Shosuke Morita

15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2, a ligand for peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ, induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells

Background/Aims: 15‐deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2 (15‐d‐PGJ2) induces apoptosis in several carcinoma cell lines and is a potent activator of peroxisome proliferators‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ). In the present study, we examined the effect of 15‐d‐PGJ2 on human hepatoma cells.

Evaluation of mandibular condylar movement exercise for patients with internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint on initial presentation.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate mandibular condylar movement in a group of Japanese women who presented with closed lock of the temporomandibular joint. A total of 148 women aged between 19 and 75 years were included in the study. We examined mouth-opening, protrusion, and lateral excursive movements, and divided the patients into two groups (74 experimental cases and 74 controls). The experimental group was treated with exercises of the mandibular condyle, and the median (range) maximum mouth-opening increased from 27 (range 11-34)mm to 38 (24-47)mm. In control cases, it increased from 29 (range 20-35)mm to 30 (20-39)mm without exercise. In the experimental group, the median (range) maximum lateral movement on the opposite (unaffected) side increased from 8 (3-12)mm to 9 (5-13)mm. In the control group it remained similar at 7 (3-12)mm and 7 (3-12)mm. In the experimental group, the median (range) lateral movement on the affected side increased from 6 (2-13)mm to 8 (3-13)mm. In controls it remained similar at 6 (2-12)mm and 6 (2-12)mm. In the experimental group, the median (range) maximum protrusion increased from 6 (3-12)mm to 7 (4-12)mm, and in the control group from 6 (2-10)mm to 7 (2-10)mm. There was a significant difference between the experimental (50/74, 68%) and control groups (3/74, 4%) in the degree of increased mouth-opening. Exercise of the first mandibular condylar seems to be useful in the treatment of closed lock on initial treatment.

Therapeutic effect of photodynamic therapy using PAD-S31 and diode laser on human liver cancer cells.

Abstract:  Background/aims: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective local cancer treatment which a photosensitizer is administered and the tumor is irradiated with light. We examined the effect of PDT using PAD‐S31 as the photosensitizer, and the 670 nm diode laser on human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

A trial of alveolar cleft bone regeneration by controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein: an experimental study in rabbits

OBJECTIVE Autologous bone grafting is a currently preferred method for alveolar cleft bone regeneration. However, there are some disadvantages to this technique, including the limited availability of donor sites. In this study, we introduce a novel graft material of gelatin hydrogel enabling the controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) for alveolar cleft bone regeneration. STUDY DESIGN Gelatin hydrogels incorporating BMP-2 or BMP-2-free solution and BMP-2 solution were applied to experimental alveolar clefts prepared in the maxillary bone of rabbits. As an additional control, the alveolar clefts were left untreated. Bone regeneration at the alveolar clefts was evaluated by microfocus computerized tomographic, histologic, and histomorphometric examinations. RESULTS Significant bone regeneration was observed in the alveolar clefts treated with gelatin hydrogels incorporating BMP-2 compared with other groups. CONCLUSION Gelatin hydrogels incorporating BMP-2 is a promising material for the bone regeneration of alveolar clefts.

Simple Manipulation Therapy for Temporomandibular joint Internal Derangement with Closed Lock

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of immediate simple mandibular manipulation therapy at initial presentation of patients with chronic temporomandibular joint closed lock. Patients and Methods: 305 consecutive patients (76 men and 229 women; age range, 18 to 74 years) were selected based on a clinical diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction, otherwise known as closed lock. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 204 study patients who received immediate jaw manipulation and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy and 101 controls who received drug therapy only. Treatment success was determined by set criteria for closed lock that included achievement of 36 mm mouth opening and 6 mm lateral excursion. Results: For patients undergoing manipulation in the 18 to 19 years age range, the success rate for treatment given on the day of diagnosis was 100.0%. In the 20 to 49 years age range, the success rate for manipulation was 87.5%, and in the 50 to 59 years age range, the success rate was 78.2%.Treatment given within 1 to 2 days of the onset of closed lock symptoms resulted in 100.0% success and was more than 90.0% if treatment was initiated within 3 weeks of the onset of symptoms. Treatment by manipulation was unsuccessful if given 2 months or more after the onset of symptoms. Conclusions: Simple jaw manipulation for the treatment of closed lock can be useful if applied early after the onset of symptoms, especially for younger patients. Lower success rates correlated with increasing age, and the likelihood of treatment success tended to decrease when the interval between the onset of symptoms and initial treatment increased.

