EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-CARIES EFFECT OF LESPEDEZA CUNEATA EXTRACT AGAINST STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS.

The purpose of this study was to identify the antimicrobial activity of Lespedeza cuneata extract, a natural medicine, against a main causative bacterium of dental caries, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Lespedeza cuneata purchased from Hwalim Natural Drug Co., Ltd. (Busan, South Korea) was immersed in 70% ethanol for 12 h, and concentrated Lespedeza cuneata extract was applied to S. mutans diluted to 6×105 CFU/mL at the concentrations of 0, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/ml. Then the colony-forming units (CFUs) were checked at 6 and 24 h to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extract. The CFUs and survival rate of S. mutans according to the concentration showed a higher mortality rate as the concentration of Lespedeza cuneata extract increased. In the time-dependent changes, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 1.25 and 40 mg/mL or more, respectively, at 6 h, but they were 1.25 and 5 mg/mL, respectively, at 24 h. Therefore, Lespedeza cuneata extract is considered an excellent natural antibiotic for the prevention and treatment of dental caries, a typical oral disease, because it has excellent dental caries development suppression and bacteria extermination effects.

Prenylflavonoids isolated from Macaranga tanarius stimulate odontoblast differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells and tooth root formation via the mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase B pathways.

AIM: To identify odontogenesis-promoting compounds and examine the molecular mechanism underlying enhanced odontoblast differentiation and tooth formation. METHODOLOGY: Five different nymphaeols, nymphaeol B (NB), isonymphaeol B (INB), nymphaeol A (NA), 3'-geranyl-naringenin (GN) and nymphaeol C (NC) were isolated from the fruit of Macaranga tanarius. The cytotoxic effect of nymphaeols on human DPSCs was observed using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effect of nymphaeols on odontoblast differentiation was analysed with Alizarin Red S staining and odontoblast marker expression was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The molecular mechanism was investigated with Western blot analysis. In order to examine the effect of INB on dentine formation in the developing tooth germ, INB-soaked beads were placed under the tooth bud explants in the collagen gel; thereafter, the tooth bud explant-bead complexes were implanted into the sub-renal capsules for 3 weeks. Tooth root formation was analysed using micro-computed tomography and histological analysis. Data are presented as mean ± standard error (SEM) values of three independent experiments, and results are compared using a two-tailed Student's t-test. The data were considered to have statistical significance when the P-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: Three of the compounds, NB, INB, and GN, did not exert a cytotoxic effect on human DPSCs. However, INB was most effective in promoting the deposition of calcium minerals in vitro (P < 0.001) and induced the expression of odontogenic marker genes (P < 0.05). Moreover, this compound strongly induced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and protein kinase B (AKT) (P < 0.05). The inhibition of p38 MAP, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and AKT substantially suppressed the INB-induced odontoblast differentiation (P < 0.001). In addition, isonymphaeol B significantly induced the formation of dentine and elongation of the tooth root in vivo (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prenylflavonoids, including INB, exerted stimulatory effects on odontoblast differentiation and tooth root and dentine formation via the MAP kinase and AKT signalling pathways. These results suggest that nymphaeols could stimulate the repair processes for dentine defects or injuries.

Tooth bleaching with low-temperature plasma lowers surface roughness and Streptococcus mutans adhesion.

AIM: To evaluate the structural-morphological changes in enamel surface roughness and Streptococcus mutans adhesion after tooth bleaching using plasma in combination with a low concentration of 15% carbamide peroxide (CP). METHODOLOGY: Sixty pairs of premolars were randomly assigned to the treatment groups (n = 30; buccal surface, groups 1A/2A) or controls (n = 30; palatal surface, Groups 1B/2B). Group 1A received a low concentration of 15% CP and low-temperature plasma. Premolars in group 1B were placed in phosphate-buffered saline and served as controls. The buccal surface of Groups 2A was subjected to 15% CP alone, whilst the palatal surface was subsequently immersed in PBS (group 2B). After bleaching, all teeth were soaked for 1 h in artificial saliva at 37 °C. Subsequently, teeth were placed in brain-heart infusion with S. mutans at 37 °C for 24 h. The assessment of the structural-morphological changes was carried out using a biofilm assay, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Statistical analysis of the data was performed with the SPSS (SPSS Inc., Version 18.0, Chicago, IL, USA). The Student's t-test was used to determine whether there was a significant difference in the structural-morphological effects with and without plasma. RESULTS: Significantly less S. mutans adhesion was observed in group 1A compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, the surface roughness was significantly greater in group 2A compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of plasma did not result in any structural-morphological and topographic changes in the enamel. The combined bleaching method using plasma and a low concentration of 15% CP was less destructive, particularly with respect to tooth surface changes.

