Effect of ambient light level at the monitor surface on digital radiographic evaluation of approximal carious lesions: an in vitro study

Objectives

This study investigated how ambient light affects the diagnostic accuracy of dental carious lesions on monitors used in dental practice. Specifically, the aim was to evaluate whether a monitor hood for blocking excess ambient light increases practitioners’ ability to accurately diagnose carious lesions on digital radiographs under bright ambient light conditions.

Methods

7 observers evaluated approximal carious lesions on standardized digital radiographs of 100 teeth under 3 ambient light conditions: bright light (> 1000 lx) and dim light (<50 lx) with no monitor hood; and bright light with a hooded monitor. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted for all observations. The criterion standard was a histological examination of the teeth. A paired t-test compared the effects of the three lighting conditions. The level of significance was set to p <0.05. Weighted kappa statistics estimated intraobserver agreement.

Results

The diagnostic accuracy for dentine lesions was significantly higher in ambient light<50&hairsp ;lx than on monitors with and without a hood in ambient light>1000 lx. For all observers, diagnostic accuracy of dentine lesions under bright light was higher on a hooded monitor than on a monitor without a hood, but this difference was not significant. Intraobserver agreement varied from moderate to good.

Conclusion

Diagnostic accuracy of those carious lesions that reached into the dentine was significantly higher in ambient light<50 lx than in ambient light>1000 lx. A hooded monitor in bright light was not as effective as a monitor without a hood in dim light.     

人细胞外基质磷酸化糖蛋白对人牙髓细胞生长和黏附的影响

目的探讨细胞外基质磷酸化糖蛋白(MEPE)对人牙髓细胞(HDPCs)黏附、伸展、增殖的影响。方法常规培养获得人牙髓细胞,各实验组中MEPEs的浓度分别为0.01,0.1,1,10,100μg/L以不加MEPE作为空白对照组。细胞计数法测定细胞的黏附能力;通过计数高倍视野中伸展的细胞数,计算骨髓基质细胞在不同时间的伸展率;MTT法检测各组细胞的增殖活性。结果体外培养的人牙髓细胞生长良好;各实验组间及与对照组比较,100μg/L组对细胞的黏附性的影响有差异;各组细胞的伸展率无差异;MEPE对人牙髓细胞有较明显的促增殖作用。结论 MEPE对体外培养的人牙髓细胞的伸展率无影响,但可明显促进其黏附性和增殖。     

Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action,activity and clinical potential

The management of bacterial infections is becoming a major clinical challenge due to the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As an excellent candidate to overcome antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are produced from the synthetic and natural sources demonstrate a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with the high specificityandlowtoxicity.Thesepeptidespossessdistinctivestructuresandfunctionsbyemployingsophisticated mechanismsofaction.Thiscomprehensivereviewp...     

Influence of violet LED associated or not with peroxide gel on inflammation,mineralization, and collagen fiber maturation in dentin and pulp tissue

ObjectivesTo evaluate the influence of violet LED, associated or not with a 17.5% hydrogen peroxide (HP) bleaching gel, on inflammation, mineralization in pulp tissue, and collagen fiber maturation in dentin and pulp tissue.Materials and methodsThe maxillary molars of eighty Wistar rats were distributed into four groups (n = 10): CONT – without treatment; HP – 30 min application of 17.5% HP; LED – 20 min application of violet LED; and HP+LED – application of PH and violet LED. Rats were euthanized and jaws were processed for histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation (IL-17, IL-23, and osteocalcin) and picrosirius red immediately after (T0), and at 7 (T1), 15 (T2), and 30 days (T3) post-treatment, with Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, paired T-test, and T-test (α = 0.05).ResultsHP and HP+LED presented necrosis and severe inflammatory infiltrate. When compared to CONT group, LED presented severe osteocalcin (OCN) immunostaining in T2 and less immature fibers in T2 and T3.ConclusionThe violet LED caused no severe damage to the pulp tissue, increased IL-17 and IL-23 expression in T0 when associated with HP, and had no influence on pulp tissue mineralization, besides accelerating the maturation of collagen fibers of dentin. Clinical relevance: Violet LED therapy induced no inflammation in the pulp tissue of rats and played no role in pulp tissue fibrosis, besides accelerating the maturation of dentin collagen fibers.     