Clinical study of tongue pain: Serum zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and copper concentrations, and systemic disease

The aim of this retrospective study of patients with tongue pain who showed no improvement after initial treatment and examination was to find out if their lack of response correlated with serum concentrations of zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, and copper, and if it was associated with coexisting systemic diseases. We studied 311 patients for whom we had data about serum concentrations of these elements, and recorded whether they had any systemic diseases and were taking medicines regularly. One patient (0.3%) had a copper concentration outside the reference range; 2 patients (0.6%) had folic acid concentrations outside the reference range. The corresponding number for vitamin B12 was 5 (2%), and for zinc 30 (10%). The systemic diseases with the highest rates were: hyperlipidaemia (n=53, 17%), gastritis or gastric ulcer (n=51, 16%), angina pectoris (n=39, 13%), diabetes mellitus (n=31, 10%), thyroid disease (n=31, 10%), mild mental disorder (n=27, 9%), hypertension (n=18, 6%), cerebral infarction (n=17, 6%), leiomyoma (n=15, 5%) and anaemia (n=15, 5%). Roughly 10% of the patients were deficient in zinc. This study suggested that the serum concentration of zinc was most important to the patients with tongue pain. Many patients had more than one systemic condition, and all were taking various drugs.

A novel hydroxyapatite ceramic bone substitute transformed by ostrich cancellous bone: characterization and evaluations of bone regeneration activity.

Various biomaterials have been used for bone repair and reconstruction of bone defects. Inorganic xenogenic bone substitutes have been intensively studied because they possesses favorable regenerative properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties of a novel inorganic xenogenic bone substitute, sintered ostrich cancellous bone (SOCB). Bone regeneration capability was also comparing to that of other bone substitutes in rabbit calvarial defects. Biochemical and biomechanical properties of the SOCB ceramic closely resembled those of human bone. Bone regeneration was evaluated by radiograph, histology, and histomorphometry. Bone regeneration was significantly enhanced in defects treated with SOCB when compared with other bone substitutes. The biochemical and biomechanical properties of SOCB are favorable for bone regeneration. SOCB might be a promising biomaterial for the repair of bone defects.

Identification of the Genes Involved in the Biofilm-like Structures on Actinomyces oris K20, a Clinical Isolate from an Apical Lesion

INTRODUCTION Although the production of biofilm is thought to be crucial in the pathogenesis of abscess formations caused by oral resident microorganisms, the particular mechanisms are still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify gene(s) responsible for maintaining the cell surface-associated meshwork-like structures, which are found in some biofilm-producing bacteria, in a clinical isolate of Actinomyces oris K20. METHODS Random insertional mutagenesis by using transposon EZ-Tn5 was performed against the strain K20. Transposon insertion mutants were screened by scanning electron microscopy for the absence of cell surface-associated meshwork-like structures. The disrupted genes by the transposon insertion were determined by direct genome sequencing with the transposon-end primers. RESULTS Five mutants without the meshwork-like structures were identified from 175 mutants. Sequencing of flanking regions of transposon insertion revealed that 3 mutants had a gene encoded polysaccharide deacetylase, Spo0J containing ParB-like nuclease domain, and hypothetical protein, respectively. The other 2 mutants had an insertion in a noncoding region and an unidentified region, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that these genes might be involved in the formation of meshwork-like structures on Actinomyces oris K20.

Differential expression of the epithelial mesenchymal transition factors Snail, Slug, Twist, TGF-β, and E-cadherin in ameloblastoma

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), the transition of epithelial cells into motile mesenchymal cells, plays an important role in embryogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis. Ameloblastomas are common epithelial odontogenic tumors, occurring exclusively in the mandible with locally invasive growth. Thirty-seven ameloblastoma cases were evaluated for the involvement of EMT by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting using antibodies against Slug, Snail, Twist, TGF-β, and E-cadherin. Double immunostaining was also performed. Slug and TGF-β were expressed in the nuclei of peripheral and stellate reticulum cells of ameloblastoma nests. Twenty cases of Snail, 36 of Slug, 8 of Twist, and 19 of TGF-β showed strong expression in tumor cells in follicular and plexiform patterns. Expression of Slug and TGF-β increased in regions where the expression of E-cadherin was reduced. EMT was found to be associated with the local invasive growth of ameloblastoma. These data suggest that reduced expression of E-cadherin and over-expression of Slug, Snail, and TGF-β induce EMT. Given that ameloblastomas are characterized by local invasiveness, EMT might be related to their development. Thus, strong expression of Slug and TGF-β and reduced expression of E-cadherin might be related to the local invasiveness of ameloblastoma.

Porous Alpha-Tricalcium Phosphate with Immobilized Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Enhances Bone Regeneration in a Canine Mandibular Bone Defect Model

The effect of porous alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) with immobilized basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on bone regeneration was evaluated in a canine mandibular bone defect model. Identical bone defects were made in the canine mandible; six defects in each animal were filled with porous α-TCP with bFGF bound via heparin (bFGF group), whereas the other was filled with unmodified porous α-TCP (control group). Micro-computed tomography and histological evaluation were performed two, four and eight weeks after implantation. The bone mineral density of the bFGF group was higher than that of the control group at each time point (p < 0.05), and the bone mineral content of the bFGF group was higher than that of the control group at four and eight weeks (p < 0.05). Histological evaluation two weeks after implantation revealed that the porous α-TCP had degraded and bone had formed on the surface of α-TCP particles in the bFGF group. At eight weeks, continuous cortical bone with a Haversian structure covered the top of bone defects in the bFGF group. These findings demonstrate that porous α-TCP with immobilized bFGF can promote bone regeneration.