Experimental study on the failure factors of the O-ring for long-term working

The O-ring in the rotary dynamic sealing system of gas meters should have outstanding long-term sealing performance under the conditions of high and low temperature,which can ensure the safety of gas meters.In this paper,based on the O-ring sealing mechanism,taking the compression set as the main sealing index,a finite element simulation method is used to analyze the failure charac-teristics under different conditions according to the constitutive relation of nitrile rubber.Then,using the orthogonal test method for the O-ring sealing performance index,the main factors which affect the law of long-term test are analysed,and the orthogonal regression mathematical model that can predict the compression set is obtained.Finally,the O-ring is improved according to the model,and the test results show that the performance of the new O-rings with high and low temperature resistance is greatly improved and meets the expected target requirements.

Lower Back Pain and Forearm Tendinitis Linked to Irritation of Oral Mucosa by Teeth

We present a case of a woman with refractory lower back pain and forearm tendinitis, which improved dramatically after morphological modification of natural teeth. The subject was a 35-year-old Japanese woman, who was suffering from lower back pain when bending forward and she had severe pain from her right thumb to her wrist. These symptoms were not improved by massage and orthopedic treatment. On the other hand, once modifying the morphology of natural teeth, those symptoms improved dramatically. No side effects were observed, and the prognosis was good. Our observation suggested a close relationship between the oral situation and remote musculoskeletal conditions, and further multidisciplinary studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms.

Dental Treatment and Quantum Mechanics

In clinical practice, dentists sometimes encounter phenomena that cannot be explained by common medical concepts;for example, patients’ bodily symptoms immediately improved after adjusting a denture that was not even inside their mouth, by extracting an infected tooth, and by bringing medicine close to the body. Although it seems difficult to completely elucidate the mechanism through modern medicine, it can be explained using quantum mechanics if it is assumed that symptoms appear because of the pathological waves emitted by the afflicted area of the body. The quantum, the smallest unit of matter composition, exhibits wave-particle duality. The fact that symptoms can be improved simply by bringing dentures or medicines closer to the body indicates that the waves emitted by dentures or medicine interfere with the pathological waves. Thus, the pathological waves are deformed and lead to a change in symptoms. In this way, quantum theory can explain phenomena that are difficult to elucidate in conventional medicine, which are encountered in daily clinical practice. Using biological reactions, unsolved problems in quantum mechanics, such as measurement problems, can be solved.

Effect of enpishin (press tack acupuncture needles) on autonomic function, WBC count and oxidative stress

Acupuncture as a vital component of traditional medical systems of the Far East has been used to restore and maintain health for over three millennia. However, the neurobiological correlates of this therapy remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the effect of enpishin acupuncture (press tack needles (PTN)) on autonomic function, WBC count, and oxidative stress between subjects that received either verum or placebo PTN treatment. Twenty men (mean(SD) age: 36.7(5.1) years) who provided oral consent were randomized to receive either verum PTN (n = 9) or placebo PTN (n = 11). Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (BDORT) was used to select the acupoints for each participant. Autonomic function and oxidative stress level were analyzed before and after the treatment via heart rate variability (HRV) and free radical analysis system (FRAS4), respectively. Pre- and post-treatment WBC count was also evaluated. Verum PTN group had a statistically significant increase (p = 0.008) in Ln TP, an index of overall autonomic activity. Subjects in this group also had a significantly greater (p = 0.006) variation in Ln TP than the placebo PTN group in response to the treatment. Similarly, Ln HF of subjects receiving verum PTN showed a marked increase (p = 0.0026) after the treatment. Moreover, a significantly greater (p < 0.001) variation in mean Ln HF before and after the treatment was noted in the verum group than the placebo group, reflecting a greater parasympathetic activation in the former. In contrast, sympathetic activity was not significantly influenced by verum PTN based on the lack of observed changes in LF/HF ratio. In addition, both groups failed to demonstrate significant variations in pre- and post-treatment mean Ln LF/HF ratio. Further, no significant intergroup difference was found with regard to mean variation in Ln LF/HF ratio. Verum PTN did not induce significant changes in WBC count and markers of oxidative stress, namely reactive oxygen species (ROM) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). However, a comparison of variations in pre- and post-treatment mean WBC count showed a significant difference (p = 0.020) between the two treatment modes: verum group showed a slight increase (225 ± 384.5), while placebo group showed a minimal decrease (–190 ± 272.6). Our findings suggest that PTN increases overall autonomic activity, particularly the parasympathetic function.

Dental Treatment with a Gold Alloy Cast Crown for Severe Lumbago

The patient was a 41-year-old woman experiencing severe lumbago for several years. The physician-in-charge referred her for dental treatment because examination did not reveal any specific abnormality in her lower back. Prior to the treatment, the patient could barely bend forward and backward because of serious back pain. Her body flexibility and lower back pain improved when a gold alloy cast crown was placed near her feet. However, when the crown was covered with aluminum foil, it was again very difficult for her to bend her body forward and backward. These results suggested that her body reacted positively because good electromagnetic waves emitted by the crown were absorbed by the body. The alloy used to make the crown was chosen using the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. Moreover, the shape, contact strength, and occlusion (biting condition) of the crown were also determined by the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. After the crown was placed on her upper right first molar, her lumbago completely disappeared and did not recur for >5 years of follow-up. The effectiveness of electromagnetic waves on the condition of the body, as in this case, has not often been acknowledged in modern medicine, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear;therefore, further research is required.

Evaluation of a Mouthguard Customized Using the Occlusal Position during Maximal Grip Strength to Improve Sports Performance. A Case Report

Two customized mouthguards were developed for a 35-year-old male kickboxer. These were identical in thickness (the vertical dimension between the upper and lower jaws), the material, and similar in form (visible outline);however, one mouthguard was designed such that the horizontal jaw position was determined by the maximal grip strength obtained by the subject during the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. Both mouthguards were satisfactory in terms of how they felt during wearing and breathing;however, the subject achieved higher kicking force, punching force, and back muscle strength while using the mouthguard with an optimized horizontal jaw position. These findings suggest that to enhance sports performance, it may be important to determine the optimal biting position. The grip strength obtained during the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test is a useful parameter for this assessment.