拔除阻生智齿患者牙科焦虑的调查及分析

目的:了解综合医院口腔科拔除阻生智齿患者牙科焦虑的患病情况并进行相关因素分析。方法:采用牙科焦虑一般因素调查表、改良牙科焦虑量表(MDAS)及状态焦虑量表(S-AI)对300例口腔颌面外科门诊的拔除阻生智齿患者进行调查及评定,同时对引起牙科焦虑的相关因素进行分析。结果:拔除阻生智齿患者牙科焦虑的发生率为56.00%,有6项因素对牙科焦虑症的患病率有影响,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其中5项因素对MDAS得分影响较大。结论:牙科焦虑在拔除阻生智齿的患者中较普遍,有多种因素影响患者牙科焦虑的程度。     

Association of the metastatic phenotype with CCN family members among breast and oral cancer cells

The CCN family of proteins consists of six members with conserved structural features. These proteins play several roles in the physiology and pathology of cells. Among the pathological roles of the CCN family, one of the most important and controversial ones is their role in the expansion and metastasis of cancer. Up to now a number of reports have described the possible role of each CCN family member independently. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the roles of all six CCN family members in cell growth, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. As a result, we found the CCN2/CCN3 ratio to be a parameter that is associated with the metastatic phenotype of breast cancer cells that are highly metastatic to the bone. The same analysis with cell lines from oral squamous carcinomas that are not metastatic to the bone further supported our notion. These results suggest the functional significance of the interplay between CCN family members in regulating the phenotype of cancer cells.     

Impact of dry mouth conditions on oral health-related quality of life in older people

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of dry mouth conditions on oral health‐related quality of life in frail old people, residents at community care centers. Further, reliability and validity of a visual analogue scale (VAS) for dry mouth symptoms were determined within the study cohort. Background: In old people functional, social and psychological impacts of oral conditions are associated with an overall sense of well being and general health. Subjective dry mouth and reduced saliva flow are common disorders in old people caused by disease and medication. Thus, dry mouth conditions may be determinants for compromised oral health‐related quality of life in old people. Method: In total, 50 old people living at service homes for the old people were asked to answer questionnaires on subjective dry mouth (VAS) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) for oral health‐related quality of life. Saliva flow was estimated by absorbing saliva into a pre‐weighed cotton roll. Results: The final study cohort comprised 41 old people (aged 83–91 years). Significant associations were identified between both objective and subjective dry mouth and overall or specific aspects of oral health‐related quality of life. Conclusion: Dry mouth (objective and subjective) is significantly associated with oral health‐related quality of life strengthening the value of monitoring dry mouth conditions in the care of frail old people.     

Inhibitory effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on DMBA-induced hamster buccal–pouch squamous-cell carcinogenesis

We investigated the effects of two NOS inhibitors (AG and l-NAME) on DMBA-induced hamster buccal-pouch carcinogenesis. Six hundred Syrian golden hamsters were split into two divisions (I and II); divisions split into three groups (experimental groups A and B, control group C); and each group into subgroups of 20 (A1-A6, B1-B6 and C1-C3). The pouches of animals in groups A1-A3 were painted first with AG of differing concentrations (10, 20, and 30 micromol/ml) and then 30 min later with DMBA (0.5%), thrice weekly for 9 weeks. Subgroups A4-A6 only received AG treatment. Groups B1 to B6 were similarly treated with l-NAME. Animals in division II were treated in the same manner for 13 weeks. Post-mortem analysis revealed that both inhibitors can suppress the development of epithelial dysplasias and squamous-cell carcinomas. An associated increase in the numbers of epithelial hyperplasias was paralleled by a decrease in iNOS protein expression. This animal model can be employed to evaluate the potential use of iNOS inhibitors as novel therapeutic tools for oral squamous-cell carcinogenesis.     

