ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) by improved methods and assess the characteristics of PDLSC ex vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The periodontal ligament cells were obtained from the healthy impacted third molars and teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes and used to isolate PDLSC by limiting dilution assay. PDLSC were cultured and expanded in alpha-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Colony-forming assay, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, osteogenic and adipogenic induction were used to identify PDLSC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The obtained cells had high colony-forming efficiency and were positive staining for vimentin and negative for pancytokeratin. Flow cytometry revealed that the isolated cells were positive for STRO-1 and CD146 antibodies and most were in the G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. Under specific conditions, they could differentiate to the osteoblast and adipocyte lineages in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Limiting dilution assay is an effective method to isolate PDLSC and the single-cell-derived colonies demonstrate the properties of stem cells in vitro.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Cell Differentiation , Cell Separation , In Vitro Techniques , Osteoblasts , Periodontal Ligament , Stem CellsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influences of bicortical anchorage on values of natural frequencies of dental implants utilizing the 3-dimensional finite element analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the commercial code of Solidworks, 3-D models of a screw-shaped dental implant and a mandibular bone segment were generated. After the 3-D implant-bone complex was meshed by ABAQUS software, effects of bicortical anchorage on the buccolingual and axial first-order natural frequencies of the implant were computed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bicortical anchorage increased both the buccolingual and axial natural frequencies remarkably. As the bicortical anchorage got deeper, the frequencies correspondingly got higher.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bicortical anchorage can increase the buccolingual and axial primary stability of dental implants.</p>