干扰TonEBP基因对Raw264.7细胞迁移、增殖和吞噬功能的影响

 目的 探讨张力反应性增强因子结合蛋白(tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein, TonEBP)基因对巨噬细胞活性、迁移、增殖及吞噬功能的影响。方法 利用TonEBP-shRNA慢病毒感染Raw 264.7细胞,筛选稳定细胞株,Real time-PCR、Western blot评估干扰效率,选取干扰效率最高的慢病毒感染组及空载慢病毒感染组用于后续实验。各组细胞同步培养,孵育24 h后CCK-8法测定细胞活性,transwell实验观察细胞迁移能力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期及吞噬功能。结果 成功建立并筛选出干扰TonEBP稳定细胞株,与正常细胞组相比,mRNA和蛋白的干扰效率均高于70％,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05);下调TonEBP表达可使细胞活性明显下降[24 h (0.39±0.02 vs 0.46±0.01),48 h(0.57±0.02 vs 0.63±0.02),72 h(0.71±0.02 vs 1.01±0.11),96 h(0.93±0.06 vs 1.42± 0.04),120 h(1.26±0.06 vs 1.56±0.09) ](P＜0.05),同时显著降低细胞迁移(88±7.00 vs 356±35.23)、增殖[(38.73±2.57)％ vs (50.20±2.29)％]及吞噬[(2.26±0.10)％ vs (5.63±0.42)％]能力,差异均具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 干扰TonEBP的表达可有效抑制巨噬细胞活性,降低其迁移、增殖及吞噬能力,为继续探究与巨噬细胞相关的疾病提供实验依据。     

Flufenamic acid: growth modulating effects on human aortic smooth muscle cells in vitro.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of flufenamic acid on proliferation, clonogenic activity, migratory ability, cell-cycle distribution, and p44/42-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression on serum-stimulated human aortic smooth muscle cells (haSMCs) in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HaSMCs were treated with flufenamic acid in three different doses (40 micromol/L, 200 micromol/L, 400 micromol/L) for 4 days, and then flufenamic-acid-free culture medium was supplemented every 4 days until day 20 after initial treatment. The growth kinetics were assessed. Cell-cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. The clonogenic activity was evaluated with use of colony formation assays. The migratory ability was investigated by stimulation with platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) in 24 well plates with 8-microm pore membrane inserts. The p44/42 MAPK was detected by Western blot technique. RESULTS: Flufenamic acid inhibited the proliferation (400 micromol/L treatment over 4 d; 179,700 +/- 49,800 vs 747,900 +/- 144,000; P <.001), clonogenic activity (400 micromol/L treatment over 4 d; 1 +/- 0.3 vs 50 +/- 1.4; P <.001) and migratory ability (400 micromol/L treatment over 4 d; 8 cells +/- 2 vs 48 cells +/- 15; P <.001) of haSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Cell-cycle analysis revealed a G2/M-phase block (400 micromol/L treatment over 4 d; 28.9 +/- 1.5 vs 9.5 +/- 3.2; P <.001). The expression of p44/42 MAPK was reduced for a treatment with 400 micromol/L flufenamic acid (controls, 427 BLU +/- 0.305 vs treatment group, 190 BLU +/- 106; P <.05) CONCLUSION: Flufenamic acid inhibits the proliferation and migration of haSMCs. Further experiments with animal models concerning stenosis and restenosis are necessary to evaluate the potential of this promising drug.     