DNA vaccination against tumors

DNA vaccines have been used to generate protective immunity against tumors in a variety of experimental models. The favorite target antigens have been those that are frequently expressed by human tumors, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ErbB2/neu, and melanoma-associated antigens. DNA vaccines have the advantage of being simple to construct, produce and deliver. They can activate all arms of the immune system, and allow substantial flexibility in modifying the type of immune response generated through codelivery of cytokine genes. DNA vaccines can be applied by intramuscular, dermal/epidermal, oral, respiratory and other routes, and pose relatively few safety concerns. Compared to other nucleic acid vectors, they are usually devoid of viral or bacterial antigens and can be designed to deliver only the target tumor antigen(s). This is likely to be important when priming a response against weak tumor antigens. DNA vaccines have been more effective in rodents than in larger mammals or humans. However, a large number of methods that might be applied clinically have been shown to ameliorate these vaccines. This includes in vivo electroporation, and/or inclusion of various immunostimulatory molecules, xenoantigens (or their epitopes), antigen-cytokine fusion genes, agents that improve antigen uptake or presentation, and molecules that activate innate immunity mechanisms. In addition, CpG motifs carried by plasmids can overcome the negative effects of regulatory T cells. There have been few studies in humans, but recent clinical trials suggest that plasmid/virus, or plasmid/antigen-adjuvant, prime-boost strategies generate strong immune responses, and confirm the usefulness of plasmid-based vaccination.     

Molecular mechanisms of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Background

The mechanisms during the initial phase of oxygen toxicity leading to pulmonary tissue damage are incompletely known. Increase of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) represents one of the first pulmonary responses to hyperoxia. We hypothesised that, in the initial phase of hyperoxia, TNFalpha activates the caspase cascade in type II pneumocytes (TIIcells).

Methods

Lung sections or freshly isolated TIIcells of control and hyperoxic treated rats (48 hrs) were used for the determination of TNFalpha (ELISA), TNF-receptor 1 (Western blot) and activity of caspases 8, 3, and 9 (colorimetrically). NF-kappaB activation was determined by EMSA, by increase of the p65 subunit in the nuclear fraction, and by immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal anti-NF-kappaB-antibody which selectively stained the activated, nuclear form of NF-kappa B. Apoptotic markers in lung tissue sections (TUNEL) and in TIIcells (cell death detection ELISA, Bax, Bcl-2, mitochondrial membrane potential, and late and early apoptotic cells) were measured using commercially available kits.

Results

In vivo, hyperoxia activated NF-kappaB and increased the expression of TNFalpha, TNF-receptor 1 and the activity of caspase 8 and 3 in freshly isolated TIIcells. Intratracheal application of anti-TNFalpha antibodies prevented the increase of TNFRI and of caspase 3 activity. Under hyperoxia, there was neither a significant change of cytosolic cytochrome C or of caspase 9 activity, nor an increase in apoptosis of TIIcells. Hyperoxia-induced activation of caspase 3 gradually decreased over two days of normoxia without increasing apoptosis. Therefore, activation of caspase 3 is a temporary effect in sublethal hyperoxia and did not mark the "point of no return" in TIIcells.

Conclusion

In the initiation phase of pulmonary oxygen toxicity, an increase of TNFalpha and its receptor TNFR1 leads to the activation of caspase 8 and 3 in TIIcells. Together with the hyperoxic induced increase of Bax and the decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase 3 can be seen as sensitisation for apoptosis. Eliminating the TNFalpha effect in vivo by anti-TNFalpha antibodies prevents the pro-apoptotic sensitisation of TIIcells.     

Fasciola hepatica: humoral and cytokine responses to a member of the saposin-like protein family following delivery as a DNA vaccine in mice

