Micro-CT analysis of alveolar bone healing using a rat experimental model of critical-size defects.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to establish a rat model of a critical size alveolar bone defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardized buccal or mesiobuccal alveolar bone defects were made around the right first mandibular molar of 12-week-old rats, and the left was used as a control. Alveolar bone healing was examined quantitatively by three-dimensional micro-computed tomographic imaging. Bone matrix production of osteoblasts and osteocytes during repair of alveolar bone defects was examined with in situ hybridization for type I collagen. RESULTS: Buccal defects were repaired significantly and the volume decreased by 88.3% in week 24, whereas mesiobuccal defects were repaired little. Osteoblasts and osteocytes expressed type I collagen in both defects in week 3 but showed little expression by week 6 and thereafter, leaving the mesiobuccal defects largely unrepaired. CONCLUSION: The mesiobuccal defect is a critical-size defect that is not ultimately repaired with bone. It may be an appropriate experimental model for investigating the effectiveness of bone regenerative agents in human alveolar bone loss.

[The detection of Helicobacter pylori by PCR in gastric diseases].

There are several methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection, but all of them have both advantage and disadvantage. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of PCR as a routine screening method for H.pylori infection. We used PCR by identification of bacterial specific 16SrRNA gene. This test was performed on gastric biopsy specimens and gastric aspirate and stomatic mucus from 23 patients in gastric disease, and compared the sensitivity with other methods such as urease and culture test. We could detect H.pylori above 10(3)/ml of bacterial volume by PCR and H.pylori were positive in 96% of all gastric biopsy specimens. PCR was most sensitive and specific method for detecting H.pylori. Thus, PCR was considered to have a possibility of becoming an accurate routine screening method of H.pylori infection.

[Evaluation of hyperlipidemia in high school student--Part 1].

Recently the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) is increasing in young generations. Thus, we evaluated the degree of hyperlipidemia in the students of high school in Miyagi prefecture. At first, we examined the plasma level of total cholesterol in all students as screening. About 10% of all the students showed high level of total cholesterol over 200mg/dl. For second screening, we examined further indexes for hyperlipidemia including lipids, glucose and blood pressure at fasting state and got information about family history, diet and exercise. There was positive correlation between total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), but no relation was found among others. Lipoprotein (a) which was an independent factor of IHD showed a broad distribution as described before, and had no relation with other lipid levels. Early education and a familial consultation for protecting from IHD should be followed after the screening of lipids levels.

A theoretical and experimental study on meridional-facial isomerization of tris(quinolin-8-olate)aluminum (Alq3).

The rationale behind the stereospecific synthesis of a facial isomer of tris(quinolin-8-olate)aluminum (Alq3) is studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which predict the favourable influence of an H3O(+) ion on the distribution ratio between a meridional and a thermodynamically unstable facial isomer.

[The effect of cisapride on gastric emptying time and release of gastrointestinal hormones].

Cisapride is a novel gastrointestinal prokinetic drug. The aim of the present study was to investigate gastric emptying time and secretion of gastrointestinal hormones (Gastrin, Motilin, Glucagon) after single oral intake of 5 mg or 10 mg cisapride. The healthy men aged 23-55 years participated the study. The gastric emptying time and gastrointestinal hormones were measured by gamma-camera radioisotopic technique and radioimmunoassay, respectively. The half time of emptying phase was reduced from 31.78 min to 29.88 min, and emptying rate increased in 10 mg cisapride group. There was a tendency that cisapride accelerated a stimulation of Motilin secretion.

Plasma paracetamol concentrations measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay and gastric emptying time.

Radionuclide labeled gastric emptying was compared with plasma paracetamol (acetaminophen) concentration measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. A significant correlation was found between both gastric emptying half-time of radionuclide (t1/2) and % isotope remained in the region of the stomach and paracetamol absorption kinetic parameters. The strongest correlation was found between t1/2 and the time required to reach the peak plasma level of paracetamol (r = 0.680, p less than 0.01). This study indicates that simple paracetamol marker method has enabled an indirect quantitative measurement of gastric emptying by sampling at varying time intervals.

Correlation between gastric emptying time and the response of pancreatic polypeptide to test meals in peptic ulcer diseases.

In the present study, pancreatic polypeptide (PP) levels both in basal state and after stimulation by meal were determined in 21 controls, 28 patients with gastric ulcer and 21 patients with duodenal ulcer and their correlation with gastric emptying was examined. In patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers, basal levels as well as stimulated of plasma PP during 95 min of observation period were higher than those in controls except for the values at 5 min. As no correlation was seen between integrated PP response (IPPR) to the meal and T1/2 for gastric emptying in any of three groups, it was indicated that gastric emptying has only a minor role in postprandial PP response.

Primary structures of hemagglutinin-esterase and spike glycoproteins of murine coronavirus DVIM.

Diarrhea virus of infant mice (DVIM) is a member of murine hepatitis viruses (MHVs). The nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) and the spike (S) glycoproteins from DVIM were determined and compared with those of other MHVs. The deduced amino acid sequence of the HE protein was most similar to that of MHV-S strain (94% identity), and the S protein sequence was most similar to that of MHV-Y strain (90% identity). The DVIM HE protein has a unique N-linked glycosylation site in addition to other glycosylation sites common to many MHV strains. Unlike in some typical MHV strain, such as MHV-A59 and MHV-JHM, the vast majority of the S glycoprotein molecules in DVIM exist an uncleaved form probably due to several amino acid substitutions around the cleavage site.