硝苯地平对小白鼠离体小肠收缩活动的影响

目的探讨硝苯地平对小白鼠消化道平滑肌收缩的影响。方法以1%丙酮溶液0.2ml作对照组,采用离体器官灌流的实验方法,分别滴加0.02%硝苯地平0.05ml、0.10ml、0.15ml、0.20ml,观察小白鼠离体小肠收缩曲线下面积和自发收缩活动频率的变化。结果滴加0.02%硝苯地平0.05ml后对离体小肠收缩活动的影响不显著。0.02%硝苯地平在0.10～0.20ml后均能引起离体小肠收缩曲线下面积下降（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,自发性收缩频率下降（P〈0.01）,与0.02%硝苯地平0.05ml、1%丙酮溶液0.2ml比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。但0.02%硝苯地平在0.10～0.20ml范围内引起离体小肠收缩活动变化差异无统计学意义。结论硝苯地平用量达一定程度对小白鼠离体小肠平滑肌收缩具有抑制作用。     

丹参素和克伦特罗对兔骨髓间充质干细胞成纤维细胞集落的影响

目的以丹参素和克伦特罗为干预药物,观察对兔骨髓间充质干细胞增殖的影响。方法用梯度密度法分离和培养兔骨髓间充质干细胞,18只兔子随机被分到空白组、丹参素和克伦特罗组。观察形成的骨髓间充质干细胞成纤维样集落数目。并利用骨髓间充质干细胞诱导成骨法和骨髓间充质干细胞表面标志流式分析法鉴定。结果和其它浓度相比,浓度为10ug/ml的丹参素和浓度为1.0ug/ml的克伦特罗有较大生成成纤维样集落数目能力。结论丹参素和克伦特罗对兔骨髓间充质干细胞有增殖作用。     

Antiproliferative effects of the antiallergic agent azelastine on human aortic smooth-muscle cells: an in vitro study

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of azelastine on proliferation, clonogenic activity, cell-cycle, and migration of human aortic smooth-muscle cells (haSMCs) in vitro. METHODS: HaSMCs were treated for 4 days with azelastine (1 micromol/L, 25 micromol/L, 50 micromol/L). Half of the treated groups were incubated again with azelastine, the other half received azelastine-free medium every 4 days until day 20. The growth kinetics and clonogenic activity were assessed. The cell-cycle distribution was investigated by FACS -- analysis and the migratory ability was evaluated. RESULTS: Azelastine inhibited the proliferation and the clonogenic activity of haSMCs in a dose dependent manner. A G2/M-phase block was induced and the migratory ability was significantly impaired. CONCLUSION: Azelastine has the potential to inhibit the proliferation of haSMCs. If a sufficient dose can be applied either systemically or locally it could be a valuable substance to prevent restenosis.     

Postmortem estimation of age at death based on aspartic acid racemization in dentin: Its applicability for root dentin

Summary The extent of aspartic acid racemization in total dentin and in dentin protein fractions from theroots of third molars was determined. In several cases coronal dentin was also investigated. The results of other authors, according to which the racemization of aspartic acid in root dentin apparently proceeds differently than in coronal dentin, could be confirmed. Consequently, the data published so far on age determination based on the extent of aspartic acid racemization in coronal dentin and the entire dentin of longitudinal sections cannot be applied to root dentin. In total root dentin and the acid soluble protein of root dentin, a close relationship was observed between the extent of aspartic acid racemization and age. Accordingly, estimation of age at death based on aspartic acid racemization in dentin is also possible for root dentin, apparently with good results. This is important particularly in those cases where a large portion of the coronal dentin is absent, for instance following dental treatment. In the investigation of root dentin, regression equations specific for root dentin must be employed in the estimation of age at death. Corresponding equations for third molars were calculated.     

