The Bulletin of Tokyo Medical and Dental University最新文献

The aim of this study was to investigate the development of root surface caries in hamsters fed a high-sucrose diet over a 24-week period after inoculations of two types of cariogenic bacteria. Twenty-one day old male golden hamsters (n = 103) were divided into 5 groups. Four groups were given diet 2000, and one group was given a stock diet CE-2, Of the groups given diet 2000, three groups were infected with Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987 and Streptococcus mutans NTCC 10449 separately (AV and SM groups) or in combination (AVSM group), and one group remained uninfected. A grid method was used to evaluate the plaque accumulation, alveolar bone loss, and root surface caries. After 12 weeks, root surface caries developed mainly on the first mandibular molars in the three infected groups. At 24 weeks, the prevalence of root surface caries was highest in the AV group, but root caries scores were not significantly different among the three infected groups. In the groups SM and AVSM, the molar crowns were extensively destroyed by caries, while in the AV group the crowns were almost intact. It was concluded that challenge with Actinomyces viscosus may be appropriate to study root surface caries in hamsters.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of topical applications of various fluoride compounds on the development of root surface caries in hamsters. Male golden hamsters (n = 115) were divided into 7 groups and were given a caries-promoting diet. Six groups were infected with Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 15987; and to 5 infected groups, distilled water (DW) and solutions containing 500 ppmF of acidulated-phosphate fluoride (APF), stannous fluoride (SnF2), copper fluoride (CuF2), and titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) were applied topically to the first mandibular molars once daily, 7 days a week, over a 24-week period. A grid method was used to asses the periodontal changes and root surface caries on the first molars. Plaque accumulation was reduced most by SnF2; and alveolar bone loss was more reduced by SnF2 and CuF2. Root surface caries was significantly prevented in all fluoride groups when compared to an infected control group; and TiF4 was the most effective fluoride compound followed by SnF2, CuF2, and APF. Root caries scores of the TiF4 and SnF2 groups were significantly lower than those of the DW group. It was concluded that all fluoride tested may prevent the development of root surface caries in hamsters.

To characterize adenomatous hyperplasia (AH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to establish their histopathological differences, morphometrical and immunohistochemical analyses, namely, cellularity, thickness of cell cord, and Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI) were done on surgically obtained hepatic lesions from patients with positive serum antibody against HCV. The hepatic lesions analyzed include chronic active hepatitis (CAH) (11 specimens), regenerative nodules of liver cirrhosis (LC) (29), AH (11), small HCC Edmondson's Grade I (GI) (19), GII (26), GIII (14). The results showed that AH has relatively high cellularity, and significantly greater thickness of cell cord than LC; whereas, HCC GI has significantly higher cellularity and Ki-67 LI than AH. From the data of these markers, and from the absence of conspicuous structural atypism, AH is considered to be in a different category from HCC GI. The premalignant potential of AH is supported only by its high incidence of coexistence adjacent to HCC GI or GII(6/11). Most lesions of HCC seem to develop from the liver tissue having a background of CAH or LC without passing through AH. Focal fatty changes are frequently observed within lesions of both AH and HCC GI (5/11, 8/19). When non-fatty regions of AH and HCC GI are compared, with respect to their markers, particularly Ki-67 LI, as well as the structural atypism, such as microacinus formation and pseudoglandular structure, and invasive growth into the surrounding liver parenchyma, HCC GI can be diagnosed as an early or well-differentiated malignant lesion.

