大学案内｜ABOUT MDU

　Matsumoto Dental University (MDU) announced a new educational policy for the academic year of 2006. MDU will enhance the education it gives to freshmen (who will all live in a university dormitory) in the introduction of dental science, by providing study assistance and support for university life, and by raising their basic academic ability.

　MDU also announced plans to construct a new university hospital, equipped with the latest facilities worthy of a hospital where graduates undergo clinical training.

　A research paper ｂｙ Mariko Shimizu, a third-year student, titled "Immunohistochemical examination of developing the mandibular angle in fetal mice" was published in the Journal of Hard Tissue Biology, volume 14, no. 3. Ms Shimizu has been conducting research under Prof. Toshiyuki Kawakami of the institute since she was in the first year. Prof. Hidehiro Ozawa, the director of MDU, commented "It is wonderful that Ms Shimizu's paper was published in the journal, and I hope she continues her research at the institute."

　Mr. Yasuo Tanaka, MDU's guest lecturer, presented his final public lecture for this academic year on Tuesday January 31st. During the year, Mr. Tanaka delivered seven public lectures on the requirements of medical and dental services and how dentists should live. In the final lecture, he said that the base of dental service, which is a "mutual affection industry", is to make patients happy and to find happiness in what you do.

　MDU held its general entrance examinations (1st examinations) at MDU and at two other sites in Tokyo and Osaka on Thursday February 2nd. Competing for the 43 places offered through the first general entrance examinations (out of 113 places on offer for the Dental Course of the Dental Department) were 139 candidates. For about 10 places on offer, 31 candidates took individual examinations based on the results of center examinations on Monday February 13th. On the same day, 8 candidates sat examinations for admission from other schools. The second general entrance examinations were held on Tuesday February 28th with 63 examinees competing for 25 places. MDU will hold its final general entrance examinations on Wednesday March 22.

　The 6th meeting of the Dental Treatment Technology Research Association took place in classroom 601 in the main building on Tuesday February 14th. The meeting was attended by about 40 people, including MDU lecturers and people from companies in Nagano Prefecture. There were presentations of available technology and of the research and development required, aiming at developing innovative equipment and systems for dental treatment in collaboration with local companies.

　MDU hospital organized lifesaving training, including emergency resuscitation using an AED, on Saturday January 28th. Shiojiri fire station staff trained 83 MDU staff in cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an AED and a doll.

　Mr. Xu Qiang, a guest researcher from the Cooperative Research Team of Pediatric Dentistry, in Shanghai, China, with which MDU Institute for Oral Science has an academic exchange agreement, returned to China in December. He spent six months at the institute researching fluoride ion induction of enamel on deciduous teeth under Prof. Hiro Miyazawa (Division of Oral Health Promotion) and Prof. Noriyuki Sahara (Division of Hard Tissue Research) of the MDU Institute for Oral Science. The results of his research will be presented at academic society meetings in Japan and Australia.

　Mr. Masanori Komatsu, the MDU administration section manager, was presented with the Chubu Region Industry Bureau of the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry's Chubu Region Rational Electricity Consumption Committee Chairperson's Award as a manager with meritorious achievements in conserving energy (electricity) for 2005. The committee praised Mr. Komatsu's management of the solar generation system in the MDU Institute for Oral Science's High-Tech Center, and his measures to conserve energy in the 30th Anniversary Building. The award presentation ceremony was held in Nagoya on Friday February 10th.