Relationship between colors of carious dentin and laser fluorescence evaluations in caries diagnosis

This in vitro study investigated the relationship between assessments of dentin caries using a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent) and a caries detector dye during caries removal. The dentin of eight extracted carious molars was removed at 300-microm interval points from the dentin surface toward the pulp chamber. Before and after each removal, images of the carious surfaces were taken in association with color-matching stickers (for color correction) and the surfaces were evaluated by DIAGNOdent based on fluorescence emission from the tooth surface. For the L* values (CIE 1976 L*a*b* color system), there was a strong negative correlation between DIAGNOdent results and the corrected L* values of the carious surfaces (Pearson's correlation coefficient: -0.853); additionally, there was a significant correlation between them (p<0.05). However, there were no significant correlations between the DIAGNOdent results and the corrected a* and b* values of the carious surfaces (Pearson's correlation coefficients: 0.108 and 0.018 respectively). In conclusion, DIAGNOdent was shown to be applicable for caries diagnosis during caries removal.     

Histological organization of the right and left atrioventricular valves of the chicken heart and their relationship to the atrioventricular purkinje ring and the middle bundle branch

In the avian heart the right and left atrioventricular (AV) valves not only exhibit their own special anatomical characteristics, but they also are in close proximity to the conduction system. The right AV valve is a single, spiral plane of myocardium, in remarkable contrast to the fibrous structure characteristic of the mammalian tricuspid valve. A ring of Purkinje tissue encircles the avian right AV orifice and connects to the muscular valve. The chicken has no crista supraventricularis, its right AV valve serving that function as well as opening and closing the right AV orifice. The left AV valve consists of three leaflets instead of the two typical of mammalian hearts. Its anterior and posterior leaflets are small; its large aortic (medial) leaflet merges with the bases of both the left and noncoronary cusps of the aortic valve by fibrous tissue, resembling that of the mammalian heart. However, unlike in mammals, there is a slim cylinder of continuous myocardium coursing parallel to this fibrous junction. This unusual arc of myocardium in the chicken serves to complete an entire subaortic ring of myocardium and is thus potentially capable of constricting the outflow tract of the chicken's left ventricle. The middle bundle branch connects with both the muscle arch and the AV Purkinje ring. Thus the myocardium in or near both AV valves (and the left ventricular outflow tract) in the chicken heart is so arranged that it may receive direct early activation from the conduction system. ©1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Expression and localization of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and small intestinal mucin antigen in pancreatic tumors

Alterations in the expression of mucin family members play an important role as well as alterations in oncogenes and onco-suppressor genes in carcinogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer. We analyzed the expression and localization of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and small intestinal mucin antigen (SIMA) in pancreatic tumors. MUC1 expression was observed in almost all samples, whereas MUC2 expression was not. MUC5AC expression was observed in 73.9% of the cancerous regions, 48.7% of the dysplastic regions and 72.0% of the hyperplastic regions but not in the normal pancreatic duct. SIMA expression was observed in 45.7% of cancerous regions, 17.9% of the dysplastic regions and 8.0% of the hyperplastic regions. Furthermore, stromal expression of MUC1, MUC5AC and SIMA was observed in 37.0%, 60.9% and 26.1% of the cancerous regions, respectively. Stromal expression of these mucins was not observed in the hyperplastic regions and normal pancreatic duct and was observed in only two dysplastic regions. The survival of pancreatic cancer patients with stromal expression of MUC1 or SIMA was worse than that of other patients (P=0.04). In conclusion, the localization of mucin expression, especially stromal expression of MUC1 or SIMA, might be a prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer.     

Effects of pinacidil on contractile proteins in high K(+)-treated intact, and in beta-escin-treated skinned smooth muscle of the rabbit mesenteric artery.