Uterine rupture during labor in women with twice successful vaginal births after cesarean delivery.

Uterine rupture during labor is a serious complication resulting in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. We present the extremely rare case of a 38-year-old gravid woman admitted with labor pain at term, about to experience a uterine rupture during labor. She had previously twice delivered vaginally, and during her third pregnancy had a low transverse Cesarean section. Prior to arriving at the hospital with labor pains, she had routine prenatal care with normal prenatal laboratory tests. One day the woman reported to having sudden epigastric pain, and 40 minutes after her admission a pelvic exam was completed. The unborn baby had a persistent revealed, and a live neonate was promptly delivered with an Apgar score of 1 at one minute and 5 at five minutes. On the fifth postoperative day the woman and her baby were discharged home with no maternal and neonatal complications.

Feasibility of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma for intracoronal bleaching.

AIM: To investigate the effect of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma on intracoronal tooth bleaching in blood stained human teeth. METHODOLOGY: Forty extracted single-root and blood stained human teeth were used. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups (n=20): group 1 received 30% HP activated by nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma in the pulp chamber for 30 min, whilst group 2 received 30% HP alone in the pulp chamber for 30 min. The overall colour changes (ΔE) were assessed using the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) Lab Colour System. The data were analysed using Student's t-test to determine the significant differences. RESULTS: The temperature of all teeth was maintained at approximately 37 °C during plasma bleaching. The plasma treatment with 30% HP resulted in significantly higher bleaching efficacy compared to 30% HP alone in discoloured teeth (P<0.05). The average ΔE values of group 1 and group 2 were 9.24 (0.37) and 4.47 (1.62), respectively, at 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: The application of nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma to intracoronal bleaching could be a novel and efficient therapy in the bleaching of haemorrhagically stained teeth.

The effect of pneumoperitoneum in the steep Trendelenburg position on cerebral oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: daVinci robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires pneumoperitoneum in the steep Trendelenburg position, which results in increased intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pneumoperitoneum in a 30 degrees Trendelenburg position on cerebral oxygenation using regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2). METHODS: Thirty-two male patients of ASA I and II physical status without previous episodes of cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage undergoing daVinci RALP were enrolled. The rSO2 was continuously monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy (INVOS) 5100) during the study period. Measurements were obtained immediately after anesthesia induction (T0; baseline), 5 min after a 30 degrees Trendelenburg position (T1), 5 min after 15 mmHg pneumoperitoneum in a supine position (T2), 30, 60 and 120 min after the pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position (T3, T4 and T5, respectively) and after desufflation in a supine position (T6). RESULTS: The change in the left and right rSO2 was statistically significant (Left P=0.004 and Right P=0.023). Both the right and the left rSO2 increased significantly during pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position (from T3 to T5) and at T6 compared with the baseline value at T0. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was increased significantly at T2, T3, T5 and T6 compared with the baseline value at T0. CONCLUSIONS: During daVinci RALP, cerebral oxygenation, as assessed by rSO2, increased slightly, which suggests that the procedure did not induce cerebral ischemia. The PaCO2 should be maintained within the normal limit during pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position in patients undergoing daVinci RALP because the rSO2 increased in conjunctions with the increase in PaCO2.

Cubic SiC nano-thin films and nano-wires: high vacuum metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, surface characterization, and application tests.

