Effect of Sparc knockout on the extracellular matrix of mouse periodontal ligament cells.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a critical component in maintaining tooth stability. It is composed of cells and an extracellular matrix (ECM), each with unique roles in tissue function and homeostasis. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), a calcium-binding matricellular glycoprotein, plays a crucial role in regulating ECM assembly and turnover, alongside facilitating cellular-ECM interactions. In the present study, mass spectrometry-based proteomics was used to assess the impacts of Sparc-knockout (KO) on PDL-derived cells. Results demonstrated that Sparc-KO significantly reduces ECM production and alters its composition with increased levels of type I collagen. Despite this increase in Sparc-KO, type I collagen was not likely to be effectively integrated into the fibrils due to collagen cross-linking impairment. Furthermore, the pathway and process enrichment analyses suggested that SPARC plays a protective role against ECM degradation by antagonistically interacting with cell-surface collagen receptors. These findings provide detailed insights into the multifaceted role of SPARC in ECM organization, including its impact on ECM production, collagen regulation, and interactions with various cellular compartments. A better understanding of these complex mechanisms is crucial for comprehending the causes of periodontal disease and tissue regeneration, where precise control of ECM organization is necessary.

Advanced lipid technology.

Phospholipids and cholesterols are being spotlighted as raw materials for preparing liposomes, one of the key compounds for drug delivery systems (DDS), and as base compounds for converting water-soluble drugs to fat-soluble drugs. Other applications of phospholipids also are being explored. Nippon Fine Chemical, aware of the future of such lipids, has developed new processes for synthesizing and purifying phospholipids and is supplying them on an industrial scale. These products - used worldwide - are highly regarded as raw materials for preparing liposomes. In particular, Nippon Fine Chemical's innovative research led to the development of "Presome®", a base agent that facilitates the preparation of liposome solutions. To further this research, Nippon Fine Chemical has established an "Advanced Lipid Technology".

Preoperative Embolization of Meningiomas: Differences in Surgical Operability and Histopathologic Changes Between Embosphere and N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether there is a difference in the difficulty of extirpation after use of Embosphere versus n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for the embolization of meningiomas. METHODS: Study subjects were 20 patients with meningioma who underwent embolization using either NBCA or Embosphere from April 2012 to December 2016. The difficulty of extirpation was compared and assessed in terms of objective indices, such as operative duration, perioperative bleeding, and Simpson grade, and in terms of subjective indices such as "impression on operative field" and "hardness of tumors" that the surgeon assessed using 3-point scales (dry, moderate, bloody, and soft, moderate, hard, respectively). Pathologic findings, including ischemia, necrosis, and inflammatory changes, were assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the mean values of operative duration (P = 0.27), perioperative bleeding (P = 0.23), and Simpson grade (P = 0.39). On the other hand, there was a significant difference with respect to the "impression on operative field" and "hardness of tumors," with reports of dry (54%; P = 0.034) and soft (81%; P = 0.0001), respectively, in the Embosphere group exceeding those of the NBCA group. The pathologic findings showed that although ischemic change (P = 0.43) and necrosis (P = 0.79) were observed in both groups, perivascular inflammation was observed only in the NBCA group (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: No relative merits were found regarding objective indices, whereas the Embosphere group had superior "ease of extirpation" as reported by the surgeon.

Dose estimation by ESR on tooth enamel from two workers exposed to radiation due to the JCO accident.

ESR dosimetry is useful to estimate the external dose for the general population as well as for occupational workers in a nuclear emergency. Three teeth were extracted from two exposed workers (A and B) related to the JCO criticality accident. Tooth enamel was carefully separated from other tooth parts and subjected to ESR dosimetry. Doses equivalent to the gamma-ray dose of 60Co were estimated as follows: for worker A, the buccal and lingual sides of the eighth tooth in the upper right side, 11.8 +/- 3.6 and 12.0 +/- 3.6 Gy, respectively; for worker B, the buccal and lingual sides of the fourth tooth in the upper right side and the fifth tooth in the upper left side, 11.3 +/- 3.4 and 10.8 +/- 3.3 Gy, 11.7 +/- 3.5 and 11.4 +/- 3.4 Gy, respectively. The estimated doses were found to be similar and not dependent on the tooth positions, whether the buccal or lingual sides in each tooth.