1. The effects of pinacidil were investigated on changes in cellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and tension in intact and chemically skinned smooth muscle strips of the rabbit mesenteric artery. 2. High K+ (128 mM) produced a large phasic followed by a tonic increase in [Ca2+]i and tension in intact muscle strips. Pinacidil at 10 microM but not 1 microM, inhibited the phasic and tonic contractions induced by 128 mM K+ without a corresponding change in [Ca2+]i. 3. In beta-escin-treated skinned smooth muscle, the minimum Ca2+ concentration that produced contraction was 0.1 microM and the maximum contraction was obtained at 10 microM. Pinacidil at 10 microM but not 1 microM, shifted the pCa-tension relation curve to the right and also inhibited the maximum contraction induced by Ca2+. The concentrations of Ca2+ required for half maximal tension were 0.9 microM in control and 1.5 microM in the presence of 10 microM pinacidil. Calmodulin (2 microM) increased the contraction induced by 0.3 microM Ca2+ (but not by 10 microM Ca2+) in the skinned strips. Pinacidil (10 microM) inhibited the contraction induced by 0.3 microM or 10 microM Ca2+ in the presence of 2 microM calmodulin. 4. Noradrenaline (NA, 10 microM) with guanosine triphosphate (GTP, 3 microM), guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S, 3 microM) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 0.1 microM) all enhanced the contraction induced by 0.3 microM Ca2+. Pinacidil (10 microM) inhibited the contraction induced by 0.3 microM Ca2+ more strongly in the presence of the above agents than in their absence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

FGF signaling segregates biliary cell-lineage from chick hepatoblasts cooperatively with BMP4 and ECM components in vitro.

Intrahepatic bile ducts (IHBDs) are indispensable for transporting bile secreted from hepatocytes to the hepatic duct. The biliary epithelial cells (BECs) of the IHBD arise from bipotent hepatoblasts around the portal vein, suggesting the portal mesenchyme is essential for their development. However, except for Notch or Activin/TGF-beta signaling molecules, it is not known which molecules regulate IHBD development. Here, we found that FGF receptors and BMP4 are specifically expressed in the developing IHBD and the hepatic mesenchyme, respectively. Using a mesenchyme-free culture of liver bud, we showed that bFGF and FGF7 induce the hepatoblasts to differentiate into BECs, and that BMP4 enhances bFGF-induced BEC differentiation. The extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the hepatic mesenchyme induced BEC differentiation. Forced expression of a constitutively active form of the FGF receptor partially induced BEC differentiation markers in vivo. These data strongly suggest that bFGF and FGF7 promote BEC differentiation cooperatively with BMP4 and ECMs in vivo.     

Abscess-forming granulomatous lymphadenitis: Histological typing of suppurative granulomas and clinicopathological findings with special reference to cat scratch disease

In order to clarify the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of suppurative granuloma in abscess-forming granulomatous lymphadenitis (AGL), and the relation between AGL and cat scratch disease (CSD), 36 cases of AGL were studied. The combined results showed that there were two types of suppurative granulomas. The suppurative granulomas histologically revealed small lymphocytes of predominantly T cell phenotype distributed among the epithelioid histiocytes bordering central necrotic areas in the suppurative granulomas. These suppurative granulomas could be further subdivided into two groups, mainly those with and without the intermingling of large transformed cells of B-cell phenotypes: Type B granuloma with large transformed B cells and Type A without large transformed B cells. Both types of granulomas were observed in a varying degree in most cases. According to the predominant type of granulomas, 36 patients with AGL were further classified into two groups: Group I of Type A dominance and Group II of Type B dominance. Warthin-Starry (WS) silver stain positive bacteria, which are said to be a causative agent of CSD, were present in about 50% of both groups. No Brown-Hopps' Gram-positive bacteria, fungus, toxoplasma, Chlamydia or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin antigen were found in any case. Clinically, there was no significant difference between these two groups. On the other hand, the detection of WS-positive bacteria seemed to have some relationship with the duration of disease and the history of exposure to cats, and 70% of AGL cases occurred in autumn without a single concurrent epidemic.     

