Research review: DNA polymerases as molecular markers of the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes

Hepatocyte regeneration has been widely investigated, with the mitotic index and the incorporation of [³H]thymidine being used as regeneration markers. We focused on the induction of DNA replication enzymes, particularly DNA polymerases (pol) α, δ, and ε. Using rat models, we have shown that the activity of pol α in crude liver extract well represents the regenerating capacity of hepatocytes. Using pol α as an indicator, we analyzed liver regeneration in rat models under various conditions: obstructive jaundice, external or internal biliary drainage, and the obstruction of portal vein branches. It has been revealed that the ligation of the common bile duct alone induces a certain amount of hepatocyte proliferation. It was striking that external biliary drainage suppressed regeneration capacity in cholestatic rat liver after partial hepatectomy. The strong regeneration in nonligated lobes induced by portal branch ligation was similar to the liver regeneration seen after partial hepatectomy with respect to the induction of DNA polymerases. Taken together, the aspects of DNA replication, particularly the induction of DNA polymerases, may contribute to shedding new light on the regeneration of human liver. This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research and for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and by grants from the Uehara Memorial Foundation     

Periodontal conditions among the middle-aged and the elderly in Hong Kong

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the periodontal conditions in 372 35–44-yr-old and 537 noninstitutionalized 65–74-yr-old Hong Kong Chinese who were examined clinically for loss of attachment, recession, probing depth, calculus, and bleeding after probing. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) data and treatment need indications were compiled from index teeth or their substitutes. The prevalence of loss of attachment varied considerably in both cohorts according to the definition of the threshold (≥6, ≥9, and ≥12 mm, respectively). The mean numbers of teeth with loss of attachment at the ≥6-mm threshold and at higher thresholds were small. In both age cohorts, about one-fifth of subjects had probing depths ≥6-mm, while al the ≥9-mm threshold only 2–3% were so affected. Although recession was an important component of loss of attachment in the younger cohort, in the older cohort the prevalence and extent of recession were greater than for probing depths at thresholds ≥4 mm. All subjects had one or more teeth with calculus, bleeding, or both, most teeth being so affected. Eighty-four of the 537 65–74-yr-old subjects were excluded either because of edentulousness or because extractions indicated for the remaining teeth would have rendered the subjects edentulous. The distribution of subjects according to their highest CPI score was remarkably similar for the two cohorts. No subjects in either age group were assessed as “healthy” (CPI code 0) or had “bleeding only” (code 1) as their highest score. While most subjects scored CPI code 2 or 3 us their highest score, only 17% of the younger and 15% of the older cohort scored Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) code 4. Differences in the mean number of sextants affected by CPI codes between the two cohorts were mainly due to a greater number of excluded sextants in the older cohort. CPI findings for 35–44-yr-olds differed little from those reported in 1984.     

Study of nerve regeneration in centrocentral anastomosis

Summary Nerve regeneration was studied in a model of centrocentral anastomosis (CCA) performed on the sciatic nerve of the rat. Experimental CCA was made by suturing the proximal end of the peroneal branch on the proximal end of the sural branch, placing between them a peroneal nerve graft (Group I, 20 rats) or a silicone chamber (Group II, 12 rats). Nerve grafts had a length of 5mm and silicone chambers 7 mm. In six silicone chambers an 1 mm nerve graft was placed in the centre of the tube. In group I animals anterograde degeneration was studied by cutting the graft 60 days after surgery. In group II, nerve regeneration was studied 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Results indicate that in CCA: 1) regenerated axons coming from one nerve end grow into the graft but do not cross the contralateral suture line; 2) regeneration is poorer in silicone chambers than in nerve grafts; and, 3) in silicone chambers regeneration is related to time. The reduction in the regenerative capability in CCA seems to be related to the alteration of nerve sprouts aiming for the peripheral targets.     

Comparative effects of plateletderived growth factor-BB and insulin-like growth factor-I, individually and in combination, on periodontal regeneration in Macaca fascicularis

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in combination have previously been shown to enhance periodontal regeneration. The objective of this study was to further characterize the biological effects of this combination of growth factors in non-human primates and compare the effects to those of each growth factor individually. Ligature-induced periodontitis was initiated in 10 cynomolgus monkeys. After periodontal lesions were established, surgery was performed, and either a methylcellulose gel vehicle or vehicle containing 10 μg each of either PDGF-BB, IGF-I or both PDGF-BB and IGF-I was applied to exposed root surfaces. Biopsies were taken 4 and 12 wk after treatment and the extent of periodontal regeneration was assessed by histomorphometry. At both 4 and 12 wk vehicle-treated lesions generally revealed minimal osseous defect fill (ODF) (8.5±2.1% and 14.5±5.7%, respectively) and new attachment (NA) (34.1±5.2% and 26.6±10.5%, respectively). IGF-I treatment did not significantly alter healing compared to vehicle in any parameter at both 4 and 12 wk. PDGFBB-treated sites exhibited significant (p<0.05) regeneration of NA (69.6±12.0%) at 12 wk; trends for PDGF-BB treatment effect were also observed in other parameters at 4 and 12 wk. although these increases were not statistically significant. Treatment with PDGF-BB/IGF-I resulted in 21.6±5.1 % and 42.5±8.3% ODF at 4 and 12 wk, respectively, and 64.1±7.7% and 74.6±7.4% NA at 4 and 12 wk, respectively (all significantly greater than vehicle, p<0.05). The results from this study demonstrated that: 1) IGF-1 alone at the dose tested did not significantly alter periodontal wound healing; 2) PDGF-BB alone significantly stimulated NA, with trends of effect on other parameters; and 3) the PDGF-BB/IGF-I combination resulted in significant increases in NA and ODF above vehicle at both 4 and 12 wk.     