The isoenzymic properties of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) were investigated and compared with those in other cells, such as human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and human periodontal ligament cells (PDLs), and with those of three species of periodontopathic bacteria: Porphyromonas gingivalis 381 (P. gingivalis), Prevotella intermedia ATCC25611 (P. intermedia), and Capnocytophaga sputigena ATCC33123 (C. sputigena). The biochemical properties of the isoenzymes were analyzed by the following methods: enzyme assays, inhibition pattern using three chemical inhibitors, 4 to 20% gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, thermostability, immunological specificity, and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) treatment. The inhibition experiment showed that ALP of the PMNs and PDLs possessed almost the same enzymatic properties of tissue-nonspecific ALP (bone/liver/kidney; TNSALP), and the ALP of the three species of periodontopathic bacteria possessed specific properties that were different from those of TNSALP, intestinal, or placental ALP. The ALP of the GCF was only slightly susceptible to levamisole (1 mM), L-phenylalanine (20 mM), and SDS (1%). An electrophoresis thermostability test demonstrated that the enzyme activity of the GCF was separated into one or two bands. The main heat-labile slow band contained the phosphatidylinositol (PI)-moiety-anchored ALP and possessed immunological specificity against anti-bone type ALP. The minor fast band was heat stable and showed mobility similar to that in P. gingivalis. These results indicated that the ALP of the GCF consisted of several ALP isoenzyme types whose possible origins are considered to be derived from phosphatidylinositol (PI) anchored ALP and periodontopathic bacterial ALP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Early events in the infection of human B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were examined by measuring calcium ion concentration from fluorescence with fura-2. Intracellular Ca ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) of B lymphocytes increased in response to EBV application. Three types of [Ca2+]i-increase were observed: (1) an early transient [Ca2+]i-increase; and (3) a slow [Ca2+]i-increase without the early transient [Ca2+]i-increase. The early transient increase was observed in the zero Ca2+ condition, but it was suppressed when cells were pretreated with ryanodine before exposure to the virus. The slow sustained [Ca2+]i increase was not observed in Ca(2+)-free extracellular conditions. These results suggest that the early transient [Ca2+]i increase is mediated by Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca storage sites, and the slow sustained [Ca2+]i increase is mediated by the Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane. Virus receptors on the surface of B lymphocytes were stained with a fluorescence marker, rhodamine, and the capping process after EBV application was observed under a confocal microscope. The capping process and the localization of virus receptors were observed after EBV application. The time course of the capping process seems similar to that of the slow, sustained [Ca2+]i increase.

Intracellular recordings were made from bullfrog sympathetic ganglion cells to elucidate effects of 2-n-butyl-1-(4-methylpiperazinyl)-5,6-methylenedioxyindene.2 HCl (TN-871) on synaptic transmission. TN-871 at 30 nM augmented cholinergic nicotinic fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fast EPSPs), whereas the drug at 3 microM reversibly depressed them, without affecting acetylcholine-induced depolarizations. TN-871 did not affect active and passive electrical properties of the ganglion cells. The quantal analysis method was applied to the fast EPSPs in a 0.54 mM Ca2+/7.56 mM Mg2+ Ringer's solution. The mean quantal content was significantly increased by TN-871 at 30 nM but significantly decreased at 3 microM. TN-871 at 300 nM either increased or decreased the mean quantal content. The mean quantal size of the fast EPSPs was not changed by TN-871 at the concentrations examined. Fast EPSPs in a 0.99 mM Ca2+/4.86 mM Mg2+ Ringer's solution were not affected by nicardipine, but were inhibited in amplitude by omega-conotoxin in a concentration-dependent manner. It is likely that TN-871, in high concentrations, might block omega-conotoxin-sensitive N-type calcium channels in the presynaptic terminals. These results indicate that TN-871 modulates transmitter release from preganglionic nerve terminals without changing the postsynaptic sensitivity of the ganglion cells to ACh.

Monoclonal antibodies against alkaline phosphatase [ALP; ortho-phosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, alkaline optimum, EC 3.1.3.1.] of cultured human osteoblast-like cells (HBC) were raised in mice. Immuno-reactions of tissue-nonspecific type ALP from human bone, dental pulp, liver and kidney as well as intestinal and placental types to the monoclonal antibodies were compared by a dot immunoassay and ELISA. One clone was able to recognize antigenic differences among tissue-nonspecific type ALPs in addition to intestinal and placental ALPs; it reacted favorably with ALPs from HBC, human bone, kidney and dental pulp, but not with human liver enzyme. Similarly, the antibody immunoreacted with bone-derived ALP but not with liver-derived enzyme present in human serum. The present monoclonal antibody preparation can be utilized in basic studies as well as in clinical laboratory tests to distinguish minor heterogeneity among human ALPs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of voluntary exercise on osteoinductive activity in rat bone. Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were allowed to exercise freely by running on a treadmill or kept as controls without exercise for 53 days. Decalcified humeral diaphyses from experimental and control rats were implanted intraperitoneally into host rats and harvested after 33 days. A significant increase in bone formation was confirmed in the implanted bone matrices from the running group in comparison with those from control animals by soft X-ray photography and determination of alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral content. Alkaline phosphatase activity in bone and serum was increased by exercise in both male and female animals. The results suggest that osteoinductive activity in the bone was probably due to increased levels of bone morphogenetic protein following voluntary exercise.