Single-crystalline and epitaxial cubic silicon carbide (beta-SiC) nano-thin films have been deposited on Si(100) substrates at a sample temperature of approximately 900 degrees C using single source precursors by the thermal metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. Diethylmethylsilane and 1,3-disilabutane, which contain Si and C atoms in the same molecule, were used as precursors without any carrier or bubbler gas. Upon increasing the deposition temperature from 900 to 950 degrees C, beta-SiC nano-thin films with relatively small crystals and smoother surfaces were created on Si(100) substrates. Moreover, beta-SiC nano-wires with 40 approximately 100 nm in diameter have also been grown selectively on nickel catalyzed Si(100) substrates with dichloromethylvinylsilane by the MOCVD method. The deposition temperature in this case was as low as 800 degrees C under the pressure of 5.0 x 10(-2) Torr. It is worth noting that the initial growth rates of deposited beta-SiC nano-thin films and nano-wires strongly depend on the deposition temperature rather than the time. In order to test the possibility of applications of these materials for electronic components such as field emitter, MEMS, and high-power transistor, we fabricated the nanoelectronic devices using both beta-SiC nano-wires and nano-thin films. With these preliminary application tests, it is expected that SiC nanowires can be used as field emitter and nanoelectronic high-power transistor, and application of the SiC nano-thin films to MEMS is promising as well.

A prospective randomized study on the mobilization of CD34+ cells comparing continuous intravenous vs subcutaneous administration of rhG-CSF in normal donors.

The efficacy of mobilizing peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) with continuous intravenous (c.i.v.) administration of rhG-CSF was randomly compared to subcutaneous (s.c.) administration, in 15 normal donors in each arm of the study for 6 days. The percentage and absolute numbers of CD34+ cells in the c.i.v. and s.c. groups increased maximally at day 3 and 5, respectively, when compared with the steady-state (day 0) level. Peak CD34+ cell levels were achieved on day 3 in the c.i.v. group, with more rapid results than in the s.c. group (49.3/microl vs 35.9/microl, P=0.043). Plasma rhG-CSF levels declined progressively during mobilization in each group as the WBC increased. The serum level of rhG-CSF did not correlate with CD34+ cell counts in the peripheral blood. Toxicity profiles in the c.i.v. and s.c. groups were similar. Each regimen was effective in successfully mobilizing the target CD34 cell number.

Bran extracts from pigmented rice seeds inhibit tumor promotion in lymphoblastoid B cells by phorbol ester.

Using flow cytometry, we quantitatively evaluated anti-tumor-promoting activity of rice bran extracts by measuring inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus early-antigen activation (EBV-EA) induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). This assay measures anti-tumor-promoting activity and cytotoxicity of target substances using the same batch of cells. Using this short-term procedure, we have determined the anti-tumor-promoting activity of 70% ethanol-water extracts of bran (outer layer) from seeds of five pigmented rice cultivars: Jumlalocal-1, DZ 78, Elwee, LK1-3-6-12-1-1, and LK1A-2-12-1-1. The results show that, compared to an extract from the non-pigmented white cooking rice variety Chuchung, the extracts from the pigmented varieties strongly inhibited phorbol ester-induced tumor promotion in marmoset lymphoblastoid cells B95-8 in vitro. These findings may facilitate development and use of new health-promoting rice varieties.

Differential expression patterns of Runx2 isoforms in cranial suture morphogenesis.

Runx2 (previously known as Cbfal/Pebp2alphaA/AML3), a key transcription factor in osteoblast differentiation, has at least two different isoforms using alternative promoters, which suggests that the isoforms might be expressed differentially. Haploinsufficiency of the Runx2 gene is associated with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), the main phenotype of which is inadequate development of calvaria. In spite of the biological relevance, Runx2 gene expression patterns in developing calvaria has not been explored previously, and toward this aim we developed three probes: pRunx2, which comprises the common coding sequence of Runx2 and hybridizes with all isoforms; pPebp2alphaA, which specifically hybridizes with the isoform transcribed with the proximal promoter; and pOsf2, which hybridizes with the isoform transcribed with the distal promoter. These probes were hybridized with tissue sections of mouse calvaria taken at various time points in development. Runx2 expression was localized to the critical area of cranial suture closure, being found in parietal bones, osteogenic fronts, and sutural mesenchyme. Pebp2alphaA and Osf2 showed tissue-specific expression patterns. The sites of Pebp2alphaA expression were almost identical to that of pRunx2 hybridization but expression was most intense in the sutural mesenchyme, where undifferentiated mesenchymal cells reside. The Osf2 isoform was strongly expressed in the osteogenic fronts, as well as in developing parietal bones, where osteopontin (OP) and osteocalcin (OC) also were expressed. However, in contrast to Pebp2alphaA, Osf2 expression did not occur in sutural mesenchyme. Pebp2alphaA also was expressed prominently in primordial cartilage that is found under the sutural mesenchyme and is not destined to be mineralized. Thus, Osf2 isoforms contribute to events later in osteoblast differentiation whereas the Pebp2alphaA isoform participates in a wide variety of cellular activities ranging from early stages of osteoblast differentiation to the final differentiation of osteoblasts.