The humoral and cellular responses to DNA vaccination of BALB/c mice with a novel antigen from the Fasciola hepatica saposin-like protein family (FhSAP-2) have been investigated. Two constructs were produced containing the FhSAP-2 DNA sequence, one intended for extracellular secretion of FhSAP-2 protein, and one expressing FhSAP-2 in the cytoplasm of a transfected cell. The constructs were tested in HEK 293T cells, with the secretory construct producing less detectable FhSAP-2 relative to cytoplasmic construct when observed by fluorescence. The size of expressed protein was confirmed by Western blot of cell lysate, but FhSAP-2 was undetectable in cell supernatants. Both, secretory and cytoplasmic constructs as well as FhSAP-2 recombinant protein were tested in mice. The antibody response elicited in mice vaccinated with the rFhSAP-2 induced high levels of IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgE as well as high levels of IL-10 and IFNgamma indicating a mixed Th1/Th2 response. Vaccination of mice intramuscularly with the cytoplasmic FhSAP-2 construct resulted in a dominant IgG(2a) isotype antibody as well as a dominant IFNgamma cytokine, with significant IgE, IgG(1), and IL-10 responses also present, suggesting a mixed Th1/Th2 profile. Isotype and cytokine profiles elicited by the FhSAP-2 secretory construct were similar to those obtained with the cytoplasmic construct but at levels that were significantly lower. The results demonstrate that FhSAP-2 can be delivered as a DNA vaccine construct and induces a stronger Th1 response than the recombinant protein alone. This could result in an improvement in the immunoprophylactic potential of this candidate vaccine against F. hepatica.     

A role of activated Sonic hedgehog signaling for the cellular proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a secreted morphogen crucial for appropriate cellular proliferation during mammalian development. The activated Shh signaling is known to predispose to human tumors such as medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma, while a role of Shh signaling in the other common tumors is still controversial. Here we showed the overexpression of Shh in five cell lines among 14 human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines. One of the Shh-expressing OSCC cell lines HSQ-89 showed the inhibition of G1/S transition and apoptotic cell death by treatment with Cyclopamine, a steroidal alkaloid that blocks the intracellular Shh signaling. Furthermore, we found that treatment with Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of Rho-associated kinase, mimicked the effect of Cyclopamine on the cell cycle progression of HSQ-89. Our study revealed the involvement of activated Shh signaling in the cellular proliferation of OSCC cells, indicating Shh signaling might be a good therapeutic target for OSCC.     

Promoter methylation regulates cadherin switching in squamous cell carcinoma

Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules that modulate the epithelial phenotype and regulate tumor invasion. To identify the role of promoter methylation in regulating E-cadherin expression and in the "switching" of cadherins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we studied 14 cell lines for cadherin expression. Immunoblotting revealed that only two (HOC-313 and HA-376) showed strong up-regulation of N-cadherin, and neither expressed E-cadherin. These results were confirmed by PCR. Furthermore, analysis of genomic DNA showed that the lack of E-cadherin expression in the two cell lines was not due to gene deletion. In both cell lines, methylation-specific PCR indicated extensive methylation of the 5' CpG island in the E-cadherin promoter. After treatment with a DNA methylation inhibitor (5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine), both immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining showed that HA-376 cells newly expressed E-cadherin with a parallel decrease in their N-cadherin expression. Multiplex RT-PCR demonstrated that the down-regulation of N-cadherin mRNA was coordinately regulated with E-cadherin expression. Thus, methylation of the 5' CpG island in the E-cadherin promoter induces reciprocal expression of E- and N-cadherins in oral SCC by an unknown mechanism that appears to be mediated at the level of N-cadherin gene expression. These events may play an important role in the regulation of tumor cell mobility and invasion.     

Plasmodium vivax: Comparison of the immune responses between oral and parenteral immunization of rPv54 in BALB/c mice

The merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) from Plasmodium vivax was evaluated as an oral vaccine candidate by cloning and expressing the interspecies conserved block 10 (ICB10) of the MSP-1 from a Korean isolate in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion protein contained ICB10 and a maltose-binding protein (MBP), rPv54, has a molecular weight of approximately 54 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. IgG against rPv54 was successfully produced in BALB/c mice by oral immunization and sustained for more than 4 months. IgG2b was dominantly produced in both oral and parenteral immunizations. The rPv54 increased the frequency of NK, NKT, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and B cells in both immunizations. IL-5 and TNF-α were increased in both significantly. In conclusion, rPv54 might be a valuable potential vaccine candidate for the oral and parenteral immunization against vivax malaria.