Ameloblastoma in the interalveolar septum: Report of five cases

Five cases are described of patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ameloblastoma located in the interalveolar septum. The results were:

吸烟与牙周病关系的研究

为研究吸烟与牙周病的关系，调查４３２名中老年男性的口腔卫生状况、牙周状况及吸烟习惯。结果表明吸烟者软垢指数与不吸烟者相同，龈炎区段数两者差异无显著性，吸烟者牙周炎区段数高于不吸烟者。重度吸烟者牙周炎区段数高于轻、中度吸烟者及不吸烟者。调查结果提示吸烟可能是牙周病流行的高危因素之一。     

Effect of biofilm formation on virulence factor secretion via the general secretory pathway in Streptococcus mutans

Objectives

To investigate the role of SecA in protein secretion, and to evaluate the effect of biofilm formation on protein secretion in Streptococcus mutans.

Design

S. mutans strains UA159 and GS-5 were used in this study. Cells grown in biofilm and planktonic conditions were observed using immunogold electron microscopy. The mRNA levels of ftf, gtfB, gtfC, gtfD, Pac and secA were analysed in different growth conditions using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The levels of wall proteins and whole-cell protein extracts were examined using Western blot analysis.

Results

A microdomain colocalised with SecA and virulence factors such as Pac (AgI/II) and glucosyltransferase (GTF) was observed. The mRNA level of secA was upregulated in the biofilm condition. The level of protein expression of SecA and wall protein levels of GTF, fructosyltransferase (FTF) and Pac (AgI/II) in the biofilm condition were significantly higher than in the planktonic condition.

Conclusions

These data suggest that S. mutans utilises the Sec pathway to secrete virulence factor proteins such as Pac (AgI/II), GTF and FTF, and protein secretion occurred at a distinct microdomain. The level of SecA, the key factor in the Sec pathway, was influenced significantly by biofilm formation in S. mutans.     

变形链球菌母子传播与其对牙面初始粘附关系的研究

目的:探索变形链球菌母子传播与其对牙面初始粘附能力的关系。方法:首先以AP-PCR检测Mutans streptococci(MS)在20对3~4岁儿童和母亲之间的传播,并从母亲口腔中筛选出传播株和非传播株;再采用同位素标记法,检测传播株和非传播株对SHA的粘附差异,同时对其表面蛋白粘附功能区spap-a和spap-pv分别用限制性内切酶haeⅢ和AluⅠ进行RFLP分析。结果:传播株较非传播株具有较弱的粘附力(P<0.01),spap-a和spap-pv经酶切后分别呈现的3种和2种基因型在传播和非传播人群的MS中分布不同(P<0.01)。结论:初始粘附能力弱的菌株被传播的可能性较大,不同MS株传播能力的差异可能与其表面蛋白A区,PV区的基因多态性有关。     

Reconstruction of a cranial bone defect with hydroxyapatite and free flap transfer.

The authors report a successful reconstruction of an extensive frontotemporal bone defect after craniotomy, which was complicated with infection and necessitated removal of frontal and temporal bones. The large frontotemporal bone defect was reconstructed using prefabricated hydroxyapatite blocks in combination with the free vastus lateralis muscle flap. The patient's functional and cosmetic restoration has been maintained for 10 months' follow-up.     

质粒介导变形链球菌转化的研究

本研究建立了变形链球菌ＭＴ８１４８转化系统。在本组转化培养条件下，变形链球菌ＭＴ８１４８在对数生长早期出现感受态但维持时间很短，供体ＤＮＡ最适浓度为２５μｇ／ｍｌ，超螺旋闭环质粒与线性质粒均可转化变链ＭＴ８１４８。与变链ＧＳ５相比，变链ＭＴ８１４８的转化率约低１００倍     

体外人牙髓细胞的矿化特性

为探讨体外人牙髓细胞的生物学特性，采用体外细胞连续培养、钙质染色、Ｘ射线能谱分析与透射电镜观察等方法，对体外人恒牙牙髓细胞的矿化特性进行了研究并与人牙龈成纤维细胞（ｈｕｍａｎｇｉｎｇｉｖａｆｉｂｒｏｂｌａｓｔｓ，ＨＧＦｓ）进行了比较。结果表明，人牙髓细胞在体外可以复层生长并形成细胞结节，ＨＧＦｓ则无此能力，牙髓细胞的碱性磷酸酶活性亦较ＨＧＦｓ者高；细胞结节钙质染色呈阳性，结节内钙磷含量明显增高；人牙髓细胞有许多与成牙本质细胞相似的超微结构特征，胞间基质中可见致密晶状小体。结果提示，体外连续培养的人牙髓细胞有向成牙本质细胞分化的可能，这可为研究人牙髓细胞的分化和矿化提供有价值的思路。     

Expression and characterization of a Rana pipiens amelogenin protein

Amelogenin, the major protein of developing enamel matrix, controls enamel crystal growth via unique supermolecular features. While much has been contributed to our understanding of mammalian amelogenin function, little is known about how amelogenin and its unique physico-chemical features have evolved among vertebrates. Here we report, for the first time, amphibian amelogenin recombinant protein expression and characterization in Rana pipiens . In order to characterize R. pipiens amelogenin, the newly discovered amelogenin coding sequence was amplified, subcloned, and expressed in Eshcerichia coli . Our newly generated R. pipiens amelogenin-specific antisera resolved a major 19-kDa band on western blots of frog tooth extracts and revealed an enamel organ tissue-specific localization pattern using immunohistochemistry. Using mass spectroscopy, a single major compound with a molecular weight of 21.6 kDa was detected, which corresponded to the amino acid sequence-based molecular weight prediction of the His fusion recombinant protein. Dynamic light scattering studies resolved 41-nm radius subunits compared with 14-nm radius subunits from mouse recombinant amelogenin controls. Transmission electron microscopy revealed defined spherical subunits in R. pipiens matrix self-assembly in contrast with a homogeneous 'stippled' matrix in mouse amelogenin matrix self-assembly. Our data suggest that R. pipiens amelogenin is distinguished from mammalian amelogenins by a number of unique physico-chemical properties which may be related to specific modes of crystal formation in frog enamel.     

Microbial complexes in supragingival plaque

Background/aims:  To examine microbial communities in supragingival biofilm samples.
Methods:  Supragingival plaque samples were taken from 187 subjects at baseline ( n  = 4745). Fifty-five subjects provided supragingival plaque samples at 1–7 days after professional tooth cleaning ( n  = 1456); 93 subjects provided 8044 samples between 3 and 24 months post-therapy. All samples were individually analyzed for their content of 40 bacterial species using checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization. Microbial associations among species were sought using cluster analysis and community ordination techniques for the three groups separately.
Results:  Six complexes were formed for the baseline samples. Similar complexes were formed for the samples taken 3–24 months post-therapy. However, distinct changes were observed in microbial communities in samples taken during the 7 days of plaque redevelopment. The complexes related to clinical parameters of periodontal disease.
Conclusion:  There were specific microbial complexes in supragingival plaque that were similar to those found in subgingival plaque samples with a few minor differences. The relation of previously unclustered taxa to the complexes was also described.