Abstract: Provided is a sustained release sheet that includes a drug for treating nerve injury, wherein the sheet is applied to a nerve injury site, can maintain a high concentration of the drug over a long period, and promotes nerve regeneration without stimulating the nerves, even when the sheet is implanted in the periphery of the nerve injury site. Also provided is a production method for the sheet. This sustained drug release sheet for treating nerve injury is a sheet comprising a non-woven fabric that is formed from nanofibers each containing a drug such as vitamin B12 and a biocompatible polymer such as a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, and is implanted in the periphery of the nerve injury site to promote nerve regeneration.

Abstract: A Schwann cell differentiation promoting agent, a peripheral nerve regeneration promoting agent, or the like contain an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus. The extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus promotes differentiation of Schwann cells and regeneration of a peripheral nerve. Therefore, a preparation containing the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus is useful as a Schwann cell differentiation promoting agent, a peripheral nerve regeneration promoting agent, or the like.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a test method using a novel administration method of an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus or a preparation containing the extract. It has been demonstrated that by sustainedly administering an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus or a preparation containing the extract by using a continuous administration device according to the present invention, a comparable effect is exerted at a very low dose compared with conventional administration methods such as oral administration. Therefore, the present invention can provide a test method using animals requiring less burden on a researcher, a treatment of patient at a low dose, and the like.

Abstract: To provide an artificial bone having a porous structure with an improved affinity to osteogenic cells, an artificial bone (1) includes: a base material (2) containing porous ceramics provided with mutually interconnected multiple pores (6); a carbonaceous thin film (10) formed on an outer surface of the base material and wall surfaces (7) of the pores; and functional groups (13) including amino groups (12) provided on a surface and in an interior of the carbonaceous thin film.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic coupler capable of achieving both low elastic modulus and high deformability required for ultrasound imaging. The acoustic coupler is disposed between a probe for transmitting ultrasound waves and a subject, the acoustic coupler comprising a hydrogel including a copolymer that contains water. The copolymer comprises a monofunctional monomer having one ethylenically unsaturated group and a polyfunctional monomer having two to six ethylenically unsaturated groups. The molar ratio of the monofunctional monomer to the polyfunctional monomer is more than 90 and less than or equal to 3500.

Abstract: A sustained release sheet that includes a drug for treating nerve injury, wherein the sheet is applied to a nerve injury site, can maintain a high concentration of the drug over a long period, and promotes nerve regeneration without stimulating the nerves, even when the sheet is implanted in the periphery of the nerve injury site. Also provided is a production method for the sheet. This sustained drug release sheet for treating nerve injury is a sheet including a non-woven fabric that is formed from nanofibers each containing a drug such as vitamin B12 and a biocompatible polymer such as a biodegradable aliphatic polyester, and is implanted in the periphery of the nerve injury site to promote nerve regeneration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging device according to the present invention includes: a container provided with an opening for inserting a target region of a subject; and a transmission/reception unit that transmits ultrasound to the target region inserted into the container filled with a liquid and receives the ultrasound that penetrates the target region or is reflected from the target region. The container has a pressure reducing unit that holds the target region in the container by reducing a pressure in the container of which the opening is covered with the target region. According to the present invention, since it is possible to maintain a shape close to a predetermined shape when the target region of a breast or the like is inserted into a container filled with the liquid, it is possible to measure the target region with high accuracy by transmitting and receiving ultrasound.

Abstract: A learning model provided in a segmentation device is a learning model which is generated using training data such that segmentation data of a biologically important region is output when data of a constituent maxillofacial region is input.

Abstract: A learning model provided in a segmentation device is a learning model which is generated using training data such that segmentation data of a feature region is output when at least one of projection data and reconfiguration data acquired by an imaging device or data derived from the at least one of projection data and reconfiguration data is input.

Abstract: The present invention aims to obtain and provide one or more types of information desired by an operator with a high efficiency. From a probe that transmits an ultrasonic wave to a subject and receives the ultrasonic wave coming from the subject due to the transmission, a reception signal is received and the reception signal is processed. Accordingly, a movement vector indicating a movement amount and a movement direction is calculated and a movement vector distribution is determined for a plurality of points set at least two-dimensionally in the subject. A distribution of one or more desired movement vector components is extracted from the movement vector distribution.

Abstract: A method of treating a central nervous system disease, the method including administering an agent including a therapeutically effective amount of vitamin B12 to a patient with a central nervous system disease to treat the central nervous system disease. This disclosure also relates to a method of promoting M2 macrophage/microglia induction, inhibiting M1 macrophage/microglia induction, and/or reducing the ratio of M1 macrophage/microglia to M2 macrophage/microglia in a patient in need thereof, the method including administering an agent including a therapeutically effective amount of vitamin B12 to the patient to promote M2 macrophage/microglia induction, inhibit M1 macrophage/microglia induction, and/or reduce the ratio of M1 macrophage/microglia to M2 macrophage/microglia. This disclosure also relates to a pharmaceutical product including vitamin B12.