The bovine guanylate cyclase GC-E gene and 5' flanking region.

The gene encoding the bovine guanylate cyclase isoform E (GC-E) was isolated as a single 18 kb genomic clone and shown to have 20 exons and 19 introns. Comparison of the structure of the GC-E gene with structures of other membrane guanylate cyclase genes indicates that the GC-E is most closely related to the subfamily of sensory guanylate cyclases. Comparison of the GC-E structure with that of the more distantly related guanylate cyclase isoform A (GC-A) gene shows the most divergence in the extracellular and C-terminal regions, but general conservation of introns and exons in the intracellular kinase-like and catalytic domains. RT-PCR from several bovine tissues shows that GC-E is expressed only in the retina. Consistent with this pattern of expression, elements for the retinal-specific transcription factors RET-1, RET-2 and Talpha-1 are located in the 5' flanking promoter region.

Bilateral renal malakoplakia.

A case of malakoplakia is presented which was confined to the renal parenchyma of both kidneys in a thirty-five-year-old woman in whom fatal renal failure developed in three weeks. Bilateral renal malakoplakia is rare, and unlike malakoplakia of the bladder, it behaves as a progressive, destructive, and fatal disease.

A status report on helium inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The current status of helium inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (He ICPMS) is examined, its potentials and limitations are reviewed, and a summary of fundamental properties of atmospheric pressure He ICP discharges is presented. Also included are results of He ICPMS studies with a new helium plasma torch (18 mm i.d.) operated at four sets of operating conditions. Under the "cold plasma" condition (600 W forward power), no secondary discharge is observed and ion kinetic energies ranging from 2.0 eV to 9.5 eV for 6 elements (mass range: 39-208) are measured. At higher power levels, the secondary discharge still is strong. In general, detection limits for certain elements are improved by 1-3 orders of magnitude compared to previous data acquired in 1993 with a 13-mm He ICP torch. Elements such as K, Fe, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Co that suffer from spectral interferences in Ar ICPMS can be detected at pg/mL-levels with an analogue detector and a prototype ICPMS instrument having no photon stops or obstacles present in the ion trajectory path.

Pulse oximetry during shunt surgery in pediatric patients with tetralogy of fallot.

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive technique for measuring O2 saturation (SpO2) continuously. We applied pulse oximetry to 9 pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot during shunt surgery. Arterial oxygen tensions (PaO2) and saturations (SaO2) were also measured at the time of postinduction, just before the shunt, after the shunt and at the end of the operation. The SpO2 and SaO2 levels were identically changed in all 4 periods. The PaO2 was increased a little without statistical significance after the shunt procedure and at the end of the operation compared with the values before the shunt. However, SaO2 values increased with statistical significance after the shunt procedure and SpO2 values also showed similar increases with significance. In conclusion, continuous monitoring of SpO2 by pulse oximetry, instead of PaO2, is a very useful and reliable method to assess the improvement of perfusion after shunt, particularly in cyanotic cases.

The changes in delivered oxygen fractions using laerdal resuscitator bag with different types of reservoir.

