and functional individualization. The CISTEM framework provides a structured educational pathway for learners ranging from high school students to university students, as well as graduate students and working professionals. This paper outlines the design principles of the EMG module, illustrates its educational applications through case studies, and discusses the effectiveness of this systematic, interdisciplinary approach to fostering medical-engineering collaboration, supported by quantitative survey results from participants.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved clinical outcomes in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, many patients eventually develop resistance to systemic therapy, highlighting the need for novel strategies that can restore or sustain antitumor immunity. Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (PIT) has emerged as a tumor-selective locoregional treatment that not only induces targeted tumor cell death but also promotes antitumor immune activation through immunogenic cell death. This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding PIT for recurrent oral cancer and explores the immunological rationale for sequential ICI-PIT-ICI therapy (ICI-PIT-ICI sequence). Within this framework, PIT-induced tumor antigen release and inflammatory activation may reinitiate elements of the cancer-immunity cycle, whereas continued PD-1 blockade may help sustain newly activated tumor-reactive T-cell responses. To illustrate this concept, we present two cases of recurrent oral cancer treated with the ICI-PIT-ICI sequence. Both patients achieved durable clinical and radiological complete responses following PIT and subsequent nivolumab continuation. Longitudinal analyses of peripheral immune surrogate markers demonstrated a biphasic temporal pattern characterized by transient increases in inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index, followed by recovery trends in absolute lymphocyte count and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio during continued PD-1 blockade. These observations support the biological plausibility of PIT as an immune-modulating intervention with potential immune-reprogramming effects. Although hypothesis-generating, the ICI-PIT-ICI sequence may represent a promising strategy integrating locoregional tumor destruction with systemic immune modulation in recurrent oral cancer. Further prospective studies incorporating peripheral and tissue-based immune profiling are warranted.
Osseointegration of bone apatite with dental implants requires the formation of a rigid and stable interface between these materials. However, the interfacial structures of Ti implants remain poorly understood, particularly in relation to the TiO2 polymorph at the implant surface. The roles of these interfaces in macroscopic bone-Ti bonding therefore remain unclear. Herein, we examined the interfaces between bone-like hydroxyapatite (HAP) and two substrates, namely, commercial Ti with a brookite surface, and an anatase thin film on single-crystal Si. During cell culturing, 5-13-nm-thick amorphous layers formed on both surfaces, which were found to be rich in C and O and deficient in N. This observation contrasts with previously reported 20-50-nmthick protein-based layers. Although these amorphous layers formed regardless of the TiO2 polymorph, the layer on anatase was thinner and had a higher C/O at% ratio than that on brookite. Under electron-beam irradiation, HAP instantly delaminated from both amorphous layers, revealing extremely weak bonding. This contradicts the prevailing notion that the amorphous layer aids bone-Ti bonding. The adhered layer of cells and HAP peeled off the Ti substrate easily, as confirmed by macroscopic peel strength tests, which was ascribed to the weak HAP-amorphous layer bonding. By contrast, a ceria-stabilized zirconia substrate with no amorphous layer had a markedly higher macroscopic peel strength. Surface treatments of Ti implants that prevent amorphous layer formation would improve the bonding strength to HAP, resulting in better clinical performance.
Objectives Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) contribute to acid-base regulation during enamel mineralization; however, their regulation and roles in enamel maturation are unclear. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling may contribute to acid-base regulatory mechanisms during enamel formation, but its relationship with CA isoforms has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, TGF-β-regulated CA isozymes and the role of CA12 in enamel formation were investigated. Methods CA isozyme expression in TGF-β-treated dental epithelial cells (mHAT9d) was analyzed using RNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and CA12 localization was examined by immunohistochemistry. Enamel morphology, volume, thickness, mineral composition, and density in Car12-knockout mice were evaluated by micro-computed tomography, electron probe microanalysis, and histomorphometry. Results Among the CA family genes, Car12 was most markedly induced by TGF-β1 and TGF-β3. CA12 was localized to the distal region of maturation-stage ameloblasts, but it was not detected in secretory-stage ameloblasts. There was no significant reduction in enamel volume on days 5 or 11 in Car12−/− mice; however, there were surface irregularities, enamel defects, and reduced enamel volume and thickness by day 70. There were reduced Ca/P ratios and highly mineralized enamel regions in Car12+/− and Car12−/− mice, with more pronounced changes in Car12−/− mice. Conclusions TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 induce Car12 expression, and CA12 is specifically localized to maturation-stage ameloblasts. CA12 may contribute to optimal enamel mineralization and long-term structural stability during enamel maturation. It may be involved in local acid-base homeostasis because of its known biochemical function and stage-specific localization, but it has not been directly demonstrated in ameloblasts.
Aim: To develop clear, evidence-based, and standardized guidelines for the design, selection, and clinical use of implant abutments and prosthetic components in order to optimize the biological, mechanical, and esthetic performance of the implant supracrestal complex. Methods: A panel of 10 expert clinicians and researchers in prosthodontics participated in the Osstem Global Consensus Meeting. For the present consensus meeting, a scoping review was performed in advance and discussed among the participants. A comprehensive search of the literature was performed up to June 2025. Two reviewers (M.T. and F.G.) independently conducted screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The evidence was synthesized and discussed by the panel of expert clinicians during the consensus meeting. After that, guidelines were developed using a 14-question questionnaire to formulate consensus-based clinical recommendations. The participants answered structured questions and discussed discrepancies to achieve a consensus. Results: The panel of expert clinicians reached a consensus on several prosthetic key points. Concave abutment profiles and emergence angles <30° promoted peri-implant tissue stability, while convex designs and wider angles increased risks of bone loss and peri-implantitis. Titanium remains the reference abutment material in posterior sites, while zirconia provides superior esthetics anteriorly, and hybrid abutments balance strength and esthetics. Conclusions: Prosthetic design and abutment material selection critically affect peri-implant tissue stability and esthetic outcomes. The evidence supports screw-retained designs, platform switching, and the “one abutment–one time” approach for predictable long-term success.