Abstract: To provide an acoustic coupler capable of achieving both acoustic characteristics and mechanical characteristics required for ultrasonic imaging. The invention provides a hydrogel preparation method in which a plurality of kinds of polymerizations are performed under reduced pressure, and a gel for an acoustic coupler obtained by the preparation method. For example, a gel for an acoustic coupler includes polyacrylamide having a matrix structure and alginic acid, and the alginic acid is retained in a matrix of the matrix structure of the polyacrylamide.

Abstract: A first position setting unit receives an operation to designate a position in a mesiodistal on a panoramic tomographic image displayed on a display, and sets a first position on a curved section based on the designation operation. The fluoroscopic imaging information providing unit provides information irradiating a subject with an X-ray beam along a direction having a component of a tangential direction at the first position of the curved section to execute fluoroscopic imaging acquiring a fluoroscopic image to a main body. A second position setting unit receives an operation to designate a position in a buccolingual direction on the fluoroscopic image displayed on the display, and sets a second position in the buccolingual direction based on the designation operation.

Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus receives mode selection using a mode selection receiving unit including a mode setting unit and an operation display. When a CT mode is selected by the mode selection receiving unit, an X-ray beam shape adjuster shapes an X-ray beam into an X-ray cone beam in which a center beam that is a center of the X-ray beam is orthogonally incident on a body axis of a head. When a panoramic mode is selected, the X-ray beam shape adjuster shapes the X-ray beam into an X-ray narrow beam in which the center beam is incident on the body axis from obliquely below to obliquely above, the X-ray narrow beam having a length in a direction of the body axis.

Abstract: A dental observation device by which, without displaying, in an overlapping manner, a visible light image of an image-capturing site in an oral cavity captured by a 3-D camera and 3-D image information on the image-capturing site in the oral cavity acquired in advance, an invisible portion in the visible light image is easily recognized. An observation system includes a visible light 3-D camera; a relative position calculator; a 3-D information storage storing 3-D image information acquired in advance; an image display displaying, side by side, a 2-D captured image captured by the visible light 3-D camera and 2-D converted image based on the 3-D image information corresponding to the surgical operation target site; and a display direction adjuster displaying, in the image display, the 2-D converted image in a predetermined direction on the basis of the image-capturing direction detected by the relative position calculator.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for evaluating properties of a membranous tissue or a surface of the tissue in a biological body by ultrasonic waves. A method of the invention includes setting one or more measurement points on a surface of the biological tissue to be inspected; measuring, in a state in which an elastic wave propagates to the biological tissue, at least a surface wave of the elastic wave by measuring a displacement of the biological tissue at the measurement point by using an ultrasonic wave; and calculating an index value indicating physical properties of the biological tissue by using the measured displacement.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided herein for providing treatment plan in which a position of a heat source and a treatment order are optimized. An example treatment support apparatus includes a processor and a storage device connected to the processor. The storage device hold image information of tissue in a living body of a treatment target. The processor may extract a blood vessel structure of the inside of the living body from the image information, calculate positions of one or more heat sources for thermal treatment on a treatment scheduled region including at least a part of the extracted blood vessel structure on the basis of the extracted blood vessel structure, and output data for displaying an image including the calculated positions of the one or more heat sources.

Abstract: An improved method of treating an osteochondral defect is provided, which is a composite tissue for treating or preventing a disease, disorder, or condition associated with an osteochondral defect, comprising a three-dimensional synthetic tissue and an artificial bone, wherein the three-dimensional synthetic tissue is substantially made of a cell and an extracellular matrix derived from the cell, the extracellular matrix contains fibronectin, collagen I, collagen III, and vitronectin, and the extracellular matrix is diffusedly distributed in the tissue.

Abstract: A Schwann cell differentiation promoting agent, a peripheral nerve regeneration promoting agent, or the like contain an extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus. The extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus promotes differentiation of Schwann cells and regeneration of a peripheral nerve. Therefore, a preparation containing the extract from inflamed tissues inoculated with vaccinia virus is useful as a Schwann cell differentiation promoting agent, a peripheral nerve regeneration promoting agent, or the like.

Abstract: An X-ray photography apparatus including: a turning arm that supports an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector which are opposed to each other so that the head of a patient can be interposed therebetween, and a moving mechanism that includes a turning part and a moving part. The turning part turns the turning arm about a turning axis with respect to the head. The moving part moves the turning arm relative to the head in a direction perpendicular to the turning axis. The X-ray photography apparatus also includes: an image processor that generates an X-ray image, a photographic region designation part that designates part of a row of teeth along a dental arch as a pseudo intraoral radiography region, and an X-ray forming mechanism that changes the irradiation direction in which the head is irradiated with an X-ray relative to the axial direction of the body axis of the patient.