The chewing-related neuronal mechanism underlying stress relief, was evaluated by use of fMRI. For this purpose we examined the effect of chewing a moderately hard gum without any taste (X type, Lotte Co. LTd., Tokyo) on brain activation caused by a noisy sound stress, on plasma levels of catecholamines and ACTH. The stress significantly increased the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals in the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex, and elevated plasma levels of noradrenaline, dopamine and ACTH. However, this chewing suppressed not only the stress-induced increase in BOLD signals in these two regions, but also the stress-induced elevation in plasma levels of these catecholamines and ACTH. The results suggested that chewing might be a useful therapy for reducing stress.
Stress ; Mastication ; Adrenocorticotropic hormone measurement ; Plasma ; Stress bismuth subsalicylate

A case of inguinoscrotal bladder hernia in a 68-year-old man is reported. He was referred from the Department of Internal Medicine to our department because of the presence of occult blood in the urine. On abdominal examination, a goose-egg-sized inguinal hernia was noted extending into the scrotum. Cystography, CT and MRI demonstrated hernia of the bladder into the right side of the scrotum. Although a radical cure operation had been planned, ileocecum excision was enforced, as the symptoms of appendicitis were developed. Postoperatively, the right side of the inguinal swelling disappeared, and the repeated cystgraphy showed the bladder to be in the normal position with a normal contour.
Hernia ; Bladder ; Appendicitis ; Procedures on bladder ; GENERAL OPERATIVE PROCEDURES