Cytotoxic effects of ionic high-osmolar, nonionic monomeric, and nonionic iso-osmolar dimeric iodinated contrast media on renal tubular cells in vitro

PURPOSE: To compare the cytotoxic effects of dimeric and monomeric iodinated contrast media on renal tubular cells in vitro with regard to osmolality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LLC-PK1 cells were incubated with ioxithalamate, ioversol, iomeprol-300, iomeprol-150, iodixanol, iotrolan, and hyperosmolar mannitol solutions for 1-24 hours at concentrations from 18.75 to 150 mg of iodine per milliliter. Cytotoxic effects were assessed with 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance; post hoc tests were performed. RESULTS: At equal iodine concentrations, ioxithalamate showed stronger cytotoxic effects than did other contrast media (MTT conversion for ioxithalamate was 4% vs that for ioversol of 32%, that for iomeprol-300 of 34%, that for iodixanol of 40%, and that for iotrolan of 41% of undamaged control cells at 75 mg of iodine per milliliter, n = 61-90, P < .001); there was no significant difference between low-osmolar monomeric and iso-osmolar dimeric contrast media (P > .05). At equal molarity, dimeric contrast media induced significantly stronger cytotoxic effects than did low-osmolar monomeric contrast media (40% for iodixanol and 41% for iotrolan vs 64% for ioversol and 59% for iomeprol-300 at 98.5 mmol/L, n = 61-75, P < .001). At equimolar concentrations, both dimeric contrast media showed stronger cytotoxic effects than did iso-osmolar formulation of iomeprol-150 (51% for iodixanol and 50% for iotrolan vs 77% for iomeprol-150 at 98.5 mmol/L, n = 35-40, P < .001). Mannitol solutions induced weaker cytotoxic effects than did corresponding contrast media compounds (74% for mannitol-520 vs 34% for iomeprol-300 and 41% for mannitol-1860 vs 4% for ioxithalamate, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Besides hyperosmolality, direct cytotoxic effects of contrast media molecules contribute to their cytotoxic effects. Results of this study indicate that dimeric contrast media molecules have a greater potential for cytotoxic effects on proximal renal tubular cells in vitro than do monomeric contrast media molecules.     

复方锌铁钙口服溶液辅助治疗小儿反复呼吸道感染的临床观察

目的探讨复方锌铁钙口服溶液辅助治疗小儿反复呼吸道感染的临床疗效。方法选择反复呼吸道感染患儿272例,随机分为观察组和对照组,对照组常规抗感染、对症治疗;观察组在对照组治疗的基础上,予复方锌铁钙口服液治疗。结果观察组总有效率为89.6%,对照组总有效率为68.6%。两组总有效率比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论复方锌铁钙口服溶液辅助治疗小儿反复呼吸道感染可显著提高治疗效果。     

骨生长相关因子对兔骨膜细胞生长分化的量效作用

目的　研究地塞米松 (dexamethasone)、重组人碱性成纤维细胞生长因子 (recombinanthumanbasicfibroblastgrowthfator,rhFGF)、重组人骨形态发生蛋白 -2 (recombinanthumanbonemorpho geneticprotein -2 ,rhBMP -2 )三种骨生长相关因子对兔骨膜细胞生长及分化的量效作用 ,为其在骨组织工程中的应用提供实验基础。　方法　体外分离培养兔骨膜细胞 ,分别与终浓度为 10 - 8,10 - 7,10 - 6 mol/L的地塞米松 ;终浓度为 50 ,2 0 0 ,50 0ng/ml的rhFGF ;终浓度为 50 ,50 0 ,10 0 0ng/ml的rhBMP -2共培养。分别于 4,7d后终止培养并测定细胞生长及分化指标。　结果 10 - 6 mol/L地塞米松显著抑制细胞蛋白合成 ,且对骨膜细胞碱性磷酸酶 (alkalinephosphatase ,ALP)表达无明显影响。各浓度组rhFGF显著促进了细胞蛋白合成量 ,而表现出明显的ALP活性抑制。各浓度组rhBMP -2对细胞增殖无明显影响 ;50ng/ml的rhBMP -2不影响骨膜细胞的ALP活性 ;当浓度增加到 50 0ng/ml与 10 0 0ng/ml时 ,ALP活性显著增加 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　rhBMP -2在不影响骨膜细胞增殖的前提下 ,适当的浓度能够显著促进骨膜细胞向成骨细胞转化 ,在骨组织工程的研究中有重要的应用价值     