氟对体外培养人牙乳头间充质细胞合成I型胶原的影响

目的:明确氟对人牙乳头细胞合成 I型胶原的影响。 方法:对人牙乳头细胞进行体外培养 ,分别给予0 .0、0 .2× 10 - 6、1.0× 10 - 6、5 .0× 10 - 6、2 5 .0× 10 - 6 g/ L 氟处理 ,采用免疫细胞化学方法染色 ,图象分析氟对细胞合成 I型胶原的影响。 结果:I型胶原在对照组和 4种氟浓度处理组细胞表达均为阳性。图象分析结果表明 ,4种氟浓度对体外培养的人牙乳头细胞合成 I型胶原量与对照组相比差异无统计学意义 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论:过量氟对牙本质基质 型胶原的影响可能不是通过影响成牙本质细胞内合成实现的     

骨水泥和种植体同期植入修复颌骨和牙列缺损的实验研究

目的：探讨高分子材料和种植体同期植入缺损区进行同步骨缺损修复和牙列缺损修复的可行性。方法：以4只杂种狗为研究对象，制备下颌骨长约2．5cm的缺损的动物模型(保留下颌骨下缘)，将骨水泥(聚甲基丙烯酸酯)植入骨缺损，同时将牙种植体植入骨水泥中并调整长轴方向，立即关闭术创。至术后3个月摄X线片，然后处死动物，局部巨检以了解骨水泥同骨组织的结合情况，并制备骨组织切片进行苏木精一伊红染色和甲苯胺蓝染色，以了解植入材料周边骨的生长情况及其对植入材料的反应。结果：术后3个月X线检查见骨缺损区充满骨水泥，骨水泥周边的骨小梁清晰，未见骨吸收或炎症表现，形成良好的骨-骨水泥界面，种植体则依赖其表面的螺纹结构与骨水泥间紧密的机械性嵌合而牢固的成为一体，植入的骨水泥块与周边天然骨结合紧密，无松动现象。植入材料周边局部脱钙骨的苏木精-伊红染色和甲苯胺蓝染色见骨结构正常，同时骨-骨水泥界有新骨形成。结论：骨水泥作为颌骨修复替代材料同期植入种植体是可行的。     

Identification of antibacterial principles against Streptococcus mutans and inhibitory principles against glucosyltransferase from the seed of Areca catechu L

During the course of our studies on dental caries prevention by traditional medicines, fatty acids (myristic and oleic acids etc.) and procyanidins from betel nuts (the seed of Areca catechu L.) were respectively revealed to be the major antibacterial principles against a primary cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, and the major inhibitory principles against glucosyltransferase from S. mutans.     

Factors influencing survival of reconstructions. Consensus report of Working Group 2

Abstract: In order to evaluate the level of evidence of factors influencing the survival of reconstructions, systematic reviews of the relevant literature were prepared by a group of rapporteurs. The review papers were circulated to the members of the group before the conference and formed the basis for group and panel discussions. Subsequently, modifications were added to the review papers, and suggestions for consensus statements concerning the following topics were prepared and again critically reviewed in the group and in the plenum: Impact of (i) periodontal disease on the survival of tooth-supported reconstructions, (ii) post-surgical factors as supportive therapy on the survival of implant supported reconstructions, (iii) technical and/or biological complications on the survival of different types of reconstructions, (iiii) material choice for reconstructions on the survival of single crowns and fixed dental prostheses.     

体外培养诱导外周血淋巴细胞促进大鼠面神经再生的实验研究

目的:通过在神经缺损处局部回输体外分离培养纯化的淋巴细胞,了解此种方法促进面神经损伤修复的效果。方法:将20只Wistar大鼠的面神经颊支剪断并立即缝合(其余3支反折缝合)制成面神经损伤模型大鼠,将其分成淋巴细胞组和对照组,每组10只,每组再分成2周组和8周组。淋巴细胞组局部回输体外分离培养的外周血淋巴细胞,对照组作对照。于2周和8周测定面神经颊支-触须肌复合动作电位传导速度,辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)神经逆行示踪测定面神经核团的神经元阳性数目。结果:淋巴细胞组面神经颊支-触须肌复合动作电位传导速度8周时为0.64±0.07,与对照组(0.56±0.07)相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。HRP神经逆行示踪测定面神经核团神经元阳性数目,淋巴细胞组2周及8周与对照组同时间段相比差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。结论:体外分离培养纯化的淋巴细胞在局部应用于神经损伤处对面神经再生修复可起一定的促进作用。     

Survey of the oral health needs of institutionalised elderly patients in Western Australia

An epidemiological survey of the oral health needs of 1144 elderly patients was conducted in hospitals and nursing homes in Western Australia. Patients were categorised as being either totally dependent (requiring intensive nursing care) or partially dependent (requiring nursing supervision). Of all patients the mean age was 80.2 yr, 70% were women, 74% were edentulous, and 70% needed some form of prosthetic care. Of all dentate patients 56% needed dental scaling (and 17% needed complex periodontal treatment), 47% needed some restorative treatment (with a mean need per patient of 1.1 coronal restorations and 0.4 radicular restoration), and 29% needed one or more dental extractions (with a mean need of 1.4 extractions per patient). Partially dependent patients had statistically significant higher needs for prosthetic work than did totally dependent patients, while the converse applied to extraction needs, but in all other aspects the needs of the two categories of patient did not differ significantly.