Visceral abdominal fat measured by computed tomography is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma

We investigated whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measured by computed tomography (CT) is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma. For a total of 1,328 patients (857 without adenoma, 471 with colorectal adenoma) undergoing colonoscopy and CT, associations between colorectal adenoma and body mass index (BMI), VAT area and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were assessed using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for age, sex, family history, smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus, aspirin use and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use. Multivariate analysis showed that colorectal adenoma was marginally associated (p = 0.06) with BMI, but not with SAT, while it was significantly associated with VAT and the VAT to SAT ratio (VAT/SAT) for both categorical data and trend (p < 0.05). When the obesity indices were considered simultaneously, colorectal adenoma remained significantly associated with VAT and VAT/SAT (p < 0.05), but not BMI and SAT. In patients with colorectal adenoma, the adjusted OR for the highest quartiles of VAT and VAT/SAT was 1.90 (95% CI 1.16–3.13) and 2.25 (95% CI 1.49–3.41), respectively, compared to the lowest quartiles. Only VAT area was significantly associated with colorectal adenoma in both men and women (p < 0.05). Proximal, multiple and advanced adenomas had significantly higher VAT areas (p < 0.05) than distal, solitary and nonadvanced adenomas. Our findings implicate abdominal VAT in the development and progression of colorectal adenoma, and it was better obesity index for colorectal adenoma than BMI in both sexes.     

Dexamethasone induces sodium-dependant vitamin C transporter in a mouse osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1

The regulation of intracellular ascorbic acid (AsA) levels may be under the control of an AsA-specific membrane transporter. The present study investigates AsA uptake and expression of Na-dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) mRNA in the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1. Among eight compounds tested, dexamethasone (Dex) all-trans retinoic acid, transforming growth factor beta, prostaglandin E2 and transferrin significantly and respectively) stimulated the update of AsA into MC3T3-E1 cells. Among these five, Dex was the most active, inducing mSVCT2 mRNA and the uptake of AsA in a time- and concentration-dependant manner. Dex did not induce mSVCT1 mRNA. These results suggest that the Dex-induced stimulation of AsA incorporation into osteoblastic cells is mediated by the induction of mSVCT2. Since Dex reduced alkaline phosphatase activity in MC3T3-E1 cells in our culture conditions, Dex-induced stimulation of AsA incorporation might not be the result of differentiation. Hormone-regulated changes of SVCT expression may have an important role in cell functions.     

Treatment of retinal detachment resulting from myopic macular hole with internal limiting membrane removal

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane removal for retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole in highly myopic eyes. METHODS: Eleven consecutive highly myopic eyes (11 patients) with retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole were treated by vitrectomy with removal of the internal limiting membrane, which was stained with indocyanine green and sulfur hexafluoride gas injection. Postoperatively, the patients were instructed to remain prone for 2 weeks. The excised specimens were evaluated with transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The mean postoperative follow-up was 9.2 +/- 2.3 months (range, 7 to 13 months). In 10 of the 11 eyes (91%) the retina was reattached during the initial surgery. Redetachment occurred in one eye, which was successfully treated during the second surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity improved in all eyes and ranged from 20/400 to 20/50. Pathologic examination showed that the internal limiting membrane and epiretinal tissues were present in all specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The use of indocyanine green staining can facilitate removal of a macular internal limiting membrane and overlying epiretinal membrane, resulting in complete relief of the macular traction. Primary removal of the internal limiting membrane may contribute to a high initial success rate for retinal reattachment and be an important adjuvant to the treatment of retinal detachment resulting from a macular hole in highly myopic eyes.     

Association of tumor necrosis factor and human leukocyte antigen DRB1 alleles with Graves' ophthalmopathy

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha plays a central role in the development of ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves' disease (GD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of TNF promoter polymorphisms at positions -1031 (T-1031C), -863 (C-863A), -857 (C-857T), -308 (G-308A), and -238 (G-238A) with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). We studied the distribution of TNF and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 alleles in 228 Polish white patients with GD, 106 of whom had ophthalmopathy (NOSPECS class > or = III) and 248 healthy subjects. TNF -308A and HLA-DRB1*03 alleles were significantly increased in patients with GD compared with healthy subjects. Stratification analysis revealed no independent association of -308A with GD when the DRB1*03 status was considered. Subdividing GD according to eye involvement revealed that the distribution of TNF promoter haplotypes differed significantly in patients with or without ophthalmopathy. The haplotype containing the -238A allele was absent in GO. The association of G-238A with GO was independent of DRB1 alleles. These results indicate that TNF G-308A is associated with susceptibility to GD (however, this association is not independent of HLA-DRB1*03) and that TNF G-238A is associated with the development of ophthalmopathy, suggesting that G-238A or a gene in linkage disequilibrium may be disease modifying in GD.