The effects of angiographic contrast media on the aggregation and morphology of red cells in vitro

The effects of four angiographic contrast media on the aggregation and morphology of human red cells in vitro, using microscopic observations were studied. The media included an ionic contrast medium, sodium meglumine amidotrizoate (amidotrizoate); non-ionic low-osmolal contrast media, iopamidol and iohexol; and an ionic low-osmolal contrast medium, sodium meglumine ioxaglate (ioxaglate). Strong, large aggregates formed in the control blood, without media, where aggregation of red cells was inhibited by contrast media mixed with the blood in a ratio of 2:1. Almost no aggregates were observed for amidotrizoate, an ionic contrast medium, while there were a few rouleaux formed in the presence of ioxaglate. Nearly all of the red cells aggregated in the presence of iopamidol and iohexol; iohexol produced the greater aggregation of the two. Besides rouleaux, irregular aggregates were formed with iohexol. When the contrast media were mixed with blood in a ratio of 1:2, their inhibitory effects on aggregation declined. These results clearly indicate that contrast media inhibit the in vitro aggregation of red cells, and ionic-contrast media produced more potent inhibitory effects than non-ionic media. With added NaCl and meglumine, iohexol did not induce red cell aggregation. This suggests that ionic-contrast media have greater inhibitory effects on aggregation than non-ionic media, a result of their ionic properties. Red cells were morphologically quite normal in the presence of ioxaglate, where most red cells were crenated in the presence of iopamidol and iohexol, and shrank in the presence of amidotrizoate. In the presence of iopamidol and iohexol with the osmolality adjusted to that of a saline solution, both normal red cells and crenation were observed. This suggests that non-ionic contrast media may directly effect morphological changes in red blood cells. These results revealed that ioxaglate, an ionic contrast medium, was the best in vitro medium, to prevent aggregation of red cells and crenation deformity of erythrocytes.     

Imaging manifestations of immune-related adverse effects in checkpoint inhibitor therapies: A primer for the radiologist

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies directed against cellular pathways on T-cells to treat different types of malignancies. This new therapy can cause immune-related adverse events that can involve almost any organ system. This article will review clinical presentations, molecular mechanisms and imaging manifestations of adverse events caused by checkpoint inhibitors and also illustrate the pseudoprogression tumor response pattern.     

Anticoagulant effects of contrast materials: in vitro study of iohexol, ioxaglate, and diatrizoate

It has been reported that clot formation may occur when blood is mixed directly with nonionic contrast medium in a syringe during angiography. To investigate this possibility, we performed three in vitro experiments to determine the anticoagulant properties of a low-osmolar, nonionic contrast medium (iohexol); a low-osmolar, ionic medium (ioxaglate); and a high-osmolar, ionic medium (diatrizoate). In the first experiment, human arterial blood was incubated at room temperature in an angiographic syringe with each of the three media for 60 min, after which the mixture was filtered for clots. In the second experiment, the clotting times of venous blood in heparinized saline or serial dilutions of the three agents were determined. In the third experiment, the partial thromboplastin time of platelet-poor plasma in heparinized saline or serial dilutions of the three agents was measured. No clots were observed in any of the arterial blood samples. Iohexol prolonged the normal 15-min clotting time of venous blood to 160 min, compared with a clotting time of at least 330 min for ioxaglate and diatrizoate. Iohexol prolonged the normal 36-sec partial thromboplastin time of platelet-poor plasma to 40 sec, compared with 50 sec for diatrizoate and 54 sec for ioxaglate. Our data show that iohexol, like ioxaglate and diatrizoate, inhibits clot formation when mixed with blood in a syringe. It prolongs the clotting time to approximately the same degree as 600 U/l of heparinized saline, but to a lesser degree than the other two media. All three media have a minimal effect on the partial thromboplastin time. Our results do not show any risk of clot formation in the usual clinical setting in which there is inadvertent mixing of blood with iohexol, ioxaglate, or diatrizoate in an angiographic syringe.