Faculty members from the Nagasaki University School of Dentistry in Nagasaki, Japan, presented a seminar at Baylor College of Dentistry
Feb. 8. It was held as part of the activities promoted in the academic exchange agreement between the university and The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center. "I am happy that the academic exchange agreement is not just a paper agreement without any substance," said Dr. Toru Okabe,
Regents professor and chair of biomaterials science at BCD. "The seminar is evidence that the agreement is more than just words in a document."The program was the second one presented at BCD; the first was held in
March 2001. A group of BCD faculty members reciprocated by presenting a seminar at the Japanese university in July 2001. "We look forward to further activities like these seminars because we see the benefit they bring
to both institutions," Okabe said. "In fact, we're working on a similar agreement between the HSC and Tsurumi University (Yokohama, Japan). We hope to begin similar academic activities with them."
The seminar began after Okabe's opening remarks. Dr. James S. Cole
(BCD '75), BCD dean, welcomed participants. Dr. Mitsuru Atsuta, dean of the Nagasaki dental school, led the Nagasaki delegation; faculty presenters and their topics included:
- Dr. Yoshitaka Hara, professor and chair of periodontics: "Functional Role of Periodontal Tissue";
- Dr. Hideki Kitaura, instructor of orthodontics: "Apoptosis of Bone Marrow Cells in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Mediated Osteoclastogenesis Induced by Interleukin-12";
- Dr. Noriko Nagata, orthodontics graduate student: "Orthodontics Inhibition of RANKLigand Osteoclastogenesis by Interleukin-12";
- Dr. Kumiko Oi, professor and chair of dental anesthesiology: "Preclinical Anesthesiology Program for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery";
- Dr. Yasuhiro Tanaka, research associate in dental materials: "Structural Investigation of Metal-ceramic Interfaces Using Transmission Electron Microscopy";
- Dr. Etsuko Watanabe, instructor of pediatric dentistry: "The Psychosocial Impact of Malocclusion in Nagasaki";
- Dr. Akira Yamaguchi, professor and chair of oral pathology: "Establishment and Characterization of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated from a Spinal Hamartoma";
- Dr. Noriaki Yoshida, professor and chair of orthodontics: "Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Initial Tooth Displacement Under Orthodontic Forces Using a Magnetic Sensing System and its Clinical
Application"; and
- Dr. Atsutoshi Yoshimura, instructor of periodontics: "Lipopolysaccharides from P. Gingivalis and C. Ochracea as Antagonists for Human Toll-like Receptor 4."
Dr. Kenneth S. Kurtz, clinical associate professor at the New York University College of Dentistry in New York was a special guest presenter. He spoke on "Laboratory Composite Veneering of Cast Titanium: A
Research Summary." Kurtz has collaborated on several projects with Okabe and Drs. John Cai and Ikuya Watanabe,
assistant professors of biomaterials science at BCD, as well as other Japanese visiting scientists.
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