Elsevier Science BVActa Medica Okayama0165-027020312012Mechanomyographic activity in the human lateral pterygoid muscle during mandibular movement157162ENShigehisaKawakamiNaokiKodamaNaotoMaedaShunichiSakamotoKazuhiroOkiYoshinobuYanagiJun-IchiAsaumiTerutaMaedaShogoMinagiThe activity of the lateral pterygoid muscle has been regarded to be related to the pathological condition of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the craniomandibular disorders. Because the lateral pterygoid muscle is a deep muscle, a needle electrode is necessary for EMG recordings. The purpose of this study was to establish a non-invasive method for the evaluation of muscle activity of the lateral pterygoid muscle using mechanomyogram (MMG). In three male subjects, surface electromyogram (EMG) in the left masseter muscle, left anterior and posterior belly of the temporal muscle, left anterior belly of the digastric muscle and needle EMG of the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid were recorded during mandibular movement tasks simultaneously with the MMG derived from a condenser microphone in the external ear canal. There were significant positive correlations between the needle EMG signal of the lateral pterygoid muscle and the MMG signal for the tasks of static jaw opened position of 30 mm of interincisal distance (p = 0.000, R(2)=0.725), static jaw opened position of 40 mm of interincisal distance (p = 0.000, R(2) = 0.753), 5 mm protruded mandibular position (p = 0.000, R(2) = 0.653), the most protruded mandibular position (p = 0.000, R(2) = 0803). On the contrary, for the task of maximal clenching, there was no significant correlation between the EMG signal of the lateral pterygoid muscle and the MMG signal. These results suggest that the activity of the lateral pterygoid muscle could be evaluated by the MMG signals recorded in the external ear canal, unless jaw closing major muscles show active contraction.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.Okayama University Medical SchoolActa Medica Okayama0386-300X7032016Structure of a New Palatal Plate and the Artificial Tongue for Articulation Disorder in a Patient with Subtotal Glossectomy205211ENKen-ichiKozakiDepartment of Dental Pharmacology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesShigehisaKawakamiDepartment of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesTakayukiKonishiDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Okayama University HospitalKeijiOhtaDental Laboratory Division, Okayama University HospitalJitsuroYanoDepartment of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesTomooOnodaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesHiroshiMatsumotoDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesNobuyoshiMizukawaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University HospitalYoshihiroKimataDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesKazunoriNishizakiDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesSeijiIidaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesAkioGofukuGraduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityMasanobuAbeDepartment of Computer Science, Okayama UniversityShogoMinagiDepartment of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayama Dream Speech ProjectCase Report10.18926/AMO/54420A palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP) is used to facilitate improvement in the speech and swallowing functions of patients with tongue resection or tongue movement disorders. However, a PAPʼs effect is limited in cases where articulation disorder is severe due to wide glossectomy and/or segmental mandibulectomy. In this paper, we describe speech outcomes of a patient with an articulation disorder following glossectomy and segmental mandibulectomy. We used a palatal plate (PP) based on a PAP, along with an artificial tongue (KAT). Speech improvement was evaluated by a standardized speech intelligibility test consisting of 100 syllables. The speech intelligibility score was significantly higher when the patient wore both the PP and KAT than when he wore neither (p0.013). The conversational intelligibility score was significantly improved with the PP and KAT than without PP and KAT (p0.024). These results suggest that speech function can be improved in patients with hard tissue defects with segmental mandibulectomy using both a PP and a KAT. The nature of the design of the PP and that of the KAT will allow these prostheses to address a wide range of tissue defects.No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.