One of the disadvantages of the Laerdal resuscitator bag is that it does not deliver a high concentration of oxygen without a reservoir and an appropriate technique of ventilation. With a specific device that is able to compress a resuscitator bag mechanically at a regular volume, ventilator rate, and speed, we evaluated the effects of various factors (the tidal volume, the ventilator rate, the oxygen flow rate, the type of reservoir) of the Laerdal resuscitator bag during positive pressure ventilation that affect the delivered oxygen fraction (FDO2) and also whether 250 mL and 500 mL corrugated tubes could be used as substitutes for the reservoir bag. The 250 mL corrugated tube increased the FDO2 to over 96% with an oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min. The 500 mL corrugated tube increased the FDO2 to over 96% with an oxygen flow rate of 10 L/min regardless of the ventilator rate at a fixed tidal volume of 500 mL. At the identical fixed tidal volume of 500 mL, the 1,600 mL reservoir bag increased the FDO2 to over 92% with an oxygen flow rate of 5 L/min and to over 96% at 7.5 L/min regardless of the ventilator rate. We concluded that the FDO2 of the Laerdal resuscitator bag depends on various factors such as tidal volume, ventilator rate, oxygen flow rate, and type of reservoir and both the 250 mL and 500 mL corrugated tubes can be used as substitutes.

Non-linear registration for brain images by maximising feature and intensity similarities with a Bayesian framework.

The objective of this work was to provide a new, precise registration of the cortical mantle with a non-linear transformation. Image registration is broadly classified into two types, using intensity similarity and feature similarity. Whereas the former approach has merit in global brain matching, the latter provides a fast registration centred on a region of interest. The hybrid registration proposed in this paper was achieved using a Bayesian framework, which consisted of a likelihood model including intensity similarity and a prior model including feature information and a smoothing constraint. In this approach, each voxel was spatially transformed, so that the distance between corresponding features was shortened and also so that the intensity correlation was maximised. The result of the hybrid method clearly showed a good match of global brain (r = 0.930) by including intensity similarity. Moreover, this method compensated for the approximated sulcus of the feature-based method with intensity information, so that the geometric shape and thickness of the sulcus at the feature-defined region was likely to be registered. The accuracy in the feature-defined area was improved by 33.4% and 7.5% compared with feature-based and intensity-based methods, respectively.

Direct determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) with ion chromatography using direct current plasma emission as element-selective detector.

A method is described that utilizes direct current plasma atomic emission spectrometry as an element-selective method of detection for ion chromatographic determination of chromium(III) and chromium(VI) species. The eluting chromium-containing species are detected on the basis of the atomic emission of chromium without any species conversion. Both anion and cation separator columns give similar results when used with varying sample matrices. By employing an on-column preconcentration procedure, the detectable concentrations of the chromium species are reduced to less than 1.0 ppb. This method is applied to the determination of chromium species in human serum, natural water, and industrial process stream samples.

Varus and internal rotational deformity of the ankle secondary to distal tibial physeal injury.

Nine children who sustained Lauge-Hansen's supination-inversion injury of distal tibial physeal injury with intact distal fibular physis, were followed until their maturity. The average varus deformity was 39 degrees (maximum, 80 degrees) with 23 degrees of internal rotational deformity. The longitudinal growth of the fibula was retarded compared with opposite normal leg. There was early closure of the medial distal tibial physis, gradual upward migration of medial malleolus, and eventually medial subluxation of the ankle; these resulted in gradual varus and internal rotational deformities of the injured ankle. It is thought that the resultant disabling deformity of ankle should be prevented by any means, though presently there are no available effective methods of treatment. It is suggested that the repeated corrective osteotomy should be carried out before epiphyseal deformity of the distal tibia and subluxation of the ankle joint develop.

Valgus ankle secondary to acquired fibular pseudoarthrosis in children. Long-term results of the Langenskiöld operation.

Nine cases of acquired absence of the fibular shaft were studied to determine the growth contribution of the distal fibula; in 6 cases the absence was caused by osteomyelitis and in 3 cases by trauma. The average valgus and external rotational deformities were 15.2 degrees and 10 degrees, respectively. In 3 of 7 cases surgically treated with Langenskiöld operation or supramalleolar corrective osteotomy, the valgus deformity recurred during the postoperative growth period. The speculated causes of gradual valgus deformity are the loss of physiologic thrust from the proximal to distal fibula, the tethering effect of contracted soft tissue on distal fibula and early physeal closure of the lateral part of the distal tibia due to continuous, uneven axial overloading. The Langenskiöld operation was found effective for the stability of ankle joint in the initial period, but could not prevent the postoperative revascularization of the ankle. However, it is strongly recommended that any types of prophylactic surgery should be carried out before the development of an epiphyseal deformity of distal tibia, and to prevent secondary osteoarthritis of the ankle joint.